King James Version
What Does 2 Chronicles 36:9 Mean?
“Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.”
Context
7
Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
8
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. Jehoiachin: or, Jeconiah, I.Chro.3.16. or, Coniah ier.22.24.
9
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
10
And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. when: Heb. at the return of the year goodly: Heb. vessels of desire Zedekiah: or, Mattaniah, his father's brother
11
Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(9) **Jehoiachin was eight years old.**—2Kings 24:8 has correctly “eighteen;” and so some MSS., LXX. (Alex.), Syriac, Arabic. What the prophet Ezekiel says of him could not apply to a boy of eight. (The difference turns on the omission of the smallest Hebrew letter, namely, *yod,* which as a numeral represents *ten.*)
**Three months and ten days.**—Kings, “three months;” Syriac and Arabic here have “one hundred days,” *i.e.,* three months and ten days. Thenius thinks the ten days were added, in order that the catastrophe of Jehoiachin’s reign might fall on a *tenth* day of the month, like the investment of Jerusalem and the fall of the city under Zedekiah (2Chronicles 25:1; 2Chronicles 25:8).
**He did that which was evil.**—2Kings 24:9. (See also the above-cited passages of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.) According to the latter prophet, Jehoiachin “devoured men, and forced widows, and wasted cities.”
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of 2 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
2 Chronicles 36:9 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to 2 Chronicles 36:9
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge