Catholic Commentary on 2 Chronicles 36

"The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets." (2 Chronicles 36:15-16)

The End of the Kingdom and the Decree of Cyrus

Four kings follow Josiah in rapid succession: Jehoahaz reigned three months before being taken to Egypt; Jehoiakim for eleven years, bound in bronze shackles and taken to Babylon; Jehoiachin for three months and ten days before being taken to Babylon; Zedekiah for eleven years. Zedekiah rebels against Nebuchadnezzar. The Chaldeans burn the Temple, break down the city walls, carry all the people to Babylon, and slaughter the leaders. The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. The land has its Sabbath rest for seventy years. Then Cyrus king of Persia issues his proclamation: the LORD has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem; any of his people may go up, and may the LORD their God be with them.

The Catechism identifies the exile and return as the death and resurrection pattern of the Old Testament: the community that dies in Babylon rises again when Cyrus speaks. The decree of Cyrus is the preparation for the restoration, and the restoration is the preparation for Christ (CCC 711).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, Chronicles ends not with the exile but with Cyrus's decree: may the LORD their God be with them. The last word of Chronicles is go up. After every exile, after every destruction, the word of God is still go up. The Temple will be rebuilt. The people will return. The LORD is still their God. Go up.

Prayer

Lord God, after the fire and the exile and the seventy years of Sabbath rest, you still said go up. Say it to every generation in exile. May we go up and may you be with us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

36
Jehoahaz Succeeds Josiah
(2 Kings 23:31-35)
1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.
 
2 Jehoahaz * 36:2 Hebrew Joahaz, a variant of Jehoahaz; also in verse 4 was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. 3 And the king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver † 36:3 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver. and a talent of gold.‡ 36:3 A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.
 
4 Then Neco king of Egypt made Eliakim brother of Jehoahaz king over Judah and Jerusalem, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.
Jehoiakim Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 23:36-37)
 
5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
 
6 Then Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jehoiakim and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon some of the articles from the house of the LORD, and he put them in his temple § 36:7 Or palace in Babylon.
 
8 As for the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, the abominations he committed, and all that was found against him, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And his son Jehoiachin reigned in his place.
Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 24:6-9)
 
9 Jehoiachin was eighteen * 36:9 One Hebrew manuscript, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 24:8); most Hebrew manuscripts eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD.
 
10 In the spring,† 36:10 Literally At the turn of the year King Nebuchadnezzar summoned Jehoiachin and brought him to Babylon, along with the articles of value from the house of the LORD. And he made Jehoiachin’s relative ‡ 36:10 Or brother or uncle Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.
Zedekiah Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 24:18-20; Jeremiah 52:1-3)
 
11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 12 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke for the LORD.
 
13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened § 36:13 Or made strong or made courageous his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. 14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.
The Fall of Jerusalem
(2 Kings 25:1-7)
 
15 Again and again * 36:15 Literally Rising up early and sending (it), the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.
 
17 So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans,† 36:17 That is, the Babylonians; also clarified in verse 19 who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, 18 who carried off everything to Babylon-all the articles of the house of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king and his officials. 19 Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value.
 
20 Those who escaped the sword were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power.
 
21 So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD through Jeremiah.‡ 36:21 See Jeremiah 25:12 and Jeremiah 29:10.
The Proclamation of Cyrus
(Ezra 1:1-4; Isaiah 45:1-25)
 
22 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:
 
23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
 
‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.
 
Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’ ”

*36:2 36:2 Hebrew Joahaz, a variant of Jehoahaz; also in verse 4

†36:3 36:3 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver.

‡36:3 36:3 A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.

§36:7 36:7 Or palace

*36:9 36:9 One Hebrew manuscript, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 24:8); most Hebrew manuscripts eight

†36:10 36:10 Literally At the turn of the year

‡36:10 36:10 Or brother or uncle

§36:13 36:13 Or made strong or made courageous

*36:15 36:15 Literally Rising up early and sending (it),

†36:17 36:17 That is, the Babylonians; also clarified in verse 19

‡36:21 36:21 See Jeremiah 25:12 and Jeremiah 29:10.

Public Domain