Wednesday, October 6

2 Chronicles 35 - 36

King Josiah prepared and observed the Passover celebration as a national worship service to God.  He went to great personal expense to ensure that all in the nation had a suitable sacrifice to offer.  This was the most elaborate Passover observance since the days of Samuel - no other king had celebrated to the extent that Josiah did.  King Josiah died in battle against the king of Egypt and was replaced by his son Jehoahaz - who only reigned 3 months before being replaced by the Egyptians with his brother Jehoiakim.
Jehoiakim was an evil man who was captured by king Nebuchadnezzar and replaced by his son Jehoiachin who was taken to Babylon after 3 months and 10 days.  Jehoiachin was replaced by his brother Zedekiah.  Zedekiah, an evil king, mocked the things of God until there was nothing left for God to do but allow His people to be taken into Babylonian exile.
For seventy years the land lay unoccupied by the Jewish nation until Cyrus, king of Persia, decreed that the exiles might return.

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