2 Ch. 36: Jerusalem's Captivity

2 Chronicles 36:20 "He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power."

The final kings of Jerusalem are all nitwits. Every last one of them after Josiah is described the same way: "He did evil in the eyes of the LORD."

Neco removed Jehoahaz from the throne and took him to Egypt, installing Jehoiakim, after changing his name from Eliakim. Why? Probably because he could, since he was in charge of Israel now.

Then Nebuchadnezzar comes on the scene and shows his power, and takes tribute from Israel.

What is amazing is the repeated attempts God makes to get through to the people of Israel. But the people, in their despair and captivity under Egypt and Nebuchadnezzar still manage to mock and ignore the prophets sent to them.

Nebuchadnezzar carries off the remaining Israelites he didn't kill to Babylon, where they stay for 70 years. There is another very interesting emphasis on rest. The land is said to have "enjoyed" its rest for those seventy years, until the word of Jeremiah the prophet is fulfilled. All this time, the people were not only sinning against God, but apparently sinning against the land, which was given by God as a vital part of the covenant originally made with Israel at the time of Abraham.

Power must have changed hands since Nebuchadnezzar's takeover, as the one who allows the Israelites to return home is Cyrus, the king of Persia, who was moved by God to let His people return back home.