586 b.c.
As punishment for Zedekiah’s rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem. After the Babylonians had made a breach in the wall at the middle gate, Zedekiah realized his fate was sealed if he stayed in the city, so he and his soldiers attempted to escape during the night through a gate between two walls at the southeast corner of the city. The Babylonians overtook him near Jericho, however, and he was sent to Riblah for judgment. Then Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the walls of Jerusalem and the temple and exiled many of the people to Babylon (see 52:1–34).
