In Jeremiah 22:10–12, is there any historical record confirming the fate of Shallum (Jehoahaz) and corroborating he never returned, as the text claims?

Historical Context of Jeremiah 22:10–12

Jeremiah 22:10–12 addresses Shallum, also known as Jehoahaz, son of Josiah. The prophet declares that Shallum, who briefly ruled Judah following his father’s death, would be taken captive and never return to his homeland. Specifically, the text states, “For this is what the LORD says about Shallum son of Josiah king of Judah, who became king in place of his father Josiah, but has left this place: ‘He will never return here, but he will die in the place to which he was exiled; he will never see this land again’” (v. 11–12). According to this passage, Shallum was forcibly removed from Judah and would not come back to reign or set foot on his native soil.

Identification of Shallum (Jehoahaz)

The name “Shallum” in Jeremiah 22:11–12 refers to Jehoahaz, who was Josiah’s son and reigned in Judah for only three months (2 Kings 23:31). Second Chronicles also affirms that Jehoahaz was enthroned by “the people of the land” in Jerusalem after his father Josiah died at Megiddo (2 Chronicles 36:1). However, Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt soon deposed Jehoahaz, took him captive, and installed another son of Josiah, Eliakim (renamed Jehoiakim), as a vassal king (2 Chronicles 36:3–4; 2 Kings 23:34).

Scriptural Cross-References

• 2 Kings 23:31–34 narrates Jehoahaz’s short reign and subsequent exile by Pharaoh Necho.

• 2 Chronicles 36:1–4 reiterates these events, emphasizing that Jehoahaz, taken to Egypt, was placed under Pharaoh’s control.

These passages corroborate Jeremiah’s prophecy of exile, underscoring that Jehoahaz/Shallum never returned to reign alongside his people.

Evidence from Josephus’s Writings

Flavius Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, provides a historical narrative consistent with the biblical account. In his work “Antiquities of the Jews” (Book 10, Section 5), Josephus describes how Pharaoh Necho deposed Jehoahaz and carried him away to Egypt, confirming that Jehoahaz’s rule was short-lived and ended in captivity. Josephus does not record any event suggesting Jehoahaz returned to Jerusalem, paralleling Jeremiah’s prophecy that he would “never see this land again.”

Search for Egyptian or Other Archaeological Records

Because Jehoahaz’s captivity was under Pharaoh Necho, one might hope for Egyptian inscriptions or records referencing the dethroned Judean king. However, official Egyptian recordkeeping of conquered foreign rulers from this period is sparse, and no definitive Egyptian artifact or inscription directly naming Jehoahaz has surfaced to date. This lack of documentation is not unusual, as many minor vassal kings or captives are never mentioned explicitly on known stelae or temple inscriptions.

Nevertheless, there is also no contrary evidence suggesting he ever returned. The silence of additional extra-biblical documents regarding Jehoahaz’s fate is consistent with Jeremiah’s statement that he died in exile. Had there been a triumphant return or a significant event around his repatriation, it would more likely have appeared in later Judean or Egyptian records.

Consistency of the Biblical Text

In biblical manuscripts—supported by the weight of internal consistency and corroboration by passages in Kings and Chronicles—Jehoahaz’s exile is a firmly attested historical event. There is no scriptural or historical contradiction suggesting any possibility that he came back to Jerusalem or ended his life elsewhere. Early transcriptions of these accounts across manuscript traditions remain uniformly precise on this point, and modern critical examination of these manuscripts has not uncovered any textual variant questioning Jehoahaz’s final fate.

Fulfillment of Jeremiah’s Prophecy

Jeremiah 22:10–12 is one of several instances where prophetic declarations are later confirmed by historical developments recorded in Scripture itself. Chronologically, Jeremiah spoke during the tumultuous final years of the kingdom of Judah. The swift dethronement of Shallum, and his subsequent death in captivity, stands as a striking fulfillment:

• Jeremiah prophesied that Shallum would be deported (Jeremiah 22:11).

• 2 Kings 23 and 2 Chronicles 36 document the deportation to Egypt.

• Josephus recounts the same scenario.

No text or historical source suggests a return, which matches Jeremiah’s prediction that Shallum would never see his homeland again (22:12).

Conclusion

While direct ancient Egyptian records have not surfaced to give a detailed account of Jehoahaz’s captivity in Egypt, the combination of biblical testimony (2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Jeremiah), Jewish historical tradition (Josephus), and the absence of any contradictory historical data supports the conclusion that Shallum (Jehoahaz) never returned to Judah. All available evidence aligns with Jeremiah 22:10–12: he was taken into exile and died away from his homeland. Nothing in the archaeological or historical record challenges this biblical claim, and no record has ever indicated a contrary outcome.