Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The people of the land took Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem. He was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, but only three months passed before the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, imposing a heavy fine on the land - 100 talents of silver and one talent of gold.

The king of Egypt then appointed Eliakim, Jehoahaz's brother, to rule over Judah and Jerusalem. He renamed him Jehoiakim and took Jehoahaz captive, carrying him off to Egypt. Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began his reign in Jerusalem, but it was marked by evil in the sight of God. Eleven years later, against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar bound Jehoiakim in fetters and took him to Babylon, where he also placed the vessels of the Lord's house in his temple. The rest of Jehoiakim's actions - including his detestable practices discovered in him - are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

His son, Jehoiachin, reigned in his stead, starting at eight years old but only lasting three months and ten days as king in Jerusalem. Like his father, he did evil in the sight of the Lord. When the year ended, King Nebuchadnezzar brought him to Babylon along with valuable vessels from the Lord's house.

In Jehoiachin's place, Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began his reign but only reigned eleven years in Jerusalem, doing evil in the sight of God without humbling himself before Jeremiah the prophet.

Zedekiah also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But he hardened his heart and stiffened his neck from turning to the Lord God of Israel. As a result, all the chief priests and the people greatly exceeded in their transgressions, following all the detestable practices of the nations.

They defiled God's temple that He had consecrated in Jerusalem. The Lord God of their fathers sent messengers to them, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked God's messengers, despised His words, and mistreated His prophets until the Lord's wrath rose against his people with no escape.

Therefore, He brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who slaughtered their young men with the sword in the temple, showing no mercy to anyone - not a youth, maiden, elderly person, or infirm individual. All were delivered into his hand.

The vessels of God's house, great and small, along with the treasures of the Lord's temple and those of the king and his princes, were taken to Babylon. They burnt the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and set fire to all its palaces, destroying everything of value within.

Those who had escaped from the sword were carried away to Babylon, where they served him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia. The land enjoyed its sabbaths until it had completed seventy years of desolation.

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, God stirred up his spirit to fulfill the word spoken by Jeremiah. He issued a proclamation throughout his kingdom, saying: "The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has commanded me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. I invite any of His people who are with me to join me in going up."