The temple vessels were taken to Babylon because Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem after God gave Judah into his hand—an act of judgment on Israel for their disobedience.
Daniel 1:2 says the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into Nebuchadnezzar's hand along with part of the vessels of the house of God. Second Chronicles 36:18 records that all the vessels of the house of God and the temple treasures were brought to Babylon. Les Feldick teaches that God used Nebuchadnezzar to take Israel out of the land and carry off the temple wealth because they would not straighten up.
Daniel 1:2 — This verse directly says the Lord gave Jehoiakim into Nebuchadnezzar's hand together with part of the temple vessels, showing the conquest setting.
2 Chronicles 36:18 — This verse records that all the vessels of God's house and the temple treasures were brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.
In Daniel 1:1-2, Scripture records that Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and besieged it, and "the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god." Thus the vessels were carried to Babylon as part of the conquest. Second Chronicles 36:18-20 describes the larger removal: "And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon." It also says those who escaped the sword were carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to Nebuchadnezzar and his sons. The Bible therefore presents the taking of the vessels as part of Babylon's conquest of Judah and the deportation of the people.
Les Feldick places the event historically in 606 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and took the Jews captive (Clips 0, 3, 4). He points directly to 2 Chronicles 36:18 and says all the vessels of the house of God and the temple treasures were taken to Babylon (Clip 1). The theological reason, Les teaches, is that God used Nebuchadnezzar to take Israel out of the land and to take all the temple wealth—something God had promised through the prophets would happen if Israel did not straighten up; they did not, so Babylon came (Clip 5). He also emphasizes that God then judged Nebuchadnezzar for misusing Israel (Clip 5). Les frames this within the beginning of the Gentile empires ruling over Jerusalem (Clip 4).
Les Feldick dates the Babylonian invasion and the removal of the temple vessels to 606 B.C. He says, "When Nebuchadnezzar came over in 606 B.C. and he took where we see Daniel and all the Jews captive back to Babylon" (Clip 3). He also notes that Nebuchadnezzar's forces utterly destroyed the temple, which Ezra later returned to rebuild (Clips 2, 3).
Les explains that Nebuchadnezzar was the one God used to take Israel out of the land—something God had been promising through the prophets for years would happen if they did not straighten up. Israel did not straighten up, so Nebuchadnezzar came, took them out, and took all the temple wealth with him. Les also stresses that God then came down on Nebuchadnezzar with wrath because he misused Israel (Clip 5).
Les teaches that from 606 B.C., the Jews were in Babylonian captivity for 70 years. Afterward, God made a commandment through Cyrus, king of Persia, for a remnant to return and rebuild the temple under Ezra (Clips 2, 3). He also notes that only a few thousand Jews came back to Jerusalem to reestablish temple worship, while the rest assimilated throughout the Gentile nations (Clip 7).
Nebuchadnezzar Overruns Jerusalem
Les sets the scene: Nebuchadnezzar besieged and overran Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and took the Jews captive, with Daniel among the young captives.
Vessels Taken to Babylon
Les reads 2 Chronicles 36:18 and 20, showing that all the vessels of God's house and the temple treasures were taken to Babylon, with Nebuchadnezzar carrying away those who escaped the sword.
606 B.C. Date and Later Rebuilding
Les dates the Babylonian captivity from 606 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, and notes that Ezra later rebuilt the temple under Cyrus.
Captivity and Rebuilding
Les repeats the 606 B.C. date and the 70-year captivity, and explains that Ezra returned to rebuild the temple that Nebuchadnezzar's forces had destroyed.
Beginning of Gentile Empires
Les places Nebuchadnezzar's siege and temple destruction at the start of the Gentile empires that would rule over Jerusalem—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
God's Judgment Through Babylon
Les explains that God used Nebuchadnezzar to take Israel out of the land and to carry off all the temple wealth as the judgment He had promised if Israel would not straighten up—and that God then judged Nebuchadnezzar for misusing Israel.
Revelation 18 & Daniel 2: The Fall of Babylon Explained
But here in Jeremiah chapter 51, and let's come down to verse 7, Jeremiah 51 verse 7. "...Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, that made all the earth drunken." Now here again we have to be careful. Babylon, of which Nebuchadnezzar and his son and grandson ruled, was the empire that covered the then known earth, didn't it? That part of the world that was civilized and occupied and so…
Only a Few Thousand Returned
Les notes that after the 606 B.C. captivity, only a few thousand Jews returned to Jerusalem to reestablish temple worship; the rest assimilated among the nations.
Daniel 1:2: And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
This verse directly connects the taking of the temple vessels to Nebuchadnezzar's conquest and God's sovereign handing over of Judah.
2 Chronicles 36:18: And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.
This verse states plainly that all the temple vessels and treasures were brought to Babylon.
2 Chronicles 36:20: And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia.
This verse places the removal of the vessels within the larger deportation of the people of Judah to Babylon.
Les Feldick teaches that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and took the Jews captive (Clips 0, 4). Scripture says he brought all the vessels of God's house and the temple treasures to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:18).
Les dates the Babylonian invasion to 606 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel and the Jews captive to Babylon (Clips 2, 3). He also says the captivity lasted 70 years.
Les teaches that God had promised through the prophets that Israel would be taken out of the land if they didn't straighten up; they didn't, so God used Nebuchadnezzar to take them out and carry off the temple wealth (Clip 5).
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Times of the Gentiles