Josiah's sons systematically reverse their father's reforms through four successive reigns spanning just 23 years, creating the steepest spiritual decline in Judah's recorded history.
2 Chronicles 36
The Last Kings and Babylonian Exile
1Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
2Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3The king of Egypt removed him from office at Jerusalem, and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
4The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Neco took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
5Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in the LORD his God’s sight.
6Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon.
7Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of the vessels of the LORD’s house to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
8Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
9Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight.
10At the return of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable vessels of the LORD’s house, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
11Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
12He did that which was evil in the LORD his God’s sight. He didn’t humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the LORD’s mouth.
13He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God; but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.
14Moreover all the chiefs of the priests and the people trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the LORD’s house which he had made holy in Jerusalem.
15The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place;
16but they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the LORD’s wrath arose against his people, until there was no remedy.
17Therefore he brought on them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or infirm. He gave them all into his hand.
18All the vessels of God’s house, great and small, and the treasures of the LORD’s house, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon.
19They burned God’s house, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all of its valuable vessels.
20He carried those who had escaped from the sword away to Babylon, and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia,
21to fulfill the LORD’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
22Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the LORD’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
23“Cyrus king of Persia says, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.’”
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Theme
2 Chronicles 36 chronicles the final four kings of Judah—Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah—whose reigns were marked by foreign domination and persistent disobedience to God. Despite God's compassionate warnings through His messengers, the kings and people continued in evil, mocking the prophets and polluting the temple. The chapter culminates in God's judgment through Nebuchadnezzar's conquest, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the Babylonian exile, yet concludes with Cyrus's decree allowing the exiles to return and rebuild.
Context
This final chapter of Chronicles concludes the narrative that began with Adam's genealogy, showing how Israel's covenant unfaithfulness led to exile but ends with hope for restoration.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Jehoahaz's Brief Reign and Egyptian Intervention Jehoahaz rules three months before Pharaoh Neco removes him and installs Jehoiakim as vassal king.
- 5-8 Jehoiakim's Evil Reign and Babylonian Captivity Jehoiakim does evil for eleven years until Nebuchadnezzar binds him and takes temple vessels to Babylon.
- 9-10 Jehoiachin's Short Rule and Deportation The eight-year-old king reigns briefly before Nebuchadnezzar deports him and more temple treasures.
- 11-14 Zedekiah's Rebellion and National Corruption Zedekiah rebels against Babylon and hardens his heart while priests and people defile the temple.
- 15-19 Divine Judgment and Jerusalem's Destruction God's patience exhausted by their mockery of His messengers, He brings the Chaldeans who destroy the city and temple.
- 20-23 Exile and Cyrus's Restoration Decree After seventy years of exile fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy, Cyrus permits the Jews to return and rebuild the temple.
The Last Kings and Babylonian Exile
36:1–36:23 narrative narration solemn
The final kings of Judah were evil and disobedient, leading to Babylonian conquest and exile, but ending with Cyrus's decree allowing return and temple rebuilding.
person_contrast
Josiah's sons systematically reverse their father's reforms through four successive reigns spanning just 23 years, creating the steepest spiritual decline in Judah's recorded history.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
2 Chronicles 36:1 2 references
2 Chronicles 36:2 1 reference
2 Chronicles 36:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 20:39 Lexical
As the king passed by, he cried to the king, and he said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and beho…
2 Kings 18:14 Lexical
Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have offended you. Withdraw from me. That whic…
1 Chronicles 22:14 Lexical
Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the LORD’s house one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million tal…
1 Chronicles 29:4 Lexical
even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to o…
2 Kings 23:33 Lexical
Pharaoh Necoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land t…
2 Chronicles 36:4 1 reference
2 Chronicles 36:5 4 references
Lexicals 4
2 Kings 23:36 Lexical
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name…
2 Chronicles 27:1 Lexical
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name wa…
2 Chronicles 27:8 Lexical
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
2 Kings 15:33 Lexical
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Je…
2 Chronicles 36:6 4 references
Lexicals 4
Jeremiah 39:7 Lexical
Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
Jeremiah 52:11 Lexical
He put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon, and put him i…
2 Chronicles 33:11 Lexical
Therefore the LORD brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound h…
2 Kings 25:7 Lexical
They killed Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, then put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in fetters, and carried him to Baby…
2 Chronicles 36:7 3 references
Lexicals 3
Jeremiah 24:1 Lexical
The LORD showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs were set before the LORD’s temple, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Baby…
Jeremiah 51:34 Lexical
“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me. He has crushed me. He has made me an empty vessel. He has, like a m…
Jeremiah 28:3 Lexical
Within two full years I will bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of…
2 Chronicles 36:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Kings 24:5 Lexical
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kin…
1 Kings 14:19 Lexical
The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicl…
2 Chronicles 28:26 Lexical
Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah a…
2 Chronicles 20:34 Lexical
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hana…
2 Chronicles 27:7 Lexical
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of…
2 Chronicles 36:9 4 references
Lexicals 4
2 Kings 24:8 Lexical
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name wa…
2 Kings 24:12 Lexical
and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon—he, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his offi…
2 Kings 25:27 Lexical
In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day…
2 Kings 15:8 Lexical
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six mon…
2 Chronicles 36:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 37:1 Lexical
Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon m…
Jeremiah 39:1 Lexical
In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came ag…
Jeremiah 39:5 Lexical
But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. When they had taken him, the…
Jeremiah 29:21 Lexical
The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maase…
Jeremiah 44:30 Lexical
The LORD says, ‘Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those…
2 Chronicles 36:11 2 references
2 Chronicles 36:13 2 references
2 Chronicles 36:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Lamentations 2:21 Lexical
“The youth and the old man lie on the ground in the streets. My virgins and my young men have fallen by the sword. You h…
Ezekiel 9:6 Lexical
Kill utterly the old man, the young man, the virgin, little children and women; but don’t come near any man on whom is t…
Psalms 148:12 Lexical
both young men and maidens, old men and children.
Jeremiah 31:13 Lexical
Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy,…
Jeremiah 51:22 Lexical
With you I will break in pieces the chariot and him who rides therein. With you I will break in pieces man and woman. Wi…
2 Chronicles 36:19 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 39:8 Lexical
The Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the people’s houses with fire and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.
1 Kings 16:18 Lexical
When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the fortified part of the king’s house and burned the king’s house…
Amos 1:10 Lexical
but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, and it will devour its palaces.”
Jeremiah 49:27 Lexical
“I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad.”
Amos 1:14 Lexical
But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it will devour its palaces, with shouting in the day of battle, with…
2 Chronicles 36:21 4 references
Lexicals 4
Leviticus 26:34 Lexical
Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land. Even then the land…
Leviticus 26:43 Lexical
The land also will be left by them, and will enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them; and they will accep…
Leviticus 26:35 Lexical
As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, even the rest which it didn’t have in your Sabbaths when you lived on it…
Daniel 9:2 Lexical
in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which the LORD’s word ca…
2 Chronicles 36:22 3 references
Lexicals 3
Ezra 1:1 Lexical
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the LORD’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth might be accomplished, the LORD…
Ezra 4:5 Lexical
They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign…
Daniel 11:2 Lexical
“Now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings will stand up in Persia. The fourth will be far richer than all…
2 Chronicles 36:23 2 references
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Exile
586-538 BCThe forced deportation of Judah's population to Babylon after Jerusalem's destruction. This pivotal event reshaped Jewish identity and theology, leading to the compilation of much of the Hebrew Bible.
Judah's final kings' disobedience leads to Babylonian conquest and seventy-year exile.
The Last Kings and Babylonian Exile