And Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The immediate shift from Josiah's death to Pharaoh Neco installing a new king and changing his name is a powerful, often overlooked detail. It underscores that Josiah's God-given reign and legacy were deliberately overthrown by foreign power, a stark reminder of how easily human kingdoms and their chosen rulers can be manipulated and replaced, regardless of their lineage or previous standing.
And Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Right after the faithful King Josiah is killed in battle against the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco, the people of Judah anoint Josiah's son Eliakim as king, renaming him Jehoiakim. Pharaoh Neco, however, doesn't just let things slide; he asserts his power by exiling Josiah's other son, Jehoahaz, to Egypt, where he eventually dies, underscoring Judah's loss of independence. This shift highlights a dramatic turn of events, moving from a period of faithful reform under Josiah to a time of foreign domination and troubled leadership.
Ever feel like your name doesn't quite fit, or that others try to impose their identity on you? Imagine a king having his name changed by a foreign power!
This verse highlights a stark reality of international politics in ancient times. When Pharaoh Neco conquered Jerusalem, he didn't just depose the old king; he actively reshaped the leadership to suit his own agenda.
Renaming and Replacement
One brother is crowned, another is exiled. This verse captures a dramatic shift in power, leaving one royal son to face a grim future far from home.
The verse contrasts the fate of the two brothers, Eliakim (now Jehoiakim) and Jehoahaz. While Jehoiakim was placed on the throne of Judah, his brother Jehoahaz met a very different end.
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Exile and Death in Egypt
This passage highlights the dramatic loss of Judean sovereignty. Pharaoh Neco of Egypt, acting as a regional power broker, installs and deposes kings at will, illustrating Judah's subservience and the turbulent geopolitical landscape of the late 7th century BC.
626 BC— this verse
Jehoiakim appointed king
Pharaoh Neco installs Eliakim as king of Judah, renaming him Jehoiakim, after deposing his brother Jehoahaz.
609 BC
Pharaoh Neco's campaign
Pharaoh Neco marches his army north to support the declining Assyrian Empire against the Babylonians. He passes through Judah, deposing King Josiah.
609 BC
Jehoahaz exiled to Egypt
After Josiah's death, his son Jehoahaz is made king, but Pharaoh Neco deposes him after only three months and takes him captive to Egypt.
605 BC
Babylonian dominance begins
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon decisively defeats the Egyptians and Assyrians at the Battle of Carchemish, establishing Babylonian supremacy in the region.
c. 598 BC
First Babylonian deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II deports many of Judah's elite, including King Jehoiakim, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Jehoahaz dies in Egypt
Jehoahaz, the exiled former king of Judah, dies in captivity in Egypt.
This passage directly follows the events of 2 Kings 23 and details how Jehoiakim's reign, imposed by Egypt, ultimately led to further judgment and subjugation by Babylon.
Jeremiah 22:10-12The prophet Jeremiah speaks about Jehoahaz (Shallum), who was taken to Egypt, describing his fate and the grief surrounding his exile, mirroring the brief mention in 2 Kings.
2 Chronicles 36:3-4This parallel account emphasizes Pharaoh Neco's role in appointing Jehoiakim king and removing Jehoahaz, reinforcing the foreign influence and political instability of the time.
2 Kings 24:7This verse highlights the larger geopolitical struggle, stating that the king of Egypt (Pharaoh Neco) did not come out of his land anymore, because the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to him, from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates.
The immediate shift from Josiah's death to Pharaoh Neco installing a new king and changing his name is a powerful, often overlooked detail. It underscores that Josiah's God-given reign and legacy were deliberately overthrown by foreign power, a stark reminder of how easily human kingdoms and their chosen rulers can be manipulated and replaced, regardless of their lineage or previous standing.
Right after the faithful King Josiah is killed in battle against the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco, the people of Judah anoint Josiah's son Eliakim as king, renaming him Jehoiakim. Pharaoh Neco, however, doesn't just let things slide; he asserts his power by exiling Josiah's other son, Jehoahaz, to Egypt, where he eventually dies, underscoring Judah's loss of independence. This shift highlights a dramatic turn of events, moving from a period of faithful reform under Josiah to a time of foreign domination and troubled leadership.
Right after the faithful King Josiah is killed in battle against the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco, the people of Judah anoint Josiah's son Eliakim as king, renaming him Jehoiakim. Pharaoh Neco, however, doesn't just let things slide; he asserts his power by exiling Josiah's other son, Jehoahaz, to Egypt, where he eventually dies, underscoring Judah's loss of independence. This shift highlights a dramatic turn of events, moving from a period of faithful reform under Josiah to a time of foreign domination and troubled leadership.
"And Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there." — The immediate shift from Josiah's death to Pharaoh Neco installing a new king and changing his name is a powerful, often overlooked detail. It underscores that Josiah's God-given reign and legacy w…
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Last reviewed October 2026