2 Chronicles 36

2 Chronicles 36 concludes the history of Judah, detailing the final years leading up to the Babylonian exile. The chapter illustrates the consequences of the nation’s persistent unfaithfulness to God, highlighting the reigns of the last kings of Judah, including the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. It serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of obedience to God and the grave repercussions of turning away from Him.

2 Chronicles 36:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Then 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 became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3 Now the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and he imposed on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
4 Then the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz and went to Egypt, and he died there.
5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord his God.

The people of Judah, in the wake of King Josiah's death, installed Jehoahaz as king. However, his reign was short-lived, lasting only three months before Pharaoh Necho of Egypt deposed him, highlighting the political instability and outside influences affecting Judah. Necho then placed Eliakim, Jehoahaz’s brother, on the throne, renaming him Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim’s rule was characterized by evil and disobedience to God, reflecting the broader spiritual decline of the nation.

2 Chronicles 36:6-8 (NKJV)
6 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him in bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon.
7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried off some of the articles from the house of the Lord to Babylon and put them in his temple at Babylon.
8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, the abominations which he did, and what was found against him, are they not written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah? And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

Jehoiakim's disobedience led to his downfall when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, captured him and took him in chains to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of Babylon’s dominance over Judah and the eventual destruction of the temple, as Nebuchadnezzar also took sacred articles from it. Jehoiakim's reign is summarized as filled with abominations, further emphasizing the spiritual degradation of Judah. After his death, his son Jehoiachin succeeded him, continuing the legacy of his father’s failures.

2 Chronicles 36:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the Lord.
10 At the turn of the year, Nebuchadnezzar summoned him and took him to Babylon, with the costly articles from the house of the Lord, and made Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Jehoiachin’s brief reign of only three months illustrates the continued instability in Judah’s leadership. His evil actions followed the same pattern as his father, further leading the nation away from God. Nebuchadnezzar’s intervention marks a decisive moment in Judah’s history, as he deposed Jehoiachin and installed Zedekiah in his place. This action solidified Babylon’s control over Judah, setting the stage for further conflict and eventual exile.

2 Chronicles 36:11-14 (NKJV)
11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
12 He did evil in the sight of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord.
13 And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God. But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel.
14 Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations; and they defiled the house of the Lord which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.

Zedekiah’s reign further exemplified the disobedience of Judah, as he ignored the warnings from the prophet Jeremiah, refusing to humble himself before God. His rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, who had previously supported him, resulted from a hardened heart and pride. The leaders and people of Judah continued to engage in increasingly immoral practices, defiling the temple and rejecting their covenant with God. This collective turning away from God underscores the spiritual crisis facing the nation.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16 (NKJV)
15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.
16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.

God’s compassion is evident as He continually sent messengers to warn Judah of impending judgment, illustrating His desire for repentance and restoration. However, the people responded with scorn, rejecting the messages and mocking the prophets. This rebellion ultimately led to divine wrath, demonstrating the seriousness of their refusal to heed God’s call. The phrase “till there was no remedy” signifies the point of no return, indicating that Judah’s fate was sealed due to their persistent disobedience.

2 Chronicles 36:17-20 (NKJV)
17 Therefore He brought 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, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand.
18 And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders, all these he took to Babylon.
19 Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions.
20 And those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia.

The consequences of Judah’s disobedience culminate in the brutal invasion by the Chaldeans, where young men are slaughtered, and the temple is desecrated. This destruction is not merely a political defeat but a profound spiritual tragedy, as the temple represented God's presence among His people. The systematic looting of the temple and destruction of Jerusalem signify the complete collapse of Judah’s identity and covenant relationship with God. Those who survived were taken captive, marking the beginning of a long period of exile.

2 Chronicles 36:21-23 (NKJV)
21 To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
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 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, saying,
23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: ‘All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who among you of all His people? May the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!’”

The exile serves a specific purpose in God’s plan, fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy and allowing the land to rest for the missed Sabbaths. After seventy years, God stirs Cyrus, the Persian king, to issue a decree permitting the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. This marks a significant turning point, emphasizing God’s faithfulness to His promises and His sovereignty over nations. Cyrus acknowledges God’s command, showcasing how God can use even secular leaders to fulfill His divine purposes, providing hope for restoration to His people.