2 Chron, 36:9, 10; 2 Kings 24:8-178Jehoiachin 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 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, and his servants did besiege 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 the Lord, 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 the Lord, as the Lord 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 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 mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon. 17And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah. (2 Kings 24:8‑17)
The next king in Jerusalem after the one who burned the roll of the writing of God’s words, was his son whose name was almost the same, Jehoiachin. This young man ruled but a few months and did only evil.
God had told Jeremiah to tell the king and people of Jerusalem that an army would come and take them away from their land, if they kept up the worship of idols and other wicked ways. He told them how helpless the idols were:
“One cutteth a tree out of the forest, ... with the ax. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go.”
Yet the foolish people were teaching their children to offer gifts to the helpless idols! Jeremiah asked them:
“Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven.” (an idol) Jer. 7:17,1817Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. (Jeremiah 7:17‑18) and 10:3-6.
You see all the family were helping to honor an idol, and had forgotten the Lord.
So God let an army from Babylon come to Jerusalem and the king and his officers surrendered to them, and with the king’s family and the skilled workmen, were taken away to the enemy’s land. Only the poor people were left in Judah, with another king over diem.
The soldiers also took treasures front the king’s palaces and from the temple, breaking up the gold covered articles to carry the gold away.
When the soldiers reached Babylon with their captives, the young king was put in prison and kept there many years. Perhaps he became sorry for his sinful ways, for at last, God gave him favor with a new king, who took him out of prison, gave him new clothes, good and a place of honor as long as he lived. But he never was in Jerusalem again, and his son was not a king. Yet God kept members of this family alive in the enemy’s city, and later sent them back to their land. And it was to ones from this family that God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus.
The young king’s name seems to have been changed, as was his father’s, for he was also called Jeconiah, and sometimes the first two letters were omitted. In the new Testament his name is spelled, Jechonias. It is thought his correct age when taken captive was eighteen years. 2 Kings 24:88Jehoiachin 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. (2 Kings 24:8). See Jeremiah 22:24-2724As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence; 25And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die. 27But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return. (Jeremiah 22:24‑27); Jeremiah 27:2020Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem; (Jeremiah 27:20); Matthew 1:12-1612And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. (Matthew 1:12‑16).
How long was he in prison? 2 Kings 25:2727And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; (2 Kings 25:27). Read also Jer. 52:31-3431And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison, 32And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, 33And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. 34And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life. (Jeremiah 52:31‑34).
ML 10/15/1939