It seemed like righteousness came and went, but now even that was over. After Josiah, there was one evil king after another.
Josiah’s second son Jehoahaz took Josiah’s place. He did evil and reigned for a whole 12 weeks (2 Kings 23:31-34). The king of Egypt Neco came and deposed him and fined the people heavily.
Then King Neco made his older brother Eliakim king. And the Egyptian King changed his name to Jehoiakim. He too did what was evil. So the Lord handed him over to the king of Babylon. This is his epitaph:
“The rest of the deeds of Jehoiakim, the detestable things he did, and what was found against him, are written in the Book of Israel’s Kings” (2 Chr 36:8). That is an unusual strong way to describe a king.
Then his son Jehoiachin became king at 18. He too did evil so the King of Babylon brought him to Babylon with articles of the temple.
At this point his older brother Zedekiah became king. He also did evil, rebelling against Bablyon, breaking a sword allegiance. He also hardened his heart against the prophet Jeremiah’s warnings. Worse, he led all the leaders of Israel into great sin, multiplying their unfaithful deeds (2 Chr 36:14).
The stench of evil can raise only so high before God intervenes. The Lord warned them over and over but the king(s) hardened their hearts to the Lord. They even ridiculed and mocked the messengers of God sending them warnings (2 Chr 36:14). God had enough and so he brought Babylon against them in full force.
Jersualem was completely destroyed. They tore down the wall, burned the palaces, and destroyed all the valuable articles. Then they captured the people, young and old alike, and took them into captivity in Babylon. They were to become his slaves to serve the king of Babylon. The land finally was able to enjoy its Sabbath rests.
Seventy years later in an event prophesied by Jeremiah, the Persian king Cyrus would invite the people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild. And while the Lord had brought discipline to the people, but he was now going to restore them and keep his covenant of love to them.
The Lord rememberes.
