King Jehoiachin Of Judah Biblical Significance
Jehoiachin was a king of Judah who reigned for a brief period of three months and ten days in approximately 597 BCE [1, 3]. He was the son of King Jehoiakim and Nehushta [3]. His name, Jehoiachin, means "Jehovah establishes" or "whom Jehovah has appointed" [1, 3, 7]. He is also referred to as Jeconiah or Coniah in various biblical texts, with the contracted forms sometimes implying contempt [3, 8, 9].
Jehoiachin's reign began when Jerusalem was vulnerable to the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar [1]. His father, Jehoiakim, had been placed on the throne by Pharaoh Necho after the deposition of Jehoahaz (also known as Shallum) [2, 4, 6]. Jehoiakim initially served Egypt but later became a tributary to Nebuchadnezzar [6].
Upon Jehoiachin's accession, Nebuchadnezzar sent his army to besiege Jerusalem [1]. Recognizing the futility of resistance, Jehoiachin, along with his mother, servants, princes, and officers, surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar [1, 5, 13]. This surrender occurred in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign [5, 12]. Nebuchadnezzar did not show Jehoiachin the same favor he had shown Jehoiakim, instead treating him as a rebel [13]. Jehoiachin, the queen mother, and many others were taken captive to Babylon [1, 13]. This event is known as the exile of Jehoiachin [12]. The prophet Jeremiah refers to Jehoiachin's removal, using the imagery of a signet ring plucked from God's right hand, signifying his rejection despite his popularity [8].
The brevity and unfortunate circumstances of Jehoiachin's reign are highlighted in biblical commentary. Matthew Henry notes that Jehoiachin "came to the crown, not to have the honour of wearing it, but the shame of losing it" [11]. His captivity marked a significant moment in the lead-up to the full Babylonian exile, with Ezekiel 1:2 referring to it as "the captivity of King Jehoiachin" [11]. The Babylonian Talmud places this exile in the seventh year after Nebuchadnezzar's subjugation of Jehoiakim, which corresponds to the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign [12].
The change of names among Judean kings during this period often signified a shift in sovereignty or dependence. For instance, Eliakim's name was changed to Jehoiakim by Pharaoh Necho to signify Egyptian supremacy [2, 6, 10, 14]. Similarly, Mattaniah's name was changed to Zedekiah [14]. While Jehoiachin's name was not changed by a foreign power, the various forms of his name (Jehoiachin, Jeconiah, Coniah) reflect different nuances, with the shorter forms sometimes carrying a derogatory connotation [3, 8, 9].
Jehoiachin's lineage is also noted in the New Testament, where he is listed in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:11 as "Jechoniah" [3]. This connection underscores his place within the royal line of Judah, despite his brief and tragic reign.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jehoiachin — (whom Jehovah has appointed), son of Jehoiakim, and for three months and ten days king of Judah. (B.C. 597.) At his accession Jerusalem was quite defenseless, and unable to offer any resistance to the army which Nebuchadnezzar sent to besiege it. (2 Kings 24:10,11) In a very short time Jehoiachin surrendered at discretion; and he, and the queen-mother, and all his servants, captains and officers, came out and gave themselves up to Nebuchadnezzar, who carried them, with the harem and the eunuchs, to Babylon. (Jeremiah 29:2; Ezekiel 17:12; 19:9) There he re”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jehoiakim — He whom Jehovah has set up, the second son of Josiah, and eighteenth king of Judah, which he ruled over for eleven years (B.C. 610-599). His original name was Eliakim (q.v.). On the death of his father his younger brother Jehoahaz (=Shallum, Jer. 22:11), who favoured the Chaldeans against the Egyptians, was made king by the people; but the king of Egypt, Pharaoh-necho, invaded the land and deposed Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:33, 34; Jer. 22:10-12), setting Eliakim on the throne in his stead, and changing his name to Jehoiakim. After this the king of Egypt took n”
- STEPBible TBESG “[H3078] H3078 = (H3078) — A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.24.6; <br> son of: Jehoiakim (H3079) and Nehushta (H5179); <br> father of: Zedekiah (H6667I)(?) and Shealtiel (H7597A); also called Jeconiah at 1Ch.3.16,17; 2x27.20; 28.4; 29.2; Coniah at Jer.22.24,28; 37.1; Shallum at Jer.22.11; Jechoniah (KJV: Jechonias; NIV: Jeconiah) inMat.1.11; 1x <BR> § Jehoiachin = "Jehovah establishes"<br> king of Judah, son of Jehoiakim, and the next to last king of Judah before the Babylonian captivity; kingship lasted for 3 months and 10 days before”
- STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3059H — King living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A king of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.23.30; <br>referred )”
- 2 Kings “and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. -- 2 Kings 24:12”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jehoiakim — (whom Jehovah sets up), called Eliakim, son of Josiah and king of Judah. After deposing Jehoahaz, Pharaoh-necho set Eliakim, his elder brother, upon the throne, and changed his name to Jehoiakim, B.C. 608-597. For four years Jehoiakim was subject toi Egypt, when Nebuchadnezzar, after a short siege, entered Jerusalem, took the king prisoner, bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon, and took also some of the precious vessels of the temple and carried them to the land of Shinar. Jehoiakim became tributary to Nebuchadnezzar after his invasion of Judah, an”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jehoiachin — preparation, or strength, of the Lord”
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 22:24: As I live--God's most solemn formula of oath (Jer 46:18; Jer 4:2; Deu 32:40; Sa1 25:34). Coniah--Jeconiah or Jehoiachin. The contraction of the name is meant in contempt. signet--Such ring seals were often of the greatest value (Sol 8:6; Hag 2:23). Jehoiachin's popularity is probably here referred to. right hand--the hand most valued. I would pluck thee thence--(Compare Oba 1:4); on account of thy father's sins, as well as thine own (Ch2 36:9). There is a change here, as often in Hebrew poetry, from the third to the second person, to bring t”
- 2 Kings (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Kings 24:8: JEHOIACHIN SUCCEEDS HIM. (Kg2 24:8-9) Jehoiachin--that is, "God-appointed," contracted into Jeconiah and Coniah (Jer 22:24). eighteen years old when he began to reign--At the age of eight his father took him into partnership in the government (Ch2 36:9). He began to reign alone at eighteen.”
- 2 Kings (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Kings 23:34: From the words "Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of his father Josiah," it follows that the king of Egypt did not acknowledge the reign of Jehoahaz, because he had been installed by the people without his consent. "And changed his name into Jehoiakim." The alteration of the name was a sign of dependence. In ancient times princes were accustomed to give new names to the persons whom they took into their service, and masters to give new names to their slaves (cf. Gen 41:45; Ezr 5:14; Dan 1:7, and Hvernick on the last passage). - But while ”
- 2 Kings (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 24:8: This should have been the history of king Jehoiachin's reign, but, alas! it is only the history of king Jehoiachin's captivity, as it is called, Eze 1:2. He came to the crown, not to have the honour of wearing it, but the shame of losing it. Ideo tantum venerat, ut exiret - He came in only to go out. I. His reign was short and inconsiderable. He reigned but three months, and then was removed and carried captive to Babylon, as his father, it is likely, would have been if he had lived but so much longer. What an unhappy young prince was this, that was thrust into a”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 11b.9: The Gemara explains: They were exiled in the seventh year after Nebuchadnezzar’s subjugation of Jehoiakim, in what was known as the exile of Jehoiachin, which was actually the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. Then later they were exiled a second time in the eighteenth year after the subjugation of Jehoiakim, in what was known as the exile of Zedekiah, which was actually in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, as the Master said: In the first year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar conquered Nineveh; in his second year he conquered Jehoiakim. And it ”
- 2 Kings (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Kings 24:12: Then Jehoiachin went out to the king of Babylon to yield himself up to him, because he perceived the impossibility of holding the city any longer against the besiegers, and probably hoped to secure the favour of Nebuchadnezzar, and perhaps to retain the throne as his vassal by a voluntary submission. Nebuchadnezzar, however, did not show favour any more, as he had done to Jehoiakim at the first taking of Jerusalem, but treated Jehoiachin as a rebel, made him prisoner, and led him away to Babylon, along with his mother, his wives (Kg2 24:15), his princes and h”
- 2 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Kings 23:34: Turned his name to Jehoiakim - These names are precisely the same in signification: Eliakim is God shall arise; Jehoiakim, Jehovah shall arise; or, the resurrection of God; the resurrection of Jehovah. That is, God's rising again to show his power, justice, etc. The change of the name was to show Nechoh's supremacy, and that Jehoiakim was only his vassal or viceroy. Proofs of this mode of changing the name, when a person of greater power put another in office under himself, may be seen in the case of Mattaniah, changed into Zedekiah; Daniel, Mishael, Hananiah, and”