在好王約西亞死了以後，猶大國的王位由他的兩個兒子繼承，後來又傳給兩個孫子。不幸的是，他們都很邪惡，且拜偶像。上帝嚴厲的懲罰迅即降臨，並不遲延。在約西亞的繼承人約哈斯統治期間，猶大王國喪失了獨立，並且成為埃及王尼哥的臣僕。這可能是埃及對約西亞攻擊尼哥一事的報復之舉，那時尼哥正試著要通過約西亞的領土（35：20~22）。埃及向猶大課徵重稅，而尼哥治理了僅僅三個月後，便運用他的威權，替換並驅逐約哈斯，又指派他的兄弟約雅敬在他的位上作「傀儡」王。在約雅敬壓制百姓的十一年統治中（參耶22：13、17），巴比倫打敗了埃及，並且贏得猶大國成為他們封臣的一省。為了要顯示他是老大，尼布甲尼撒王綑鎖了約雅敬，並威脅要把他擄到巴比倫，但這事並未發生。可是，他卻把殿中的聖器拿走，並且，我們從但以理書得知，他也帶走了一群精挑細選的人質，其中便有但以理（但1：1~3）。

        第二批人質解送到巴比倫，是在約雅敬兒子約雅斤統治期間。他繼位時的年齡，依記載是「十八歲」（36：9）；在其他的經卷上，以及列王紀下廿四章八節，也是如此記載。如同他的叔父約哈斯（36：2），約雅斤統治期也很短（三個月而己），後來壓迫他的人，把他連同他的家人和許多貴族，一同俘到巴比倫（參王下24：8~16）。

        尼布甲尼撒接著便指定他的傀儡國王統領猶大國。他便是約哈斯的兄弟希底家；他曾發重誓，要與巴比倫王長久聯盟。西底家的統治充滿了邪惡，簡直就像以色列人進迦南前的外邦人一樣。主差派了先知耶利米，試著讓西底家回轉歸祂。但是他臭罵了耶利米所傳上帝的話，又拒絕了要他降服巴比倫的勸告（參耶37~38章）。根據歷代志的記載，西底家始終沒有降卑自己，反倒「強項硬心，不歸服主以色列的上帝」（36：12~13）。

        自從約西亞死後，上帝曾多次差遣祂的先知警告猶大國民，要懊悔自己的罪，轉向祂藉此得拯救。可是，這全然無效。那民仍然不斷犯罪，抵擋上主；嘲弄並譏刺祂的話語。甚至連祭司也墮落，用偶像污穢了上帝的居所（聖殿）。上帝曾呼召他們牧養這民，但他們反引導同胞走入歧途（參耶50：6~7；結34章）。以色列的兒女不接受上帝的慈悲，跟隨祂（伴隨著祂的祝福），卻寧願選擇死亡和咒詛，去拜無用的偶像，恰如摩西所害怕並預警的（參申28；30：17~20）。

        當他們惡貫滿盈時，聖潔而公正的主，就必須責罰他們的罪。祂刑罰的方式，就是容許更大批的百姓被抓到巴比倫去。尼布甲尼撒不但帶走了大批俘擄，還殺了許多人，燒了耶路撒冷的大半，摧毀了城牆（參王下25章有更詳細的記載）。摩西曾預言性地預先警告，若是不順服上帝，就會發生這樣的事情。以色列民被擄去，使故園荒廢，但另一方面卻使土地有機會休息，補足了他們向來沒有遵守的安息年（利25：4~5；26：33~35）。

        歷代志的結尾保留了一個希望，而不是全然的失望。仍然有一些忠信的以色列子民存留，而上帝的救贖計畫絕不會被中止。上主正在安排歷史上的大事，好使彌賽亞，我們的主耶穌降臨人間。

        為要應驗耶利米的預言，被擄的時間共七十年為滿（耶25：12）。主興起了波斯王古列，趕走了巴比倫的統治者。在上帝的安排下，古列的政策，是要流散之民回到自己原來的土地上，並且給予他們宗教自由。他鼓勵忠信的劫後餘民返回故土，乃是出乎上帝，要讓百姓得自由，並恢復祂的居所。因此古列詔告猶大人說：「你們中間凡作祂子民的，可以上去，願耶和華他的神與他同在」

        主，您藉先知所說的話必會應驗。願我們切切留意您先知所說的話，尤其是經上的言語。就是我們的主、拯救者耶穌基督，也以先知身分服事眾人。謝謝您差了您的代表到我們中間。奉耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。

English

        After the death of good king Josiah, the throne of Judah was occupied by his two sons, and finally by two grandsons. Unfortunately for Judah, they were all wicked and idolatrous. The severe judgments and punishments of the Lord came without delay. Under the reign of Jehoahaz (Josiah's successor), the kingdom of Judah lost its independence and became subjected to Necho, king of Egypt. This was probably a retaliation for Josiah's mistake in attacking Necho when he attempted to pass through Josiah's territory (35:20-22). Egypt imposed a heavy tribute on Judah, and Necho exerted his authority by displacing and deporting Jehoahaz, after a reign of only three months, and appointing his brother Jehoiakim to be "puppet" king in his place. During Jehoiakim's oppresive eleven-year reign (cf. Jeremiah 22:13, 17), Babylon defeated Egypt and gained Judah as their vassal state. To show who was boss, King Nebuchadnezzar chained Jehoiakim and threatened to take him captive into Babylon, but this never actually happened. He did, however, take the holy articles from the Temple and, as we learn from the book of Daniel, he also took a select group of hostages, including Daniel (Daniel 1:1-3).

        A second deportation of hostages to Babylon occurred during the reign of Jehoiakim's son, Jehoiachin. His age of succession should read "eighteen years old" (36:9), as is found in other manuscripts, as well as 2 Kings 24:8. Like his uncle Jehoahaz (36:2), Jehoiachin only reigned a short time (three months) before his oppressors took him captive to Babylon along with his family and many mighty men (cf. 2 Kings 24:8-16).

        Nebuchadnezzar then appointed his own puppet king over Judah. This was Jehoahaz's brother Zedekiah, who had taken an oath of allegiance to the Babylonian king. Zedekiah's reign was full of wickedness, like the heathens who had occupied Canaan before God brought the children of Israel to dwell there. The Lord sent the prophet Jeremiah to try to turn Zedekiah to Himself, but he scorned Jeremiah's words from the Lord, as well as his advice to submit to Zedekiah, (cf. Jeremiah 37-38). As the chronicler records, Zedekiah did not humble himself but "stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel" (36:12-13).

        Ever since Josiah's death, God had graciously sent His prophets to warn the people of Judah to repent of their sin and turn to Him so they might experience His salvation. However, it was to no avail; the people continued sinning against the Lord, mocking and spurning His words. Even the priests became corrupt and defiled God's House (the Temple) with idols. God had called them to shepherd the people, but instead they led the flock astray (cf. Jeremiah 50:6-7; Ezekiel 34). Rather than accepting God's mercy and choosing life by following Him (accompanied by His blessings), the children of Israel chose death and curses by worshipping worthless idols, just as Moses had feared and forewarned (cf. Deuteronomy 28; 30:17-20).

        When their cup of iniquity was full, the Lord, who is Holy and Just, had to punish their sin. He sent judgment through yet another and greater Babylonian captivity. As well as carrying away a multitude of captives, Nebuchadnezzar killed many people, burned much of Jerusalem, and tore down the city walls (cf. a more detailed account is given in 2 Kings 25). Moses had prophetically forewarned that disobedience to God would lead to this very thing. While the children of Israel were in exile, the desolate land would be compensated for the many years that they had been unfaithful in observing the sabbath rest for the land (Leviticus 25:4-5; 26:33-35).

        The book of Chronicles ends on a note of hope however, not in disaster. There was still a faithful remnant of the children of Israel, and God's plan of redemption would not be stopped. The Lord was preparing the events of history for the coming Messiah, our Lord Jesus.

        In fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy, the length of the Exile was seventy years (Jeremiah 25:12). The Lord raised up Cyrus, king of Persia, who overthrew the Babylonian ruler. In the providence of God, Cyrus' policy was to restore the exiles to their native lands and allow them religious freedom. His encouragement for the faithful remnant to return was directed by God for their restoration and the restoration of His House. He told them, "Who is there among you of all His people? May the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!"

        Lord, the words of Your prophets always come to pass. May we pay the closest possible attention to the words of Your prophets as recorded in Scripture. Even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ministered as a prophet. Thank You for Your representatives to us.