2 Kings 23:34 - Exposition

And Pharaoh-Nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father. (On the general inclination of Oriental monarchs to support the hereditary principle, and to establish sons in their fathers' governments, even when the father's had been rebels or enemies, see Herod; 2 Kings 3:15 .) And turned his name to Jehoiakim. We may understand that Nechoh required him to take a new name, as a mark of subjection (comp. Genesis 41:45 ; Ezra 5:14 ; Daniel 1:7 ; and also 2 Kings 24:17 ), but left the choice of the name to himself. He made the change as slight as possible, merely substituting "Jehovah" for "El" as the initial element. The sense of the name remained the same, "God will set up." The idea that Nechoh was pleased with the new name on account of its apparent connection with the Egyptian moon-god, Aah (Menzel), is very fanciful. And took Jehoahaz away — i.e. carried him captive to Egypt (see Jeremiah 22:10 , Jeremiah 22:11 ; Ezekiel 19:4 ), a very common practice of Egyptian conquerors, and one often accompanied by extreme severities— and he cams to Egypt, and died there (see Jeremiah 22:12 , where this is prophesied).