Jehoiakim (1 Chronicles 3:15–16; 2 Kings 23:33–37; 2 Kings 24:1–7; 2 Chronicles 36:3–8; Jeremiah 22:13–19; Jeremiah 26:20–24; Jeremiah 36:1–20; Jeremiah 36:21–26; Jeremiah 36:27–32; Jeremiah 37:1; Daniel 1:1–2)

Formerly Eliakim, Son of Josiah, King of Judah

Eliakim, son of Josiah, whom Pharaoh-necoh made king and renamed Jehoiakim; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem, slew the prophet Uriah, cut and burned the roll of Jeremiah's words, became Nebuchadnezzar's servant and then rebelled, and was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin.

After Josiah was slain at Megiddo and his son Jehoahaz was put in bonds, “Pharaoh-necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim” (2 Kings 23:34). He “was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem” (2 Kings 23:36), and the text says of him: “he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers had done” (2 Kings 23:37).

Much of his reign is told in the book of Jeremiah, whose words are dated to Jehoiakim's years. When the prophet Uriah prophesied against the city, “the king sought to put him to death” (Jeremiah 26:21); Uriah fled to Egypt, and the king's men fetched him back to Jehoiakim, “who slew him with the sword” (Jeremiah 26:23). When the roll of Jeremiah's words was read before him, “the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed” (Jeremiah 36:23). Jeremiah records the word of the LORD “concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah” (Jeremiah 22:18), and a second: “He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David” (Jeremiah 36:30).

Second Kings says that “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him” (2 Kings 24:1). Daniel says “the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand” (Daniel 1:2), and Chronicles says Nebuchadnezzar “bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon” (2 Chronicles 36:6). Of his end, Second Kings says only, “So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 24:6). Jeremiah 22:19 and 36:30 give the word of the LORD about his burial and his dead body; the text does not set these beside 2 Kings 24:6 or say how he died. No New Testament verse names him.

Weaknesses

• Did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD
• Slew the prophet Uriah with the sword
• Cut and burned the roll
• Not afraid at the words read to him
• Would not hear the princes' intercession
• Abominations which he did

Themes

• Kings under Egypt and Babylon
• The word of the LORD burned
• Prophets rejected
• Sentence pronounced on a king
• Fall of Judah

Made king and renamed by Pharaoh-necoh (2 Kings 23:33–37; 2 Chronicles 36:3–5)

Pharaoh-necoh makes Eliakim, Josiah's son, king in his father's room, changes his name to Jehoiakim, and takes Jehoahaz to Egypt; Jehoiakim taxes the land to pay the tribute.

Made king and renamed by Pharaoh-necoh

Pharaoh-necoh put Jehoahaz in bonds at Riblah and laid a tribute on the land (2 Kings 23:33). Then “Pharaoh-necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim: but he took Jehoahaz away; and he came to Egypt, and died there” (2 Kings 23:34). Chronicles says: “the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Neco took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt” (2 Chronicles 36:4).

“And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-necoh” (2 Kings 23:35).

“Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers had done” (2 Kings 23:36-37).

The word concerning Jehoiakim: a woe and a burial (Jeremiah 22:13–19)

Jeremiah 22 records a woe on the one who builds by unrighteousness, and the word of the LORD concerning Jehoiakim: no lament for him, and burial like that of a donkey.

The word concerning Jehoiakim: a woe and a burial

Jeremiah 22 records a woe: “Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not his hire; that saith, I will build me a wide house and spacious chambers” (Jeremiah 22:13-14). The words then turn to address the hearer directly: “Shalt thou reign, because thou strivest to excel in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? then it was well with him” (Jeremiah 22:15), and “thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it” (Jeremiah 22:17).

The king is named in verse 18, not in the verses before it: “Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! They shall not lament for him, saying Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!” (Jeremiah 22:18).

“He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 22:19).

Slays Uriah the prophet (Jeremiah 26:20–24)

Uriah prophesies against the city according to the words of Jeremiah; the king seeks to put him to death, has him fetched from Egypt, and slays him with the sword.

Slays Uriah the prophet

“And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of Jehovah, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah” (Jeremiah 26:20).

“And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty-men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt. And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him, into Egypt; and they fetched forth Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king, who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people” (Jeremiah 26:21-23).

“But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death” (Jeremiah 26:24).

The roll written and read at the fast (Jeremiah 36:1–20)

In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the word comes to Jeremiah to write all his words on a roll; in the fifth year, Baruch reads it in the house of the LORD on a fast-day, and the princes then tell the king.

Cuts and burns the roll (Jeremiah 36:21–26)

Jehudi reads the roll to the king in the winter-house; the king cuts it with the penknife and burns it all in the brazier, will not hear the intercession of Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah, and commands that Baruch and Jeremiah be taken, but the LORD hides them.

Cuts and burns the roll

“So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll … And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes that stood beside the king. Now the king was sitting in the winter-house in the ninth month: and there was a fire in the brazier burning before him” (Jeremiah 36:21-22).

“And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. And they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words” (Jeremiah 36:23-24).

“Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll; but he would not hear them. And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Jehovah hid them” (Jeremiah 36:25-26).

A second roll and the sentence on the king (Jeremiah 36:27–32)

After the burning, the LORD has Jeremiah write another roll with all the former words and pronounces that Jehoiakim shall have none to sit on David's throne and that his dead body shall be cast out.

A second roll and the sentence on the king

“Then the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll … Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned” (Jeremiah 36:27-28).

“Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David; and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost” (Jeremiah 36:29-30).

“And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity” (Jeremiah 36:31). Jeremiah “took … another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah 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).

Servant of Nebuchadnezzar, then rebel (2 Kings 24:1–4)

Nebuchadnezzar comes up and Jehoiakim becomes his servant three years, then turns and rebels; the LORD sends bands against Judah, and the text ties this to the sins of Manasseh.

Given into Nebuchadnezzar's hand (Daniel 1:1–2; 2 Chronicles 36:6–7)

In the third year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, and the Lord gives Jehoiakim into his hand with part of the vessels of the house of God; Chronicles says he was bound in fetters to be carried to Babylon.

His acts written; he slept with his fathers (2 Kings 24:5–6; 2 Chronicles 36:8)

The rest of his acts are written in the books of the kings; he slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

Josiah (2 Kings 23:34; Jeremiah 22:18)

His father: Pharaoh-necoh made Eliakim king in the room of Josiah his father, and the LORD speaks of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah.

Zebidah (2 Kings 23:36)

His mother, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

Jehoahaz king of Judah (2 Kings 23:34; 2 Chronicles 36:4)

Neco took Joahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt, and Eliakim was made king in his place.

Zedekiah (1 Chronicles 3:15; Jeremiah 37:1)

Listed with Jehoiakim among the sons of Josiah, and called the son of Josiah when he reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim.

Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6; 1 Chronicles 3:16; Jeremiah 37:1)

His son, who reigned in his stead; the text also calls him Jeconiah and Coniah.

Pharaoh-necoh (2 Kings 23:34–35; 2 Chronicles 36:4)

King of Egypt, who made Eliakim king, changed his name to Jehoiakim, and had the land taxed for his silver and gold.

Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1; Daniel 1:1–2)

King of Babylon, whose servant Jehoiakim became for three years before he rebelled, and into whose hand the Lord gave him.

Jeremiah (Jeremiah 22:18–19; Jeremiah 36:23–30)

The prophet whose words, written by Baruch on a roll, the king cut and burned; the king commanded that Baruch and Jeremiah be taken, but the LORD hid them, and the word of the LORD to Jeremiah pronounced sentence on Jehoiakim.

Uriah the son of Shemaiah (Jeremiah 26:20–23)

A prophet of Kiriath-jearim whom the king sought to put to death, had fetched from Egypt, and slew with the sword.

The LORD (Jeremiah 22:18; Jeremiah 36:26; Jeremiah 36:30)

Spoke the word concerning Jehoiakim in Jeremiah, and hid Baruch and Jeremiah when the king commanded their arrest.

Major sections

• 2 Kings 23:29–24:7
• 2 Chronicles 36:1–8
• Jeremiah 22:13–19
• Jeremiah 26:20–24
• Jeremiah 36
• Daniel 1:1–2

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