2 Chronicles 36 Commentary
King Jehoahaz. King Jehoiakim. King Jehoiachin. King Zedekiah. King Nebuchadnezzar. King Cyrus. And the prophet Jeremiah. Chapter 36 is fast-paced and brings to a close the Book of Chronicles. Each of the characters mentioned plays a role, but the LORD is pulling the strings in the background.
The kings of Egypt and Babylon attacked Jerusalem at different times. David’s throne changed kings with each attack. Three of Josiah’s sons and a grandson sit on David’s throne at different times.
Eliakim’s name is changed to Jehoiakim. And Mattaniah’s name is changed to Zedekiah. These name changes are imposed by foreign powers. Israel’s identity is lost. The reign of “kings-proper” comes to an end – exactly as predicted by the many prophets who worked between the time of David and the exile to Babylon.
In fulfillment of the word of the LORD, King Cyrus of Persia ordered the return of the Israelites and the establishment of the temple worship system. It had been 70 years in exile away from the land of promise.
The Book of Chronicles is summarized by the following extract: “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.”
In between David and Cyrus are numerous prophets, herein called messengers, who the LORD sent to try and steer Israel back to the true worship of the Creator God. Some of them wrote books, and we shall hear from them in the near future.
In the Book of Exodus, the LORD had promised to take Israel to their own land, a land flowing with milk and honey. It was never going to be Eden, but it would prosper under the care and leadership of the LORD. Fast-forward to the Book of Judges, and the land was more hell than Heaven!
Idolatry had heightened, and the nation was no different from the wicked Canaanites.
The cry for human leadership made the LORD invent kingship for Israel. The plan was good. But mortals are masters of confusion and destruction. Regardless of the frailties of David, the LORD establishes a strong and prosperous nation. But Solomon becomes wicked, and things begin to fall apart.
Chapter 36 records for us the final years of what once stood as a powerful kingdom of Israel.
David and his sons have been a disappointment.
But the LORD talked about David’s son, whose dynasty would never end. As we have clearly seen, Solomon wasn’t the “son”. Neither was Zedekiah!
The real Shepherd-king would rule in righteousness and complete obedience to the word of the LORD. His kingdom would know no end!
It is a blessing to belong to the Kingdom of the LORD Jesus Christ. Let the saint rejoice. Chronicles ends here.
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