Jehoiachin

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{{Kings of Judah}}{{epname|Jehoiachin}}
 
{{Kings of Judah}}{{epname|Jehoiachin}}
'''Jehoiachin''', also known as '''Jeconiah''' ({{lang-he|יְכָנְיָה}}, {{IPA|jəxɔnjɔh}}, meaning "[[Yahweh|God]] will fortify"), was one of the last kings of [[kingdom of Judah|Judah]], the son of [[Jehoiakim|King Jehoiakim]]. His reign in [[Jerusalem]] began around 598 B.C.E. at the age of 18, upon the death of his father near the beginning of the [[Siege of Jerusalem (597 B.C.E.)|Babylonian siege of Jerusalem]]. Jeconiah/Jehoiachin was a contemporary of the prophet [[Jeremiah]], who had been a bitter opponent of his father and strongly denounced Jehoiachin as well.
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'''Jehoiachin''', also known as '''Jeconiah''' ({{lang-he|יְכָנְיָה}}, {{IPA|jəxɔnjɔh}}, meaning "[[Yahweh|God]] will fortify"), was one of the last kings of [[kingdom of Judah|Judah]]. The son of [[Jehoiakim|King Jehoiakim]], his reign in [[Jerusalem]] began upon the death of his father around 598 B.C.E. at the age of 18, near the beginning of the [[Siege of Jerusalem (597 B.C.E.)|Babylonian siege of Jerusalem]]. Jeconiah/Jehoiachin was a contemporary of the prophet [[Jeremiah]], who counseled a policy of non-resistance toward Babylon, had been a bitter opponent of Jehoiachin's father, and strongly denounced Jehoiachin as well.
  
After reigning for only three months and ten days, Jehoiachin was removed from office by the [[Babylonian]]s at the end of the 597 B.C.E. siege by the army of King [[Nebuchadnezzar II]]. His uncle [[Zedekiah]] replaced him as king under Babylonian control in Jerusalem. Jeconiah was taken in chains to Babylon and imprisoned, while his household, most of the rulers of Judah, and many craftsmen and merchants, were force into exile.
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After reigning for only three months and ten days, Jehoiachin was removed from office by the [[Babylonian]] army of King [[Nebuchadnezzar II]]. Jehoiachin was taken in chains to Babylon and imprisoned, while his household, most of the officials of Judah, and many craftsmen and merchants were forced into exile. His uncle [[Zedekiah]] replaced him as king under Babylonian's supervision in Jerusalem.  
  
[[Cuneiform (script)|Cuneiform]] records dated to 592 B.C.E. mention Jeconiah and his five sons as recipients of food rations in [[Babylon]]. After 36 years in captivity (562 B.C.E.), he was removed from prison by the Babylonian King [[Amel-Marduk]].
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After 36 years in captivity (562 B.C.E.), he was removed from prison by the Babylonian King [[Amel-Marduk]]. [[Cuneiform (script)|Cuneiform]] records dated to 592 B.C.E. mention Jehoiachin and his five sons as recipients of food rations in [[Babylon]].
  
Later rabbinical literature preserves a number of legends about Jeconiah/Jehoiachin, who is seen having repented fairly early in his sad career, living out his days as a faithful servant of the [[halkha|Jewish law]] during his imprisonment. In Christian tradition. Jeconiah is one of the ancestors of [[Jesus]] (Matthew 1:11), and Jewish tradition sees him as one of the ancestors of the future [[Messiah]].
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Later rabbinical literature preserves a number of legends about Jeconiah/Jehoiachin, who is seen having repented while still young, living out his days as a faithful servant of the [[halkha|Jewish law]] during his imprisonment. In Christian tradition, Jeconiah/Jehoiachin is one of the ancestors of [[Jesus]] (Matthew 1:11), and Jewish tradition sees him as one of the ancestors of the future [[Messiah]].
 
==Biblical data==
 
==Biblical data==
 
[[Image:Jeremiah-Scroll.jpg|thumb|Jehoiachin's father, [[Jehoiakim]], destoys the writings of [[Jeremiah]]]]
 
[[Image:Jeremiah-Scroll.jpg|thumb|Jehoiachin's father, [[Jehoiakim]], destoys the writings of [[Jeremiah]]]]

Revision as of 16:05, 25 August 2008

Kings of Judah

Jehoiachin, also known as Jeconiah (Hebrew: יְכָנְיָה, jəxɔnjɔh, meaning "God will fortify"), was one of the last kings of Judah. The son of King Jehoiakim, his reign in Jerusalem began upon the death of his father around 598 B.C.E. at the age of 18, near the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Jeconiah/Jehoiachin was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah, who counseled a policy of non-resistance toward Babylon, had been a bitter opponent of Jehoiachin's father, and strongly denounced Jehoiachin as well.

After reigning for only three months and ten days, Jehoiachin was removed from office by the Babylonian army of King Nebuchadnezzar II. Jehoiachin was taken in chains to Babylon and imprisoned, while his household, most of the officials of Judah, and many craftsmen and merchants were forced into exile. His uncle Zedekiah replaced him as king under Babylonian's supervision in Jerusalem.

After 36 years in captivity (562 B.C.E.), he was removed from prison by the Babylonian King Amel-Marduk. Cuneiform records dated to 592 B.C.E. mention Jehoiachin and his five sons as recipients of food rations in Babylon.

Later rabbinical literature preserves a number of legends about Jeconiah/Jehoiachin, who is seen having repented while still young, living out his days as a faithful servant of the Jewish law during his imprisonment. In Christian tradition, Jeconiah/Jehoiachin is one of the ancestors of Jesus (Matthew 1:11), and Jewish tradition sees him as one of the ancestors of the future Messiah.

Biblical data

Jehoiachin's father, Jehoiakim, destoys the writings of Jeremiah

Background

Jeconiah/Jehoiachin lived at a time when the kingdom of Judah found itself in the path of two colliding great civilizations: Egypt and Babylonia. Jeconiah's father Jehoiakim was the eldest son of King Josiah. When Josiah was killed in battle against Pharaoh Neco of Egypt at Megiddo, he was succeeded by Jehoiakim's younger brother Jehoahaz (Shallum). The pharaoh soon deposed Jehoahaz and replaced him with Jehoiakim, who paid heavy tribute to Egypt and created domestic disapproval by raising taxes as a result.

During Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar II, in a move meant to counter Egyptian influence in the region, invaded Palestine and made the Kingdom of Judah his vassal. The prophet Jeremiah warned Jehoiakim to focus on religious and ethical reforms, or else, "this place will become a ruin," (Jer. 22:3-5) resulting in bitter enmity between the king and prophet. After three years, Jehoiakim attempted to throw off the Babylonian yoke, resulting in a Babylonian invasion and seige, during which Jehoiakim died, apparently of natural causes.

Jehoikakin's reign

Jehoiachin/Jeconiah thus took power in extremely unfortunate circumstances. He reigned a little over three months, but these months were extremely eventful. He was scarcely on the throne when Nebuchadnezzar II's forces reached Jerusalem and began their siege. Jehoiachin, like his father, saw resistance as the only honorable course. However, for the prophet Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar was "God's servant," sent to punish Judah for her sins.

The prophet Jeremiah condemns Jehoiachin

Jeremiah's words to Jehoiachin were particularly harsh:

"As surely as I live," declares the Lord, "even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiachim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. I will hand you over to those who seek your life, those you fear—to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Babylonians. I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. You will never come back to the land you long to return to." (Jeremiah 22:24-17)

Jehoiachin did not hold out long against the power of Babylon's armies, with Nebuchadnezzar himself reportedly participating in the siege. He surrendered after only three months on the throne and was taken in chains to Babylon, together with many of Jerusalem's leading citizens. The treasures of the palace and the sacred vessels of the Temple were also carried away. Nebuchadnezzar found what he believed was a suitable replacement for him in the person of his uncle, Zedekiah.

For 36 years Jehoiachin remained in prison at Babylon. When Nebuchadnezzar died, his son Amel-Marduk (called Evil-merodach in the Bible) released Jehoiachin and gave him an honorable seat at his own table (2 Kings 25:27-30). Archaeological excavations around 1900 uncovered Babylonian administrative documents which, when finally deciphered in 1933, described food rations for Johaichin and five of his sons. Such a cuneiform text of the document is publicly issued in the Pergamon Museum of Berlin.

In rabbinical literature

Jehoiachin's father was much maligned in rabbinical traditional, and it was said in reference to Jeohoiachin hiself that "A dog brings forth no good progeny." (Lev. R. xix. 6; Seder 'Olam R. xxv.). Legend holds that in the city of Daphne, near Antioch, Nebuchadnezzar II met with representatives of the Great Sanhedrin, to whom he announced that he would not destroy the Temple of Jerusalem if the king were delivered up to him. When the king heard this resolution of Nebuchadnezzar, he went upon the roof of the Temple, and, turning to heaven, held up the Temple keys, saying: "As you no longer consider us worthy to be your ministers, take the keys that you have entrusted to us until now." Then a miracle happened; for a fiery hand appeared and took the keys, or (in other versions) that the keys remained suspended in the air where the king had thrown them. (Lev. R. l.c.; Yer. Sheḳ. vi. 50a; Ta'an. 29a; Pesiḳ. R. 26) This event saved the king's life, as he now surrender both to God's will and to Nebuchadnezzar instead of being killed in battle.

File:Jerusalem-sacked.JPG
The sack of Jerusalem

Jehoiachin as well as all the scholars and nobles of Judah were then carried away captive by Nebuchadnezzar. Josephus adds that Jehoiachin gave up the city and his relatives to Nebuchadnezzar after the Babylonian king took an oath that neither they nor the city should be harmed. However, the Babylonian king broke his word; for scarcely a year had elapsed when he led the king and many others into captivity.

Jehoiachin's sad experiences at a young age changed his nature entirely. He repented of the sins which he had committed as king he was pardoned by God, who revoked the decree to the effect that none of his descendants should ever become king (Jer. xxii. 30). He is thus to be the ancestor of the Messiah (Tan., Toledot 20). His firmness in fulfilling the Law was the decisive factor in restoring him to God's favor.

Tradition holds that he kept by Nebuchadnezzar in solitary confinement. As he was therefore separated from his wife, the Sanhedrin, which had been expelled with him to Babylon, feared that at the death of this queen the house of David would become extinct. They managed to gain the favor the Babylonian queen, who induced Nebuchadnezzar to ameliorate the lot of the captive king by permitting his wife to share his prison. As he then manifested great self-control and obedience to the Law, God forgave him his sins (Lev. R. xix).

Jehoiachin lived to see the death of his conqueror, which brought him liberty, for within two days of his Nebuchadnezzar's death, Amel-Marduk opened the prison in which Jehoiachin had languished for so many years. Jehoiachin's life is the best illustration of the maxim, "During prosperity a man must never forget the possibility of misfortune; and in adversity must not despair of prosperity's return" (Seder 'Olam R. xxv).

On the advice of Jehoiachin, Nebuchadnezzar's son cut his father's body into 300 pieces, which he gave to 300 vultures, so that he could be sure that Nebuchadnezzar would never return to worry him ("Chronicles of Jerahmeel," lxvi. 6). Amel-Marduk treated Jehoiachin as a king, clothed him in purple and ermine, and for his sake liberated all the Jews that had been imprisoned by Nebuchadnezzar (Targ. Sheni, near the beginning). It was Jehoiachin, also, who erected a magnificent mausoleum on the grave of the prophet Ezekiel (Benjamin of Tudela, "Itinerary," ed. Asher, i. 66). In the Second Temple there was a gate called "Jeconiah's Gate," because, according to tradition, Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) left the Temple through that gate when he went into exile (Mid. ii. 6)

Legacy

Jehoiachin was one of those historical figures who was simply born at the wrong time. Ascending the throne at only 18 years of age, he can hardly be blamed from continuing his father's policy of resistance to Babylon. This, however, but him squarely at odds with the prophet Jeremiah, who denounced him severely. However, the Book of Jeremiah makes it clear that other prophets advised him in an opposite direction. Rabbinical tradition that he came around to Jeremiah's point of view and surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar after a miracle showed him that God no longer desired him to remain in office.

Tragically, Jehoiachin's uncle Zedekiah, who succeeded him on the throne of Jerusalem, also rejected Jeremiah's advice. While cooperative at first, he gave in to political pressure and the advice of false prophets, rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar and bring about the destruction of both Jerusalem and its Temple around 586 B.C.E. Thus the Kingdom of Judah came to its end, and the period of Babylonian exile entered its harshest phase.

See also

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Bright, John. A History of Israel. Louisville KY: Westminster John Knox Press; 4th edition, 2000. ISBN 0664220681
  • Galil, Gershon. The Chronology of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, 1996. ISBN 9004106111
  • Keller, Werner. The Bible as History. New York: Bantam, 1983. ISBN 0553279432
  • Miller, J. Maxwell. A History of Ancient Israel and Judah. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1986. ISBN 066421262X
  • Pritchard, Elizabeth. A Sword at the Heart: The Story of Jeremiah and the Last Kings of Judah, 639-586 B.C.E. New Delhi, [India]: Masihi Sahitya Sanstha, 1970. OCLC 13422670

External links

All links retrieved August 25, 2008.

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