2 Chronicles 36:1-14
The Kings Refuse to Listen
1Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.
2Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months.
3And the king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
4Then Neco king of Egypt made Eliakim brother of Jehoahaz king over Judah and Jerusalem, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.
5Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
6Then Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jehoiakim and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.
7Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon some of the articles from the house of the LORD, and he put them in his temple in Babylon.
8As for the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, the abominations he committed, and all that was found against him, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And his son Jehoiachin reigned in his place.
9Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD.
10In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar summoned Jehoiachin and brought him to Babylon, along with the articles of value from the house of the LORD. And he made Jehoiachin’s relative Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.
11Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years.
12And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke for the LORD.
13He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.
14Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
The people make Jehoahaz king, but Pharaoh Neco removes him after three months and takes him to Egypt. Neco makes Eliakim king, changes his name to Jehoiakim, and imposes a heavy payment on the land. Jehoiakim reigns eleven years and does evil in the sight of the LORD.
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon comes against Jehoiakim, binds him in bronze shackles, and carries articles from the temple to Babylon. Jehoiachin succeeds him and reigns three months and ten days. He also does evil, and Nebuchadnezzar brings him to Babylon with more valuable articles from the house of the LORD.
Nebuchadnezzar makes Zedekiah king. Zedekiah is twenty-one and reigns eleven years. He stiffens his neck and hardens his heart against returning to the LORD, the God of Israel.
All the leaders of the priests and the people become increasingly unfaithful, following the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple the LORD had consecrated in Jerusalem. The city has warnings, reforms, and examples behind it, but the leaders refuse to listen.
Questions
1 Who removed Jehoahaz?
AnswerPharaoh Neco removed Jehoahaz after he had reigned in Jerusalem for three months.
2 What did Nebuchadnezzar do to Jehoiakim?
AnswerNebuchadnezzar bound Jehoiakim in bronze shackles and took articles from the temple to Babylon.
3 How long did Jehoiachin reign?
AnswerJehoiachin reigned in Jerusalem for three months and ten days.
4 What was wrong with Zedekiah's response to God?
AnswerZedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart instead of returning to the LORD.
What This Means for Us
The final kings are not short of warnings or information. Their problem is a settled refusal to return. The repeated pattern shows how resistance can become a character rather than a single decision.
Pay attention when correction keeps arriving and the same response keeps hardening. Humility is easier to practice early than after refusal has become a way of life.
Prayer
Lord, soften us when your word corrects us. Keep repeated resistance from becoming our identity, and give our families the humility to return before damage spreads further. Amen.