Jeremiah 52:31-34 Jehoiachin Free
After 36 years Jehoiachin is free. He isn’t freed until Nebuchadnezzar dies but he is freed. He never sees Jerusalem again though.
Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he took the throne. His father, Jehoiakim was killed after he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and stopped paying tribute. Jehoiachin reigned for three months and ten days before he was forced to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar and was carried off to Babylon. He spent the next 37 years in prison. And then he was released and spent the rest of his life in Babylon, eating at the king’s table.
One of the first things we learn about Jehoiachin is that he was an evil king. In 2 Kings 24: 8-9 and 2 Chronicles 36:9 we see his time as ruler summed up; “He did evil in the sight of the Lord.” He walked in the same ways as his father, Jehoiakim. He didn’t have enough time to do ALL the things that his father had but he was NOT willing to listen and bring the people back to the Lord.
Something important to note about Jehoiachin is that his father was told by Jeremiah that he would NOT have an heir to sit on the throne. Jehoiakim had such disdain for the words of the Lord through Jeremiah that he took great pains to destroy what Jeremiah had written. As the book or scroll was being read to him, he would cut off what was just read and throw it into the fire. Needless to say, this made God VERY angry. That alone was enough for God to ensure Jehoiachin didn’t last on the throne.
Jehoiachin didn’t have an easy life. I can’t imagine being in prison for 37 YEARS. I have no idea what the prison was like but that term alone says enough. We aren’t told anything about his experience other than that he was able to live through it. He had to wait until Nebuchadnezzar died before he was released. And it wasn’t as if Nebuchadnezzar didn’t have Jews serving on his own staff. Nebuchadnezzar even learned to respect the God of Israel through the life of Daniel. Is it possible that, because Jehoiachin didn’t serve the Lord, he was left in prison by Nebuchadnezzar as punishment for forsaking his own God?
Something else we don’t know about Jehoiachin is how long he lived after being released from prison. He was 55-56 years old before he was freed. There is NO WAY he lived to see the return of the people to Jerusalem. If he had lived long enough, would he have forsaken the king’s table for the Lord’s house? Once released, his needs were all met. He even received a place of honor among all the other kings. Depending on how many years Jehoiachin lived, he may have out lasted Evil-Merodach’s reign. He only lasted two years on the throne before he was overthrown and murdered. Did the next ruler take on Jehoiachin’s care? Was it a perpetual order? Or did Jehoiachin not live to see the next king of Babylon?
It has been said that Jehoiachin’s life is a picture of mercy and grace. His life was a wreck. He fought the Lord at every step. But he received pardon from an unexpected place and was granted a new life. One where he had no fear. He was cared for and used to reach those around him. Not for what he did but because of the kindness of one in authority over his life. One that gave him a new life like no other he had known before.
THANK YOU FATHER for the new life You have given me. I don’t sit in judgment over others. Sometimes You allow me to act as guide for others. But You know EXACTLY what will be needed in my life to bring me back to You when I wander off. Keep me circling back to You Lord in ALL I do. Thank You for having me dig deeper again today. I had forgotten the events of Jehoiakim’s life. Thanks for helping me review and refresh them. I like digging in and seeing where the pieces fit together.
