Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 25

After 37 years, Babylon’s king frees Jehoiachin

2 Kings 25:27-30

King Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylon, the most powerful nation in the world, for more than 40 years. Some of the people that he took from Judah, became loyal officials in his government. They included the prophet (holy man) Daniel.

Evil-Merodach became king after him. When he began his rule, he decided to free some prisoners. So, his officials brought to his attention the situation of Jehoiachin. For 37 years, Jehoiachin had been in prison in Babylon. When he was 18 years old, Jehoiachin ruled Judah for 3 months.

Unlike his father, Jehoiachin did not choose to oppose Babylon’s king. His only crime was to defend his city against Babylon’s army. He went to prison as part of the peace agreement that he made with Nebuchadnezzar (24:8-12).

King Evil-Merodach decided that he wanted to give honour to Jehoiachin. Judah’s people were some of Babylon’s most loyal citizens and Jehoiachin deserved honour as their leader. If Babylon had not defeated Judah, Jehoiachin would have remained their king. He came from a royal family – the family of David – that had ruled continuously for almost 400 years.

Evil-Merodach was pleased that the kings and former kings of so many nations were now loyal to him. He gave honour to such men – but he gave an even greater honour to Jehoiachin. He decided that Jehoiachin should eat with him, his sons and his most important officials at the royal table. So Jehoiachin left the prison, like Joseph before him (Genesis 41:1-43), to become a royal official in a great and powerful country.

This book is in EasyEnglish Level B (2800 words), which was developed by Wycliffe Associates (UK).

July 2026

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