The Exile Of Jerusalem

Four hundred and ninety years after the destruction of Shiloh, the death of Hophni, Phineas, and Eli the High Priest, and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines, a seige was erected against Jerusalem for its sins. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, and his armies beseiged the city while Jehoiachin, the 18 year old son of Jehoiakim, became king of Judah in his father's place. He reigned 3 months in Jerusalem while the armies of Babylon beseiged the city. Finally, Jehoiachin came to his senses, and went out to surrender to the King of Babylon in 598 BC.

The prophecy of Isaiah to Hezekiah was thus fulfilled. Everything in the Temple and in the king's house that was shown to the messengers from Babylon was removed by the armies of Babylon and taken back with them. All the treasures of the Temple were removed. The vessels of gold were cut in pieces and taken. The bronze sea and oxen of Solomon were were not removed due to their size, but they would be removed in the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The gold, silver, bronze, and precious jewels were looted. The treasures of the palace were cataloged and carried to Babylon.

Then Nebuchanezzar led away into captivity all of Jerusalem, all the men of valor, and all the craftsmen and smiths. Only the poorest of the land remained. The king's wives and the king's mother were taken. The officials and leading men were led away into exile. Eight thousand men ready for battle were taken and absorbed into the armies of Babylon for war on other fronts. 

Jehoiachin was young, but he was noted as being an evil king. His reign of 3 months and ten days came to an end. He lived out his days in Babylon. Nebuchanezzar made his uncle Mattaniah king in his place, changing his name to Zedekiah. Jerusalem had been attacked and exile twice, but one final destruction remained. Three separate timeline of 70 years, prophesied by Jeremiah, had began to count down. The sins of Israel had come to the end where God fulfilled the calamities promised by Moses and Joshua, and agreed to by the sons of Israel on Mount Ebal and Gerizim when they entered the promised land. God had warned them what would happen, but they did not listen or repent. And so it came to pass just as God had said.