Jeremiah 22:11-12
For thus says the LORD concerning Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, and who went away from this place: “He shall return here no more, but in the place where they have carried him captive, there shall he die, and he shall never see this land again.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The prophet calls Shallum by a name that means "retribution," hinting that his reign, however brief, was divinely appointed as a consequence for something, not a blessing. This detail is easily missed because the focus is on his exile, but it suggests God's judgment was already at work, even within the family of the revered King Josiah.
Jeremiah prophesies the downfall of Shallum, son of the good King Josiah, who has just taken the throne and been led away from Jerusalem. Unlike his godly father, Shallum’s reign is short and marked by exile, signifying that his lineage and his brief time on the throne offer no protection from God's judgment. This sets the stage for a series of judgments against the kings of Judah who follow Josiah, emphasizing that personal piety does not automatically transfer to their descendants.
Josiah was a king who walked closely with God. So, what happened when his son took the throne? This verse reveals a hard truth about God's favor.
Jeremiah calls the successor to King Josiah by the name Shallum. While historical records identify him as Jehoahaz, the prophet's choice of name is significant. "Shallum" likely relates to the Hebrew word for 'requited' or 'rewarded,' hinting at divine judgment rather than blessing. This king, despite being Josiah's son, did not inherit his father's favor with God.
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What does it mean to be told you'll never see home again? This verse delivers a devastating prophecy about a king's fate.
The core of this prophecy is the finality of Shallum's departure: "He shall return here no more." This wasn't just a temporary absence; it was an irrevocable exile.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the covenant God of Israel. It denotes His self-existence, eternal nature, and His faithfulness to His redemptive covenant with His people.
shebiy · Hebrew Noun
A state of being taken into custody or forced into a foreign land, often as a result of divine judgment for disobedience to God’s covenant. It represents the reversal of the blessings of the promised land.
The verse highlights the swift downfall of Shallum (Jehoahaz), emphasizing that even royal lineage and a brief period of rule offer no security against God's judgment, especially when a ruler turns away from righteousness.
609 BC
Josiah killed at Megiddo
King Josiah, a righteous ruler, is killed in battle against Pharaoh Necho of Egypt. His death plunges Judah into mourning and political instability.
609 BC— this verse
Jehoahaz (Shallum) becomes king
Josiah's son, Jehoahaz (also called Shallum), is chosen by the people to succeed him and reigns for three months. He opposes Egypt's influence.
609 BC
Jehoahaz (Shallum) is deposed and exiled
Pharaoh Necho deposes Jehoahaz (Shallum) after a brief reign, exiles him to Egypt, and installs his brother Eliakim (Jehoiakim) as king.
609 BC - 598 BC
Reign of Jehoiakim
Jehoiakim, installed by Egypt, reigns as king of Judah. His rule is marked by corruption and further Egyptian dominance, setting the stage for future judgment.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeats the Egyptians and begins deporting Judean nobility and skilled workers to Babylon, including figures like Daniel.
This passage provides the historical account of Shallum (identified as Jehoahaz) being deposed by Pharaoh Necho and taken to Egypt, directly illustrating the prophecy of his exile and inability to return.
Jeremiah 22:13-17These verses prophesy against Jehoiakim, Shallum's successor, highlighting a pattern of unrighteousness and the consequences of rejecting God's ways, which parallels the judgment on Shallum for his degeneracy from his father Josiah.
Ezekiel 19:1-4This lament describes a 'young lion' (representing a king of Judah) being captured and taken to a foreign land, mirroring Shallum's fate and emphasizing the loss of royal power and return to the homeland.
Romans 6:16This New Testament passage speaks of becoming slaves to sin or obedience, offering a conceptual parallel to how Shallum, despite his lineage from the righteous Josiah, chose a path that led to captivity rather than continuing in righteousness.
cambridgeJeremiah 22:11: "For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more:"
11 . Shallum ] See lntr. p. xiv. Shallum was probably the name which he bore before his accession. Other hypotheses to account for the name being here given to Jehoahaz are unlikely, e.g. (i) that it had reference to the shortness of his reign, as alluding to Shallum king of Israel, who w…
calvinJeremiah 22:11-12: "For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more:"
- Quia sic dicit Jehova ad Sallum (vel, super Sallum) filium Josliae, regis Jehudah, qui regnat pro Josia patre suo, quando (rs', est quidem relativum, sed non dubito quin, sumatur hic pro adverbio temporis; et ideo obscuerant sensum interpretes, dum vertunt, qui egressus est, et cog…
The prophet calls Shallum by a name that means "retribution," hinting that his reign, however brief, was divinely appointed as a consequence for something, not a blessing. This detail is easily missed because the focus is on his exile, but it suggests God's judgment was already at work, even within the family of the revered King Josiah.
Jeremiah prophesies the downfall of Shallum, son of the good King Josiah, who has just taken the throne and been led away from Jerusalem. Unlike his godly father, Shallum’s reign is short and marked by exile, signifying that his lineage and his brief time on the throne offer no protection from God's judgment. This sets the stage for a series of judgments against the kings of Judah who follow Josiah, emphasizing that personal piety does not automatically transfer to their descendants.
Jeremiah prophesies the downfall of Shallum, son of the good King Josiah, who has just taken the throne and been led away from Jerusalem. Unlike his godly father, Shallum’s reign is short and marked by exile, signifying that his lineage and his brief time on the throne offer no protection from God's judgment. This sets the stage for a series of judgments against the kings of Judah who follow Josiah, emphasizing that personal piety does not automatically transfer to their descendants.
"For thus says the LORD concerning Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, and who went away from this place: “He shall return here no more, but in the place where they have carried him captive, t…" — The prophet calls Shallum by a name that means "retribution," hinting that his reign, however brief, was divinely appointed as a consequence for something, not a blessing. This detail is easily misse…
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