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2 Chronicles 36
New English Translation

Jehoahaz’s Reign

36 The people of the land took Jehoahaz 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 The king of Egypt prevented him from ruling in Jerusalem and imposed on the land a special tax[a] of 100 talents[b] of silver and a talent of gold. 4 The king of Egypt made Jehoahaz’s[c] brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Necho seized his brother Jehoahaz and took him to Egypt.

Jehoiakim’s Reign

5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of[d] the Lord his God. 6 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked him,[e] bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away[f] to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar took some of the items in the Lord’s temple to Babylon and put them in his palace[g] there.[h]

8 The rest of the events of Jehoiakim’s reign, including the horrible sins he committed and his shortcomings, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel and Judah.[i] His son Jehoiachin replaced him as king.

Jehoiachin’s Reign

9 Jehoiachin was eighteen[j] years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of[k] the Lord. 10 At the beginning of the year King Nebuchadnezzar ordered him to be brought[l] to Babylon, along with the valuable items in the Lord’s temple. In his place Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiachin’s relative[m] Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah’s Reign

11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 He did evil in the sight of[n] the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, the Lord’s spokesman. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him vow allegiance[o] in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and refused to return[p] to the Lord God of Israel. 14 All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations.[q] They defiled the Lord’s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Babylonians Destroy Jerusalem

15 The Lord God of their ancestors[r] continually warned them through his messengers,[s] for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his warnings,[t] and ridiculed his prophets.[u] Finally the Lord got very angry at his people and there was no one who could prevent his judgment.[v] 17 He brought against them the king of the Babylonians, who slaughtered[w] their young men in their temple.[x] He did not spare[y] young men or women, or even the old and aging. God[z] handed everyone over to him. 18 He carried away to Babylon all the items in God’s temple, whether large or small, as well as what was in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king and his officials. 19 They burned down God’s temple and tore down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned all its fortified buildings and destroyed all its valuable items. 20 He deported to Babylon all who escaped the sword. They served him and his sons until the Persian kingdom rose to power. 21 This took place to fulfill the Lord’s message spoken through Jeremiah[aa] and lasted until the land experienced[ab] its sabbatical years.[ac] All the time[ad] of its desolation the land rested in order to fulfill the seventy years.[ae]

Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Go Home

22 In the first year[af] of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the Lord’s message spoken through Jeremiah,[ag] the Lord motivated[ah] King Cyrus of Persia to issue a proclamation[ai] throughout his kingdom and also to put it in writing. It read:

23 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:

‘The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Anyone of his people among you may go up there, and may the Lord his God be with him.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:3 tn Or “a fine.”
  2. 2 Chronicles 36:3 tn The Hebrew word כִּכַּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or, by extension, to a standard unit of weight. According to the older (Babylonian) standard the “talent” weighed 130 lbs. (58.9 kg), but later this was lowered to 108.3 lbs. (49.1 kg). More recent research suggests the “light” standard talent was 67.3 lbs. (30.6 kg). Using this as the standard for calculation, the weight of the silver was 6,730 lbs. (3,060 kg).
  3. 2 Chronicles 36:4 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Jehoahaz) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  4. 2 Chronicles 36:5 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
  5. 2 Chronicles 36:6 tn Heb “came up against him.”
  6. 2 Chronicles 36:6 tn Heb “to carry him away.”
  7. 2 Chronicles 36:7 tn Or “temple.”
  8. 2 Chronicles 36:7 tn Heb “in Babylon.” Repeating the proper name “Babylon” here would be redundant in contemporary English, so “there” has been used in the translation.
  9. 2 Chronicles 36:8 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Jehoiakim, and his horrible deeds which he did and that which was found against him, look, they are written on the scroll of the kings of Israel and Judah.”
  10. 2 Chronicles 36:9 tc The Hebrew text reads “eight,” but some ancient textual witnesses, as well as the parallel text in 2 Kgs 24:8, have “eighteen.”
  11. 2 Chronicles 36:9 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
  12. 2 Chronicles 36:10 tn Heb “sent and brought him.”
  13. 2 Chronicles 36:10 tn Heb “and he made Zedekiah his brother king.” According to the parallel text in 2 Kgs 24:17, Zedekiah was Jehoiachin’s uncle, not his brother. Therefore many interpreters understand אח (ʾakh) here in its less specific sense of “relative” (NEB “made his father’s brother Zedekiah king”; NASB “made his kinsman Zedekiah king”; NIV “made Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, king”; NRSV “made his brother Zedekiah king”).
  14. 2 Chronicles 36:12 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
  15. 2 Chronicles 36:13 tn Or “made him swear an oath.”
  16. 2 Chronicles 36:13 tn Heb “and he stiffened his neck and strengthened his heart from returning.”
  17. 2 Chronicles 36:14 tn Heb “like all the abominable practices of the nations.”
  18. 2 Chronicles 36:15 tn Heb “fathers.”
  19. 2 Chronicles 36:15 tn Heb “and the Lord God of their fathers sent against them by the hand of his messengers, getting up early and sending.”
  20. 2 Chronicles 36:16 tn Heb “his words.”
  21. 2 Chronicles 36:16 tn All three verbal forms (“mocked,” “despised,” and “ridiculed”) are active participles in the Hebrew text, indicating continual or repeated action. They made a habit of rejecting God’s prophetic messengers.
  22. 2 Chronicles 36:16 tn Heb “until the anger of the Lord went up against his people until there was no healer.”
  23. 2 Chronicles 36:17 tn Heb “killed with the sword.”
  24. 2 Chronicles 36:17 tn Heb “in the house of their sanctuary.”
  25. 2 Chronicles 36:17 tn Or “show compassion to.”
  26. 2 Chronicles 36:17 tn Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  27. 2 Chronicles 36:21 tn Heb “by the mouth of Jeremiah.”
  28. 2 Chronicles 36:21 tn The verb may be seen as either of two homophonous roots רָצָה (ratsah) meaning “to restore” or “to accept, take pleasure in.”
  29. 2 Chronicles 36:21 sn According to Lev 25:4, the land was to remain uncultivated every seventh year. Lev 26:33-35 warns that the land would experience a succession of such sabbatical rests if the people disobeyed God, for he would send them away into exile.
  30. 2 Chronicles 36:21 tn Heb “days of.”
  31. 2 Chronicles 36:21 sn Concerning the seventy years see Jer 25:11. Cyrus’ edict (see vv. 22-23) occurred about fifty years after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 b.c., which is most naturally understood as the beginning point of the “days of desolation” mentioned in v. 21. The number “seventy” is probably used in a metaphorical sense, indicating a typical lifetime and suggesting a thorough or complete judgment that would not be lifted until an entirely new generation emerged.
  32. 2 Chronicles 36:22 sn The first year of Cyrus would be ca. 539 b.c. Cyrus reigned in Persia from ca. 539-530 b.c.
  33. 2 Chronicles 36:22 tn Heb “by the mouth of Jeremiah.”sn See Jer 25:11; 29:10.
  34. 2 Chronicles 36:22 tn Heb “stirred the spirit of.” The Hebrew noun רוּחַ (ruakh, “spirit”) has a broad range of meanings (see BDB 924-26 s.v.). Here, it probably refers to (1) “mind” as the seat of mental acts (e.g., Exod 28:3; Deut 34:9; Isa 29:24; 40:13; Ezek 11:5; 20:32; 1 Chr 28:12; cf. BDB 925 s.v. 6) or (2) “will” as the seat of volitional decisions (e.g., Exod 35:5, 22; Pss 51:12, 14; 57:8; 2 Chr 29:31; cf. BDB 925 s.v. 7). So also in Ezra 1:5. The entire phrase “stirred the spirit” has been rendered as “motivated” to better reflect normal English.
  35. 2 Chronicles 36:22 tn Heb “a voice.” The Hebrew noun קוֹל (qol, “voice, sound”) has a broad range of meanings, including the metonymical (cause—effect) nuance “proclamation” (e.g., Exod 36:6; 2 Chr 24:9; 30:5; 36:22; Ezra 1:1; 10:7; Neh 8:15). See BDB 877 s.v. 3.a.2.
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2 Chronicles 36
New King James Version

The Reign and Captivity of Jehoahaz(A)

36 Then (B)the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem. 2 [a]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 [b]Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took [c]Jehoahaz his brother and carried him off to Egypt.

The Reign and Captivity of Jehoiakim(C)

5 (D)Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did (E)evil in the sight of the Lord his God. 6 (F)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in [d]bronze fetters to (G)carry him off to Babylon. 7 (H)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, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. Then [e]Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

The Reign and Captivity of Jehoiachin(I)

9 (J)Jehoiachin was [f]eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord. 10 At the turn of the year (K)King Nebuchadnezzar summoned him and took him to Babylon, (L)with the costly articles from the house of the Lord, and made (M)Zedekiah,[g] [h]Jehoiakim’s brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah Reigns in Judah(N)

11 (O)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 (P)did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord. 13 And he also (Q)rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he (R)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 defiled the house of the Lord which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Fall of Jerusalem(S)

15 (T)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 (U)they mocked the messengers of God, (V)despised His words, and (W)scoffed at His prophets, until the (X)wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.

17 (Y)Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who (Z)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 (AA)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 (AB)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 (AC)those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, (AD)where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of (AE)Jeremiah, until the land (AF)had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate (AG)she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

The Proclamation of Cyrus(AH)

22 (AI)Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of (AJ)Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of (AK)Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,

23 (AL)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 [i]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!

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:2 MT Joahaz
  2. 2 Chronicles 36:4 Lit. his
  3. 2 Chronicles 36:4 MT Joahaz
  4. 2 Chronicles 36:6 chains
  5. 2 Chronicles 36:8 Or Jeconiah
  6. 2 Chronicles 36:9 Heb. mss., LXX, Syr. eighteen and 2 Kin. 24:8
  7. 2 Chronicles 36:10 Or Mattaniah
  8. 2 Chronicles 36:10 Lit. his brother, 2 Kin. 24:17
  9. 2 Chronicles 36:23 Temple
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2 Chronicles 36
Living Bible

36 Josiah’s son Jehoahaz was selected as the new king. 2 He was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, but lasted only three months. 3 Then he was deposed by the king of Egypt, who demanded an annual tribute from Judah of $230,000.

4 The king of Egypt now appointed Eliakim, the brother of Jehoahaz, as the new king of Judah. (Eliakim’s name was changed to Jehoiakim.) Jehoahaz was taken to Egypt as a prisoner. 5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; but his reign was an evil one. 6 Finally Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon conquered Jerusalem and took away the king in chains to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the gold bowls and other items from the Temple, placing them in his own temple in Babylon. 8 The rest of the deeds of Jehoiakim and all the evil he did are written in The Annals of the Kings of Judah; and his son Jehoiachin became the new king.

9 Jehoiachin was eighteen[a] years old when he ascended the throne. But he lasted only three months and ten days, and it was an evil reign as far as the Lord was concerned. 10 The following spring he was summoned to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Many treasures from the Temple were taken away to Babylon at that time, and King Nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin’s brother Zedekiah as the new king of Judah and Jerusalem.

11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 His reign, too, was evil so far as the Lord was concerned, for he refused to take the counsel of Jeremiah the prophet, who gave him messages from the Lord. 13 He rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man so far as obeying the Lord God of Israel was concerned, for he refused to follow him.

14 All the important people of the nation, including the High Priests, worshiped the heathen idols of the surrounding nations, thus polluting the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. 15 Jehovah the God of their fathers sent his prophets again and again to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and on his Temple. 16 But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words, scoffing at the prophets until the anger of the Lord could no longer be restrained, and there was no longer any remedy.

17 Then the Lord brought the king of Babylon against them and killed their young men, even going after them right into the Temple, and had no pity upon them, killing even young girls and old men. The Lord used the king of Babylon to destroy them completely. 18 He also took home with him all the items, great and small, used in the Temple, and treasures from both the Temple and the palace, and took with him all the royal princes. 19 Then his army burned the Temple and broke down the walls of Jerusalem and burned all the palaces and destroyed all the valuable Temple utensils. 20 Those who survived were taken away to Babylon as slaves to the king and his sons until the kingdom of Persia conquered Babylon.

21 Thus the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah came true, that the land must rest for seventy years to make up for the years when the people refused to observe the Sabbath.

22-23 But in the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to make this proclamation throughout his kingdom, putting it into writing:

“All the kingdoms of the earth have been given to me by the Lord God of heaven, and he has instructed me to build him a Temple in Jerusalem, in the land of Judah. All among you who are the Lord’s people return to Israel for this task, and the Lord be with you.”

This also fulfilled the prediction of Jeremiah the prophet.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:9 eighteen. Some manuscripts read “eight years old.”
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