The last king, Zedekiah, rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. After a horrible famine caused by a siege, Zedekiah tried to escape. He was captured and taken to the Babylonian king. As punishment, Zedekiah’s sons were killed in front of him. That was the last sight he saw. They blinded him, bound him with bronze chains and took him to Babylon.
The Babylonians burned every building and house in Jerusalem, including the Temple, and broke down the city walls. They took all the treasures and important people into exile in Babylon, and left poor people behind to keep the land productive. This was the final end to the Southern Kingdom.
A little less than five centuries from King Saul to King Zedekiah. The people wanted a king just like the countries around them, and they got kings just like the countries around them: kings who disobeyed God, and led the people into further disobedience. God was patient, but he finally had enough.
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