Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Kings 24

In his days - That is, 605 B.C., which was the third full year of Jehoiakim’s reign according to Daniel 1:1, and the beginning of his fourth year according to Jeremiah 25:1.

Nebuchadnezzar - Or Nebuchadrezzar, which is closer to the original, Nabu-kudurri-uzur. This name, like most Babylonian names, is composed of three elements: Nebo, the well-known god (Isaiah 46:1); kudur, of uncertain meaning (perhaps “crown” or “landmark”); and uzur, which means “protects.”

Nebuchadnezzar was the son of Nabopolassar and the second monarch of the Babylonian empire. He ascended the throne in 604 B.C. and reigned for 43 years, dying in 561 B.C. He married Amuhia (or Amyitis), daughter of Cyaxares, king of the Medes, and was the most celebrated of all the Babylonian sovereigns. No other pagan king occupies as much space in Scripture.

At this time, he was not yet the reigning king but was the Crown Prince and leader of the army under his father. However, since he would have been surrounded with all the state and magnificence of a monarch, the Jews would have naturally regarded him as the actual king.

Came up - Nebuchadnezzar began his campaign by attacking and defeating Neco’s Egyptian forces at Carchemish (Jeremiah 46:2). He then pressed forward toward the south, overrunning Syria, Phoenicia, and Judea. He took Jerusalem and carried off a portion of its inhabitants as prisoners (Daniel 1:1–4). After this, he proceeded southward and had reached the borders of Egypt when he was suddenly recalled to Babylon by his father’s death.

Three years - This period was likely from 605 B.C. to 602 B.C. Jehoiakim rebelled because he knew that Nebuchadnezzar was engaged in important wars in another part of Asia.

See the cross-references. Instead of coming in person, Nebuchadnezzar sent his own troops and those of the neighboring nations against Jehoiakim.

The ravages of the Moabites and the Ammonites are especially alluded to in the following passages: Jeremiah 48:26–27; Jeremiah 49:1; Ezekiel 25:3–6; Zephaniah 2:8.

By comparing Jeremiah 22:19, Jeremiah 36:6, 30, and Ezekiel 19:8-9, it seems that in the fifth or sixth year after Jehoiakim’s revolt, Nebuchadnezzar must have decided to go personally to Riblah to direct operations, first against Tyre and then against Jerusalem. Jehoiakim was taken prisoner and brought in chains to Nebuchadnezzar, who at first intended to take him to Babylon but later had him brought to Jerusalem, where he was executed. Afterward, once the Babylonians had withdrawn, his remains were collected and buried in the tomb of Manasseh, so that the king ultimately slept with his fathers (2 Kings 24:6).

Jehoiachin - Also called Jeconiah and Coniah. The names Jehoiachin and Jeconiah both mean “Yahweh will establish,” while Coniah means “Yahweh establishes.” His original name was likely Jehoiachin. When he ascended the throne and was required to take a new name, anxious not to lose the good omen in his original name, he simply transposed its two elements.

Jeremiah, however, shortened this new name from Jeconiah to Coniah, removing the element that implied a future promise. This was to signify that what the name declared would happen, would not. In other words, though the name meant “Yahweh establishes,” this prince He would not establish.

From the year of the battle of Carchemish, Neco confined himself to his own country and made no effort to recover Syria or Judea.