1.
In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
Nebuchadnezzar. Or, Nebuchadrezzar (Jeremiah 21:2 , Jeremiah 21:7 ; Jeremiah 22:25 ), or Nebuchadonosor in Josephus and Berosus, Septuagint, and Vulgate. This is the first occurrence of his name in Scripture.
came up. In the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 25:1 ; Jeremiah 46:2 ). Daniel says in third year (2 Kings 1:1 ); but he writes from Babylon, whence Nebuchadnezzar set out, and here (compare Jeremiah 46:2 ), it refers to the actual coming. The Babylonian Servitude begins here (496 to 426 BC).
2.
And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
bands = marauding bands.
children = sons.
by = through. Hebrew by the hand of "Hand" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for what is effected by it.
3.
Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;
commandment. Hebrew mouth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for what is spoken by it.
according to all. A special reading called Sevir ( App-34 ) reads "in all". So some codices.
4.
And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.
blood. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for murder, and the guilt of it.
5.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
the rest. See 2 Chronicles 36:6-8 .
are they not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.
6.
So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.
slept with his fathers. Only the fact referred to here. Not the manner of his death and burial, for which see Jeremiah 22:18 , Jeremiah 22:19 ; Jeremiah 36:29 , Jeremiah 36:30 It was as foretold. The expression "slept with his fathers" is used even of Ahab; and every king of Judah whose death is recorded is said also to have been buried, except Jehoiakim. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .
7.
And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
8.
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
Jehoiachin. Called also Coniah and Jeconiah (Jeremiah 22:24 ; Jeremiah 24:1 ).
eighteen. This was his age. In 2 Chronicles 36:9 he is said to be eight. See note there.
three months. Is put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for three months and ten days. Compare 2 Chronicles 36:9 .
9.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.
10.
At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
the servants Of. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint and Syriac, omit these words, and read "came up".
11.
And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) 2Kings 11-16 to emphasize every detail.
did besiege = were besieging.
12.
And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
officers: i.e. eunuchs or chamberlains.
the eighth year. Computed from the time that his father entrusted him with regal authority. This was the 4th year of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 25:1 , Compare 2Ki 32:1 ).
13.
And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
as = according as.
had said. Compare 2 Kings 20:17 .
14.
And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
carried away. This deportation was eleven years before that of Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:18 ). Mordecai was in this deportation. See note on 2 Chronicles 36:6 . The Captivity begun in 489.
craftsmen = artificers.
the People of the land. Compare 2 Kings 23:6 .
15.
And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
Jehoiachin to Babylon. Where he was captive for thirty-seven years.
the mighty of the land. Princes and potentates, priests and prophets (Jeremiah 29:1 ). Among them Ezekiel (2 Kings 1:12 ), Daniel, and Nehemiah.
16.
And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
men. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .
smiths = armourers.
17.
And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
changed his name. See note on 2 Kings 23:34 .
18.
Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
Hamutal. Therefore only half-brother to Jehoiakim, but full brother to Jehoahaz.
19.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
did that which was evil. See 2 Chronicles 36:12-16 . Jeremiah 24:8 ; Jeremiah 37:2 ; Jeremiah 38:2 , Jeremiah 38:5 .
20.
For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
rebelled. Though bound by oath (2 Chronicles 36:13 .Ezekiel 17:13; Ezekiel 17:13 ).