Nebuchadnezzar appears here not as divine judgment's agent but as the unwitting executor of consequences for Jehoiakim's rebellion, reversing his typical role as God's sovereign instrument.
2 Kings 24
The End of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin's Exile
1In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.
2The LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, bands of the Syrians, bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the LORD’s word which he spoke by his servants the prophets.
3Surely at the commandment of the LORD this came on Judah, to remove them out of his sight for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did,
4and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD would not pardon.
5Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
6So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
7The king of Egypt didn’t come out of his land any more; for the king of Babylon had taken, from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates, all that belonged to the king of Egypt.
8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
9He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, according to all that his father had done.
10At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
11Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it,
12and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon—he, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers; and the king of Babylon captured him in the eighth year of his reign.
13He carried out from there all the treasures of the LORD’s house 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 LORD’s temple, as the LORD had said.
14He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. No one remained except the poorest people of the land.
15He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, with the king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officers, and the chief men of the land. He carried them into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
16All the men of might, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths one thousand, all of them strong and fit for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
17The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s father’s brother, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
18Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
19He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
20For through the anger of the LORD, this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
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Theme
This chapter chronicles the final collapse of the Kingdom of Judah under Babylonian dominance. Jehoiakim's rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar leads to his death and the brief reign of his son Jehoiachin, who surrenders to Babylon after only three months. The first major deportation occurs as Nebuchadnezzar carries away the royal family, nobility, craftsmen, and temple treasures to Babylon, leaving only the poorest inhabitants and installing Zedekiah as a puppet king.
Context
This chapter marks the beginning of the end for Judah, following the earlier Assyrian conquest of Israel and setting up the final destruction of Jerusalem in the next chapter.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Jehoiakim's Rebellion and Divine Judgment Jehoiakim rebels against Babylon, prompting God to send foreign armies against Judah as judgment for past sins, particularly those of Manasseh.
- 5-7 Jehoiakim's Death and Babylon's Dominance Jehoiakim dies and is succeeded by his son Jehoiachin, while Babylon's power extends throughout the former Egyptian sphere of influence.
- 8-12 Jehoiachin's Brief Reign and Surrender The eighteen-year-old king reigns only three months before surrendering to Nebuchadnezzar during the siege of Jerusalem.
- 13-16 The First Deportation to Babylon Nebuchadnezzar plunders the temple and palace treasures and deports the royal family, officials, and skilled workers, leaving only the poor.
- 17-20 Zedekiah Installed as Puppet King Nebuchadnezzar appoints Jehoiachin's uncle as king, renaming him Zedekiah, who continues the pattern of evil leadership.
The End of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin's Exile
24:1–24:20 narrative narration solemn
Jehoiakim rebels against Babylon and dies, succeeded by Jehoiachin who is captured by Nebuchadnezzar and taken into exile along with Jerusalem's treasures and leading citizens.
person_contrast
Nebuchadnezzar appears here not as divine judgment's agent but as the unwitting executor of consequences for Jehoiakim's rebellion, reversing his typical role as God's sovereign instrument.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
2 Kings 24:1 5 references
Lexicals 5
Daniel 1:1 Lexical
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged…
Jeremiah 27:20 Lexical
which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon didn’t take when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Jud…
Jeremiah 25:1 Lexical
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, ki…
Jeremiah 37:1 Lexical
Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon m…
Jeremiah 24:1 Lexical
The LORD showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs were set before the LORD’s temple, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Baby…
2 Kings 24:2 2 references
2 Kings 24:4 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Kings 21:16 Lexical
Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; in addition to h…
Jeremiah 22:3 Lexical
The LORD says: “Execute justice and righteousness, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no…
Jeremiah 7:6 Lexical
if you don’t oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, and don’t shed innocent blood in this place, and don’…
Isaiah 59:7 Lexical
Their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity. Desolation and d…
Deuteronomy 19:10 Lexical
This is so that innocent blood will not be shed in the middle of your land which the LORD your God gives you for an inhe…
2 Kings 24:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 36:8 Lexical
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they…
Jeremiah 45:1 Lexical
The message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mout…
Jeremiah 36:32 Lexical
Then Jeremiah took another scroll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the mouth…
1 Kings 15:7 Lexical
The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of J…
1 Kings 16:5 Lexical
Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of…
2 Kings 24:6 1 reference
2 Kings 24:7 1 reference
2 Kings 24:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 36:9 Lexical
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did tha…
2 Kings 25:27 Lexical
In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day…
2 Kings 23:31 Lexical
Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name…
Jeremiah 52:31 Lexical
In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the twenty-fifth day o…
2 Kings 22:1 Lexical
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was J…
2 Kings 24:11 2 references
2 Kings 24:12 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Chronicles 36:9 Lexical
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did tha…
2 Kings 25:27 Lexical
In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day…
2 Kings 22:1 Lexical
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was J…
2 Kings 24:13 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Chronicles 5:1 Lexical
Thus all the work that Solomon did for the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his fathe…
1 Kings 7:51 Lexical
Thus all the work that King Solomon did in the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things which David his…
2 Chronicles 12:9 Lexical
So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the LORD’s house and the treasures of…
1 Kings 14:26 Lexical
and he took away the treasures of the LORD’s house and the treasures of the king’s house. He even took away all of it, i…
2 Chronicles 32:27 Lexical
Hezekiah had exceedingly great riches and honor. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious…
2 Kings 24:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 24:1 Lexical
The LORD showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs were set before the LORD’s temple, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Baby…
Jeremiah 40:7 Lexical
Now when all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon…
Jeremiah 29:2 Lexical
(after Jeconiah the king, the queen mother, the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smit…
2 Chronicles 17:14 Lexical
This was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: From Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the capt…
1 Chronicles 28:1 Lexical
David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the captains of the companies who served the king…
2 Kings 24:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
Nehemiah 7:6 Lexical
These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebucha…
Esther 2:6 Lexical
who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom N…
Jeremiah 29:1 Lexical
Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the elders of the…
Jeremiah 29:4 Lexical
The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Jerus…
Ezra 2:1 Lexical
Now these are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Neb…
2 Kings 24:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Chronicles 7:11 Lexical
All these were sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers’ households, mighty men of valor, seventeen thou…
Jeremiah 24:1 Lexical
The LORD showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs were set before the LORD’s temple, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Baby…
1 Chronicles 7:40 Lexical
All these were the children of Asher, heads of the fathers’ houses, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes…
2 Chronicles 13:3 Lexical
Abijah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men; and Jeroboam set the bat…
Joshua 8:3 Lexical
So Joshua arose, with all the warriors, to go up to Ai. Joshua chose thirty thousand men, the mighty men of valor, and s…
2 Kings 24:17 3 references
Lexicals 3
Jeremiah 51:59 Lexical
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah…
2 Chronicles 36:10 Lexical
At the return of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable vessels of the LORD’s…
Jeremiah 37:1 Lexical
Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon m…
2 Kings 24:18 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 52:1 Lexical
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign. He reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Ha…
2 Kings 23:31 Lexical
Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name…
2 Chronicles 36:11 Lexical
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 27:1 Lexical
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name wa…
2 Kings 23:36 Lexical
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name…
2 Kings 24:20 1 reference
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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Lemma
Morphology
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Theological Significance
Translation Notes
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Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Exile
586-538 BCThe forced deportation of Judah's population to Babylon after Jerusalem's destruction. This pivotal event reshaped Jewish identity and theology, leading to the compilation of much of the Hebrew Bible.
Jehoiachin's capture begins the Babylonian exile as judgment for Judah's covenant violations.
The End of Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin's Exile