2 Kings24
New American Standard
1In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years; then he turned and revolted against him.
2And the Lord sent against him bands of Chaldeans, bands of Arameans, bands of Moabites, and bands of Ammonites. He sent them against Judah to destroy it, in accordance with the word of the Lord which He had spoken through His servants the prophets.
3It indeed came upon Judah at the command of the Lord, to remove them from His sight due to the sins of Manasseh, in accordance with everything that he had done,
4and also for the innocent blood which he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; and the Lord was unwilling to forgive.
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 lay down with his fathers, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place.
7Now the king of Egypt did not come out of his land again, because the king of Babylon had taken everything that belonged to the king of Egypt from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates.
8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
9He did evil in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with all that his father had done.
10At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon went up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege.
11And Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it.
12Then Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials. And the king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign.
13He also brought out from there all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house, and he smashed all the articles of gold that Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, just as the Lord had said.
14Then he led into exile all the people of Jerusalem and all the commanders and all the valiant warriors, ten thousand exiles, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None were left except the poorest people of the land.
15So he led Jehoiachin into exile to Babylon; also the king’s mother, the king’s wives, and his officials and the leading men of the land, he led into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
16And all the valiant men, seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths, a thousand, all strong and fit for war, these too the king of Babylon brought into exile to Babylon.
17Then the king of Babylon made his uncle Mattaniah king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
18Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
19He did evil in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that Jehoiakim had done.
20For it was due to the anger of the Lord that this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He cast them out of His presence. And Zedekiah revolted against the king of Babylon.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Kings 24.
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.
Key Words
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר: Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon
מֶלֶךְ: a king
בָּבֶל: Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
יְהוֹיָקִים: Jehojakim, a Jewish king
עֶבֶד: a servant
שָׁלוֹשׁ: three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
שׁוּב: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
Cross References
2 Kings 24Prophetic fulfillment of Jehoiakim's dishonorable end, contrast with "slept with his fathers."
Supported by JFB
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
Synchronizes Jehoiakim's fourth year with the first year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Context of Nebuchadnezzar's victory over Egypt, forcing Jehoiakim into submission.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Confirms the primary cause of Judah's downfall was Manasseh's unpardoned sin.
Supported by JFB
Fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy to Hezekiah that all royal treasures would go to Babylon.
Supported by JFB
Details Manasseh's filling Jerusalem with innocent blood, which God would not pardon.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Fulfills prediction that Jehoiakim would have none to sit on David's throne.
Supported by JFB
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
Prophetic description of the covenant and oath Nebuchadnezzar forced upon Zedekiah.
Supported by JFB
Daniel's parallel timeline of Nebuchadnezzar's initial siege of Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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