Free group study handout
Jeremiah 52: Group Study Handout
How to use: read Jeremiah 52 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.
Overview
Zedekiah was twenty-one when he became king. He ruled for eleven years and did evil in Yahweh's sight as Jehoiakim had done (vv. 1-3).
Key verse
“He burned Yahweh’s house, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, he burned with fire.”
Jeremiah 52:13 (WEB)
Outline
- Jeremiah 52:1–3 Zedekiah's Reign and Rebellion
- Jeremiah 52:4–8 Siege of Jerusalem
- Jeremiah 52:9–11 Zedekiah's Fate
- Jeremiah 52:12–16 Destruction of Jerusalem
- Jeremiah 52:17–23 Looting of Sacred Objects
- Jeremiah 52:24–27 Execution of Judean Leaders
- Jeremiah 52:28–34 Captivity and Hope for Jehoiachin
Discussion questions
- In v3, what does it mean that Zedekiah did 'evil in Yahweh's sight'?
- What happens in v10 to Zedekiah's sons?
- Zedekiah's rebellion in vv. 2-3: how does this connect to the themes of disobedience?
- In v27, why does the king of Babylon put those to death at Riblah?
- When have you witnessed consequences for actions like Zedekiah's in v11?
Go deeper
Passages that echo Jeremiah 52: 2 Kings 25, Jeremiah 39, 1 Kings 7.
Before next time: read Lamentations 1.