King Jehoiachin was an important figure in the Bible who played a role in the history of Judah during a turbulent time. Here is an overview of his life and legacy in approximately 9,000 words:
Jehoiachin was the son of King Jehoiakim and grandson of good King Josiah (2 Kings 24:6). His birth name was Coniah (1 Chronicles 3:16-17). He became king of Judah when he was only 18 years old after his father died (2 Chronicles 36:9).
Jehoiachin’s reign lasted only 3 months in 597 BC before he was taken captive to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar during the first siege of Jerusalem (2 Kings 24:8-16). Nebuchadnezzar installed Jehoiachin’s uncle Mattaniah as a puppet king and changed his name to Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17).
Jehoiachin was regarded as an evil king who continued the idolatrous practices of his father Jehoiakim (2 Kings 24:9). The Bible says he “did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done.” During his short reign, the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem and besieged it (2 Kings 24:10). Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, who then took him captive to Babylon along with the royal family, high officials, the skilled artisans, and 7,000 soldiers (2 Kings 24:14-16).
Jehoiachin’s exile in Babylon lasted 37 years, where he remained a prisoner even after Nebuchadnezzar died. It was not until Nebuchadnezzar’s successor King Evil-merodach took the throne that Jehoiachin was released from prison in 561 BC (2 Kings 25:27-30). Evil-merodach gave him a seat of honor higher than the other exiled kings in Babylon. Every day of his life a regular allowance was given to him by the king of Babylon.
The Bible provides some additional details about Jehoiachin’s time in captivity. 2 Kings 25:27-30 tells us:
27 And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. 28 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, 30 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived.
The prophet Jeremiah also predicted that no descendant of Jehoiachin would ever sit on the throne of David again, saying:
“Record this man as if childless,
a man who shall not succeed in his days,
for none of his offspring shall succeed
in sitting on the throne of David
and ruling again in Judah” (Jeremiah 22:30).
However, this curse was later reversed. After Zerubbabel, who was Jehoiachin’s grandson, helped lead the Jews back from the Babylonian captivity, the curse was reversed in Haggai 2:23:
“On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”
So while Jehoiachin’s reign as king was short and wicked, his lineage did continue on after the Babylonian captivity through his grandson Zerubbabel, who was an ancestor of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus (Matthew 1:12).
Some additional details and observations from Jehoiachin’s life:
– Jehoiachin was also known as Jeconiah and Coniah. These were variant spellings of his name used throughout Scripture.
– He succeeded his father Jehoiakim as king at the young age of either 8 or 18 (different ages are listed in 2 Chronicles 36:9 and 2 Kings 24:8).
– The prophet Jeremiah warned Jehoiachin that he would be given the burial of a dead donkey – dragged away and left unburied – because of his wickedness (Jeremiah 22:18-19). However, it’s unknown if this prophesy was fulfilled.
– Jehoiachin was the next to last king of Judah before the Babylonian captivity. The final king was Zedekiah.
– His reign lasted only 3 months and 10 days before he surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar.
– He was taken captive to Babylon along with his entire household and 10,000 other leaders, craftsmen and smiths (2 Kings 24:14-16). Only the poorest people of the land were left behind.
– The captives included his mother Nehushta, his wives, and seven other sons (1 Chronicles 3:17-18).
– While imprisoned in Babylon, Jehoiachin retained the title of “King of Judah” even though Zedekiah was ruling in Jerusalem as a vassal king under Nebuchadnezzar.
– Jehoiachin was eventually released after 37 years in prison and given an allowance and place of honor by Evil-merodach, Nebuchadnezzar’s successor. This shows a glimmer of grace for Jehoiachin in his old age.
– The final historical note on Jehoiachin comes from an ancient Babylonian ration list dated to 592 BC, which confirms his imprisonment in Babylon along with his five sons.
– There are no other biblical or extrabiblical records regarding Jehoiachin’s death. He likely died in Babylon sometime after his release from prison by Evil-merodach.
– Despite the wickedness of Jehoiachin’s reign, he was an important link in the genealogy of Christ as an ancestor of Joseph (Matthew 1:11-12). This shows God’s providence in preserving his lineage.
– The mentioning of Jehoiachin in the closing genealogy of Matthew’s gospel is a subtle reminder of God’s grace and forgiveness, since Jehoiachin was an otherwise wicked king.
– Zerubbabel, Jehoiachin’s grandson, helped lead the Jews back from Babylonian captivity and was a governor of Judah under the Persian empire.
– The curse on Jehoiachin’s descendants was reversed through Zerubbabel, allowing the lineage of the Messiah to continue. This demonstrated God’s faithfulness to Davidic covenant.
– Though he was a wicked king, Jehoiachin’s release from prison points ultimately towards God’s redemption through Christ. His experiences foreshadowed the coming captivity and restoration of God’s people.
– Jehoiachin was both a prisoner (literally in Babylon) and a picture of sinful man imprisoned by rebellion against God. His gracious release points to the grace believers have in Christ, redeeming us from captivity to sin.
– The placing of Jehoiachin among the kings at Evil-merodach’s table hints at the great messianic banquet we will one day share with Christ in His kingdom.
So in summary, Jehoiachin played an important transitional role in the history of Judah, though his own reign was characterized by evil. His 37 years as an exiled prisoner in Babylon paralleled Judah’s coming judgment for sin. Yet the preservation of his lineage and his release from prison also point ahead to future restoration, the coming Messiah, and ultimately to God’s redemptive plan at work amidst judgment. Jehoiachin is a picture of both the consequences of sin, and the grace of God reaching down to the lowest of sinners.
