Study Desk

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for three months. His mother was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem.

and carried off to Babylon all the treasures in the Temple and the palace. As the Lord had foretold, Nebuchadnezzar broke up all the gold utensils which King Solomon had made for use in the Temple.

Nebuchadnezzar deported all the important men to Babylonia, seven thousand in all, and one thousand skilled workers, including the blacksmiths, all of them able-bodied men fit for military duty.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from the city of Libnah.

They also took away the shovels and the ash containers used in cleaning the altar, the tools used in tending the lamps, the bowls used for catching the blood from the sacrifices, the bowls used for burning incense, and all the other bronze articles used in the Temple service.

They took away everything that was made of gold or silver, including the small bowls and the pans used for carrying live coals.

The bronze objects that King Solomon had made for the Temple—the two columns, the carts, and the large tank—were too heavy to weigh.

Gedaliah said to them, "I give you my word that there is no need for you to be afraid of the Babylonian officials. Settle in this land, serve the king of Babylonia, and all will go well with you."

So Jehoiachin was permitted to change from his prison clothes and to dine at the king's table for the rest of his life.

Each day, for as long as he lived, he was given a regular allowance for his needs.

All six were born in Hebron during the seven and a half years that David ruled there. In Jerusalem he ruled as king for thirty-three years,

But Jabez prayed to the God of Israel, "Bless me, God, and give me much land. Be with me and keep me from anything evil that might cause me pain." And God gave him what he prayed for.

In the time of King Hezekiah of Judah, the men named above went to Gerar and destroyed the tents and huts of the people who lived there. They drove the people out and settled there permanently because there was plenty of pasture for their sheep.

It was the tribe of Judah, however, that became the strongest and provided a ruler for all the tribes.)

They put their trust in God and prayed to him for help, and God answered their prayers and made them victorious over the Hagrites and their allies.

Aaron and his descendants presented the offerings of incense and offered the sacrifices that were burnt on the altar. They were responsible for all the worship in the Most Holy Place and for the sacrifices by which God forgives Israel's sins. They did all this in accordance with the instructions given by Moses, God's servant.

In the territory of Benjamin they were assigned the following towns with their pasture lands: Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth. This made a total of thirteen towns for all their families to live in.

In this way the people of Israel assigned towns for the Levites to live in, together with the pasture lands around the towns.

They had so many wives and children that their descendants were able to provide 36,000 men for military duty.

The official records of all the families of the tribe of Issachar listed 87,000 men eligible for military duty.