2 Chron, 36:9, 10; 2 Kings 24:8-17
The next king in Jerusalem after the one who burned the roll of the writing of God’s words, was his son whose name was almost the same, Jehoiachin. This young man ruled but a few months and did only evil.
God had told Jeremiah to tell the king and people of Jerusalem that an army would come and take them away from their land, if they kept up the worship of idols and other wicked ways. He told them how helpless the idols were:
“One cutteth a tree out of the forest, ... with the ax. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go.”
Yet the foolish people were teaching their children to offer gifts to the helpless idols! Jeremiah asked them:
“Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven.” (an idol) Jer. 7:17,18 and 10:3-6.
You see all the family were helping to honor an idol, and had forgotten the Lord.
“He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens” ... . Jer. 10:12.
So God let an army from Babylon come to Jerusalem and the king and his officers surrendered to them, and with the king’s family and the skilled workmen, were taken away to the enemy’s land. Only the poor people were left in Judah, with another king over diem.
The soldiers also took treasures front the king’s palaces and from the temple, breaking up the gold covered articles to carry the gold away.
When the soldiers reached Babylon with their captives, the young king was put in prison and kept there many years. Perhaps he became sorry for his sinful ways, for at last, God gave him favor with a new king, who took him out of prison, gave him new clothes, good and a place of honor as long as he lived. But he never was in Jerusalem again, and his son was not a king. Yet God kept members of this family alive in the enemy’s city, and later sent them back to their land. And it was to ones from this family that God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus.
The young king’s name seems to have been changed, as was his father’s, for he was also called Jeconiah, and sometimes the first two letters were omitted. In the new Testament his name is spelled, Jechonias. It is thought his correct age when taken captive was eighteen years. 2 Kings 24:8. See Jeremiah 22:24-27; Jeremiah 27:20; Matthew 1:12-16.
How many were taken captives veil this king? 2 Kings 24:14.
How long was he in prison? 2 Kings 25:27. Read also Jer. 52:31-34.
ML 10/15/1939