1 The|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H1121" Judah chose Jehoahaz|strong="H3059" to|strong="H3389" be|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" new king|strong="H4427" in|strong="H0776" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". Jehoahaz|strong="H3059" was|strong="H0776" Josiah’s|strong="H2977" son|strong="H1121".
2 He|strong="H3389" was|strong="H1121" 23 years|strong="H8141" old|strong="H1121" when|strong="H1121" he|strong="H3389" became|strong="H4427" king|strong="H4427" of|strong="H1121" Judah. He|strong="H3389" was|strong="H1121" king|strong="H4427" in|strong="H8141" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" for|strong="H3389" three|strong="H7969" months|strong="H2320".
3 Then|strong="H0853" King|strong="H4428" Neco from|strong="H5493" Egypt|strong="H4714" made Jehoahaz a|strong="H0776" prisoner. Neco made the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0776" of|strong="H4428" Judah pay|strong="H3701" 3 3/4 tons of|strong="H4428" silver|strong="H3701" and|strong="H3967" 75 pounds of|strong="H4428" gold|strong="H2091" for|strong="H0776" a|strong="H0776" fine|strong="H3701".
4 Neco|strong="H5224" chose Jehoahaz’s brother|strong="H0251" Eliakim|strong="H0471" to|strong="H0935" be|strong="H8034" the|strong="H0853" new king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H0935" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". Neco|strong="H5224" gave|strong="H3947" Eliakim|strong="H0471" a|strong="H3947" new name|strong="H8034". He|strong="H0853" named|strong="H8034" him|strong="H5921" Jehoiakim|strong="H3079". But|strong="H0935" Neco|strong="H5224" took|strong="H3947" Jehoahaz|strong="H3099" to|strong="H0935" Egypt|strong="H4714".
5 Jehoiakim|strong="H3079" was|strong="H3068" 25 years|strong="H8141" old|strong="H1121" when|strong="H1121" he|strong="H6213" became|strong="H4427" the|strong="H3068" new king|strong="H4427" of|strong="H1121" Judah. He|strong="H6213" was|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4427" in|strong="H8141" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" for|strong="H0259" eleven|strong="H6240" years|strong="H8141". Jehoiakim|strong="H3079" did|strong="H6213" not|strong="H1121" obey|strong="H6213" God|strong="H0430". He|strong="H6213" did|strong="H6213" what|strong="H7451" the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068" his|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" considered evil|strong="H7451".
6 King|strong="H4428" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" from|strong="H5921" Babylon|strong="H0894" attacked|strong="H5927" Judah. He|strong="H5921" made|strong="H0631" Jehoiakim a|strong="H5921" prisoner|strong="H0631" and|strong="H4428" put|strong="H5927" bronze|strong="H5178" chains|strong="H5178" on|strong="H5921" him|strong="H5921". Then|strong="H5927" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" took|strong="H5927" King|strong="H4428" Jehoiakim to|strong="H5921" Babylon|strong="H0894".
7 Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" took|strong="H0935" some of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0935" things|strong="H3627" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004". He|strong="H3068" carried|strong="H0935" them|strong="H5414" to|strong="H0935" Babylon|strong="H0894" and|strong="H0935" put|strong="H5414" them|strong="H5414" in|strong="H0935" his|strong="H5414" own house|strong="H1004".
8 Everything|strong="H0834" else Jehoiakim|strong="H3079" did|strong="H6213", the|strong="H0834" terrible sins he|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213", and|strong="H1121" everything|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" guilty of|strong="H1121" doing|strong="H6213", are|strong="H0834" written|strong="H3789" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" book|strong="H5612", \+w The|strong="H0834"\+w* History \+w of|strong="H1121"\+w* \+w the|strong="H0834"\+w* \+w Kings|strong="H4428"\+w* \+w of|strong="H1121"\+w* \+w Israel|strong="H3478"\+w* \+w and|strong="H1121"\+w* \+w Judah|strong="H3063"\+w*. Jehoiakim’s|strong="H3079" son|strong="H1121" Jehoiachin|strong="H3078" became|strong="H4427" the|strong="H0834" new king|strong="H4428" in|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" place|strong="H8478".
9 Jehoiachin|strong="H3078" was|strong="H3068" 18 years|strong="H8141" old|strong="H1121" when|strong="H3117" he|strong="H3117" became|strong="H4427" king|strong="H4427" of|strong="H1121" Judah. He|strong="H3117" was|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4427" in|strong="H8141" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" for|strong="H3117" three|strong="H7969" months|strong="H2320" and|strong="H1121" ten|strong="H6235" days|strong="H3117". He|strong="H3117" did|strong="H6213" not|strong="H1121" obey|strong="H6213" God|strong="H3068". He|strong="H3117" did|strong="H6213" what|strong="H7451" the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068" considered evil|strong="H7451".
10 In|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" spring|strong="H8666", King|strong="H4428" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" sent|strong="H7971" some servants to|strong="H0935" get|strong="H0935" Jehoiachin. They|strong="H5921" brought|strong="H0935" Jehoiachin and|strong="H0935" some valuable|strong="H2532" treasures from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004" to|strong="H0935" Babylon|strong="H0894". Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" chose Zedekiah|strong="H6667" to|strong="H0935" be|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" new king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H0935" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". Zedekiah|strong="H6667" was|strong="H3068" one|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Jehoiachin’s relatives|strong="H0251".
11 Zedekiah|strong="H6667" was|strong="H0259" 21 years|strong="H8141" old|strong="H1121" when|strong="H1121" he|strong="H3389" became|strong="H4427" king|strong="H4427" of|strong="H1121" Judah. He|strong="H3389" was|strong="H0259" king|strong="H4427" in|strong="H8141" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" for|strong="H0259" eleven|strong="H6240" years|strong="H8141".
12 Zedekiah did|strong="H6213" what|strong="H6310" the|strong="H6440" LORD|strong="H3068" his|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" considered evil|strong="H7451". Jeremiah|strong="H3414" the|strong="H6440" prophet|strong="H5030" told|strong="H6213" him|strong="H6440" messages from|strong="H6440" the|strong="H6440" LORD|strong="H3068". But|strong="H3808" Zedekiah did|strong="H6213" not|strong="H3808" humble|strong="H3665" himself|strong="H3665" and|strong="H3068" obey|strong="H6213" what|strong="H6310" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" said|strong="H6310".
13 Zedekiah turned|strong="H7725" against|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019". In|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" past Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" forced Zedekiah to|strong="H0413" make|strong="H7725" a|strong="H0834" promise|strong="H7650" to|strong="H0413" be|strong="H1571" faithful to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413". Zedekiah used|strong="H7650" God’s|strong="H0430" name and|strong="H3068" promised|strong="H7650" to|strong="H0413" be|strong="H1571" faithful to|strong="H0413" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019". But|strong="H1571" Zedekiah was|strong="H0834" stubborn|strong="H7185" and|strong="H3068" would|strong="H3478" not|strong="H1571" change|strong="H7725" his|strong="H3068" life. He|strong="H0834" refused|strong="H6203" to|strong="H0413" obey the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H0853" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478".
14 Also|strong="H1571", all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" leaders|strong="H8269" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" priests|strong="H3548" and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" leaders|strong="H8269" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H1004" Judah sinned worse and|strong="H3068" became|strong="H4603" more|strong="H7235" unfaithful|strong="H4603" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" Lord|strong="H3068". They|strong="H0834" followed the|strong="H3605" evil example of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" other|strong="H3605" nations|strong="H1471". They|strong="H0834" ruined|strong="H2930" the|strong="H3605" Temple|strong="H1004" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" had|strong="H3068" made|strong="H2930" holy|strong="H6942" in|strong="H3068" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
15 The|strong="H5921" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H5921" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0430" their|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001", sent|strong="H7971" prophets again|strong="H7925" and|strong="H3068" again|strong="H7925" to|strong="H5921" warn|strong="H5971" his|strong="H5921" people|strong="H5971". He|strong="H3588" did this|strong="H3588" because|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" felt sorry for|strong="H3588" them|strong="H5921" and|strong="H3068" for|strong="H3588" his|strong="H5921" Temple. He|strong="H3588" didn’t want to|strong="H5921" destroy them|strong="H5921" or|strong="H0001" his|strong="H5921" Temple.
16 But|strong="H1961" they|strong="H3068" made|strong="H1961" fun of|strong="H0430" God’s|strong="H0430" prophets|strong="H5030" and|strong="H3068" refused to|strong="H5704" listen to|strong="H5704" them|strong="H1961". They|strong="H3068" hated God’s|strong="H0430" messages|strong="H1697". Finally|strong="H5704", the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068" could|strong="H1697" not|strong="H0369" hold his|strong="H3068" anger|strong="H2534" any|strong="H0369" longer|strong="H0369". He|strong="H5704" became|strong="H1961" angry|strong="H2534" with|strong="H3068" his|strong="H3068" people|strong="H5971" and|strong="H3068" there|strong="H0369" was|strong="H0369" nothing|strong="H0369" that|strong="H1697" could|strong="H1697" be|strong="H1961" done|strong="H1961" to|strong="H5704" stop it|strong="H5704".
17 So|strong="H5414" God|strong="H3808" brought|strong="H5927" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon to|strong="H5921" attack|strong="H5927" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3808" of|strong="H4428" Judah and|strong="H3027" Jerusalem. The|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon killed|strong="H2026" the|strong="H3605" young|strong="H0970" men|strong="H0970" even|strong="H3808" when|strong="H5927" they|strong="H5921" were|strong="H3027" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" Temple|strong="H1004". He|strong="H3808" didn’t|strong="H3808" have|strong="H2550" mercy|strong="H2550" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3808" of|strong="H4428" Judah and|strong="H3027" Jerusalem. The|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon killed|strong="H2026" young|strong="H0970" and|strong="H3027" old|strong="H2205" people|strong="H3808". He|strong="H3808" killed|strong="H2026" men|strong="H0970" and|strong="H3027" women|strong="H1330". He|strong="H3808" killed|strong="H2026" sick and|strong="H3027" healthy people|strong="H3808". God|strong="H3808" permitted|strong="H5414" Nebuchadnezzar to|strong="H5921" punish the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3808" of|strong="H4428" Judah and|strong="H3027" Jerusalem.
18 Nebuchadnezzar carried|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" things|strong="H3605" in|strong="H0935" God’s|strong="H0430" Temple|strong="H1004" away|strong="H3605" to|strong="H0935" Babylon|strong="H0894". He|strong="H0430" took|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" valuable things|strong="H3605" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004", from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428", and|strong="H0935" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" officials|strong="H8269".
19 Nebuchadnezzar and|strong="H0430" his|strong="H3605" army|strong="H3389" burned|strong="H8313" the|strong="H3605" Temple|strong="H1004". They|strong="H3605" broke|strong="H5422" down|strong="H5422" Jerusalem’s|strong="H3389" wall|strong="H2346" and|strong="H0430" burned|strong="H8313" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" houses|strong="H1004" that|strong="H3605" belonged to|strong="H3389" the|strong="H3605" king and|strong="H0430" his|strong="H3605" officials. They|strong="H3605" took|strong="H0853" or|strong="H1004" destroyed|strong="H7843" every|strong="H3605" valuable|strong="H4261" thing|strong="H3627" in|strong="H0430" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
20 Nebuchadnezzar took|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0413" people|strong="H1121" who|strong="H1121" were|strong="H1961" still|strong="H5704" alive back|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" Babylon|strong="H0894" and|strong="H1121" forced them|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" be|strong="H1961" slaves|strong="H5650". They|strong="H5704" stayed in|strong="H0413" Babylon|strong="H0894" as|strong="H5704" slaves|strong="H5650" until|strong="H5704" the|strong="H0413" Persian kingdom|strong="H4438" defeated the|strong="H0413" kingdom|strong="H4438" of|strong="H1121" Babylon|strong="H0894".
21 The|strong="H3605" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Judah became|strong="H1697" an|strong="H3068" empty desert and|strong="H3068" stayed that|strong="H3605" way|strong="H1697" for|strong="H0776" 70 years|strong="H8141". All|strong="H3605" this|strong="H1697" time|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H0776" rested|strong="H7673" to|strong="H5704" make|strong="H8074" up|strong="H5704" for|strong="H0776" the|strong="H3605" Sabbath|strong="H7676" rests that|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0776" had|strong="H3068" not|strong="H0776" kept. This|strong="H1697" is|strong="H3068" just|strong="H1697" what|strong="H1697" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" said|strong="H1697" would|strong="H3068" happen|strong="H1697" in|strong="H8141" the|strong="H3605" warning he|strong="H5704" gave|strong="H4390" through|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" prophet Jeremiah|strong="H3414".
22 During|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" first|strong="H0259" year|strong="H8141" that|strong="H3605" Cyrus|strong="H3566" was|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Persia|strong="H6539", the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" caused|strong="H1697" Cyrus|strong="H3566" to|strong="H0559" make|strong="H3615" a|strong="H0259" special announcement|strong="H3068". He|strong="H3068" did this|strong="H1697" so|strong="H1571" that|strong="H3605" what|strong="H1697" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" promised|strong="H0559" through|strong="H5674" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" the|strong="H3605" prophet|strong="H0559" would|strong="H3068" really|strong="H0559" happen|strong="H1697". Cyrus|strong="H3566" sent|strong="H0559" messengers to|strong="H0559" every|strong="H3605" place|strong="H3605" in|strong="H8141" his|strong="H3605" kingdom|strong="H4438". They|strong="H3068" carried this|strong="H1697" message|strong="H1697":
23 This|strong="H1931" is|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" King|strong="H4428" Cyrus|strong="H3566" of|strong="H4428" Persia|strong="H6539" says|strong="H0559":