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King Jehoiachin of Judah Is Taken to Babylon

(2 Chronicles 36.9,10)

Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled only 3 months from Jerusalem. His mother Nehushta was the daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem. Jehoiachin disobeyed the Lord, just as his father Jehoiakim had done.

10 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia sent troops to attack Jerusalem soon after Jehoiachin became king. 11 During the attack, Nebuchadnezzar himself arrived at the city. 12 (A) Jehoiachin immediately surrendered, together with his mother and his servants, as well as his army officers and officials. Then Nebuchadnezzar had Jehoiachin arrested. These things took place in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar's rule in Babylonia.[a]

13 The Lord had warned[b] that someday the treasures would be taken from the royal palace and from the temple, including the gold objects that Solomon had made for the temple. And that's exactly what Nebuchadnezzar ordered his soldiers to do. 14 He also led away as prisoners the Jerusalem officials, the military leaders, and the skilled workers—10,000 in all. Only the very poorest people were left in Judah.

15 (B) Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin to Babylon, along with his mother, his wives, his officials, and the most important leaders of Judah. 16 He also led away 7,000 soldiers and 1,000 skilled workers, all of them trained for battle.

17 (C) Then Nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin's uncle Mattaniah king of Judah and changed his name to Zedekiah.

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Footnotes

  1. 24.12 Babylonia: These events took place in 597 b.c.
  2. 24.13 warned: See 20.16-18.

Jehoiachin King of Judah(A)

Jehoiachin(B) was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta(C) daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. He did evil(D) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done.

10 At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar(E) king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it, 11 and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it. 12 Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered(F) to him.

In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner. 13 As the Lord had declared,(G) Nebuchadnezzar removed the treasures(H) from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace, and cut up the gold articles(I) that Solomon(J) king of Israel had made for the temple of the Lord. 14 He carried all Jerusalem into exile:(K) all the officers and fighting men,(L) and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest(M) people of the land were left.

15 Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin(N) captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother,(O) his wives, his officials and the prominent people(P) of the land. 16 The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans.(Q) 17 He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.(R)

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