This verse, 2 Kings 25:3, paints a bleak picture of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 586 BC. Let's break it down:
"On the ninth day of the fourth month": This specifies the date on which the described event occurred. The fourth month in the Hebrew calendar is usually around June/July.
"the famine was severe in the city": The city of Jerusalem was under siege, meaning the Babylonian army had surrounded it, preventing supplies from entering. The siege had been going on for a long time (mentioned earlier in the chapter, 2 Kings 25:1-2). As a result, food supplies were dwindling, and people were starving. The word "severe" emphasizes the extent of the hunger.
"so that there was no bread for the people of the land": Bread was a staple food in ancient Israel. The fact that there was no bread indicates that the famine had reached a critical point. The phrase "people of the land" refers to the general population of Jerusalem, implying that everyone was affected, not just a specific group.
In essence, the verse describes a dire situation in Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege. The city was cut off, food supplies had been exhausted, and the population was suffering from a devastating famine. This verse highlights the extreme hardship and desperation the people were experiencing just before the city fell to the Babylonians.
This verse is significant because it illustrates the suffering that resulted from the choices of the leaders of Judah and their failure to heed the warnings of the prophets. It's a grim prelude to the destruction and exile that followed.
This verse, 2 Kings 25:3, paints a bleak picture of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 586 BC. Let's break it down:
"On the ninth day of the fourth month": This specifies the date on which the described event occurred. The fourth month in the Hebrew calendar is usually around June/July.
"the famine was severe in the city": The city of Jerusalem was under siege, meaning the Babylonian army had surrounded it, preventing supplies from entering. The siege had been going on for a long time (mentioned earlier in the chapter, 2 Kings 25:1-2). As a result, food supplies were dwindling, and people were starving. The word "severe" emphasizes the extent of the hunger.
"so that there was no bread for the people of the land": Bread was a staple food in ancient Israel. The fact that there was no bread indicates that the famine had reached a critical point. The phrase "people of the land" refers to the general population of Jerusalem, implying that everyone was affected, not just a specific group.
In essence, the verse describes a dire situation in Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege. The city was cut off, food supplies had been exhausted, and the population was suffering from a devastating famine. This verse highlights the extreme hardship and desperation the people were experiencing just before the city fell to the Babylonians.
This verse is significant because it illustrates the suffering that resulted from the choices of the leaders of Judah and their failure to heed the warnings of the prophets. It's a grim prelude to the destruction and exile that followed.