Babylon Controls Jeholakim
1 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
2 The Lord sent Chaldean, Syrian, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke through his servants the prophets. 3 Surely this came on Judah at the commandment of the Lord, to remove them from his sight for the sins of Manasseh and all that he had done, 4 and also for the innocent blood that he shed. For he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood which the Lord would not pardon.
5 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
Jehoiachin’s Evil Reign in Judah
6 So Jehoiakim rested with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
7 The king of Egypt did not march out of his land again, for the king of Babylon had taken his territory, from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates, all that belonged to the king of Egypt.
8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. 9 He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, just as his father had done.
Deportation to Babylon
10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it. 12 Jehoiachin the king of Judah, his mother, his servants, and his palace officials all surrendered to the king of Babylon. And the king of Babylon took Jehoiachin prisoner in the eighth year of his reign.
13 Nebuchadnezzar carried out from there, all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold, which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said. 14 He carried away all Jerusalem and all the princes and all the mighty men of valor, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and the metal workers. No one remained, except the poorest people of the land.
15 He carried Jehoiachin off to Babylon, with the king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officers, and the leading men of the land. He took them into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 All the men of might, 7,000, and the craftsmen and the metal workers, 1,000, all of them strong and fit for war, all these the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
17 The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s father’s brother, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Zedekiah King of Judah
18 Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. 20 For through the anger of the Lord, this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.