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2 Kings 24

2 Kings 24 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

2 Kings 24 records the final collapse of Judah before Babylon. The chapter moves through Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, showing siege, surrender, exile, and the loss of temple treasures. It highlights the seriousness of Judah's sin and the certainty of God's warnings.

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What happens in 2 Kings 24?

Nebuchadnezzar invades during Jehoiakim's reign, and Judah becomes subject to Babylon before rebellion brings further trouble. The chapter explains these events as the result of the LORD's judgment, tied to the sins of Manasseh and the shedding of innocent blood. Jehoiakim dies, Jehoiachin rules only a short time, and Jerusalem is besieged. The king, royal family, officials, craftsmen, and many soldiers are taken to Babylon, along with treasures from the temple and palace. Zedekiah is placed on the throne, but he also follows the same pattern of evil and rebellion.

This chapter comes near the end of 2 Kings, after the reforms under Josiah and the decline that followed. It shows Judah reaching the point where long-term disobedience leads to exile. The events set the stage for Jerusalem's final fall in the next chapter.

Themes to notice

  • JudgmentThe passage presents Babylon's advance as part of the LORD's response to persistent national sin.
  • ExileJudah loses its king, its people, and its treasures as many are carried away from Jerusalem.
  • RebellionEach ruler follows a pattern of turning from the LORD, which deepens the nation's crisis.

Questions for 2 Kings 24

  • What does this chapter show about the connection between Judah's choices and its exile?
  • Why does the text emphasize the loss of temple treasures and leading people?
  • How does Zedekiah's reign continue the pattern already seen in Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin?

Read the full text of 2 Kings 24 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

2 Kings 24

Babylon Controls Jehoiakim

1During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded. So Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, until he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.2And the LORD sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets.3Surely this happened to Judah at the LORD’s command, to remove them from His presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all that he had done,4and also for the innocent blood he had shed. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was unwilling to forgive.5As for the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah

6And Jehoiakim rested with his fathers, and his son Jehoiachin reigned in his place.

7Now the king of Egypt did not march out of his land again, because the king of Babylon had taken all his territory, from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem.9And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father had done.

The Captivity of Jerusalem

10At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege.11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it.12Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials all surrendered to the king of Babylon. So in the eighth year of his reign, the king of Babylon took him captive.13As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar also carried off all the treasures from the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he cut into pieces all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD.14He carried into exile all Jerusalem—all the commanders and mighty men of valor, all the craftsmen and metalsmiths—ten thousand captives in all. Only the poorest people of the land remained.15Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, as well as the king’s mother, his wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.16The king of Babylon also brought into exile to Babylon all seven thousand men of valor and a thousand craftsmen and metalsmiths—all strong and fit for battle.17Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Zedekiah Reigns in Judah

18Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.19And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.20For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.

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