2 Chronicles 36:12-17

36:12 He did evil in the sight of¹ 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 allegiance² in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and refused to return³ 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 ancestors⁵ 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 slaughtered¹⁰ their young men in their temple.¹¹ He did not spare¹² young men or women, or even the old and aging. God¹³ handed everyone over to him.

¹tn Heb “in the eyes of.”

²tn Or “made him swear an oath.”

³tn Heb “and he stiffened his neck and strengthened his heart from returning.”

⁴tn Heb “like the abominable practices of the nations.”

⁵tn Heb “fathers.”

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

⁷tn Heb “his words.”

⁸tn 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.

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

¹⁰tn Heb “killed with the sword.”

¹¹tn Heb “in the house of their sanctuary.”

¹²tn Or “show compassion to.”

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