2 kings 23:34 - Pharaoh Necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim; but he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there.

Generated Verse: 2 kings 23:34

What does "2 kings 23:34" mean?


This verse from 2 Kings 23:34 describes a pivotal moment in the history of Judah, marking the increasing control of Egypt over the region. Let's break it down:

"Pharaoh Necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father..." Pharaoh Necoh (also spelled Neco) was the Egyptian ruler. King Josiah of Judah had been killed in battle against Necoh at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29). This verse tells us that Necoh installed Eliakim, one of Josiah's sons, as the new king of Judah. This demonstrates that Judah was now under Egyptian influence or control. The Egyptians didn't allow the Judeans to choose their own king, but imposed their choice.

"...and changed his name to Jehoiakim..." Pharaoh Necoh changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. This act of renaming was a common practice by conquering rulers to signify their authority over the newly appointed king. It was a symbolic gesture of subservience and control. Changing someone's name in that time period signified power and a new order.

"...but he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there." Jehoahaz was another son of Josiah, who had been chosen by the people of Judah to be king after Josiah's death (2 Kings 23:30). However, Pharaoh Necoh deposed Jehoahaz, preventing him from ruling. Jehoahaz was taken to Egypt, where he eventually died. This highlights the brutality of Pharaoh Necoh, who not only installed his own king but also exiled and effectively killed the choice of the people.

In Summary:

The verse indicates that:

Judah had become a vassal state under Egypt. Pharaoh Necoh held significant power over the kingdom.
Necoh deposed the king chosen by the people (Jehoahaz) and replaced him with his own choice (Eliakim/Jehoiakim).
The change of name was a symbol of subjugation.
Jehoahaz's fate in Egypt showed the lack of autonomy and the harsh consequences of defying Egyptian authority.

This event marked a period of decline for Judah and foreshadowed the eventual Babylonian conquest and exile, which occurred later in the history of Judah. The events described in this verse set the stage for the political turmoil and instability that would lead to the kingdom's downfall.