The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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2 Chronicles 36:1
What does 2 Chronicles 36:1 mean?
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2 Chronicles 36:1
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It's easy to overlook that the people, not an established council or prophecy, chose Jehoahaz. This highlights how political power could shift rapidly, and how popular will, even if misguided, could install a king.
The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Josiah, a king known for his deep faith and reforms, has just died in battle. His people, in a moment of turmoil and likely grief, bypass his elder sons and choose the younger Jehoahaz to rule in Jerusalem. This decision sets the stage for a brief and troubled reign, quickly overshadowed by foreign powers and the tragic consequences of unfaithfulness.
Josiah was a king who walked with God, bringing spiritual revival to Judah. Yet, his reign ended abruptly on the battlefield. What happened?
Josiah's death was a shocking turning point. His pursuit of righteousness and his covenant with God had brought a season of peace and renewal. However, his decision to confront Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo, despite Neco's assurance that he wasn't after Judah, proved fatal. This wasn't a divinely ordained martyrdom for faith, but a political miscalculation that plunged the nation back into instability.
Right after a beloved king dies, you'd expect a thoughtful succession. But here, 'the people of the land' make a quick, decisive move. What does this tell us?
The phrase 'the people of the land' often refers to the influential nobles, officials, and perhaps military leaders – the power brokers of Judah. Their immediate action to crown Jehoahaz, Josiah's younger son, bypasses the customary line of succession (which would likely favor Jehoiakim, his older son, who was in Egypt at the time). This suggests a nation already fractured, with political factions vying for control in the power vacuum left by Josiah's death. Their choice was not based on godly wisdom, but on immediate political expediency.
Understand the original words
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am ha-arets · Hebrew Noun phrase
A term used to describe the general population of a territory, often implying a collective political or social action within the context of monarchical transitions.
melek · Hebrew Noun
A divinely or humanly appointed ruler who exercises sovereign authority over a kingdom or territory. In biblical history, kings were to serve under the ultimate authority of God.
This verse captures a moment of intense political instability and internal division in Judah following the sudden death of the beloved King Josiah, setting the stage for rapid and devastating shifts in leadership and national fortunes.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Death at Megiddo
King Josiah, a reformer who had sought to restore true worship, is killed in battle against Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt. This is a devastating blow to Judah and its hopes for stability.
c. 609 BC— this verse
Jehoahaz Anointed King
The people of Judah, bypassing the older, more internationally recognized son Eliakim, choose the younger Jehoahaz (also known as Shallum) as king over Josiah. This reflects internal political maneuvering and a desire for continuity.
c. 609 BC
Jehoahaz Deposed by Egypt
Pharaoh Necho II, returning from his campaign, deposes the newly appointed Jehoahaz after only three months and takes him captive to Egypt, where he later dies. Necho places Jehoahaz's older brother, Eliakim (renamed Jehoiakim), on the throne.
609 BC - 598 BC
Reign of Jehoiakim
Jehoiakim rules as a puppet king under Egyptian control, eventually shifting allegiance to the rising Babylonian Empire. His reign is marked by corruption and further oppression of the people.
598 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
After Jehoiakim rebels against Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar II besieges Jerusalem. Jehoiakim dies during the siege, and his young son Jehoiachin is made king, only to be deported to Babylon with many of the city's elite shortly after.
This passage describes the same event, highlighting that Jehoahaz was appointed king by the people 'in Jerusalem' rather than by divine appointment.
2 Chronicles 35:1This chapter sets the stage by describing Josiah's faithfulness and the peace he enjoyed, making the subsequent rebellion and choice of Jehoahaz even more stark.
Jeremiah 22:10-12Jeremiah prophesies against Shallum (who is Jehoahaz) shortly after he became king, revealing God's disapproval of his rule and his impending doom.
Ezekiel 19:1-4This prophetic imagery speaks of a young lion (a king) taken captive, which is a symbolic reference to Jehoahaz's swift downfall and exile to Egypt.
It's easy to overlook that the people, not an established council or prophecy, chose Jehoahaz. This highlights how political power could shift rapidly, and how popular will, even if misguided, could install a king.
Josiah, a king known for his deep faith and reforms, has just died in battle. His people, in a moment of turmoil and likely grief, bypass his elder sons and choose the younger Jehoahaz to rule in Jerusalem. This decision sets the stage for a brief and troubled reign, quickly overshadowed by foreign powers and the tragic consequences of unfaithfulness.
Josiah, a king known for his deep faith and reforms, has just died in battle. His people, in a moment of turmoil and likely grief, bypass his elder sons and choose the younger Jehoahaz to rule in Jerusalem. This decision sets the stage for a brief and troubled reign, quickly overshadowed by foreign powers and the tragic consequences of unfaithfulness.
"The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem." — It's easy to overlook that the people, not an established council or prophecy, chose Jehoahaz. This highlights how political power could shift rapidly, and how popular will, even if misguided, coul…
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Last reviewed October 2026