The Temple Destroyed
In the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan arrives in Jerusalem and burns the house of the LORD, the king's house, and the houses of the city. The Babylonian army under his command breaks down the walls all around Jerusalem. He carries away many of the people, yet leaves some of the poorest of the land behind as vinedressers and plowmen.
O12n the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. 13He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem — every significant building. 14And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. 15Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the craftsmen. 16But Nebuzaradan captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.
The Chaldeans break in pieces the bronze pillars, the stands, and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, and carry the metal to Babylon. They also take the pots, shovels, snuffers, basins, dishes, and every vessel used in temple service, along with the finer objects of gold and silver. What Solomon had made for the LORD's house is stripped away in full, beyond easy weighing.
17Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried all the bronze to Babylon. 18They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes, and all the articles of bronze used in the temple service. 19The captain of the guard also took away the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and drink offering bowls— anything made of pure gold or fine silver. 20As for the two pillars, the Sea, the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands that King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure.
The chapter lingers over the dimensions and ornamentation of the bronze pillars, their capitals, pomegranates, and latticework. The careful description turns architectural detail into a memorial of sacred beauty now lost to judgment. The temple's former splendor is remembered precisely even as it lies in ruin.
21Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference; each was hollow, four fingers thick. 22The bronze capital atop one pillar was five cubits high, with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. 23Each capital had ninety-six pomegranates on the sides, and a total of a hundred pomegranates were above the surrounding network.