2 Chronicles 36:4

And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.

And the king {H4428} of Egypt {H4714} made Eliakim {H471} his brother {H251} king {H4427} over Judah {H3063} and Jerusalem {H3389}, and turned {H5437} his name {H8034} to Jehoiakim {H3079}. And Necho {H5224} took {H3947} Jehoahaz {H3099} his brother {H251}, and carried {H935} him to Egypt {H4714}.

Then the king of Egypt made Elyakim his brother king over Y'hudah and Yerushalayim, changing his name to Y'hoyakim; N'kho took Yo'achaz his brother and carried him off to Egypt.

Then Neco king of Egypt made Eliakim brother of Jehoahaz king over Judah and Jerusalem, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.

And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Neco took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 36:4 details a pivotal moment in Judah's final years before the Babylonian exile, highlighting the shift from Egyptian to Babylonian influence over the kingdom. This verse marks the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign, a period characterized by unrighteousness and further decline.

Context

Following the tragic death of King Josiah at the Battle of Megiddo against Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt, Josiah's son Jehoahaz (also known as Shallum) was made king by the people of Judah (2 Chronicles 36:2-3). However, Jehoahaz's reign was short-lived, lasting only three months. Pharaoh Necho, asserting Egyptian dominance over the region, intervened by deposing Jehoahaz and installing his older brother, Eliakim, as the new king. This act underscores Judah's precarious position as a vassal state, caught between the rising powers of Egypt and Babylon in the late 7th century BC.

Key Themes

  • Loss of Sovereignty: The most striking theme is Judah's complete subjugation to a foreign power. The Egyptian king's ability to depose one king and appoint another, even changing his name, clearly demonstrates that Judah had lost its independence and become a mere puppet state. This was a direct consequence of the nation's persistent disobedience to God's covenant.
  • Foreign Dominance: This verse illustrates the immediate impact of Egyptian power following Josiah's death. The subsequent rise of Babylon would soon overshadow Egypt, further complicating Judah's political landscape and leading to the eventual Babylonian captivity.
  • Divine Judgment in Action: While executed through human agents like Pharaoh Necho, these political maneuvers are seen by the biblical authors as part of God's overarching judgment on Judah for their pervasive idolatry and unfaithfulness, leading to their downfall.

Linguistic Insights

The changing of Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim by Pharaoh Necho was a profound symbolic act in the ancient Near East.

  • Eliakim (אֶלְיָקִים) means "God raises up" or "My God raises up."
  • Jehoiakim (יְהוֹיָקִים) means "Yahweh raises up" or "Yahweh establishes."
This practice, where a conqueror or suzerain changed the name of a conquered king or official, was a common assertion of absolute authority and ownership. It was a clear declaration of Necho's control over the Davidic throne, much like when Babylonian officials later changed Daniel's name to Belteshazzar and his companions' names. Despite the new name still containing a reference to Yahweh, the God of Israel, the act itself highlighted Judah's submission to a foreign power.

Reflection and Application

This verse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences when a nation, or an individual, turns away from God's covenant and seeks strength in human alliances or worldly powers. Judah's reliance on Egypt, and later Babylon, instead of trusting in the Lord, led to their loss of autonomy and ultimately, their exile. For us today, it underscores the importance of:

  • Trusting God Alone: Our ultimate security and guidance come from God, not from political maneuvering, human strength, or worldly systems.
  • Understanding Consequences: Disobedience to God's will often leads to undesirable outcomes and loss of true freedom, even if those outcomes are orchestrated through human events.
  • Recognizing Divine Sovereignty: Even in moments of political upheaval and human control, God remains sovereign, working His purposes through history to bring about His will, including judgment and eventual restoration for those who turn back to Him (Jeremiah 29:11).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 22:10

    ¶ Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: [but] weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.

  • Jeremiah 22:12

    But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.

  • Ezekiel 19:3

    And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.

  • Ezekiel 19:4

    The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.

  • 2 Kings 23:34

    And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.

  • 2 Kings 23:35

    And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give [it] unto Pharaohnechoh.

  • 1 Chronicles 3:15

    And the sons of Josiah [were], the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.
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