猶大王約哈斯

36 猶大人在耶路撒冷立約西亞的兒子約哈斯接替他父親做王。 約哈斯二十三歲登基,在耶路撒冷執政三個月。 埃及王在耶路撒冷廢掉他,並要求猶大向埃及進貢三點四噸銀子、三十四公斤金子。 埃及王另立約哈斯的兄弟以利雅敬為王統治猶大和耶路撒冷,給他改名為約雅敬,並把約哈斯帶到埃及。

猶大王約雅敬

約雅敬二十五歲登基,在耶路撒冷執政十一年。他做他的上帝耶和華視為惡的事。 巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒起兵攻打他,用銅鏈把他鎖著帶到巴比倫。 尼布甲尼撒把耶和華殿裡的一些器皿帶到巴比倫,放在他在巴比倫的王宮裡[a] 約雅敬其他的事及可憎行徑和惡跡都記在以色列和猶大的列王史上。他兒子約雅斤繼位。

猶大王約雅斤

約雅斤十八歲[b]登基,在耶路撒冷執政三個月零十天。他做耶和華視為惡的事。 10 那年春天,尼布甲尼撒王派人把他和耶和華殿裡的貴重器皿一同帶到巴比倫。尼布甲尼撒另立約雅斤的叔叔[c]西底迦做猶大和耶路撒冷的王。

猶大王西底迦

11 西底迦二十一歲登基,在耶路撒冷執政十一年。 12 他做他的上帝耶和華視為惡的事,耶利米先知向他傳講耶和華的話,他仍不肯在耶利米面前謙卑下來。

耶路撒冷淪陷

13 尼布甲尼撒曾讓他奉上帝的名起誓,他卻背叛了尼布甲尼撒。他頑固不化,不肯歸向以色列的上帝耶和華。 14 所有祭司長和民眾也都仿效外族人的一切可憎行徑,犯了大罪,玷污了耶和華在耶路撒冷使之聖潔的殿。 15 他們祖先的上帝耶和華因為憐愛祂的子民和祂的居所,就不斷派使者來勸告他們。 16 他們卻嘲弄耶和華上帝的使者,藐視祂的話,嘲笑祂的先知,以致祂的憤怒臨到祂的子民身上,無可挽救。

17 耶和華使迦勒底人的王起兵攻打他們,在他們的聖殿裡用刀擊殺他們的壯丁,毫不憐憫少男少女、老人和年高者。耶和華把他們全部交在他的手中。 18 上帝殿裡的大小器皿,以及耶和華殿裡、王宮裡和眾官員的所有珍寶,都被他帶到巴比倫去了。 19 迦勒底人焚燒上帝的殿,拆毀耶路撒冷的城牆,並且焚燒所有的宮殿,毀壞其中所有珍貴的器皿。 20 沒有被殺戮的人都被擄往巴比倫,做他和他子孫的奴隸,直到波斯帝國的時代。 21 這就應驗了耶和華藉耶利米之口所說的話:這片土地享受了安息,它在荒涼中守安息,直到滿了七十年。

塞魯士王准許被擄之民返國

22 波斯王塞魯士元年,耶和華為了應驗祂藉耶利米所說的話,就感動波斯王塞魯士,使他下詔通告全國: 23 「波斯王塞魯士如此說,『天上的上帝耶和華已把天下萬國都賜給我,祂吩咐我在猶大的耶路撒冷為祂建造殿宇。你們當中凡屬耶和華的子民,都可以去那裡。願你們的上帝耶和華與你們同在!』」

Footnotes

  1. 36·7 王宮裡」或譯「神廟裡」。
  2. 36·9 十八歲」希伯來文是「八歲」,七十士譯本、敘利亞譯本和列王紀下24·8是「十八歲」。
  3. 36·10 叔叔」參考列王紀下24·17

Jehoahaz Rules in Judah

36 Then the people of the land took Josiah’s son Jehoahaz and made him the next king in Jerusalem.

Jehoahaz[a] was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months.

Then he was deposed by the king of Egypt, who demanded that Judah pay 7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold[b] as tribute.

Jehoiakim Rules in Judah

The king of Egypt then installed Eliakim, the brother of Jehoahaz, as the next king of Judah and Jerusalem, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. Then Neco took Jehoahaz to Egypt as a prisoner.

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured it, and he bound Jehoiakim in bronze chains and led him away to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the treasures from the Temple of the Lord, and he placed them in his palace[c] in Babylon.

The rest of the events in Jehoiakim’s reign, including all the evil things he did and everything found against him, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Then his son Jehoiachin became the next king.

Jehoiachin Rules in Judah

Jehoiachin was eighteen[d] years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. Jehoiachin did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.

10 In the spring of the year[e] King Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin to Babylon. Many treasures from the Temple of the Lord were also taken to Babylon at that time. And Nebuchadnezzar installed Jehoiachin’s uncle,[f] Zedekiah, as the next king in Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah Rules in Judah

11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 12 But Zedekiah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and he refused to humble himself when the prophet Jeremiah spoke to him directly from the Lord. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty in God’s name. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man, refusing to turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.

14 Likewise, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful. They followed all the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, desecrating the Temple of the Lord that had been consecrated in Jerusalem.

15 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple. 16 But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the Lord’s anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done.

The Fall of Jerusalem

17 So the Lord brought the king of Babylon against them. The Babylonians[g] killed Judah’s young men, even chasing after them into the Temple. They had no pity on the people, killing both young men and young women, the old and the infirm. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar. 18 The king took home to Babylon all the articles, large and small, used in the Temple of God, and the treasures from both the Lord’s Temple and from the palace of the king and his officials. 19 Then his army burned the Temple of God, tore down the walls of Jerusalem, burned all the palaces, and completely destroyed everything of value.[h] 20 The few who survived were taken as exiles to Babylon, and they became servants to the king and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power.

21 So the message of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said.

Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return

22 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia,[i] the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah.[j] He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:

23 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:

“The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!”

Footnotes

  1. 36:2 Hebrew Joahaz, a variant spelling of Jehoahaz; also in 36:4.
  2. 36:3 Hebrew 100 talents [3,400 kilograms] of silver and 1 talent [34 kilograms] of gold.
  3. 36:7 Or temple.
  4. 36:9 As in one Hebrew manuscript, some Greek manuscripts, and Syriac version (see also 2 Kgs 24:8); most Hebrew manuscripts read eight.
  5. 36:10a Hebrew At the turn of the year. The first day of this year in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar was April 13, 597 B.c.
  6. 36:10b As in parallel text at 2 Kgs 24:17; Hebrew reads brother, or relative.
  7. 36:17 Or Chaldeans.
  8. 36:19 Or destroyed all the valuable articles from the Temple.
  9. 36:22a The first year of Cyrus’s reign over Babylon was 538 B.c.
  10. 36:22b See Jer 25:11-12; 29:10.

36 And the people(A) of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.

Jehoahaz King of Judah(B)

Jehoahaz[a] was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents[b] of silver and a talent[c] of gold. The king of Egypt made Eliakim, a brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Necho(C) took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.(D)

Jehoiakim King of Judah(E)

Jehoiakim(F) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. Nebuchadnezzar(G) king of Babylon attacked him and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.(H) Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon articles from the temple of the Lord and put them in his temple[d] there.(I)

The other events of Jehoiakim’s reign, the detestable things he did and all that was found against him, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son succeeded him as king.

Jehoiachin King of Judah(J)

Jehoiachin(K) was eighteen[e] years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 10 In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon,(L) together with articles of value from the temple of the Lord, and he made Jehoiachin’s uncle,[f] Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah King of Judah(M)

11 Zedekiah(N) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 12 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord(O) his God and did not humble(P) himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath(Q) in God’s name. He became stiff-necked(R) and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel. 14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful,(S) following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Fall of Jerusalem(T)(U)

15 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers(V) again and again,(W) because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed(X) at his prophets until the wrath(Y) of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.(Z) 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians,[g](AA) who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men(AB) or young women, the elderly or the infirm.(AC) God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.(AD) 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles(AE) from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire(AF) to God’s temple(AG) and broke down the wall(AH) of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed(AI) everything of value there.(AJ)

20 He carried into exile(AK) to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants(AL) to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests;(AM) all the time of its desolation it rested,(AN) until the seventy years(AO) were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.

22 In the first year of Cyrus(AP) king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed(AQ) me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:2 Hebrew Joahaz, a variant of Jehoahaz; also in verse 4
  2. 2 Chronicles 36:3 That is, about 3 3/4 tons or about 3.4 metric tons
  3. 2 Chronicles 36:3 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms
  4. 2 Chronicles 36:7 Or palace
  5. 2 Chronicles 36:9 One Hebrew manuscript, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 24:8); most Hebrew manuscripts eight
  6. 2 Chronicles 36:10 Hebrew brother, that is, relative (see 2 Kings 24:17)
  7. 2 Chronicles 36:17 Or Chaldeans

Jehoahaz, King of Judah(A)

36 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in the place of his father in Jerusalem.

And Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and imposed on the land a tribute of a hundred talents[a] of silver and a talent[b] of gold. The king of Egypt made his brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Necho took his brother Jehoahaz and carried him to Egypt.

Jehoiakim, King of Judah(B)

Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he was king in Jerusalem for eleven years. He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him in bronze chains to lead him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also brought out some of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon and put them in his temple in Babylon.

And the remainder of the acts of Jehoiakim, the detestable things that he did and were found against him, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. Then Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

Jehoiachin, King of Judah(C)

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he was king in Jerusalem for three months and ten days. He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. 10 In the spring of that year King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon with the precious items from the house of the Lord. Then Zedekiah his brother was king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah, King of Judah(D)

11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he was king in Jerusalem for eleven years. 12 He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the Lord. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by an oath by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel. 14 Even the officials over the priests and the people increased in their unfaithfulness in all the detestable practices of the nations, and they defiled the house of the Lord which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Fall of Jerusalem(E)

15 The Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them over and over again by His messengers because He had compassion on His people and His dwelling place. 16 But they continued to jest regarding the messengers of God, despising His word and making fun of His prophets until the wrath of the Lord came up against His people, until there was no remedy. 17 So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans from Babylon, who killed their young men with the sword at the house of their sanctuary. He did not spare a young man or virgin, old or aged. God gave all of them into his hand. 18 Even all the vessels of the house of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, the king, and his officials, all of this was taken to Babylon. 19 So they burned down the house of God, tore down the wall of Jerusalem, burned down all the palaces with fire, and destroyed all the precious items.

20 Then he carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who survived the sword, and they were slaves to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia ruled, 21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate, she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

The Proclamation of Cyrus

22 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also declared in a written edict:

23 “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia:

“The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has commanded me to build for 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.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:3 About 3¾ tons, or 3.4 metric tons.
  2. 2 Chronicles 36:3 About 75 pounds, or 34 kilograms.