2 Chronicles 36 20

2 Chronicles 36:20 kjv

And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:

2 Chronicles 36:20 nkjv

And those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia,

2 Chronicles 36:20 niv

He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power.

2 Chronicles 36:20 esv

He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia,

2 Chronicles 36:20 nlt

The few who survived were taken as exiles to Babylon, and they became servants to the king and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power.

2 Chronicles 36 verses

2 Chronicles 36 20 Meaning

2 Chronicles 36:20 describes the outcome of God's judgment on Judah: those who survived the violent conquest were deported to Babylon. There, they became forced laborers for the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, and his descendants, remaining in this subjugated state until the rise of the Persian Empire. This verse summarizes the full and definitive end of the Davidic monarchy and the beginning of the seventy-year exile prophesied by Jeremiah.

2 Chronicles 36 20 Context

This verse forms the stark conclusion to the reign of Zedekiah and the entire kingdom of Judah in 2 Chronicles. It follows a relentless series of descriptions detailing Judah's escalating disobedience, including despising God's prophets, mocking His messengers, and profaning the Temple. The preceding verses lament that God's "wrath arose against His people till there was no remedy." Verse 20 summarizes the direct, painful outcome: the remnants of a once-proud kingdom, spared from the immediate carnage, were forcibly relocated to a foreign land. Historically, this aligns with Nebuchadnezzar's final siege of Jerusalem (586 BC), resulting in the destruction of the city and temple. For the original audience, this provided a theological explanation for the calamity, attributing it not to God's weakness, but to His unwavering justice and faithfulness to the covenant warnings, culminating in the prescribed "servitude" and exile. It also directly linked their current reality (living under Persian rule or recently returned from it) to this divine judgment and its appointed end. The Chronicler emphasizes that this was a divinely orchestrated judgment, not mere misfortune.

2 Chronicles 36 20 Word analysis

• And them that had escaped (וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִים - v'hanni sh'arim):

  • Lit. "and the ones remaining" or "and the survivors."
  • Signifies those who avoided death by "the sword," pestilence, or famine during the siege.
  • Not necessarily a holy "remnant" (in the prophetic sense of a faithful few for restoration), but simply those who lived through the destruction.
  • Emphasizes the severity of the conquest, as only a portion remained alive.

• from the sword (מֵחֶרֶב - mêcherev):

  • Specifically denotes violence and warfare as the primary cause of death and reason for escape.
  • Highlights the brutal nature of the Babylonian siege and conquest.

• carried he away (הִגְלָה - higlāh):

  • Literally "deported" or "exiled."
  • Implies force and compulsion; Judah had no choice in the matter.
  • This action was common in ancient Near Eastern empires to break national identity and prevent rebellion.

• to Babylon (לְבָבֶל - ləḇāḇel):

  • The capital city and empire of Nebuchadnezzar, which served as God's chosen instrument of judgment against Judah.
  • Symbolized a foreign land, a place of bondage, far from Jerusalem and the Temple.

• where they were servants (וַיִּהְיוּ־לֹוֹ לַעֲבָדִים - wayyihe yu-lōw la'aḇādîm):

  • "Servants" (עֲבָדִים - ‘aḇādîm) implies involuntary servitude, bondage, or slavery.
  • A direct fulfillment of covenant curses (e.g., Deu 28:47-48) that warned of serving enemies.
  • Their previous status as God's chosen people, ruling in their own land, was replaced by servitude to pagans.

• to him and his sons (וּלְבָנָיו - ūləḇānāw):

  • "To him" refers to King Nebuchadnezzar.
  • "And his sons" indicates the continuation of this servitude under Nebuchadnezzar's dynastic successors in Babylon.
  • Shows the comprehensive and long-term nature of their subjugation.

• until the reign of the kingdom of Persia (עַד־מְלֹךְ מַלְכוּת פָּרָס - ‘ad-məlōḵ malḵûṯ pārās):

  • "Until the reign": establishes a specific temporal boundary for the servitude.
  • "Kingdom of Persia": the new dominant empire that succeeded Babylon.
  • This phrase is crucial as it points directly to the end of the exile and the fulfillment of the 70-year prophecy, signaling divine sovereignty over history and empires, even over the punishment of His own people.
  • This precisely anticipates Cyrus the Great's decree in Ezr 1:1, marking the transition from captivity to restoration.

2 Chronicles 36 20 Bonus section

The Chronicler's specific inclusion of "until the reign of the kingdom of Persia" underscores a central theme throughout the books of Chronicles: the faithful God keeps His word, whether in blessing or judgment. This phrase bridges the narrative of judgment to the eventual restoration, setting the stage for Ezra and Nehemiah, providing hope even in the darkest summary of Israel's fall. The exile was a Sabbath rest for the land (2 Chr 36:21), making up for the unobserved Sabbath years, further illustrating divine justice and faithfulness. It also implies that while the immediate human agents were Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians, the ultimate orchestrator was the sovereign God of Israel.

2 Chronicles 36 20 Commentary

2 Chronicles 36:20 stands as a concise yet powerful summary of God's final, devastating judgment upon Judah. It vividly portrays the physical reality of the exile: the survivors, spared from immediate death by the sword, were uprooted and forcefully relocated to Babylon. Their status shifted from being a free people in their promised land to being forced laborers under a pagan king and his successors. This wasn't merely a political or military defeat; it was the inevitable, prophesied outcome of generations of persistent covenant unfaithfulness. The verse’s theological thrust highlights God’s unwavering justice, demonstrating that repeated rejection of His warnings leads to severe consequences. Crucially, the verse includes the phrase "until the reign of the kingdom of Persia," providing a powerful testament to God's meticulous control over human history and prophecy. Even in judgment, He set a specific boundary for their suffering, foreshadowing the exact timing of their release and eventual return, orchestrated by another global power as part of His ultimate plan.