Jehoiakim

Jehoiakim, also known as Eliakim, was a king of Judah who reigned for eleven years before being succeeded by his son Jehoiachin.

Jehoiakim, also known as Eliakim, was a king of Judah who reigned for eleven years (609-598 BC). He was the second son of King Josiah and became king after his younger brother Jehoahaz was deposed by Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt (2Ki 23:34; 2Ch 36:4). Necho changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim and imposed a heavy tribute on Judah (2Ki 23:35).

During Jehoiakim's reign, Judah became a vassal state of Egypt and later Babylon (2Ki 24:1). Jehoiakim initially served Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon but later rebelled against him (2Ki 24:1). This rebellion led to the first Babylonian invasion of Judah, during which some of the temple treasures and members of the royal family and nobility were taken to Babylon (2Ch 36:6-7; Dan 1:1-2).

The prophet Jeremiah prophesied during Jehoiakim's reign, warning the king and the people of Judah about the impending Babylonian judgment (Jer.1.3; 25.1; 26.1). Jehoiakim opposed Jeremiah, burning the scroll containing the prophet's warnings (Jeremiah 36) and persecuting those who followed Jeremiah's message (Jer 26:20-23).

Jehoiakim died before the final Babylonian invasion and was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin (2Ki 24:6). The circumstances of his death are not clearly stated in the biblical text, but Jeremiah prophesied that he would be buried like a donkey, dragged and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem (Jer.22.18-19; 36.30).

He whom Jehovah has set up, the second son of Josiah, and eighteenth king of Judah, which he ruled over for eleven years (B.C. 610-599). His original name was Eliakim (q.v.).

On the death of his father his younger brother Jehoahaz (=Shallum, Jer. 22:11), who favoured the Chaldeans against the Egyptians, was made king by the people; but the king of Egypt, Pharaoh-necho, invaded the land and deposed Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:33, 34; Jer. 22:10-12), setting Eliakim on the throne in his stead, and changing his name to Jehoiakim.

After this the king of Egypt took no part in Jewish politics, having been defeated by the Chaldeans at Carchemish (2 Kings 24:7; Jer. 46:2). Palestine was now invaded and conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiakim was taken prisoner and carried captive to Babylon (2 Chr. 36:6, 7). It was at this time that Daniel also and his three companions were taken captive to Babylon (Dan. 1:1, 2).

Nebuchadnezzar reinstated Jehoiakim on his throne, but treated him as a vassal king. In the year after this, Jeremiah caused his prophecies to be read by Baruch in the court of the temple. Jehoiakim, hearing of this, had them also read in the royal palace before himself. The words displeased him, and taking the roll from the hands of Baruch he cut it in pieces and threw it into the fire (Jer. 36:23). During his disastrous reign there was a return to the old idolatry and corruption of the days of Manasseh.

After three years of subjection to Babylon, Jehoiakim withheld his tribute and threw off the yoke (2 Kings 24:1), hoping to make himself independent. Nebuchadnezzar sent bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, and Ammonites (2 Kings 24:2) to chastise his rebellious vassal. They cruelly harassed the whole country (comp. Jer. 49:1-6). The king came to a violent death, and his body having been thrown over the wall of Jerusalem, to convince the beseieging army that he was dead, after having been dragged away, was buried beyond the gates of Jerusalem “with the burial of an ass,” B.C. 599 (Jer. 22:18, 19; 36:30). Nebuchadnezzar placed his son Jehoiachin on the throne, wishing still to retain the kingdom of Judah as tributary to him.