2 Kings · Chapter 24

Verse 1. Nebuchadnezzar] This man, so famous in the writings of the prophets, was son of Nabopolassar. He was sent by his father against the rulers of several provinces that had revolted; and he took Carchemish, and all that belonged to the Egyptians, from the Euphrates to the Nile. Jehoiakim, who was tributary to Nechoh king of Egypt, he attacked and reduced; and obliged to become tributary to Babylon. At the end of three years he revolted; and then a mixed army, of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, was sent against him, who ravaged the country, and took three thousand and twenty-three prisoners, whom they brought to Babylon, Jeremiah 52:28.

Verse 1. In his days — That is, in Jehoiakim’s reign; and, according to Daniel 1:1, compared with Jeremiah 25:1, in the end of the third, or the beginning of the fourth year of it; came up Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon — Son of Nebopolassar, who, having subdued Assyria, soon made himself absolute monarch of all that part of the world. He probably left Babylon in the third year of Jehoiakim, and reduced him in his fourth year. According to Jeremiah 46:2, he smote the army of Pharaoh-nechoh near the river Euphrates. He then attacked Jehoiakim, as the friend and ally of Pharaoh, and having taken him prisoner, “put him in chains to carry him to Babylon.” But as Jehoiakim submitted, and agreed to become tributary to him, Nebuchadnezzar released him. He carried away, however, some of the gold and silver vessels of the temple, and some of the most considerable persons of the kingdom, among whom were Daniel and his companions, Daniel 1:1-7. And Jehoiakim became his servant three years — That is, was subject to him, and paid him tribute. Then he turned and rebelled against him — Being instigated so to do by the king of Egypt, who promised him his utmost assistance if he would shake off the yoke of the king of Babylon, and threatened he would declare him an enemy, and make war upon him, if he would not.

1. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon — For more than half a century after Merodach-baladan, who was contemporary with Hezekiah, and whom Sennacherib defeated and deposed, (see note on 2 Kings 20:12,) Babylonia continued to be an Assyrian fief. But some time during the reign of Josiah, Nabopolassar, the viceroy, revolted from Assyria, and formed an alliance with Cyaxares, the great Median monarch, whom he also assisted in the capture and destruction of Nineveh. By mutual agreement between the two confederates the whole valley of the Euphrates, together with Syria and Palestine, fell to Nabopolassar. He was succeeded by his son Nebuchadnezzar, (written also Nebuchadrezzar,) whom Rawlinson represents as “the great monarch of the Babylonian empire, which, lasting only eighty-eight years, was for nearly half that time under his sway. Its military glory is due chiefly to him; while the constructive energy, which constitutes its especial characteristic, belongs to it still more markedly through his character and genius. It is scarcely too much to say that, but for Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians would have had no place in history. At any rate, their actual place is owing almost entirely to this prince, who to the military talents of an able general added a grandeur of artistic conception, and a skill in construction, which place him on a par with the greatest builders of antiquity.”

There is a difficulty in the date of Nebuchadnezzar’s first invasion of Palestine. According to Daniel 1:1, it occurred in the third year of Jehoiakim; but, according to Jeremiah 25:1, the first year of Nebuchadnezzar synchronized with the fourth of Jehoiakim, and according to Jeremiah 46:2, the defeat of Pharaoh-necho at Carchemish occurred in the same year. We learn, also, from a fragment of Berosus, (in Josephus 10:11, 1,) that Nabopolassar, being himself too infirm to go to war, put his son Nebuchadnezzar in command of his army, and that the latter reduced the western provinces, which had been for some years subject to Egypt, and made them subject to Babylon before the death of his father. All this is, perhaps, best explained as follows: The Jewish writers, who knew nothing personally of Nabopolassar, would naturally consider and call Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and date his reign from the time he took command of the Babylonian army. Nebuchadnezzar probably started on his western campaign in the latter part of the third year of Jehoiakim, (Daniel 1:1,) and so his first year would synchronize with the greater part of the fourth of Jehoiakim. Jeremiah 25:1. It is possible, as some suppose, that he besieged Jerusalem, and received Jehoiakim’s submission, before the battle of Carchemish, (Jeremiah 46:2;) but this is hardly probable, since the Egyptian garrison at Carchemish would naturally have stood in his way, and would have first engaged his attention. Therefore it would seem that the date mentioned in Daniel 1:1 is either an error, or else to be understood as the time that Nebuchadnezzar began his expedition against Jerusalem. Jehoiakim became his servant — According to 2 Chronicles 36:6, Nebuchadnezzar “bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon.” But it is not said that he carried him to Babylon. Probably that was his intention when he bound him; but upon his submission and pledges of fidelity to his conqueror, the latter contented himself with taking off the vessels of the temple, and a number of captives, among whom were Daniel and his three distinguished companions, (Daniel 1:1-7,) while Jehoiakim was left on the throne at Jerusalem as a vassal king. At the end of three years he revolted, but the king of Babylon was at that time too busy in the eastern part of his empire to attend in person to this rebellion, and did not proceed against Jerusalem until after the death of Jehoiakim.

V. 2. Bands-For Nebuchadnezzar’s army was made up of several nations, who were willing to fight under the banner of such a puissant and victorious emperor.

Verse 2. According to the word of the Lord] See what Huldah predicted, 2 Kings 22:16, and see chap. 14, 15, and 16 of Jeremiah.

Verse 2. The Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldees — Including, probably, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, who were all now subject to the king of Babylon, and many of them engaged as soldiers in his service. Doubtless they were ordered by Nebuchadnezzar to attack and chastise Jehoiakim and the revolted Jews; yet no mention is here made of their commission from the king of Babylon, but only of that from the King of kings: the Lord sent them. And again, (verse 3,) Surely upon the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah; otherwise the order of Nebuchadnezzar could not have brought it. Many are serving God’s purposes, who are not aware of it.

2. The Lord sent — In this verse and the next, the writer emphasizes the thought that the afflictions of Judah were a direct judgment of Jehovah for the sins of the nation, especially those of Manasseh. Bands — Predatory troops; not an organized army. Chaldees — Natives of Babylonia, or Chaldea, whom, perhaps, Nebuchadnezzar had left to garrison certain frontier towns. They may have warred against Judah by command of Nebuchadnezzar, who, at the time, was unable to attend to the rebellious nation. Syrians… Moabites… children of Ammon — Neighbouring tribes on the north and west of Judah, who were all, doubtless, subject to Nebuchadnezzar, and, as Thenius suggests, were pleased with an opportunity of gratifying their ancient hatred against the Jewish people. To destroy it — They aimed to ruin Judah but it seems they were not able to take the city. By… the prophets — Chief among whom were Isaiah, Micah, Habakkuk, Huldah, and Jeremiah. Compare the marginal references.

V. 3. The sins-Properly and directly for their own sins, and occasionally for the sins of Manasseh, which had never been charged upon them, if they had not made them their own by their repetition of them.

Verses 3, 4. To remove them out of his sight for the sins of Manasseh — Properly and directly for their own sins, and remotely for the sins of Manasseh; who had so corrupted the whole body of the people, that they were become incurable, and Josiah’s reformation had no lasting influence to recover them: for, immediately upon his death, they relapsed into their old idolatry, and other vices. Manasseh’s personal sins, although, as he was their chief ruler, they were to be considered as national sins, and merited national punishment, yet would never have been charged on the nation, unless they had made them their own by their impenitency for them, and repetition of them. And for the innocent blood which he shed — Namely, of those prophets and saints, who either reproved, or would not comply with his idolatrous worship. Which the Lord would not pardon — That is, would not remit the temporal punishment of the land, though he did pardon it so as not to inflict eternal punishment upon his own person, for from that God undoubtedly exempted him upon his repentance. God is the righteous governor of the world, and the guardian of civil society, and in it order could not be preserved, if he did not interpose in his providence, and, on proper occasions, cause signal and national judgments to follow public and national crimes.

3. For the sins of Manasseh — The judgment came not merely for the actual sins of that one idolatrous king, but, as the whole course of the history shows, because the nation persisted in a class of sins of which those of Manasseh were most conspicuous representatives.

Verses 3, 4. To remove them out of his sight for the sins of Manasseh — Properly and directly for their own sins, and remotely for the sins of Manasseh; who had so corrupted the whole body of the people, that they were become incurable, and Josiah’s reformation had no lasting influence to recover them: for, immediately upon his death, they relapsed into their old idolatry, and other vices. Manasseh’s personal sins, although, as he was their chief ruler, they were to be considered as national sins, and merited national punishment, yet would never have been charged on the nation, unless they had made them their own by their impenitency for them, and repetition of them. And for the innocent blood which he shed — Namely, of those prophets and saints, who either reproved, or would not comply with his idolatrous worship. Which the Lord would not pardon — That is, would not remit the temporal punishment of the land, though he did pardon it so as not to inflict eternal punishment upon his own person, for from that God undoubtedly exempted him upon his repentance. God is the righteous governor of the world, and the guardian of civil society, and in it order could not be preserved, if he did not interpose in his providence, and, on proper occasions, cause signal and national judgments to follow public and national crimes.

V. 6. With his fathers-But it is not said, he was buried with them. No doubt the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled, that he should not be lamented as his father was, but buried with the burial of an ass.

Verse 6. Jehoiachin his son] As this man reigned only three months and was a mere vassal to the Babylonians, his reign is scarcely to be reckoned; and therefore Jeremiah says of Jehoiakim, He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David, Jeremiah 36:30, for at that time it belonged to the king of Babylon, and Jehoiachin was a mere viceroy or governor. Jehoiachin is called Jechonias in Matthew 1:11.

Verse 6. So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers — But it is not said he was buried with them. No doubt the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled, that he should not be lamented as his father was, but buried with the burial of an ass. Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead — Called also Jechoniah, 1 Chronicles 3:16, and in a way of contempt Coniah, Jeremiah 22:24.

6. Jehoiakim slept with his fathers — This expression does not necessarily imply that he had a peaceful death; and there is here no mention of his burial, as of other kings. Compare 2 Kings 23:30; 22:18, 26; 2 Chronicles 32:33. Jeremiah prophesied of this king, “He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” And again: “He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.” Jeremiah 22:19; 36:30. The historian does not record the literal fulfilment of these prophecies, but he says nothing inconsistent with such a fulfilment. As the statement that Judas “went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5) is consistent also with the fact that “falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out,” (Acts 1:18, note,) so also is Jehoiakim’s sleeping with his fathers consistent with the dishonouring of his body after death. Some think he was first buried, but that after the capture of Jerusalem his bones were disinterred and exposed to insult before the gate of the city; others, that he was slain in battle with the marauding bands mentioned in verse 2, or was seduced beyond the walls of the city, and there treacherously slain and denied the rites of burial. These are all conjectures, but either of them serves to show that there is no contradiction between the different passages which refer to Jehoiakim’s death.

V. 7. Came not-In this king’s days. He could not now come to protect the king of Judah, being scarce able to defend his own kingdom.

Verse 7. The king of Egypt came not again] He was so crushed by the Babylonians that he was obliged to confine himself within the limits of his own states, and could no more attempt any conquests. The text tells us how much he had lost by the Babylonians. See on 2 Kings 24:1.

Verse 7. The king of Egypt came not again out of his own land — In this king’s days. He could not now come to protect the king of Judah, being scarce able to defend his own kingdom.

7. The king of Egypt came not again — But a subsequent king named Hophra sent an army to raise the siege of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 37:5-11. “This remark is here inserted to show under what circumstances Jehoiakim succeeded his father, (verse 6,) and how it came that he reigned for so short a time. Verse 8. Necho had finally retired from Asia after such losses that he could not venture again to meet his victorious enemy, and, therefore, Judah could expect no more support from him. Much less could it attempt alone to resist the conqueror from whom it had revolted.” — Bahr. King of Babylon had taken — Compare Jeremiah 46:2. River of Egypt — The Wady el-Arish which formed the south-western boundary of the land of Promise. See on 1 Kings 8:65, and Joshua 13:3. JEHOIACHIN’S REIGN, AND THE FIRST GREAT DEPORTATION OF EXILES TO

V. 8. To reign-In his eighth year he began to reign with his father, who made him king with him as divers other kings of Israel and Judah had done in times of trouble; and in his eighteenth year he reigned alone.

Verse 8. Jehoiachin was eighteen years old] He is called Jeconiah, 1 Chronicles 3:16, and Coniah, Jeremiah 22:24. In 2 Chronicles 36:9, be is said to be only eight years of age, but this must be a mistake; for we find that, having reigned only three months, he was carried captive to Babylon, and there he had wives; and it is very improbable that a child between eight and nine years of age could have wives; and of such a tender age, it can scarcely be said that, as a king, he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. The place in Chronicles must be corrupted. That he was a grievous offender against God, we learn from Jeremiah 22:24, which the reader may consult; and in the man’s punishment, see his crimes.

Verse 8. Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign — In 2 Chronicles 36:9, it is said that he was eight years old when he began to reign. But as both the Syriac and Arabic versions in that place read eighteen, it seems most reasonable to believe that the transcriber of the book of Chronicles made a mistake, and wrote eight for eighteen. Poole, however, and many other commentators, suppose that both places are correct, and that in his eighth year he began to reign with his father, who made him king with him, as divers other kings of Israel and Judah had acted in times of trouble; and that in his eighteenth year he reigned alone. Jehoiachin’s succeeding his father in the throne of Judah may seem to disagree with the threat which the prophet denounces against his father, Jeremiah 36:30, He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David; but as Jehoiachin’s reign lasted little more than three months, during which time he was absolutely subject to the Chaldeans, a reign of so short continuance, and of so small authority, may well be looked upon as nothing: see Ezekiel 19:6, &c.

BABYLON, 8-17.

8. Three months — The same length of time that his uncle Jehoahaz had reigned. 2 Kings 23:21. Such an insignificant rule, and so associated as it was with Judah’s direst woe, made the prophet Jeremiah ignore it as any thing worthy to be called a sitting on the throne of David. Jeremiah 36:30. Jehoiachin was noted more for his being thirty-seven years in a Babylonian prison. 2 Kings 25:27. But though his reign at Jerusalem was so short and unfortunate, he was looked upon by the exiles as the last lawful successor to the throne of David; and notwithstanding the appointment of Zedekiah, Jehoiachin remained the representative king of Judah, and in the preservation of his life through thirty-seven years of imprisonment, and his elevation to kingly honours in the court of Babylon, (2 Kings 25:27,) the theocratic historian discerned the purpose of Jehovah to perpetuate the throne of David.

BABYLON, 8-17.

8. Three months — The same length of time that his uncle Jehoahaz had reigned. 2 Kings 23:21. Such an insignificant rule, and so associated as it was with Judah’s direst woe, made the prophet Jeremiah ignore it as any thing worthy to be called a sitting on the throne of David. Jeremiah 36:30. Jehoiachin was noted more for his being thirty-seven years in a Babylonian prison. 2 Kings 25:27. But though his reign at Jerusalem was so short and unfortunate, he was looked upon by the exiles as the last lawful successor to the throne of David; and notwithstanding the appointment of Zedekiah, Jehoiachin remained the representative king of Judah, and in the preservation of his life through thirty-seven years of imprisonment, and his elevation to kingly honours in the court of Babylon, (2 Kings 25:27,) the theocratic historian discerned the purpose of Jehovah to perpetuate the throne of David.

Verse 10. The servants of Nebuchadnezzar came up against Jerusalem — Either, 1st, Because the people had made Jehoiachin king without his consent: or, 2d, Because he had some notice, or at least a suspicion, of his intentions to rebel and join with Egypt against him, as Zedekiah his successor did. But whatever was the second and immediate cause of it, the chief cause was God’s commandment, or the direction of his providence, as was said verse 3.

10. Servants of Nebuchadnezzar — His generals, with forces sufficient to besiege the city. As the bands mentioned in verse 2 had failed to take Jerusalem, he now sends more imposing forces.

11. Nebuchadnezzar… came — After his generals had laid siege to the city, the king himself came to superintend the war in person.

V. 12. Went out-Yielded up himself and the city into his hands; and this by the counsel of Jeremiah, and to his own good. His reign-Of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign; as appears by comparing this with 2 Kings 25:8, and because Jehoiachin reigned not half a year. Had he made his peace with God, and taken the method that Hezekiah did in the like case, he needed not to have feared the king of Babylon, but might have held out with courage, honour and success. But wanting the faith and piety of an Israelite, he had not the resolution of a man.

Verse 12. Jehoiachin-went out] He saw that it was useless to attempt to defend himself any longer; and he therefore surrendered himself, hoping to obtain better terms.

Verse 12. Jehoiachin went out to the king of Babylon — Yielded up himself and the city into his hands; and this by the counsel of Jeremiah, and to his own good. In the eighth year of his reign — Of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, as appears by comparing this with 2 Kings 25:8; and because Jehoiachin reigned not half a year. Had he made his peace with God, and taken the method that Hezekiah did in the like case, he needed not to have feared the king of Babylon, but might have held out with courage, honour, and success. But, wanting the faith and piety of an Israelite, he had not the resolution of a man.

12. Jehoiachin… went out — To make a voluntary and complete surrender, probably hoping that such ready submission would secure for himself the favour of the Babylonian monarch, and the privilege granted by the same monarch to his father seven years before, (verse 1,) of continuing at Jerusalem as a vassal king. His mother… servants… princes… officers — It was a complete and unconditional surrender, involving all the chief persons of the kingdom of Judah in the fate of the king. The word rendered officers is ysyrs, eunuchs, showing that the kings of Jerusalem had at this time introduced this class of servants and officials into the Jewish court. They doubtless borrowed the custom from the eastern monarchs. Took him — As a captive. Eighth year of his reign — That is, of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. The first year of Nebuchadnezzar was the fourth of Jehoiakim, (Jeremiah 25:1,) and in that year he smote Carchemish (Jeremiah 46:2) and received Jehoiakim’s submission. Verse 1, note. Jehoiakim reigned seven years after that event, (chap. xxiii, 36,) so that the surrender of Jehoiachin, who had ruled three months, must have fallen in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

V. 13. Vessels-The most and choicest of them, by comparing this with 2 Kings 25:14,15. Solomon made-Though the city and temple had been rifled more than once both by the kings of Egypt and Israel, and by the wicked kings of Judah; yet these golden vessels were preserved from them, either by the case of the priests, who hid them; or by the clemency of the conquerors, or by the special providence of God, disposing their hearts to leave them. Or, if they had been taken away by any of these kings, they might afterwards be recovered good, at the cost of the kings of Judah.

Verse 13. He carried out thence all the treasures] It has been remarked that Nebuchadnezzar spoiled the temple three times.-1. He took away the greater part of those treasures when he took Jerusalem under Jehoiakim: and the vessels that he took then he placed in the temple of his god, Daniel 1:2. And these were the vessels which Belshazzar profaned, Daniel 5:2; and which Cyrus restored to Ezra, when he went up to Jerusalem, Ezra 1:2. It was at this time that he took Daniel and his companions. 2. He took the remaining part of those vessels, and broke them or cut them in pieces, when he came the second tine against Jerusalem under Jeconiah; as is mentioned here, 2 Kings 24:13. 3. He pillaged the temple, took away all the brass, the brazen pillars, brazen vessels, and vessels of gold and silver, which he found there when he besieged Jerusalem under Zedekiah, 2 Kings 25:13-17.

Verse 13. He carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the Lord — Nebuchadnezzar carried away the treasures and rich furniture of the temple at three different times: First, In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, when he first took Jerusalem, he carried a part of the vessels of the house of God into the land of Shinar, and put them in the house of his god, Daniel 1:2. These were the vessels which his son Belshazzar profaned, (Daniel 5:2,) and which Cyrus restored to the Jews, (Ezra 1:7,) to be set up in the temple again, when rebuilt: Secondly, In the reign of this Jehoiachin he took the city again, and cut in pieces a great part of the vessels of gold which Solomon had made, and which, through some means, had escaped his former plunder, and the plunder of the kings of Egypt and Israel, who had rifled the city and temple more than once; perhaps being preserved from them by the care of the priests, who hid them, or by the special providence of God, disposing their hearts to leave them. Or if these vessels had been taken away by any of these kings, they might afterward be recovered at the cost of the pious kings of Judah: Thirdly, In the eleventh year of Zedekiah he pillaged the temple once more, when he broke in pieces the pillars of brass, &c., and took away all the vessels of silver and gold that he could find, and carried them to Babylon, 2 Kings 25:13. It is something strange, that among all this inventory, no mention is made of the ark of the covenant, which, of all other things, was held most sacred. But it is very probable that it was burned, together with the temple, in the last desolation; for what some say of its being hidden by the Prophet Jeremiah in a certain cave in mount Nebo, is a mere fable. See Calmet’s Comment. and Dissert. on the Ark.

13. Carried out thence — From Jerusalem, which he had triumphantly entered after Jehoiachin’s surrender. Cut in pieces — xxqy, he cut off, or cut loose. The same word is used of Ahaz’s removal of the borders of the bases, (2 Kings 16:17,) and Hezekiah’s taking off the plating of the temple doors. 2 Kings 18:16. Vessels of gold — All that remained after the previous deportation, for in the time of Jehoiakim Nebuchadnezzar had taken a portion of the sacred vessels and deposited them in his temple at Babylon. 2 Chronicles 36:7; Daniel 1:2. These were probably the smaller vessels, such as bowls and basins, and were used by Belshazzar in his impious feast, (Daniel 5:3,) and restored by Cyrus when the Jews returned from exile; (Ezra 1:7-11;) but the vessels taken on this occasion seem to have been the heavier and more costly ones, since the word rendered cut in pieces implies that they were violently removed. The less costly and valuable vessels, together with the brazen ornaments of the temple, were not at this time disturbed, (Jeremiah 27:19.) but were seized and carried off eleven years afterwards, when the temple was destroyed. 2 Kings 25:13-17. As the Lord had said — By Jeremiah. Jeremiah 20:5.

V. 14. All-Not simply all, but the best and most considerable part, as the following words explain it. Captives-Which are more particularly reckoned up, ver. 16, where there are seven thousand mighty men, and a thousand smiths; and those mentioned ver. 15, make up the other two thousand. Craftsmen and smiths-Who might furnish them with new arms, and thereby give him fresh trouble.

Verse 14. He carried away all Jerusalem] That is, all the chief men, the nobles, and artificers. Among these there were of mighty men seven thousand; of craftsmen and smiths, one thousand.

Verse 14. He carried away all Jerusalem — That is, the inhabitants of Jerusalem; not simply all, but the best and most considerable part, as the following words explain and restrain it. Even ten thousand captives — Which are more particularly reckoned up verse 16, where there are seven thousand mighty men, and a thousand smiths; and those mentioned verse 15 make up the other two thousand. Craftsmen and smiths — Who might furnish them with new arms, and thereby give him fresh trouble.

14. Ten thousand captives — According to Jeremiah 52:28, they numbered three thousand and twenty-three. See note on 2 Kings 25:21. Numerically this must have been only a small part of the entire Jewish population, which in David’s time numbered five hundred thousand warriors, so that the poorest sort of the people, from whom rebellion and trouble were not expected, were more than the captives; but these latter were the might and flower of the nation, and might, therefore, well be called all Jerusalem. The mass of those left were people of the land, country people, dwelling outside of Jerusalem; and no doubt by reason of the numerous wars this part of the population had become greatly diminished since the time of David. The craftsmen and smiths would be especially serviceable to Nebuchadnezzar on the great works which he contemplated at his capital.

15. Carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon — Where he remained in prison for thirty-seven years, and then was liberated and honoured by Evil-merodach. 2 Kings 25:27-30.

BABYLON, 8-17.

8. Three months — The same length of time that his uncle Jehoahaz had reigned. 2 Kings 23:21. Such an insignificant rule, and so associated as it was with Judah’s direst woe, made the prophet Jeremiah ignore it as any thing worthy to be called a sitting on the throne of David. Jeremiah 36:30. Jehoiachin was noted more for his being thirty-seven years in a Babylonian prison. 2 Kings 25:27. But though his reign at Jerusalem was so short and unfortunate, he was looked upon by the exiles as the last lawful successor to the throne of David; and notwithstanding the appointment of Zedekiah, Jehoiachin remained the representative king of Judah, and in the preservation of his life through thirty-seven years of imprisonment, and his elevation to kingly honours in the court of Babylon, (2 Kings 25:27,) the theocratic historian discerned the purpose of Jehovah to perpetuate the throne of David.

V. 17. Zedekiah-That he might admonish him of (what this name signifies) the justice of God, which had so severely punished Jehoiakim for his rebellion; and would no less certainly overtake him, if he should be guilty of the same perfidiousness.

Verse 17. Made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead] He was the son of Josiah, and brother to Jehoiakim.

Changed his name to Zedekiah.] See Clarke’s note on “2 Kings 23:34”.

Verse 17. And changed his name to Zedekiah — That he might admonish him of (what his name signifies) the justice of God, which had so severely punished Jehoiakim for his rebellion; and would no less certainly overtake him, if he should be guilty of the same perfidiousness.

17. His father’s brother — He was half-brother to Jehoiakim, but own brother to Jehoahaz. Compare ver. 18 with 2 Kings 23:31, 36. Changed his name — See note on 2 Kings 23:34.

ZEDEKIAH’S REIGN, 18-25:57.

In the fifty-second chapter of Jeremiah we have a duplicate history so nearly identical with the close of this book of Kings from this verse, as to show that both narratives proceeded from one original source. Compare also Jeremiah 39:1-10. Of the authorship precisely the same thing is to be said as of the history of Hezekiah which is given in 2 Kings 18:13-20:21, and Isaiah 36-39. See note introductory to 2 Kings 18:13.

Verses 18, 19. He reigned eleven years — In the end of which he was carried captive, Jeremiah 1:3. He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord — Not regarding the reproofs, exhortations, or predictions of Jeremiah, but shutting him up in prison, Jeremiah 33:1, 2; 2 Chronicles 36:12. And his servants, and the people of the land, were as wicked and incorrigible as himself, Jeremiah 37:1, 2.

Verse 19. He did-evil] How astonishing is this! not one of them takes warning by the judgments of God, which fell on their sinful predecessors.

Verses 18, 19. He reigned eleven years — In the end of which he was carried captive, Jeremiah 1:3. He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord — Not regarding the reproofs, exhortations, or predictions of Jeremiah, but shutting him up in prison, Jeremiah 33:1, 2; 2 Chronicles 36:12. And his servants, and the people of the land, were as wicked and incorrigible as himself, Jeremiah 37:1, 2.

V. 20. Came to pass-Thus the peoples sins were the true cause why God gave them wicked kings, whom he suffered to do wickedly, that they might bring the long-deserved, and threatened punishments upon themselves and their people.

Verse 20. Zedekiah rebelled] This was in the eighth year of his reign: and he is strongly reproved for having violated the oath he took to the king of Babylon: see 2 Chronicles 36:13. This was the filling up of the measure of iniquity; and now the wrath of God descends upon this devoted king, city, and people, to the uttermost. See the catastrophe in the next chapter.

II KINGS

Verse 20. For through the anger of the Lord, &c. — God was so highly displeased with this wicked people, that he permitted Zedekiah to break his faith with Nebuchadnezzar, and to rebel against him, forgetting for what cause he changed his name. Unto this revolt, it is probable, he was persuaded by the ambassadors which the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Zidon, sent unto him, to solicit him to throw off the yoke of the king of Babylon, Jeremiah 27:2-4, &c.; which was the greater crime, because he had taken a solemn oath that he would be true to him, 2 Chronicles 36:13. The king of Egypt also, it is likely, promised him help, Ezekiel 17:15; and Hananiah, a false prophet, assured him God would, in two years time, break the yoke of the king of Babylon, and bring back all the vessels of the house of God, with Jehoiachin and all the captives: see Jeremiah 28:1-4. Jeremiah indeed proved that he made them trust in a lie, by predicting his death that very year, which accordingly came to pass, verses 15-17. But they still persisted in their vain hopes, there being other deceivers that prophesied falsely in God’s name, Jeremiah 29:8, 9: and they most of all deceived themselves with proud conceits that they were the true seed of Abraham, who had a right to that land, Ezekiel 33:24. The people’s sins, therefore, as Poole has justly observed, were the true cause why God gave them wicked kings, whom he suffered to act wickedly, that they might bring the long-deserved and threatened punishments upon themselves and their people.

20. Zedekiah rebelled — In what year is not said, but probably in the eighth year of his reign. Chronicles says, that the king of Babylon “had made him swear by God” — that is, had bound him by the most solemn oath — (compare Ezekiel 17:13,) to keep the peace by fidelity to the conqueror who had set him on the throne; and in Jeremiah 29:3, and 51:59, mention is made of two embassies of Zedekiah to Babylon, with one of which Zedekiah went in person. In Jeremiah 27:3, we find messengers from the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Zidon, consulting with Zedekiah, perhaps concerting a plan to throw off the Babylonian yoke; and in Ezekiel 17:15, Zedekiah is represented as “sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people.” Thus he seems to have laid broad plans for his rebellion, and in all this he was encouraged by the false prophets of his time. Jeremiah 28.