Jehoiachin
Jehoiachin was a young king of Judah who reigned only three months before surrendering to Nebuchadnezzar, who carried him, the royal household, and the treasures of Jerusalem to Babylon in the first great deportation. He spent decades as a captive, but the Bible's history ends on a note of grace: after thirty-seven years the Babylonian king Evil-merodach released him from prison and gave him a place of honor at his table.
Biography
- Occupation
- King of Judah
- Tribe
- Judah
- Father
- Jehoiakim
- Era
- Exile
- Nationality
- Israelite (Judah)
- Also Known As
- Jeconiah, Coniah
Family
Did You Know?
Jehoiachin reigned only three months before surrendering to Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC, and Babylonian ration tablets excavated at Babylon actually list 'Yaukin, king of the land of Judah' receiving oil and grain - striking confirmation of his exile.
After thirty-seven years in prison, he was released and given a seat above other kings at the Babylonian table (2 Kings 25:27-30), the hopeful final note on which the books of Kings end.
Though Jeremiah declared him 'childless' as far as the throne was concerned (Jeremiah 22:30), his grandson Zerubbabel led the return from exile, and he appears in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
Jehoiachin Exiled to Babylon
2 Kings 24:10-16
Jehoiachin surrenders Jerusalem, and he and its leading citizens are carried captive to Babylon.
10t that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
Jehoiachin Shown Favor
2 Kings 25:27-30
After long imprisonment, Evil-merodach lifts up Jehoiachin's head and grants him a daily portion - a glimmer of hope for David's line.
27nd it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;