2 Chronicles 36:17

KJV

Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave [them] all into his hand.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore he brought {H5927} upon them the king {H4428} of the Chaldees {H3778}, who slew {H2026} their young men {H970} with the sword {H2719} in the house {H1004} of their sanctuary {H4720}, and had no compassion {H2550} upon young man {H970} or maiden {H1330}, old man {H2205}, or him that stooped for age {H3486}: he gave {H5414} them all into his hand {H3027}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Kasdim, who put their young men to the sword in the house of their sanctuary. They had no compassion on either young men or young women, old men or gray-haired; God handed all of them over to him.

Berean Standard Bible

So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,

American Standard Version

Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or virgin, old man or hoary-headed: he gave them all into his hand.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 36:17 vividly portrays the devastating climax of God's righteous judgment upon the unrepentant kingdom of Judah, detailing the brutal and indiscriminate actions of the Babylonian forces. It describes the horrific slaughter of Judah's people, from young to old, even within the sacred confines of the Temple, emphasizing the complete lack of mercy shown by the invaders. This verse underscores the profound consequences of generations of covenant unfaithfulness, revealing God's sovereignty in using a foreign power as the instrument of His holy wrath, delivering His rebellious people into the hands of their enemies.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the very end of 2 Chronicles, serving as the grim culmination of the historical narrative of the kings of Judah. The book meticulously chronicles the reigns of the Davidic dynasty, highlighting periods of faithfulness and, more frequently, profound apostasy. Leading up to this point, the narrative has increasingly emphasized Judah's persistent rebellion against God, their widespread idolatry, and their rejection of prophetic warnings. Verses like [2 Chronicles 36:14](/2_chronicles/36-14 "2 Chronicles 36:14 - Judah's Unfaithfulness and Temple Defilement") describe the defilement of the Temple and the priests' unfaithfulness, while [2 Chronicles 36:15](/2_chronicles/36-15 "2 Chronicles 36:15 - God's Persistent Warnings") underscores God's compassionate yet ultimately exhausted patience, as He repeatedly sent prophets to call His people to repentance. Verse 17, therefore, marks the inevitable consequence of this prolonged spiritual decline, leading directly into the account of Jerusalem's destruction, the burning of the Temple, and the subsequent Babylonian exile in [2 Chronicles 36:18-21](/2_chronicles/36-18 "2 Chronicles 36:18-21 - Destruction and Exile").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events described in 2 Chronicles 36:17 occurred during the final siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Neo-Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar II. This was the culmination of a series of Babylonian incursions that began in 605 BC. By 586 BC, after several failed Judean rebellions and the installation of puppet kings, Nebuchadnezzar launched a decisive siege. The "king of the Chaldees" refers to Nebuchadnezzar, whose empire was dominated by the Chaldean people. The brutal nature of ancient warfare, where conquering armies often showed no mercy to the vanquished, is reflected in the text. The specific mention of the "house of their sanctuary" highlights the profound cultural and religious shock of the Temple's desecration and destruction. For the Israelites, the Temple was not merely a building but the very dwelling place of God's presence among His people, the center of their national and religious identity. Its violation signified the complete breakdown of the covenant relationship and the ultimate judgment for their unfaithfulness, fulfilling the curses outlined in the Mosaic Covenant, such as those found in [Deuteronomy 28:49-57](/deuteronomy/28-49 "Deuteronomy 28:49-57 - Covenant Curses").
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several critical themes woven throughout 2 Chronicles and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it illustrates the theme of **Divine Judgment and the Consequences of Sin**. The destruction is not portrayed as a mere historical accident but as a direct, righteous, and severe divine retribution for Judah's deep-seated and unrepentant sin, idolatry, and covenant breaking. Secondly, it emphasizes **God's Sovereignty in History**. Despite Nebuchadnezzar being a pagan king, the text explicitly states that God "brought upon them" this ruler and "gave them all into his hand," demonstrating God's ultimate control over nations and historical events, even using foreign powers to execute His justice and fulfill His purposes. This theme is echoed in other prophetic books, such as [Isaiah 10:5-6](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5-6 - Assyria as God's Instrument"). Thirdly, the verse highlights the **Desecration of Sacred Space and the Profound Nature of Judgment**. The slaughter occurring "in the house of their sanctuary" underscores the depth of Judah's spiritual depravity and the severity of God's judgment, as even the holiest place was not spared from the consequences of their sin, symbolizing the complete rupture of their relationship with God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Chaldees (Hebrew, _kaśdîm'_):** This term refers to the inhabitants of Chaldea, a region in southern Mesopotamia, and is used synonymously with Babylonians. In this context, "the king of the Chaldees" specifically denotes Nebuchadnezzar II, the monarch of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The text's emphasis on God "bringing upon them" this king signifies that Nebuchadnezzar was not merely a historical conqueror acting on his own geopolitical ambitions, but a divinely appointed instrument of judgment. God's sovereignty is paramount, orchestrating even the actions of pagan rulers to fulfill His righteous purposes against His disobedient people.
* **Sanctuary (Hebrew, _qōdeš'_):** This word, often translated as "holy place" or "sanctuary," refers unequivocally to the Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple was the spiritual heart of Israel, the designated dwelling place of God's presence (the Shekinah), and the site of all sacrificial worship and covenant renewal. Its desecration and the slaughter of people within its hallowed precincts was an act of profound sacrilege, symbolizing the complete breakdown of the covenant relationship between God and Judah. It underscored that even the physical embodiment of God's presence would not shield a persistently rebellious people from the consequences of their sin.
* **No Compassion (Hebrew, _lōʾ ḥāmal'_):** The phrase "had no compassion" emphasizes the utter brutality and indiscriminate nature of the Babylonian assault. It signifies a complete lack of pity, mercy, or restraint shown by the invading army towards any segment of the population—young, old, male, or female. While describing the actions of the Chaldeans, this phrase also implicitly reflects the severity of God's judgment. The absence of human compassion mirrors the exhaustion of divine patience, indicating that the time for mercy had passed, and the full weight of covenant curses was being unleashed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees,"**: This opening clause establishes the divine agency behind the catastrophe. The "he" refers to God, indicating that the invasion by Nebuchadnezzar was not a random geopolitical event but a direct act of divine judgment. God actively orchestrated and permitted this foreign power to come against Judah as a consequence of their persistent rebellion and unfaithfulness, fulfilling the warnings of the covenant.
* **"who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary,"**: This part details the horrific violence perpetrated by the Babylonians. The specific mention of "young men" highlights the loss of future generations and the strength of the nation. Crucially, the slaughter occurred "in the house of their sanctuary," meaning within the Temple itself. This was an act of extreme desecration, turning the holiest site of Israelite worship into a place of bloodshed and defilement, symbolizing the complete collapse of their spiritual and national identity.
* **"and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age:"**: This clause further emphasizes the indiscriminate and merciless nature of the slaughter. The Babylonians showed no pity or restraint, killing all segments of the population regardless of age or gender. This total lack of compassion underscores the severity of the judgment, highlighting the complete devastation and the absence of any remaining protection for the people of Judah.
* **"he gave [them] all into his hand."**: This concluding phrase reiterates God's ultimate sovereignty. The "he" again refers to God, who "gave" or delivered His people—all of them, without exception—into the power and control of the Babylonian king. This signifies that Judah's defeat was not merely a military loss but a divine surrender, a deliberate act by God to execute judgment and fulfill His warnings against a people who had utterly forsaken their covenant obligations.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey the gravity of the judgment. **Divine Agency** is prominent, as the text attributes the arrival of the Chaldean king directly to God ("he brought upon them"), emphasizing God's sovereign control over history and His use of foreign nations as instruments of His will. **Synecdoche** is used in "young men or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age," where specific age groups stand in for the entire population, highlighting the totality of the destruction. The phrase also borders on **Hyperbole** to emphasize the extreme, unsparing brutality. Furthermore, there is profound **Irony** in the "house of their sanctuary" becoming a place of slaughter. The Temple, intended as a refuge and a symbol of God's protective presence, becomes the very site of the most egregious violence, underscoring the depth of Judah's sin and the extent to which they had provoked God's wrath. The graphic imagery evokes a sense of **Pathos**, eliciting sorrow and dread at the tragic consequences of unrepentant rebellion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse stands as a stark testament to the unwavering holiness and justice of God, demonstrating that prolonged and unrepentant sin inevitably leads to severe consequences. It underscores the principle that divine patience, though vast, is not limitless, and covenant disobedience carries dire repercussions. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the indiscriminate slaughter, serve as a powerful object lesson that God takes sin seriously and will not allow His covenant people to defile His name and His dwelling place indefinitely. Yet, even in judgment, God's sovereignty is evident, as He uses earthly powers to accomplish His righteous will, ultimately working towards a redemptive purpose, even if through suffering and exile.

* [Deuteronomy 28:49-57](/deuteronomy/28-49 "Deuteronomy 28:49-57 - Prophecy of Foreign Invasion and Suffering")
* [Lamentations 2:20-21](/lamentations/2-20 "Lamentations 2:20-21 - Description of Indiscriminate Slaughter in Jerusalem")
* [Ezekiel 9:5-7](/ezekiel/9-5 "Ezekiel 9:5-7 - Judgment Beginning at the Sanctuary")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The chilling account of 2 Chronicles 36:17 serves as a profound and timeless warning. It compels us to reflect on the gravity of sin and the principle that persistent rebellion against God's revealed will invites severe consequences. For us today, living under the new covenant of grace, this passage reminds us that while God's mercy is abundant through Christ, His holiness and justice remain immutable. We are called to cultivate a deep reverence for God, to heed His warnings, and to respond to His gracious calls to repentance. It challenges us to examine our own lives for areas of unfaithfulness, idolatry, or compromise that might grieve the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, it affirms God's ultimate sovereignty over all human affairs, even in times of chaos and suffering, reminding us that He remains in control, working His purposes even through the actions of nations and rulers. Our response should be one of humility, vigilance against sin, and a renewed commitment to living in faithful obedience, trusting in God's enduring love and justice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge my understanding of God's patience and justice?**
* **In what ways might I be subtly or overtly disregarding God's warnings in my own life today?**
* **What does the desecration of the Temple teach me about the seriousness of defiling what is holy to God, including my own body as a temple of the Holy Spirit ([1 Corinthians 6:19-20](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Our Bodies as Temples"))?**

### FAQ
**Why did God allow such extreme brutality, especially the slaughter in His own Temple?**

Answer: God allowed this extreme brutality, even within the Temple, as a direct and severe consequence of Judah's prolonged and unrepentant rebellion against His covenant. For generations, the people, their kings, and even the priests had consistently defied God's laws, engaged in widespread idolatry, and defiled the very Temple with pagan practices ([2 Chronicles 36:14](/2_chronicles/36-14 "2 Chronicles 36:14 - Judah's Unfaithfulness and Temple Defilement")). Despite God's compassionate and repeated warnings sent through His prophets ([2 Chronicles 36:15](/2_chronicles/36-15 "2 Chronicles 36:15 - God's Persistent Warnings")), Judah refused to repent. The Temple, intended as a place of holiness and God's presence, had been polluted by their sin. Therefore, its desecration and destruction by the Babylonians, though horrific, served as a tangible manifestation of God's righteous judgment and the fulfillment of the covenant curses for disobedience ([Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Covenant Curses")). It demonstrated that God's holiness demands justice, and He will not tolerate persistent sin, even from His chosen people, nor will He allow His name or His dwelling place to be continually profaned without consequence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Chronicles 36:17 vividly portrays God's righteous judgment against sin, its ultimate fulfillment and resolution are found in Jesus Christ. The desecration of the physical Temple and the indiscriminate slaughter within it foreshadow the ultimate judgment that sin brings, yet also points to the true Temple, Jesus Himself. Just as the Temple was defiled by human sin, humanity was defiled by sin, leading to spiritual death and separation from God. However, Christ, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the ultimate sacrifice, bearing the full weight of God's wrath against sin on the cross. The "no compassion" shown by the Chaldeans finds its counterpoint in God's ultimate compassion demonstrated in Christ, where He "did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all" ([Romans 8:32](/romans/8-32 "Romans 8:32 - God Gave Up His Son")). The exile of Judah serves as a type of humanity's spiritual exile from God due to sin, from which Christ delivers us, bringing us into His kingdom and reconciling us to the Father ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness")). Furthermore, Jesus declared Himself to be the new Temple, stating, "[Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection")," referring to His body. Through His death and resurrection, Christ not only fulfilled the sacrificial system but also became the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity, a sanctuary that can never be defiled, offering eternal refuge and reconciliation to all who believe ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ, the Greater High Priest")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 74:20

Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

Ezra 9:7

Since the days of our fathers [have] we [been] in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, [and] our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as [it is] this day.

Jeremiah 40:3

Now the LORD hath brought [it], and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.

Ezekiel 9:5

¶ And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

Ezekiel 9:7

And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

2 Chronicles 24:21

And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.

Leviticus 26:14

¶ But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;