2 Kings 25:7

They slew the sons of Zedekiah.

Usually, in those days, the children were involved in the hapless fate of the father. They were slain before his eyes in order to add to the bitterness of his punishment. Pity was not. characteristic of an oriental monarch.

And put out the eyes of Zedekiah.

Not until he had seen his sons slain. Blinding was. common Eastern punishment. The Philistines blinded Sampson, an Assyrian sculpture represents Sargon blinding. prisoner, the Shahs of Persia, until. recent period, blinded their brothers, when they ascended the throne. Ezekiel declared (12:13) that Zedekiah should not "see" Babylon, and Jeremiah (32:5) declared that he should be carried there. Both predictions were fulfilled.