2Ch 36:21 | NET2full | STEP | This took place to fulfill the Lord ’s message spoken through Jeremiah and lasted until the land experienced its sabbatical years . All the time of its desolation the land rested in order to fulfill the seventy years .

2 Chronicles 36:21

21 This took place to fulfill the Lord’s message spoken through Jeremiah ^{▼▼tn Heb “by the mouth of Jeremiah.”} and lasted until the land experienced ^{▼▼tn The verb may be seen as either of two homophonous roots רָצָה (ratsah) meaning “to restore” or “to accept, take pleasure in.”} its sabbatical years. ^{▼▼sn According to Lev 25:4, the land was to remain uncultivated every seventh year. Lev 26:33-35 warns that the land would experience a succession of such sabbatical rests if the people disobeyed God, for he would send them away into exile.} All the time ^{▼▼tn Heb “days of.”} of its desolation the land rested in order to fulfill the seventy years. ^{▼▼sn Concerning the seventy years see Jer 25:11. Cyrus’ edict (see vv. 22-23) occurred about fifty years after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 b.c., which is most naturally understood as the beginning point of the “days of desolation” mentioned in v. 21. The number “seventy” is probably used in a metaphorical sense, indicating a typical lifetime and suggesting a thorough or complete judgment that would not be lifted until an entirely new generation emerged.}