Told You So
- Eventually, the Babylonians breach Jerusalem's walls and enter the city.
- All the Babylonian officials sit in the middle gate, and Zedekiah and his soldiers see them and flee toward Arabah.
- But they're not quick enough and they get captured.
- The Babylonians bring Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar in Riblah, where Nebuchadnezzar passes sentence on him.
- They kill Zedekiah's sons in front of him, and slaughter all the nobles of Judah.
- Then they put out Zedekiah's eyes. It's hard not to feel for the guy. You just know he was pretty conflicted about whether to believe Jeremiah or not.
- The Babylonians burn down all the houses in Jerusalem (including the king's) and the Babylonian captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, orders a mass exile of everyone from Jerusalem. Even those who had defected to him are sent off. He leaves some of the poor people to work the ground and what's left of the vineyards.
- Nebuchadnezzar frees Jeremiah and orders Nebuzaradan to protect him.
- He's put under the care of Gedaliah, the Babylonian appointed Hebrew governor, and left to live with the remaining people in Jerusalem.
- God sends a message to Jeremiah, telling him to tell Ebed-melech not to worry: although the city's falling and people are dying, he will survive since he trusted in God and helped the prophet.