Evil-merodach

27Jehoiachin, king of Judah, had been a prisoner in Babylon for thirty-seven years. Then Evilmerodach became king of Babylon. In his first year, on day twenty-seven of month twelve, he let Jehoiachin out of prison.

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

NoteJehoiachin was king of Judah before Zedekiah. Babylon had taken him away years earlier. Evilmerodach is just a Babylonian name. The word only sounds like 'evil' in English.

28He spoke kindly to Jehoiachin. He gave him a seat of honor higher than the other kings living in Babylon.

And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;

NoteBabylon had beaten other kings too and kept them in the city. A seat closer to the king meant you were more important.

29Jehoiachin took off his prison clothes and put on new ones. He ate at the king's table every day for the rest of his life.

And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

NotePrisoners wore special clothes so everyone knew they were prisoners. Eating at the king's table every day meant he was an honored guest.

30The king gave Jehoiachin what he needed each day. This went on every single day, as long as he lived.

And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

NoteThe king gave him food and whatever else he needed, every single day.

31Jehoiachin, an earlier king of Judah, had been a prisoner for thirty-seven years. Then Evil-merodach became king of Babylon. In his first year, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, he was kind to Jehoiachin and let him out of prison.

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,

NoteJehoiachin was a king of Judah before Zedekiah. Babylon had taken him away as a prisoner years before this. The King James says the king “lifted up the head” of Jehoiachin. That means he started treating him kindly again.

32He spoke kindly to Jehoiachin. He gave him a seat of honor higher than the other kings living in Babylon.

And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,

NoteBabylon had beaten other lands too. The kings of those lands lived in Babylon as well.

33Jehoiachin took off his prison clothes. He ate at the king's table every day for the rest of his life.

And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life.

NotePrisoners wore special clothes so everyone knew they were prisoners. Changing them showed he was free now.

34The king of Babylon gave him a share of food every day. This went on until the day he died.

And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

NoteThe king promised him food every single day, for free. He never had to worry about eating again.