Verse 33
Nechoh put him in bands - But what was the cause of his putting him in bands? It is conjectured, and not without reason, that Jehoahaz, otherwise called Shallum, raised an army, met Nechoh in his return from Carchemish, fought, was beaten, taken prisoner, put in chains; and taken into Egypt, where he died; [2Kgs 23:34], and [Jer 22:11], [Jer 22:12]. Riblah or Diblath, the place of this battle, was probably a town in Syria, in the land or district of Hamath.
Verse 34
Turned his name to Jehoiakim - These names are precisely the same in signification: Eliakim is God shall arise; Jehoiakim, Jehovah shall arise; or, the resurrection of God; the resurrection of Jehovah. That is, God's rising again to show his power, justice, etc. The change of the name was to show Nechoh's supremacy, and that Jehoiakim was only his vassal or viceroy. Proofs of this mode of changing the name, when a person of greater power put another in office under himself, may be seen in the case of Mattaniah, changed into Zedekiah; Daniel, Mishael, Hananiah, and Azariah, into Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; and Joseph into Zaphnath-paaneah. See [Dan 1:6], [Dan 1:7]; [Gen 41:45].
Verse 35
Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold - Nechoh had placed him there as viceroy, simply to raise and collect his taxes.
Every one according to his taxation - That is, each was assessed in proportion to his property: that was the principle avowed: but there is reason to fear that this bad king was not governed by it.
Verse 37
He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord - He was a most unprincipled and oppressive tyrant. Jeremiah gives us his character at large, [Jer 22:13-19], to which the reader will do well to refer. Jeremiah was at that time in the land, and was an eyewitness of the abominations of this cruel king.
Introduction
Nebuchadnezzar brings Jehoiakim under subjection; who, after three years, rebels, [2Kgs 24:1]. Bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, invade the land, [2Kgs 24:2-4]. Jehoiakim dies, and Jehoiachin his son reigns in his stead, [2Kgs 24:5], [2Kgs 24:6]. The Babylonians overcome the Egyptians, [2Kgs 24:7]. Nebuchadnezzar takes Jehoiachin and his family, and all his treasures, and those of the temple, and all the chief people and artificers, and carries them to Babylon, [2Kgs 24:8-16]; and makes Mattaniah, brother of Jehoiakim, king, who reigns wickedly, and rebels against the king of Babylon, [2Kgs 24:17-20].
Verse 1
Nebuchadnezzar - This man, so famous in the writings of the prophets, was son of Nabopolassar. He was sent by his father against the rulers of several provinces that had revolted; and he took Carchemish, and all that belonged to the Egyptians, from the Euphrates to the Nile. Jehoiakim, who was tributary to Nechoh king of Egypt, he attacked and reduced; and obliged to become tributary to Babylon. At the end of three years he revolted; and then a mixed army, of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, was sent against him, who ravaged the country, and took three thousand and twenty-three prisoners, whom they brought to Babylon, [Jer 52:28].
Verse 2
According to the word of the Lord - See what Huldah predicted, [2Kgs 22:16], and see chap. 14, 15, and 16 of Jeremiah.
Verse 6
Jehoiachin his son - As this man reigned only three months and was a mere vassal to the Babylonians, his reign is scarcely to be reckoned; and therefore Jeremiah says of Jehoiakim, He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David, [Jer 36:30], for at that time it belonged to the king of Babylon, and Jehoiachin was a mere viceroy or governor. Jehoiachin is called Jechonias in [Mat 1:11].
Verse 7
The king of Egypt came not again - He was so crushed by the Babylonians that he was obliged to confine himself within the limits of his own states, and could no more attempt any conquests. The text tells us how much he had lost by the Babylonians. See on [2Kgs 24:1] (note).
Verse 8
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old - He is called Jeconiah, [1Chr 3:16], and Coniah, [Jer 22:24]. In [2Chr 36:9], be is said to be only eight years of age, but this must be a mistake; for we find that, having reigned only three months, he was carried captive to Babylon, and there he had wives; and it is very improbable that a child between eight and nine years of age could have wives; and of such a tender age, it can scarcely be said that, as a king, he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. The place in Chronicles must be corrupted.
That he was a grievous offender against God, we learn from [Jer 22:24], which the reader may consult; and in the man's punishment, see his crimes.
Verse 12
Jehoiachin - went out - He saw that it was useless to attempt to defend himself any longer; and he therefore surrendered himself, hoping to obtain better terms.
Verse 13
He carried out thence all the treasures - It has been remarked that Nebuchadnezzar spoiled the temple three times. -
1. He took away the greater part of those treasures when he took Jerusalem under Jehoiakim: and the vessels that he took then he placed in the temple of his god, [Dan 1:2]. And these were the vessels which Belshazzar profaned, [Dan 5:2]; and which Cyrus restored to Ezra, when he went up to Jerusalem, [Ezr 1:2]. It was at this time that he took Daniel and his companions.
2. He took the remaining part of those vessels, and broke them or cut them in pieces, when he came the second tine against Jerusalem under Jeconiah; as is mentioned here, [2Kgs 24:13].
3. He pillaged the temple, took away all the brass, the brazen pillars, brazen vessels, and vessels of gold and silver, which he found there when he besieged Jerusalem under Zedekiah, [2Kgs 25:13-17].
Verse 14
He carried away all Jerusalem - That is, all the chief men, the nobles, and artificers. Among these there were of mighty men seven thousand; of craftsmen and smiths, one thousand.
Verse 17
Made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead - He was the son of Josiah, and brother to Jehoiakim.
Changed his name to Zedekiah - See the note on [2Kgs 23:34].
Verse 19
He did - evil - How astonishing is this! not one of them takes warning by the judgments of God, which fell on their sinful predecessors.
Verse 20
Zedekiah rebelled - This was in the eighth year of his reign: and he is strongly reproved for having violated the oath he took to the king of Babylon: see [2Chr 36:13]. This was the filling up of the measure of iniquity; and now the wrath of God descends upon this devoted king, city, and people, to the uttermost. See the catastrophe in the next chapter.
Introduction
Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem; it is taken, after having been sorely reduced by famine, etc.; and Zedekiah, endeavoring to make his escape, is made prisoner, his sons slain before his eyes; then, his eyes being put out, he is put in chains and carried to Babylon, [2Kgs 25:1-7]. Nebuzar-adan burns the temple, breaks down the walls of Jerusalem, and carries away the people captives, leaving only a few to till the ground, [2Kgs 25:8-12]. He takes away all the brass, and all the vessels of the temple, [2Kgs 25:13-17]. Several of the chief men and nobles found in the city, he brings to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, who puts them all to death, [2Kgs 25:18-21]. Nebuchadnezzar makes Gedaliah governor over the poor people that were left, against whom Ishmael rises, and slays him, and others with him; on which the people in general, fearing the resentment of the Chaldeans, flee to Egypt, [2Kgs 25:22-26]. Evil-merodach, king of Babylon, releases Jehoiachin out of prison, treats him kindly, and makes him his friend, [2Kgs 25:27-30].
Verse 2
And the city was besieged, etc. - Nebuchadnezzar, having routed the Egyptian army, returned to Jerusalem, and besieged it so closely that, being reduced by famine, and a breach made in the wall, the Chaldeans entered it on the ninth day of the fourth month, (Wednesday, July 27), Zedekiah and many others endeavoring to make their escape by night.
Verse 5
The army of the Chaldeans pursued - Zedekiah was taken, and brought captive to Riblah in Syria, where Nebuchadnezzar then lay, who ordered his sons to be slain before his face, and then put out his eyes; and having loaded him with chains, sent him to Babylon, (see [Jer 39:4], [Jer 39:7]; [Jer 52:7], [Jer 52:11]), thus fulfilling the prophetic declarations, that his eyes should see the eyes of the king of Babylon, [Jer 32:4]; [Jer 34:3]; but Babylon he should not see, though he was to die there; [Eze 12:13].