Observation

This question was not popular among the candidates as only a handful of candidates attempted it. From their narration, it was observed that candidates were not familiar with this story narrative as it appears as though it is strange to them and was not included in the bible narratives, moreover, majority of those who attempted it performed poorly. The supposed points candidates were expected to have written are;

A Destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon (2kgs 25: 1-17)

1. After the first deportation of the Jews into exile in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar made Mattaniah the next King over Judah
2. Mattaniah’s name was changed to Zedekiah to depict his new status as a puppet King
3. Zedekiah in his nineth year rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar as a result of pressure from his nobles and nations around.
4. Babylon then swiftly besieged Jerusalem till the eleventh year of Zedekiah.
5. The siege led to severe famine in Jerusalem.
6. Babylon then succeeded in making a breach in the walls of Jerusalem and entered the city.
7. Judah held on for some time but when the fight became fiercer, Zedekiah with his family and some men fled the city
8. They fled by way of Arabah but were chased and caught by the Chaldean army in the plains of Jericho
9. Zedekiah was captured and brought to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah where sentence was passed on him.
10. He was punished by seeing the execution of his two sons
11. His eyes were gouged out and he was bound in fetters and deported to Babylon where he died.
12. Later, Nebuzarraden came to destroy Jerusalem upon the instructions of Nebuchadnezzar.
13. He burnt down the temple, the King’s house and the walls of Jerusalem
14. Nebuzarradan carried away many Jews into captivity leaving the poor and the weak.
15. He also took away all vessels of gold and silver in the temple

1. Bribery and corruption
2. Gossiping and backbiting
3. Greed and selfishness
4. Lack of love for one another
5. Jealousy and envy
6. Quarrelling and fighting
7. Unforgiveness
8. Drug abuse
9. Child abuse
10. Sexual immorality
11. Bearing false witness