Ezekiel 29:17-21 | Daniel 4 | Jeremiah 52:31-34 | 2 Kings 25:27-30 | Psalm 44

In the 27 th year of the captivity Ezekiel speaks his final prophecy from God, telling that Nebuchadnezzar will despoil Egypt.

Daniel 4 is an interesting chapter because it is the only chapter in the Bible that is written by a pagan Gentile, which is also written in the Aramaic language. It is the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar, who God humbled in his pride. He was given a dream that Daniel interpreted, where God foretold that he would lose his mind for a period of 7 years, and then be restored to his majesty as king of Babylon. This happened as God said, and tradition has it that Daniel cared for him during those years. We may well see Nebuchadnezzar in heaven.

King Jehoiachin had been in prison in Babylon for more than 30 years when he was released by the king Evil Merodach, and given a place of some prominence in the kingdom. This king is believed by some scholars to have been the same as Belshazzar, descendant of Nebuchadnezzar.

It is not certain when Psalm 44 was written, or by who it was written, but we get the sense of the Babylonian captives in its narrative. It is a prayer to God for mercy and action.