Chapter 25: The destruction of the Temple
- In the ninth year of his [i.e. Tzidkiyahu’s[1]] reign, in the tenth month [i.e. Teves], on the tenth of the month [10th of Teves], Nevuchadnetzar the king of Babylonia came up against Jerusalem with his entire army, and encamped around it, and put the city under siege.
- The length of the siege: The city was under siege until the eleventh year of reign of King Tzidkiyahu.
- The famine in the city: On the ninth of the month [of Tamuz[2]], the famine became severe in the city, and the people of the land had no food.
- The walls of Jerusalem are breached, and the people flee: The walls of the city were broken into, and Tzidkiyahu and all the men of war fled at night through [a tunnel that was under] the gate between the two walls that was near the king’s garden [and stretched all the way until the plains of Yericho[3]]. At that time, the Casdians were surrounding the city [and saw a deer on the roof of the cave and gave it chase[4]].
- Tzidkiyahu is captured: The army of the Casdians pursued Tzidkiyahu the king, and they captured him on the plains of Yericho [where the deer had led them to[5]]. The army of Tzidkiyahu had deserted him by this time. They seized Tzidkiyahu the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon, to the city of Rivlah, and he was judged there [for breaking his oath to be loyal to Nevuchadnetzar[6]].
- The sons of Tzidkiyahu are killed and Tzidkiyahu is blinded: Nevuchadnetzar killed the sons of Tzidkiyahu’s in front of him, and they blinded Tzidkiyahu [by gouging out his eyes], and Nevuchadnetzar bound Tzidkiyahu with copper chains and brought him to Babylon.
[1] Rashi 25:1
[2] Radak 25:3
[3] Rashi 25:4
[4] Rashi 25:4
[5] Rashi 25:4
[6] Rashi 25:6
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