2 Chronicles 36

2 Chronicles 36:1

Q. King Jehoahaz (36:1-3)The captivity of Judah took place in stages. In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar entered Jerusalem, made Jehoiakim a vassal, and took captives to Babylon, including Daniel (2Ki_24:1). In 597 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar again invaded Jerusalem, deported Jehoiachin, and took additional captives, including Ezekiel (2Ki_24:10). Finally, in 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and took captive all but the poorest of the people (2Ki_25:1-10). Jehoahaz . . . reigned only three months, then was deposed by the Egyptian king and forced to pay heavy tribute. He was an evil man, not at all like his father Josiah (cf. 2Ki_23:31-34). He was taken to Egypt, where he died.

2 Chronicles 36:4

R. King Jehoiakim (36:4-8)Eliakim, also called Jehoiakim, was Jehoahaz’s older brother. He was placed on the throne by Necho. His eleven-year reign was characterized by wickedness and was ended by Nebuchadnezzar, who looted the temple in 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar intended to carry Jehoiakim to Babylon but did not succeed. Although Chronicles does not record the fact, we know that he died ignominiously while still in Jerusalem, as Jeremiah had prophesied (Jer_22:19; Jer_36:30).

2 Chronicles 36:9

S. King Jehoiachin (36:9, 10)Jehoiachin was eighteen (NKJV marg.) when he became king. After a short reign of three months and ten days, Jehoiachin surrendered Jerusalem and spent the next thirty-seven years of his life in prison in Babylon. After the death of Nebuchadnezzar, he was released and elevated to a place of honor (2Ki_25:27-30).

2 Chronicles 36:11

T. King Zedekiah (36:11-19)Zedekiah, whose other name was Mattaniah, was yet another son of Josiah. When Jehoiachin proved unfaithful to the Babylonians, they chose Zedekiah as his successor. He did evil and refused to humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet. He also broke his oath to Nebuchadnezzar and rebelled. Jerusalem underwent a terrible siege lasting eighteen months. When the Chaldeans (Babylonians) took the city in 586 B.C., they destroyed it and the temple. Then they took all but the poorest of the land into exile.

2 Chronicles 36:20

IV. THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY (36:20, 21)The Jewish people had refused to keep the sabbatic year for 490 years; now their land would keep an enforced Sabbath for seventy years. For different ways of computing the seventy-year captivity, see the Introduction to the Commentary on Ezra.

2 Chronicles 36:22

V. THE DECREE OF CYRUS (36:22, 23)While the people of Judah were in captivity, Babylon was conquered by Medo-Persia. Seventy years after the captivity began, Cyrus, king of Persia, issued a proclamation permitting the Jews to return to their land. It is noteworthy that in the Hebrew order of the OT books, Chronicles stands last. Instead of ending “with a curse” (Mal_4:6), the Jewish Bible ends on this positive and encouraging note: 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 is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!