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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 579

"Jehoiachin king of Judah"

Text: Jeremiah 52:31

THE SUCCESSOR OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR

The mighty King Nebuchadnezzar passed on and his son succeeded him. He was called “Evil Merodach”. Despite his name, he was kind to Jehoiachin.

“Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin
king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month,
that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign,
lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.
And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prominent seat
than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon.
So Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments,
and he ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life.
And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king of
Babylon, a portion for each day until the day of his death, all the days of his life.”
Jeremiah 52:31-34

1. “Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin
king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month,
that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign,
lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison”

a) Jehoiachin was the son of Jehoiakim (2 Chronicles 36:8).

b) He was only 8 years old when he began his reign (2 Chronicles 36:9).

c) He was deported to Babylon as a prisoner by Nebuchadnezzar
(2 Chronicles 36:10).

d) Evil-Merodach succeeded to the throne of Nebuchadnezzar.

e) In the 1st year of his reign, he released Jehoiachin from prison.

f) Jehoiachin had been a prisoner for 37 years.

2. “And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon”

a) Evil Merodach spoke kindly to Jehoiachin.

b) Not only was he released from prison, he was given some prominence.

c) The king of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) held many kings as prisoners.

i) Judah was not the only country captured.

ii) Princes from other nations were kept in Babylon to ensure obedience
from vassal states.

3. “So Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments,
and he ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life”

a) Jehoiachin no longer wore prison garments.

b) He was invited to have his meals in the presence of the king now.

4. “And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king of Babylon,
a portion for each day until the day of his death, all the days of his life”

a) The king also provided a regular portion of food for Jehoiachin.

b) Jehoiachin was well-provided for till the day of his death.