Three Kings in Babylon

Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon, 2nd Chronicles 36:6.

This post is meant to help me as much anyone else. As I read through the bible, I often find myself confused as to which king is being referenced. All together, three kings, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah are referenced as having been taken to Babylon and often by different names. Hopefully, this will bring a little clarity to anyone who has struggled as I have.

There are three different Kings of Judah that were carried captive to Babylon. Our opening verse speaks of Jehoiakim. His original name was Eliakim. Pharaoh had set him up on the throne of Judah after carrying his brother Jehoahaz away. Things did not go well for Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, 2nd Chronicles 36:5.

Daniel 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

Daniel 1:2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

Daniel 1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

The prophet Daniel could have possibly been Jehoiakim's son. He was certainly someone who would have had status had he not been carried away. Daniel's position of great power in Babylon was undoubtedly part of the cause of Zedekiah's fear of the Jews in Babylon. Certainly there were Jews who had power in those days. And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me, Jeremiah 38:19.

Jehoiakim was also Josiah's son but apparently learned nothing from his father.

Ezekiel 18:5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

Ezekiel 18:6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

Ezekiel 18:7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;

Ezekiel 18:8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

Ezekiel 18:9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 18:10 If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,

Ezekiel 18:11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,

Ezekiel 18:12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,

Ezekiel 18:13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

It was prophesied of Jehoiakim that; He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem, Jeremiah 22:19. For many years I read that as "out of the gates of Jerusalem". It says, beyond the gates of Jerusalem. He died unwanted and unloved while in prison in a foreign land.

Jehoiachin the son of Jehoiakim was also carried away to Babylon.

2Kings 24:8 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.

2Kings 24:9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.

2Kings 24:10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.

2Kings 24:11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.

2Kings 24:12 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.

He is also said to be 8 years old when he began to reign (2nd Chronicles 36:9). That can be explained by his father's captivity. Each book looked at his reign from a different perspective. The four Books of the Kings ( 1st and 2nd Samuel, and 1st and 2nd Kings) relate to kings of Judah as they are seen from the standpoint of David's flesh. The Chronicles relates to kings of Judah as they are seen from the Tabernacle and the things of God.

Jehoiachin is also called Jeconiah and in one place Coniah. He, like his father is not allowed to have his seed inherit the throne of David.

Jeremiah 22:24 As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;

Jeremiah 22:25 And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.

Jeremiah 22:26 And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.

Jeremiah 22:27 But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return.

Jeremiah 22:28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?

Jeremiah 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

Jeremiah 22:30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

It is fascinating that after being a prisoner for 30 years, he is brought out of prison and sits at the king's table. And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison, 2nd Kings 25:27.

Mordecai and Esther were taken to Babylon when Jehoiachin was taken. Esther 2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

Esther 2:6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

It is Zedekiah another son of Jehoiakim that I find so fascinating. His capture and having his eyes put out are recorded in four places by name and reference is made to it obliquely a couple of other times. There are very few things in the bible recorded four times. When the Lord first made me aware of that almost 25 years ago, it became an important point for me when a major scandal erupted around my family.

I realized that Zedekiah had been offered both his life and safety if he would just go to Nebuchadnezzar and surrender himself. He was offered that until almost the very last day before the city fell and he could not bring himself to do it.

When the events of a quarter century ago came upon me, I remembered how that Zedekiah would not go to the secular authority outside of his city walls. With that in mind I went to the police despite my church asking me not to, and my fear that I might be blamed. I have always thanked God for alerting me to Zedekiah's foolishness just before those events. The Lord protected and blessed us.

It was said of Zedekiah that he would go to Babylon but that he would not see it. My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there, Ezekiel 12:13. We know this was fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar put his eyes out and then carried him to Babylon.

The last sight that he ever saw was his sons being killed. With the gore of his eyes running down his cheeks he was taken to Babylon and yet it was not over for him. And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me, Ezekiel 17:20.

Even as he sat in chains as a blind captive, the Lord pled with him. That would explain the following prophecy;

Jeremiah 34:4 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword:

Jeremiah 34:5 But thou shalt die in peace: and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings which were before thee, so shall they burn odours for thee; and they will lament thee, saying, Ah lord! for I have pronounced the word, saith the LORD.

I am often amazed at what it takes for some men to find grace.