AI Summary
5 min readDay 250: The Fall of Jerusalem and the Cost of Trust
On day 250 of the Bible in a Year podcast, Father Mike Schmitz walks through Jeremiah 39 and 40, where the long-prophesied fall of Jerusalem finally arrives. After forty years of Jeremiah warning that surrender to Babylon was the only path to survival, the city is breached, the king is captured and blinded, and the final wave of exile begins. The reading also includes Judith 10 and 11, where Judith begins her deception of the Assyrian general Holofernes.
The Brutal End of Zedekiah's Rebellion
Jeremiah 39 describes the siege's conclusion in unsparing detail. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign, the Babylonians breach Jerusalem's walls. King Zedekiah, who had publicly insisted on fighting Nebuchadnezzar despite Jeremiah's warnings, flees at night through the king's garden. He is captured on the plains of Jericho, about fifteen miles from the city.
Nebuchadnezzar executes Zedekiah's sons before his eyes, then gouges out the king's eyes so that the last thing he sees is the death of his own children. The Babylonian commander burns the king's house, breaks down Jerusalem's walls, and carries the population into exile. Only the poorest people—those who owned nothing—are left behind, given vineyards and fields by the conquerors.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:53) **Introduction and Day 250 Overview** - Fr. Mike welcomes listeners to day 250 of the Bible in a Year, setting up the readings: Jeremiah 39-40, Judith 10-11, and Proverbs 17:9-12.
- 2 (02:07) **Jeremiah 39: The Fall of Jerusalem** - The chapter describes the Babylonian army breaching Jerusalem's walls, capturing King Zedekiah, and destroying the city.
- 3 (03:41) **Jeremiah 39: Jeremiah's Deliverance and Ebedmelech's Reward** - Nebuchadnezzar commands his captain to protect Jeremiah, and God promises to save the Ethiopian eunuch Ebedmelech for his trust.
- 4 (04:52) **Jeremiah 40: Jeremiah's Choice and Gedaliah's Governorship** - Jeremiah is given a choice by the Babylonian captain: go to Babylon in comfort or stay in Judah with the remnant.
- 5 (06:59) **Jeremiah 40: The Warning Ignored** - Johanan warns Gedaliah about the assassination plot, but Gedaliah refuses to believe the report.
- 6 (08:08) **Judith 10: Judith Prepares to Go to Holofernes** - After her prayer, Judith transforms her appearance from mourning to beauty, preparing to deceive the Assyrian general.
- 7 (09:49) **Judith 10: Judith is Captured and Brought Before Holofernes** - Assyrian patrols seize Judith, and she convinces them she is a deserter with a plan to help them conquer Israel.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Fr. Mike expands on our reading today from Proverbs about the need to guard our speech toward one another. In Jeremiah, we see the final wave of destruction of Jerusalem and the events that followed. Today’s readings are Jeremiah 39-40, Judith 10-11, and Proverbs 17:9-12.
For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear.
Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
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