And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

2 CHRONICLES 36:3KJV
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2 Chronicles 36:3 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 36:3 mean?

2 Chronicles 36:3 describes how the king of Egypt removed the king of Judah from his position in Jerusalem and forced the land to pay a heavy tribute of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold. This shows Egypt’s power over Judah at that time and the financial burden placed on the people.

The verse is set during a period when Judah was under foreign control. The “king of Egypt” refers to Pharaoh Necho II, who intervened in Judah’s leadership after defeating King Josiah. The tribute demanded was a large sum, meant to weaken Judah and assert Egypt’s dominance. This moment marks a turning point where Judah lost much of its independence.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 36:3

  • "Put down" (סוּר, sûr, H5493) often means to remove or depose. Here, it shows that the king of Egypt actively removed Judah’s king, not just influenced him.
  • "Condemned" (עָנָה, ‘anah, H6064) can mean to impose or lay a burden. In this verse, it refers to the forced tribute, highlighting the oppression Judah faced.
  • "Hundred" (מֵאָה, me’ah, H3967) and "talents" (כִּכָּר, kikkar, H3603) are specific measures. A talent was a large unit of weight, so the tribute was extremely costly, emphasizing the severity of Egypt’s demand.
  • "Silver" (כֶּסֶף, keseph, H3701) and "gold" (זָהָב, zahav, H2091) are the materials required for tribute, showing the economic impact on Judah.

Why 2 Chronicles 36:3 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Judah’s king was not simply replaced but forcibly removed by a foreign power, underlining Judah’s loss of sovereignty.
  • The specific mention of the tribute amount reveals the scale of Egypt’s control and the hardship imposed on Judah’s people.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain the political instability and decline that led to Judah’s eventual conquest by Babylon later in the chapter.

Where else these words appear

“condemned” Hebrew H6064 · used in 8 verses

  • Exodus 21:22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
  • Proverbs 17:26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
  • Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

“talents” Hebrew H3603 · used in 55 verses

  • Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
  • 2 Samuel 12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
  • 1 Chronicles 22:14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.