Johoahaz & Eliakim(johoiakim) II Chronicles 36

II Chronicles 36:1 "Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem. v2 Johoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem."

These are fast moving events, Johoahaz was taken prisoner by the king of Egypt after only three months. He installed the brother of Jehozhaz as king and changed his name to Jehoiakim. So it depends on whose history you read what the kings name will show up as. It is much like those taken in captivity where their names were changed, probably to take away their Hebrew distinction, perhaps to nationalize them.

v5 "Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. "

Nebuchadnezczar came on the scene then. He took Jehoiakim and bound him and carried him away to Babylon. Then came Jehoiachin was made king.

v9 "Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD."

We are seeing the greatness of Israel and Judah disappear. They are easily invaded by other nations and the kingships are short and unproductive. It is what God told them would happen if they turned away from Him. There was another king who reigned. His name was Zedekiah in v11 who reigned 11 years. Jeremiah was sent to him but he did not humble himself.

v16 "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy."

The Chaldees invaded and killed many. The vessels of the house of God were taken. Those who escaped the sword were carried away to Babylon.

The land is left untended for for its sabbaths. It was 70 years.

v21 "To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths; for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years."

Jeremiah 2:13 "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."

We have largely looked at the events that took place under all the various kings of Judah here in Chronicles and Israel in the Kings. In the books of the prophets, we see the seemingly endless warnings given by God to his people to turn from evil and honor Him. In the prophets we can see words that show the disappointment and heartbreak of the LORD over his chosen people's sin.

Jeremiah 25:9 "Behold I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations."

Next we have king Cyrus, king of Persia who has been told to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem and ask for those willing to go up to Jerusalem to do the work. We are going into the book of Ezra next.

v23 "Thus saith Cyrus, king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah, Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up." See Daniel 2:21

Psalm 42:1 "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."

The last kings and fall of the nation Judah.