Secular history tells us that Mardukapaliddin took control of Babylon, and rebelled against Assyrian rule. In II Chronicles 35: 20-27, Necho, King of Egypt, joins Assyria in attacking Babylon. Josiah, King of Judah, fears that Egypt was coming to invade of all Palestine. Necho tells him that he has no quarrel with him, and request that he stay out of the battle. Josiah decided to join the battle anyway, and was wounded. After he returns to Judah he died.
Josiah is one of the godliest men to serve as Judah’s King. But by joining the battle Josiah made a two-fold mistake. First he made enemies the Egyptians, and if he had not interfered in the battle, Babylon may have been destroyed.
Jehoahaz succeeded his father Josiah as King, but he ruled for only three months. Necho invaded Judah, and took Jehoahaz prisoner. His brother, Jehoiakim, succeeded him to the throne. But he was only a puppet ruler for Necho.
Jehoiakim was an evil man who killed many innocent people. Because of his wickedness, God allowed the Babylonians to invade Judah. At this time Daniel and the temple vessels are carried off to Babylon. Jehoiachin, Jehhokim’s eight-year-old son, is made King of Judah. But three months later, he is carried off to Babylon. His great- uncle, and Josiah’s youngest son, Zedekiah is made the puppet ruler.
Eleven years later, Zedekiah rebels against Babylon. Jerusalem is destroyed. Zedekiah is blinded and lives the rest of his life in a Babylonian prison. He was Judah’s last King. At this time the temple treasury is carried off to Babylon.
Thirty-six years later Jehoiachin is released from prison by Nebuchadnezzar’s son Evil-Merodach. Not only is freed, he is given the rank of a Babylonian Prince. This was actually God’s hand watching over him. Jehochiachin’s son Salathiel adopts a son by the name of Zerubbabel. In Nehemiah, Zerubbabel led a group of Jews back to Jerusalem.
Also Zerubbabel is an ancestor to Jesus Christ. Since he was Salathiel’s adopted son, he is mention in Matthew1: 12. His son Abiud is an ancestor to Joseph. In Luke 3:27, his son Rhesa was ancestor to Mary. Even though Judah dissolved as an independent nation, God still watched over those who were in the linage of Christ.
Next will be Babylon and the New Testament.
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