2 Chronicles Chapter 36
Jehoahaz made King. Reigns 3 months. So Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin are the same person. Many notes and dates in MSB at the start of this chapter. Names-so many for the same people-need more deciphering.
The King of Egypt deposes Jehoahaz in Jerusalem. (So not the same one. Egypt made Eliakim his brother King in his place. He also changes the name of Eliakim to Jehoiakim. Neco of Egypt takes Jehoahaz to Egypt as captive. So - a little housekeeping:
Josiah - then Jehoahaz/Joahaz. Deposed by Neco of Egypt. Eliakim, brother of Jehoahaz, made King by Neco. Neco changes Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim.
Jehoiakim is evil for 11 years. Taken captive by Babylon. Some of the Temple vessels are taken here.
Jehoiachin rules in his place. Reigns 3 mos and 10 days. Neb captures, makes Zedekiah King. Zedekiah is Jehoiachin's Uncle I believe.
2026 - When made King, Jehoiachin was only 8 years old, but ti says this about him: "...and he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh." This is LSB's wording in 2Chr 36:9. How is an 8 year old already evil?
2024 - It is interesting that Egypt topples Jerusalem and takes its King back to Egypt as a captive quite a while before Neb shows up, and yet we always say it was Babylon that took Jerusalem down. It looks to me as though from the time Jehoiakim is set up as King by (Neco I think) Egypt, that Jerusalem is constantly under foreign rule.
2024 - Jehoiakim reigns 11 years and then he is captured by Neb and taken away to Babylon. He was apparently a very horrible King anyway. His son, Jehoiachin, is made King. Doesn't say if Neb does it or the people do it after Neb leaves. But this seems to be the first sack of Jerusalem under Neb.
2024 - Jehoiachin is only king for 3 mos 10 days. And he was only 8 years old anyway. So he was likely set up as a lightning rod and the "grown ups" did whatever they thought best. But even at 8 years old it says Jehoiachin did evil. Neb sends and captures Jehoiachin and makes his uncle, Zedekiah King. Z was also an evil king.
10 In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him (Jehoiachin) to Babylon, with the precious vessels of the house of the LORD, and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. [2Ch 36:10 ESV] So this verse is about the second time Nebuchadnezzar looted Jerusalem. The first is in 2Chron 36:6, when Neb comes up and takes Jehoiakim, and takes him captive to Babylon.
Zedekiah is also evil. Rebels against Neb, against Jeremiah's advice and counsel. These verses:
13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. 14 All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD that he had made holy in Jerusalem. [2Ch 36:13-14 ESV]
Jerusalem had become just a pit of evil, fully deserving of their fate.
God sends many messengers to turn them, because He has compassion. But they kept mocking the messengers of God. Last of vs 16: "...the wrath of the Lord rose against His people, until there was no remedy."
2025 - It is worth noting this whole verse:
16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy. [2Ch 36:16 ESV]. This seems such an accurate evaluation of where we are right now in this country. The mocking and despising of God's word grows ever more open, louder, and more widely accepted. Things I see going on now I just don't think happened much at all just a generation ago - just a few decades ago. We are taking the long plunge and our end seems inevitable. Look how it happened in Jerusalem just in these last few chapters. We had this during Josiah's reign: 25 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. [2Ch 34:25 ESV]. Even after this verse, still in Josiah's reign, we had this: 18 No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. [2Ch 35:18 ESV]. From the time Josiah dies at the end of Chapter 35, it is only 22 years and 3 months until Zedekiah is taken to Babylon. The line had already been crossed when Josiah became King, but God waited, because of Josiah's devotion. Makes you wonder why God is waiting to give the US, Europe, Canada, and England what we all deserve for our progressing rejection of all things Godly, our elevation of cultures that hate God and would kill those who serve him, and our arrogance in thinking we are the wisest of all generations. Why does God still wait? I just fear for the next generation, and even more for the one after that. For James and Charlotte and the life they'll have.
2024 - These verses ending with 16 are a testimony to the patience of God and to his love for his people despite their apostasy. God continually warns them to turn back. But at length, even God runs out of patience. At some point, justice must be done, because God is a just God.
2026 - Then verses 17-21 describe the unmerciful actions taken against them, once God has removed his hand from them. Make no mistake. God requires justice eventually, and when thing go beyond what he will tolerate, it is too late for mercy.
Babylon comes up yet again. They take many captives, as in 2K25, until establishment of the kingdom of Persia. That is, until the land had enjoyed it's Sabbaths. 70 years.
First year of Cyrus, King of Persia. Cyrus says the Lord, the God of heaven, wants him to build Him a house in Jerusalem. He frees the Jews.
Last chapter of 2Ch.