Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 24

Babylon’s power increases

2 Kings 24:1

Jehoiakim became the king of Judah because he promised to support the king of Egypt (23:34-35). However, he was unable to remain loyal to Egypt for long.

Babylon’s army was quickly increasing its power with a series of successes in war against Assyria. Egypt’s army was also losing land that Egypt formerly controlled; soon Egypt’s army would have to return, in order to defend Egypt itself (24:7). Soon, Babylon would be the most powerful country in the world, and it would rule over many nations (Daniel 2:36-38).

In Jehoiakim’s third year as king of Judah, Babylon’s army attacked Jerusalem (Daniel 1:1-2). That was when Babylon’s army forced Daniel to leave Jerusalem, together with several young men from Judah’s principal families (see 2 Kings 20:18).

In Jehoiakim’s fourth year, Nebuchadnezzar became the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 25:1); and Babylon’s army defeated Egypt’s army (Jeremiah 46:2).

For three years, Jehoiakim agreed to support the king of Babylon and Judah’s people paid taxes to Babylon. Formerly, they had paid their taxes to Egypt (23:33-35). However, Jehoiakim hated Babylon and its power over him. He was waiting for an opportunity to oppose Babylon.

God’s prophets (holy men) had declared clearly that these events would happen. So, when Babylon increased in power, Jehoiakim blamed the prophets. He murdered Uriah the prophet (Jeremiah 26:20-23). He burned the book in which Jeremiah had recorded his messages from God (Jeremiah chapter 36).

2 Chronicles 36:6-7 records that Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiakim away to Babylon as a prisoner. In Jeremiah 22:18-19, God gave a message about Jehoiakim’s death. He would not receive an honourable grave among the royal graves in Jerusalem. Instead, people would simply throw away his body as if it were rubbish.

Next part: The real reason for Judah's troubles (2 Kings 24:2-4)

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