1 בְּיָמָיוH3117 עָלָהH5927 נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּרH5019 מֶלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 וַיְהִיH1961 לוֹH0 יְהוֹיָקִיםH3079 עֶבֶדH5650 שָׁלֹשׁH7969 שָׁנִיםH8141 וַיָּשָׁבH7725 וַיִּמְרָדH4775 בּֽוֹH0
2 וַיְשַׁלַּחH7971 יְהוָהH3068 בּוֹH0 אֶתH853 גְּדוּדֵיH1416 כַשְׂדִּיםH3778 וְאֶתH853 גְּדוּדֵיH1416 אֲרָםH758 וְאֵתH853 גְּדוּדֵיH1416 מוֹאָבH4124 וְאֵתH853 גְּדוּדֵיH1416 בְנֵֽיH1121 עַמּוֹןH5983 וַיְשַׁלְּחֵםH7971 בִּֽיהוּדָהH3063 לְהַֽאֲבִידוֹH6 כִּדְבַרH1697 יְהוָהH3068 אֲשֶׁרH834 דִּבֶּרH1696 בְּיַדH3027 עֲבָדָיוH5650 הַנְּבִיאִֽיםH5030
3 אַךְH389 עַלH5921 פִּיH6310 יְהוָהH3068 הָֽיְתָהH1961 בִּֽיהוּדָהH3063 לְהָסִירH5493 מֵעַלH5921 פָּנָיוH6440 בְּחַטֹּאתH2403 מְנַשֶּׁהH4519 כְּכֹלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָֽׂהH6213
4 וְגַםH1571 דַּֽםH1818 הַנָּקִיH5355 אֲשֶׁרH834 שָׁפָךְH8210 וַיְמַלֵּאH4390 אֶתH853 יְרוּשָׁלִַםH3389 דָּםH1818 נָקִיH5355 וְלֹֽאH3808 אָבָהH14 יְהוָהH3068 לִסְלֹֽחַH5545
5 וְיֶתֶרH3499 דִּבְרֵיH1697 יְהוֹיָקִיםH3079 וְכָלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָׂהH6213 הֲלֹאH3808 הֵםH1992 כְּתוּבִיםH3789 עַלH5921 סֵפֶרH5612 דִּבְרֵיH1697 הַיָּמִיםH3117 לְמַלְכֵיH4428 יְהוּדָֽהH3063
6 וַיִּשְׁכַּבH7901 יְהוֹיָקִיםH3079 עִםH5973 אֲבֹתָיוH1 וַיִּמְלֹךְH4427 יְהוֹיָכִיןH3078 בְּנוֹH1121 תַּחְתָּֽיוH8478
7 וְלֹֽאH3808 הֹסִיףH3254 עוֹדH5750 מֶלֶךְH4428 מִצְרַיִםH4714 לָצֵאתH3318 מֵֽאַרְצוֹH776 כִּֽיH3588 לָקַחH3947 מֶלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 מִנַּחַלH5158 מִצְרַיִםH4714 עַדH5704 נְהַרH5104 פְּרָתH6578 כֹּלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 הָיְתָהH1961 לְמֶלֶךְH4428 מִצְרָֽיִםH4714
8 בֶּןH1121 שְׁמֹנֶהH8083 עֶשְׂרֵהH6240 שָׁנָהH8141 יְהוֹיָכִיןH3078 בְּמָלְכוֹH4427 וּשְׁלֹשָׁהH7969 חֳדָשִׁיםH2320 מָלַךְH4427 בִּירוּשָׁלִָםH3389 וְשֵׁםH8034 אִמּוֹH517 נְחֻשְׁתָּאH5179 בַתH1323 אֶלְנָתָןH494 מִירוּשָׁלִָֽםH3389
9 וַיַּעַשׂH6213 הָרַעH7451 בְּעֵינֵיH5869 יְהוָהH3068 כְּכֹלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָׂהH6213 אָבִֽיוH1
10 בָּעֵתH6256 הַהִיאH1931 עלהH5927 עָלוּH5927 עַבְדֵיH5650 נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּרH5019 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 יְרוּשָׁלִָםH3389 וַתָּבֹאH935 הָעִירH5892 בַּמָּצֽוֹרH4692
11 וַיָּבֹאH935 נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּרH5019 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 עַלH5921 הָעִירH5892 וַעֲבָדָיוH5650 צָרִיםH6696 עָלֶֽיהָH5921
12 וַיֵּצֵאH3318 יְהוֹיָכִיןH3078 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 יְהוּדָהH3063 עַלH5921 מֶלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 הוּאH1931 וְאִמּוֹH517 וַעֲבָדָיוH5650 וְשָׂרָיוH8269 וְסָֽרִיסָיוH5631 וַיִּקַּחH3947 אֹתוֹH853 מֶלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 בִּשְׁנַתH8141 שְׁמֹנֶהH8083 לְמָלְכֽוֹH4427
13 וַיּוֹצֵאH3318 מִשָּׁםH8033 אֶתH853 כָּלH3605 אוֹצְרוֹתH214 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 וְאֽוֹצְרוֹתH214 בֵּיתH1004 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 וַיְקַצֵּץH7112 אֶתH853 כָּלH3605 כְּלֵיH3627 הַזָּהָבH2091 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָׂהH6213 שְׁלֹמֹהH8010 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 בְּהֵיכַלH1964 יְהוָהH3068 כַּֽאֲשֶׁרH834 דִּבֶּרH1696 יְהוָֽהH3068
14 וְהִגְלָהH1540 אֶתH853 כָּלH3605 יְרוּשָׁלִַםH3389 וְֽאֶתH853 כָּלH3605 הַשָּׂרִיםH8269 וְאֵתH853 כָּלH3605 גִּבּוֹרֵיH1368 הַחַיִלH2428 עשרהH6235 עֲשֶׂרֶתH6235 אֲלָפִיםH505 גּוֹלֶהH1473 וְכָלH3605 הֶחָרָשׁH2796 וְהַמַּסְגֵּרH4525 לֹאH3808 נִשְׁאַרH7604 זוּלַתH2108 דַּלַּתH1803 עַםH5971 הָאָֽרֶץH776
15 וַיֶּגֶלH1540 אֶתH853 יְהוֹיָכִיןH3078 בָּבֶלָהH894 וְאֶתH853 אֵםH517 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 וְאֶתH853 נְשֵׁיH802 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 וְאֶתH853 סָרִיסָיוH5631 וְאֵתH853 אוליH193 אֵילֵיH193 הָאָרֶץH776 הוֹלִיךְH1980 גּוֹלָהH1473 מִירוּשָׁלִַםH3389 בָּבֶֽלָהH894
16 וְאֵתH853 כָּלH3605 אַנְשֵׁיH582 הַחַיִלH2428 שִׁבְעַתH7651 אֲלָפִיםH505 וְהֶחָרָשׁH2796 וְהַמַּסְגֵּרH4525 אֶלֶףH505 הַכֹּלH3605 גִּבּוֹרִיםH1368 עֹשֵׂיH6213 מִלְחָמָהH4421 וַיְבִיאֵםH935 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 גּוֹלָהH1473 בָּבֶֽלָהH894
17 וַיַּמְלֵךְH4427 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶלH894 אֶתH853 מַתַּנְיָהH4983 דֹדוֹH1730 תַּחְתָּיוH8478 וַיַּסֵּבH5437 אֶתH853 שְׁמוֹH8034 צִדְקִיָּֽהוּH6667
18 בֶּןH1121 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַחַתH259 שָׁנָהH8141 צִדְקִיָּהוּH6667 בְמָלְכוֹH4427 וְאַחַתH259 עֶשְׂרֵהH6240 שָׁנָהH8141 מָלַךְH4427 בִּירוּשָׁלִָםH3389 וְשֵׁםH8034 אִמּוֹH517 חמיטלH2537 חֲמוּטַלH2537 בַּֽתH1323 יִרְמְיָהוּH3414 מִלִּבְנָֽהH3841
19 וַיַּעַשׂH6213 הָרַעH7451 בְּעֵינֵיH5869 יְהוָהH3068 כְּכֹלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָׂהH6213 יְהוֹיָקִֽיםH3079
20 כִּיH3588 עַלH5921 אַףH639 יְהוָהH3068 הָיְתָהH1961 בִירוּשָׁלִַםH3389 וּבִיהוּדָהH3063 עַדH5704 הִשְׁלִכוֹH7993 אֹתָםH853 מֵעַלH5921 פָּנָיוH6440 וַיִּמְרֹדH4775 צִדְקִיָּהוּH6667 בְּמֶלֶךְH4428 בָּבֶֽלH894
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 We have here the first mention of a name which makes a great figure both in the histories and in the prophecies of the Old Testament; it is that of
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (
2Kgs 24:1), that head of gold. He was a potent prince, and one that was the terror of the mighty in the land of the living; and yet his name would not have been known in sacred writ if he had not been employed in the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the Jews.
I. He made Jehoiakim his tributary and kept him in subjection three years,
2Kgs 24:1. Nebuchadnezzar began his reign in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. In his eighth year he made him his prisoner, but restored him upon his promise of faithfulness to him. That promise he kept about three years, but then rebelled, probably in hopes of assistance from the king of Egypt. If Jehoiakim had served his God as he should have done, he would not have been servant to the king of Babylon; but God would thus make him know the difference between his service and
the service of the kings of the countries, 2Chr 12:8. If he had been content with his servitude, and true to his word, his condition would have been no worse; but, rebelling against the king of Babylon, he plunged himself into more trouble.
II. When he rebelled Nebuchadnezzar sent his forces against him to destroy his country, bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, Ammonites, who were all now in the service and pay of the king of Babylon (
2Kgs 24:2), and withal retained, and now showed, their ancient enmity to the Israel of God. Yet no mention is here made of their commission from the king of Babylon, but only of that from the King of kings:
The Lord sent against him all these bands; and again (
2Kgs 24:3),
Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah, else the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar could not have brought it. Many are serving God's purposes who are not aware of it. Two things God intended in suffering Judah to be thus harassed: - 1. The punishment of the sins of Manasseh, which God now visited upon
the third and fourth generation. So long he waited before he visited them, to see if the nation would repent; but they continued impenitent, notwithstanding Josiah's endeavours to reform them, and ready to relapse, upon the first turn, into their former idolatries. Now that the old bond was put in suit they were called up upon the former judgment; that was revived which God had
laid up in store, and
sealed among his treasures (
Deut 32:34;
Job 14:17), and in remembrance of that he removed Judah out of his sight, and let the world know that
time will not wear out the guilt of sin and that reprieves are not pardons. All that Manasseh did was called to mind, but especially the
innocent blood that he shed, much of which, we may suppose, was the blood of God's witnesses and worshippers,
which the Lord would not pardon. Is there then any unpardonable sin but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? This is meant of the remitting of the temporal punishment. Though Manasseh repented, and we have reason to think even the persecutions and murders he was guilty of were pardoned, so that he was delivered from the wrath to come; yet, as they were national sins, they lay still charged upon the land, crying for national judgments. Perhaps some were now living who were aiding and abetting; and the present king was guilty of innocent blood, as appears
Jer 22:17. See what a provoking sin murder is, how loud it cries, and how long. See what need nations have to lament the sins of their fathers, lest they smart for them. God intended hereby the accomplishment of the prophecies; it was
according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servants the prophets. Rather shall Judah be
removed out of his sight, nay, rather shall
heaven and earth pass away, than any word of God fall to the ground. Threatenings will be fulfilled as certainly as promises, if the sinner's repentance prevent not.
III. The king of Egypt was likewise subdued by the king of Babylon, and a great part of his country taken from him,
2Kgs 24:7. It was but lately that he had oppressed Israel,
2Kgs 23:33. Now he is himself brought down and disabled to attempt any thing for the recovery of his losses or the assistance of his allies. He dares not
come any more out of his land. Afterwards he attempted to give Zedekiah some relief, but was obliged to retire,
Jer 37:7.
IV. Jehoiakim, seeing his country laid waste and himself ready to fall into the enemy's hand, as it should seem, died of a broken heart, in the midst of his days (
2Kgs 24:6). So
Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; but it is not said that he was
buried with them, for no doubt the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled, that he should not be lamented, as his father was, but
buried with the burial of an ass (
Jer 22:18,
Jer 22:19), and his dead body cast out,
Jer 36:30.
8 This should have been the history of king Jehoiachin's
reign, but, alas! it is only the history of king Jehoiachin's
captivity, as it is called,
Ezek 1:2. He came to the crown, not to have the honour of wearing it, but the shame of losing it.
Ideo tantum venerat, ut exiret -
He came in only to go out. I. His reign was short and inconsiderable. He reigned but three months, and then was removed and carried captive to Babylon, as his father, it is likely, would have been if he had lived but so much longer. What an unhappy young prince was this, that was thrust into a falling house, a sinking throne! What an unnatural father had he, who begat him to suffer for him, and by his own sin and folly had left himself nothing to bequeath to his son but his own miseries! Yet this young prince reigned long enough to show that he justly smarted for his fathers' sins, for he trod in their steps (
2Kgs 24:9):
He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as they had done; he did nothing to cut off the entail of the curse, to discharge the incumbrances of his crown, and therefore (
transit cum onere -
the incumbrance descends with the crown ) with his own iniquity that of his fathers shall come into the account.
II. The calamities that came upon him, and his family, and people, in the very beginning of his reign, were very grievous. 1. Jerusalem was besieged by the king of Babylon,
2Kgs 24:10,
2Kgs 24:11. He had sent his forces to ravage the country,
2Kgs 24:2. Now he came himself, and laid siege to the city. Now the word of God was fulfilled (
Deut 28:49, etc.),
The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, of fierce countenance, that shall first
eat of the fruit of thy land and then
besiege thee in all thy gates. 2. Jehoiachin immediately surrendered at discretion. As soon as he heard the king of Babylon had come in person against the city, his name having at this time become very formidable, he beat a parley and went out to him,
2Kgs 24:12. Had he made his peace with God, and taken the method that Hezekiah did in the like case, he needed not to have feared the king of Babylon, but might have held out with courage, honour, and success (one should have chased a thousand); but, wanting the faith and piety of an Israelite, he had not the resolution of a man, of a soldier, of a prince. He and his royal family, his mother and wives, his servants and princes, delivered themselves up prisoners of war; this was the consequence of their being servants of sin. 3. Nebuchadnezzar rifled the treasuries both of the church and of the state, and carried away the silver and gold of both,
2Kgs 24:13. Now the word of God by Isaiah was fulfilled (
2Kgs 20:17),
All that is in thy house shall be carried to Babylon. Even the vessels of the temple which Solomon had made, and laid up in store to be used as the old ones were worn out, he cut off from the temple, and began to cut them in pieces, but, upon second thoughts, reserved them for his own use, for we find Belshazzar drinking wine in them,
Dan 5:2,
Dan 5:3. 4. He carried away a great part of Jerusalem into captivity, to weaken it, that he might effectually secure to himself the dominion of it and prevent its revolt, and to enrich himself with the wealth or service of those he took away. There had been some carried away eight years before this, in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar and the third of Jehoiakim, among whom were Daniel and his fellows. See
Dan 1:1,
Dan 1:6. They had approved themselves so well that this politic prince coveted more of them. Now he carried off, (1.) The young king himself and his family (
2Kgs 24:15), and we find (2Kgs:25:27-29) that for thirty-seven years he continued a close prisoner. (2.) All the great men, the princes and officers, whose riches were
kept for the owners thereof to their hurt (
Qoh 5:13), tempting the enemies to make a prey of them first. (3.) All the military men, the
mighty men of valour (
2Kgs 24:14),
the mighty of the land (
2Kgs 24:15),
the men of might, even all that were strong and apt for war, 2Kgs 24:16. These could not defend themselves, and the conqueror would not leave them to defend their country, but took them away, to be employed in his service. (4.) All the craftsmen and smiths who made weapons of war; in taking them he did, in effect, disarm the city, according to the Philistines' policy,
1Sam 13:19. In this captivity Ezekiel the prophet was carried away (
Ezek 1:1,
Ezek 1:2) and Mordecai,
Esth 2:6. This Jehoiachin was also called
Jeconiah (
1Chr 3:16), and in contempt (
Jer 22:24, where his captivity is foretold)
Coniah. III. The successor whom the king of Babylon appointed in the room of Jehoiachin. God had written him childless (
Jer 22:30) and therefore his uncle was entrusted with the government. The king of Babylon made Mattaniah king, the son of Josiah; and to remind him, and let all the world know, that he was his creature, he changed his name and called him
Zedekiah, 2Kgs 24:17. God had sometimes charged it upon his people,
They have set up kings, but not by me (
Hos 8:4), and now, to punish them for that, the king of Babylon shall have the setting up of their kings. Those are justly deprived of their liberty that use it, and insist upon it, against God's authority. This Zedekiah was the last of the kings of Judah. The name which the king of Babylon gave him signifies
The justice of the Lord, and was a presage of the glorifying of God's justice in his ruin. 1. See how impious this Zedekiah was. Though the judgments of God upon his three immediate predecessors might have been a warning to him not to tread in their steps, yet
he did that which was evil, like all the rest,
2Kgs 24:19. 2. See how impolitic he was. As his predecessor lost his courage, so he his wisdom, with his religion, for he
rebelled against the king of Babylon (
2Kgs 24:20), whose tributary he was, and so provoked him whom he was utterly unable to contend with, and who, if he had continued true to him, would have protected him. This was the most foolish thing he could do, and hastened the ruin of his kingdom. This came to pass
through the anger of the Lord, that he might cast them out from his presence. Note, When those that are entrusted with the counsels of a nation act unwisely, and against their true interest, we ought to take notice of the displeasure of God in it. It is for the sins of a people that God
removes the speech of the trusty and takes away the understanding of the aged, and
hides from their eyes the things that belong to the public
peace. Whom God will destroy he infatuates.