2 Chronicles 36

Judah's Decline

1 m The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3 Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and n laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent 1 of gold. 4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt.

5 o Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. 6 p Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon q and bound him in chains r to take him to Babylon. 7 s Nebuchadnezzar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon. 8 t Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

9 u Jehoiachin was eighteen 2 years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 10 In v the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, w with the precious vessels of the house of the Lord, and made his brother x Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

11 y Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before z Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord. 13 a He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. b He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord, the God of Israel. 14 All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the Lord that he had made holy in Jerusalem.

15 The Lord, the God of their fathers, c sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 d But they kept mocking the messengers of God, e despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, f until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

Jerusalem Captured and Burned

17 g Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. 18 h 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. 19 i And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels. 20 He j took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, k and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had l enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate m it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

The Proclamation of Cyrus

22 n Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, o that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, p the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 23 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.'"

  1. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 36:1 - 4
    The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem.
    2 Kings 23:30 - 34
    And his servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo and brought him to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's place.
  2. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 22:19
    And they shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the father of the young woman, because he has brought a bad name upon a virgin of Israel. And she shall be his wife. He may not divorce her all his days.
  3. Cross References
    2 Kings 23:36 - 37
    Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
  4. Cross References
    2 Kings 24:1
    In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.
  5. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 33:11
    Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon.
  6. Cross References
    2 Kings 24:6
    So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
    Jeremiah 22:18 - 19
    Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They shall not lament for him, saying, 'Ah, my brother!' or 'Ah, sister!' They shall not lament for him, saying, 'Ah, lord!' or 'Ah, his majesty!
    Jeremiah 36:30
    Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night.
  7. Cross References
    2 Kings 24:13
    And carried off all the treasures of the house ...
    Ezra 1:7
    Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of ...
    Daniel 1:1 - 2
    In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim kin...
    Daniel 5:2
    Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded ...
    2 Chronicles 36:10
    In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar s...
    2 Chronicles 36:18
    And all the vessels of the house of God, great ...
  8. Cross References
    2 Kings 24:5 - 6
    Now the rest of the deeds of Jehoiakim and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
  9. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 36:9 - 10
    Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.
    2 Kings 24:8 - 17
    Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
  10. Cross References
    2 Samuel 11:1
    In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
  11. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 36:7
    Nebuchadnezzar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon.
    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.
  12. Cross References
    Jeremiah 37:1
    Zedekiah the son of Josiah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah, reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim.
    2 Kings 24:17
    And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
  13. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 36:11 - 13
    Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
    2 Kings 24:18 - 20
    Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
    Jeremiah 52:1 - 2
    Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
  14. Cross References
    Jeremiah 21:3 - 7
    Then Jeremiah said to them:
    Jeremiah 27:12 - 22
    To Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke in like manner: "Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people and live.
    Jeremiah 32:1 - 5
    The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.
    Jeremiah 37:6 - 10
    Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet:
    Jeremiah 38:17 - 26
    Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: If you will surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then your life shall be spared, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live.
  15. Cross References
    Jeremiah 52:3
    For because of the anger of the Lord things came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
    Ezekiel 17:15
    But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?
    Ezekiel 17:18
    He despised the oath in breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and did all these things; he shall not escape.
  16. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 30:8
    Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.
  17. Cross References
    Jeremiah 7:13
    And now, because you have done all these things...
    Jeremiah 7:25
    From the day that your fathers came out of the ...
    Jeremiah 25:3 - 4
    For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth yea...
    Jeremiah 26:5
    And to listen to the words of my servants the p...
    Jeremiah 29:19
    Because they did not pay attention to my words,...
    Jeremiah 35:15
    I have sent to you all my servants the prophets...
    Jeremiah 44:4
    Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants ...
    Jeremiah 11:7
    For I solemnly warned your fathers when I broug...
    Jeremiah 32:33
    They have turned to me their back and not their...
  18. Cross References
    Jeremiah 5:12 - 13
    They have spoken falsely of the Lord and have said, 'He will do nothing; no disaster will come upon us, nor shall we see sword or famine.
  19. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:25
    Because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof.
    Proverbs 1:30
    Would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof.
  20. Cross References
    Ezra 5:12
    But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia.
  21. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 36:17 - 20
    Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand.
    2 Kings 25:1 - 7
    And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it.
    Deuteronomy 28:49
    The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand.
    Ezra 9:7
    From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today.
  22. Cross References
    2 Kings 25:13 - 15
    And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the Lord, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon.
    2 Chronicles 36:7
    Nebuchadnezzar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon.
    2 Chronicles 36:10
    In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the precious vessels of the house of the Lord, and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.
  23. Cross References
    2 Kings 25:9
    And he burned the house of the Lord and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down.
  24. Cross References
    2 Kings 25:11
    And the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile.
  25. Cross References
    Jeremiah 27:7
    All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave.
  26. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:34 - 35
    Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies' land; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths.
    Leviticus 26:43
    But the land shall be abandoned by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them, and they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they spurned my rules and their soul abhorred my statutes.
    Daniel 9:2
    In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
  27. Cross References
    Leviticus 25:4 - 5
    But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.
  28. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 36:22 - 23
    Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
    Ezra 1:1 - 3
    In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
  29. Cross References
    Jeremiah 25:12 - 13
    Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the Lord, making the land an everlasting waste.
    Jeremiah 29:10
    For thus says the Lord : When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.
    Jeremiah 33:10 - 11
    Thus says the Lord : In this place of which you say, 'It is a waste without man or beast,' in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again
    Jeremiah 33:14
    Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
  30. Cross References
    Isaiah 44:28
    Who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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