How old was Jehoiachin when he became king of Jerusalem? Eighteen (2 Kings 24:8) Eight (2 Chronicles 36:9)

Background

Jehoiachin, who appears in the annals of Judah’s final kings before the Babylonian exile, is central to a frequently noted question: How old was he at the beginning of his reign in Jerusalem? Two passages present different ages:

• “Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king…” (2 Kings 24:8).

• “Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king…” (2 Chronicles 36:9).

Because all Scripture, by its nature, is cohesive, this variation has long stimulated study and numerous solutions related to textual transmission, historical context, and co-regency practices.

Relevant Scriptural Passages

The two specific texts are brief but carry essential data for chronology:

• 2 Kings 24:8 – “Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king…”

• 2 Chronicles 36:9 – “Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king…”

Both verses indicate that Jehoiachin reigned on the throne in Jerusalem for only a few months before Nebuchadnezzar led him away to Babylon (2 Kings 24:12–16; 2 Chronicles 36:9–10). Understanding why 2 Kings cites eighteen and 2 Chronicles cites eight invites a closer look at the nature of ancient record-keeping and the scribal processes responsible for preserving these accounts.

Historical and Textual Considerations

1. Manuscript Evidence and Scribal Transmission

Ancient Hebrew handwriting often used numerical representations and certain letters that could be easily misread or miscopied over centuries. This possibility underpins many discussions in textual criticism, where minor differences in numeric data can appear in parallel histories (e.g., Kings versus Chronicles). Examination of the earliest extant Hebrew manuscripts, Samaritan Pentateuch parallels, the Dead Sea Scrolls (though primarily for Pentateuch/prophets), and the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) sometimes exposes patterns of consistent numbers or identifies where copying discrepancies might have arisen.

2. Co-Regency Theory

A traditional explanation suggests Jehoiachin may have been appointed as co-regent under his father, Jehoiakim, when he was eight, but did not officially “become king” in his own right until he was eighteen. This method of co-regency was commonly practiced by Judah’s monarchs to secure succession and provide smoother transitions of power. Thus, Chronicles could refer to the start of that co-regency (at age eight), and 2 Kings could record the age when he began ruling independently (at age eighteen).

3. Contextual Clues About His Reign

Second Kings consistently shows Jehoiachin as old enough to make decisions and be held accountable (2 Kings 24:9). If he had been eight at the time of sole reign, the practical management of the kingdom might have been implausible without a lengthy regency description, which the text does not provide. This further supports the conclusion that eighteen is the likely age of sole kingship.

4. Archaeological Corroboration

Babylonian cuneiform tablets discovered in the early 20th century (often called the “Babylonian Ration Tablets”) reference rations given to “Jehoiachin, king of Judah,” and his sons during the Babylonian captivity. While these documents do not confirm his age at accession, they do confirm his historical presence—and illustrate the reliability of the biblical record in preserving the memory of Jehoiachin as a legitimate monarch.

Possible Explanations

1. Numeric Scribal Variation

One view is that the discrepancy of “eight” vs. “eighteen” is simply a copyist slip in Chronicles. Such numerical transposition can occur in Hebrew through very subtle differences in letters or misreading original numerical symbols. Both Kingly accounts (Kings and Chronicles) sometimes exhibit variations in detail—like the difference in the number of charioteers or foot soldiers—but never in a way that dismantles the historical veracity of the overall message.

2. Co-Regency Recognition Theory

Another common resolution is that the Chronicler, when compiling the account, included the age at which Jehoiachin was recognized as co-regent alongside Jehoiakim. Once he took full reign, reflected in the account of 2 Kings, his age was eighteen. While not every scholar holds to this exact scenario, it is a credible resolution that harmonizes with the broader practice of joint rule in the ancient Near East.

Conclusion

When all evidence is considered, Jehoiachin was most plausibly eighteen years old at his sole accession. The notation of “eight” in 2 Chronicles can be reconciled through the possibility of a scribal slip or the reference to the start of his co-regency with his father. Either way, the wider historical data—from the flow of the monarchy to Babylonian records—validates the integrity of the biblical narrative. Variations in numeric details do not undercut the fundamental reliability of Scripture’s message, as the accounts are internally consistent in presenting Jehoiachin as Judah’s king during a tumultuous era culminating in exile.

Such textual details, preserved across centuries and supported by external witnesses, underscore the care taken in transmitting these accounts. They also highlight the overarching purpose of biblical history: unfolding the narrative that leads to the redemptive work of God and confirming the steadfast nature of Scripture from beginning to end.