Why did Pharaoh Neco appoint Eliakim as king over Judah in 2 Chronicles 36:4? Setting the Stage • King Josiah died in 609 BC while resisting Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29). • Josiah’s fourth son, Jehoahaz, was quickly placed on Judah’s throne by popular acclaim (2 Kings 23:30). • Three months later, Neco returned from his northern campaign, seized Jehoahaz, and “made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim” (2 Chronicles 36:4). Why Jehoahaz Was Removed • Hostile stance toward Egypt – Jeremiah hints that Jehoahaz resisted foreign domination (Jeremiah 22:10–12). • Unwillingness (or inability) to pledge tribute – 2 Kings 23:33 says Neco “imposed on the land a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.” Jehoahaz evidently did not secure payment. • Political expedience – Neco needed a cooperative vassal while Babylon and Assyria battled for supremacy. Jehoahaz jeopardized Egyptian interests. Why Eliakim Was Pharaoh’s Choice • Eldest surviving son – As Josiah’s firstborn still living (1 Chronicles 3:15), Eliakim carried greater claim, making his rule appear legitimate to Judah’s leaders. • Proven Egyptian sympathies – Scripture implies he aligned readily with Neco, contrasting with Jehoahaz’s resistance (cf. 2 Kings 23:35). • Ability to raise immediate tribute – “Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh… he taxed the land… to exact the money demanded by Pharaoh Neco” (2 Kings 23:35). • Symbol of Egyptian authority – Renaming Eliakim to Jehoiakim signaled Pharaoh’s sovereignty (similar to Nebuchadnezzar renaming Zedekiah, 2 Kings 24:17). The Name Change and Tribute • Name change = ownership – A new name showed the king now ruled by Egypt’s pleasure (Genesis 41:45 offers a comparable example with Joseph). • Heavy tribute – 100 talents of silver ≈ 3.8 tons; 1 talent of gold ≈ 75 pounds. Judah’s economy would feel Egypt’s grip daily. Divine Perspective • Covenant warnings come to pass – “The LORD will bring you and the king you appoint to a nation unknown to you” (Deuteronomy 28:36). • Judgment for national sin – 2 Kings 23:26–27: “The LORD… was not willing to turn from His fierce anger.” • God still directs kings – Proverbs 21:1: “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD.” Egypt’s maneuver ultimately served God’s plan to chasten Judah and usher in Babylonian dominance. Key Takeaways • Earthly politics never override God’s sovereignty; He used Neco’s decision as discipline foretold by the prophets. • Compromise with foreign powers can spare a nation temporarily but cannot avert divine judgment if sin remains unaddressed. • The renaming of Eliakim to Jehoiakim reminds us that identity bestowed by the world carries obligations the believer must weigh carefully (cf. Acts 5:29). |
    |