2 Kings 24 Jehoiakim, first subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, rebelleth against him to his own ruin: Jehoiachin his son is king in his stead, 2 Kings 24:1–6. His evil reign: Jerusalem spoiled and made captive by the king of Babylon, 2 Kings 24:8–16.

In his days, i.e. in Jehoiakim’s reign, in the end of his third year, Dan. 1:1, or the beginning of his fourth, Jer. 25:1, Nebuchadnezzar; the son of Nabopolassar, who quite subdued the Assyrian, first his lord, and then his competitor, and made himself absolute monarch of all those parts of the…

Nebuchadnezzar’s army was made up of several nations, who were willing to fight under the banner of such a puissant and victorious emperor.

For the sins of Manasseh; properly and directly for their own sins, and occasionally for the sins of Manasseh, which had never been charged upon them, if they had not made them their own by their impenitency for them, and repetition of them.

For the innocent blood, to wit, of those prophets and saints who either reproved or would not comply with his idolatrous worship.

Jehoiachin, called also Jeconiah, 1 Chron. 3:16, (as Jehoiakim also was, by comparing this with Matt. 1:11) and, in way of contempt, Coniah, Jer. 22:24.

The king of Egypt came not again, to wit, in this king’s days; nor until Zedekiah’s time, Jer. 37:6–7; nor to any purpose. He could not now come out to protect the king of Judah, being scarce able to defend his own kingdom.

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign. Object. He was then but eight years old, 2 Chron. 36:9. Answ. 1. Both are true; in his eighth year he began to reign with his father, who made him king with him, as divers other kings of Israel and Judah had done in the like times of…

Either, 1. Because the people had made Jehoiachin king without his consent. Or, 2. Because he had some notice, or at least a suspicion, of his intentions to rebel against him, and to join with Egypt against him, as Zedekiah his successor did.

Went out to the king of Babylon, i.e. yielded up himself and the city into his hands; and this by the counsel of Jeremiah, and to his own good. Of his reign, i.e. of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign; as appears by comparing this with Jer. 25:8, and because Jehoiachin reigned not half a year.

Cut in pieces; or rather, took away, as this word elsewhere signifies; or cut off, to wit, from the temple. For why should they cut in pieces those vessels which might conveniently be carried away? And that they were not cut in pieces, but reserved whole, is manifest front Ezra 1:7, Dan. 5:2–3.

All Jerusalem, i.e. the inhabitants of Jerusalem; not simply all, but the best and most considerable part, as the following words explain and restrain it.

That he might admonish him of (what this name signifies) the justice of God, which had so severely punished Jehoiakim for his rebellion; and would no less certainly overtake him, if he should be guilty of the same rebellion and perfidiousness of which his predecessor was guilty.

Thus the people’s sins were the true cause why God gave them wicked kings, whom he suffered to do wickedly, that they might bring the long deserved and threatened punishments upon themselves and their people.