2 Chr 36: 17-23

Since the entire nation of Judah turned their collective back on the Lord, they were either killed or captured by Nebuchadnezzar. The Lord had no pity and was no respecter of age or gender. According to the commentary: Zedekiah and his army ran from the city and they tried to escape. But the soldiers from Babylon caught them near Jericho town. They took Zedekiah to the town called Riblah in Syria to meet King Nebuchadnezzar. As Zedekiah watched them, they killed his sons. Then they took his eyes out so that he was blind. They bound him with chains and they took him to Babylon.

The Babylonians destroyed most of the city and especially the Temple. Since the Lord "left" the temple and his Presence was abhorred with Jerusalem, it was symbolic that it was destroyed.The entire captivity process was to be 70 years by the Babylonians. This was because Cyrus and the Persian Empire would overtake the Babylonian empire and become the first king of Babylon. The Lord would then allow the Jews to re-enter Jerusalem since Cyrus was a believer and would restore the Lord's Presence in Jerusalem.

Thus ends the book of  2 Chronicles - which has been a long time coming. I'm not sure where the Lord will lead me next in my studies but it will be in the OT.

Going to LabCorp after Sandy to complete my tests this morning. Should be "fun" day at work but hopefully an uneventful one. Prayers for the family in Edison who remains without power. Prayers also for those less fortunate than our situation. Hopefully a spirit of community will take over and there will be few if any incidents.

Praise for today: God is our refuge and strength, an ever help in times of trouble. Ps 46:1