2 Chronicles 36

Jehoahaz Succeeds Josiah

(2 Kings 23:31–35)

1Then the peopleH5971 of the landH776 tookH3947 JehoahazH3059 sonH1121 of JosiahH2977 and made him kingH4427 in JerusalemH3389 in place ofH8478 his fatherH1.

2JehoahazH30991 was twenty-threeH7969H6242 years oldH1121H8141 when he became kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 in JerusalemH3389 threeH7969 monthsH2320. 3And the kingH4428 of EgyptH4714 dethroned himH5493 in JerusalemH3389 and imposedH6064 on Judah a levyH776 of a hundredH3967 talentsH3603 of silverH37012 and a talentH3603 of goldH2091.3

4Then Neco kingH4428 of EgyptH4714 made EliakimH471 brother of JehoahazH251 kingH4427 overH5921 JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389, and he changedH5437 Eliakim’s nameH8034 to JehoiakimH3079. But NecoH5224 tookH3947 Eliakim’s brotherH251 JehoahazH3099 and carried him offH935 to EgyptH4714.

Jehoiakim Reigns in Judah

(2 Kings 23:36–37)

5JehoiakimH3079 was twenty-fiveH6242H2568 years oldH1121H8141 when he became kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 in JerusalemH3389 elevenH259H6240 yearsH8141. And he didH6213 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LORDH3068 his GodH430.

6Then NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 came upH5927 against JehoiakimH5921 and bound himH631 with bronze shacklesH5178 to take himH1980 to BabylonH894. 7Nebuchadnezzar alsoH5019 tookH935 to BabylonH894 some of the articlesH3627 from the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, and he put themH5414 in his templeH19644 in BabylonH894.

8As for the restH3499 of the actsH1697 of JehoiakimH3079, the abominationsH8441 he committedH6213, and all that was foundH4672 against himH5921, they are indeedH2005 writtenH3789 inH5921 the BookH5612 of the KingsH4428 of IsraelH3478 and JudahH3063. And his sonH1121 JehoiachinH3078 reignedH4427 in his placeH8478.

Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah

(2 Kings 24:6–9)

9JehoiachinH3078 was eighteenH80835 yearsH8141 oldH1121 when he became kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 in JerusalemH3389 threeH7969 monthsH2320 and tenH6235 daysH3117. And he didH6213 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LORDH3068.

10In the springH8666H8141,6 KingH4428 NebuchadnezzarH5019 summonedH7971 Jehoiachin and brought himH935 to BabylonH894, along withH5973 the articlesH3627 of valueH2532 from the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068. And he made Jehoiachin’s relativeH2517 ZedekiahH6667 kingH4427 overH5921 JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389.

Zedekiah Reigns in Judah

(2 Kings 24:18–20; Jeremiah 52:1–3)

11ZedekiahH6667 was twenty-oneH6242H259 years oldH1121H8141 when he became kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 in JerusalemH3389 elevenH259H6240 yearsH8141. 12And he didH6213 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LORDH3068 his GodH430 and did notH3808 humble himselfH3665 beforeH6440 JeremiahH3414 the prophetH5030, who spokeH6310 for the LORDH3068.

13He alsoH1571 rebelledH4775 against KingH4428 NebuchadnezzarH5019, whoH834 had made him swearH7650 by GodH430. But Zedekiah stiffenedH7185 his neckH6203 and hardenedH5538 his heartH3824 against turningH7725 toH413 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478. 14FurthermoreH1571, allH3605 the leadersH8269 of the priestsH3548 and the peopleH5971 multipliedH7235 their unfaithful deedsH4603H4604, following allH3605 the abominationsH8441 of the nationsH1471, and they defiledH2930 the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, whichH834 He had consecratedH6942 in JerusalemH3389.

The Fall of Jerusalem

(2 Kings 25:1–7)

15Again and againH7925H79719 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of their fathersH1, sent wordH7971 toH5921 His people throughH3027 His messengersH4397 becauseH3588 He had compassionH2550 onH5921 them and onH5921 His dwelling placeH4583. 16But theyH1961 mockedH3931 the messengersH4397 of GodH430, despisingH959 His wordsH1697 and scoffingH8591 at His prophetsH5030, untilH5704 the wrathH2534 of the LORDH3068 against His peopleH5971H5704 was stirred upH5927 beyondH369 remedyH4832.

17So He brought upH5927 against themH5921 the kingH4428 of the ChaldeansH3778,10 who putH2026 their young menH970 to the swordH2719 in the sanctuaryH1004H4720, sparingH2550H5921 neitherH3808 young menH970 nor young womenH1330, neither elderlyH2205 nor infirmH3486. God gave themH5414 allH3605 into the handH3027 of Nebuchadnezzar, 18who carried offH935 everythingH3605 to BabylonH894—allH3605 the articlesH3627 of the houseH1004 of GodH430, both largeH1419 and smallH6996, and the treasuresH214 of the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 and of the kingH4428 and his officialsH8269. 19Then the Chaldeans set fire toH8313 the houseH1004 of GodH430 and broke downH5422 the wallH2346 of JerusalemH3389. They burned downH8313H784 allH3605 the palacesH759 and destroyedH7843 everyH3605 articleH3627 of valueH4261.

20Those who escapedH7611 the swordH2719 were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exileH1540 inH413 BabylonH894, and they becameH1961 servantsH5650 to him and his sonsH1121 untilH5704 the kingdomH4438 of PersiaH6539 came to powerH4427.

21So the landH776 enjoyedH7521 its SabbathH7676 restH7673 allH3605 the daysH3117 of the desolationH8074, untilH5704 seventyH7657 yearsH8141 were completedH4390, in fulfillmentH4390 of the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 spokenH6310 through JeremiahH3414.11

The Proclamation of Cyrus

(Ezra 1:1–4; Isaiah 45:1–25)

22In the firstH259 yearH8141 of CyrusH3566 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539, to fulfillH3615 the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 spokenH6310 through JeremiahH3414, the LORDH3068 stirredH5782 the spiritH7307 of CyrusH3566 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539 to sendH5674 a proclamationH6963 throughoutH3605 his kingdomH4438 andH1571 to put it in writingH4385 as followsH559:

23“This is whatH3541 CyrusH3566 kingH4428 of PersiaH6539 saysH559:

‘The LORDH3068, the GodH430 of heavenH8064, whoH1931 has givenH5414 me allH3605 the kingdomsH4467 of the earthH776, has appointedH6485 meH5921 to buildH1129 a houseH1004 for Him at JerusalemH3389 in JudahH3063.

WhoeverH4310 among you belongs toH3605 His peopleH5971, may the LORDH3068 his GodH430 be with himH5973, and may he go upH5927.’”