Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 2 Kings · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV.
AGainst Iehoiakim the Lord brought Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he V. 1.became his servant three years, then he rebelled against him, &c. 2 Chr. 36. 6. Nebuchadnezzar is called the king of Chaldea, and it is said, that he took Iehoiakim and bound him, to be carried into Babylon together with the vessels of the Lords house; so that Chaldea and Babylon were all one, Chaldea the country, and Babylon the chief city thereof, and this in the Chronicles is to be understood, as happening to Iehoiakim after his rebelling against the king of Babylon, when having been before for his sinnes brought into his power, he had bound himself by oath to serve him, so Pellican. Yet some will have it meant of his first coming into his power, when they say he was carried away, but upon agreement soon returned. And forsomuch as when he was bound to be carried away, the precious vessels of the Lords house were carried away also, and this is not said to have been done anno 7 of Nebuchadnezzar, Ier. 52. 28. for of the three carryings away there mentioned, that was the first; and the seventh of Nebuchadnezzar was the eleventh of Iehoiakim. But Dan. 1, 2. part of the holy vessels were carryed away Anno 3. of Iehoiakim, it is plaine that the binding of Iehoiakim to be carryed away was Anno 3. of his reigne, but upon composition he came backe againe to rule as tributary to the king of Babylon, and so did till that rebelling he was within a few yeares after destroyed by the Chaldees and others coming against him, in Ierusalem, and cast out of the gates thereof like an asse unlamented by any, Ier. 22. 19, This is indeed in Kings for brevities sake passed over, the coming of Chaldean robbers against Iudah being onelyonly spoken of, but plainly shewed to be so in Ieremiah, wherefore Nebuchadnezzars coming is not mentioned here any more, but that he being dead, his childe was immediately set up to reigne after him, whereas, if he had fallen by the sword of Nebuchadnezzar, he would doubtlesse have taken order for a successour, as well as he did, when he carried away Iehoiakim soone after. In what yeare of Iehoiakim Nebuchadnezzar came first against him, it is not here said, but Dan. 1. 1. In the third yeare of Iehoiakim concerning which a question ariseth, because Ier. 25. 1. the first yeare of Nebuchadnezzar is said to be the fourth of Iehoiakim, whereas by Daniel it should be in the third, and his second in his fourth. Some answer, that Vatabulus.the third and fourth yeare are so neare together, if by the third we understand the latter end of it, that the first of Nebuchadnezzar might be said to be either his third, or fourth.
But out of Berosus it may otherwise be resolved thus, that Nebuchadnezzar Berosus.came against Iehoiakim a year before his fathers death, and so the first year of his reign was the fourth of Iehoiakim; For he saith, that Nebuchadnezzar senior, hearing of the revolt of those in Syria, he being unable through age, sent out his some Nebuchadnezzar against him, and died before his return; then he having overcome his enemies, returned, and was made king in the room of his father. In the third year of Iehoiakim then, Nebuchadnezzar not being yet crowned, but soon after made king of Babylon, for which he is now so called, came and subdued, and bound, and made him his tributary; which is meant, when it is said, he served him three years, that is, paying tribute unto him. Hitherto, it seemeth that he had continued under Necho king of Egypt, who first set him up, and when he had thus long served the Babylonian, most probably Necho instigating him hereunto, by promising him ayd, he denied him tribute, and then was troubled with Chaldees, and other robbers, and most probably destroyed by them.
At what time also, to make it the more probable, that Egypt was his stay, to which he trusted in revolting from the king of Babylon, it is said here v. 9. that from the Egyptian king was taken away at the same time, whatsoever was betwixt the river of Egypt and Euphrates. Whereas Ier. 46. 2. the Egyptian forces are said to have been smitten by him, anno 4. of Iehoiakim, that is said to have been done at Charchemish, where Necho was fighting against the Babylonians; but this about the time that Iehoiakim perished. Those warres were begun in the last year of Iosiah, and having continued till the fourth of Iehoiakim, Necho was able to stand no longer, but his forces were then overthrown, yet it seemeth, that after this he practised again with Iehoiakim against Nebuchadnezzar, wherefore now he both sent some to cut off Iehoiakim, and subdued a great part of the Egyptians dominions also. And to effect this utter overthrow of Iehoiakim, it is said v. 2. that the Lord sent against him troops of the Chaldees, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, V. 2.and against Iudah, as he had threatned by his prophets, that is, Huldah and Ieremy, ch. 14, 15, &c. From whose mouth it is said to have come, to take Iudah away for the sinnes of Manasseh, according to all which he had done. Iunius renders it, for the V. 3. Junius.like sinnes to those which Manasseh had done, holding a trajection to be in the words. As also, Gen. 5. 29. Iudg. 18. 31. foreign, that is, verbatim, in the sinne of Manasseh, according to all which he did. Which is plainly meant of the kingdome of Iudah thus wasted, when as the sinnes of Manasseh were again acted over therein, as the words [according to all which] do imply. For it is as if it had been said, as the Lord had threatned so he did, viz. took away Iudah, when they sinned like Manasseh, doing according to all that, which he had done, yea filling Ierusalem also with innocent bloud, which is intimated in comparing Iehoahaz and Iehoiakim to lions devouring men, as hath beene already said, and the shedding of innocent bloud is expresly laid to the charge of Iehoiakim, Ier. 22. 17. For if these judgements had beene sent simply for the sinnes of Manasseh, that proverbe had been justly taken up, The fathers have eaten sower grapes, and the childrens teeth are set on edge. From which, as great injustice the Lord vindicateth Ezek. 36. 9.himselfe. Wherefore not those personall evil acts done by Manasseh are here meant, for he repenting thereof was forgiven; but the men of Iudah never repenting, but dissemblingly had them still remembered against them, as coadjutours in so evil works, and now the stay which held them in from running to the like wickednesse being taken away, viz. godly Iosiah, they returning with the swine to wallow in the mire were severely judged, as they were wel worthy.
Iehoiakim being dead, Iehoiakim his sonne was made king, being eighteene years V. 6. V. 8.old, and reigned onelyonly three moneths, &c. 2 Chron. 36. 9. He is said to be eight yeares old, when he began to reigne. This is commonly resolved by saying, that the Chronicles mention the time, when he began to reigne with his father, which 2 Chro. 36. 9.was in the second yeare of his reigne, and if so he were but eight then, he was eighteene when his father being dead he began to reign alone, according to Kings. And this is the more probable, because the times were troublesome, and Iehoiakim might think it necessary to settle his sonne in the kingdome before his death, that there might be lesse danger in setting up another, before him, which was a thing so lately done in his younger brother Iehoahaz, he himselfe being kept from it. But because no such thing is spoken of, as his reigning together with his father, all this is but a conjecturall. Iunius therefore by this word [He,] When he began to reigne, Junius.understandeth not Iehoiakin, but Iehoiakim his father, he was eight then, but now eight…, alleading the like touching Ahaz, 2 King. 16. 1. but then he must needs be in his nineteenth at his fathers death, seeing he reigned eleven yeares, but it may be that the first yeare of his eleven was but part of a yeare, and so is not here reckoned. But the words are the same which are used in Kings, foreign when he reigned, and therefore it seemeth, that the same [He] is to be understood in both places, yet no better way of resolving this having been by any other found out, I rest in this, not thinking it safe to admit of the resolution of some, that here was a fault in the scribe, eight being written for eighteene, for which cause in one Septuagint translation it is eighteene, as in Kings. Of the wickednesse of this king read more, Ier. 22. for which he is threatened to be delivered into his enemies hands, and was delivered, as we see here, v. 12. and 2 Chron. 36. 10. the time is V. 10, 11, 12.noted to be the turning of the yeare, that is, most probably, in the Spring time, when kings used to goe forth to warre. And it is here said, that Nebuchadnezzar first sent his servants and besieged Ierusalem, then he came in person, and the king fearing ruine both to himselfe and the city, came forth unto him with his mother and courtiers, &c. But for what cause he then invaded that land it is not said, onelyonly Iosephus saith, that fearing the young king would seeke to revenge his fathers death, Josephus.and ignominious casting out of Ierusalem unburied, done by Nebuchadnezzar, he thought it not safe to suffer him to reigne, and therefore came against him, carryed him away to Babylon, and set up another to reigne in his stead; and some thinke, that he having first made him king, soone repented and returned thus againe. But forsomuch as it no where appeareth that Nebuchadnezzar was at the death of his father, as hath been partly noted before, neither is he said to have set up his sonne, and it is improbable, that having done it, he would without some new cause so soone reverse that act of his; it is rather to be held, that Iehojakim having rebelled against him, but by some troupes of his Chaldees already slaine; he heard that his soone tooke the kingdome upon him, and at this he being offended, as making account that it was in his owne power onelyonly to set up a king there, since he had subdued that kingdome, he thus sendeth his forces against him, &c. but on Gods part the cause why he sent Nebuchadnezzar against him was his wickednesse, he did V. 9.that which was evill, even as his father had done.V. 12.
Then Iehoiakin coming forth and yeelding himselfe to Nebuchadnezzar was taken and carryed into Babylon together with his mother, wives and courtiers, Junius.and all the best of the people, and artificers 10000. and the whole summe being first by a prolepsis set downe together, they are immediately distinguished into 7000. mighty men, 1000. artificers and warriours, whose number is not expressed, but to make up the foresaid summe must needs be 2000. so Iunius. Others as Wolphius hath it, will have the whole number carried away 18000. viz. 10000. Wolphius.of the common sort, 7000. of the better sort, and 1000. artificers, and Iosephus hath it, 18032. but in this summe there is a manifest mistaking, for in Iosephus it is Joseph. Antiq. l. 10. 9.10000. and 832. this last number being added out of Ieremiah 52. where it is that anno 18. he carryed away 832. these two then, which were ten yeares after one another, are by Iosephus put together. I assent therefore rather to Iunius, that although here be two numberings of them, that were carryed away, yet the second is but to shew more distinctly, of what sorts the 10000. first spoken of were. But because Ier. 52. 28. it is said, that the people carryed away, anno 7. of Nebuchadnezzar were 3023. where both the number mentioned is much lesse then this, and the yeare agreeth not the eighth being spoken of here, but there the seventh, and therefore there were either more carryings away captive, then these mentioned by Ieremiah whose purpose seemeth to be to summe up all together, or the Scripture is contradictory to it selfe. To this the same Iunius and some others answer, that the 3000. there spoken of were onelyonly of Ierusalem, those of the rest of the kingdome of Iudah being omitted, which were about 7000. more, and that this carrying away was at the latter end of the seventh and the beginning of the eighth, and therefore said by Ieremiah to have been anno 7. by Kings, anno 8. but the solution, I take it, will be more cleare, if it be said, that when Iehoiakim dyed, the troupes of Chaldees and others sent by the king of Babylon carryed away that lesser number, and this was anno 7. but when he came against Iehoiakin in p…n the greater number was carryed away the yeare following, which was the eighth, and that it was in another yeare may be gathered from Chronicles, where it is said in the turning of the year, and it is likely, because this was plainly set forth, 2 King. 24. Ieremiah omitted it, as also, that captivity anno 3. of Iehojakim, being left to be recorded Dan. 1. 1. Some thinke, that Iehojakim coming out to Nebuchadnezzar, was not to yield himselfe into his hands, but being required so to doe under a pretence of receiuing conditions of peace, but when the king of Babylon had him in his power, he held him, and carryed him away captive: but others contrariwise more probably, that seeing the danger wherein the whole city and kingdome was, he voluntarily yielded himselfe, hoping thus that it should be preserved, wherein he did the part of a good king, as Iosephus commends him in speaking of this, and to Josephus.make this the more probable, he was better entreated then his successour Zedikiah, that stood out and would never yield, although moved to it by the Prophet Ieremiah. But he upon the like motion yielded, as is intimated, Ier. 24. 5. where the Lord saith, that he sent them into Chaldea, who were then carryed away, and would bring them againe as good figges, see also Ierem. 29. 2, 3, 4. The same king by Ierem. 22. is called sometime Iechoniah, sometime Choniah, whereby it seemeth, that he had two names, and it is threatened, that none of his children should sit upon the throne for his wickednesse, and accordingly it came to passe, for Zedekiah his uncle, a third sonne of Iosiah was made king in his stead. Thus as Wolphius noteth, his yielding as the prophet moved him brought upon him great calamities Wolphius.at the first, but in the end he was not without a reward of this his obedience and piety towards his countrey, when Evilmerodack the sonne of Nebuchadnezzar Note. lifted up his head, and set him at his owne table that others might not feare to obey the motions that come from God, but whatsoever they see, they are like to suffer for thus doing, be comforted by looking at the end, which shall be comfortable; and that Kings in particular may practice the like piety towards their countreys in the time of danger, doing what they can, although it may seeme a disparagement unto them, that so many thousands committed to their government may not be brought to misery, they being as their sheepe, of whom they are made shepherds, and therefore ought to be ready as the good shepherd to lay downe their life for them.
And he took away all the treasures of the Lords house and of the kings, and all the V. 13.golden vessels that Solomon had made.] It may seeme, that there could be none of the golden vessels made by Solomon remaining at this time to be carryed away, because all the treasures of the Lords house were taken away long before in the time of Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon, 2 Chron, 12. 9 And if under the name of such treasures the vessels were not comprehended, they are expresly said to have beene carryed away in the time of Amaziah, 2 Chron. 25. 24. To say nothing of these treasures againe exhausted in the time of Hezekiah, 2 King. 18. 15. 16. But it is answered, that they are called the vessels of Solomon, because they were made like unto them, and so as God had directed Solomon. This was prophesied of to Hezekiah by Esay above an hundred yeares before, and now fulfilled after so long a time to shew the truth of God, that we may beleeve; and it is to be noted, that Ierusalem was now punished in that, whereof they were proud and vain-glorious to make ostentation of it, that our precious things may not puffe us up, lest Note. God be hereby provoked to strip us likewise, and bring us to misery.
And he carryed away all Ierusalem, and all the mighty men, and all carpenters and Smithes, &c.] The Vulgar Lat. for Smiths, hath inclusores, by which word, V. 14.saith Wolphius, the Hebrews understand those that were shut into the towres to Wolphius.keepe them, but because they are rather to be thought to come under the name of warriours, he preferreth the other reading of Iunius, Smithes. But for as much as Junius.the word foreign signifieth, shut up, or shutters up, it seemeth rather to be meant of porters, as some expound it, for they shut up the gates, and by all Ierusalem, understand some of all sorts, wherefore Junius reads it, He carried out of Ierusalem, all the princes, &c. instead of these words, He carryed away all Jerusalem, and all the princes. Whereas, 2 Chron. 36. 10. it is said, that Nebuchadnezzar sending carryed him into Babylon, it is not to be understood, that he sent first, but followed in person, and then tooke and carryed him away as is said, 2 King. 24.
And he made Matthaniah his uncle king in his stead, and turned his name to V. 17.Zedekiah] The reason of this change, saith Lyra, was, because Zedekiah signifieth the justice of God; and Nebuchadnezzar when he made him king caused him to sweare to be just and true unto him, in paying him tribute and having nothing to Lyra.doe with the Egyptian, which is also in part expresly said, 2 Chron. 36. 13. and by giving him this name he would as shew his authority over him, so hereby put him continually in minde of his duty, that when he should rebell contrary to this oath, he might appeare to be the more odious and worthy to come into his enemies hands, as also was to be expected for his other abominations. He had the same mother with Iehoiakim, and sinned like him, but his father Iosiah is not once here mentioned, because he was unworthy of that honour, to be styled the sonne of so godly a king. This king was so wicked, that notwithstanding his oath to Nebuchadnezzar he rebelled against him, and 2 Chron. 36. 12. He humbled not himselfe before the face of Ieremiah at the word of the Lord. Of which word see Ier. 37. 2. 38. 17, 18. The Prophet warned him doubtlesse not to rebell, and when he had rebelled and the city was besieged, not to stand out against him, but to yeild. And through his rebellion and obstinacy the judgements of God by the Babylonians were hastened against him and his people of Iudah and Ierusalem.