In 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, broke down the walls of Jerusalem and destroyed the city, including the Lord’s temple, and carried away the remnant of the people captive (Jer. 39:1-9). He left only a few people in the land of Israel: “But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time” (Jer. 39:10).
Another account of the same event is recorded in 2 Kings 24:14-16—And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. 15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
2 Chronicles 36:20-21—And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons (Deuteronomy 28:47-48; Jeremiah 27:7) until the reign of the kingdom of Persia (2 Chronicles 36:22; Ezra 1): 21 To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 25:12; Jeremiah 26:6-7; Jeremiah 27:12-13; Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel 9:2; Zechariah 1:4-6), until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths (Leviticus 25:4-6; Leviticus 26:34-35; Leviticus 26:43; Zechariah 1:12): for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
Verse 21 tells plainly why this happened. It was to fulfill God’s prophecy through Jeremiah.
Who caused it to happen?
These are plain statements by God about how He works and yet man does not see anything with his naked (physical) eye. The events may appear to be from natural causes to those looking on, but God shows in these accounts that He does them. In opposition to a miracle is God’s work where His hand is not seen (Luke 23:44; 1 Chron. 14:15; Psa. 108:10-13; Matt. 10:29 and Acts 5:1-11).
GOD was active, but can anyone say he saw with the human eye what God did?
Now consider a similar work of God:
“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia (Isa. 44:28; Dan. 10:1), that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia (2 Chronicles 36:20-21; Ezra 5:13-15; Ezra 6:22; Ezra 7:27; Psalms 106:46; Proverbs 21:1; Daniel 2:1), that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying…” (Ezra 1:1).
Who stirred up Cyrus’ spirit?
How did he do this?
We are not told and we have no way to find out, but we know by faith in God’s word that He did it.
–Beth Johnson