Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 36:5
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.
5 8 (= 1Es 1:39-42 ; 2Ki 23:35 to 2Ki 24:7). The Reign of Jehoiakim
5. in Jerusalem ] The Chronicler omits his mother’s name (cp. 2Ch 36:2, note) and also the statement that he raised the indemnity imposed by Neco by means of a poll-tax (2Ki 23:35).
he did that which was evil ] Cp. 2Ki 23:37; Jer 22:13-18; Jer 26:20-23; Jer 36:1-32.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
5. Jehoiakim . . . did that whichwas evil in the sight of the LordHe followed the course of hisidolatrous predecessors; and the people, to a great extent,disinclined to the reforming policy of his father, eagerly availedthemselves of the vicious license which his lax administrationrestored. His character is portrayed with a masterly hand in theprophecy of Jeremiah (Jer22:13-19). As the deputy of the king of Egypt, he departedfurther than his predecessor from the principles of Josiah’sgovernment; and, in trying to meet the insatiable cupidity of hismaster by grinding exactions from his subjects, he recklessly plungedinto all evil.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
[See comments on 2Ch 36:1]
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The reign of Jehoiakim. Cf. 2 Kings 23:36-24:7. – Jehoiakim was at his accession twenty-five years of age, reigned eleven years, and did that which was evil in the eyes of Jahve his God.
2Ch 36:6-8 “Against him came Nebuchadnezzar (in inscriptions, Nabucudurriusur, i.e., Nebo coronam servat; see on Dan. S. 56) the king of Babylon, and bound him with brazen double fetters to carry him to Babylon.” This campaign, Nebuchadnezzar’s first against Judah, is spoken of also in 2 Kings 24 and Dan 1:1-2. The capture of Jerusalem, at which Jehoiakim was put in fetters, occurred, as we learn from Dan 1:1, col. c. Jer 46:2 and Jer 36:7, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign, i.e., in the year 606 b.c.; and with it commence the seventy years of the Chaldean servitude of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar did not carry out his purpose of deporting the captured king Jehoiakim to Babylon, but allowed him to continue to reign at Jerusalem as his servant (vassal). To alter the infin. into the perf., or to translate as the perf., is quite arbitrary, as is also the supplying of the words, “and he carried him away to Babylon.” That the author of the Chronicle does not mention the actual carrying away, but rather assumes the contrary, namely, that Jehoiakim continued to reign in Jerusalem until his death, as well known, is manifest from the way in which, in 2Ch 36:8, he records his son’s accession to the throne. He uses the same formula which he has used in the case of all the kings whom at their death their sons succeeded, according to established custom. Had Nebuchadnezzar dethroned Jehoiakim, as Necho deposed Jehoahaz, the author of the Chronicle would not have left the installation of Jehoiachin by the Chaldean king unmentioned. For the defence of this view against opposing opinions, see the commentary on 2Ki 24:1 and Dan 1:1; and in regard to 2Ch 36:7, see on Dan 1:2. The Chronicle narrates nothing further as to Jehoiakim’s reign, but refers, 2Ch 36:8, for his other deeds, and especially his abominations, to the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, whence the most important things have been excerpted and incorporated in 2Ki 24:1-4. Bertheau interprets of images which he caused to be prepared, and of his evil deeds; but in both he is incorrect. The passages which Bertheau cites for his interpretation of the first words, Jer 7:9. and Eze 8:17, prove the contrary; for Jeremiah mentions as of the people, murder, adultery, false swearing, offering incense to Baal, and going after other gods; and Ezekiel, loc. cit., uses of the idolatry of the people indeed, but not of the making of images – only of the worship of idols, the practice of idol-worship. The abominations, consequently, which Jehoiakim committed are both his evil deeds and crimes, e.g., the shedding of innocent blood (2Ki 24:4), as well as the idolatry which he had practised. , “what was found upon him,” is a comprehensive designation of his whole moral and religious conduct and attitude; cf. 2Ch 19:3. Jehoiakim’s revolt from Nebuchadnezzar after three years’ servitude (2Ki 24:1) is passed over by the author of the Chronicle, because the punishment of this crime influenced the fate of the kingdom of Judah only after his death. The punishment fell upon Jehoiachin; for the detachments of Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites, which were sent by Nebuchadnezzar to punish the rebels, did not accomplish much.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
THE REIGN OF JEHOIAKIM (2Ch. 36:5-8). (Comp. 2Ki. 23:36 to 2Ki. 24:7; 2 Kings 3 Esdr. 1:37-41; Jer. 25:26)
(5) Jehoiakim . . . in Jerusalem.2Ki. 23:36, adding the mothers name. here. So LXX.
And he did . . . the Lord.2Ki. 23:37, which adds according to all that his fathers had done. So LXX.
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.Nabium-kudurri-uur (Nebo guard the crown! ) son of Nabopalassar, who had founded this dynasty by successful revolt against Assyria. His extant inscriptions chiefly relate to palace and temple building. Schrader gives a short inscription from a brick now in the Zrich Museum. Nab-Kudurri-uur, king of Babylon, restorer of Esagili and Ezida [two famous temples], son of Nab-abala-uur, King of Babylon am I. No really historical inscription is known except a fragment relating to his Egyptian campaign in his 37th year (568 B.C. ), and an illegible one on the rocks of Nahr-el-Kelb near Beirut. The LXX. here interpolates the account of Jehoiakims three years of vassalage, and his revolt against Nebuchadnezzar, and the other events and reflections contained in 2Ki. 24:1-4. The LXX. makes Jehoiakim, instead of Manasseh, fill Jerusalem with innocent blood, contrary to the Hebrew text.
And bound him in fetters.Two bronze (chains), as in 2Ch. 33:11.
To carry him to Babylon.To make him go. It is not said that this intention was carried out. (Comp. 2Ch. 33:11, and carried him to Babylon.) Nebuchadnezzar, who, according to Jer. 46:2, had defeated Necho in a great battle at Carchemish, in the 4th year of Jehoiakim, appears to have left the king of Judah to reign as a vassal-king, after inflicting upon him a severe humiliation. (The LXX., 3 Esdr., Vulg., and Arabic, but not the Syriac, read: and carried him to Babylon.) Thenius says this must be the right reading, and then denies its claim to credibility. He further asserts that, in order to allow ample scope for the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jeremiah (see Note on 2Ch. 36:8), the chronicler has represented Jehoiakim as carried alive to Babylon in the last year of his reign. This statement rests not upon objective historical grounds, but upon subjective prejudices against the chronicler.
Dan. 1:1, by a transcribers error, puts this first capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim; whereas Nebuchadnezzar only became king in the fourth of Jehoiakim. (2Ki. 25:8; Jer. 25:1.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Though this king reigned longer than his brother, even to eleven years, yet it should seem it was more at the pleasure of the king of Babylon than from any real power or authority he himself possessed. His taking him away to Babylon is a proof of it. Poor Judah, to what a miserable state art thou now reduced!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
evil. Heb ra’a’. App-44.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4. The Septuagint adds here: “according to all that his fathers did. In his days came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon into the land, and he served him three years, and then revolted from him. And the LORD sent against them the Chaldeans, and bands of Syrians, and bands of Moabites, and the sons of Amnion and Samaria; but after this, they rebelled according to the word of the LORD, by the hand of his servants the prophets. However, the anger of – the LORD was upon Judah, to remove him from His did, and for the innocent blood which Jehoiakim had shed; and he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; yet the LORD refused to utterly destroy them”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ch 36:5-8
2Ch 36:5-8
JEHOIAKIM (609-598 B.C.).
THE ELEVEN YEAR REIGN OF JEHOIAKIM
“And 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 Jehovah his God. Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of Jehovah to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in (against) him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiakin his son reigned in his stead.”
(See our comments in the parallel under Second Kings 23:34-24:7.)
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 36:5. This reign of 11 years included the years he was sitting on the throne, but subject to the king of Babylon. Soon after he was put on the throne by Necho, the Assyrian power was overthrown by the Chaldeans, otherwise known as Babylonians, of whom Nebuchadnezzar was ruler at the time. As soon as he came into power in Babylon, he went to Jerusalem and induced Jehoiakim to acknowledge his supremacy; but after 3 years he rebelled against that relationship. (2 Ki. 24:1.) The king of Babylon then put him under greater subjection. Jehoiakim was permitted to occupy the throne in Jerusalem for 8 years longer, but subject to the king of Babylon. (2 Ki. 24:2-4.)
2Ch 36:6. The events of this verse came at the end of the entire reign of Jehoiakim that was referred to in the preceding verse. The corruptions under the reign of this king were so many that God became weary with them and caused the Babylonian king to come up to Jerusalem and take him from his throne. More details of the affair are given in 2 Ki. 24:2-4. The king was bound with fetters to be taken to Babylon.
2Ch 36:7. Nebuchadnezzar also took the valuable vessels of the temple with him, and placed them in his own temple in Babylon, which was his capital. This great event may be said to have completed the first captivity, which was begun at the end of the third year of Jehoiakim. That was also the beginning of the famous 70 years captivity, of which we will hear much when we come to the study of the prophecies. That is, the beginning of the 4th year of Jehoiakim marks the date, not only of the beginning of the “seventy years captivity,” but the date of the 1st of the “three captivities.” I have gone so much into detail about these “three captivities” at their account in the book of Kings, that not much space will be taken for it here. I ask the reader to consult carefully all the comments on 2 Ki. 24 and 25.
2Ch 36:8. There is very little said as to the details of Jehoiakim’s reign, either here or in the corresponding passage in 2 Ki. 24. Hence we have a very clear reason in this case, why it was so often stated that the “rest of the acts” of rulers was written in those outside reading books. See the comments at 1 Ki. 14:19.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Jehoiakim: 2Ki 23:36, 2Ki 23:37, Jer 22:13-19, Jer 26:21-23, Jer 36:1, Jer 36:27-32
Reciprocal: 2Ki 17:7 – the Lord 1Ch 3:14 – Josiah 2Ch 28:5 – his God Ecc 2:21 – whose Ecc 10:16 – when Isa 3:4 – children Jer 1:3 – It came also Jer 26:1 – General Jer 35:1 – in the Eze 19:6 – he went Dan 1:1 – General Dan 2:1 – in
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
36:5 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] {c} evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
(c) Because he and the people did not turn to God by his first plague, he brought a new one on him, and at length rooted them out.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
2. Jehoiakim 36:5-8
The Babylonians took Jehoiakim captive to Babylon, and they took some of the glory of the temple, and of the God it represented, with him.
"Taking temple objects was common in times such as this, as it represented the complete military and religious conquest of a city (cf. Dan 1:1-2; Ezr 1:7)." [Note: Thompson, p. 388.]
Jehoiakim’s conduct did nothing to retard the inevitable conquest of Jerusalem. Judah’s captivity was one step closer when Babylon replaced Egypt as the controller of God’s people.