In this chapter and the next, and the previous one, we have the record of four bad kings.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up against Judah, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years (v1). He needed to secure loyalty to Babylon rather than Egypt and Assyria. Egypt had attacked Babylon, but Nebuchadnezzar defeated them and consequently took Judah who had been loyal to Egypt. This attack is recorded in the Babylonian records held in the British Museum today. It was 605BC (the first battle, there were later ones), proved by archaeological remains at Charchemis.
Nebuchadnezzar had to make a hurried return to Babylon to obtain succession to the throne at his father’s death, and Jehoiakim took advantage of it and rebelled against him, but during the short time he was in Judah he took a few choice captives back to Babylon including Daniel (see Daniel 1:1,2).
Jehoiakim had a troubled reign. The Lord sent raiders against him – the Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and the people of Ammon, to destroy Judah. God sent these bands against Judah because they weren’t loyal to Him. Nebuchadnezzar’s army was made up of several nations who were willing to fight for him (v2-4). Manasseh had shed much innocent blood and God would not pardon them.
The rest of Jehoiakim’s act are in the chronicles of the kings of Judah (v5). He died and rested with his fathers. Jeremiah 22:19 tells us that he was buried in disgrace outside Jerusalem, and 2 Chronicles 36:6 says that Nebuchadnezzar intended to take Jehoiakim to Babylon bound in bronze fetters, however there is no evidence that he was actually taken there. He was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin. Babylon had become the dominant power and Egypt lost all, and became powerless (v6,7).
Jehoiachin became king at the age of eighteen. (2 Chronicles 36:9 says he was eight, but it is thought this was an error of transcription). However old he was he was evil in God’s sight. His mother was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem (v8,9). He carried on the wicked traditions of evil kings of Judah, and he reigned only three months.
Jeremiah 22:24-30 has some strong words to say about Jehoiachin. There he is referred to as Coniah but other translations confirm that it is Jehoiachin. Coniah may have been a shortened form of his name.
Nebuchadnezzar and his army surrounded Jerusalem and Jehoiachin surrendered, and he was taken prisoner (v10-12). He also took away all the treasures of the LORD’s house and the king’s house and cut in pieces all the articles of gold which Solomon had made for the temple. He also carried away into captivity ten thousand of all Jerusalem, all the captains and mighty men, all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except the poorest of the land. He took Jehoiachin to Babylon in captivity. He also took captive the king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officers and seven thousand mighty men, and one thousand craftsmen and smiths, and all who were fit for war and strong (v13-16).
He took the valuables from the temple and the royal palaces and cut in pieces the furniture and precious things from Solomon’s temple. Tradition tells us that Jeremiah hid the Ark of the Covenant so that it wasn’t taken to Babylon. Anyone with any skill was taken to Babylon. Among the prophets taken was Ezekiel who wrote his prophecies whilst in Babylon. Leaving only the poorest and unskilled in Jerusalem he probably thought that he would have no further trouble from Jerusalem.
Nebuchadnezzar made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, as king of Judah and changed his name to Zedekiah (v17). Zedekiah means, The LORD is Righteous, and he put someone on the throne who would submit to Babylon. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. He did evil in God’s sight, who in His anger, the LORD finally cast them out from His presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon (v18-20).
2 Chronicles 36:11-21 tells us more about Zedekiah. He did not listen to Jeremiah or the other messengers of God. They mocked and disregarded the messages. He broke an oath made in the name of Yahweh and was unrepentant and failed to restrain priests and leaders from defiling the temple with idolatry. God’s patience ran out with Judah. Zedekiah listened to the false prophets who promised him victory and therefore, he rebelled against Babylon. Jeremiah (32:1-5) had told him that he would not succeed in his rebellion, so that, he arrested Jeremiah and put him in prison.
