Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Notice how the narrator immediately links Jehoahaz to his mother, Hamutal, and her father, Jeremiah from Libnah. This isn't just random genealogy; it highlights his connections to a specific lineage and perhaps implies a political or spiritual heritage that would shape his disastrous reign.
Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Josiah's death, the people of Jerusalem quickly anoint his son Jehoahaz as king, bypassing the older son. This brief reign, however, is cut short when the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco deposes Jehoahaz and exiles him, installing another of Josiah's sons, Jehoiakim, on the throne. The focus here is on the rapid and violent shift in power following Josiah's pivotal reign.
Ever felt like you were born into a difficult situation? Jehoahaz's reign started under a cloud, and his story is a stark reminder of the consequences of following the wrong path.
Jehoahaz came to the throne after the good King Josiah was killed.
A Difficult Inheritance
Josiah had a great reign, turning the nation back to God. But his son, Jehoahaz, took a different direction. The text tells us he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, mirroring the sins of his ancestors (verse 32).
A Fleeting Reign
His reign was incredibly short – only three months. This wasn't because of natural causes, but because the King of Egypt captured him and took him to Egypt, ultimately leading to his death there (verse 33-34). It shows how quickly things can unravel when leadership strays from God's ways.
What does our family background mean for our own choices? Jehoahaz's mother, Hamutal, is named, but her significance lies in the lineage she represents – a lineage that often leaned away from God.
The Bible often records genealogies to show patterns and connections. While Jehoahaz's mother, Hamutal, is mentioned, the focus quickly shifts to the actions of Jehoahaz himself.
A Pattern of Disobedience
Jehoahaz's reign is characterized by his sinfulness, directly opposing his father Josiah's reforms. His mother's name is given, linking him to a family line that, at various points, had strayed from God's covenant.
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Breaking the Chain
This isn't to blame Hamutal, but to show how national and family histories can influence individual choices. Jehoahaz had seen the positive results of Josiah's faithfulness, yet he chose a path of evil, reminiscent of earlier, rebellious kings in Judah's history. His short reign serves as a tragic example of how not to learn from the past.
701 BC
Sennacherib's Siege of Jerusalem
Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah, capturing many cities but failing to take Jerusalem. This event weakened Judah's position but preserved its Davidic monarchy for a time.
c. 640-609 BC
Reign of Josiah
King Josiah ruled Judah and initiated significant religious reforms after discovering a lost scroll of the Law. His reign was a period of relative stability and spiritual revival.
609 BC
Battle of Carchemish
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar decisively defeated the Egyptian and Assyrian forces. This battle marked the end of Egyptian influence in the region and shifted the balance of power.
609 BC
Josiah Falls in Battle
King Josiah was killed fighting the Egyptians at Megiddo. His death was a devastating blow to Judah and plunged the kingdom into political uncertainty.
609 BC— this verse
Jehoahaz Becomes King
After Josiah's death, the people of Judah quickly installed his younger son Jehoahaz as king, bypassing the older heir.
609 BC
Jehoahaz Deposed by Egypt
The Egyptian Pharaoh Necho II, who had killed Josiah, captured Jehoahaz after only three months and took him to Egypt, placing his brother Eliakim (renamed Jehoiakim) on the throne instead.
This verse immediately precedes the account of Josiah’s reign, highlighting the stark contrast in the character and legacy of Josiah's sons, including Jehoahaz, who followed him.
2 Kings 23:34This verse directly follows, detailing Pharaoh Necho’s actions in deposing Jehoahaz and installing his brother, further emphasizing Jehoahaz’s brief and disastrous reign.
2 Chronicles 36:1-4This passage provides a parallel account of Jehoahaz’s short reign and his subsequent capture by the Egyptians, reinforcing the biblical narrative of his downfall.
Jeremiah 22:10-12The prophet Jeremiah speaks about Jehoahaz (identified as Shallum, his given name, in this passage) and predicts his exile to Egypt and eventual death there, confirming the negative trajectory of his rule.
Notice how the narrator immediately links Jehoahaz to his mother, Hamutal, and her father, Jeremiah from Libnah. This isn't just random genealogy; it highlights his connections to a specific lineage and perhaps implies a political or spiritual heritage that would shape his disastrous reign.
After Josiah's death, the people of Jerusalem quickly anoint his son Jehoahaz as king, bypassing the older son. This brief reign, however, is cut short when the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco deposes Jehoahaz and exiles him, installing another of Josiah's sons, Jehoiakim, on the throne. The focus here is on the rapid and violent shift in power following Josiah's pivotal reign.
After Josiah's death, the people of Jerusalem quickly anoint his son Jehoahaz as king, bypassing the older son. This brief reign, however, is cut short when the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco deposes Jehoahaz and exiles him, installing another of Josiah's sons, Jehoiakim, on the throne. The focus here is on the rapid and violent shift in power following Josiah's pivotal reign.
"Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah." — Notice how the narrator immediately links Jehoahaz to his mother, Hamutal, and her father, Jeremiah from Libnah. This isn't just random genealogy; it highlights his connections to a specific lineag…
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Last reviewed October 2026