2 Reis 24
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Reis 24
NJB (MT versing) Babylon Controls Jehoiakim Judah Overrun by Enemies The First Fall of Jerusalem and the First Deportations King Jehoiakim of Judah (23:25-24:7) The Reign of Jehoiakim in Judah (609-598) (23:36-24:7) 24:1-5 24:1-4 24:1-7 24:1-4 24:1-4 Jehoiachin Reigns 24:5-7 24:5-6 24:5-6 24:6-7 24:7 24:7 The Reign and Captivity of Jehoiachin King Jehoiachin of Judah Introduction to the Reign of Jehoiachin (598-597) 24:8-9 24:8-9 24:8-9 24:8-9 24:8-9 Deportation to Babylon The First Deportation 24:10-14 24:10-12 24:10-12 24:10-14 24:10-12 The Captivity of Jerusalem 24:13-16 24:13-17 24:13-16 24:15-16 24:15-16 24:17 Zedekiah Made King Zedekiah Reigns in Judah Introduction to the Reign of Zedekiah in Judah (598-587) 24:17 24:17 24:17 The Reign of Zedekiah King Zedekiah of Judah 24:18-20 24:18-20 24:18-20 24:18-20 24:18-20 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Jehoiakim was placed on the throne by Pharaoh Necho II after the death of King Josiah. Egypt lost the battle to the Neo-Babylon army at Carchemish in northern Syria, but on the way home, took time to ravage Judah. Jehoiakim took advantage of a very debilitating battle between Egypt and Neo-Babylon on Egypt's border three years after Egypt's defeat at Carchemish in 605 B.C. (cf. Jer. 46:2-12) to rebel against Babylon. Jehoiakim died (exactly how is uncertain but note Jer. 22:18-19; 36:30-31) and his hapless son was placed on the throne, but three months later Nebuchadnezzar II returned and besieged Jerusalem. It fell in 605 B.C. the first time and finally under Zedekiah in 587 or 586 B.C. There were several deportations (i.e., 605, 597, 586, 582). See below. There were several deportations of Judeans to Neo-Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar II. 605 B.C. ‒ Jehoiakim and Daniel with his three friends 597 B.C. ‒ Jehoiachin and thousands of artisans 586 B.C. ‒ Zedekiah and the general population taken and the city of Jerusalem and the temple destroyed 582 B.C. ‒ at the assassination of the Babylonian-appointed Judean governor, Gedaliah, even more rural people were deported For further information on Zedekiah's reign, see 2 Chronicles 36 and Jeremiah 39:1-4; Jeremiah 52.
2 Reis 24:1-5
24:1 "Nebuchadnezzar" He is known to modern historians as Nebuchadnezzar II. He was also known in his own day as "Rezzar." His name means "Nebo is the protector of my offspring" (BDB 613, AB, p. 306). He reigned from 605-562 B.C. ▣ "king of Babylon" At this time he was not king but crown prince, because his father, Nabopolassar was not yet dead. He died in 605 B.C. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF BABYLON ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV. JPSOA "came up" TEV, NJB "invaded" "an attack was launched" "went up" "came up against Jerusalem" The problem is that the expected OBJECT has dropped out of the MT. AB, p. 306, suggests the easiest solution is "against him" (i.e., Jehoiakim in Jerusalem). ▣ "Jehoiakim" His name is Eliakim, meaning "God sets up" (BDB 45), but it was changed to the throne name, Jehoiakim, meaning "YHWH sets up" (BDB 220). ▣ "rebelled against him" We learn from "The Babylonian Chronicles," which were found in 1956, of a very costly battle three years after Carchemish (i.e., 605 B.C.) between Babylon and Egypt on Egypt's border. See Edwin Yamauchi, The Stones and the Scriptures, p. 83. 24:2 The MT has "and YHWH sent against him," but the LXX thinks the antecedent is Nebuchadnezzar. The Peshitta has "and the Lord stirred up" (cf. 2 Kgs. 21:12-15). YHWH is in control of historical events (i.e., Isa. 45:7; Amos 3:6). Physical and spiritual creation are in His hands! ▣ "bands" This refers to guerilla military units from surrounding countries working for Nebuchadnezzar II, who was fighting elsewhere. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHALDEANS ▣ "which He had spoken through His servants the prophets" This is referring to 2 Kgs. 23:27 and possibly 2 Kgs. 21:13-15. ▣ "the command of the Lord" In Hebrew theology there is great emphasis put on the spoken word. It was the method of creation (Genesis 1). It always accomplishes its purpose (cf. Isa. 55:9-11). It became the name of YHWH's Messiah ("the word," cf. 1 John 1). There is a MSS variant here. command of ‒ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, JPSOA ‒ פי anger of ‒ NJB, LXX, Peshitta ‒ אף The UBS Text Project, p. 380, suggests both of these readings are ancient and cannot choose between them. The "anger of the Lord" does appear in v. 20. 24:3 "because of the sins of Manasseh" We learn from 2 Chronicles 33:11-19 that Manasseh personally repented late in his life but his legacy to his people was idolatry and rebellion (cf. 2 Kgs. 21:11-14; 23:26; Jer. 15:4). 24:4 "innocent blood" This is referring to Manasseh's sin (cf. 2 Kgs. 21:16) but possibly Jehoiakim (cf. Jer. 22:17). It may refer to children offered to Molech prophets being killed God's faithful killed ▣ "the Lord would not forgive" God will forgive the repentant, as Manasseh shows, but not the stiff necked, rebellious sinner. These people sinned in the presence of great light. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE UNPARDONABLE SIN SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SIN UNTO DEATH
2 Reis 24:6-7
24:6 "So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers" In Jeremiah 36:30 he went unburied, but note the LXX of 2 Chr. 36:8. See notes in Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 213-214. ▣ "Jehoiachin" His name means "YHWH established" (BDB 220) but he was also called Coniah (BDB 220, cf. Jer. 22:24) or Jeconiah (BDB 220, cf. 1 Chr. 3:16; Matt. 1:11-12). 24:7 "the brook of Egypt" This does not refer to the Nile but Wadi El-Arish, located in modern Gaza. This is the southern boundary of the Promised Land (cf. Gen. 15:18; Num. 34:5; 1 Kgs. 8:65). ▣ "to the river Euphrates" Here, we are speaking of its head waters in Syria.
2 Reis 24:8-9
24:8 "eighteen years old" In 2 Chr. 36:9 it has "eight years old." Because of his wives mentioned in v. 15, "eighteen" seems correct. See notes in Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 214-216. I have included my exegetical note from 2 Chr. 36:9. 2 Chr. 36:9 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA, REB "eight" TEV, NJB, LXX, Peshitta "eighteen" The MT has "eight," which the UBS Text Project, p. 490, gives a "B" rating (some doubt). The older age comes from 2 Kgs. 24:8 and the ancient versions and some Hebrew MSS. The MT has "eight," which is apparently an ancient scribal error (i.e., "ten," BDB 797 dropped out of the text). eight (BDB 1032) ‒ שׁמנה eighteen (i.e., "eight" and "ten") ‒ שׁמנה עשׂרה See Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 214-215. ▣ "Nehushta" The name (BDB 639) means "support." In Jeremiah 13:18 she is called "Queen Mother." ▣ "Elnathan" He was a leader under Jehoiakim (cf. Jer. 26:22; 36:12,25).
2 Reis 24:10-14
24:12 "went out to" He surrendered in 597 B.C. ▣ "his captains" This refers to Judah's professional military officers. Verse 16 also denotes Judah's best soldiers were also exiled, as were "the craftsmen" who could build more weapons (Jewish Study Bible, p. 776). Daniel and his three friends would have also been exiled at this time. See R. K. Harrison, Old Testament Times, "The Exile," pp 255-269. I really like R. K. Harrison because he makes an attempt to relate the OT to its ANE context. 24:13 This may have been when the ark of the covenant was taken to Babylon (i.e., 597 B.C.). If not here, surely in 587 B.C., when the city and temple were completely destroyed. See note at v. 20. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT 24:14 "the poorest people of the land" This term usually refers to local leaders but here, because of v. 15, it seems to reflect the NT meaning of the lower social classes. ▣ NASB, NKJV, REB, JPSOA, LXX "craftsmen" "artisans" "skilled workers" "blacksmiths" "guardsmen" The MT has the NOUN (BDB 360, KB 358) which denotes artisans skilled in metal, stone, or wood. These are the very people who could help build the buildings and weaponry of Neo-Babylon. Also, it took Judah's skilled workers away and left the nation weakened. See NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 298-299. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, REB, JPSOA "smiths" TEV, NJB "blacksmiths" "metal workers" "he that encloses" "all the guard" The MT has the MASCULINE NOUN (BDB 698, KB 604 II). The root has been explained in two ways. "to close," "to shut" ‒ gatekeeper (Targums) from Arabic root ‒ "to roast" referring to "metal workers," "blacksmiths" Both possibilities relate to Nebuchadnezzar's attempting to cripple any military response from Judah in the future. See NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 295-296.
2 Reis 24:17
24:17 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, REB, JPSOA, Peshitta "his uncle" "his parental uncle" "his son" I have included my exegetical note from 2 Chr. 36:10. 2 Chr. 26:10 NASB, JPSOA "his kinsman" NKJV, NRSV, NJB, Peshitta "brother" "his uncle" REB, LXX "his father's brother" The MT has "brother" (BDB 26) but 2 Kgs. 24:17 calls him "uncle." The Hebrew term "brother" can mean "relative" (cf. Gen. 13:8; 14:14,16; 29:12,15; Num. 16:10; 18:2,6; 2 Sam. 19:12-13; 2 Chr. 22:8). ▣ "Mattaniah" He was the last available son of Josiah (cf. 1 Chr. 3:15; Jer. 25:1) to be the Davidic king. He was the third son ofo Josiah to rule as king of Judah. His name (BDB 682) means "gift of YHWH." ▣ "Zedekiah" His name meant "YHWH is righteous" (BDB 843). This king was very good to Jeremiah (cf. Jer. 38:14-28) in contrast to Jehoiakim, but he was not a godly king (cf. v. 19).
2 Reis 24:18-20
24:18 The text of 2 Kgs. 24:18-25:21 is used in Jeremiah 52. Jeremiah 39:1-10 repeats 2 Kgs. 25:1-12. 24:19 "He did evil in the sight of the Lord" His evil actions are specified in 2 Chr. 36:12-14. See notes online. 24:20 "the anger of the Lord" This is anthropomorphism but expresses truth that God's love can turn to wrath. SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE USED TO DESCRIBE GOD ▣ "He cast them out from His presence" This is a reference to God symbolically dwelling between the Cherubim on the lid of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies. This is a prelude to exile. ▣ "Zedekiah rebelled" This time Nebuchadnezzar II leveled everything in 587 or 586 B.C. Here again is the sad cycle of Judah's king trusting in Egypt for help.