2 chronicles 36:22 - Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
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What does "2 chronicles 36:22" mean?
This verse, 2 Chronicles 36:22, is a crucial turning point at the end of the book. It signifies the end of Judah's exile in Babylon and the beginning of their return to Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia...": This situates the event in historical time. Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and established the Persian Empire. This verse marks the first year of his reign over the former Babylonian territories, including Judah.
"...that Yahweh’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished...": This connects the historical event to divine prophecy. The prophets, especially Jeremiah, had predicted the Babylonian captivity as a punishment for Judah's sins, but they also prophesied a future restoration after a period of exile. This verse states that Cyrus's actions are directly related to fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecies about the return. This emphasizes that God is in control of history and that his promises are reliable. Jeremiah 25:11-12 and Jeremiah 29:10 are likely the specific prophecies being referenced.
"...Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia...": This is key. It emphasizes that Cyrus's decision to allow the Jewish exiles to return and rebuild the Temple wasn't simply a matter of political expediency or personal kindness. Rather, God actively influenced (or "stirred up") Cyrus's spirit, prompting him to act in a way that aligned with God's purposes. This highlights the idea that even foreign rulers are instruments in God's plan. The phrase "stirred up the spirit" is a Hebrew idiom indicating that God motivated or prompted Cyrus to act.
"...so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying...": This describes the result of God's influence on Cyrus. Cyrus issued an official decree, both orally ("proclamation") and in writing (the decree itself), that was disseminated throughout his vast empire. This proclamation would allow the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. The actual content of the proclamation is provided in the following verse (2 Chronicles 36:23) and in Ezra 1:2-4.
In summary, the verse means:
In the first year of Cyrus's reign over Persia, God prompted Cyrus to make an official announcement allowing the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This event was directly ordained by God to fulfill the prophecies of Jeremiah concerning the end of the exile and the restoration of Judah. The verse highlights God's sovereignty over world events and his faithfulness to his promises. This act of Cyrus symbolizes God's grace and the possibility of redemption after judgment. It also sets the stage for the rebuilding of the Temple, a central element in the restoration of Jewish religious life.
2 chronicles 36:22 - Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
What does "2 chronicles 36:22" mean?
This verse, 2 Chronicles 36:22, is a crucial turning point at the end of the book. It signifies the end of Judah's exile in Babylon and the beginning of their return to Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia...": This situates the event in historical time. Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and established the Persian Empire. This verse marks the first year of his reign over the former Babylonian territories, including Judah.
"...that Yahweh’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished...": This connects the historical event to divine prophecy. The prophets, especially Jeremiah, had predicted the Babylonian captivity as a punishment for Judah's sins, but they also prophesied a future restoration after a period of exile. This verse states that Cyrus's actions are directly related to fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecies about the return. This emphasizes that God is in control of history and that his promises are reliable. Jeremiah 25:11-12 and Jeremiah 29:10 are likely the specific prophecies being referenced.
"...Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia...": This is key. It emphasizes that Cyrus's decision to allow the Jewish exiles to return and rebuild the Temple wasn't simply a matter of political expediency or personal kindness. Rather, God actively influenced (or "stirred up") Cyrus's spirit, prompting him to act in a way that aligned with God's purposes. This highlights the idea that even foreign rulers are instruments in God's plan. The phrase "stirred up the spirit" is a Hebrew idiom indicating that God motivated or prompted Cyrus to act.
"...so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying...": This describes the result of God's influence on Cyrus. Cyrus issued an official decree, both orally ("proclamation") and in writing (the decree itself), that was disseminated throughout his vast empire. This proclamation would allow the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. The actual content of the proclamation is provided in the following verse (2 Chronicles 36:23) and in Ezra 1:2-4.
In summary, the verse means:
In the first year of Cyrus's reign over Persia, God prompted Cyrus to make an official announcement allowing the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This event was directly ordained by God to fulfill the prophecies of Jeremiah concerning the end of the exile and the restoration of Judah. The verse highlights God's sovereignty over world events and his faithfulness to his promises. This act of Cyrus symbolizes God's grace and the possibility of redemption after judgment. It also sets the stage for the rebuilding of the Temple, a central element in the restoration of Jewish religious life.