2 Kings 24ASV
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2 Kings24

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.

2And Jehovah sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake by his servants the prophets.

3Surely at the commandment of Jehovah came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did,

4and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood: and Jehovah would not pardon.

5Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

6So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

7And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land; for the king of Babylon had taken, from the brook of Egypt unto the river Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned in Jerusalem three months: and his mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

9And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his father had done.

10At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.

11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came unto the city, while his servants were besieging it;

12and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.

13And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold, which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of Jehovah, as Jehovah had said.

14And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths; none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.

15And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon; and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the chief men of the land, carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

16And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths a thousand, all of them strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.

17And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s father’s brother, king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

18Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

19And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

20For through the anger of Jehovah did it come to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Kings 24.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Jehoiakim subdued by Nebuchadnezzar. (1–7). Jehoiachim captive in Babylon. (8–20).

vv1-7

If Jehoiakim had served the Lord, he had not been servant to Nebuchadnezzar. If he had been content with his servitude, and true to his word, his condition had been no worse; but, rebelling against Babylon, he plunged himself into more trouble. See what need nations have to lament the sins of their fathers, lest they smart for them. Threatenings will be fulfilled as certainly as promises, if the sinner's repentance prevent not. (2Ki 24:8-20)

vv8-20

Jehoiachin reigned but three months, yet long enough to show that he justly smarted for his fathers' sins, for he trod in their steps. His uncle was intrusted with the government. This Zedekiah was the last of the kings of Judah. Though the judgments of God upon the three kings before him might have warned him, he did that which was evil, like them. When those intrusted with the counsels of a nation act unwisely, and against their true interest, we ought to notice the displeasure of God in it. It is for the sins of a people that God hides from them the things that belong to the public peace. And in fulfilling the secret purposes of his justice, the Lord needs only leave men to the blindness of their own minds, or to the lusts of their own hearts. The gradual approach of Divine judgments affords sinners space for repentance, and believers leisure to prepare for meeting the calamity, while it shows the obstinacy of those who will not forsake their sins.

Cross References

2 Kings 24
v6Jeremiah 22:19fulfillment

Prophetic fulfillment of Jehoiakim's dishonorable end, contrast with "slept with his fathers."

Supported by JFB

v8Jeremiah 22:24thematic

Jehoiachin's identity as Coniah/Jeconiah and his judgment from the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Parallel account addressing the chronological difficulty of Jehoiachin's age at his accession.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Jeremiah 25:1thematic

Synchronizes Jehoiakim's fourth year with the first year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Jeremiah 46:2thematic

Context of Nebuchadnezzar's victory over Egypt, forcing Jehoiakim into submission.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v22 Kings 23:26thematic

Confirms the primary cause of Judah's downfall was Manasseh's unpardoned sin.

Supported by JFB

v132 Kings 20:17fulfillment

Fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy to Hezekiah that all royal treasures would go to Babylon.

Supported by JFB

v42 Kings 21:16thematic

Details Manasseh's filling Jerusalem with innocent blood, which God would not pardon.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v6Jeremiah 36:30fulfillment

Fulfills prediction that Jehoiakim would have none to sit on David's throne.

Supported by JFB

v9Ezekiel 19:5-7allusion

Ezekiel's figurative portrayal of Jehoiachin's short, evil, and ravenous reign.

Supported by JFB

Genealogical confirmation that Mattaniah (Zedekiah) was the son of Josiah.

Supported by JFB

v17Ezekiel 17:13thematic

Prophetic description of the covenant and oath Nebuchadnezzar forced upon Zedekiah.

Supported by JFB

v1Daniel 1:1thematic

Daniel's parallel timeline of Nebuchadnezzar's initial siege of Jerusalem.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v15Jeremiah 22:26fulfillment

Fulfills Jeremiah's prophecy that Coniah and his mother would be cast into exile.

Supported by JFB

Genealogical confirmation linking Jehoiakim with his successor Jeconiah.

Supported by Matthew Poole