Topical Encyclopedia Jehoiakim, originally named Eliakim, was the son of Josiah, one of Judah's most righteous kings, and the brother of Jehoahaz. He ascended to the throne of Judah in 609 BC, following the deposition of his brother Jehoahaz by Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt. Pharaoh Necho changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim, meaning "Yahweh raises up," and imposed a heavy tribute on the land, which Jehoiakim exacted from the people through taxation (2 Kings 23:34-35).Wicked Reign Jehoiakim's reign, lasting eleven years, is marked by a return to the idolatrous practices that his father Josiah had worked diligently to eradicate. The Bible describes Jehoiakim as a king who "did evil in the sight of the LORD his God" (2 Kings 23:37). He is noted for his oppressive rule, characterized by injustice and the shedding of innocent blood. The prophet Jeremiah, a contemporary of Jehoiakim, frequently condemned the king's actions and prophesied the dire consequences of his disobedience to God. One of the most infamous acts of Jehoiakim was his blatant disregard for the word of God. In Jeremiah 36, the prophet is instructed by God to write down all the words spoken against Israel, Judah, and the nations. When the scroll was read to Jehoiakim, he cut it with a knife and threw it into the fire, showing utter contempt for divine revelation (Jeremiah 36:23). This act of defiance further solidified his reputation as a king who rejected God's authority. Jehoiakim's reign was also marked by political instability. Initially, he was a vassal of Egypt, but after the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, he became a vassal of Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. However, Jehoiakim rebelled against Babylonian control after three years, leading to a series of punitive raids by Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite forces (2 Kings 24:1-2). Final Overthrow The culmination of Jehoiakim's wicked reign came with his overthrow and the subsequent Babylonian invasion. In 598 BC, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. Although the exact circumstances of Jehoiakim's death are not detailed in the Bible, it is suggested that he died during the siege, possibly assassinated or executed, as prophesied by Jeremiah: "He will be buried like a donkey, dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem" (Jeremiah 22:19). Jehoiakim's son, Jehoiachin, succeeded him but reigned for only three months before being taken captive to Babylon, along with many of the elite of Judah, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 24:8-12). Jehoiakim's reign serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the inevitable downfall that follows persistent disobedience and idolatry. Nave's Topical Index 2 Kings 23:34-37And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there. Nave's Topical Index 2 Kings 24:1-6 2 Chronicles 36:4-8 Jeremiah 22:13-19 Jeremiah 26:22,23 Jeremiah 36:1 Daniel 1:1,2 Library The Twelve Minor Prophets. The Greater Prophets. The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire The Sixth vision "On Earth" An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ... Resources When and how was Judah conquered by the Babylonians? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the Babylonian captivity/exile? | GotQuestions.org What is the significance of the Babylonian Empire in biblical history? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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