In the previous chapter, the Chronicler summarizes the events from Josiah’s death to the Babylonian exile. He chooses and condenses 2 Kings 23:21-25:30 and Jeremiah 39; 52. The Chronicler views the exile as a tragic event, but one that has now come to an end and is mainly in the past. He repeats the phrase “He did what the Lord, his God, disapproved of” (5.9.12.14) to highlight how the kings’ transgressions led to this tragic outcome (16-20). The commentary on verse 21 is significant, as it combines Jeremiah 25:11 with Leviticus 26:33-35, where exile is viewed as a consequence of ignoring the land’s sabbatical rest. However, the situation was more complex, since the land continued to be farmed. Verses 22 and beyond include a version of Cyrus’ edict, in which the Persian king permits the exiled Israelites to return to Jerusalem. The text aligns with Ezra 1:1-4, linking it to Ezra’s account, and expresses hope that Judah’s tragic history will end on a positive note.