Jehoiakim, originally named Eliakim, was the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and reigned as king from approximately 609 to 598 BC. His reign is noted for its political turmoil and spiritual decline, as recorded in the biblical books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Jeremiah.

Background and Ascension to the Throne

Jehoiakim was appointed king by Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt after the death of his father, Josiah, and the brief reign of his brother, Jehoahaz. Pharaoh Necho changed his name from Eliakim to Jehoiakim, signifying his authority over the new king. This political maneuvering is documented in 2 Kings 23:34: "Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim."

Reign and Political Alliances

Jehoiakim's reign was marked by shifting allegiances between the major powers of the time, Egypt and Babylon. Initially, he was a vassal of Egypt, paying heavy tribute to Pharaoh Necho. However, after the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, where Babylon defeated Egypt, Jehoiakim became a vassal of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon. This is noted in 2 Kings 24:1: "During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years."

Jehoiakim's loyalty to Babylon was short-lived, as he later rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, leading to further conflict and eventual subjugation of Judah by Babylonian forces.

Religious and Moral Decline

Jehoiakim's reign is characterized by a departure from the religious reforms of his father, Josiah. He is often criticized for his idolatry and injustice. The prophet Jeremiah, a contemporary of Jehoiakim, frequently condemned the king's actions and prophesied the impending judgment on Judah. Jeremiah 22:17 highlights Jehoiakim's injustices: "But your eyes and heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on oppression and extortion."

Jehoiakim's disregard for prophetic warnings is further illustrated in Jeremiah 36, where he famously cut and burned a scroll containing Jeremiah's prophecies, showing his contempt for God's word.

Death and Legacy

Jehoiakim's reign ended in turmoil. According to 2 Kings 24:6, "Jehoiakim rested with his fathers, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place." His death is shrouded in mystery, with some sources suggesting he died in disgrace, possibly assassinated or captured by Babylonian forces. Jeremiah 22:18-19 prophesies a dishonorable end for Jehoiakim, stating that he would not be mourned and would have the burial of a donkey.

Jehoiakim's legacy is one of failure to heed divine warnings and a kingdom left vulnerable to foreign domination. His reign set the stage for the eventual fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, a pivotal moment in the history of Judah.

Approaching Doom
... National Retribution Chapter 35 Approaching Doom. The first years of Jehoiakim's
reign were filled with warnings of approaching doom. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 35 approaching doom.htm

Jeremiah
... the successor of Josiah, deposed by the Egyptians and exiled after a three months'
reign, xxii.10-12, was succeeded by the rapacious Jehoiakim (608-597), who ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/jeremiah.htm

Appendix I.
... assigning Jeremiah's call to 627, relegates the two visions and all the Oracles
in the first part of the book to the years following Jehoiakim's accession to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/appendix i.htm

Chronology.
... i.43, exactly the same as that of his father and predecessor Jehoiakim in I. Esd. ...
Jehoiakim in Hastings' DB as to making the date in Daniel 1:1 a little later. ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/chronology 2.htm

'As Sodom'
... mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.2. And he did that
which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/as sodom.htm

The Writing of an Ancient Book
... When Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, had been ruler for four years, this message came
to Jeremiah from Jehovah, "Take a parchment roll and write on it all the ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the writing of an ancient.htm

How Josiah Fought with Neco [King of Egypt. ] and was Wounded and ...
... And Died In A Little Time Afterward; As Also How Neco Carried Jehoahaz, Who Had
Been Made King Into Egypt And Delivered The Kingdom To Jehoiakim; And [Lastly ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how josiah fought.htm

How Nebuchadnezzar, when He had Conquered the King of Egypt Made ...
... CHAPTER 6. How Nebuchadnezzar, When He Had Conquered The King Of Egypt Made An
Expedition Against The Jews, And Slew Jehoiakim, And Made Jeholachin His Son King ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how nebuchadnezzar when.htm

Jeremiah's Roll Burned and Reproduced
... all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire,
and there were added besides unto them many like words.'"Jeremiah 36:32. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture h/jeremiahs roll burned and reproduced.htm

Chronology.
... Habakkuk, 1256b, says "not later than the sixth year of Jehoiakim"); and if Habakkuk
prophesied in his youth, our story is not an impossible one. ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/chronology 3.htm

Jehoiakim's (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Jehoiakim's (3 Occurrences). 2 Kings 24:1 In his
days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim...
/j/jehoiakim's.htm - 7k

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)
... invaded the land and deposed Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:33, 34; Jeremiah 22:10-12), setting
Eliakim on the throne in his stead, and changing his name to Jehoiakim. ...
/j/jehoiakim.htm - 33k

Jehoi'akim (34 Occurrences)
Jehoi'akim. Jehoiakim, Jehoi'akim. Jehoiakim's . Multi-Version Concordance
Jehoi'akim (34 Occurrences). 2 Kings 23:34 And Pharaoh ...
/j/jehoi'akim.htm - 16k

Jehoiachin (20 Occurrences)
... be steadfast," and "Coniah" in Jeremiah 22:24, 28; konyahu, "Yahweh has upheld him";
'Ioakeim): A king of Judah; son and successor of Jehoiakim; reigned three ...
/j/jehoiachin.htm - 19k

Jehoiarib (2 Occurrences)

/j/jehoiarib.htm - 8k

Frost (9 Occurrences)
... 31:40); "In the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost" (Jeremiah 36:30;
compare Jeremiah 22:19), a passage which suggests that Jehoiakim's corpse was ...
/f/frost.htm - 14k

Nebuchadrezzar (31 Occurrences)
... In the 4th year of Jehoiakim (or 3rd according to the Babylonian manner of reckoning
(Daniel 1:1)), he came up first against Jerusalem and carried away part of ...
/n/nebuchadrezzar.htm - 29k

Pedaiah (8 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Redemption of the Lord. (1.) The father of Zebudah, who
was the wife of Josiah and mother of king Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:36). ...
/p/pedaiah.htm - 11k

Hammelech (2 Occurrences)
... Some take this word as a common noun, "the king", and understand that Jerahmeel
was Jehoiakim's son. Probably, however, it is to be taken as a proper name. ...
/h/hammelech.htm - 7k

Nebuchadnezzar (90 Occurrences)
... Three years after this, Jehoiakim, who had reigned in Jerusalem as a Babylonian
vassal, rebelled against the oppressor, trusting to help from Egypt (2 Kings 24 ...
/n/nebuchadnezzar.htm - 57k

Who was King Jehoiakim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

When and how was Judah conquered by the Babylonians? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Jehoiachin in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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