The tragedy that befell Jehoiachin was predicted by the prophet Jeremiah. “So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table” (2 Kings 25:29). Evil-Merodach had become king of Babylon (2 Kings 25:27 Jeremiah 52:31), and he “spoke kindly” to Jehoiachin and gave the imprisoned king a seat of honor at his table and a daily allowance (2 Kings 25:28–30 Jeremiah 52:32–34). Thirty-seven years after his deportation, Jehoiachin was given some freedom in Babylon. More exiles were carried off, and the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem’s walls and burned the temple and the palaces (2 Kings 25:9–10 2 Chronicles 36:19 Jeremiah 52:13–14). After eleven years of Zedekiah’s rule, Jerusalem fully fell to Nebuchadnezzar. Zedekiah was rebellious against God and against King Nebuchadnezzar (2 Chronicles 36:12–13). With Jehoiachin imprisoned in Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar installed Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, on the throne. Nebuchadnezzar also took ten thousand others into exile, leaving only the poorest behind, and he raided the temple (2 Kings 24:13–14 2 Chronicles 36:10). In this second deportation of Jews from Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin prisoner along with his mother, his wives, his officials, and the leading men in Judah (2 Kings 24:16). All this happened in accordance with the things prophesied against Judah due to the sins of Manasseh (2 Kings 24:2–4 2 Chronicles 36:15–21). Jehoiachin succeeded his father, Jehoiakim, in Jerusalem, but his rule was short-lived as King Nebuchadnezzar laid siege against Jerusalem and the young king along with the queen mother and the royal officials surrendered to Babylon (2 Kings 24:10–12). Babylon took over, and Egypt stood down (2 Kings 24:7). In response, the Babylonians proceeded to attack Judah, and God sent Aramean, Moabite, and Amonite raiders against Judah as well (2 Kings 24:2). Jehoiakim became Nebuchadnezzar’s vassal for three years, but then he rebelled. During Jehoiakim’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Jerusalem. King Jehoiakim reigned for eleven years and did evil in God’s eyes (2 Kings 24:36–37 2 Chronicles 36:5). Pharaoh Neco also imposed a levy on Judah, which Jehoiakim paid by taxing the people heavily. Pharaoh Neco had taken Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah who initially succeeded him, captive and placed Eliakim, whose name he changed to Jehoiakim, on the throne instead. Jehoiachin’s father, Jehoiakim (formerly named Eliakim), was a son of the good king Josiah.
He was eighteen years old when he began to rule and did evil in the eyes of the Lord (2 Chronicles 36:9 2 Kings 24:8–9). King Jehoiachin, also referred to as Jeconiah and Coniah, ruled in Judah for three months and ten days (2 Chronicles 36:9) in 597 BC before he was taken captive to Babylon.