While the war between Egypt and Babylonia was progressing in the East, Josiah was buried, and his son, Jehoahaz was made king. in his stead at Jerusalem.
Only three months was this son allowed to reign, for the returning Egyptians, mindful of Judah's attack upon them under Josiah, paused on their way south to put down the new king, and impose a fine upon the country of a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. Though Jehoahaz reigned but three months, it was a long enough period to call for the record as to him,
"And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done." 2 Kings 23:32. He was now carried away to Egypt where he died (2 Kings 23:34), and Eliakam his brother was made king in his stead, with his name changed to Jehoiakim.
Jehoiakim reigned eleven years with a record of evil in the sight of God. Against him came the king of Babylon, and after three years, during which he had rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, he was bound with chains of brass (or bronze) to be carried off to Babylon.
We learn details of Jehoiakim's wickedness, and the trouble of his reign. From 2 Kings 24:1-6 it would appear that he never reached Babylon, but died at Jerusalem; however, part of the vessels of the temple of God were carried to Babylon and placed in Nebuchadnezzar's idol temple there (See Dan. 5:2-4).
Jehoiachin succeeded his father, Jehoiakim, on the throne for a brief period; his reign was an evil one according to all that his father had done. Nebuchadnezzar had brought him to Babylon after a short siege at Jerusalem (2 Kings 24:10-17) which ended with the removal of all the treasures of the temple, and of the king's house to Babylon, together with all the princes, all the mighty men, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen, and smiths; none remained, but the poorest sort of the people. Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, was made king by Nebuchadnezzar, and his name was changed to Zedekiah. This young man reigned eleven years, characterized by evil as his fathers.
Zedekiah did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah, speaking from the mouth of the Lord, and he rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar who had made him take oath by God, and he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart, from returning to the Lord God of Israel.
All the chiefs of the priests, also, and the people, increased their unfaithfulness, according to all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the temple which God had hallowed in Jerusalem. In the ninth year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar came with all his army, and besieged Jerusalem until the eleventh year. Because of the siege, a famine prevailed in the city, and when there was no bread, the wall was broken through, and all the defenders fled with Zedekiah.
They were caught, and the king was taken to Riblah in northern Syria where his sons were slaughtered before his face, and his own eyes were put out. Zedekiah was bound and carried to Babylon.
The temple, the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem were burned, and the walls of the city were broken down. 2 Kings 25 gives these details and more.
This was the answer, long withheld, to the rejection of God and His Word, by the kings of Judah, and the people (See verses 15, 16, 21). Seventy years were to pass until Cyrus was on the throne of the Medo-Persian, or Persian Empire, which brings us to the book of Ezra.