2 Chronicles 36 Footnotes

36:2 Jehoahaz’s “three months” occurred in 609 BC.

36:5 Jehoiakim reigned from 609–598 BC. See also the prophecy of Jeremiah for additional information about his reign (Jr 26).

36:9 “Eighteen years old” reads “eight years old” in the MT, but the LXX and 2Kg 24:8 agree Jehoiachin was eighteen years of age. In addition to this, Babylonian records show that Jehoiachin had five sons in 592 BC, five years after his exile. All of this leads to the conclusion that a scribe made an error here in the MT.

36:11 Zedekiah’s reign was from 597 BC until the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. More information about Zedekiah may be found in 2Kg 24:18–25:7; Jr 27:1–28:17; 34:1-22; 37:1–38:28; 39:1-7; 52:1-11.

36:22 Verses 22-23 are verbatim with Ezr 1:1-3; many believe a later editor copied these from the book of Ezra to show the historical connection and continuity of these books. The “first year” of Cyrus was 539 BC.

36:23 Thus the Chronicler brought his story up to his own time, leaving his readers with the possibility of hope through repentance and the freedom to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. See Jr 25:11-14; 28:10; Ezk 1:2-4; 6:2-5.