“Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and hereignedeleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zebidah, daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his ancestors had done.” ( 2 Kings 23: 36 -37 )

His reign took place during a time of political upheaval as Judah was caught between the growing empires of Egypt, Babylon, and Assyria. He initially became king under the influence of Pharaoh Necho after Josiah’s death at the Battle of Megiddo. Later, Jehoiakim became a vassal of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, as part of the shifting power dynamics. ( 2 Kings 23 :29 -34 )

I. Jehoiakim’s Appointment and Early Reign( 609 BC )

 Appointed by Pharaoh Necho II:

Jehoiakim’s reign began in 609 BC when Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt, afterreturning from the Battle of Harran, installed him as king of Judah. This followed the death of Jehoiakim’s brother Jehoahaz, who had reignedonlythree months before Necho deposed him and took himto Egypt.

Vassalage to Egypt:

Jehoiakim initially ruled as a vassal of Egypt, paying heavy tributetoPharaoh Necho II. This tribute was likely in the formof taxes imposedonthe people of Judah.

” To pay the king of Egypt, each one gave the silver and gold he was taxed to give according to the command of Pharaoh.”
 (2 Kings 23: 35 )

II. Switching Allegiances to Babylon ( 605 BC )

 Defeat of Egypt at Carchemish:

In 605 BC, the Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar II, defeated Egypt at theBattle of Carchemish, which drastically shifted the balance of power intheregion. After this defeat, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, andJehoiakim, realizing that Egypt’s influence was waning, switchedallegiances. He submitted to Babylonian rule to avoid the total destruction of Jerusalem.

 Tribute to Babylon:

To maintain peace, Jehoiakim paid tribute to Nebuchadnezzar. This tributecame from the royal treasury and included valuable temple artifacts, aswell as the royal family and other high-ranking officials as hostages whereDaniel is among those taken to Babylon.

 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—( Daniel 1: 1 -3 )

The Book of Daniel provides a glimpse into this period, where Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are taken to Babylon.

 Conflict with the Prophets (Jeremiah and Uriah)

Burning of Jeremiah’s Scroll

One of the most significant acts that illustrates Jehoiakim’s defianceagainstGod was his reaction to Jeremiah’s prophecies. The prophet dictatedascroll containing God’s judgment on Judah, which was read aloudtoJehoiakim. Instead of repenting, the king cut the scroll into pieces andburned it, refusing to heed the warnings. This act of burning the scroll issymbolic of Jehoiakim’s rejection of God’s word. ( Jeremiah 36 )

 Execution of Uriah:

Another prophet, Uriah ben Shemaiah, who had spoken out against Jehoiakim’s reign in a similar manner to Jeremiah, was hunted downandexecuted by the king.

 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath  Jearim was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD; he prophesied the same things again stthis city and this land as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim and all hisofficers and officials heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death. But Uriah heard of it and fled in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.
( Jeremiah 26 :20 -23 )

This illustrates Jehoiakim’s violent response to prophetic condemnation.

III. Jehoiakim’s Tyranny and Immorality

Rabbinical Depictions:

Rabbinical literature portrays Jehoiakim as a godless tyrant who indulged in immoral behavior, including incestuous relationships and brutal acts, such as murdering men and violating their wives. These descriptions, however, are extra-biblical and reflect a tradition of criticizing wicked rulers.

Murder and Oppression:

The Talmudic and Midrashic texts provide further details about Jehoiakim’s cruelty, which include accusations of tyranny, oppressing the poor, and violence against his own people. His reign is marked as one of great moral decay.

IV. Return to Egyptian Allegiance ( 601 BC )

 Failure of the Egyptian Invasion:

In 601 BC, Jehoiakim attempted to side with Egypt again, possibly in defiance of Babylonian control, but this effort was unsuccessful. Nebuchadnezzar had already defeated Egypt, and Jehoiakim’s switch of allegiance failed to maintain Judah’s sovereignty.

 V. Final Siege and Death ( 598 BC )

 Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Siege:

In 598 BC, Nebuchadnezzar II launched a second siege against Jerusalem, following Jehoiakim’s rebellion. The siege lasted for three months, but Jehoiakim died before it ended. 

 Jehoiakim rested with his ancestors. And Jehoiachin his son succeeded him as king.
( 2 Kings 24: 6 )

 Prophecy of Death and Burial:

The prophet Jeremiah foretold that Jehoiakim would die without the honor of a proper burial. Jeremiah’s prophecy suggests Jehoiakim would be left unburied, rejected, and dishonored.

Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’ 19 He will have the burial of a donkey— dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.”
( Jeremiah 22:18 -19 )

 Josephus’ Account:

The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus elaborates on Jehoiakim’s death, writing that Nebuchadnezzar ordered Jehoiakim’s body to be thrown out into the streets without burial, perhaps as a mark of humiliation and contempt.

VI. Aftermath and Succession

 Jehoiakim’s Son, Jeconiah (Jehoiachin):

After Jehoiakim’s death, his son Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin) ascended to the throne. However, Jeconiah’s reign lasted only three months before Nebuchadnezzar deposed him, fearing that Jeconiah might revolt in retaliation for his father’s death. Jeconiah, his family, and many of Judah’s citizens were exiled to Babylon.

 Installation of Zedekiah:

Nebuchadnezzar then installed Zedekiah, Jehoiakim’s younger brother, asking of Judah. Zedekiah, like his predecessor, would eventually rebel against Babylon, leading to the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

VII. Historical Context from the Babylonian Chronicles:

The Babylonian Chronicles provide a more secular historical account of these events, corroborating the biblical record. According to the chronicles, Jerusalem fell in 597 BC, which corresponds to the biblical dates of Jeconiah’s exile. The chronicles mention that Nebuchadnezzar installed Zedekiah and received tribute from the Judahite people before sending them to Babylon. In conclusion, Jehoiakim’s reign is a significant example of a king’s rejection of God’s guidance, which led to spiritual and national decline. His persistence in idolatry, disregard for prophetic warnings, and political instability contributed directly to Judah’s eventual destruction. As a ruler who ignored God’s word and resisted repentance, Jehoiakim’s reign marks a tragic chapter in Judah’s history, one that set the stage for the Babylonian exile and the fall of Jerusalem.