How long did he rule over Jerusalem? Three months (2 Kings 24:8) Three months and ten days (2 Chronicles 36:9)

Historical Context and Scriptural Passages

Jehoiachin’s brief reign in Jerusalem is recorded in two main Old Testament passages that appear to present different lengths of time:

• “Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.” (2 Kings 24:8)

• “Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the sight of the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 36:9)

These accounts describe the same period in Judah’s history (circa early 6th century BC) involving the Babylonian Empire’s rising dominance. Jewish sovereignty was severely threatened by Nebuchadnezzar II, culminating in Jehoiachin’s exile.

Measuring the Duration: Three Months vs. Three Months and Ten Days

Second Kings states three months, while Second Chronicles adds ten days. Common interpretive approaches hold that:

1. The chronicler in 2 Chronicles counted the additional ten days, providing a more specific record.

2. The writer in 2 Kings rounded the total duration to three months, a common scriptural practice aligning broad time references with round numbers.

The difference, therefore, is typically understood as a matter of precision versus abbreviation. The essential point remains that Jehoiachin’s rule was exceptionally short and ended with his surrender and exile to Babylon.

Archaeological and Historical Corroboration

Babylonian administrative records—commonly referred to as the Babylonian Ration Tablets—mention “Yaʾu-kīnu, king of the land of Judah,” receiving rations during his captivity. This extra-biblical evidence affirms that Jehoiachin was indeed a historical monarch of Judah, matching the Scriptural timeframe in which he was taken to Babylon.

In addition, the mention of a king of Judah in foreign records strengthens the overall reliability of the biblical narrative describing this tumultuous era. The historical veracity of the monarchy, the fall of Jerusalem, and the exile is reinforced by archaeological discoveries that align with the biblical account (e.g., the Babylonian Chronicles which detail Nebuchadnezzar’s campaigns).

Understanding the Apparent Discrepancy

Scripture is not rendered inconsistent by the variation in reporting three months versus three months and ten days. Instead, the references are complementary, presenting two levels of detail:

• 2 Kings 24:8 offers a concise summary of Jehoiachin’s short reign, highlighting that it spanned parts of approximately three calendar months.

• 2 Chronicles 36:9 adds nuance by specifying the number of days beyond the three-month mark, giving a precise measure of time.

This harmonization is similar to other biblical passages where one account rounds or abbreviates time (or genealogies), while another gives an expanded version. From a manuscript perspective, there is no evidence that these two texts originated from contradictory sources; ancient scribes preserved both accounts, demonstrating the careful retention of details.

The Broader Reliability of Scriptural Records

The retention of both references in the canon testifies to a consistent handling of historical material. Biblical compilers did not remove or adjust one passage to match the other. This points to a scrupulous approach, wherein the authors preserved distinct sources or perspectives while remaining faithful to actual events.

Beyond the Babylonian Ration Tablets, extensive manuscript evidence—from sources such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and later Hebrew manuscripts—consistently upholds the integrity of the Old Testament texts. Parallel confirmations of other biblical monarchs (for example, Hezekiah’s mention in the Sennacherib Prism) add further weight to the historicity of Scripture.

Conclusion

Jehoiachin’s rule lasted approximately three months, with 2 Chronicles 36:9 further clarifying it as three months and ten days. This short span reflects the political turmoil of Judah under Babylonian threat. Far from being contradictory, the variation between three months and three months and ten days demonstrates the natural combination of summary and specificity. Archaeological and historical testimony not only supports the existence and brief reign of Jehoiachin but also reinforces the broader reliability of the Old Testament Scriptures in preserving historical detail.