Eliakim/Jehoiakim
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Name and Meaning:
Eliakim, meaning "God raises" or "God sets up," was the original name of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah. The name change to Jehoiakim, meaning "Yahweh raises up," was made by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt when he placed Eliakim on the throne of Judah.

Biblical References:
Jehoiakim's reign is documented in several books of the Bible, including 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and the Book of Jeremiah. His account is a significant part of the narrative concerning the decline of the Kingdom of Judah and the events leading up to the Babylonian exile.

Historical Context:
Jehoiakim reigned as king of Judah from approximately 609 to 598 BC. He was appointed by Pharaoh Necho after the Egyptian king deposed Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim's brother. This political maneuvering was part of Egypt's attempt to exert influence over the region during a time of shifting power dynamics, as the Assyrian Empire waned and Babylon rose to prominence.

Reign and Political Alliances:
Jehoiakim's reign was marked by political instability and shifting allegiances. Initially, he was a vassal of Egypt, paying heavy tribute to Pharaoh Necho. However, after the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, where Babylon defeated Egypt, Jehoiakim switched allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. This change is recorded in 2 Kings 24:1: "During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar."

Religious and Moral Conduct:
Jehoiakim's reign is often characterized by his disregard for the religious reforms of his father, Josiah. He is depicted as a king who did evil in the sight of the Lord, as noted in 2 Kings 23:37: "And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his fathers had done." His reign saw the continuation of idolatry and injustice, which were condemned by the prophets of the time, particularly Jeremiah.

Prophetic Interactions:
The prophet Jeremiah had significant interactions with Jehoiakim, often delivering messages of impending judgment due to the king's unfaithfulness and the nation's sins. One notable incident involved Jehoiakim's reaction to a scroll of Jeremiah's prophecies. In Jeremiah 36:23, it is recorded that "as Jehudi read three or four columns, Jehoiakim cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was consumed by the fire."

Downfall and Legacy:
Jehoiakim's rebellion against Babylon led to a siege of Jerusalem. Although he died before the city fell, his actions set the stage for the eventual Babylonian conquest and the exile of the Jewish people. His son, Jehoiachin, succeeded him but reigned for only three months before being taken captive to Babylon.

Jehoiakim's legacy is one of a king who failed to heed the warnings of the prophets and led his nation further into idolatry and political turmoil. His reign serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments and relying on unstable political alliances.
Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah
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