The last four kings reigned a total of 22 years, 6 months, and 10 days. Doom and gloom all the way!
Don’t blink, or you’ll miss the reign of Jehoahaz. He was king for ninety days—hardly enough time to get your crown and gown sized! The first of three sons of Josiah to reign— Jehoahaz, Eliakim ( Jehoiakim), and Zedekiah—he was quickly deposed by the Egyptians who also imposed a heavy tax on Israel (2 Chron 36:3). Perhaps Jehoahaz had animosity towards Egypt for his father’s death. In any case, he was removed to Egypt and died there. He was replaced on the throne by his brother Eliakim, meaning “God raises up.” His name was slightly altered by the king of Egypt to Jehoiakim, or “Jehovah raises up.” Perhaps the pharaoh was showing courtesy for Israel’s God but also declaring that Jehoiakim was his vassal. “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord his God” (v 5). What his father considered a treasure— the Book—he cut it in pieces and burned ( Jer 36). His 11-year reign ended with Nebuchadnezzar removing him to Babylon in fetters, taking the temple treasures and a contingent of Judah’s elite, including Daniel. Replaced by his son, Jehoiachin (remember n comes after m), he’s also known as Jeconiah or Coniah. How evil was he, also only ruling 3 months? “Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not prosper in his days; for none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah” ( Jer 22:30). Only the virgin birth could circumvent this curse on the royal line. The last, Zedekiah was also “Jehoiakim’s brother” (v 10). More weak than wicked, yet unwilling to “humble himself” (2 Chron 36:2), he “stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel” (v 13), a deadly combo. His doom, along with the land of Judah, was swift and final.