2 Chronicles 36:1 - Meaning and Application

The destruction of Judah and Jerusalem now moves forward step by step. God ordered it that way to show that he takes no pleasure in the death of sinners. He would rather they turn from their ways and live, so he gives them time and every reason to repent, and he waits to show mercy.

The history of these reigns is given more fully in the last three chapters of 2 Kings. Jehoahaz was made king by the people (2 Chronicles 36:1), but after only three months he was removed by Pharaoh-necho, the king of Egypt, and taken as a prisoner to Egypt. The land was also fined for setting him up (2 Chronicles 36:2-4). We hear nothing more of this young prince. If he had followed the godliness of his father, he might have ruled long and prospered. But 2 Kings says he did evil in the Lord's sight, so his success was brief and his joy lasted only a moment.

Jehoiakim was then made king by the king of Egypt, an old enemy of Judah. He gave the kingdom to whichever ruler he wanted, and even gave the king whatever name he chose (2 Chronicles 36:4). He made Eliakim king and changed his name to Jehoiakim, showing his authority over him. Jehoiakim did evil (2 Chronicles 36:5), and we also read of the abominations he committed (2 Chronicles 36:8). He was reckless and deeply wicked. Idol worship is often called abominations because it is so hateful to God.

We hear no more of the king of Egypt, but the king of Babylon came against Jehoiakim (2 Chronicles 36:6). He seized him and bound him, planning to take him to Babylon. It seems he either changed his mind and let him stay as a subject king, or Jehoiakim died before the journey. In any case, the best and most valuable vessels of the temple were taken to Babylon and used in Nebuchadnezzar's temple (2 Chronicles 36:7). We can assume that no temple in the world was as richly supplied as the temple in Jerusalem. Judah had brought the idols of the nations into God's temple, and now their punishment was that the temple vessels were carried off to serve the gods of the nations. If people profane God's gifts by their sins, it is right for God to allow enemies to profane them in return.

These were the vessels the false prophets promised the people would be brought back (Jeremiah 27:16). But Jeremiah told them that the rest would also go after them (Jeremiah 27:21-22), and that is what happened. Yet the carrying away of these vessels to Babylon began Jerusalem's misery, and Belshazzar's bold misuse of them there filled up Babylon's guilt. When he drank wine from them to honor his gods, the writing on the wall announced his doom (Daniel 5:3 and following).

In the reference to Jehoiakim in 2 Kings, mention is made of what was found in him (2 Chronicles 36:8). This likely means the treachery found in him toward the king of Babylon. But some Jewish writers understand it to mean special marks or signs found on his dead body in honor of his idol, perhaps cuttings like those God had forbidden (Leviticus 19:28).

Jehoiachin, also called Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, took his father's place and reigned long enough to show his evil bent. After three months and ten days, the king of Babylon sent for him and carried him away captive, along with more of the beautiful temple vessels. He is here said to have been eight years old, but 2 Kings says he was eighteen when he began to reign. This seems to be a copyist's mistake, unless we think his father had already made him a joint ruler at age eight, as some suppose.