2 Chronicles - Chapter 36

2 Chronicles 36.1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s stead in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 36.2 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 36.3 And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 2 Chronicles 36.4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt. 2 Chronicles 36.5 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. 2 Chronicles 36.6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. 2 Chronicles 36.7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. 2 Chronicles 36.8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. 2 Chronicles 36.9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 36.10 And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 36.11 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 36.12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 36.13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 36.14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 36.15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 2 Chronicles 36.16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. 2 Chronicles 36.17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. 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. 2 Chronicles 36.19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. 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: 2 Chronicles 36.21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 2 Chronicles 36.22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Chronicles 36.23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

2 Chronicles : Chapter 36

The End of the Kingdom of Judah according to 2 Chronicles 36

Chapter 36 of the book of 2 Chronicles describes the tragic end of the Kingdom of Judah and the irreversible consequences of the persistent rejection of God. This dramatic account highlights the last kings of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the subsequent Babylonian exile. Through this text, we discover themes of divine judgment, the consequences of continued disobedience, and God's faithfulness to His promises.

Although this chapter depicts dark events, it ends on a hopeful note with the decree of Cyrus, king of Persia, announcing the return of the exiles. We invite you to consider five biblical passages that shed light on the crucial themes of this final chapter.

Jeremiah 22:24-30

"As I live," declares the Lord, "if you, Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right finger, I would tear it off. [...] None of his descendants will be able to sit on the throne of David or rule in Judah." This prophetic passage from Jeremiah refers to King Jehoiachin, mentioned in 2 Chronicles 36, announcing the end of the royal line of Judah.

Daniel 1:1-2

"In the third year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with certain vessels of the temple of God." This passage provides additional details about the beginning of the Babylonian exile, enriching the account in 2 Chronicles 36.

Jeremiah 25:11

"All this land will become a desolate waste, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years." This prophecy of Jeremiah relates directly to the Babylonian exile described in 2 Chronicles 36, predicting its duration and devastating impact on God's people.

Ezra 1:1-3

"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord which had been spoken by Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, and he caused these things to be proclaimed throughout his kingdom." This passage connects directly to the end of 2 Chronicles 36, showing the fulfillment of the prophecy and the beginning of the return from exile, a promise of restoration for God's people.

Lamentations 1:1

"How lonely is this city, though it be crowded! She is become like a widow, great among the nations!" This lament over the fall of Jerusalem is directly linked to the events described in 2 Chronicles 36, expressing the grief and desolation caused by the exile, but also a call to repentance and reflection on God's faithfulness.

Meditating on these passages, we are invited to reflect on our own relationship with God, to recognize the consequences of our actions, and to remember that, even in the darkest times, God remains faithful to His promises.