2 Chronicles 35 - 36 and Psalm 44
In summary:
The Chronicler closes his history by recounting the destruction of Jerusalem and rapidly bringing his readers to the next challenge ahead of them – its reconstruction.
The Chronicler closes his history by recounting the destruction of Jerusalem and rapidly bringing his readers to the next challenge ahead of them – its reconstruction.
In more detail:
In today’s reading, the Chronicler solemnly recalls the Passover celebration under Josiah’s reign. It is interesting that he takes almost as much space retelling this singular event as he does in all the four reigns of Judah’s last kings together. Josiah’s Passover is the swan song of the kingdom of Judah. It begins with the instructions for the preparation of the Levites (2 Chronicles 35:2-6). Josiah and his officials give generously for the celebration (2 Chronicles 35:7-9). From the priests to the Levites, and the Levites to the people, everyone celebrates everything in conformity with the Law of Moses (2 Chronicles 35:10-13). The Chronicler even informs us that food was prepared for the priests and singers as they were busy ministering in the temple (2 Chronicles 35:14-15). He observes that there also were devout Israelites who were present (2
Chronicles 35:17; remember that they had lost their northern kingdom already during Hezekiah’s reign). Words almost fail him to communicate the solemnity of the occasion: “No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 35:18). Like one body, “Joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly” (Ephesians 4:16), a united people commemorate Yahweh’s wondrous salvation and just dominion by putting His
covenant with Moses into practice.
But with Josiah’s death, the period of Judah’s independence comes to a close. The Chronicler quickly lists the events that we saw in much greater detail in 2 Kings 23:31 –
25:30 (if you want to see a historical summary of these events again, click here.) Notice that he does not blame the kings alone but: “All the officers of the priests and the people
likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD that he had made holy in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 36:14). In the midst of Yahweh’s just judgment, His mercy still shone forth: “The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place” (2 Chronicles 36:15). And there is no doubt in His justice in punishing His people: “But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:16).
Notice that the exile shows no interruption in Yahweh’s sovereignty; instead, Jeremiah’s prophecy on the 70 years of rest for the land is fulfilled. This time period is
based on Leviticus 25:1-5 where Yahweh commands that Israel observe a seventh year of Sabbath rest from working the land: “In the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard” (Leviticus 25:4). It was for the land to rest, as well as servants and animals, and it would demonstrate their dependence on Yahweh for their provision (Leviticus 25:6-7). Among the punishments for rebellion listed in Leviticus 26, Yahweh announces the delayed fulfillment of the Sabbath years that were not kept: “And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste. Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths. As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, the rest that it did not have on your Sabbaths when you were dwelling in it” (Leviticus 26:33-35). Centuries later, in the events that led to the Babylonian exile, the prophet Jeremiah announced that the exile would last 70 years (Jeremiah 25:8-14; 29:10). The Chronicler connects the punishment of Leviticus 26 with the time given in Jeremiah’s prophecy: “He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years” (2 Chronicles 36:20-21). The Chronicler does not see the exile as an interruption in Yahweh’s sovereignty but as a fulfillment of His just judgment.
The author of 2 Kings ended his history with hope by telling us of the mercy shown
to Jehoiachin king of Judah (2 Kings 25:27-30). After telling us very briefly and concisely of the destruction of Jerusalem, the Chronicler surpasses him in hope by telling us the following event, “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem,
which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up”’” (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). The way has opened for Yahweh’s people to establish their city again, to put into practice their devotion to Yahweh as a united people once more. Will they work diligently to obey the lessons that the Chronicler has taught in his history? We will begin to see the answer in the section of the Bible that follows.
In today’s reading, the Chronicler solemnly recalls the Passover celebration under Josiah’s reign. It is interesting that he takes almost as much space retelling this singular event as he does in all the four reigns of Judah’s last kings together. Josiah’s Passover is the swan song of the kingdom of Judah. It begins with the instructions for the preparation of the Levites (2 Chronicles 35:2-6). Josiah and his officials give generously for the celebration (2 Chronicles 35:7-9). From the priests to the Levites, and the Levites to the people, everyone celebrates everything in conformity with the Law of Moses (2 Chronicles 35:10-13). The Chronicler even informs us that food was prepared for the priests and singers as they were busy ministering in the temple (2 Chronicles 35:14-15). He observes that there also were devout Israelites who were present (2
Chronicles 35:17; remember that they had lost their northern kingdom already during Hezekiah’s reign). Words almost fail him to communicate the solemnity of the occasion: “No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 35:18). Like one body, “Joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly” (Ephesians 4:16), a united people commemorate Yahweh’s wondrous salvation and just dominion by putting His
covenant with Moses into practice.
But with Josiah’s death, the period of Judah’s independence comes to a close. The Chronicler quickly lists the events that we saw in much greater detail in 2 Kings 23:31 –
25:30 (if you want to see a historical summary of these events again, click here.) Notice that he does not blame the kings alone but: “All the officers of the priests and the people
likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD that he had made holy in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 36:14). In the midst of Yahweh’s just judgment, His mercy still shone forth: “The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place” (2 Chronicles 36:15). And there is no doubt in His justice in punishing His people: “But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:16).
Notice that the exile shows no interruption in Yahweh’s sovereignty; instead, Jeremiah’s prophecy on the 70 years of rest for the land is fulfilled. This time period is
based on Leviticus 25:1-5 where Yahweh commands that Israel observe a seventh year of Sabbath rest from working the land: “In the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard” (Leviticus 25:4). It was for the land to rest, as well as servants and animals, and it would demonstrate their dependence on Yahweh for their provision (Leviticus 25:6-7). Among the punishments for rebellion listed in Leviticus 26, Yahweh announces the delayed fulfillment of the Sabbath years that were not kept: “And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste. Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths. As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, the rest that it did not have on your Sabbaths when you were dwelling in it” (Leviticus 26:33-35). Centuries later, in the events that led to the Babylonian exile, the prophet Jeremiah announced that the exile would last 70 years (Jeremiah 25:8-14; 29:10). The Chronicler connects the punishment of Leviticus 26 with the time given in Jeremiah’s prophecy: “He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years” (2 Chronicles 36:20-21). The Chronicler does not see the exile as an interruption in Yahweh’s sovereignty but as a fulfillment of His just judgment.
The author of 2 Kings ended his history with hope by telling us of the mercy shown
to Jehoiachin king of Judah (2 Kings 25:27-30). After telling us very briefly and concisely of the destruction of Jerusalem, the Chronicler surpasses him in hope by telling us the following event, “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem,
which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up”’” (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). The way has opened for Yahweh’s people to establish their city again, to put into practice their devotion to Yahweh as a united people once more. Will they work diligently to obey the lessons that the Chronicler has taught in his history? We will begin to see the answer in the section of the Bible that follows.