| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | NET Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3The king of Egypt prevented him from ruling in Jerusalem and imposed on the land a special tax of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4The king of Egypt made Jehoahaz's brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Necho seized his brother Jehoahaz and took him to Egypt. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked him, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away to Babylon. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Nebuchadnezzar took some of the items in the LORD's temple to Babylon and put them in his palace there. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8The rest of the events of Jehoiakim's reign, including the horrible sins he committed and his shortcomings, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel and Judah. His son Jehoiachin replaced him as king. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10At the beginning of the year King Nebuchadnezzar ordered him to be brought to Babylon, along with the valuable items in the LORD's temple. In his place he made his relative Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, the LORD's spokesman. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him vow allegiance in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and refused to return to the LORD God of Israel. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations. They defiled the LORD's temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15The LORD God of their ancestors continually warned them through his messengers, for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16But they mocked God's messengers, despised his warnings, and ridiculed his prophets. Finally the LORD got very angry at his people and there was no one who could prevent his judgment. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17He brought against them the king of the Babylonians, who slaughtered their young men in their temple. He did not spare young men or women, or even the old and aging. God handed everyone over to him. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18He carried away to Babylon all the items in God's temple, whether large or small, as well as what was in the treasuries of the LORD's temple and in the treasuries of the king and his officials. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19They burned down the LORD's temple and tore down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned all its fortified buildings and destroyed all its valuable items. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20He deported to Babylon all who escaped the sword. They served him and his sons until the Persian kingdom rose to power. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21This took place to fulfill the LORD's message delivered through Jeremiah. The land experienced its sabbatical years; it remained desolate for seventy years, as prophesied. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22In the first year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the promise he delivered through Jeremiah, the LORD moved King Cyrus of Persia to issue a written decree throughout his kingdom. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23It 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 in Judah. May the LORD your God energize you who belong to his people, so you may be able to go back there!" |
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