2 Kings 25:22 | Jeremiah 39:11-40:6 | Lamentations 1-3

Just as the Lord had prophesied, Nebuchadnezzar came again and took Zedekiah back to Babylon in chains, along with most of the people in the land. They tore down the walls of Jerusalem and pillaged the temple of the Lord. Jeremiah was treated very kindly by the commander of Nebuchadnezzar’s army, and according to the king’s instruction was set free and given his own choice of whether to go to Babylon as an honored guest, or remain in Israel. He chose to remain in Israel. Besides Jeremiah, the Lord also sends word to an Ethiopian eunich, who had been instrumental in saving Jeremiah’s life (Jeremiah 38:6-12), telling him that he would be protected from the harsh treatment of the Babylonians.

The book of Lamentations was written by Jeremiah in a sense of anguish following the desolation of Jerusalem, where destruction abounded in every direction, and the streets were empty of people. This book is why he is called the weeping prophet.