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.

And Pharaohnechoh {H6549} made Eliakim {H471} the son {H1121} of Josiah {H2977} king {H4427} in the room of Josiah {H2977} his father {H1}, and turned {H5437} his name {H8034} to Jehoiakim {H3079}, and took {H3947} Jehoahaz {H3059} away {H3947}: and he came {H935} to Egypt {H4714}, and died {H4191} there.

Then Pharaoh N'khoh made Elyakim the son of Yoshiyahu king in place of Yoshiyahu his father and changed his name to Y'hoyakim. He also carried Y'ho'achaz off to Egypt, where he died.

Then Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and he changed Eliakimโ€™s name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, where he died.

And Pharaoh-necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim: but he took Jehoahaz away; and he came to Egypt, and died there.

Commentary

2 Kings 23:34 marks a pivotal moment in the final decline of the Kingdom of Judah, illustrating its subjugation to foreign powers after the death of the righteous King Josiah.

Context

This verse immediately follows the tragic death of King Josiah at Megiddo at the hands of Pharaoh Nechoh of Egypt (2 Kings 23:29). After Josiah's death, the people of the land had made his son, Jehoahaz (also known as Shallum, as in Jeremiah 22:11), king (2 Kings 23:31). However, Jehoahaz reigned for only three months before Pharaoh Nechoh intervened, asserting Egypt's dominance over Judah. Pharaoh removed Jehoahaz, took him to Egypt where he would eventually die, and then installed another of Josiah's sons, Eliakim, as king, renaming him Jehoiakim. This action highlights Judah's complete loss of sovereignty, becoming a vassal state to Egypt.

Key Themes

  • Loss of Sovereignty: The most prominent theme is Judah's loss of independence. Pharaoh Nechoh's ability to depose one king and install another, even changing his name, unequivocally demonstrates Judah's subservient status. This foreshadows further foreign domination by Babylon (2 Kings 24:1).
  • Foreign Domination and Judgment: This event signifies God's judgment unfolding through foreign powers. Despite Josiah's efforts, the nation's spiritual decline had reached a point where divine discipline was inevitable.
  • The Significance of Name Change: The act of Pharaoh changing Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim was not merely a casual act. It was a powerful political statement, symbolizing the conqueror's absolute authority and ownership over the subjugated ruler. It stripped the king of his established identity and imposed a new one, reinforcing his vassal status.

Linguistic Insights

The name change from Eliakim (ืึถืœึฐื™ึธืงึดื™ื, "God raises up" or "God establishes") to Jehoiakim (ื™ึฐื”ื•ึนื™ึธืงึดื™ื, "Yahweh raises up" or "Yahweh establishes") is notable. While both names carry a similar meaning related to divine establishment, the shift from 'El' (a general term for God) to 'Yah' (a shortened form of Yahweh, Israel's covenant God) might seem ironic given it was imposed by a pagan pharaoh. However, the primary significance here is not theological nuance but the demonstration of Pharaoh's power to redefine the king's very identity and allegiance, even if the new name still referenced the God of Israel.

Practical Application

This historical account serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of national unfaithfulness and spiritual decline. It illustrates how external forces can exert control when a nation loses its moral and spiritual foundations. For believers, it underscores the importance of spiritual integrity not just individually, but also collectively, and the understanding that God's sovereign plan can unfold even through the actions of seemingly powerful earthly rulers. Just as Judah faced the consequences of its choices, so too are individuals and nations accountable for their actions before God.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 22:11

    For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more:

  • Jeremiah 22:12

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

  • 1 Chronicles 3:15

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

  • 2 Kings 24:17

    And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

  • Daniel 1:7

    Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
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