Dei Break
2 Chronicles 36:1 – 23
In today's opening verses we see signs that Judah is about to follow Israel into destruction. Jehoahaz, son of Josiah the reformer, ruled only three months (Note: Josiah had been only about 16 when Jehoahaz was born). Egypt had defeated his father and killed him. Now Judah was Egypt's vassal instead of Assyria's. Egypt, however, found Jehoahaz' brother, Eliakim, to be more to their liking as king.
Shortly thereafter Babylon crushed Egypt and became the recipient of Judah's offerings. Newly crowned Eliakim (renamed Jehoiakim) submitted to Babylon for about three years before rebelling—after burning a scroll from Jeremiah warning that Babylon would devastate and exile Judah. (More on that in the book of Jeremiah)
Judah was constantly pressured by Egypt and then Babylon during Jehoiakim's reign. Daniel was exiled to Babylon about four years into the puppet king's reign. Though Jehoiakim's evil is not fully explained, Jeremiah writes that he murdered the prophet Uriah and attempted to kill Jeremiah.
His son, Jehoiachin (an "evil" eight-year old), did survive in Babylon (vs.10). After 37 years of imprisonment he was released and lived out his life on a Babylonian pension. It may be that Daniel had some influence in this. (More information in the books of Jeremiah and Daniel.)
Zedekiah, crowned by Babylon, was the "evil", and last, king of Judah before the exile. He also rebelled against both God and Babylon which led to Jerusalem's complete destruction in 586 B.C. Judah had outlived Israel by 136 years.
The writer leaves out many details about these last kings of Judah. To him, the important part of his nation's final days was that both kings and people had defied God; persecuted His prophets; worshiped false gods; and lived in great sin.
Now, decades later, Cyrus of Persia has conquered mighty Babylon and has proclaimed freedom to the Israelis. The writer reminds his people that God's judgment on them was just, and that the danger of falling back into disobedience as they return home from Babylon is very real. Most of them had been born in Babylon—many chose to stay there. How would the remnant returning to Jerusalem react to their freedom?
Next time: The Exiles Return
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