2 Chronicles 36:12-17

36:12 He did evil in the sight of ¹  the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, the Lord’s spokesman. 36:13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him vow allegiance ²  in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and refused to return ³  to the Lord God of Israel. 36:14 All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations. ⁴  They defiled the Lord’s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Babylonians Destroy Jerusalem

36:15 The Lord God of their ancestors ⁵  continually warned them through his messengers, ⁶  for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place. 36:16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his warnings, ⁷  and ridiculed his prophets. ⁸  Finally the Lord got very angry at his people and there was no one who could prevent his judgment. ⁹  36:17 He brought against them the king of the Babylonians, who slaughtered ¹⁰  their young men in their temple. ¹¹  He did not spare ¹²  young men or women, or even the old and aging. God ¹³  handed everyone over to him.

[36:12]  ¹ tn Heb “in the eyes of.”

[36:13]  ² tn Or “made him swear an oath.”

[36:13]  ³ tn Heb “and he stiffened his neck and strengthened his heart from returning.”

[36:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “like the abominable practices of the nations.”

[36:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “fathers.”

[36:15]  ⁶ tn Heb “and the Lord God of their fathers sent against them by the hand of his messengers, getting up early and sending.”

[36:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “his words.”

[36:16]  ⁸ tn All three verbal forms (“mocked,” “despised,” and “ridiculed”) are active participles in the Hebrew text, indicating continual or repeated action. They made a habit of rejecting God’s prophetic messengers.

[36:16]  ⁹ tn Heb “until the anger of the Lord went up against his people until there was no healer.”

[36:17]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “killed with the sword.”

[36:17]  ¹¹ tn Heb “in the house of their sanctuary.”

[36:17]  ¹² tn Or “show compassion to.”

[36:17]  ¹³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.