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CHAPTER 17 - JEHOIAKIM (EIGHTEENTH), JEHOIACHIN
(NINETEENTH), ZEDEKIAH (TWENTIETH), KING OF JUDAH.
Character of Jehoiakim's Reign - Sketch of the History of Media - Sketch of the History
of Babylonia - Fall of Nineveh - The new Babylonian Empire - Second Expedition of
Necho - Battle of Carchemish - Advance of Nebuchadnezzar - State of Things in
Jerusalem - Partial Spoil of the Temple - Return of Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon-
Jehoiakim first Prisoner, then Tributary - Rebellion of Jehoiakim - Death of Jehoiakim
and Accession of Jehoiachin - Siege of Jerusalem - Surrender of Jehoiachin - His Fate -
First Deportation to Babylon - Accession and Reign of Zedekiah - The Rebellion of
Zedekiah - Advance of Nebuchadnezzar - Siege of Jerusalem - State of matters in the
City - Brief Relief owing to the Advance of an Egyptian Army -Resumption of the Siege
- Capture of part of the City - Flight and Capture of Zedekiah - The Sentences at Riblah -
Burning of the Temple, Destruction of the City, and Deportation of Captives - The
Prophet Jeremiah - Appointment of Gedaliah - The Court at Mizpah - Murder of Gedaliah - Pursuit and Flight of the Murderers - Retreat into Egypt - Last Prophecies of Jeremiah -
End of the Earthly Davidic Rule - The Desolate Land keeps her Sabbaths. (2 KINGS 24,
25; 2 CHRONICLES. 36:5-END; WITH CORRESPONDING PASSAGES FROM THE
BOOKS OF JEREMIAH AND OF EZEKIEL.)
The reign of Jehoiakim, which lasted eleven years, was in every respect most disastrous.
In truth, it was the beginning of the end. The reformatory work of Josiah gave place to a
restoration of the former idolatry (comp. 2 Chronicles 36:8). As in previous reigns, it was
connected with complete demoralization of the people (comp. Jeremiah 7:9-15; 17:2;
19:4-9; Ezekiel 8:9-18). And this not only among the laity, high and low, but equally
among the priests and prophets (comp. Jeremiah 23:9-14). All the louder rose the voices
of the prophets' Jeremiah, Urijah, and Habakkuk. But their warnings were either
unheeded and scorned, or brought on them persecution and martyrdom (2 Kings 24:4;
Jeremiah 26:10, 11; and especially verses 20-23). Otherwise, also, it was a wretched
government, characterized by public wrong, violence, oppression, and covetousness.
While the land was impoverished, the king indulged in luxury, and built magnificent
palaces, or adorned towns, by means of forced labor, which remained unpaid, and at the
cost of the lives of a miserable enslaved people (Jeremiah 22:13-18; Habakkuk 2:9-17).
In these circumstances the crisis could not be long delayed. As previously stated, three
years after his first expedition, Necho once more advanced against the rival empire in the
east. There great changes had taken place. Nineveh had fallen under the combined assault
of Nabopalassar, king of Babylonia, and Kyaxares, king of the Medes. Notices, however
brief, of these events seem necessary for the more complete understanding of this
history.*
(^)