Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 36:23
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah. Who [is there] among you of all his people? The LORD his God [be] with him, and let him go up.
23. All the kingdoms of the earth ] The king of Babylon bore the title of “king of the four quarters of the world.” Cyrus succeeded to this title on his conquest of Babylon.
God of heaven ] R.V. the God of heaven.
Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord etc.] R.V. Whosoever there is among you of all his people, the LORD etc.
let him go up ] i.e. to Jerusalem; cp. Ezr 1:3. Since Chronicles is the last book of the Old Testament (according to the Hebrew order), these words are to be reckoned the last words of the Old Testament.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 23. The Lord his God be with him] “Let the WORD of the Lord be his helper, and let him go up.” – Targum. See the notes on the beginning of Ezra. See Clarke on Ezr 1:1.
THUS ends the history of a people the most fickle, the most ungrateful, and perhaps on the whole the most sinful, that ever existed on the face of the earth. But what a display does all this give of the power, justice, mercy, and long-suffering of the Lord! There was no people like this people, and no God like their God.
MASORETIC NOTES
The sum of the verses in both books of Chronicles is 1656. Middle verse, 1Ch 27:25. Its Masoretic sections, twenty-five.
Having made particular remarks on every thing which I judged of importance in these and the preceding historical books, and in the course of this work having often found the want of a chronological list of the kings of Israel and Judah, in the consecutive order of their reigns; for the reader’s information I have brought all the facts into a synopsis or general view, so that he may see at once the contemporary reigns in those two kingdoms, as well as the leading facts by which their reigns were distinguished. In this table will be seen, at one view, the year of the world; the year before Christ; the year before and after the First Olympiad; the year before and from the building of Rome; and under them the Jewish history, from its first kings till the time in which its regal state was entirely abolished, and both kingdoms led into captivity, never more to arise to any political consequence till they acknowledge the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and take Jesus the Christ, the son and only legitimate heir of David, for their Saviour and their Lord. I hope that the table which is here subjoined will be found, in every point of view, both interesting and instructive.
A. CLARKE.
Millbrook, December 7, 1819.
Finished correcting the two books of Chronicles,
March 28th, 1828. – A. CLARKE.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
[See comments on 2Ch 36:22].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
REFLECTIONS
PAUSE, Reader! and before you close the book of the Chronicles, which contains a faithful register of events both of men and things, think what desolation sin hath introduced into the circumstances of mankind; nay, even into the church of God! Who but must tremble in the relation of what is here recorded! and though here and there, in the character of some few gracious souls, we discover that the Lord hath not left himself without witness, which act as the salt of the earth to preserve the whole from universal putrefaction; yet how (as the prophet speaks) is the gold become dim, and the most fine gold changed!
And Reader! when you have duly contemplated this faithful portrait of man by nature, turn your eyes and behold what that same nature is when recovered by almighty grace in the person, purchase, blood-cleansing, soul-justifying, and soul-adorning righteousness of God our Saviour. Yes, blessed Jesus! I would behold thy church, not as it is in itself, but as it is united to thee, and made all glorious within; and also comely without, from thy comeliness which thou hast put upon it. Didst thou not at infinite expense, from infinite love, and by infinite power, purchase her to thyself? And dost thou not now watch her, water her every moment, and keep her night and day, lest any hurt her. Hast thou not for her unfaithfulness and departures from thee suffered, in different ages, the wild boar out of the wood to root her up? But in the midst of all thou hast brought her again in, and planted her in thine holy mountain. There may be, and there will be, the desolations of threescore years and ten; shaking dispensations, trying afflictions, and much tribulation; but though thou wilt sift thine Israel as corn is sifted, yet (thou hast said,) a grain shall not fall to the ground. Oh! thou the hope of Israel, and the Saviour thereof! be thou the Refuge of all thy people in the day of their adversity. And when the wealthiest empires of the earth have had their day, which thou last appointed; when thy church scattered as it now is, amidst the various monarchies of the world shall be gathered together, and the time of her dispersion is over: Then oh! blessed, mighty, glorious Lord Jesus, then let that auspicious promise be fulfilled and realized over the wide universe of God, in which it is said the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever. The peaceable kingdom of righteousness in Jesus, shall extend over all the habitable earth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
God of heaven. First occurrence of this expression. Now used because His People was Lo Ammi (= “not My People”), and He (Jehovah) had withdrawn from their midst. It is the title peculiar to the times of the Gentiles, while God acts from heaven, and not from between the cherubim as Jehovah the God of Israel, or as “the Lord of all the earth” (His millennial title). See the other occurrences (twenty in all = 3×6, App-10): Ezr 1:2; Ezr 5:11, Ezr 5:12; Ezr 6:9, Ezr 6:10; Ezr 6:7. Ezr 6:12, Ezr 6:21, Ezr 6:23. Neh 1:4, Neh 1:5; Neh 2:4, Neh 2:20. Psa 136:26. Dan 2:18, Dan 2:19, Dan 2:37, Dan 2:44. Jon 1:9. Rev 11:13; Rev 16:11.
He hath charged me. Compare Isa 44:28; Isa 45:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
All the kingdoms: Psa 75:5-7, Dan 2:21, Dan 2:37, Dan 4:35, Dan 5:18, Dan 5:23
he hath charged: Isa 44:26-28
Who is there: 1Ch 22:16, 1Ch 29:5, Ezr 7:13, Zec 2:6, Zec 2:7, Rom 8:31
Reciprocal: Gen 35:11 – a nation Deu 2:24 – behold Ezr 1:1 – Now in the Ezr 4:3 – king Cyrus Ezr 6:3 – the first year Isa 44:28 – saying Isa 45:13 – he shall build Jer 50:21 – and do Dan 6:28 – and in Dan 10:1 – Cyrus Rev 16:11 – the God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
36:23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath {n} charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah. Who [is there] among you of all his people? The LORD his God [be] with him, and let him go up.
(n) God had so forewarned by his prophet over 100 years before Cyrus was born, Isa 44:28 that Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt by Cyrus his anointed: so called because God used his service for a time to deliver his Church.