And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

2 CHRONICLES 36:10KJV
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2 Chronicles 36:10 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 36:10 mean?

2 Chronicles 36:10 describes how, after a year had passed, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon sent for Jehoiachin, removed him from Jerusalem, and took him to Babylon along with valuable items from the temple of the LORD. Nebuchadnezzar then appointed Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s relative, as the new king over Judah and Jerusalem.

This verse is part of the account of Judah’s final days before the Babylonian exile. The Chronicler is summarizing how Babylon’s power forced a change in Judah’s leadership and took treasures from the temple. The verse highlights the loss of both royal authority and sacred objects, showing Judah’s growing dependence on Babylon.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 36:10

  • "goodly" (חֶמְדָּה, chemdah): This word means "precious" or "desirable." The verse uses it to describe the temple vessels, emphasizing that Nebuchadnezzar took not just any items, but the most valued treasures from the house of the LORD.
  • "vessels" (כְּלִי, keli): This word refers to containers or implements. Here, it points to the sacred objects used in temple worship, showing that Babylon’s conquest affected the very heart of Judah’s religious life.
  • "house" (בַּיִת, bayit) of the "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): These words together refer specifically to the temple in Jerusalem, underlining that the invasion struck at the center of Judah’s faith.

Why 2 Chronicles 36:10 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Babylon’s control over Judah was not just political but also religious, as seen in the removal of temple treasures.
  • The mention of Zedekiah being made king by Nebuchadnezzar shows that Judah’s monarchy was now subject to foreign authority, not independent.
  • The verse connects to the larger narrative of Judah’s decline and the reasons for the Babylonian exile, setting the stage for the coming destruction of Jerusalem.

Where else these words appear

“expired” Hebrew H8666 · used in 8 verses

  • 1 Samuel 7:17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
  • 1 Kings 20:22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
  • 1 Chronicles 20:1 And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.

“goodly” Hebrew H2532 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 27:15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:
  • Jeremiah 3:19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
  • Daniel 11:8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

“Nebuchadnezzar” Hebrew H5019 · used in 59 verses

  • 2 Kings 24:1 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
  • Jeremiah 25:9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
  • Jeremiah 44:30 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

“Zedekiah” Hebrew H6667 · used in 62 verses

  • 1 Kings 22:11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
  • Jeremiah 28:1 And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
  • Jeremiah 38:14 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.