2 Kings 24

Jojakim becometh king Nebuchadnezar’s servant, but revolteth from him, v.1,&c. his land is overcome b the enemies, 2. He dieth and Joachin his son becometh king in his stead, 6. much land is taken away from the king of Egypt, by the king of babel, 7. jojachins reign, 8. Jerusalem is besieged and spoiled by the Chaldeans, 10 jojachin with many of the Jewes is carried away captive to Babel, 14. Matthania, otherwise called Zedekia, becometh King and revolteth from the king of Babel, 17.

1. In his dayes [to wit, in the fourth year of his reign: which was the first year of Nebuchadnezar king of Babel came up and Jojakim became his servant three years; [that is, his vassal, subjects to his power and command, tributary, bound to pay him tax. So 2 Sam.8.2,6.] then he turned about and rebelled against him.

2. and the Lord sent against him the hands, [i.e. heaps of souldiers. See above chapter 5. on v.2. These were in the service of the King of Babel, making up all together his army] of the Chaldeans, [a people inhabitating the land of Chaldea of which Babel was the metropolis or chief city. Compare Ezekiel 23:15.] and the hands of the Syrians, and the hands of the Moabites and the hands of the children of Ammon and sent them against Juda, to destroy that, according to the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by the ministery, [Heb. Hand] of his servants the prophets. [to wit, not onely in general by Moseh, Lev.26.17. Deut.28.25,36,68, &c. but also in special by hulda the prophetess, above chap.22.16 and by Jeremia the prophet, Jerem.25.9,&c.]

3. Surely (this) came to pass according to the command [Heb. Mouth at the Lord against Juda, to remove them from his face [compare above chap.17. on v.18.] for the sins of Manasseh [see of these sins above chap.21. amongst which the chiefest indeed was idolatry, which the people so imitated that they could not be driven from it neither by the repentance and conversion of Manasseh, that he made Juda to sinne, above chap.11.16] according to all that he had done.

4. As also (for) the innocent blood, which he had shed, [see above chap.21.16. and the annotate.] so that he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood: therefore the Lord would not pardon.

5. now the rest of the acts of jojakim, and all that he did; are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of juda?

6. And Jojakim fell asleep with his father: [to wit, in Babel, or by the way, as he was carried bound to Babel, 2 Chron. 36.6. and without receiving burial as was fortold by Jeremie, jer.22.v.18,19.] and Jojakim his son [called also jechonia, 1 Chron.3. ver.16] and by way of contempt Chrona. Jer.22.24.] became king in his stead.

7. now the king of Egypt came thereforth no more out of his hand: [this relation is made to shew, that the king of Juda could expect aid from Egypt against the king of Babel. It’s true indeed, that in Zedekia’s time he attempted to do somewhat but in vain being stopt by the Chaldeans. Jer.37.6,7.] for the king of Babel had taken from the river of Egypt, [called Sichor: see Jos.13.3.] unto the river Phratth, [otherw. Called Euphrates: see gen.2 on ver.14] all that was the king of Egypt.

8. Jojachin was eighteen years old, [Heb. A son of eighteen years] when he became king, [to wit, alone (as some of the learned judge) king in full and absolute power after the death of his father. Oth. When he was about the age of 8years, his father made him king in the midst of so many troubles to settle and confirm the kingdome in his own house and continued so king for ten yeares together, that is until his father died, for which cause it is said, that he was eight years old when he became king, 2 chron. 36.v.9.] and reigned three moneths at Jerusalem; [and ten dayes, 2 Chron.36.9. thus often times an even number is put for an odde. See gen. 15.13 and 1 kings 16.8. with the annotate] and his mother’s name was Nehustha, a daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

9. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father had done.

10. At that time [To wit, at the return of the year, 2 chron.36.10. that is, at the coming on or beginning of the summer. See 1 kings 20 on v.22.] the servant of Nebuchadnezar King to Babel marched toward Jerusalem; and the city was besieged. [Heb. Came in siege; that is, came to be besieged or was besieged: so below chap.25.2.]

11. Nebuchadnezar king of Babel came himself against the city when his servants besieged it.

12. Then Jojakim king of Juda went to the king of Babel, he and his mother and his servants and his princess and his courtiers: [it’s conceived that he did this by the prophet Jeremie’s advice, that the temple and the people might not be utterly destroyed] and the king of Babel took him (captive) [to wit, to keep him prisoner. See below chapter 25.27.] In the eighth year of his reign, [to wit, of king Nebuchadnezar’s reign, not of Jojachins. For Jojachin reigned but three moneths and ten dayes, in full and absolute power. See above on verse 7. compare also below chap.25.8]

13. And he [namely, Nebuchadnezar] carried out thence [i.e. from Jerusalem] all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house; and be cut down all [i.e. ornaments, of almost all, a great part; as appeareth below, chapter 25.15] the golden vessel, [the word rendred here cutting down, signifieth properly casting off, or shortening off but is also further taken for taking away. The meaning is, that he took away those vessels and robbed the temple of them. That he left some whole and undefaced, appeareth by Dan.5.v2.3.] which Solomon the king of Israel had made the temple of the Lord according as the Lord had spoken. [see above chapter 20.17 and Jer.20.5.]

14. And he carried away all Jerusalem. [that is, the most part of the inhabitants and the chiefest. Compare Matth.3.5.] together with all the princess and with all the warlike champions. [so Judges.6.12 and above chap.51. the Hebrew words may be also understood of those that are wealthy or of a great and mighty estate, as Ruth 2:1.] ten thousand prisoners, [that is, the whole sum of the prisoners which hereafter vers16 is set down distinctly] and all the carpenter and smiths; [or lock-markers. See further Jer.24 on v.1.] None remained save the poor people of the land. [Heb, the thinness of the people of the land. So below chap.25.12. Jer.40.7 & 52.16 that is, of poorest meanst basesth and most exhausted people of the land.]

15. So he carried away Jojachin to Babel, together with the king’s mother and the king’s wives and his courtiers, beside the mighty of the land he carried captive from Jerusalem to babel.

16. And all the men of valor seven thousand and Carpenters and smiths a thousand, (and) all the champions that were exercised in war: [Heb. That did the war, that is followed the war. See above chap.12. on verse 21.] these that the king of Babel brought captive to Babel.

17. And the king of Babel made Mattania his uncle [to wit, his father’s brother] king in his stead and changed. [Heb. Turned about. So above chapter 23.34. and 2 Chron. 364.] his name into Zedkiah. [Heb.Tsidkiabu]

18. Zedkia was one and twenty years old, when he became king and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem and his mother’s name was Hamatal, [as above chapter 23.31. oth. Hamital. The mother of Joahaz so that Zedekia and joahaz were own brothers. Both by father and mother] a daughter of Jeremia of Libna.

19. And he did that which evil in the eyes of the lord, according to all that Jojakim [this was Zedekia’s half brother, being both of one father, but not of one mother: see chap.23.36.] had done.

20. For it came to pass, because the anger of his Lord against Jerusalem, and against Juda until he had cast them away fom his face; [compare above chap.17. on v.18.] and Zedekia rebelled against the King of babel. [the Lord intending to punish the sins of the people of the Jewes, gave not to Zedekia the spirit of true repentance, but suffered him to fall so far, that through evil cousel and his own willfulness, he became perjured and revolted from King Nebuchadnezar.]