Jehoahaz

30Josiah's servants carried his body from Megiddo in a chariot. They brought him to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land chose his son Jehoahaz. They poured oil on him to show he was the new king. He took his father's place.

And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead.

Note"The people of the land" means the leading families of Judah. Pouring oil on a new king's head was the way to show he was chosen.

31Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for only three months. His mother was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah, from the town of Libnah.

Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

NoteThe king's mother was important in Judah. That is why her name is written down.

32He did what the LORD said was evil, just as his family before him had done.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

33Pharaoh Neco locked Jehoahaz up at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, so he could not rule in Jerusalem. Neco also made the land pay him a hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.

And Pharaohnechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

NoteA talent was a heavy weight of silver or gold. One talent weighed about as much as a small child. A hundred talents was a huge amount of money. Riblah was a town far north, where Neco's army camped.

34Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim, another son of Josiah, king in his father's place. He changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. Then he took Jehoahaz away to Egypt, and Jehoahaz died there.

And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.

NoteChanging a person's name showed you were the boss over him. Neco did this to show that he ruled Judah now.

1The people of the land chose Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah. They made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.

Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s stead in Jerusalem.

NoteThe people of the land means the people of Judah. Judah was the small country around Jerusalem.

2Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months.

Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

NoteThree months is a very short time to be king. Most kings ruled for many years.

3The king of Egypt took him off the throne in Jerusalem. He made the land pay a fine of a hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.

And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

NoteA talent was a heavy weight of metal, about seventy-five pounds. A hundred talents of silver was a huge pile of money. The fine was money Judah had to pay to show Egypt was in charge.

4The king of Egypt made Eliakim, the brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem. He changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. Then Necho took Jehoahaz away to Egypt.

And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.

NoteGiving someone a new name showed you were the boss of him. The king of Egypt was showing who was really in charge.

10Do not cry for the dead. Do not be sad about him. Cry hard for the king who is taken away. He will never come back. He will never see his own land again.

Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.

NoteWhen an army beat a country, it marched people away to live far off. They almost never came home. That is worse than dying at home, the message says.

11The LORD says this about Shallum son of Josiah, king of Judah. He became king after his father Josiah. Then he was taken away from this place. He will never come back here.

For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more:

NoteShallum is another name for King Jehoahaz. He was king for only three months. Then the king of Egypt took him away.

12He will die in the land where they took him. He will never see this land again.

But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.