(a) Describe king Nebuchadnezzar's attack on Judah. [11 marks]
Explanation
(a) 2Kings 24:10 17; 25:1 — 17:
(i) As King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, King Jehoiachin surrendered his administration to him.
(ii) The King of Babylon carried away all the treasures in the King's house.
(iii) All the vessels of gold in the temple were destroyed.
(iv) Able bodied people of Jerusalem (i.e. the princes, mighty men of valour and thousands of captives) were carried away.
(v) He carried away King Jehoiachin and his household to Babylon.
(vi) He left behind the poorest of the land.
(vii) He appointed Mattaniah King and renamed him Zedekiah.
(viii) Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon and this led to another round of siege on the city this eventually brought famine.
(ix) Zedekiah, who escaped, was overtaken and arrested.
(x) He was brought to the King of Babylon where his two sons were killed in his presence.
(xi) Nebuzaradan came to set the house of the Lord on fire, including the king's house and other houses in Jerusalem.
(xii) The army of the Chaldeans led by the captain of the guard broke down walls around Jerusalem and carried captives to Babylon.
(xiii) Some of the people left in the land were vinedressers and ploughmen.
(xiv) Some precious material (i.e. pillars of bronze, the stands and bronze sea) were destroyed.
(xv) But the pots, shovels, snuffers, dishes, incense, vessels of bronze, fine pan, gold and silver materials were carried away to Babylon.
(b) Four effects of war on a nation:
(i) Bitterness
(ii) Famine
(iii) Distrust
(iv) Enmity
(v) Suspicion
(vi) Calamity
(vii) Loss of life and property
(viii) Poverty
(ix) Disunity/disorderliness/unrest
(x) Underdevelopment
(xi) Death/ destruction of lives