Jehoiakim
    he whom Jehovah has set up, the second son of Josiah, and
    eighteenth king of Judah, which he ruled over for eleven years
    (B.C. 610-599). His original name was Eliakim (q.v.).

      On the death of his father his younger brother Jehoahaz
    (=Shallum, Jer. 22:11), who favoured the Chaldeans against the
    Egyptians, was made king by the people; but the king of Egypt,
    Pharaoh-necho, invaded the land and deposed Jehoahaz (2 Kings
    23:33, 34; Jer. 22:10-12), setting Eliakim on the throne in his
    stead, and changing his name to Jehoiakim.

      After this the king of Egypt took no part in Jewish politics,
    having been defeated by the Chaldeans at Carchemish (2 Kings
    24:7; Jer. 46:2). Palestine was now invaded and conquered by
    Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiakim was taken prisoner and carried captive
    to Babylon (2 Chr. 36:6, 7). It was at this time that Daniel
    also and his three companions were taken captive to Babylon
    (Dan. 1:1, 2).

      Nebuchadnezzar reinstated Jehoiakim on his throne, but treated
    him as a vassal king. In the year after this, Jeremiah caused
    his prophecies to be read by Baruch in the court of the temple.
    Jehoiakim, hearing of this, had them also read in the royal
    palace before himself. The words displeased him, and taking the
    roll from the hands of Baruch he cut it in pieces and threw it
    into the fire (Jer. 36:23). During his disastrous reign there
    was a return to the old idolatry and corruption of the days of
    Manasseh.

      After three years of subjection to Babylon, Jehoiakim withheld
    his tribute and threw off the yoke (2 Kings 24:1), hoping to
    make himself independent. Nebuchadnezzar sent bands of
    Chaldeans, Syrians, and Ammonites (2 Kings 24:2) to chastise his
    rebellious vassal. They cruelly harassed the whole country
    (comp. Jer. 49:1-6). The king came to a violent death, and his
    body having been thrown over the wall of Jerusalem, to convince
    the beseieging army that he was dead, after having been dragged
    away, was buried beyond the gates of Jerusalem "with the burial
    of an ass," B.C. 599 (Jer. 22:18, 19; 36:30). Nebuchadnezzar
    placed his son Jehoiachin on the throne, wishing still to retain
    the kingdom of Judah as tributary to him.



 Jehoiakim, avenging, or establishing, or resurrection, of the Lord