On 16 March 597 BC, the mighty Babylonians, under the formidable King Nebuchadnezzar II, besieged and captured Jerusalem, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the Kingdom of Judah.
King Jehoiachin, along with his royal court, nobles, and skilled artisans, was exiled to Babylon, symbolising Judah’s subjugation under foreign rule.
In his place, Nebuchadnezzar installed Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, as a vassal king, hoping to secure control over the fractious region.
However, Zedekiah’s reign would prove tumultuous, ultimately leading to a full-scale Babylonian invasion and the catastrophic destruction of Solomon’s Temple in 586 BC.
This event not only reshaped Judah’s political landscape but also set the stage for the profound historical and theological consequences that followed in Jewish history.
