King Jehoiachin - Biography

At 18 years of age, Jehoiachin was enthroned by Judah's conqueror du jour, Babylon. His father King Jehoiakim was judged rebellious, and Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar probably hoped Jehoiachin would be more submissive.

He wasn't. In response, Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem, and easily reconquered it. He deported everyone and everything of value — all the treasures from the palace and the temple, all the nobility and educated people, and the military. Only the poorest peasants were left. Nebuchadnezzar placed Jehoiachin's uncle, Zedekiah, as king over those few remaining, thereby fulfilling the prophecy¹ that no descendent of Jehoiachin would be king of Judah.

Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon and put in prison, where he spent 37 years. After that time, Babylon's new king released Jehoiachin from prison and gave him a job in government service until his death.