Jehoiachin Surrenders to Nebuchadnezzar

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Jehoiachin Surrenders to Nebuchadnezzar

Date: May. 28, 2025

Passage

2 Kings 24:8-17 (ESV)

8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. 9 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.

10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it, 12 and Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself and his mother and his servants and his officials and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign 13 and carried off all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the LORD, which Solomon king of Israel had made, as the LORD had foretold. 14 He carried away all Jerusalem and all the officials and all the mighty men of valor, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained, except the poorest people of the land. 15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon. The king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officials, and the chief men of the land he took into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of valor, 7,000, and the craftsmen and the metal workers, 1,000, all of them strong and fit for war. 17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

For information on how the ESV can be quoted, please visit our permission site.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 24:12

and Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself and his mother and his servants and his officials and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign

Jehoiachin had reigned in Jerusalem only three months when Nebuchadnezzar invaded and laid siege to the city. The Babylonian invasion and the captivity of Israel were God’s wrath upon the nation for the sins that his forefathers, the proceeding kings, and his people had committed. Jehoiachin was only eighteen years old and incapable of turning the tide around during his short three-month reign. But the real problem was not his young age nor his short reign; it was that his heart was not right with God (v. 9).

Jehoiachin, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar (v. 12). They were taken captives to Babylon, fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jer 22:24-27). It was a tragedy nationally to Israel and personally to Jehoiachin as the king. This tragedy should serve us as a spiritual lesson that if we don’t surrender to God lovingly then we will be forced to surrender to “the ruler of the kingdom of the air” (cf. Eph 2:2; Phil 2:9-11).

Prayer: Father, thank you for your love in discipliningme when I am obstinate and remain in my sins. Please wake me up to repent of my sins and turn and surrender to you in love. Amen.

One Word: Surrender to God

Preparing to Meet the Lord

Exodus 19:7-25

Key Verse: 19:10

the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments

Today's Question

See answer and references