2 Chronicles 36King James Version
36 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem.
2 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3 And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
Jehoahaz is one of four kings who reigned in Jerusalem. He reigned for 3 months. There is nothing specifically stated that he did, however, the king of Egypt brought him down and forced money from Jerusalem after arresting him. The people of Jerusalem thought he was the best choice of the king after the death of his father. When ungodly people make their own choices for a leader, they will definitely choose someone who reflects their heart. Who the people chose, even a ruthless king from Egypt did not think him to be worthy as a king. The scripture did not say that HE put up a fight. Neither did the people fight to keep him as king. In my humble opinion, I think what he did as the king for 3 months was monstrous deplorable.
4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
5 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.
Jehoiakim was 25 years old and reigned for 11 years as the king in Jerusalem. The king of Egypt changed his name from Eliakim (God will establish) to Jehoiakim (raised by Yahweh). Jehoiakim was an evil man.
6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
After eleven years, Nebuchadnezzar, bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon. There was enough time for Jehoiakim to call upon the name of the Lord, but he did not. When people who knew God refuse to comply with the Word of God, you will be under the rule of someone who will remind you of the opposite of the one (God) you left. A king arrested by the king of slave owners (Egyptians) and sent back from the palace of Jerusalem/Judah. Judah/Jerusalem recently celebrated leaving Egypt. (Passover) Now going back to slavery and you are a king?
7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar seems to be in charge. He takes the king and now he touches vessels that belong to the house of God. When the people of God leave God, You and your enemy are in a deadly position.
8 Now 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 stead.
9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.
Jehoiachin 8 or 18 did evil in the sight of the Lord. 2 Kings 24:8 says he was 18. (possible copyist error)
10 And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the Lord, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
Nebuchadnezzar was busy making sure the people who left their God were in constant disarray. They had no power over themselves. Whatever or whenever Nebuchadnezzar wanted to mock the disobedient children of God he did so. He constantly robbed the temple. When we leave God's instructions, we leave safety, integrity, and life. The children of Israel did not listen to the prophets God sent, and they constantly spiraled downward.
11 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
Judah had no power over who would lead them. Zedekiah is the 4th and last king of Judah. At 25 years old he became king and reigned for 11 years. The pattern so for is 1st of last 4 kings, (2nd of 4) 3 months (3rd of 4) 11 years, 3 months+ and now (last king of Judah), 11 years. Josiah was king 22+ years previously to the last four kings and the city of Judah and Jerusalem has lived in turmoil ever since he was killed.
12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord.
13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel.
King Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah promise by the God he once knew to decline from rebelling against him. Zedekiah did not follow through on his word even if he did say that he would submit. Even after the prophet, Jeremiah told him to submit to Nebuchadnezzar, he refused. God wanted Judah to go into exile because they must be punished, and to redeem the sabbath years lost. They did not listen. Still, Zedekiah was encouraged to fight and rebel against the will of God. Zedekiah listened to people who told him to fight on their behalf and this caused more corrupt decisions to be applied to Zedekiah.
14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.
Judah/Jerusalem had been blessed for so long, they could not believe that who they were and what they had could be taken from them. They did not believe in God but, believe in their own lies they thought of themselves. Sin has definite consequences no matter who you are.
15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
Time after time God sent messages to tell the people to listen. The people did not listen. God said enough is enough.
17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
God tried to spare lives. Since the people would not listen, God sent death. When we do not listen to God's Word, death is inevitable. God does not feel remorseful when we refuse to listen.
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 brought to Babylon.
19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
Judah destroys themselves. God kept his word. God again is misrepresented by those who have influence. The influencers told people swelling words stating everything will be alright. They were told to ignore their bad behaviors and trust the God who wants to do us good. I hear these messages every day. We are being or behaving irresponsibly when those who are supposed to be teaching us, mislead us by telling us daily, Jesus covered our sins and all is well. God promised if His people refuse to obey him and refuse to seek His Word, we will be eternally separated from him. We must be faithful to God's Word to understand God's moves.
20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
All those who did not die were carried into captivity. They were there until the 70 years incarceration was fulfilled.
21 To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.
God is in total control. He used Jerimiah, to tell the truth. 70 years later, he stirred up the Cyrus king of Persia to release those who were yet alive from Judah/Jerusalem to go home and start anew.
Comments
Post a Comment