Divided Kingdom II; Judah Alone Lesson 21 Jehoiakim / Jehoiachin / Zedekiah / (The prophet Jeremiah) (2 Kings 24; 2 Chron. 36)

Babylon; new world power

605 B.C.

604 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar becomes king of Babylon 601 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar goes back to Egypt to finish the struggle Babylonians severely defeated by Egypt; returns to Babylon

Jehoiakim’s Last Days  Jehoiakim became the vassal of Nebuchadnezzar for 3 years, and then turned and rebelled against him (24:1) (2 Kings 24:1-6; Jer. 22:18-19)  During this time, the LORD sent raiding bands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of the people of Ammon against Judah.

Moabites Chaldeans Ammonites Syrians

Jehoiakim’s Last Days  Jehoiakim became the vassal of Nebuchadnezzar for 3 years, and then turned and rebelled against him (24:1) (2 Kings 24:1-6; Jer. 22:18-19)  During this time, the LORD sent raiding bands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of the people of Ammon against Judah.  “Surely at the commandment of the LORD this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight…” (2 Kings 24:3)

Late 598 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar sets out again against Jerusalem Nebuchadnezzar raised the siege of Jerusalem long enough to repulse a effort by Egypt to support Jerusalem; apparently, Egypt never again will challenge the Babylonians (2 Kings 24:7)

Jehoiakim’s Last Days  At some point in time, Jehoiakim is placed in bronze fetters to be carried off to Babylon. (2 Chron. 36:6) (2 Kings 24:1-6; Jer. 22:18-19)

Jehoiakim’s Last Days “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: "He shall have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat of the day and the frost of the night.” (Jer. 36:30) (Jeremiah’s Prophecies about Jehoiakim) “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They shall not lament for him, Saying, 'Alas, my brother!' or 'Alas, my sister!' They shall not lament for him, Saying, 'Alas, master!' or 'Alas, his glory!' He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, Dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” (Jer. 22:18-19)

Jehoiachin (Coniah, Jeconiah)  Eighteen years old when he reigned in Jerusalem. Reigned for 3 months. Did evil in the sight of the LORD. (2 Kings 24:8-15; 25:27-30; 2 Chron. 36:9-10)  God states that its too late to save Jerusalem…(ref: Jer. 22:24-30)  Nebuchadnezzar comes up against Jerusalem as his servants were besieging it. He takes Jehoiachin prisoner. He is taken away to Babylon.

Jehoiachin (Coniah, Jeconiah)  All the treasures were taken from the temple and palace, including all the gold articles that Solomon had made for the temple. (2 Kings 24:8-15; 25:27-30; 2 Chron. 36:9-10)  Also taken away: captains and mighty men of valor; 10,000 captives; all the craftsmen and artisans; Jehoiachin’s mother and wives; Ezekiel.  All that was left was the poorest people of the land.

Jehoiachin (Coniah, Jeconiah)  After 37 years in exile, Evil-Merodach had become king in Babylon. He released Jehoiachin from prison.  From that time forward, Jehoiachin was given a place of honor higher than the other captive kings. He put aside his prison clothes and ate at the king’s table regularly.  Just as Jeremiah had predicted, there was never another man of his descendants to reign upon the throne in Jerusalem. (2 Kings 24:8-15; 25:27-30; 2 Chron. 36:9-10)

Zedekiah (Mattaniah)  Nebuchadnezzar appointed Mattaniah, the 3 rd son of Josiah and uncle to Jehoiachin, as successor to Jehoiachin. Nebuchadnezzar changed his name to Zedekiah.  He was 21 years old when he began to reign. He reigned 11 years. He was a very wicked man. (2 Kings 24:17-25:7; 2 Chron. 36:10-21)

Zedekiah (Mattaniah)  Although he is listed as a king, he was no more than a puppet under Nebuchadnezzar. (2 Kings 24:17-25:7; 2 Chron. 36:10-21)

Vision of two baskets of figs  The LORD shows Jeremiah a vision: (Jeremiah 24:1-10)  a basket of good, just-ripened figs  a basket of rotten figs, so bad they can not be eaten  Jeremiah and the people had been mourning for those taken away into captivity. The LORD says, don’t mourn for them, but for those remaining.

Vision of two baskets of figs  The good figs: they are the ones taken away into captivity. God will be with them and watch over them. He will bring them back to this land. He will build them up and not tear them down. (Jeremiah 24:1-10)

Vision of two baskets of figs  The rotten figs: they are the ones remaining in Judah… Zedekiah, his officials, and all remaining in Jerusalem. God will make them abhorred and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth. They will be a reproach and a byword. They will be destroyed. (Jeremiah 24:1-10)

Messages from Jeremiah  Jeremiah sends a letter to the captives giving them hope: (Jeremiah 29:1-32) Build houses; Plant gardens and eat their fruit. Get married and have children. Allow them to get married and have children. Multiply…do not let your numbers go down. Seek the peace of the city to which you have been carried. Pray to God for the city. If they enjoy peace, you will enjoy peace. Don’t listen to the false prophets among you. After 70 years, God will visit them (the captives) and cause them to come back to the land.

Messages from Jeremiah Chronological Note about length of captivity:  1 st prophecy about 70 year captivity: when the 1 st captives were taken (605 B.C.); (Jer. 25:1, 11-12)  2 nd prophecy about 70 year captivity: when the 2 nd group of captives were taken (597 B.C.); (Jer. 29:10)  3 rd prophecy about 70 year captivity: when the city of Jerusalem destroyed (586 B.C.), he states that the city will lay desolate until the seventy years were completed (2 Chron. 36:21) Even though the figure is given at three different times, it is counted from the days when the first captives were taken until the first captives returned (605 B.C. to 536/535 B.C.)

Promise of a Better Day / New Covenant  Although the chastisement had begun, the LORD saw a need to comfort His people. He speaks of deliverance. (Jeremiah 30-31)

Promise of a Better Day / New Covenant (Jeremiah 30-31) 'For it shall come to pass in that day,' Says the Lord of hosts, 'That I will break his yoke from your neck, And will burst your bonds; Foreigners shall no more enslave them. But they shall serve the Lord their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up for them. 'Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,' says the Lord, 'Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, And no one shall make him afraid. For I am with you,' says the Lord, 'to save you; (Jer. 30:8-11a)

Promise of a Better Day / New Covenant  But the deliverance would not come until the chastisement was complete, because Judah’s sins were many. But the day would come when the LORD would bring His people home. (Jeremiah 30-31)  In the day of restoration, the LORD promises to make a new covenant with the house of Israel & Judah.

Promise of a Better Day / New Covenant (Jeremiah 30-31) "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord…

Promise of a Better Day / New Covenant (Jeremiah 30-31) …But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jer. 31:31-34)

Conflict between Jeremiah & Hananiah  The LORD instructs Jeremiah to make a wooden yoke and wear it around his neck. (Jeremiah 27:1 – 28:17)  This was to illustrate the yoke of Babylon had been placed on them from God. If they would submit, then they could remain in their own land and prosper.

Conflict between Jeremiah & Hananiah  Later on, Hananiah speaks in the presence of the people and says… (Jeremiah 27:1 – 28:17)

Conflict between Jeremiah & Hananiah "Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: 'I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the Lord, 'for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.' " (Jer. 28:2-4) (Jeremiah 27:1 – 28:17)

Conflict between Jeremiah & Hananiah  Jeremiah answers, (Jeremiah 27:1 – 28:17) "Amen! The Lord do so; the Lord perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the Lord's house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place. Nevertheless…” (Jer.28:6-7a)

Conflict between Jeremiah & Hananiah  Jeremiah then proceeds to describe a true prophet of God: (Jeremiah 27:1 – 28:17) “As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent." (28:9)  Hananiah walks over to Jeremiah and breaks the yoke on his neck and repeats his prophecy that within 2 years the captivity would be over.

Conflict between Jeremiah & Hananiah  The LORD then speaks to Jeremiah and tells him to speak to Hananiah and tell him that although he broke the yoke of wood, now that will be replaced with a yoke of iron “because I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.” (Jeremiah 27:1 – 28:17)

Conflict between Jeremiah & Hananiah  Jeremiah then states that the LORD had not sent Hananiah and since he was making the people trust in a lie, he was going to be punished. (Jeremiah 27:1 – 28:17) “Therefore thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the Lord.' " So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. (28:16-17)

Lessons  The word of God is greater than the word of man  (Jer. 28:1-17); Isaiah 55:8-9; 1 Peter 1:22-25  Beware of false teachers  1 John 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:2-5