Jehoiakim (Hebrew: יְהוֹיָקִים, Modern Tiberian "he whom Jehovah has set up", also sometimes spelled Jehoikim; Greek: Ιωακιμ; Latin: Joakim), c. 635-597 BC, reign 608-597 BC, was king of Judah. He was the second son of king Josiah by Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.[1] His birth name was Eliakim (Hebrew: אֶלְיָקִים, Modern {{{2}}} Tiberian {{{3}}}; Greek: Ελιακιμ; Latin: Eliakim).
On Josiah's death, Jehoiakim's younger brother Jehoahaz (or Shallum) was proclaimed king, but after three months (608 BC) pharaoh Necho II deposed him and replaced him with the eldest son, Eliakim,[2] who adopted the name Jehoiakim and became king at the age of twenty-five [1] in the same year. In the meantime, Jehoahaz was exiled to Egypt, where he died.[3]
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and reigned for eleven years to 598 BC [1][4] and was succeeded by this son Jeconiah, (also known as Jehoiachin), who reigned for only three months.[5][6]
Relations with regional powers
Jehoiakim was installed as king of Judah by pharaoh Necho II in 608 BC, who deposed his younger brother Jehoahaz after a reign of only three months and took him to Egypt, where he died.[2] Jehoiakim ruled originally as a vassal of the Egyptians, paying a heavy tribute. To raise the money he "taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments."[7]
However, when the Egyptians were defeated by the Babylonians at Carchemish in 605 BC, Jehoiakim changed allegiances, paying tribute to Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon.
After three years, with the Egyptians and Babylonians still at war, he switched back to the Egyptians and ceased paying the tribute to Babylon. In 599 BC, Nebuchadnezzar II invaded Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. In 598 BC, Jehoiakim died [4] and was succeeded by this son Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin). Jerusalem fell within three months.[5][6] Jeconiah was deposed by Nebuchadnezzar, who installed Zedekiah, Jehoiakim's elder brother, in his place. Jeconiah, his household, and many of the elite and craftsmen of Judah were exiled to Babylon.[8] while Zedekiah was compelled to pay tribute, and continued to be king of the devastated kingdom.
According to the Babylonian Chronicles[9], Jerusalem eventually fell on 2 Adar (March 16) 597 BC. The Chronicles state:
In the seventh month (of Nebuchadnezzar-599 BC.) in the month Chislev (Nov/Dec) the king of Babylon assembled his army, and after he had invaded the land of Hatti (Syria/Palestine) he laid siege to the city of Judah. On the second day of the month of Adar (16 March) he conquered the city and took the king (Jeconiah) prisoner. He installed in his place a king (Zedekiah) of his own choice, and after he had received rich tribute, he sent (them) forth to Babylon.[10]
History
He is known for burning the manuscript of one of the prophecies of Jeremiah.[11] Jeremiah had criticised the king's policies, insisting on repentance and strict adherence to the law. Another prophet, Uriah ben Shemaiah, proclaimed a similar message and was executed on the orders of the king. Jeremiah was spared from this fate, perhaps because he was well-connected.[12]
Jehoiakim
House of David
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Jehoahaz King of Judah
609 - 598 BC Succeeded by
Jeconiah
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