2 Chronicles 36 8

2 Chronicles 36:8 kjv

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 36:8 nkjv

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, the abominations which he did, and what was found against him, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. Then Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 36:8 niv

The other events of Jehoiakim's reign, the detestable things he did and all that was found against him, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son succeeded him as king.

2 Chronicles 36:8 esv

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 36:8 nlt

The rest of the events in Jehoiakim's reign, including all the evil things he did and everything found against him, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Then his son Jehoiachin became the next king.

2 Chronicles 36 verses

2 Chronicles 36 8 Meaning

2 Chronicles 36:8 details the conclusion of King Jehoiakim's reign over Judah. It concisely states that his remaining acts, especially his abominable deeds and the charges against him, are recorded in the larger historical annals of "The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah." The verse then marks the swift transition of power, noting that his son, Jehoiachin, succeeded him on the throne. It implicitly points to God's assessment of Jehoiakim's wicked reign, highlighting the divine record of judgment against sin and the continued, albeit fractured, Davidic line.

2 Chronicles 36 8 Context

The historical setting of 2 Chronicles 36:8 is the final tumultuous years of the Kingdom of Judah, immediately preceding its complete downfall and the Babylonian exile. King Jehoiakim's reign (609-598 BC) was a period of increasing decline, marked by political instability as Judah vacillated between allegiance to Egypt and Babylon, and by deep spiritual decay within the kingdom. Jehoiakim himself was known for his ungodliness, oppression, and defiance of God's prophets, notably Jeremiah (Jer 22, 36).

The Book of Chronicles, in its entirety, aims to retell the history of Israel from a specific theological perspective, emphasizing God's covenant with David, the importance of the temple and worship, and the consequences of obedience and disobedience, particularly for the kings and the nation as a whole. For the post-exilic audience, Chronicles served to explain why the exile happened – primarily due to persistent sin, idolatry, and rejection of God's warnings. Jehoiakim's "abominations" thus highlight the consistent pattern of Israel's kings failing to uphold the covenant, culminating in irreversible judgment.

This verse also implicitly functions as a polemic against the idea of unconditional royal succession or divine protection for Judah regardless of the king's actions. It explicitly links a king's "abominations" to "what was found against him," signifying divine judgment and a just accounting, challenging any notion that earthly power or inherited kingship could bypass God's moral law. The immediate transfer of power to Jehoiachin further emphasizes the precarious and temporary nature of Judah's monarchy during this dark period.

2 Chronicles 36 8 Word analysis

• Now the rest of the acts:

  • Hebrew: וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי (veye'ter divrei).
  • וְיֶתֶר (veye'ter) - "and the rest," "the remainder." This is a standard transition phrase in biblical historiography, common in Kings and Chronicles, indicating that a more extensive record exists elsewhere for the king's full reign. It serves to point to the comprehensiveness of divine oversight, even if not fully detailed in this specific narrative.
  • דִּבְרֵי (divrei) - "words of," which in this context means "acts" or "deeds." It signifies a record of official actions and events of the reign.

• of Jehoiakim:

  • יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehoyaqim). Jehoiakim was the second to last king of Judah before the main exile, appointed by Pharaoh Neco (2 Ki 23:34). His name means "Yahweh raises up," an ironic title given his rebellion against God and subsequent downfall.

• and his abominations which he did:

  • Hebrew: תּוֹעֲבֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה (to'avotav asher asah).
  • תּוֹעֲבֹתָיו (to'avotav) - "his abominations," plural of תֹּועֵבָה (to'evah). This term in the Old Testament describes something morally disgusting or detestable to God, often referring to idolatry, grave moral evils, and Canaanite religious practices that violated covenant law (e.g., child sacrifice, certain sexual sins, magic, Lev 18; Deut 18). Its inclusion highlights the deep spiritual depravity and covenant breach characteristic of Jehoiakim's rule, providing a theological justification for the impending judgment and exile.
  • אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה (asher asah) - "which he did." Direct culpability. These were active choices made by the king, not passive events.

• and what was found against him:

  • Hebrew: וְהַנִּמְצָא עָלָיו (vehannimtza alav).
  • וְהַנִּמְצָא (vehannimtza) - "and what was found," or "the verdict." Derived from מָצָא (matza) - "to find." This phrase suggests that Jehoiakim was not only an evildoer but also stood accused, and a verdict or evidence existed against him. It points to an impartial assessment and a righteous divine judgment or legal proceeding in the heavenly court against the king, implying full accountability for his deeds. This is a rare and weighty phrase.
  • עָלָיו (alav) - "against him." Clear directional blame.

• behold, they are written:

  • Hebrew: הִנָּם כְּתוּבִים (hinam ketuvim).
  • הִנָּם (hinam) - "behold they," an emphatic particle, drawing attention to the truth and permanence of the record.
  • כְּתוּבִים (ketuvim) - "are written." Implies an official, authoritative, and accessible record, ensuring the historical and theological accountability of the king's reign.

• in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah:

  • Hebrew: עַל סֵפֶר מַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוּדָה (al sefer malchey Yisrael viYehudah).
  • This refers to the primary historical source documents available to the Chronicler, not necessarily the canonical Books of Kings in the Bible. It signifies official royal annals or state records that chronicled the reigns of all the kings of both fragmented kingdoms, from Saul through the Babylonian exile. Its inclusion lends credibility and historical grounding to the Chronicler's narrative while indicating the summarized nature of the present account.

• And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place:

  • Hebrew: וַיִּמְלֹךְ יְהוֹיָכִין בְּנוֹ תַּחְתָּיו (vayimlokh Yehoyakhin b'no tachtayv).
  • וַיִּמְלֹךְ (vayimlokh) - "and reigned." A typical Hebrew verb introducing the succession of a king.
  • יְהוֹיָכִין (Yehoyakhin) - Jehoiachin, Jehoiakim's son. Also known as Coniah or Jeconiah (Jer 22:24; 1 Chron 3:16). His reign was notoriously brief, lasting only three months and ten days, before he was taken captive to Babylon (2 Chron 36:9-10; 2 Ki 24:8-15).
  • בְּנוֹ (b'no) - "his son." Emphasizes the immediate, hereditary succession, maintaining the Davidic lineage, though under severe divine judgment.
  • תַּחְתָּיו (tachtayv) - "in his place." Confirms the direct replacement and continuation of the monarchy, even as its end was rapidly approaching.

2 Chronicles 36 8 Bonus section

• The Chronicler's distinct inclusion of "his abominations" and "what was found against him" highlights the unique theological emphasis of 2 Chronicles compared to the parallel account in 2 Kings. While 2 Kings records the facts of history, Chronicles often adds interpretative theological commentary, particularly regarding the spiritual standing of the kings.
• The absence of Jehoiakim's death details (e.g., where he was buried, if he was mourned) is conspicuous, aligning with Jeremiah's prophecy that he would have a dishonorable burial "like that of a donkey" (Jer 22:19). Chronicles avoids positive burial notices for wicked kings, subtly reinforcing the divine displeasure.
• The continued reference to "The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah" points to the intertextuality and corroborative nature of biblical historiography. It implies a larger, cohesive historical record known to the original audience, even if those specific sources are not perfectly aligned with our canonical books today.
• This verse contributes to the Chronicler's argument that the exile was a just consequence, not an arbitrary act of a vengeful God. It emphasizes that divine patience had limits and that accumulated "abominations" ultimately led to severe repercussions, a critical lesson for the post-exilic community.

2 Chronicles 36 8 Commentary

2 Chronicles 36:8 serves as a pivotal concluding statement for Jehoiakim's reign within the Chronicler's theological narrative. Unlike the account in Kings (2 Ki 24:5-6) which simply mentions his death and succession, Chronicles adds the significant details of "his abominations" and "what was found against him." This addition is crucial because the Chronicler's primary goal is not merely historical recounting but theological explanation. The use of "abominations" (תֹּועֵבָה) specifically links Jehoiakim's reign to the grossest covenant violations, particularly idolatry and practices detestable to the Lord, echoing warnings throughout Deuteronomy and Leviticus. This spiritual defilement directly justifies the severe divine judgment already set in motion by previous wicked kings and accelerated by Jehoiakim.

The phrase "what was found against him" suggests more than simply wicked deeds; it implies a clear divine indictment or formal charge, an account of culpability recorded in God's judgment books. This is a powerful statement about God's perfect justice and comprehensive knowledge of human actions, especially those of rulers entrusted with His people. It undergirds the Chronicler's message to the returning exiles: that their ancestors' suffering was not random, but a direct consequence of covenant breaking, recorded and judged by a holy God.

The transition to Jehoiachin, brief as it may seem, underscores the speed of events and the unraveling of the Davidic dynasty in its final moments. Despite the lineage, each king's personal spiritual condition profoundly affected the nation's destiny. This verse, therefore, succinctly summarizes divine assessment, historical accountability, and the impending end of Judah's independence due to persistent sin.