_A.M. 3404. B.C. 600._ Judah severely punished, 2 Kings 24:1. Jehoiakim dies, 2 Kings 24:5; 2 Kings 24:6. Nebuchadnezzar's conquests, 2 Kings 24:7. The wicked reign of Jehoiachin, 2 Kings 24:8; 2 Kings 24:9. Nebuchadnezzar takes Jerusalem, and carries the people captive, 2 Kings 24:10. The wicked r... [ Continue Reading ]
_In his days_ That is, in Jehoiakim's reign; and, according to Daniel 1:1, compared with Jeremiah 25:1, in the end of the third, or the beginning of the fourth year of it; _came up Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon_ Son of Nebopolassar, who, having subdued Assyria, soon made himself absolute monarch o... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldees_ Including, probably, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, who were all now subject to the king of Babylon, and many of them engaged as soldiers in his service. Doubtless they were ordered by Nebuchadnezzar to attack and chastise Jehoiakim and the revolt... [ Continue Reading ]
_To remove them out of his sight for the sins of Manasseh_ Properly and directly for their own sins, and remotely for the sins of Manasseh; who had so corrupted the whole body of the people, that they were become incurable, and Josiah's reformation had no lasting influence to recover them: for, imme... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers_ But it is not said he was buried with them. No doubt the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled, that he should not be lamented as his father was, but _buried with the burial of an ass. Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead_ Called also Jechoniah, 1 Chronicles 3:1... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king of Egypt came not again out of his_ own _land_ In this king's days. He could not now come to protect the king of Judah, being scarce able to defend his own kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign_ In 2 Chronicles 36:9, it is said that he was _eight years old_ when he began to reign. But as both the Syriac and Arabic versions in that place read _eighteen_, it seems most reasonable to believe that the transcriber of the book of Chronicl... [ Continue Reading ]
_The servants of Nebuchadnezzar came up against Jerusalem_ Either, 1st, Because the people had made Jehoiachin king without his consent: or, 2d, Because he had some notice, or at least a suspicion, of his intentions to rebel and join with Egypt against him, as Zedekiah his successor did. But whateve... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoiachin went out to the king of Babylon_ Yielded up himself and the city into his hands; and this by the counsel of Jeremiah, and to his own good. _In the eighth year of his reign_ Of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, as appears by comparing this with 2 Kings 25:8; and because Jehoiachin reigned not half... [ Continue Reading ]
_He carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the Lord _ Nebuchadnezzar carried away the treasures and rich furniture of the temple at three different times: First, In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, when he first took Jerusalem, he carried a part of the vessels of the house of... [ Continue Reading ]
_He carried away all Jerusalem_ That is, the inhabitants of Jerusalem; not simply _all_, but the best and most considerable part, as the following words explain and restrain it. _Even ten thousand captives_ Which are more particularly reckoned up 2 Kings 24:16, where there are seven thousand _mighty... [ Continue Reading ]
_And changed his name to Zedekiah_ That he might admonish him of (what his name signifies) _the justice of God_, which had so severely punished Jehoiakim for his rebellion; and would no less certainly overtake him, if he should be guilty of the same perfidiousness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He reigned eleven years_ In the end of which he was carried captive, Jeremiah 1:3. _He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord_ Not regarding the reproofs, exhortations, or predictions of Jeremiah, but shutting him up in prison, Jeremiah 33:1; 2 Chronicles 36:12. And his servants, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
_For through the anger of the Lord_, &c. God was so highly displeased with this wicked people, that he permitted Zedekiah to break his faith with Nebuchadnezzar, and to rebel against him, forgetting for what cause he changed his name. Unto this revolt, it is probable, he was persuaded by the ambassa... [ Continue Reading ]