Jehoiakim

Jehoiakim (also Jehoiakim, formerly Eliakim, Hebrew יהויקים ) was one of the last kings of the Kingdom of Judah before the Babylonian exile.

Jehoiakim (* 634, † 598 BC) reigned in the years 609-598 BC He was the son of Josiah, but first reign of Jehoiakim 's younger brother Jehoahaz, even if only for three months since then Jehoahaz from the Egyptian King Necho II was deposed, which began the 25 -year-old Jehoiakim as the new king. After Necho was defeated by the Babylonians at the battle of Carchemish, Egypt initially had no opportunity to influence the internal affairs of Judah. Instead, now conquered the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar the country and led in chains to Babylon, Jehoiakim first ( 2 Chr 36.6 HFA), then allowed him but a reign as the vassal king of Babylon. Three years later Jehoiakim refused the Babylonians, however, the due tribute and Nebuchadnezzar sent an army into the land to ravage it. Shortly before the subsequent siege Jehoiakim died. Was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin.

The prophet Jeremiah Jehoiakim is portrayed as a despotic ruler who can execute, inter alia, the prophet Uriah ( Jer 26.20-24 HFA), as he conceived his announcement, his kingdom will perish as high treason.