2 Kings 24

2Ki 24:1-7.

JEHOIAKIM

PROCURES

HIS

OWN

RUIN.

1, 2. Nebuchadnezzar--the son of Nabopolassar, the founder of the

Chaldee monarchy. This invasion took place in the fourth year of

Jehoiakim's, and the first of Nebuchadnezzar's reign

(Jer 25:1;

compare

Jer 46:2).

The young king of Assyria being probably detained at home on account of

his father's demise, despatched, along with the Chaldean troops on his

border, an army composed of the tributary nations that were contiguous

to Judea, to chastise Jehoiakim's revolt from his yoke. But this

hostile band was only an instrument in executing the divine judgment

(2Ki 24:2)

denounced by the prophets against Judah for the sins of the people; and

hence, though marching by the orders of the Assyrian monarch, they are

described as sent by the Lord

(2Ki 24:3).

4. the Lord would not pardon--(see on

2Ki 23:26;

Jer 15:1).

6. Jehoiakim slept with his fathers--This phraseology can mean nothing

more than that he died; for he was not buried with his royal ancestors;

and whether he fell in battle, or his body was subjected to posthumous

insults, he was, according to the prediction

(Jer 22:19),

not honored with the rites of sepulture

(Jer 36:30).

Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead--The very brief reign of this

prince, which lasted only three months, during which he was a humble

vassal of the Assyrians, is scarcely deserving to be taken into

account, and therefore is in no way contradictory to the prophetic

menace denounced against his father

(Jer 36:30).

7. the king of Egypt--that is, Pharaoh-nechoh.

2Ki 24:8, 9.

JEHOIACHIN

SUCCEEDS

HIM.

8. Jehoiachin--that is, "God-appointed," contracted into Jeconiah and Coniah

(Jer 22:24).

eighteen years old when he began to reign--At the age of eight his

father took him into partnership in the government

(2Ch 36:9).

He began to reign alone at eighteen.

9. he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord--Untaught by

experience, and deaf to the prophetic warnings, he pursued the evil

courses which had brought so many disasters upon the royal family as

well as the people of Judah. This bad character is figuratively but

strongly depicted

(Eze 19:5-7).

2Ki 24:10-16.

JERUSALEM

TAKEN.

10-13. At that time--within three months after his accession to the

throne. It was the spring of the year

(2Ch 36:10);

so early did he indicate a feeling hostile to the interests of his

Assyrian liege lord, by forming a league with Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar

sent his generals to besiege Jerusalem, as Jeremiah had foretold

(Jer 22:28; 34:20),

and soon after he followed in person. Convinced of the hopelessness of

making any effectual resistance, Jehoiachin, going to the camp of the

besiegers, surrendered

(2Ki 24:12),

in the expectation, probably, of being allowed to retain his throne as

a vassal of the Assyrian empire. But Nebuchadnezzar's clemency towards

the kings of Judah was now exhausted, so that Jehoiachin was sent as a

captive to Babylon, according to Jeremiah's prediction

(Jer 22:24),

accompanied by the queen mother (the same who had held that dignity

under Jehoahaz)

(2Ki 23:31),

his generals, and officers. This happened in the eighth year of

Nebuchadnezzar's reign, computing from the time when he was associated

with his father in the government. Those that were left consisted

chiefly of the poorer sort of people and the unskilled workmen. The

palace and the temple were ransacked. The smaller golden vessels had

been taken on the first capture of Jerusalem and placed by

Nebuchadnezzar in the temple of his god as tokens of victory. They were

used by Belshazzar at his impious feast

[Da 5:2],

for the purpose of rewarding his army with these trophies, among which

were probably the golden candlesticks, the ark, &c. (compare

2Ch 36:7;

Da 1:2).

Now the gold plating was torn off all the larger temple furniture.

13-16. as the Lord had said--(compare

2Ki 20:17;

Isa 39:6;

Jer 15:13; 17:3).

The elite of the nation for rank, usefulness, and moral worth, all who

might be useful in Babylon or dangerous in Palestine, were carried off

to Babylon, to the number of ten thousand

(2Ki 24:14).

These are specified

(2Ki 24:15, 16),

warriors, seven thousand; craftsmen and smiths, one thousand; king's

wives, officers, and princes, also priests and prophets

(Jer 29:1;

Eze 1:1),

two thousand; equal to ten thousand captives in all.

2Ki 24:17-20.

ZEDEKIAH'S

EVIL

REIGN.

17-19. the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his father's brother, king

in his stead--Adhering to his former policy of maintaining a show of

monarchy, Nebuchadnezzar appointed the third and youngest son of Josiah

(1Ch 3:15),

full brother of Jehoahaz, and uncle of the captive Jehoiachin. But,

according to the custom of conquerors, who changed the names of the

great men they took captives in war, in token of their supremacy, he

gave him the new name of

Zedekiah--that is, "The righteous of God." This being a purely

Hebrew name, it seems that he allowed the puppet king to choose his own

name, which was confirmed. His heart towards God was the same as that

of Jehoiakim, impenitent and heedless of God's word.

20. through the anger of the Lord . . . he cast them out from his

presence--that is, in the course of God's righteous providence, his

policy as king would prove ruinous to his country.

Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon--instigated by

ambassadors from the neighboring states who came to congratulate him on

his ascension to the throne (compare

Jer 17:3,

with Jer 28:1),

and at the same time get him to join them in a common league to throw

off the Assyrian yoke. Though warned by Jeremiah against this step, the

infatuated and perjured

(Eze 17:13)

Zedekiah persisted in his revolt.