Which empire conquered judah

After Assyria was overthrown, the pressures on the Southern Kingdom lessened while the new empire, Babylon, consolidated its power. In that state, Judah lost the promise of divine protection. And Babylon, hungry for power, stood waiting to conquer the world. The Lord sent His prophets to warn the people of their impending destruction.

Jeremiah, Lehi, and many others were called see 1 Nephi , but their warnings fell on deaf ears. Under King Josiah — B. Thus the stage was set for a second tragedy among the people of Israel. Judah was caught in the power struggle between Egypt and Babylonia. Jehoahaz succeeded his father and reigned three months.

Then he was taken to Egypt, and his half brother who was given the throne name of Jehoiakim ruled as an Egyptian vassal. He exacted heavy taxes from his people for Egypt. Babylon defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish in B. Judah became a vassal of the new conquerors.

Jehoaikim paid tribute to Babylon for three years before unsuccessfully attempting to free his people. The rebellious king was killed, and many of his people were exiled to Babylon. He was succeeded by his young son Jehoiachin, who continued to resist the Babylonians but was defeated within three months. The Babylonians deported many of the educated, skilled, and religious to weaken the leadership capability of Judah. Jehoiachin was likewise exiled, and his uncle, who took the throne name Zedekiah, ruled in his stead.

He pledged loyalty as a vassal king but in time found resistance among the people. A spirit of nationalism rose against the weight of foreign servitude.

Revolt in Babylon caused the withdrawal of the caretaker forces from Judah, and a growing patriotic feeling among the people brought Zedekiah to seek the support of Egypt in rebellion against the power of the north. With matters quieted at home, the Babylonians returned with swift vengeance against Judah. Jerusalem was besieged and other fortresses in the land of Judah were attacked and reduced to rubble. The siege against Jerusalem continued after the rest of the nation had fallen.

The conditions during this time were almost beyond imagination. The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Bible historian Harry Thomas Frank wrote of the demise of this people and their city:. Once before, ten years ago, the Babylonians had treated Jerusalem with what was for those days extraordinary mercy. Not now. This time they meant to be done with the center of intrigue.

Food ran out. So did the king. In the evening of the day Babylonian soldiers poured into the city, Zedekiah and some of his men fled, making for the Jordan and hoping to escape to safety in the desert.

They got as far as Jericho before they were captured. Nebuchadnezzar was in Syria at his headquarters. There the Judahite and his sons were taken. No more Hebrew kings were to live in luxurious exile as Jehoiachin had done. With despatch Zedekiah was brought into the presence of the great king of Babylon, his sons were slain in his presence, and then he was blinded and dragged off northward in chains. What the Babylonians found in the city, and what they did to what they found does not require a very fertile imagination.

At the same time, somewhat surprisingly, there seems not to have been any prior decision as to what should be done with the city when it fell. For a month further horrors and indignities were visited upon the sorely tried people, who must have believed that they were indeed abandoned by God himself.

Nebuzaradan was not a herald of good news. Upon his orders high officials of the state, and with them certain leading persons in various professions, were taken to Riblah, the Syrian headquarters, where they were executed. Others were herded together to be taken into exile in Babylonia. Jeremiah mentions the number For that reason, appliances often come in twos: two refrigerators, two cooking ranges, sinks, dishwashers and so on. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search.

Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Social studies Which empire conquered the kingdom of Judah? Social studies. Ben Davis January 14, Which empire conquered the kingdom of Judah? Which empire destroyed the kingdom of Israel? Why the kingdom of Israel was divided? Why is pork not kosher? What makes milk kosher? Can Jews eat lamb?