King Zedekiah Is Blinded by the Babylonians

587 BCE

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When Zedekiah was captured by the pursuing Babylonian army, a grim fate awaited him.

Jeremiah 39:6-8

‍The king of Babylon had Zedekiah’s children slaughtered at Riblah before his eyes; the king of Babylon had all the nobles of Judah slaughtered. Then the eyes of Zedekiah were put out and he was chained in bronze fetters, that he might be brought to Babylon.

Pictured is the slaughter of the sons of Zedekiah before their father by Gustave Dore

Slaughter of the Sons of Zedekiah before their Father drawing
Gustave Doré, 1870

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Overview

In the Bible

Jeremiah 39:6-8

The king of Babylon had Zedekiah’s children slaughtered at Riblah before his eyes; the king of Babylon had all the nobles of Judah slaughtered. Then the eyes of Zedekiah were put out and he was chained in bronze fetters, that he might be brought to Babylon.

יִרְמְיָהוּ ל"ט, ו-ז:

"וַיִּשְׁחַט֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ בָּבֶ֜ל אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י צִדְקִיָּ֛הוּ בְּרִבְלָ֖ה לְעֵינָ֑יו וְאֵת֙ כָּל־חֹרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה שָׁחַ֖ט מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃ וְאֶת־עֵינֵ֥י צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ עִוֵּ֑ר וַיַּֽאַסְרֵ֨הוּ֙ בַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם לָבִ֥יא אֹת֖וֹ בָּבֶֽלָה."