2 Chronicles 36:1-4 (1Es 1:34-38; 2 Kings 23:31-34). The Reign of
Jehoahaz
1. _the people of the land took_ Cp. 2 Chronicles 26:1; 2 Chronicles
33:25.
_Jehoahaz_ Called "Shallum" in 1 Chronicles 3:15; Jeremiah 22:11. He
was younger than Jehoiakim; 2 Chronicles 36:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in Jerusalem_ His mother's name is here omitted; cp. 2 Chronicles
33:1; 2Ch 33:21; 2 Chronicles 34:1. According to 2 Kings 23:32 (cp.
Ezekiel 19:3-4) Jehoahaz "did evil.... [ Continue Reading ]
_put him down at Jerusalem_ R.V. DEPOSED HIM AT JERUSALEM. The clause
answers to 2 Kings 23:33, "put him in bands at Riblah in the land of
Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem." Perhaps we should read
the same words in Chron. The Heb. words for "deposed" and "put in
bands" are liable to be e... [ Continue Reading ]
_turned his name_to _Jehoiakim_ This name is compounded with the
divine name Jehovah. Probably Neco made the new king swear fealty _by
Jehovah_, and then declared his official name to be Jehoiakim, in
order that he and his people might have something to remind them of
the oath he had taken.
_to Egy... [ Continue Reading ]
(1Es 1:39-42; 2 Kings 23:35 to 2 Kings 24:7). The Reign of Jehoiakim
5. _in Jerusalem_ The Chronicler omits his mother's name (cp. 2
Chronicles 36:2, note) and also the statement that he raised the
indemnity imposed by Neco by means of a poll-tax (2 Kings 23:35).
_he did that which_was _evil_ Cp. 2... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nebuchadnezzar_ A more accurate form of his name is "Nebuchadrezzar"
(so generally in Jeremiah and Ezekiel); in the Inscriptions
"Na-bi-um-ku-du-ur-ri-u-ṣu-ur," also "Nabû-ku-dur-ri-u-ṣu-ur,"
the meaning being, "O Nebo (one of the gods of Babylon; cp. Isaiah
46:1), protect the crown (_or_the bounda... [ Continue Reading ]
_of the vessels_ There is no mention in 2 Kin. of the removal of
sacred vessels during Jehoiakim's reign. Some were carried off under
Jehoiachin, the rest under Zedekiah; 2 Kings 24:13; 2 Kings 25:13-17.
Cp. last note.
_in his temple_ So LXX.; 1Es 1:39 [41]; Daniel 1:2. R.V. mg., "in his
palace." T... [ Continue Reading ]
_that which was found in him_ i.e. his sin (in this context); cp. 1
Kings 14:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoiachin_ Called "Jeconiah," 1 Chronicles 3:16, where see note.
_eight years_ So LXX. (B) of Chron. and of Esd., but the number is
probably corrupt for _eighteen_(so LXX. (A) of Chron. and of Esd. and
Heb. and LXX. of 2 Kings 24:8). It is possible that the clause "and
ten days" below is a mispla... [ Continue Reading ]
(1Es 1:43-45; cp. 2 Kings 24:8-17). The Reign of Jehoiachin
The account given in 2 Kin. contains much that is not given in Chron.
and, in particular, many details of the first captivity of Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
_when the year was expired_ R.V. AT THE RETURN OF THE YEAR; cp. 2
Samuel 11:1 = 1 Chronicles 20:1, "at the return of the year, at the
time when kings go out to battle," R.V. This would be in the spring.
_brought him to Babylon_ It was not the king only, but also all the
best of the people, "the prin... [ Continue Reading ]
(1Es 1:46-56; cp. 2 Kings 24:18 to 2 Kings 25:21; Jeremiah 37:1 to
Jeremiah 39:8; Jeremiah 52:1-27). Reign of Zedekiah. Destruction of
Jerusalem
11. _in Jerusalem_ The Chronicler omits, as usual, his mother's name.
She was "Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah" (2 Kings 24:18),
and was mother... [ Continue Reading ]
_humbled not himself_ Jeremiah consistently advised Zedekiah to submit
to the Chaldeans; but the king partly through fear of his princes,
partly through illusive hopes, could never bring himself to do this;
cp. Jeremiah 21:1-7; Jeremiah 34:8-22; Jeremiah 37:1-10; Jeremiah
37:17; Jeremiah 38:17-23.... [ Continue Reading ]
_who had made him swear by God_ Cp. Ezekiel 17:11-19.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the chief_ R.V. THE CHIEFS.
_transgressed very much_ R.V. TRESPASSED VERY GREATLY.
_polluted the house_ Jeremiah 7:9-11; Jeremiah 23:11-14; Ezekiel
8:5-16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_rising up betimes, and sending_ R.V. RISING UP EARLY AND SENDING; cp.
Jeremiah 26:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
_mocked the messengers_ Jeremiah was imprisoned, beaten, and
threatened with death, Urijah (Jeremiah 26:20-23) was put to death. Of
the fate of Habakkuk (who also lived during the Chaldean period,
Habakkuk 1:6) nothing is known.
_misused his prophets_ R.V. SCOFFED AT HIS PROPHETS.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chaldees_ R.V. CHALDEANS. Their name in Hebrew is _Casdim_and in
Assyrio-Babylonian _Caldu_(the change of "s" for "l" before a dental
is not uncommon in the latter language). They were a people originally
living south of Babylon on the sea, but Nabopolassar, father of
Nebuchadnezzar, conquered Baby... [ Continue Reading ]
_all the vessels_ i.e. all the vessels which remained after the
previous spoliation (2 Chronicles 36:10). They were perhaps chiefly of
brass; cp. 2 Kings 25:13-15.... [ Continue Reading ]
_brake down the wall_ The Heb. verb here used (_nittçç_) implies
probably a more thorough breaking down than the _pâraç_of 2
Chronicles 25:23 (see note); 2 Chronicles 26:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
(1Es 1:57-58). The Captivity
20. _to him and his sons_ Cp. Jeremiah 27:7. There were three kings of
Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar before Cyrus established Persian rule,
viz. Evil-Merodach (Amil-Marduk) (2 Kings 25:27), Neriglissar
(Nergalšar-uṣur), and Nabonidus (Nabu-na'id). The last two kings
were... [ Continue Reading ]
_by the mouth of Jeremiah_ Cp. Jeremiah 25:11; Jeremiah 29:10.
_until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths_ Cp. Leviticus 25:1-7;
Leviticus 26:34-35.
_threescore and ten years_ i.e. two whole generations. It is very
unlikely that the Chronicler intended to suggest that the Sabbatical
years had been ne... [ Continue Reading ]
_stirred up the spirit_ Cp. 1 Chronicles 5:26; Haggai 1:14.
_made a proclamation_ cp. 2 Chronicles 30:5. The phrase is
characteristic of the Chronicler.... [ Continue Reading ]
(Ezra 1:1-3 _a_; Esther 2:1; Esther 2:1-5 _a_). Cyrus Decrees the
Rebuilding of the Temple
On this section see the full notes of Professor Ryle on Ezra.
The historical character of this decree of Cyrus has been questioned
(on purely subjective grounds) by Cheyne, _Jewish Religious Life after
the E... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the kingdoms of the earth_ The king of Babylon bore the title of
"king of the four quarters of the world." Cyrus succeeded to this
title on his conquest of Babylon.
_God of heaven_ R.V. THE GOD OF HEAVEN.
_Who_is there _among you of all his people? The Lord_… etc.] R.V.
WHOSOEVER THERE IS AMO... [ Continue Reading ]