Jehoiakim
18th King of Judah
609–598 BC
Father
Josiah
Children
Jehoiachin
Biography
Jehoiakim, whose original name was Eliakim, was installed as a puppet king by Pharaoh Neco after the removal of his brother Jehoahaz. He oppressed his own people with heavy taxation to pay Egypt's tribute while building himself a lavish palace with forced labor. Jeremiah confronted him for this, comparing him unfavorably to his father Josiah. When Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt at Carchemish and Jehoiakim switched allegiance to Babylon, he initially submitted but then rebelled after three years. The most revealing scene of his character came when his secretary Jehudi read Jeremiah's scroll to him: as each section was read Jehoiakim cut it off with a penknife and threw it into the fire — a deliberate, section-by-section rejection of God's Word. He also had the prophet Uriah extradited from Egypt and killed. The first Babylonian deportation, which included Daniel and his friends, occurred during his reign. He died ignominiously — according to Jeremiah, given "the burial of a donkey."
Key Events
Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim king and changed his name to Jehoiakim; imposed heavy tribute on the land
Jehoiakim built himself a large palace using unjust means; Jeremiah compared him unfavorably to Josiah
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and took Temple vessels and noble young men including Daniel to Babylon
As Jehudi read Jeremiah's prophetic scroll, Jehoiakim cut it off with a penknife and burned it section by section
Had the prophet Uriah extradited from Egypt and executed with the sword
After three years of Babylonian vassalage, Jehoiakim rebelled, prompting raids by Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders
Spiritual Significance
Jehoiakim's burning of Jeremiah's scroll is one of Scripture's most graphic images of human rejection of God's Word. The contrast with Josiah — who tore his robes in repentance when the Law was read — could not be sharper. His reign shows that a nation's destruction is first a moral and spiritual event.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Political survival instincts, transitioned allegiance from Egypt to Babylon
Weaknesses
Wickedness, oppression of his people, burning God's Word, murder of a prophet, pride, self-indulgence
Lessons
Rejecting God's Word does not make it untrue — it only accelerates judgment. Jehoiakim's burning of Jeremiah's scroll was an act of supreme futility; God simply had Jeremiah dictate it again with additions. What we try to destroy of God's truth only returns amplified.
Related Characters
Josiah
Father
Jehoahaz
Brother who preceded him
Jehoiachin
Son and successor
Jeremiah
Prophet he persecuted
Daniel
Noble taken captive during his reign
Nebuchadnezzar
Babylonian king he submitted to and then rebelled against
Pharaoh Neco
Egyptian king who installed him