clear statement

January 3, 2017

The new king (Jer 37:1-37:1)

“King Zedekiah,

The son of King Josiah,

Whom King Nebuchadnezzar

Of Babylon

Made king

In the land of Judah,

Succeeded King Coniah,

The son of King Jehoiakim.”          

This is a clear statement that the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BCE) put King Zedekiah on the throne of David in Judah in 598 BCE. The Babylonian king got rid of King Coniah or King Jehoiachin, who was the son of King Jehoiakim (609-598 BCE), who had just died. There is no doubt that King Zedekiah or King Mattaniah (598-587 BCE), the son of King Josiah (640-609 BCE) and brother of King Jehoiakim, was the favorite of the Babylonian king. Like the preceding chapter, this is a different numbered chapter in the Greek translation of the Septuagint, chapter 44, not chapter 37 as here.

August 26, 2016

The king of Assyria will not attack Jerusalem (Isa 37:33-37:35)

“Therefore thus says Yahweh

Concerning the king of Assyria.

‘He shall not come into this city.

He shall not shoot an arrow there.

He shall not come before it with a shield.

He shall not cast up a siege ramp against it.

By the way that he came,

By the same,

He shall return.

He shall not come into this city.

I will defend this city.

I will save it

For my own sake

As well as for the sake

Of my servant David.’”

Once again, this is almost word for word from 2 Kings, chapter 19. In a clear statement without any ambiguity, the king of Assyria will not come into Jerusalem. He will not shoot an arrow or put up a siege ramp. He will instead return home because Yahweh will defend this city. He will save it for the sake of David and for himself.