Dear RTB’ers,
Today we finish II Chronicles and in so doing we end the “formal” historical writings of the Old Testament authors (Samuel, Kings, Chronicles). We still have two historical books to read, Esther and Daniel that relate to activities taking place during the Babylonian Exile. In addition we’ve already read Ezra and Nehemiah and two prophetic books, Jeremiah and Ezekiel that relate to activities taking place in Jerusalem and Babylon. But for now, today ends the formal Old Testament historical writings.
We see four kings in this final chapter:
- Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, did evil in the sight of the Lord (II Kings 23:32), taken captive to Egypt;
- Jehoiakim (name changed from Eliakim), brother to Jehoahaz, reigned eleven years, did evil in the sight of the Lord, bound in chains and taken captive to Babylon;
- Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, reigned only three months, did evil in the sight of the Lord, carried captive to Babylon;
- Zedekiah (name changed from Mattaniah), brother to Jehoiachin (v. 10), or possibly uncle to Jehoiachin and brother to Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim (II Kings 24:17), did evil in the sight of the Lord, rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon) who captured him, slaughtered his sons before his eyes, and bound him in bronze to Babylon (II Kings 25:7).
Their stories, in a nutshell, with one common denominator: “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (vv. 5, 9, 12, plus II Kings 23:32 noted above).
Any questions…?
Blessings!
Fred