2Ch 36:4-8 | KingComments | STEP | In this chapter we first find the reign of three sons and a grandson of Josiah who are successively king of Judah. They all have double names: 1. Joahaz/Jehoahaz (or Shallum, ), son of Josiah, ; 2. Jehoiakim (or Eliakim), son of Josiah, ; 3. Jehoiachin (or Jeconiah or Coniah, ), son of Jehoiakim, ; 4. Zedekiah (or Mattaniah), son of Josiah, . The description of their reign is brief. It is as if the chronicler is in a hurry to come to the end, in order to point out a new perspective. During the reign of Zedekiah the destruction of Jerusalem takes place ( ). God’s patience with His people has ended. However, this is not the end of the book. In the last two verses the writer points to a new beginning. God allows through Cyrus the possibility that the Jews who were carried away into exile can return to Jerusalem ( ). After the death of Josiah the people take the initiative and choose a successor ( ). This is not the eldest son, Jehoiakim, but a younger son, Shallum, who takes the name Joahaz. He reigns for only three months ( ). He reigns that short period of time by the grace of the king of Egypt, who deposes him after three months ( ). Here we see the result of Josiah’s failure by interfering in a battle of the king of Egypt ( ). Josiah interfered with Egypt and was overwhelmed by it. The king of Egypt also imposes a heavy fine on the land that must be paid by all the people ( ). As a result, the whole population feels the yoke of domination. This must have been a huge difference with the favors they enjoyed under Josiah. Now the king of Egypt decides who becomes king ( ) and not the people of the land ( ). The power of the king of Egypt is also shown by the fact that he gives another name to Eliakim he made king (cf. ). It seems that Joahaz has caused the displeasure of the king of Egypt, because he is taken to Egypt. There he also died ( ).

‏ 2 Chronicles 36:4-8

Introduction

In this chapter we first find the reign of three sons and a grandson of Josiah who are successively king of Judah. They all have double names:

1. Joahaz/Jehoahaz (or Shallum, 1Chr 3:15-16), son of Josiah, 2Chr 36:1-4;

2. Jehoiakim (or Eliakim), son of Josiah, 2Chr 36:5-8;

3. Jehoiachin (or Jeconiah or Coniah, Jer 22:24 ; 28 ; Jer 24:1 ; Jer 37:1), son of Jehoiakim, 2Chr 36:9-10;

4. Zedekiah (or Mattaniah), son of Josiah, 2Chr 36:11-16.

The description of their reign is brief. It is as if the chronicler is in a hurry to come to the end, in order to point out a new perspective.

During the reign of Zedekiah the destruction of Jerusalem takes place (2Chr 36:17-21). God’s patience with His people has ended.

However, this is not the end of the book. In the last two verses the writer points to a new beginning. God allows through Cyrus the possibility that the Jews who were carried away into exile can return to Jerusalem (2Chr 36:22-23).

Joahaz King of Judah

After the death of Josiah the people take the initiative and choose a successor (2Chr 36:1). This is not the eldest son, Jehoiakim, but a younger son, Shallum, who takes the name Joahaz. He reigns for only three months (2Chr 36:2). He reigns that short period of time by the grace of the king of Egypt, who deposes him after three months (2Chr 36:3). Here we see the result of Josiah’s failure by interfering in a battle of the king of Egypt (2Chr 35:20-24). Josiah interfered with Egypt and was overwhelmed by it.

The king of Egypt also imposes a heavy fine on the land that must be paid by all the people (2Kgs 23:35). As a result, the whole population feels the yoke of domination. This must have been a huge difference with the favors they enjoyed under Josiah.

Now the king of Egypt decides who becomes king (2Chr 36:4) and not the people of the land (2Chr 36:1). The power of the king of Egypt is also shown by the fact that he gives another name to Eliakim he made king (cf. Dan 1:7). It seems that Joahaz has caused the displeasure of the king of Egypt, because he is taken to Egypt. There he also died (Jer 22:10-12).

Jehoiakim King of Judah

After Joahaz, Jehoiakim reigned eleven years (2Chr 36:5). The characteristic of his reign is that “he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God”. More information about this can be found in the book of Jeremiah. He is an arrogant, selfish man, who is completely indifferent to the LORD (Jer 36:21-31). He is a tyrant who abuses his power to oppress and extort. He has imposed enormous taxes on the people to live a life of indulgence (Jer 22:13-17).

After Egypt, Babylon comes to power in Jerusalem (2Chr 36:6). Nebuchadnezzar comes up against Jehoiakim to take him, bound with bronze chains, to Babylon. It is not clear whether Jehoiakim has arrived there. It is assumed that he was allowed to stay in Jerusalem because he swore allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar. What happens is that with this arrival of Nebuchadnezzar the first carrying away to Babylon takes place (2Kgs 24:14; Jer 52:3-16; Dan 1:1-3). This is the beginning of the seventy-year exile of Judah (Jer 29:10), which lasted from 606-536 BC.

The king of Babylon also takes some articles from the house of the LORD to Babylon (2Chr 36:7). There he places them in “his temple”. In this way he mixes the things of God with his idols. He does not bring his heathen gods into the house of God, but takes the objects of God’s house to his own heathen idolatry. This is an illustration of what has taken place in the history of professing Christianity through the ages. First, heathen practices are brought into the church. Later, things from God’s Word are introduced into the idolatrous practices of a worldly religion, which we see especially in roman-catholicism.

The remarks with which the chronicler concludes his description of Jehoiakim’s life are not flattering. He doesn’t have a good word left for him. He summarizes the life of this king with the words “the abominations which he did” (2Chr 36:8). He doesn’t say a word about his death and burial. Jeremiah tells us that this man was given a burial of a donkey, that he was thrown away as a cadaver (Jer 22:19 ; Jer 36:30).