INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 24
This chapter relates the rebellion of Jehoiakim against the king of
Babylon, which prepared the way for the ruin of the kingdom of Judah,
according to the decree of God, and also the death of Jehoiakim, and
the conquest the king of Babylon made of part of the land of the... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIS DAYS NEBUCHADNEZZAR KING OF BABYLON CAME UP,.... Against
Jerusalem; this was in the latter end of the third, or the beginning
of the fourth of Jehoiakim's reign, and the first of Nebuchadnezzar,
Jeremiah 25:1, when Jehoiakim was taken, but restored upon promise of
subjection and obedience, an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SENT AGAINST HIM,.... By Nebuchadnezzar, against whom he
rebelled:
BANDS OF THE CHALDEES, AND BANDS OF THE SYRIANS, AND BANDS OF THE
MOABITES, AND BANDS OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON; who were all subject to
the king of Babylon, or were voluntary troops in his service, and bore
an hatred to... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD CAME THIS UPON JUDAH, TO REMOVE
THEM OUT OF HIS SIGHT,.... It was the sure and certain decree of God
they should be carried captive, and therefore he stirred up the spirit
of Nebuchadnezzar, and gave him orders to go against it:
FOR THE SINS OF MANASSEH, ACCORD... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALSO FOR THE INNOCENT BLOOD THAT HE SHED, FOR HE FILLED JERUSALEM
WITH INNOCENT BLOOD,.... See 2 Kings 21:16 which cruel usage of the
prophets, and servants of the Lord, was still continued; see
Jeremiah 26:21,
WHICH THE LORD WOULD NOT PARDON; he pardoned the sins of Manasseh, who
repented, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE REST OF THE ACTS OF JEHOIAKIM,.... In 2 Chronicles 36:8, it is
added, "his abominations, and that which was found in him": which
besides his rebellion against the king of Babylon, and his shedding
innocent blood, is interpreted of marks made in his body for
superstitious and idolatrous purpo... [ Continue Reading ]
SO JEHOIAKIM SLEPT WITH HIS FATHERS,.... He died as they did, but was
not buried with them, and indeed had no burial at all, according to
the prophecy of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 22:18 for, falling into the hands
of the king of Babylon, he was bound in chains, in order to be carried
to Babylon, but died a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING OF EGYPT CAME NOT ANY MORE OUT OF HIS LAND,.... To
receive the tribute he imposed on the land of Judah, or to help the
kings there of, Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin; not till the times of
Zedekiah, and then was obliged to retire, without giving any
assistance, Jeremiah 37:7 the reason follow... [ Continue Reading ]
JEHOIACHIN WAS EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD WHEN HE BEGAN TO REIGN,.... In 2
Chronicles 36:9 he is said to be but eight years old; which may be
reconciled by observing, that he might be made and declared king by
his father, in the first year of his reign, who reigned eleven years,
so that he was eight years o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DID THAT WHICH WAS EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, ACCORDING TO
ALL THAT HIS FATHER HAD DONE. Being partner with him in his throne, he
was in his sins, and continued therein, see
2 Kings 23:37.... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THAT TIME,.... When Jehoiachin reigned:
WHEN THE YEAR WAS EXPIRED; so it is in 2 Chronicles 36:10 or at the
revolution of the year; which some take to be autumn, the beginning of
the civil year with the Jews; but rather it was the spring, the time
when kings went out to battle, 2 Samuel 11:1
TH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NEBUCHADNEZZAR KING OF BABYLON CAME AGAINST THE CITY,.... He came
in person, following his army:
AND HIS SERVANTS DID BESIEGE IT; very closely.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHOIACHIN KING OF JUDAH WENT OUT TO THE KING OF BABYLON,.... Not
to fight with him, but to submit to him, and to surrender the city to
him, and be at his mercy:
HE AND HIS MOTHER, AND HIS SERVANTS, AND HIS PRINCES, AND HIS
OFFICERS; the royal family, courtiers, and nobles:
AND THE KING OF BAB... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CARRIED OUT THENCE ALL THE TREASURES OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD,
AND THE TREASURES OF THE KING'S HOUSE,.... The gates of the city being
thrown open to him, he entered and plundered the temple, and the royal
palace, and took from thence all the riches thereof:
AND CUT IN PIECES ALL THE VESSELS... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CARRIED AWAY ALL JERUSALEM,.... The inhabitants of it; not
every individual of them, but the chief of them, the more honourable,
rich, and useful; for the poorer sort were left, as afterwards
expressed:
AND ALL THE PRINCES, AND ALL THE MIGHTY MEN OF VALOUR, EVEN TEN
THOUSAND CAPTIVES; which... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CARRIED AWAY JEHOIACHIN TO BABYLON,.... Where he continued at
least thirty seven years, 2 Kings 25:27
AND THE KING'S MOTHER; whose name was Nehushta, 2 Kings 24:8
AND THE KING'S WIVES; for though he was so young, it seems he had many
wives, as was the custom of those times; or his "women",... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE MEN OF MIGHT, EVEN SEVEN THOUSAND,.... The particulars of
the 10,000 carried captive are here given; 7000 of which were the
principal men of the land:
AND CRAFTSMEN AND SMITHS ONE THOUSAND; which made 8000:
ALL THAT WERE STRONG, AND APT FOR WAR; of these consisted the other
2000; so Ab... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING OF BABYLON MADE MATTANIAH HIS FATHER'S BROTHER KING IN
HIS STEAD,.... The third son of Josiah, 1 Chronicles 3:15
AND CHANGED HIS NAME TO ZEDEKIAH; for the same reason the king of
Egypt changed the name of Eliakim, 2 Kings 23:34 to signify his
subjection to him; though some think it was... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 18-20. ZEDEKIAH WAS TWENTY YEARS OLD WHEN HE BEGAN TO REIGN,....
So that he was but between nine and ten years of age when his father
Josiah died; for Jehoahaz reigned three months, Jehoiakim eleven
years, and his son three months and ten days:
AND HE REIGNED ELEVEN YEARS IN JERUSALEM: AND HIS... [ Continue Reading ]
2 Kings 24:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
2 Kings 24:18.... [ Continue Reading ]