Son and successor of Jehoiakim king of Judah. According to 2 Kings 24:8 he began to reign when he was eighteen years of age, but 2 Chronicles 36:9 says “eight years” (one being apparently an error of the copyist). He reigned but three months, B.C. 599, when Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and the great captivity of Judah was accomplished. Jehoiachin was carried to Babylon and kept in prison thirty-six years; on the accession of Evil-merodach, B.C. 561, he was released from prison and exalted above the other captive kings, and he ate bread before the king all the days of his life (2 Kings 24:6-15; 2 Kings 25:27; 2 Chron. 36:8-9; Jer. 52:31; Ezek. 1:2). He is called JECONIAH in 1 Chronicles 3:16-17; Esther 2:6; Jeremiah 24:1; Jeremiah 27:20; Jeremiah 28:4 (where his return from Babylon is falsely prophesied of); and Jeremiah 29:2. He is also called CONIAH in Jeremiah 22:24,28; Jeremiah 37:1, and JECHONIAS in Matthew 1:11-12.