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¹ In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then he turned against him. ² The Lord sent armies of Babylonians, Syrians, Moabites and Ammonites against Jehoiakim. He sent them against Judah to destroy it, just as the word of the Lord had said through His men who spoke for Him. ³ This came upon Judah at the word of the Lord, to put them away from His eyes because of the sins Manasseh had done. ⁴ And it happened because of the people Manasseh had killed who were not guilty. For he filled Jerusalem with their blood, and the Lord would not forgive. ⁵ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. ⁶ Jehoiakim died, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place. ⁷ And the king of Egypt did not leave his land again. For the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates.

Jehoiachin Rules Judah

⁸ Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king. He ruled for three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. ⁹ Jehoiachin did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He did just as his father had done.

¹⁰ At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon went up to Jerusalem. His soldiers gathered around the city. ¹¹ King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the city, while his soldiers were all around it trying to take it. ¹² King Jehoiachin of Judah went out to the king of Babylon. He took with him his mother, his servants, his captains and his leaders. The king of Babylon took him away in the eighth year of his rule. ¹³ And Nebuchadnezzar carried away all the riches of the Lord's house and of the king's house. He cut in pieces all the objects of gold which King Solomon of Israel had made in the house of the Lord. It happened just as the Lord had said. ¹⁴ Then the king of Babylon led away all who lived in Jerusalem. He led away all the captains, all the powerful soldiers, and all those who were able to make things. He took 10,000 people away to Babylon. Only the very poor people of the land were left behind. ¹⁵ So he led Jehoiachin away to Babylon. He also led away the king's mother, his wives, his leaders, and the most important men of the land. He took them from Jerusalem to Babylon. ¹⁶ He led away all the powerful soldiers, 7,000 men. And he led away 1,000 of those who were able to make things. All of them were strong and able to fight in battle. Nebuchadnezzar took them away to Babylon. ¹⁷ Then he made Mattaniah, the brother of Jehoiachin's father, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Zedekiah Rules Judah

¹⁸ Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. He ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. ¹⁹ Zedekiah did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He did all that Jehoiakim had done. ²⁰ For because of the anger of the Lord, this happened in Jerusalem and Judah until the Lord put them away from Him. And Zedekiah turned against the king of Babylon.