2 Chronicles 36:19-23
Context36:19 They burned down the Lord’s temple and tore down the wall of Jerusalem. 1 They burned all its fortified buildings and destroyed all its valuable items. 36:20 He deported to Babylon all who escaped the sword. They served him and his sons until the Persian kingdom rose to power. 36:21 This took place to fulfill the Lord’s message delivered through Jeremiah. 2 The land experienced 3 its sabbatical years; 4 it remained desolate for seventy years, 5 as prophesied. 6
36:22 In the first year of the reign of 7 King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the promise he delivered through Jeremiah, 8 the Lord moved 9 King Cyrus of Persia to issue a written decree throughout his kingdom. 36:23 It read: “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: ‘The Lord God of the heavens has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build for him a temple in Jerusalem 10 in Judah. May the Lord your God energize you who belong to his people, so you may be able to go back there!” 11
[36:19] 1 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[36:21] 2 tn Heb “to fulfill the word of the
[36:21] 4 sn According to Lev 25:4, the land was to remain uncultivated every seventh year. Lev 26:33-35 warns that the land would experience a succession of such sabbatical rests if the people disobeyed God, for he would send them away into exile.
[36:21] 5 sn Concerning the seventy years see Jer 25:11.
[36:21] 6 tn Heb “all the days of the desolation it rested to fulfill the seventy years.”
[36:22] 7 tn The words “the reign of” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[36:22] 8 tn Heb “to complete the word of the
[36:22] 9 tn Heb “stirred the spirit of.”
[36:23] 10 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[36:23] 11 tn Heb “Whoever [is] among you from all his people – may the