God Kills the People of Judah

The LORD, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple.  But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words.  They scoffed at the prophets until the LORD’s anger could no longer be restrained and there was no remedy.  So the LORD brought the king of Babylon against them.  The Babylonians killed Judah’s young men, even chasing after them into the Temple.  They had no pity on the people, killing both young and old, men and women, healthy and sick.  God handed them all over to Nebuchadnezzar.  The king also took home to Babylon all the utensils, large and small, used in the Temple of God, and the treasures from both the LORD’s Temple and the royal palace.  He also took with him all the royal princes.  Then his army set fire to the Temple of God, broke down the walls of Jerusalem, burned all the palaces, and completely destroyed everything of value.  The few who survived were taken away to Babylon, and they became servants to the king and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power.  So the message of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled.  The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate for seventy years, just as the prophet had said. (2 Chronicles 36:15-21 NLT)