Jehoiakim
King of Judah placed on throne by Egypt, later a vassal of Babylon.
AI-generated artistic depiction (no historical imagery exists)
Jehoiakim, originally named Eliakim, was a son of Josiah king of Judah (1 Chronicles 3:15). He was made king by Pharaohnechoh of Egypt, who changed his name from Eliakim to Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:34; 2 Chronicles 36:4). He began his reign at age twenty-five and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:36; 2 Chronicles 36:5). His mother was Zebudah, daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah (2 Kings 23:36).
- Original name
- Eliakim (2 Kings 23:34; 2 Chronicles 36:4)
- Age at accession
- 25 years old (2 Kings 23:36; 2 Chronicles 36:5)
- Length of reign
- 11 years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:36; 2 Chronicles 36:5)
- Father
- Josiah (2 Kings 23:34; 1 Chronicles 3:15)
- Son and successor
- Jehoiachin (also called Jeconiah or Coniah) (2 Kings 24:6; 1 Chronicles 3:16; Jeremiah 24:1; Jeremiah 27:20)
Lore & Background
The LORD declared through Jeremiah that no one would lament for Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 22:18). His son Jehoiachin (also called Jeconiah or Coniah) succeeded him (2 Kings 24:6; 2 Chronicles 36:8). The rest of Jehoiakim's acts and abominations are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah (2 Kings 24:5; 2 Chronicles 36:8). His evil deeds are cited as a standard of comparison for his successor Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:19).
Reader's Guide
The passages portray Jehoiakim as a king whose authority derived from foreign powers rather than divine appointment. He was placed on the throne by Pharaohnechoh of Egypt (2 Kings 23:34; 2 Chronicles 36:4), and his name change from Eliakim to Jehoiakim symbolized Egyptian dominance. He was a harsh ruler, taxing the land heavily to pay tribute to Egypt (2 Kings 23:35). His reign is consistently described as evil in the sight of the LORD (2 Chronicles 36:5). He was politically opportunistic, serving Nebuchadnezzar for three years before rebelling (2 Kings 24:1). His hostility toward prophecy is evident in his pursuit and execution of the prophet Urijah (Jeremiah 26:21-23) and his burning of Jeremiah's scroll (Jeremiah 36:28). The LORD's judgment against him was that he would receive no lamentation at his death (Jeremiah 22:18). His son Jehoiachin was taken captive to Babylon (Jeremiah 24:1; Jeremiah 27:20), fulfilling the prophetic word. The passages present Jehoiakim as a cautionary figure of a king who rejected God's word and relied on political alliances, leading to national decline.
Did You Know?
- Jehoiakim was originally named Eliakim, but Pharaohnechoh changed his name when making him king (2 Kings 23:34; 2 Chronicles 36:4).
- He taxed every person in the land according to a set rate to pay silver and gold to Pharaoh (2 Kings 23:35).
- Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt to retrieve the prophet Urijah, then killed him with a sword and threw his body into the graves of the common people (Jeremiah 26:21-23).
- He burned a scroll of Jeremiah's prophecies that had been written at the LORD's command (Jeremiah 36:28).
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