2 Kings 24:9

KJV

And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he did {H6213} that which was evil {H7451} in the sight {H5869} of the LORD {H3068}, according to all that his father {H1} had done {H6213}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, following the example of everything his father had done.

Berean Standard Bible

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father had done.

American Standard Version

And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his father had done.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 24:9 offers a concise yet profound assessment of King Jehoiachin of Judah, stating that he "did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done." This succinct declaration encapsulates the spiritual and moral failure of Judah's penultimate king, highlighting his deviation from God's covenantal expectations and underscoring the tragic continuity of sin within the Davidic monarchy that ultimately led to the nation's downfall and exile. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of royal unfaithfulness and the pervasive nature of disobedience in the final days of the Southern Kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the closing chapters of 2 Kings, which meticulously chronicles the decline and eventual fall of the kingdom of Judah. Jehoiachin's brief reign, detailed in [2 Kings 24:8-16](/2_kings/24-8 "2 Kings 24:8-16 - Jehoiachin's Brief Reign and Exile"), immediately follows the account of his father, Jehoiakim, whose rebellious actions against Babylon sealed Judah's fate. The brevity of Jehoiachin's rule (three months and ten days) and his swift deportation to Babylon, along with the temple treasures and leading citizens, underscore the accelerating pace of divine judgment. The narrative consistently applies the formulaic "did evil in the sight of the LORD" to Jehoiachin, mirroring the assessment of his father and many other unfaithful kings, thereby reinforcing the overarching theme of Judah's persistent rebellion against God's covenant. This verse acts as a theological explanation for the severe judgment that follows, setting the stage for the final siege and destruction of Jerusalem under Zedekiah in [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Exile").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jehoiachin reigned during a tumultuous period in the Near East, specifically between the first and second Babylonian deportations. The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar, had established dominance over the region, and Judah was a vassal state. Jehoiachin's ascension to the throne occurred shortly after his father, Jehoiakim, died, likely during or immediately after a Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. The phrase "did evil in the sight of the LORD" is a covenantal assessment, rooted in the Mosaic Law, particularly the stipulations and warnings found in [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy/1 "Deuteronomy - The Covenant Law"). Kings were expected to uphold the covenant, lead the people in obedience to Yahweh, and administer justice according to His laws. Their failure to do so, often involving idolatry, social injustice, and reliance on foreign alliances rather than God, was considered a direct affront to God's sovereignty and a betrayal of their divine mandate. The cultural expectation for a king was to ensure the well-being and prosperity of his kingdom, which, in Israel, was inextricably linked to covenant faithfulness.
* **Key Themes:** Second Kings 24:9 contributes significantly to several major themes woven throughout the Deuteronomistic History (Joshua–2 Kings). First, it powerfully illustrates **Royal Unfaithfulness**, a recurring indictment against the vast majority of Judah's kings who failed to live up to the righteous standards of the Davidic covenant. This consistent moral and spiritual failure of the monarchy is presented as the primary reason for Judah's downfall. Second, the explicit link to "all that his father had done" highlights the theme of **Generational Sin and Influence**. While each individual is held accountable for their own choices, the pervasive pattern of disobedience established by previous rulers, particularly Jehoiakim (as seen in [2 Kings 23:37](/2_kings/23-37 "2 Kings 23:37 - Jehoiakim's Evil Reign")), created a corrupt environment that made righteous leadership increasingly difficult. This continuity of sin underscores the deep-seated spiritual malaise within the kingdom. Finally, the verse implicitly points to **Divine Judgment**. The continuous evil of the kings, culminating in Jehoiachin's reign, served as the catalyst for God's promised judgment, fulfilling the prophetic warnings (e.g., [Jeremiah 25:9](/jeremiah/25-9 "Jeremiah 25:9 - Nebuchadnezzar as God's Servant")) and demonstrating God's unwavering justice in holding His covenant people accountable for their persistent rebellion.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **evil (Hebrew, _ra'_):** This word, when used in a theological context as here, signifies more than mere moral wrongdoing; it denotes actions that are fundamentally contrary to God's revealed will and covenant stipulations. It encompasses idolatry, injustice, rebellion against God's commands, and a general spiritual apostasy. For a king, "doing evil" meant failing to uphold the Mosaic Law, leading the nation astray, and often engaging in practices that defiled the land and violated the covenant relationship with Yahweh.
* **in the sight of the LORD (Hebrew, _b'eyney YHWH'_):** This phrase is a crucial theological qualifier. It indicates that the assessment of "evil" is not a subjective human judgment but an objective divine verdict. God Himself, as the ultimate Judge and Covenant Lord, is the one before whom the king's actions are weighed. This emphasizes God's omnipresence, His knowledge of human deeds, and His righteous standard against which all actions, especially those of His chosen leaders, are measured. It underscores the severity of the king's transgression, as it is a direct offense against the holy character of God.
* **his father (Hebrew, _'aviv'_):** This simple phrase carries immense weight, directly linking Jehoiachin's conduct to that of his predecessor, Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:37). It highlights the powerful influence of leadership and parental example, demonstrating how patterns of disobedience and spiritual rebellion can be passed down through generations. While not absolving Jehoiachin of personal responsibility, it points to a tragic legacy of sin within the royal line, where the unfaithfulness of one ruler often set a precedent for the next, accelerating the kingdom's decline.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD,"**: This clause serves as the standard, damning indictment against Jehoiachin, mirroring the assessment of many unfaithful kings in the books of Kings. It signifies a profound spiritual and moral failure on his part, indicating actions, policies, and a general disposition that were offensive to God and contrary to the covenant He had established with Israel. This "evil" would have involved a failure to uphold justice, a tolerance or promotion of idolatry, or a general disregard for God's commands, thereby leading the nation further into apostasy.
* **"according to all that his father had done."**: This second clause provides a crucial explanatory and contextual detail, explicitly linking Jehoiachin's wickedness to the pattern of sin established by his father, King Jehoiakim. It suggests a continuation of the same unrighteous policies and spiritual rebellion that characterized Jehoiakim's reign. This phrase emphasizes the generational aspect of sin and the powerful influence of preceding leadership, demonstrating how a legacy of disobedience contributed to the accelerating moral decay and ultimate downfall of the kingdom of Judah. It underscores that Jehoiachin did not break the cycle of sin but rather perpetuated it.

#### Literary Devices
The brevity and formulaic nature of 2 Kings 24:9 are themselves significant literary choices. The most prominent device is **Formulaic Language/Repetition**. The phrase "did evil in the sight of the LORD" is a recurring motif throughout the books of Kings, serving as a consistent theological judgment against unfaithful monarchs. Its application to Jehoiachin, like many kings before him, highlights a pervasive pattern of disobedience and underscores God's unchanging standard for righteous leadership. This repetition creates a sense of inevitability regarding Judah's downfall, as the consistent failure of its kings to adhere to God's covenant leads inexorably to divine judgment. Furthermore, the verse employs **Foreshadowing**, as the indictment of the king directly **foreshadows** the impending and severe judgment of exile that will befall Judah, presented as a direct consequence of such royal unfaithfulness. There is also an element of **Irony** in the kings of Judah, who were meant to be God's representatives and lead the people in righteousness, consistently doing "evil in the sight of the LORD" and leading the nation further into sin and away from their covenant obligations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Second Kings 24:9 powerfully encapsulates the theological premise of the Deuteronomistic History: covenant faithfulness brings blessing, while disobedience brings judgment. Jehoiachin's actions, described as "evil in the sight of the LORD" and following his father's pattern, represent the culmination of centuries of royal unfaithfulness that ultimately exhausted God's patience and led to the Babylonian exile. This verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to justice, demonstrating that even kings are accountable before Him. It also highlights the profound impact of leadership, where the moral and spiritual choices of those in authority can profoundly shape the destiny of a nation, for good or ill. The continuity of sin across generations, while not negating individual responsibility, illustrates the pervasive nature of spiritual decay and the difficulty of breaking established patterns of rebellion against God's will.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Jeremiah 25:9](/jeremiah/25-9 "Jeremiah 25:9 - Nebuchadnezzar as God's Servant")
* [Ezekiel 18:20](/ezekiel/18-20 "Ezekiel 18:20 - Individual Accountability for Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The brief assessment of King Jehoiachin in 2 Kings 24:9 carries profound implications for contemporary believers. It serves as a sober reminder that God's standards are unchanging, and His assessment of our lives is based on His holy character, not on human opinion or prevailing cultural norms. Despite the influence of his father, Jehoiachin was held accountable for his own choices, emphasizing the principle of personal responsibility before God. We are called to examine our own lives, acknowledging that while our upbringing and environment can influence us, we are ultimately responsible for our decisions and actions. This verse challenges us to break cycles of sin, whether inherited or self-perpetuated, and to actively pursue righteousness and obedience to God's will. Furthermore, for those in positions of leadership—in families, churches, or communities—it highlights the immense weight of influence. Our actions, whether good or evil, create a legacy that can profoundly impact those who follow, underscoring the call to lead with integrity, humility, and unwavering faithfulness to God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be perpetuating patterns of "evil" (disobedience, unfaithfulness, unrighteousness) in my own life, whether consciously or unconsciously?**
* **How does the concept of "in the sight of the LORD" impact my understanding of accountability and the true nature of sin?**
* **If I am in a position of influence (parent, leader, mentor), what kind of spiritual and moral legacy am I building for those who look to me?**
* **What steps can I take today to break any cycles of sin in my life or family, choosing instead to walk in obedience to God?**

### FAQ
**What was Jehoiachin's specific "evil" that he committed in the sight of the LORD?**

Answer: The biblical text does not provide specific details about Jehoiachin's "evil" actions, unlike some other kings where idolatry or specific injustices are mentioned. Instead, it uses the formulaic phrase "did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD," which is a theological indictment rather than a descriptive list of sins. This phrase, consistently applied throughout the books of Kings, implies a general failure to adhere to the Mosaic covenant, a lack of faithfulness to Yahweh, and likely included the continuation of idolatrous practices and social injustices that characterized his father Jehoiakim's reign (as noted in [2 Kings 23:37](/2_kings/23-37 "2 Kings 23:37 - Jehoiakim's Evil Reign")). It signifies a rejection of God's ways and a perpetuation of the spiritual apostasy that had become endemic in the Southern Kingdom's final years, leading to divine judgment.

**How does Jehoiachin's reign compare to other kings of Judah assessed with this phrase?**

Answer: Jehoiachin's reign is notably brief (three months and ten days, [2 Kings 24:8](/2_kings/24-8 "2 Kings 24:8 - Jehoiachin's Ascension")). While many kings of Judah (e.g., Manasseh, Jehoiakim, Ahaz) are described as doing "evil in the sight of the LORD," Jehoiachin's assessment is unique in its brevity and its explicit linkage to his father's actions. This suggests that his wickedness was not necessarily a long reign of flagrant rebellion, but rather an immediate continuation of the established pattern of unfaithfulness that had already sealed Judah's fate. His brief reign and swift deportation underscore the accelerating pace of God's judgment on the nation, where even a short period of unrighteous rule was enough to confirm the kingdom's irreversible decline.

**Does this verse imply that Jehoiachin was not personally responsible for his actions because of his father's influence?**

Answer: No, the verse does not absolve Jehoiachin of personal responsibility. While it explicitly states that his actions were "according to all that his father had done," this highlights the powerful influence of leadership and generational patterns of sin, rather than excusing individual accountability. The Bible consistently teaches that each person is responsible for their own choices before God (e.g., [Ezekiel 18:20](/ezekiel/18-20 "Ezekiel 18:20 - Individual Accountability for Sin")). Jehoiachin, like all kings, had the choice to turn from the ways of his predecessors and lead Judah in righteousness. His failure to do so, despite the pervasive influence of his father, was his own sin for which he was held accountable, contributing to the nation's judgment and his own exile.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic assessment of King Jehoiachin in 2 Kings 24:9, that he "did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done," stands in stark contrast to the perfect and righteous reign of Jesus Christ. While Jehoiachin perpetuated a legacy of sin and led his people further into judgment, Jesus, the true King of Israel and the Son of David, came to break the cycle of human disobedience and fulfill all righteousness. Unlike the earthly kings who failed to uphold God's covenant, Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience, not doing His "own will but the will of Him who sent Him" ([John 6:38](/john/6-38 "John 6:38 - Jesus Does God's Will")). He is the ultimate Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), precisely because He never did "evil in the sight of the LORD." Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus bore the judgment for the "evil" of humanity, offering redemption and reconciliation to all who believe. His kingdom is not one of fleeting reigns and generational sin, but an eternal kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit ([Romans 14:17](/romans/14-17 "Romans 14:17 - The Kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace, and Joy")). Where Jehoiachin's reign foreshadowed exile, Christ's reign promises eternal life and restoration, inviting us to be part of a new lineage—one of faith and obedience to the perfect King.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.