2 Kings 24 1

2 Kings 24:1 kjv

In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.

2 Kings 24:1 nkjv

In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.

2 Kings 24:1 niv

During Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he turned against Nebuchadnezzar and rebelled.

2 Kings 24:1 esv

In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.

2 Kings 24:1 nlt

During Jehoiakim's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded the land of Judah. Jehoiakim surrendered and paid him tribute for three years but then rebelled.

2 Kings 24 verses

2 Kings 24 1 Meaning

In the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, initiated his military campaign against the Levant, specifically conquering Judah. As a result, Jehoiakim was forced to submit to Babylonian rule, serving as a loyal vassal for three years. However, after this period, Jehoiakim, defying the divine will revealed through prophets like Jeremiah, rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar's authority.

2 Kings 24 1 Context

2 Kings 24:1 stands as a pivotal verse in the historical account of the decline of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, leading to the Babylonian Exile. The preceding chapters (2 Kings 22-23) detail the righteous reign of Josiah and the rediscovery of the Law, followed by his death and the reigns of his sons. Josiah's son, Jehoiakim, ascended to the throne under the suzerainty of Pharaoh Neco of Egypt after the Battle of Megiddo (609 BCE). However, the geopolitical landscape dramatically shifted with the decisive Battle of Carchemish in 605 BCE, where Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian forces shattered Egyptian power and became the dominant empire in the Near East. Verse 1 describes Babylon's immediate assertion of this dominance over Judah. It marks the commencement of a period of vassalage, tribute, and eventually, destructive judgment, leading directly to the events of the subsequent verses which detail further punitive actions and the ultimate exile of Judah. This historical narrative aligns with the prophetic warnings issued by Jeremiah, who specifically counselled submission to Babylon as God's chosen instrument. Jehoiakim's ultimate rebellion, therefore, was not merely a political miscalculation but an act of defiance against the divine will, leading to calamitous consequences for Judah.

2 Kings 24 1 Word analysis

• In his days: This phrase establishes the temporal context, referring to the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, whose wicked reign is detailed in 2 Kgs 23:36-37. This connection is vital for understanding the background of divine judgment.
• Nebuchadnezzar: (Hebrew: נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּר, Nevukhadnetzar). The mighty king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. His name, of Akkadian origin, possibly means "Nabu, protect my firstborn son" or "Nabu, protect the succession." He was the key historical figure God used as His instrument of judgment against Judah, fulfilling numerous prophecies, as seen in Jeremiah. His arrival marked the end of Judah's short-lived independence and signaled a major turning point in biblical history.
• king of Babylon: This title clearly identifies Nebuchadnezzar's dominion. Babylon had swiftly risen to replace Assyria as the preeminent power in the ancient Near East following the fall of Nineveh (612 BCE) and the decisive victory at Carchemish (605 BCE), positioning them as God's designated "hammer of the whole earth" (Jer 50:23).
• came up: (Hebrew: עָלָה, ʿālāh). Literally, to "go up" or "ascend." This often signifies a military campaign from a lower elevation to a higher one, which was geographically true for armies advancing into Judah from Mesopotamia, as Jerusalem was situated on hills. It implies a strategic and conquering movement.
• Jehoiakim became his servant: (Hebrew: וַיְהִי לוֹ עֶבֶד, vayhi lo eved). This phrase denotes formal submission, indicating Jehoiakim entered into a vassalage relationship with Nebuchadnezzar. It implies acknowledging Babylon's sovereignty, paying tribute, and being subject to its authority. This forced servitude was a direct fulfillment of prophecy, especially from Jeremiah (e.g., Jer 25:9-11).
• for three years: This specifies the duration of Jehoiakim's initial servitude to Babylon. This relatively short period indicates a temporary submission followed by a dramatic shift, highlighting Jehoiakim's wavering loyalty and opportunistic nature rather than a deep, penitent recognition of God's hand in his subjugation.
• then he turned and rebelled against him: (Hebrew: וַיָּשׇׁב וַיִּמְרָד בּוֹ, vayyāshov vayyimrad bo). "Turned" implies a reversal of allegiance. "Rebelled" (מָרַד, marad) means to revolt, break away, or defy authority. This act of rebellion was a grave political and spiritual mistake. It was an act of insubordination not only against Nebuchadnezzar, but ultimately against the Lord, who, through Jeremiah, had specifically commanded Judah to submit to the Babylonian yoke (Jer 27:6-7), making the rebellion a direct affront to God's ordained plan of judgment.

• Nebuchadnezzar... came up: This signifies the moment of Babylonian assertion over Judah, marking the first real interaction and direct subjugation of Jerusalem to the rising imperial power. It's the beginning of the end for independent Judah.
• Jehoiakim became his servant for three years; then he turned and rebelled against him: This phrase details the cyclical nature of Judah's political leadership—first forced submission, then faithless defiance. It shows Jehoiakim's unstable policy and his failure to learn from prophetic warnings about the futility of resistance against divinely ordained judgment. This brief period of submission and subsequent rebellion set the stage for Babylon's heavier hand and further punitive actions, ultimately leading to Jerusalem's destruction and prolonged exile.

2 Kings 24 1 Bonus section

The "three years" of Jehoiakim's initial service to Nebuchadnezzar are crucial chronologically. Many scholars connect the start of this period to Nebuchadnezzar's first documented major campaign into the West, occurring around 605/604 BCE, shortly after the Battle of Carchemish. Daniel 1:1 also references Nebuchadnezzar coming to Jerusalem "in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim," which many understand as the initial siege where Daniel and other noble youths were deported—the "first deportation." This indicates that Jehoiakim's submission might have followed this siege. The biblical narrative is precise in linking geopolitical events with the specific consequences for God's covenant people, emphasizing His sovereign control over nations and their kings, using them as instruments of His righteous judgments or redemptive plans.

2 Kings 24 1 Commentary

2 Kings 24:1 encapsulates a pivotal moment in the twilight of Judah's monarchy. It records the historical transition of Judah from a subordinate of Egypt to a vassal of the ascendant Babylonian Empire. Nebuchadnezzar's campaign marked the practical fulfillment of God's word concerning Judah's punishment, as prophesied by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others, using a pagan king as His instrument. Jehoiakim's initial three years of servitude indicate a period of compelled, not penitent, submission. His subsequent rebellion demonstrates not merely political folly, but a deep spiritual defiance. Ignoring Jeremiah's persistent counsel to submit to Babylon as a divinely appointed period of servitude, Jehoiakim placed his trust in unreliable alliances, reflecting a profound lack of faith in the Lord's sovereignty and His declared purpose. This rebellion ensured the accelerated downfall of Judah and amplified the severity of the coming divine judgment, making Jehoiakim's reign a clear example of sowing seeds of unrighteousness that yield a harvest of desolation.