June 26, 2006, Friday of the 12th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the second book of Kings.

In the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, on the tenth day of the month,

Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon and his whole army advanced against Jerusalem, and camped around it, and built

siege walls on every side. The siege of the city continued until the 11th year of Zedekiah.

On the ninth day of the fourth month, when famine had gripped the city, and the people had no more

bread, the city walls were breached.

Then the king and all the soldiers left the city by night,

through the gate between the two walls that was near the king's garden.

Since the Chaldeans had the city surrounded, they went in the direction of the Araba.

But the Chaldean army pursued the king and overtook him in the desert near Jericho, abandoned by his whole army.

The king was therefore arrested and brought to Ribla, to the king of Babylon, who pronounced

sentence on him. He had Zedekiah's sons slain before his

eyes. Then he blinded Zedekiah, bound him with fetters, and had him brought to Babylon.

On the seventh day of the fifth month, this was in the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. Nebuchadon, captain of the bodyguard,

came to Jerusalem as the representative of the king of Babylon. He burned the house of the Lord,

the palace of the king, and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every large building was destroyed by fire.

Then the Chaldean troops, who were with the captain of the guard, tore down the walls that

surrounded Jerusalem. Then Nebizaradon, captain of the guard, led into exile the last of the people

remaining in the city, and those who had deserted to the

king of Babylon, and the last of the artisans. But some of the country's poor, Nebizaradon,

captain of the guard, left behind as vine dressers and farmers. The word of the Lord.

...