2 Kings 24:1-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 24:1-7

We have here the first mention of a name which makes a great figure both in the histories and in the prophecies of the Old Testament; it is that of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (2 Kgs. 24:1), that head of gold. He was a potent prince, and one that was the terror of the mighty in the land of the living; and yet his name would not have been known in sacred writ if he had not been employed in the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the Jews. I. He made Jehoiakim his tributary and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 24:8-20

This should have been the history of king Jehoiachin's reign, but, alas! it is only the history of king Jehoiachin's captivity, as it is called, Ezek. 1:2. He came to the crown, not to have the honour of wearing it, but the shame of losing it. Ideo tantum venerat, ut exiret?He came in only to go out. I. His reign was short and inconsiderable. He reigned but three months, and then was removed and carried captive to Babylon, as his father, it is likely, would have been if he had lived but so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 24:1

In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up ,.... Against Jerusalem; this was in the latter end of the third, or the beginning of the fourth of Jehoiakim's reign, and the first of Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah 25:1 , when Jehoiakim was taken, but restored upon promise of subjection and obedience, and hostages given, at which time Daniel and his companions were carried captive, with some of the vessels of the temple; See Gill on Daniel 1:1 , Daniel 1:2 . and Jehoiakim became his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 24:2

And the Lord sent against him ,.... By Nebuchadnezzar, against whom he rebelled: bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon ; who were all subject to the king of Babylon, or were voluntary troops in his service, and bore an hatred to the Jews: according to Eupolemus F15 Apud Euseb. Evangel. Praepar. l. 9. c. 39. p. 454. , this army consisted of Medes and Babylonians, and, besides 10,000 chariots, there were in it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 24:3

Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight ,.... It was the sure and certain decree of God they should be carried captive, and therefore he stirred up the spirit of Nebuchadnezzar, and gave him orders to go against it: for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did ; which were still continued among the Jews, and committed by them, though repented of by Manasseh, and he returned from them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 24:4

And also for the innocent blood that he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood ,.... See 2 Kings 21:16 which cruel usage of the prophets, and servants of the Lord, was still continued; see Jeremiah 26:21 , which the Lord would not pardon ; he pardoned the sins of Manasseh, who repented, but not the sins of those persons who imitated him, but repented not; or though he personally pardoned the sins of Manasseh, so that he was saved everlastingly, yet the temporal punishment... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 24:5

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim ,.... In 2 Chronicles 36:8 , it is added, "his abominations, and that which was found in him": which besides his rebellion against the king of Babylon, and his shedding innocent blood, is interpreted of marks made in his body for superstitious and idolatrous purposes; so Lyra. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 24:6

So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers ,.... He died as they did, but was not buried with them, and indeed had no burial at all, according to the prophecy of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 22:18 for, falling into the hands of the king of Babylon, he was bound in chains, in order to be carried to Babylon, but died as soon as he came out of Jerusalem, at the gates of which he was cast, and had no burial, 2 Chronicles 36:6 . At this time also some of the vessels of the temple were carried away, and put in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 24:7

And the king of Egypt came not any more out of his land ,.... To receive the tribute he imposed on the land of Judah, or to help the kings there of, Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin; not till the times of Zedekiah, and then was obliged to retire, without giving any assistance, Jeremiah 37:7 the reason follows: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt ; all that lay between the river Nile, or the Rhinocolura, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 24:8

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign ,.... In 2 Chronicles 36:9 he is said to be but eight years old; which may be reconciled by observing, that he might be made and declared king by his father, in the first year of his reign, who reigned eleven years, so that he was eight years old when he began to reign with him, and eighteen when he began to reign alone F17 So in Seder Olam Rabba, c. 25. . Dr. Lightfoot F18 Works, vol. 1. p. 122. gives another solution of... read more

Group of Brands