On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Even in the midst of utter devastation, notice the specific detail: it wasn't just food that was gone, but food for the people of the land. This highlights how the crisis struck at the very heart of their society, the common sustenance, leaving no one untouched by its grip.
On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse plunges us into the grim final days of Jerusalem. Just before this, the Babylonians have already breached the city walls, signaling the complete collapse of its defenses. This famine, therefore, isn't just a hardship; it's the crushing final blow to a desperate people already under siege, leading directly to the destruction of the temple and the exile of the remaining population.
Famine isn't just about missing a meal; it's a total societal breakdown. What happens when the most basic need goes unmet?
This verse paints a stark picture of desperation. The phrase 'no food for the people of the land' highlights the completeness of the devastation.
Total Deprivation
This wasn't a temporary shortage; it was a complete absence of sustenance. The entire population, from the highest to the lowest, suffered.
Siege's Cruel Reality
This scene is the brutal culmination of a prolonged siege. Enemies would surround a city, cutting off all supplies. The goal was to starve the inhabitants into surrender.
A Sign of Judgment
In the Old Testament, extreme hardship like famine was often understood as a consequence of disobedience and God's judgment.
Specific dates in Scripture often carry immense weight. Why is 'the ninth day of the fourth month' so significant in Jerusalem's story?
The Bible is precise, and the mention of 'the ninth day of the fourth month' isn't accidental. It marks a specific, terrible milestone.
A Date of Destruction
This date is forever etched in Israel's history as the day the Babylonians broke through Jerusalem's walls. It was the beginning of the end for the city and the Temple.
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Culmination of Suffering
This verse shows the result of the siege reaching its peak. The famine was so severe by this point that the people had nothing left to sustain them.
Historical Trauma
For the people of Judah, this date would have represented utter devastation, loss, and the shattering of their national and spiritual hopes.
Understand the original words
ra'ab · Hebrew Noun
An extreme shortage of food, often used in Scripture as a sign of divine judgment or covenantal curse upon a nation for disobedience.
This verse plunges us into the horrific final days of Jerusalem's siege. The dire famine described is a direct result of the relentless Babylonian military pressure, demonstrating the devastating consequences of disobedience and rebellion against God's warnings.
701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria besieged Jerusalem, though the city ultimately survived. This event highlighted the vulnerability of Judah to foreign powers.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeats Egypt and begins deporting skilled Judeans, including young nobles like Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the start of Babylonian dominance.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. Jehoiachin is replaced by Zedekiah.
588-587 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem after King Zedekiah rebels. The siege lasts for about 18 months, causing extreme hardship.
587/586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces breach Jerusalem's walls, loot and destroy the Temple and the city. Most remaining Judeans are deported to Babylon.
c. 582 BC
Third Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar conducts another deportation from Judah, further reducing the population left behind.
This passage describes the exact same event, providing the same detail about the severe famine on the ninth day of the fourth month, reinforcing the devastating impact of the siege.
Lamentations 1:11The Book of Lamentations vividly portrays the suffering of Jerusalem during its siege, echoing the hunger and despair described in 2 Kings 25:3 as the people cry out for sustenance.
Ezekiel 4:16This prophecy foretells a time when food will be scarce and rationed in Jerusalem, directly paralleling the extreme famine conditions described in 2 Kings 25:3 where people lacked basic nourishment.
Deuteronomy 28:53-57This passage is a warning about the consequences of disobedience, including the horror of a city being besieged and parents resorting to desperate measures due to severe famine, which is what unfolded in 2 Kings 25:3.
Even in the midst of utter devastation, notice the specific detail: it wasn't just food that was gone, but food for the people of the land. This highlights how the crisis struck at the very heart of their society, the common sustenance, leaving no one untouched by its grip.
This verse plunges us into the grim final days of Jerusalem. Just before this, the Babylonians have already breached the city walls, signaling the complete collapse of its defenses. This famine, therefore, isn't just a hardship; it's the crushing final blow to a desperate people already under siege, leading directly to the destruction of the temple and the exile of the remaining population.
This verse plunges us into the grim final days of Jerusalem. Just before this, the Babylonians have already breached the city walls, signaling the complete collapse of its defenses. This famine, therefore, isn't just a hardship; it's the crushing final blow to a desperate people already under siege, leading directly to the destruction of the temple and the exile of the remaining population.
"On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land." — Even in the midst of utter devastation, notice the specific detail: it wasn't just food that was gone, but food for the people of the land. This highlights how the crisis struck at the very heart…
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Last reviewed October 2026