Jeremiah 37:3-39:10, 52:5-30 | 2 Kings 25:2-21 | 2 Chronicles 36:17-21

These passages describe the final years of Zedekiah’s reign as king of Judah. During this time Jeremiah continued to speak the word of the Lord, advising Zedekiah to surrender to the Chaldeans and Nebuchadnezzar, saying that the city would be saved, and things would go well if he did. Zedekiah refuses to do so, and Jeremiah is imprisoned until Jerusalem is overrun and defeated. As predicted by both Jeremiah and Isaiah, Zedekiah is captured, his sons are killed before his eyes, he is then blinded, and carried away to Babylon in chains, where he will die in prison. The chief priest, and all of his evil priests are gathered up and executed, and all of the furnishings and treasures of the temple are taken away to Babylon. Almost all of the survivors in Judah are taken as slaves to Babylon, with only a few of the poorest people left as caretakers of the vineyards and lands.