The Siege of Jerusalem
Throughout Scripture, God reveals that He knows the future and understands the outcome of every choice His people make. In His love, He promised blessings when Israel remained under His protection. But He also warned that choosing evil would remove them from that protection, leaving them vulnerable to the consequences of their actions. One of the most sobering examples of this principle is the predicted siege of Jerusalem.
God’s warnings were not threats but merciful appeals. He desired to protect His people, but if they rejected Him, the natural result would be destruction. The sieges that eventually fell upon Jerusalem were tragic fulfillments of these prophetic warnings.
God’s Covenant With Israel
In Deuteronomy 28, God made a covenant with Israel outlining two paths: obedience and blessing, or disobedience and curse. The blessings promised for faithfulness were abundant and far-reaching (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). They included prosperity, protection, victory over enemies, and continual favor.
But the consequences of rebellion were equally clear (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). God warned that disobedience would lead to disease, famine, defeat, captivity, and ultimately the horrific conditions of siege warfare. God did not desire these curses to fall, but He allowed Israel the freedom to choose their path.
Despite Israel’s repeated failures, God sent prophet after prophet to call His people back. Through Ezekiel, the Lord pleaded, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked… turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11). His appeals reveal His compassion even in the face of judgment.
The Prophetic Warnings of Coming Judgment
Several Old Testament prophets foresaw the horrors that would follow Israel’s rebellion.
Moses’ Prophecies
Moses foretold extreme conditions during a coming siege. “You shall eat the flesh of your sons and… your daughters” (Leviticus 26:29). He repeated this warning in Deuteronomy 28:53, explaining that desperate starvation would lead to unthinkable acts.
Moses had warned Israel many times that rejecting God’s covenant would bring devastation. His predictions were not exaggerated; they later came to pass with chilling accuracy.
Jeremiah’s Prophecy
Jeremiah also predicted that famine and desperation would overtake Jerusalem:
“I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and… their daughters… in the siege…” (Jeremiah 19:9). His message came during a time when Judah was refusing to listen, and his warnings were largely ignored.
Ezekiel’s Prophecy
Ezekiel likewise spoke of the coming judgment: “Therefore fathers shall eat their sons… and sons shall eat their fathers” (Ezekiel 5:10). This was not God’s desire but the consequence of abandoning Him.
These predictions reveal the seriousness of Israel’s apostasy and the depth of suffering that sin produces.
Fulfillment of the Prophecies
The horrifying predictions given by Moses, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were fulfilled in three major sieges, each demonstrating the tragic outcome of rejecting God.
1. The Syrian Siege of Samaria
The first fulfillment occurred during the Syrian siege of Samaria (2 Kings 6:28-29). The famine became so severe that two women agreed to kill and eat their children. This shocking act fulfills the warnings in Leviticus and Deuteronomy almost word for word.
2. The Babylonian Siege of Jerusalem
The second fulfillment came during the Chaldean siege when Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem. The book of Lamentations describes the horror:
“Shall the women eat their fruit, children of a span long?” (Lamentations 2:20).
Lamentations 4:10 adds, “The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children.”
Jeremiah witnessed the collapse of Jerusalem and recorded the despair, cruelty, and starvation that overpowered the city.
3. The Roman Siege of Jerusalem (A.D. 70)
The final and most devastating fulfillment came centuries later during the Roman siege under the general Titus. The Jewish historian Josephus writes that famine became so severe that a mother consumed her own child (Wars VI.3.4). His testimony provides historical confirmation of the biblical prophecy.
During the Roman siege:
- Thousands died of starvation
- Disease spread rapidly
- People fought over scraps of food
- Natural affection disappeared
- Families turned against one another
The prophet’s earlier question, “Can a woman forget her nursing child?” (Isaiah 49:15), found its horrifying answer within the walls of Jerusalem.
Deuteronomy 28:56-57 had predicted that even the most delicate woman, who would not place her foot upon the ground, would eat her children secretly during a siege. Fourteen centuries later, this exact prophecy was fulfilled.
Why These Judgments Came
The judgments were not arbitrary punishments but the tragic result of rejecting God’s protection. Sin leads to destruction. When Israel repeatedly turned to idolatry, violence, and injustice, they removed themselves from the shelter God longed to provide.
God sent countless warnings. He raised prophets, performed miracles, protected them from enemies, and pleaded for repentance. But when the nation chose rebellion, the consequences they had been warned of came upon them.
The severity of the sieges reveals the truth that turning from God ultimately leads to ruin. Not because God desires it, but because separation from Him results in chaos, suffering, and death.
Lessons for Today
The history of Jerusalem’s sieges teaches several enduring lessons:
God Honors Human Choice
God allows people-and nations-to choose obedience or rebellion. He does not force allegiance. But choices have consequences.
God Gives Repeated Warnings
Before judgment comes, God always sends light, guidance, and calls to return. His mercy endures long before wrath falls.
Sin Leads to Suffering
Israel’s sieges reveal the destructive power of sin. Turning away from God eventually destroys peace, love, and even natural affection.
God’s Word Is Certain
The precise fulfillment of prophecy across centuries shows that Scripture can be trusted. God’s warnings are not empty; His promises and judgments alike are sure.
Conclusion
The siege of Jerusalem stands as one of the most sobering fulfillments of biblical prophecy. Through Moses, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, God warned that disobedience would bring devastating consequences. Tragically, these predictions came true in the sieges of Samaria, Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar, and finally under the Romans in A.D. 70.
Yet even in judgment, God’s heart of mercy is seen. He pleaded for repentance, urged His people to turn from sin, and offered protection if they would only return. The history of Jerusalem serves as both a warning and an invitation. God desires life, not death. Blessing, not curse. Obedience brings peace and safety. Rebellion leads to destruction.
The choice remains as urgent today as it was in ancient Israel.
The Chinese would trade their children with other families during famines and sieges so as not to have to kill and eat their own children. This practice was an expediency as children were forfeit in these situations. If the parents died before the children, other adults would certainly cannibalize them without parental protection. After the famine was over the surviving parents could have new children. As for the "gods", it doesn't matter which "gods were worshipped or not worshipped, famines occurred everywhere regardless. The "gods have nothing to do with it, but this is what priests want the people to believe because it gives power to the priests. The priests want the people to believe that their "sins" caused the famine/siege–this is priestly skulduggery. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Sam Imburgia