Babylon Controls Jehoiakim
Nebuchadnezzar II attacked Judah at least three times,...
Nebuchadnezzar II attacked Judah at least three times, in 605 BC, 597 BC, and 586 BC.
He took treasures from Jerusalem and captured people to bring to Babylon (see 2 Kings 24:1, 10–17; 25:1–21).
1During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded. So Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, until he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
2And the LORD sent Chaldean,† Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets. 3Surely this happened to Judah at the LORD’s command, to remove them from His presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all that he had done, 4and also for the innocent blood he had shed. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was unwilling to forgive.
5As for the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah
6And Jehoiakim rested with his fathers, and his son Jehoiachin reigned in his place.
7Now the king of Egypt did not march out of his land again, because the king of Babylon had taken all his territory, from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.
8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. 9And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father had done.
The Captivity of Jerusalem
Jehoiachin gave up when Nebuchadnezzar's powerful army approached....
Jehoiachin gave up when Nebuchadnezzar's powerful army approached. See study note on 2 Chronicles 36:9–10.
Nebuchadnezzar's eighth year as king was 597 BC.
Jehoiachin gave up when Nebuchadnezzar's powerful army approached. See study note on 2 Chronicles 36:9–10.
Nebuchadnezzar's eighth year as king was 597 BC.
10At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. 11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it. 12Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials all surrendered to the king of Babylon.
So in the eighth year of his reign, the king of Babylon took him captive. 13As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar also carried off all the treasures from the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he cut into pieces all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD.
Along with Jehoiachin, the prophet Ezekiel was also...
Along with Jehoiachin, the prophet Ezekiel was also taken into captivity (Ezekiel 1:1). The book of Ezekiel dates events in his life based on the years since Jehoiachin's capture.
The 10,000 people taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar likely included:
7,000 troops,
1,000 craftsmen and artisans, and
several administrative officials and leading citizens of Jerusalem.
The number 10,000 is probably an estimate (see also Jeremiah 52:28).
Along with Jehoiachin, the prophet Ezekiel was also taken into captivity (Ezekiel 1:1). The book of Ezekiel dates events in his life based on the years since Jehoiachin's capture.
The 10,000 people taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar likely included:
7,000 troops,
1,000 craftsmen and artisans, and
several administrative officials and leading citizens of Jerusalem.
The number 10,000 is probably an estimate (see also Jeremiah 52:28).
14He carried into exile all Jerusalem—all the commanders and mighty men of valor, all the craftsmen and metalsmiths—ten thousand captives in all. Only the poorest people of the land remained.
15Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, as well as the king’s mother, his wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16The king of Babylon also brought into exile to Babylon all seven thousand men of valor and a thousand craftsmen and metalsmiths—all strong and fit for battle.
17Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Zedekiah Reigns in Judah
(2 Chronicles 36:11–14; Jeremiah 52:1–3)
Zedekiah ruled Jerusalem for eleven years, from 597...
Zedekiah ruled Jerusalem for eleven years, from 597 to 586 BC, and was as evil as Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:36–37). The Lord was punishing Jerusalem and Judah for their sins (see 2 Kings 17:19; 20:16–17; 21:12–15; 22:15–20; 23:26–27).
Zedekiah also rebelled: His rebellion might have been part of an anti-Babylonian alliance led by Pharaoh Apries of Egypt. When Apries became king around 589 BC, he wanted to restore Egypt's former glory. Zedekiah seemed to trust him (compare Ezekiel 17:15–18). However, like earlier kings (2 Kings 17:4; 24:1–3), Zedekiah found that Egypt offered little help (compare 2 Kings 18:20–21; Jeremiah 37:3–10; Ezekiel 29:6–7).
Zedekiah ruled Jerusalem for eleven years, from 597 to 586 BC, and was as evil as Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:36–37). The Lord was punishing Jerusalem and Judah for their sins (see 2 Kings 17:19; 20:16–17; 21:12–15; 22:15–20; 23:26–27).
Zedekiah also rebelled: His rebellion might have been part of an anti-Babylonian alliance led by Pharaoh Apries of Egypt. When Apries became king around 589 BC, he wanted to restore Egypt's former glory. Zedekiah seemed to trust him (compare Ezekiel 17:15–18). However, like earlier kings (2 Kings 17:4; 24:1–3), Zedekiah found that Egypt offered little help (compare 2 Kings 18:20–21; Jeremiah 37:3–10; Ezekiel 29:6–7).
18Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.
19And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done. 20For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.