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New Defender's Study Bible Notes
24:1 Nebuchadnezzar. This was the first of three incursions of Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem (II Kings 24:1,11; 25:1). He was evidently co-regent of Babylon at this time, leading its army while his father Nabopolassar was seriously ill at home. The latter died during the time Nebuchadnezzar was taking the land of Judah from the Egyptians, whom he had defeated several years earlier at Carchemish in northern Syria. The prophet Daniel was evidently among those carried away to Babylon during the reign of Jehoiakim (Daniel 1:1-3).
24:6 Jehoiakim slept. The death of Jehoiakim, although not specifically described, was apparently violent and degrading. He was carried to Babylon, “bound in fetters” (II Chronicles 36:6). The prophet Jeremiah said: “He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 22:19).
24:12 Jehoiachin. Both Jehoahaz, who ruled only three months and Jehoiakim, who ruled eleven years (II Kings 23:31,36), were wicked sons of good King Josiah. Jehoiachin, who was Josiah’s grandson, was also an evil king, though not as much so as the others were (see note on II Kings 25:27). He ruled only three months before being taken captive to Babylon. Another wicked son of Josiah, Zedekiah, ruled eleven years, and he was to be Judah’s last king of the Davidic line. Jeremiah had prophesied concerning both Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin (also called Jechoniah and Coniah) that their lines would end (Jeremiah 36:30, 22:28-30). Nevertheless God’s promise to David would still be fulfilled, through another branch of David’s descendants (Jeremiah 33:17; Luke 1:31-33; 3:23-31).
24:14 carried away all Jerusalem. The Babylonian captivity and exile fulfilled many prophecies (e.g., Isaiah 39:6; Micah 4:10).
24:15 carried away Jehoiachin. A Babylonian tablet actually names Jehoiachin as one of the Judaeans carried to Babylon.
24:17 his father’s brother. Zedekiah was thus the third son of Josiah, as well as the last in the line of Solomon to occupy the throne of Judah.