College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
2 Kings 25:27-30
C. THE RELEASE OF KING JEHOIACHIN 25:27-30
TRANSLATION
(27) And it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon in his accession year lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah from the prison. (28) And he spoke kindly with him, and he put his throne above the kings which were with him in Babylon. (29) And he changed his prison garments, and did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. (30) And his allowance was a continual allowance given him by the king day by day all the days of his life.
COMMENTS
The Book of Kings closes with an account of the release of King Jehoiachin who had been taken to Babylon in 597 B.C. Until the end of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Judah was kept in prison. But when the Great King died in 562 B.C. his son Evil-Merodach[702] (stupid one of Marduk) lifted up the head of Jehoiachin, i.e., restored him to royal favor, and ordered him released from prison. According to the precise chronological information recorded here, this encouraging development occurred on the twenty-seventh day[703] of the twelfth month in the thirty-seventh year of Jehoiachin's captivity (2 Kings 25:27). It may be that Daniel and the other highly esteemed Jews at the Babylonian court used their influence to secure the release of the imprisoned king. This might also account for the favor bestowed upon Jehoiachin when his throne was placed above the thrones of the other captive kings in Babylon. The presence of these kings each on a throne of honor was thought to enhance the dignity of Evil-Merodach (2 Kings 25:28). The Babylonian king supplied suitable garments to the released monarch and invited him to dine daily at his royal table. Jehoiachin enjoyed this dignity until the day of his death (2 Kings 25:29). In addition, Jehoiachin received a daily allowance[704] of all that he needed for himself and his family, besides the food which he enjoyed at the royal table (2 Kings 25:30). The release and subsequent elevation of Jehoiachin no doubt bolstered the morale of the Jewish captives and made them ever more confident that one day God would fulfill His promise to put an end to their banishment and restore them to their native land.
[702] Evil-Merodach is a parody on the actual name of this king which was Amel-Marduk (man of Marduk).
[703] Jeremiah 52:31 reads twenty-fifth day. Perhaps Jeremiah refers to the day the official decree was signed which laid the legal foundation for the release; the other account, the actual day that King Jehoiachin left the prison.
[704] Contemporary economic documents discovered in Nebuchadnezzar's palace contain lists of the daily rations of food given to the royal prisoners from various lands. Jehoiachin and his five sons are mentioned in these texts. In comparison to the quantity of rations given to other prisoners, Jehoiachin and his sons faired very well indeed.
THE CHRONOLOGY OF JUDAH [705]
[705] Based on information contained in Finegan, HBC.
609-587 B.C.
YEAR
MONTH/DAY
REFERENCE
EVENT
609
June ?
2 Kings 23:29-30 2 Chronicles 35:20-24
Josiah killed at Megiddo
609
June-August ?
Reign of Jehoahaz
609
August ?
Jehoiakim became king. His first official year began in October 609.
605
May/June
Jeremiah 25:1; Jeremiah 46:2 DOTT, p. 79
Battle of Carchcmish -fourth year of Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar smashed army of Pharaoh Necho.
605
August 15
DOTT, p. 79
Nabopolassar died in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar returned home to be crowned king. He ascended the throne on September 7.
604
May/June
DOTT, p.,79 Daniel 1:1; 2 Kings 24:1
Jehoiakim submitted to Nebuchadnezzar. The first deportation to Babylon.
At this point Jehoiakim seems to have adopted the Babylonian method of counting regnal years from the spring. Presumably Jehoiakirn's fifth year was extended to the following spring, i.e., the spring of 603 B.C. The key to the chronology of Judah during this period is Jeremiah 25:1 which equates Jehoiakim year 4 with Nebuchadnezzar's accession year.
YEAR
MONTH/DAY
REFERENCE
EVENT
601
ANET, p. 564 2 Kings 24:1
Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians; Jehoiakim rebelled after serving Nebuchadnezzar three years604-601 B.C.
598
Dec. 9
Jehoiakim died.
598-597
Dec. 9-March 16
Jehoiachin reigned three months and ten days.
598
After Dec. 18
DOTT, p. 80
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem.
597
March 16
DOTT, p. 80
Jerusalem surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiachin taken captive.
597
March 16-
April 13
The accession year of Zedekiah.
597
April 13
The first day of Nisan when Zedekiah began his first official year of reign.
588
Jan. 15
2 Kings 25:1
Jeremiah 39:1
Ezekiel 24:1
Beginning of the final siege of Jerusalem.
587
July 29
Babylonians make a breach in the walls of Jerusalem.
587
August 25
2 Kings 25:8
Jer. 53:12
Jerusalem burned.