Jehoiakim

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew Yehoyaqim (“Yahweh establishes”), a royal theophoric name
• Period/Era: Divided Kingdom (late monarchic period, just before the Exilic era)
• Main References: 2 Kings 23:34–24:6; 2 Chronicles 36:4–8; Jeremiah 22:13–19; 26; 36
• Key Connections: Son of Josiah; installed and renamed by Pharaoh Neco II; ruled under Babylonian dominance in the days of Jeremiah

Who was Jehoiakim?

Jehoiakim was king of Judah in Jerusalem after Pharaoh Neco II deposed his brother Jehoahaz and imposed tribute.
He reigned during rapid imperial change from Egyptian influence to Babylonian control in the early sixth century BC.
Biblical narratives portray his rule as marked by injustice and religious unfaithfulness, drawing prophetic denunciation.
He was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin after Judah’s submission to Babylon weakened.

Key Events & Achievements

• Installed by Egypt: Pharaoh Neco II made him king, changed his name from Eliakim to Jehoiakim, and exacted tribute from Judah (2 Kings 23:34–35).
• Shift to Babylonian vassalage: He became Nebuchadnezzar’s servant and later rebelled, contributing to Babylonian pressure on Judah (2 Kings 24:1–2).
• Rejected prophetic warning: He cut and burned Jeremiah’s written scroll, leading to a renewed message of judgment (Jeremiah 36:20–32).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Jehoiakim’s reign shows how royal power used against covenant standards and prophetic counsel can hasten national instability.

Key Verse

“As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire.” — Jeremiah 36:23, NIV