2 Kings Chapter 24

¹ In Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up, and Jehoiakim served him for 3 years, then revolted. ² The LORD sent bands of Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites against him to destroy Judah like he’d warned by his prophets. ³ At the LORD’s command, that all came on Judah because of Manasseh’s sins ⁴ and the innocent blood he’d filled Jerusalem with. The LORD wouldn’t forgive. ⁵ The rest of the acts of Jehoiakim are recorded in The Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. ⁶ He died and his son Jehoiachin became king. ⁷ The king of Egypt didn’t come out of his country again, because the king of Babylon took everything he had from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates River.                                                                     2 Kg 24:1-7

Jehoiachin Rules in Judah

⁸ Jehoiachin was 18 when he became king and ruled for 3 months in Jerusalem. His mother was Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem. ⁹ He did evil like his father.

¹⁰ At that time, the officers of Nebuchadnezzar came up to Jerusalem and laid siege to it. ¹¹ He came while they were besieging it. ¹² Jehoiachin, his mother, advisors, commanders, and officials went out to him. The king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of his reign. ¹³ He carried the treasures out of the LORD’s Temple and the king’s palace, and cut up the gold articles Solomon had made in the Temple—like the LORD said. ¹⁴ He led into exile Jerusalem, the commanders, trained soldiers (10,000 captives), craftsmen, and smiths. Only the poorest people remained. ¹⁵ He led Jehoiachin to Babylon along with his mother, his wives, officials, leading men of the country, ¹⁶ the brave men (7,000), the craftsmen and smiths (1,000), the ones strong and fit for war. ¹⁷ He made his uncle Mattaniah king and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Zedekiah Rules in Judah

¹⁸ Zedekiah was 21 and ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. ¹⁹ He did evil like Jehoiakim. ²⁰ Because of the LORD’s anger, this happened in Jerusalem and Judah till he threw them out from his presence. Zedekiah revolted against the king of Babylon.                                                                                                         2 Kg 24:8-20