Berean Study Bible Jehoahaz Succeeds JosiahJudah’s leading citizens and elders chose Jehoahaz, also called Shallum, after Josiah’s death at Megiddo. Though he was not Josiah’s eldest son, the people placed him on the throne, likely favoring a ruler who would continue Josiah’s opposition to Egyptian control. 2Ki 23:30 From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot… and made him king in Jerusalem His coronation in Jerusalem established him as Judah’s lawful king in the city of David and the center of worship at the temple. The decision was made before Pharaoh Necho asserted direct authority over Judah. 2Ki 11:12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son,… in place of his father. Jehoahaz succeeded Josiah in the Davidic line, but his reign lasted only three months. Pharaoh Necho soon removed him, marking Judah’s growing subjection to foreign powers after Josiah’s death. 2Ki 14:21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,… Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, Jehoahaz, also called Shallum, was the son of Josiah. His name means “Yahweh has grasped.” After Josiah was killed in battle against Pharaoh Neco, the people of Judah made Jehoahaz king. His accession came during a dangerous period when Judah stood under growing Egyptian control and faced the rising power of Babylon. 2Ki 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king,… and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His reign ended when Pharaoh Neco removed him from the throne and carried him to Egypt. Neco then placed Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim on the throne, changing his name to Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz never returned to Judah, and his brief reign revealed how greatly Judah’s independence had been weakened. 2Ki 24:8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king,… And the king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem Pharaoh Necho II removed Jehoahaz, Josiah’s son, after only three months on Judah’s throne in 609 BC. Egypt sought to control Judah as a buffer state during its struggle for influence in the region. By deposing Judah’s king in Jerusalem, Necho asserted authority over the nation’s political and religious center, confirming Judah’s weakened position after Josiah’s death. 2Ki 23:33-34 And Pharaoh Neco imprisoned Jehoahaz at Riblah… and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. Egypt’s tribute placed a severe financial burden on Judah and marked its submission to Necho’s rule. The payment drained resources from the kingdom and demonstrated that Judah could no longer act independently. Its dependence on foreign power reflected the judgment brought by persistent national unfaithfulness to the Lord. 2Ki 23:35 So Jehoiakim paid the silver and gold to Pharaoh Neco… Then Neco king of Egypt Neco II ruled Egypt during the final collapse of Assyrian power and the rise of Babylon. After defeating Judah’s army at Megiddo and causing Josiah’s death, he moved to secure Egyptian control over Judah. 2Ki 23:29 During Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt… made Eliakim brother of Jehoahaz king over Judah and Jerusalem, Jehoahaz had reigned only three months when Neco removed him. Eliakim, another son of Josiah, was installed as Egypt’s vassal ruler over the kingdom and its capital. 2Ki 23:34 Then Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim son of Josiah king… and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. By renaming Eliakim Jehoiakim, meaning “Yahweh raises up,” Neco publicly asserted his authority over Judah’s new king. Jehoiakim ruled under Egyptian influence until Babylon became the dominant power in the region. 2Ki 24:17 Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle,… But Neco took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt. Jehoahaz was taken captive to Egypt, where he died, ending his brief reign. His removal showed Judah’s weakened position between the competing empires. 2Ki 23:33 And Pharaoh Neco imprisoned Jehoahaz at Riblah…
Jehoiakim Reigns in JudahFormerly named Eliakim, Jehoiakim was Josiah’s son and became king after Pharaoh Neco deposed his brother Jehoahaz. He took the throne as Judah was caught between Egypt’s fading influence and Babylon’s growing power. 2Ki 23:36 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king,… and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. From 609 to 598 BC, Jehoiakim ruled Judah under increasing foreign pressure. His reign included submission to Egypt, later allegiance to Babylon, and eventual rebellion against Babylonian rule. 2Ki 24:18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king… And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God. Unlike Josiah, Jehoiakim rejected God’s commands, practiced injustice, and resisted the warnings delivered through Jeremiah. His rebellion against the Lord helped bring Judah toward the Babylonian invasion and exile. 2Ki 23:37 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD,… Then Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar II reigned over Babylon from 605 to 562 BC and established Babylon as the dominant power in the region. His campaigns against Judah brought the warnings of God’s prophets to fulfillment as Judah came under Babylonian rule. Dan 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah,… came up against Jehoiakim Jehoiakim, king of Judah from 609 to 598 BC, had first been subject to Egypt before becoming Babylon’s servant. His rebellion against Babylon followed a pattern of disobedience that marked Judah’s final years before the exile. 2Ki 24:1 During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon… and bound him with bronze shackles Jehoiakim’s binding displayed Babylon’s authority over Judah and the humiliation of its king. The restraints reflected the severe judgment falling on a nation that had repeatedly rejected God’s commands. 2Ki 25:7 And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes.… to take him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar intended to remove Jehoiakim from Jerusalem, as Babylon commonly deported rulers and leading citizens to prevent further resistance. Judah’s subjection to Babylon began the exile that would culminate in Jerusalem’s destruction and the removal of many of its people. 2Ki 24:15 Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon,… Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar II ruled Babylon from 605 to 562 BC and led the campaigns that brought Judah under Babylonian control. The removal of captives and Temple treasures marked the beginning of Judah’s exile, fulfilling the judgment God had warned of through His prophets. 2Ki 24:15-16 Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon,… some of the articles from the house of the LORD, These consecrated vessels belonged to the Temple worship in Jerusalem. Their seizure showed the depth of Judah’s judgment for persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. 2Ki 24:13 As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar also carried off… and he put them in his temple in Babylon. Babylonian kings commonly placed captured sacred objects in their temples as evidence of military victory and the supposed superiority of their gods. Yet the vessels remained holy to the Lord, and their later misuse in Babylon brought divine judgment. Dan 1:2 He carried these off to the land of Shinar… As for the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, Jehoiakim ruled Judah from 609 to 598 BC after Pharaoh Necho removed his brother Jehoahaz and placed him on the throne. He burdened the nation with tribute payments, first to Egypt and later to Babylon, and enriched himself through oppressive building projects and forced labor. After submitting to Babylon, he rebelled, bringing Babylonian forces against Judah and beginning the nation’s final collapse. 2Ki 24:5 As for the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim,… the abominations he committed, Jehoiakim promoted the spiritual corruption already entrenched in Judah. He rejected God’s word proclaimed through Jeremiah, openly defied the prophet, and led in injustice, violence, idolatry, and covenant unfaithfulness. His rule deepened Judah’s guilt before God. Jer 22:13-17 Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,… and all that was found against him, The record of his reign included both his public sins and the judgments announced against him. His oppression of the innocent, refusal to repent, and rebellion against Babylon hastened the judgment that would soon fall upon Jerusalem. 2Ki 24:1-4 During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon… they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. The official royal records preserved the events of Jehoiakim’s reign and stood as a witness to the failures of Judah’s kings. Though those records are no longer extant, Scripture preserves the essential account of his disobedience and its consequences. 2Ch 27:7 As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with his wars… And his son Jehoiachin reigned in his place. Jehoiachin succeeded his father while still a young man, but his reign lasted only three months and ten days. Babylon soon captured Jerusalem, carried him into exile, and removed many leaders, craftsmen, and treasures from Judah. 2Ki 24:6 And Jehoiakim rested with his fathers…
Jehoiachin Reigns in JudahJehoiachin, also called Jeconiah and Coniah, succeeded his father Jehoiakim as Babylon tightened its control over Judah. Young and untested, he inherited a kingdom already weakened by rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar and threatened by invasion. 2Ki 24:8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king,… and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. His rule ended when Babylonian forces captured Jerusalem. Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar and was taken to Babylon with members of the royal family, leading officials, warriors, and skilled craftsmen. His removal marked a decisive stage in Judah’s collapse. 2Ki 24:10-12 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon… And he did evil in the sight of the LORD. Jehoiachin continued the unfaithfulness that had characterized Judah’s final kings. Rather than turning the nation from idolatry and rebellion, his reign remained under the judgment brought upon Judah for persistent disobedience. 2Ki 24:9 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD,… In the spring, “In the spring” refers to the customary season when ancient armies began their military campaigns. After Jehoiachin’s brief reign, Nebuchadnezzar moved against Jerusalem. 2Sa 11:1 In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war,… King Nebuchadnezzar summoned Jehoiachin King Nebuchadnezzar, Judah’s Babylonian overlord, removed Jehoiachin, the young king whose brief reign had not secured the nation’s submission. 2Ki 24:12 Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants… and brought him to Babylon, Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon, where he joined the Judean exiles and remained under Babylonian control. 2Ki 24:15 Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon,… along with the articles of value from the house of the LORD. The seizure of temple treasures displayed Babylon’s conquest of Jerusalem and stripped Judah of objects associated with its worship. 2Ki 24:13 As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar also carried off… And he made Jehoiachin’s relative Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, to rule as a dependent king. His later rebellion against Babylon brought Jerusalem to its final destruction. 2Ki 24:17 Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle,…
Zedekiah Reigns in JudahNebuchadnezzar II placed Zedekiah, formerly Mattaniah, on Judah’s throne after deporting Jehoiachin to Babylon in 597 BC. Zedekiah, meaning “The Lord is my righteousness,” was Josiah’s son and Jehoiachin’s uncle. Nebuchadnezzar changed his name, marking Judah’s subjection to Babylonian authority. 2Ki 24:18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king… and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His reign lasted until Jerusalem fell to Babylon in 586 BC. Despite Jeremiah’s warnings, Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon, bringing a final siege upon the city. Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple were destroyed, and the kingdom of Judah came to an end. 2Ki 25:2 And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah… And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God Zedekiah, Judah’s last king, continued in disobedience to God during the final years before Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon. Though he faced national crisis and received repeated warnings, his rule was marked by unfaithfulness to the LORD, contributing to Judah’s judgment. 2Ki 24:19 And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD,… and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, Jeremiah faithfully warned Zedekiah to submit to Babylon as God’s appointed instrument of judgment and to seek the LORD’s mercy. Zedekiah heard these messages but resisted them, allowing fear of political consequences and pressure from his officials to outweigh obedience to God. Jer 37:2 But he and his officers and the people of the land… who spoke for the LORD. Jeremiah’s warnings carried God’s authority, not merely his own counsel. Zedekiah’s rejection of the prophet was therefore a rejection of the LORD’s word, and Jerusalem fell as Jeremiah had foretold. Jer 1:7 But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’… He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had placed Zedekiah on Judah’s throne as Babylon’s vassal after Jerusalem’s earlier defeat. By revolting, Zedekiah rejected the authority God had permitted Babylon to exercise in judging Judah. 2Ki 24:20 For because of the anger of the LORD, all this… who had made him swear by God. Zedekiah had bound himself by a solemn oath in the Lord’s name to remain loyal to Nebuchadnezzar. Breaking that oath was treachery against Babylon and against the God whose name he had invoked. Ezk 17:13 He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant… But Zedekiah stiffened his neck Rather than humbling himself under God’s discipline, the king became fixed in resistance and would not heed Jeremiah’s warnings. Neh 9:16 But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked… and hardened his heart His stubbornness became a settled refusal to obey despite the clear danger facing Jerusalem and the repeated word of the Lord. Deu 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through,… against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. He would not repent or seek God’s mercy. His refusal, along with Judah’s continued unfaithfulness, led to Jerusalem’s fall and the Babylonian exile. Jer 8:5 Why then have these people turned away?… Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, Judah’s corruption reached every level of society. Priestly leaders abandoned their responsibility to uphold God’s law, while the people followed their example in increasing rebellion. Their sin was not isolated but became entrenched and widespread. Hos 4:7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;… following all the abominations of the nations, Rather than remaining distinct as God’s covenant people, Judah adopted the idolatry and immoral practices of the surrounding nations. These were the very customs God had forbidden when Israel entered the land. 2Ki 21:2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD… and they defiled the house of the LORD, The temple was polluted by false worship and idolatry, repeating the sins committed under Manasseh. What had been appointed for the worship of the Lord became associated with the practices of pagan gods. 2Ki 21:4-7 Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD… which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. God had set apart the temple and Jerusalem as the center of worship for His name. Their desecration of that holy place revealed Judah’s rejection of the covenant and brought the nation toward the judgment of exile. 2Ch 7:16 For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple…
The Fall of JerusalemThe Lord repeatedly warned Judah before judgment came, giving the nation many opportunities to repent. Jer 7:13 And now, because you have done all these things,… the LORD, the God of their fathers, Yahweh remained the covenant God who had bound Himself to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants. Exo 3:15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites,… sent word to His people He made His will known and called the nation back from idolatry, injustice, and rebellion. Jer 25:4 And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you… through His messengers The prophets faithfully delivered God’s warnings, though many were rejected, mocked, and persecuted. Hag 1:13 Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, delivered the message… because He had compassion on them Judgment was not God’s first desire; He patiently sought their repentance and preservation despite their persistent sin. Mat 14:14 When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd,… and on His dwelling place. The temple in Jerusalem represented God’s dwelling among His people, and its coming destruction showed the severe consequences of Judah’s unfaithfulness. Psa 132:13-14 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it… But they mocked the messengers of God, Judah repeatedly rejected the prophets God sent to call the nation back to covenant faithfulness. Rather than receiving their warnings, many treated them with contempt and opposed their ministry. Neh 9:26 But they were disobedient and rebelled against You;… despising His words Their rejection was ultimately directed against God Himself. The prophetic message exposed sin, idolatry, injustice, and false worship, but the people refused correction and continued in disobedience. Pro 13:13 He who despises instruction will pay the penalty… and scoffing at His prophets, God’s servants endured ridicule, hostility, and persecution as they warned of Jerusalem’s coming judgment. Jeremiah’s ministry especially unfolded during Judah’s final years, yet even repeated warnings failed to turn the nation from its course. Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets… until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up God had shown patience over many generations, but Judah’s persistent rebellion brought the covenant judgments He had warned of. The Babylonian invasion and destruction of Jerusalem came as God’s righteous response to their refusal to repent. 2Ki 22:13 Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people,… beyond remedy. By this point, the nation’s hardened resistance had reached its appointed end. Jerusalem fell, the temple was burned, and many of the people were carried into exile in Babylon. Pro 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof… So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, God raised up Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon as the instrument of judgment against Judah. After years of idolatry, injustice, and rejection of God’s warnings, Jerusalem was delivered to the Babylonian empire. Hab 1:6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—… who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, Babylonian soldiers killed even within the temple precincts, demonstrating the devastation of Jerusalem and the loss of the sanctuary that had been defiled by Judah’s unfaithfulness. The temple was later burned and destroyed during the fall of the city. Lam 2:20 Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated… sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. The destruction reached every part of the population. Neither age, strength, nor social standing provided protection as the city fell under the severity of the Babylonian invasion. Jer 6:11 But I am full of the LORD’s wrath; I am tired… God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s victory was not merely the result of military power; Judah’s defeat came under God’s judgment. Yet the exile was not the end of God’s dealings with His people, for He would later preserve a remnant and bring them back to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Jer 27:6 So now I have placed all these lands under the authority… who carried off everything to Babylon— Nebuchadnezzar’s forces captured Jerusalem after a prolonged siege and deported much of Judah’s population to Babylon. The fall of the city brought Judah’s rebellion against Babylon to an end and began the exile of its people. 2Ki 24:13 As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar also carried off… all the articles of the house of God, both large and small, The Babylonian army removed the temple furnishings used in Israel’s worship, including items of gold, silver, and bronze. Taking these sacred objects publicly demonstrated that Jerusalem and its temple had been conquered and plundered. 2Ki 25:13-17 Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars… and the treasures of the house of the LORD The temple treasury contained valuables dedicated for the service of God. Its loss marked the devastation of the sanctuary and the judgment that had come upon Judah for persistent covenant unfaithfulness. 2Ki 20:17 The time will surely come when everything in your palace… and of the king and his officials. The royal treasury and the wealth of Judah’s leaders were also taken. With the city destroyed, the temple plundered, and the monarchy removed, Judah’s political and religious life was brought under Babylonian control. 2Ki 24:14-16 He carried into exile all Jerusalem—all the commanders… Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian forces destroyed Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem, bringing the center of Judah’s worship to ruin. The burning of the temple marked God’s judgment on Judah after generations of idolatry, rebellion, and refusal to heed His prophets. 2Ki 25:9 He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace,… and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s defenses were demolished, leaving the city exposed and defeated. The fall of its walls showed that Judah’s military strength, royal authority, and national security had come to an end under Babylonian conquest. 2Ki 25:10 And the whole army of the Chaldeans under… They burned down all the palaces The royal residences and public buildings were consumed, ending the visible power of the Davidic kingdom in Judah. Though the throne was lost and the people were taken into exile, God’s covenant promise concerning David’s line remained. Jer 17:27 But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy…… and destroyed every article of value. Temple treasures, royal possessions, and valuable furnishings were plundered or ruined. Babylon stripped Jerusalem of its wealth and sacred objects, completing the devastation of the city and carrying its former glory into exile. 2Ki 24:13 As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar also carried off… Those who escaped the sword Survivors of Jerusalem’s fall in 586 BC were spared death during the Babylonian siege and destruction of the city and temple. 2Ki 25:11-12 Then Nebuzaradan carried into exile the people… were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar deported many of Judah’s leading citizens to Babylon, removing them from their land and placing them under Babylonian control. 2Ki 24:12-16 Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants… and they became servants to him and his sons The people of Judah lived under Babylonian rule through Nebuchadnezzar’s successors, bearing the consequences of the nation’s persistent rebellion against God. Jer 27:6-7 So now I have placed all these lands under the authority… until the kingdom of Persia came to power. Babylon fell to Cyrus of Persia in 539 BC. Cyrus later permitted the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, ending Babylon’s dominion over them. Dan 5:28-31 PERES means that your kingdom has been divided… So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest During Judah’s exile, its fields lay uncultivated as required in the Sabbath-year law. Israel’s long neglect of this command brought covenant judgment, and the land received the rest denied to it for generations. Lev 26:34-35 Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths.… all the days of the desolation, Jerusalem and much of Judah were left devastated after Babylon’s conquest. The emptied land bore witness to the consequences of Judah’s persistent rebellion and idolatry. Lev 26:33 But I will scatter you among the nations… until seventy years were completed, The exile lasted for the full period God had appointed, fulfilling both judgment upon Judah and the required Sabbath rests for the land. When the years were complete, God began restoring His people to their homeland. Jer 25:11-12 And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland… in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah. The Babylonian captivity occurred exactly as the Lord had declared through Jeremiah. God’s judgment was certain, but His promise of restoration was equally sure. Ezr 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,…
The Proclamation of CyrusCyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, and his first regnal year over the former Babylonian realm began the following year. His rise ended Babylon’s dominance and opened the way for the Jewish exiles to return. Long before, God had identified Cyrus as the ruler who would permit Jerusalem and the temple to be rebuilt. Ezr 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,… to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, The seventy years of judgment foretold for Judah had reached their appointed end. The fall of Babylon and the release of the exiles showed that God had neither abandoned His people nor forgotten His promises. Jer 25:11-12 And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland… the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia Though Cyrus did not belong to Israel, the Lord directed his decision. The decree came through the will of a powerful pagan emperor, yet it accomplished God’s purpose for Jerusalem and the temple. Isa 45:13 I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness… to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom Cyrus ruled an empire extending across much of the ancient Near East. His public decree authorized Jewish captives to return to their homeland and begin rebuilding the house of God in Jerusalem. Est 1:22 He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom,… and to put it in writing as follows: The written decree gave official authority to the return and established a lasting record of the king’s command. Est 8:9-10 At once the royal scribes were summoned,… “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire, conquered Babylon in 539 BC and adopted policies that allowed displaced peoples to return to their homelands and restore their worship. Ezr 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,… ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, Cyrus acknowledges Israel’s God as the sovereign ruler above all earthly powers, using language common in the Persian period. Ezr 1:2 This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD… who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, His vast dominion was understood as granted by God, who directs the rise and fall of kings and nations. Dan 2:37-38 You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven… has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Cyrus authorized the rebuilding of the temple destroyed by Babylon, fulfilling God’s earlier declaration that Cyrus would send the exiles home and restore Jerusalem. Hag 1:8 Go up into the hills, bring down lumber,… Whoever among you belongs to His people, Jewish exiles throughout the Persian Empire were given freedom to return to Judah and resume their identity as the covenant people of God. Isa 11:11-12 On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time… may the LORD his God be with him, The return required God’s protection and provision as families left settled lives in Babylon for a ruined land. 1Ch 22:11 Now, my son, may the LORD be with you… and may he go up.’” Those who returned traveled up to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and reestablish worship there. Ezr 1:3 Whoever among you belongs to His people,… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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