2 Kings 23:31-35

E. Jehoahaz’s Evil Reign 23:31-35

Jehoahaz, whose other name was Shallum, was the middle of Josiah’s three sons, all of whom ruled Judah after Josiah. Jehoahaz was the people’s choice (2 Kings 23:31), but he reigned for only three months in 609 B.C.

When Pharaoh Neco defeated Josiah at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29), Judah fell under Egyptian control. Neco summoned Josiah’s successor Jehoahaz to meet him at Riblah. This town stood about 65 miles north of Damascus in central Aramea. The meeting took place before the battle of Carchemish. Neco found Jehoahaz obstinate, as his father had been, so he imprisoned him and sent him back to Egypt (2 Kings 23:34) where he died later (Jeremiah 22:10-12). Neco also imposed a heavy tax on Judah (2 Kings 23:33) and installed Jehoahaz’s older brother Eliakim on Judah’s throne as his puppet. The naming of a person shows superiority over that person. Neco was declaring his sovereignty over Judah’s king by renaming him Jehoiakim.