2 Chronicles 36

Jehovah, who sends His messengers

Jehovah — the premortal Christ

And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 2 Chronicles 36:15–16

Out of compassion Jehovah kept sending prophets early and often, but the people mocked them. Jesus later told this very story in His parable of the vineyard, where the servants are beaten and finally the owner sends his own Son, and He wept over Jerusalem for killing the prophets.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alluded to by Matthew 21:34-37 — The husbandmen beat the servants sent to them, and at last the son is sent.
• alluded to by Matthew 23:37 — Jesus laments Jerusalem, which kills the prophets sent to it.
• alludes to 1 Nephi 1:19-20 — In these same years the Jews mock Lehi, who testifies of the Messiah.

Cyrus, the Lord's anointed deliverer

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Chronicles 36:22–23

Jehovah moves Cyrus to free the captives and rebuild His house, just as Isaiah had foretold, even calling Cyrus 'his anointed.' Cyrus is a soft type of the true Anointed One, Jesus, who frees captives and builds the Lord's house.

• alludes to Isaiah 45:1 — 'Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus.'
• fulfils Isaiah 44:28 — Cyrus foretold as saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built.
• a parallel account in Ezra 1:1-3 — The same decree opens Ezra.
• a type of what is in Luke 4:18 — Jesus the Anointed proclaims deliverance to the captives.