Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 23
After Josiah’s death, Judah would continue to exist as a nation for just 22 more years. During those 22 years, there were four kings. Three of them were sons of Josiah: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and the last king, Zedekiah. The other king was Jehoiakim’s son, called Jehoiachin, who ruled briefly after him (2 Chronicles 36:8-9).
Josiah’s death happened in a battle that he had started against the king of Egypt and his army. Jehoiakim was the oldest son, and normally he would have become king immediately after his father’s death. However, there was a serious disagreement between him and his brother Jehoahaz about what they should do about Egypt’s army. Jehoiakim wanted to make peace and to accept the king of Egypt’s authority over him. Jehoahaz argued that Judah should fight for its freedom from the king of Egypt.
The people in Judah did not want to pay taxes to the king of Egypt. So, they decided to choose Jehoahaz and not his older brother to be their new king. They even carried out the sacred ceremony called the anointing, to make him king (23:30). In this ceremony, they poured oil on Jehoahaz’s head. They intended this to mean that God’s Holy Spirit was coming upon him, to give him the power to rule their nation.
Although Jehoahaz accepted this ceremony, he did not really respect God. He was an evil man who did not obey God’s law. He wanted God to support his rule – but he depended on his political skill and the strength of his army, and not on God. So, his attitudes were very different from what Josiah’s attitudes had been.
Next part: Jehoiakim becomes king (2 Kings 23:33-35)
Please use the links at the top of the page to find our other articles in this series. You can download all our articles if you go to the download page for our free 1000+ page course book.
© 2026, Keith Simons.