2 Kings 24

1 in diebus eius ascendit Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis et factus est ei Ioiachim servus tribus annis et rursum rebellavit contra eum

2 inmisitque ei Dominus latrunculos Chaldeorum et latrunculos Syriae latrunculos Moab et latrunculos filiorum Ammon et inmisit eos in Iudam ut disperderent eum iuxta verbum Domini quod locutus erat per servos suos prophetas

3 factum est autem hoc per verbum Domini contra Iudam ut auferret eum coram se propter peccata Manasse universa quae fecit

4 et propter sanguinem innoxium quem effudit et implevit Hierusalem cruore innocentium et ob hanc rem noluit Dominus propitiari

5 reliqua autem sermonum Ioiachim et universa quae fecit nonne haec scripta sunt in libro sermonum dierum regum Iuda et dormivit Ioiachim cum patribus suis

6 regnavitque Ioiachin filius eius pro eo

7 et ultra non addidit rex Aegypti ut egrederetur de terra sua tulerat enim rex Babylonis a rivo Aegypti usque ad fluvium Eufraten omnia quae fuerant regis Aegypti

8 decem et octo annorum erat Ioiachin cum regnare coepisset et tribus mensibus regnavit in Hierusalem nomen matris eius Naestha filia Helnathan de Hierusalem

9 et fecit malum coram Domino iuxta omnia quae fecerat pater eius

10 in tempore illo ascenderunt servi Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis in Hierusalem et circumdata est urbs munitionibus

11 venitque Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis ad civitatem cum servi eius obpugnarent eam

12 egressusque est Ioiachin rex Iuda ad regem Babylonis ipse et mater eius et servi eius et principes eius et eunuchi eius et suscepit eum rex Babylonis anno octavo regni sui

13 et protulit inde omnes thesauros domus Domini et thesauros domus regiae et concidit universa vasa aurea quae fecerat Salomon rex Israhel in templo Domini iuxta verbum Domini

14 et transtulit omnem Hierusalem et universos principes et omnes fortes exercitus decem milia in captivitatem et omnem artificem et clusorem nihilque relictum est exceptis pauperibus populi terrae

15 transtulit quoque Ioiachin in Babylonem et matrem regis et uxores regis et eunuchos eius et iudices terrae duxit in captivitatem de Hierusalem in Babylonem

16 et omnes viros robustos septem milia et artifices et clusores mille omnes viros fortes et bellatores duxitque eos rex Babylonis captivos in Babylonem

17 et constituit Matthaniam patruum eius pro eo inposuitque nomen ei Sedeciam

18 vicesimum et primum annum aetatis habebat Sedecias cum regnare coepisset et undecim annis regnavit in Hierusalem nomen matris eius erat Amithal filia Hieremiae de Lobna

19 et fecit malum coram Domino iuxta omnia quae fecerat Ioiachim

20 irascebatur enim Dominus contra Hierusalem et contra Iudam donec proiceret eos a facie sua recessitque Sedecias a rege Babylonis

2 Kings 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

Jehoiakim subdued by Nebuchadnezzar. (1-7) Jehoiachim captive in Babylon. (8-20)

Verses 1-7 If Jehoiakim had served the Lord, he had not been servant to Nebuchadnezzar. If he had been content with his servitude, and true to his word, his condition had been no worse; but, rebelling against Babylon, he plunged himself into more trouble. See what need nations have to lament the sins of their fathers, lest they smart for them. Threatenings will be fulfilled as certainly as promises, if the sinner's repentance prevent not.

Verses 8-20 Jehoiachin reigned but three months, yet long enough to show that he justly smarted for his fathers' sins, for he trod in their steps. His uncle was intrusted with the government. This Zedekiah was the last of the kings of Judah. Though the judgments of God upon the three kings before him might have warned him, he did that which was evil, like them. When those intrusted with the counsels of a nation act unwisely, and against their true interest, we ought to notice the displeasure of God in it. It is for the sins of a people that God hides from them the things that belong to the public peace. And in fulfilling the secret purposes of his justice, the Lord needs only leave men to the blindness of their own minds, or to the lusts of their own hearts. The gradual approach of Divine judgments affords sinners space for repentance, and believers leisure to prepare for meeting the calamity, while it shows the obstinacy of those who will not forsake their sins.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 24

This chapter relates the rebellion of Jehoiakim against the king of Babylon, which prepared the way for the ruin of the kingdom of Judah, according to the decree of God, and also the death of Jehoiakim, and the conquest the king of Babylon made of part of the land of the king of Egypt, 2Ki 24:1-7 and the short and wicked reign of Jehoiachin his son, when he and the royal family, with great numbers of the inhabitants of the land, were carried captive to Babylon, 2Ki 24:8-16, and his uncle was made king in his room, 2Ki 24:17-20.