2 Chronicles 36

Johaz becometh king in his Fathers stead, vers.1,&c. is deposed by the King of Egypt, and carried thither captive, 3. Who putteth Eliakim his brother in his room, and nameth him Jojakim, 4. He is wicked, and is carried away captive unto Babel by Nebuchadnezer, 5. Jojakim his son succeedeth him in his kingdom, wickedness and captivity. 9. Zedekia, who succeedeth him, is like unto him, 11. For his and the peoples sins Jerusalem is destroyed, and the Jews carried away captive to Babel by the Chaldeans, 14. Where they remain until the reign of Cyrus, who giveth them deliverance and freedom, 22.

1. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz [Called also (according to the opinion of some) Johanan, 1 Chron.3.13. and Sallum, Jerem.22.11. and Joahaz, here, and in the next verse following] the son of Josia, and made him king in his Fathers stead at Jerusalem. [for which end they also anointed him, 2 Kings 23:30. Of the reason hereof, see there in the annotate. See also 2 Kings 11.on vers.12.]

2. Joahaz was three and twenty years old, [Hebr. a son of three and twenty years] when he became King, and he reigned three months at Jerusalem.

3. For the King of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem: [And carried him away captive to Ribla. See 2 Kings 23:33. and the an. Thereon] and he set a fine upon the land of an hundred talents of silver, and a talents of gold. [see of this tax or amerciament likewise, 2 Kings 23.on v.33.]

4. And the Kings of Egypt made Eliakim his brother [The brother of Joahaz, as straight way followeth in this verse] king over Juda and Jerusalem, and changed [Hebr. turned, or, converted] his name unto Jehojakim: [He shewed hereby the power and command, which he declared to have over him. See 2 King.23.on vers.34.] but Necho took Joahaz his brother, and brought him into Egypt. [and there he also died, 2 Kings 23:34. as was foretold by Jeremy, chap.22. vers.12. where (according to the opinion of some) he was named Sallum.]

5. Jehokim was five and twenty years old, [Heb. a son of five and twenty years] when he became king, and eigned eleven years at Jerusalem: And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD his God. [See the exposition of this verse, 2 Kings 23.on v.36.]

6. Nebuchadnezer king of Babel marched up against him, and bound him with two copper chains, to carry him to Babel. [But, (according to the opinion of some) he never vame to Babel, but died by the way, according to the Prophesy of Jeremy, chap.22.vers.18.19.]

7. Nebuchadnezer carried also of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babel: and put them in his temple at Babel.

8. Now the rest of the acts of Jehojakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, [Meaning his order abominable, both public and secret sins: Or understand his revolting and rebellion against King Nebuchadnezer, which he secretly had intended and plotted, and for which Nebuchadnezer had sent his men of war against him; 2 Kings 24:1,2.] behold, the same is written in the book of the King of Israel and Juda: and Jehojachin [otherwise called Jechonia, 1 Chron.3.16. and by way of contempt Conia, Jerem.22.14.] his son became king in his stead.

9. Jehojachin was eight years old, [Hebr. a son of eight years] when he became king, [in 2 Kings 24:8. it is said, that he was eighteen years old when he became King: which is to be understood of the time, wherein he reigned alone, and with full and absolute power: but that which is said here, is to be understood of the time, wherein he was in the government with, and under his Father. See of this reconciling also, 2 Kings 24.on v.8.] and reigned three months and ten days at Jerusalem, and did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.

10. And with the return of the year, [Not of his reign, for he reigned not year, but only three winter-months, and ten days: But of the year that ran on, which was now expired, when the spring began, and days and nights were of an equal length. Compare 2 Sam.11.1. and the annotate.] king Nebuchadnezer sent, and caused him to be brought to Babel, with the most costly vessels [Hebr. vessels of desire: For costly things are much desired. So below ver.19. and above chap.32.vers.27.] of the house of the LORD: And he made Zedekia [Hebr. Tsidkia, called also Mathania, 2 Kin.24.17.] his brother [that is, his kinsman; to wit, his uncle, his fathers brother, the son of Josia, 2 Kings 24:17. 1 Chron.3.15. Jer.1.3. Compare Gen.3.8. and the annotate.] king over Juda and Jerusalem.

11. Zedekia was one and twenty years old, [Hebr. a son of one and twenty years] when h became king, and reigned eleven years at Jerusalem.

12. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD his God; he humbled not himself before the face of the Prophet Jeremia, (speaking) from the mouth of the LORD. [That is, from the command which he had received of God, Jer.7, etc.]

13. Moreover, he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezer, who had made him swear by God: [That is, had required of him an oath of loyalty] and hardened his neck, and stupefied [see of this word, Deut.2.30.] his neck, (so) that he turned not unto the LORD the God of Israel.

14. Also all the chief of the Priests, and the people transgressed very much, [Hebr. multiplied to transgress, transgression, or, to transgress by transgression: that is here to transgress exceedingly. So to serve service, is to serve with great care and pains, Gen.20.26. So likewise to lust, or, to lust with lust, or, to be taken with lust, is to lust exceedingly, Numb.11.4. also to be jealous with jealousy, or, to be zealous with zeal, is to be very zealous, Numb.25.11. to desire with desire, is to desire greatly, Luke 22:15, etc.] according to all the abominations of the heathen: And they polluted the house of the LORD, which he had hallowed [that is, set apart and ordained, that the token of his holy presence, and the exercise of his holy worship might have place in it. Compare Lev.8.10. and the annotate.] t Jerusalem.

15. And the LORD the God of their Fathers sent to them by the hand of his messengers, [That is, of his Prophets that lived in the time of the history of this book; the chiefest whereof were, Ahia the Silonite, Semaia, Jeddo, otherwise Oded, Azaria, Jehu, Elias, Micha, Eliseous, Jonas, Hoseas, Amos, Jesaias, Micha the Morasite, Joel, Nahum, Habakuk, Jeremias, Hulda the Prophetess, Zephanias, Abdias, Ezechiel] being early up, to send (them): [Hebr. rising early, and sending: That is, sending with all carefulness, diligence and perserverance, yea at the very first, as soon as they begun to decline to idolatry] for he had compassion o his people, and his dwelling-place. [That is, he would not hasten his judgement, belong long-suffering and slow to wrath, and therefore sending his Prophets continually to them, that they might repent, and so escaped the threatened punishment.]

16. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, they seduced themselves against his Prophets: [That is, so that they oppressed and resisted the Prophets, and persecuted them: Or, against the Prophets, that is, against the admonition and warning of the Prophets. Oth. Thy counted themselves (to be) seduced by the Prophets: That is, they persuaded themselves and pretended that the Prophets used deceit and falsehood. Or, they would be seduced by his Prophets; that is, they would not have the Prophets to threaten and reprove them; but they would have them to speak nothing but good things unto them, and to promised all happiness unto them, as the Prophets do often complain of this. Or, they abused the Prophets; That is, they jeared and mocked them, and let them go, not caring what they said, to give heed thereunto] until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, (so) that there was no healing. [that is, no help, or remedy, and that because on the one side the people repented not, and on the other side Gods justice required that their impenitency should be punished. It is a similitude taken from sick bodies that are incurable. Compare above chap.21.18.]

17. For he caused the king of the Chaldeans, [Namely, Nebuchadnezer. See of the word Chaldeans, 2 Kin.24.on vers.2.] who slew the young men with the sword in the house of their Sanctuary, [namely, the Temple, which they had polluted, above vers.14.] and he had no compassion [that is, the king of Babel, or also indeed the Lord had no compassion, as he had threatened in his law. See a summary hereof, Deut.32. vers.22, 23,24.] upon the young men, or maidens, the old (men), or decrepit: [in the Hebrew these words are put in the singular number, young man, maiden, etc.] he [namely, the Lord] gave them all into his hand. [namely, into the hand of the king of Babel.]

18. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the King, and of his Princes; all these he [Namely, king Nebuchadnezer] carried to Babel.

19. And they [Namely, the Chaldeans] burnt the house of God, and they brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and they burnt all the places thereof [to wit, of the city of Jerusalem] with fire; destyroying also all the costly vessels [or, costly furniture. Heb. vessels of desire; as above vers.19.] thereof.

20. And him that remained of the sword, [Hebr. that which remained, or, the remnant of the sword; that is, those that were not destroy by the sword; that is, carried away to Babel, and they were servants to him and his sons, [namely, Nebuchadnezers sons: Meaning his son Evilmerodach, and Belsazer the son of Evilmerodach, Jer.27.7.] until the reign of the Kingdom of Persia: [that is, until Cyrus had taken Babel, and so had brought the Monarchy of the Chaldeans to the Persians; which was done, according to the account of some, about the year of the creation 34 34.]

21. That the word of the LORD might be fulfilled by the mouth of Jeremia, [See chap.35.11, etc. in his Prophecy] until the land had a delight in the Sabaths: [See Levit.26.34,35. And the annotate.] it rested all the days of desolution, until the seventy years were fulfilled. [That is, all the time that the Jews were kept prisoners in Babylon, namely threescore and ten years, as Jeremia had foretold, Jerem.25.11,12. And 29.10.]

22. But in the first year of Cores King of Persia, [To wit, of his Monarchy. See Ezra 1.on vers.1.] that the word of the LORD, by the mouth of Jeremia, might be accomplished; the LORD stirred up the spirit [see 2 Kings 19.on vers.7.] of Cores King of Persia, that he caused a voice [that is proclamation. So Exod.36.6. Ezra 1:1.] to pass thorough all his Kingdom, even also in writing, saying: [this verse, and the next following, are even word by word repeated in the beginning of the book of Ezra. Whence some conclude, that it was Ezra, that by inspiration of the holy Ghost wrote these two books of the Chronicles.]

23. This saith Cores king of Persia: The LORD the God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the Earth; and he hath commanded me [See Ezra 1.on ver.2.] to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Juda: who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.