48. Although King Nebuchadnezzar had forced Zedekiah to swear in the Lord's name that he would be loyal to him, Zedekiah broke his oath and rebelled against him. He stubbornly refused to obey the commands of the Lord, the God of Israel.
49. In addition, the leaders of the people and even the chief priests did more lawless and godless things than all the corrupt heathen; they defiled the Temple of the Lord, which he had made holy.
50. The God of their ancestors had continued to send prophets to call them back from their sins, because he wanted to spare them and their Temple.
51. But when the Lord spoke through his prophets, the people ridiculed them and laughed.
52. At last the Lord became so angry with his people and their depraved ways that he ordered the kings of Babylonia to attack them.