Background and Reign:
Jehoiakim, originally named Eliakim, was the second son of King Josiah of Judah and Zebidah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah (2 Kings 23:36). He ascended to the throne of Judah after the brief reign of his younger brother, Jehoahaz, who was deposed by Pharaoh Neco of Egypt. Pharaoh Neco changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim and placed him on the throne as a vassal king, imposing a heavy tribute on the land (2 Kings 23:34-35).

Jehoiakim reigned for eleven years, from approximately 609 to 598 BC. His reign is noted for its political instability and spiritual decline. Unlike his father Josiah, who was known for his religious reforms and dedication to the LORD, Jehoiakim did evil in the sight of the LORD, following the practices of the nations around him (2 Kings 23:37).

Political Context:
Jehoiakim's reign was marked by the shifting power dynamics between Egypt and Babylon. Initially, he was a vassal to Egypt, but after the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, Babylon, under King Nebuchadnezzar, became the dominant power in the region. Jehoiakim switched allegiance to Babylon, becoming a vassal to Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1).

However, after three years, Jehoiakim rebelled against Babylonian control, which led to a series of raids by Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite forces (2 Kings 24:2). This rebellion was in line with the prophetic warnings given by Jeremiah, who had consistently urged submission to Babylon as God's instrument of judgment (Jeremiah 27:12-15).

Religious and Moral Failings:
Jehoiakim's reign was characterized by a disregard for the prophetic word and a return to idolatrous practices. He is infamously known for his reaction to the prophetic scroll of Jeremiah. When the scroll was read to him, Jehoiakim cut it with a knife and threw it into the fire, showing blatant contempt for God's message (Jeremiah 36:23).

The prophet Jeremiah and other contemporaries like Habakkuk and Uriah the prophet spoke against Jehoiakim's policies and moral failures. Jeremiah prophesied that Jehoiakim would have a disgraceful burial, "He will be buried like a donkey, dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem" (Jeremiah 22:19).

Death and Legacy:
Jehoiakim's death is shrouded in some mystery. The Bible does not provide explicit details about the circumstances of his death, but it is implied that he died during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. His son, Jehoiachin, succeeded him, but his reign lasted only three months before Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and took him captive to Babylon (2 Kings 24:6-12).

Jehoiakim's reign is often viewed as a period of significant decline for Judah, both spiritually and politically. His failure to heed prophetic warnings and his rebellion against Babylon set the stage for the eventual fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. His life serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of disobedience to God's word and the dangers of political alliances that disregard divine guidance.