Table of Contents
The Short-Lived Reigns of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim (2 Chronicles 36:1-8)
2 Chronicles 36:1-4 The people of the land took Josiah’s son Jehoahaz and made him king in Jerusalem. He was twenty-three years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem for three months. The king of Egypt, Necho, dethroned him in Jerusalem. He imposed on the land a fine of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. Necho then made Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem. He changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. Necho took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him off to Egypt. These verses describe the chaotic succession after Josiah’s death. Jehoahaz was chosen by the people. He was king for only three months. This brief reign highlights Judah’s weakened political state. The Egyptian king, Necho, showed his dominance. He removed Jehoahaz. He installed Jehoahaz’s brother as a puppet king. Changing his name from Eliakim to Jehoiakim was a sign of Necho’s authority. The fine on the land was a heavy burden. This was a consequence of Josiah’s fatal error at Megiddo. The nation’s independence was lost.
2 Chronicles 36:5-8 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem for eleven years. He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him. He bound him with bronze chains to take him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the articles from the temple of the Lord to Babylon. He put them in his temple. The other events of Jehoiakim’s reign are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. This section covers the reign of Jehoiakim. It was a period of continued wickedness. His evil actions were a direct contrast to his father Josiah. This spiritual decline led to political disaster. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon emerged as the new dominant power. The king was captured. The temple treasures were plundered. This was the first wave of exile. It was a sign of the coming judgment. It was a sad end to the line of righteous kings.
The Reigns of Jehoiachin and Zedekiah (2 Chronicles 36:9-16)
2 Chronicles 36:9-10 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem for three months and ten days. He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. In the spring of the year, Nebuchadnezzar sent for him. He had him brought to Babylon along with the valuable articles from the temple of the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiachin’s uncle Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. Jehoiachin’s reign was even shorter than his father’s. He also did what was evil. This brief reign showed the nation’s instability. It was a final blow to their sovereignty. The Babylonian king took him into exile. The temple was plundered once more. The new king, Zedekiah, was installed by Nebuchadnezzar. He was not a king by God’s choice. This marked the end of the Davidic line on the throne of Judah.
2 Chronicles 36:11-16 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem for eleven years. He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the Lord. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name. He became stubborn and hardened his heart. He would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel. Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became unfaithful. They practiced all the detestable sins of the nations.
They defiled the temple of the Lord, which he had made holy. The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent messengers to them. He sent them again and again. This was because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers. They despised his words. They scoffed at his prophets. The wrath of the Lord came upon them. There was no remedy. Zedekiah’s reign was the final act of a tragic drama. He was the last king of Judah. He was evil. He ignored God’s messengers. He rebelled against Babylon. The text highlights his stubbornness. It also mentions the widespread unfaithfulness of the people and priests. They practiced detestable sins. They defiled the temple. God showed great compassion by sending prophets like Jeremiah. But the people rejected the warnings. Their rebellion sealed their fate. It was a point of no return.
The Fall of Jerusalem and the Exile (2 Chronicles 36:17-21)
2 Chronicles 36:17-19 The Lord brought up against them the king of the Babylonians. He killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary. He had no pity on young men or women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God. He took both large and small articles. He also took the treasures of the Lord’s temple. He took the treasures of the king and his officials. They set fire to the temple of God. They broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned all the palaces. They destroyed all the valuable articles. These verses describe the final and complete destruction. It was the fulfillment of God’s warnings. The Babylonian king was God’s instrument of judgment. There was no mercy. The sanctuary was defiled by bloodshed. The temple was burned. The city walls were torn down. The palaces were destroyed. Everything was taken or ruined. The city that was once holy became a ruin.
2 Chronicles 36:20-21 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant who survived the sword. They were servants to him and his descendants until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The land enjoyed its sabbath rests. It rested all the time of its desolation until the seventy years were completed. It was a fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah. The people who survived were taken to Babylon. They became slaves. This was the end of the kingdom. The land lay desolate for seventy years. This fulfilled a prophecy from Jeremiah. The land rested. It was a sabbath for the land. The people’s disobedience was punished. The land’s desecration was cleansed. This shows God’s justice. The exile was a harsh lesson.
The Decree of King Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:22-23)
2 Chronicles 36:22-23 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah was fulfilled. The Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia. He made a proclamation throughout his kingdom. He also put it in writing. He said, “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up. May the Lord their God be with them.'” These final verses offer a glimmer of hope. The seventy years of captivity were over. God used a pagan king, Cyrus, to fulfill his plan. God is sovereign over all nations. Cyrus’s decree was a sign of God’s faithfulness. He had not forgotten his people. He was ready to restore them. The temple would be rebuilt. The people could return home. It was the beginning of a new chapter in Israel’s history. The story ends not with destruction but with the promise of restoration.
A Verse by Verse Commentary
2 Chronicles 36:1-4: Royal Puppets After Josiah’s death, the people chose a king. But their choice was overruled by Pharaoh Necho. This shows Judah’s political weakness. It was a sign of their loss of independence. Their king was now a pawn.
2 Chronicles 36:5-8: The King and the Chains Jehoiakim was a wicked king. His evil actions were a rebellion against God. The Lord allowed Babylon to conquer him. The plundering of the temple was a visual sign of God’s anger. It was the first step toward exile.
2 Chronicles 36:9-10: Another Captivity Jehoiachin’s reign was very short. He also did evil. This shows the quick succession of wicked kings. He was also taken to Babylon. The temple was plundered again. This was the second wave of exile.
2 Chronicles 36:11-16: The Final Rejection Zedekiah was a wicked king. He was the last king. He was stubborn. He refused to listen to Jeremiah. The people also rebelled against God. They rejected the prophets. This was the final act of rebellion. There was no more time for repentance. The nation’s fate was sealed.
2 Chronicles 36:17-19: Judgment Comes The Lord brought judgment. The Babylonian army was God’s tool. They destroyed the city. They killed the people. The temple was burned. The walls were torn down. This was the fulfillment of the curses in the Law. It was a consequence of their sin.
2 Chronicles 36:20-21: The Sabbath Rest The survivors were taken to Babylon. The land was left empty. It was desolate for seventy years. This was a Sabbath rest for the land. It was a punishment for the people’s disobedience. It was a sign that God’s word is true.
2 Chronicles 36:22-23: A New Beginning The prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled. God used Cyrus of Persia. He allowed the people to return. He commanded the temple to be rebuilt. This was an act of God’s faithfulness. It was a new chapter. It showed that God’s compassion endures.
Cross references
2 Chronicles 36:1-4 with 2 Kings 23:31-35 Both chapters describe the short reign of Jehoahaz. They mention his age and the length of his reign. Both state that he was dethroned by Pharaoh Necho. They also mention the fine imposed on the land.
2 Chronicles 36:5-8 with 2 Kings 24:1-6 Both passages describe the evil reign of Jehoiakim. They both say that Nebuchadnezzar came and took him. The mention of the temple vessels being taken to Babylon is found in both accounts.
2 Chronicles 36:9-10 with 2 Kings 24:8-17 Both accounts detail the brief reign of Jehoiachin. They state his age and the length of his reign. They mention that Nebuchadnezzar came and took him to Babylon. The plundering of the temple vessels is also recorded in both places.
2 Chronicles 36:11-16 with 2 Kings 24:18-20, Jeremiah 52:1-3 These passages describe the evil reign of Zedekiah. They all state that he did evil. They also mention his rebellion against Babylon. The book of Jeremiah provides more detail about Zedekiah’s refusal to listen to God’s prophet.
2 Chronicles 36:20-21 with Jeremiah 25:11-12, Jeremiah 29:10 These verses link the seventy years of captivity to the words of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 25:11-12 explicitly mentions the seventy-year period of desolation. Jeremiah 29:10 repeats this prophecy and gives a promise of hope after the time is fulfilled.
2 Chronicles 36:22-23 with Ezra 1:1-4 These final verses of 2 Chronicles are almost identical to the first verses of Ezra. This shows that the two books were connected. Ezra begins with the fulfillment of the prophecy mentioned in Chronicles. This shows the return of the exiles was a work of God.