2 Kings24
New King James Version
1In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.
2And the Lord sent against him raiding bands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of the people of Ammon; He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken by His servants the prophets.
3Surely at the commandment of the Lord this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done,
4and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord 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 rested with his fathers. Then Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
7And the king of Egypt did not come out of his land anymore, for the king of Babylon had taken all 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 in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
9And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done.
10At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, as his servants were besieging it.
12Then Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers went out to the king of Babylon; and the king of Babylon, in the eighth year of his reign, took him prisoner.
13And he carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house, and he cut in pieces all the articles of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said.
14Also he carried into captivity all Jerusalem: all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land.
15And he carried Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. The king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officers, and the mighty of the land he carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
16All the valiant men, seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths, one thousand, all who were strong and fit for war, these the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
17Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
18Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
19He also did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
20For because of the anger of the Lord this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, that He finally cast them out from His presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled 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