II Kings Chapter 24

Please read:  II Kings 24 –

For so many years the Assyrians had been the dominating power of the ancient world, and now it was the Babylonians who had risen to power.  Babylon was ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar who wanted to have control of Judah because of its close proximity to Egypt and to Assyria.  Nebuchadnezzar would make Jehoiakim a vassal king just as the Pharoah had done.  Little did the king of Babylon know, but this was God’s way of placing judgement on Judah for the many sins of the king Manasseh.  God had warned that if they turned to other gods, he would carry them away to other lands.  And this is exactly what happened. 

I am not a Biblical scholar, but I see a great comparison between Babylon and modern-day Iran.  We read in verse 2 that there were all these groups that came into the land to take the people of Judah captive; I believe these groups acted as proxies under the rule of Babylon just as groups like the Hamas are proxies of Iran.

Let's Reflect

1.  In chapter 23 we learned that after King Josiah was assassinated, his son Jehoahaz sat on the throne.  But the Pharoah of Egypt made Jehoahaz’s older brother (Eliakim) or Jehoiakim to be king and took the younger brother Jehoahaz captive.  Jehoiakim was forced to pay taxes to the Pharoah.  He was a vassal (“puppet”) king for Egypt.  He reigned for a total of 11 years, but we find in chapter 24 that a new power had risen and Jehoiakim was now a vassal king to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  How many years did Jehoiakim reign under the thumb of Nebuchadnezzar?

 

2.  Verse 6 tells us that Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim was next on the throne.  This was when the takeover by the Babylonians had begun.  According to verse 3 this was all a part of God’s plan to bring judgement on Judah for the sins of Manasseh (referring to the worship of other gods and idols).  According to verse 4 what other great sins of Manasseh caused God’s judgement? 

3.  Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he began to reign.  How long did he reign?

4.  Why was Jehoiachin’s reign so short?

5.  Jehoiachin’s life in Judah was over, but he wasn’t the only one.  Who else did the Babylonians take captive?

6.  It is interesting that they left behind the poorest people of Judah.  Perhaps the thought was that they would make good workers to keep the land in good shape for them.  Who became the next king to rule in Jerusalem as a vassal king for Nebuchadnezzar?

7.  The king’s name was changed to what name?

8.  In all the chaos, terror and strife you would think that the people left in Judah and the king himself would turn to God.  But what does the Bible say about this new king in Jerusalem?