2 Kings 23:36,37

2 Kings 23:36 to 2 Kings 24:7. Jehoiakim. A fuller account of the reign is given by Jeremiah, who consistently opposed the king (see Jeremiah 25-27, 35 f., and especially 2 Kings 22:13).

The external events of the time are as follows (p. 60). The Assyrian empire came to an end with the fall of Nineveh, about 606 B.C. In 605 B.C. the Egyptians were utterly defeated and driven out of Syria after the battle of Carchemish (Jeremiah 46:2; see 2 Kings 24:7). Nebuchadrezzar succeeded his father in that year, when Jehoiakim transferred his allegiance from Egypt to Babylon (2 Kings 24:1). After three years he rebelled, and was harried by raids (2 Kings 24:2). His end is obscure; Jeremiah (Jeremiah 22:19) foretold a disgraceful burial. 2 Chronicles 36:6 says that he was taken captive to Babylon. Here (2 Kings 24:6) it is simply said that he slept with his fathers.

2 Kings 24:4. The innocent blood (Jeremiah 27:16). The king tried to kill Jeremiah, but the elders remonstrated. He actually put to death a prophet named Urijah.

2 Kings 24:7. The king of Egypt had been at first the suzerain of Jehoiakim. The Jews to the last, as they had done in the time of Isaiah (Isaiah 31), hoped for help from Egypt (Jeremiah 37:7).