2 CHRONICLES 36:1 The Last Four Kings. Compare 2 Kings 23:31. The Chronicler summarizes the reigns of Judah’s last four kings. Because they abandon the covenant after Josiah’s death, all four will go into exile, as will the people. Yet the exile will be a positive time of purification; the book conc... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CHRONICLES—NOTE ON 2 CHRONICLES 36:5 Jehoiakim’s reign (609–598 B.C.) was marked by a return to idolatry (Jeremiah 25:1) and the king’s persecution of the prophets (Jeremiah 26:20; Jeremiah 36:20). Following his victory over Pharaoh Neco at Carchemish (605 B.C.), NEBUCHADNEZZAR besieged Jerusalem... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CHRONICLES—NOTE ON 2 CHRONICLES 36:9 The reign of JEHOIACHIN lasted only for the duration of the siege. Then he was exiled to Babylon. BROTHER here means “relative”; ZEDEKIAH was Jehoiachin’s uncle. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 CHRONICLES—NOTE ON 2 CHRONICLES 36:11 The reign of ZEDEKIAH (597–586 B.C.) ended in rebellion, a siege of almost two years, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the deportation of its leading citizens (see Jeremiah 52:28 and note for additional information about Jerusalem’s final days)... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CHRONICLES—NOTE ON 2 CHRONICLES 36:19 THEY BURNED THE HOUSE OF GOD. Compare 2 Kings 25:8. The land lying DESOLATE while the exiles pay for their sins is a covenant curse (Leviticus 26:34, Leviticus 26:43). It is also an opportunity for the land to recuperate and prepare to receive a purified peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
2 CHRONICLES 36:22 Restoration. From Ezra 1:1. Israel’s history has resumed through God’s gracious initiative. TO BUILD HIM A HOUSE. The words of CYRUS recall David’s charge to Solomon about the temple (1 Chronicles 22:6, 1 Chronicles 22:18) and God’s dynastic promise to David (1 Chronicles 17:12;... [ Continue Reading ]