Jer 22:10-12 | KingComments | STEP | In the following verses Jeremiah pronounces judgment on every son or grandson of Josiah who has reigned. Shallum (or Jehoahaz) is the first son on whom he pronounces judgment ( ); he has reigned only a few months. This is followed by the judgment on Eliakim (or Jehoiakim) ( ), who was made king by Pharaoh and reigned for ten years. After Jehoiakim, his son Coniah (or Jehoiachin), a grandson of Josiah, becomes king; he is taken away to Babylon after only a few months. Finally, judgment follows on Josiah’s third son, Mattaniah or Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. Jeremiah says to the people as a whole, that they need not weep over a dead person or lament him ( ). Here we can think of the death of the God-fearing king Josiah, who was killed at Carchemish in 609 BC ( ; ; ). In any case, he is buried in the land, awaiting the coming of the Messiah. They had better lament over him who “went forth from his place”, which is Shallum. Shallum was taken away by Pharaoh Necho 18 years earlier to Egypt, from where he will not return to see his homeland ( ). Shallum is the fourth son of Josiah ( ). The people elected him king ( ; ). He is a full brother of Zedekiah. Their mother is Hamutal. The LORD puts great emphasis on the origin and position of Shallum ( ). He is the son of the God-fearing Josiah, but has no part in his God-fearing. He is also “the king of Judah”, which gives him great responsibility to rule over God’s people according to God’s laws. However, he does not heed God, but does “evil in the sight of the LORD” ( ). This makes his unfaithfulness to Him so great, even though he only reigned for three months, and this makes the judgment of the LORD so just. Shallum has departed from this place, fallen away from His privileges. He will not return to it, for the judgment on him is final. Once again the LORD emphasizes the finality of the judgment ( ). Shallum will die in the land of his exile and not see God’s land again. Possibly some may have hoped that this son of the God-fearing Josiah would return to deliver them, but such a hope is without foundation.

‏ Jeremiah 22:10-12

The Fate of Shallum (Jehoahaz)

In the following verses Jeremiah pronounces judgment on every son or grandson of Josiah who has reigned. Shallum (or Jehoahaz) is the first son on whom he pronounces judgment (Jer 22:10-12); he has reigned only a few months. This is followed by the judgment on Eliakim (or Jehoiakim) (Jer 22:13-19), who was made king by Pharaoh and reigned for ten years. After Jehoiakim, his son Coniah (or Jehoiachin), a grandson of Josiah, becomes king; he is taken away to Babylon after only a few months. Finally, judgment follows on Josiah’s third son, Mattaniah or Zedekiah, the last king of Judah.

Jeremiah says to the people as a whole, that they need not weep over a dead person or lament him (Jer 22:10). Here we can think of the death of the God-fearing king Josiah, who was killed at Carchemish in 609 BC (2Kgs 23:29-30; 2Chr 35:25; Zec 12:11). In any case, he is buried in the land, awaiting the coming of the Messiah.

They had better lament over him who “went forth from his place”, which is Shallum. Shallum was taken away by Pharaoh Necho 18 years earlier to Egypt, from where he will not return to see his homeland (2Kgs 23:31-34). Shallum is the fourth son of Josiah (1Chr 3:15). The people elected him king (2Kgs 23:30b; 2Chr 36:1). He is a full brother of Zedekiah. Their mother is Hamutal.

The LORD puts great emphasis on the origin and position of Shallum (Jer 22:11). He is the son of the God-fearing Josiah, but has no part in his God-fearing. He is also “the king of Judah”, which gives him great responsibility to rule over God’s people according to God’s laws. However, he does not heed God, but does “evil in the sight of the LORD” (2Kgs 23:32). This makes his unfaithfulness to Him so great, even though he only reigned for three months, and this makes the judgment of the LORD so just. Shallum has departed from this place, fallen away from His privileges. He will not return to it, for the judgment on him is final.

Once again the LORD emphasizes the finality of the judgment (Jer 22:12). Shallum will die in the land of his exile and not see God’s land again. Possibly some may have hoped that this son of the God-fearing Josiah would return to deliver them, but such a hope is without foundation.