2 Kings Chapter 24
1 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.
2 The LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and 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.
3 Surely 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,
4 and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD would not pardon.
5 Now 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?
6 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
7 The 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.
8 Jehoiachin 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.
9 He did that which was evil in the LORD's sight, according to all that his father had done.
10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
11 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it,
12 and 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 captured him in the eighth year of his reign.
13 He 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.
14 He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. No one remained, except the poorest people of the land.
15 He 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.
16 All 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.
17 The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's father's brother, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
18 Zedekiah 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.
19 He did that which was evil in the LORD's sight, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
20 For 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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2 Kings Chapter 24 Guide
Jehoiakim became tributary to Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. The continuity of evil made impossible any respite, and it is solemnly written, "The Lord would not pardon."
In this connection the sins of Jehoiakim are attributed to Manasseh, that is to say that it was during the fifty-five years of Manasseh's reign that the fate of the nation was sealed. His successors continued in his evil way, and that with no trace of repentance or reformation.
Finally, Jehoiachin, who had succeeded to Jehoiakim, was carried away by Nebuchadnezzar, with all the men of war, and rulers who were likely to rebel. In place of Jehoiachin, Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah his representative and vassal. Zedekiah held this position eleven years, during which he continued his evil conduct. In process of time he rebelled against the king of Babylon.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Kings Chapter 24 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Jehoiakim subdued by Nebuchadnezzar. -- (1-7)
- Jehoiachim captive in Babylon. -- (8-20)
Verses 1-7
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)
Verses 8-20
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.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.