Jehoahaz Succeeds Josiah
(2 Kings 23:31–35)

1Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) son of Josiah (whom YHWH heals) and made him king in Jerusalem (city of peace) in place of his father.

2Jehoahaz \Joahaz/a was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) three months. 3And the king of Egypt (land of bondage) dethroned him in Jerusalem (city of peace) and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver <3.77 t / 3.42 mt>b and a talent of gold <75.4 lb / 34.2 kg>.c

4Then Neco king of Egypt (land of bondage) made Eliakim (GGod sets up) brother of Jehoahaz king over Judah (praised) and Jerusalem (city of peace), and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up). But Neco (lame) took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz (YHWH has grasped) and carried him off to Egypt.

Jehoiakim Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 23:36–37)

5Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) eleven years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God {YHWH Elohaw}.

6Then Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) came up against Jehoiakim and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. 7Nebuchadnezzar also (may Nebo protect the crown) took to Babylon (confusion by mixing) some of the articles from the house of the LORD {YHWH}, and he put them in his temple (palace)d in Babylon.

8As for the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up), the abominations he committed, and all that was found against him, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel (he wrestles with God) and Judah (praised). And his son Jehoiachin (YHWH establishes) reigned in his place.

Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 24:6–9)

9Jehoiachin (YHWH establishes) was eighteen [eight]e years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}.

10In the spring \At the turn of the year/,f King Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) summoned Jehoiachin and brought him to Babylon (confusion by mixing), along with the articles of value from the house of the LORD {YHWH}. And he made Jehoiachin’s relative (brother)g Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) king over Judah (praised) and Jerusalem (city of peace).

Zedekiah Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 24:18–20; Jeremiah 52:1–3)

11Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) eleven years. 12And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God {YHWH Elohaw} and did not humble himself before Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet, who spoke for the LORD.

13He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown), who had made him swear by God {Elohim}. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened (made strong)h his heart against turning to the LORD {YHWH}, the God of Israel (he wrestles with God). 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 {YHWH}, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem (city of peace).

The Fall of Jerusalem
(2 Kings 25:1–7)

15Again and again \Rising up early and sending it,/i the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. 16But they mocked the messengers of God {Elohim}, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD {YHWH} against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

17So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans (the Babylonians),j who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, 18who carried off everything to Babylon (confusion by mixing)—all the articles of the house of God {Elohim}, both large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD {YHWH} and of the king and his officials. 19Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God {Elohim} and broke down the wall of Jerusalem (city of peace). They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value.

20Those who escaped the sword were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon (confusion by mixing), and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia (pure / splendid) came to power.

21So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD {YHWH} spoken through Jeremiah <Jer 25:12, Jer 29:10>.k

The Proclamation of Cyrus
(Ezra 1:1–4; Isaiah 45:1–25)

22In the first year of Cyrus (possess the furnace) king of Persia (pure / splendid), to fulfill the word of the LORD {YHWH} spoken through Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed), the LORD stirred the spirit {ruach} of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:

23“This is what Cyrus (possess the furnace) king of Persia (pure / splendid) says:

‘The LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem (city of peace) in Judah (praised).

Whoever among you⁺ belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’”