Jeremiah 22

13–19 Jeremiah next turns to Jehoiakim (verse 18), one of Judah’s most evil kings (2 Kings 23:36–37; 24:1–7). Woe to him, says Jeremiah (verse 13); and then he goes on to describe some of Jehoiakim’s evil deeds (verses 13–14,17), including making his countrymen work for nothing (see Deuteronomy 24:14–15).

In verses 15–16, Jeremiah contrasts Jehoiakim with his godly father Josiah.⁷⁸ After listing some of Josiah’s righteous deeds, Jeremiah gives the Lord’s word: “Is that (doing righteous deeds) not what it means to know me?” (verse 16). Yes, that is what it means. We only come to know God as we do righteous deeds, as we do His will. As we set out in obedience to Him, we gain a clearer understanding of His will, of His character and purposes.⁷⁹ Knowing God and doing His will are inseparable.

Because of Jehoiakim’s evil deeds, says Jeremiah, no one will mourn for him; people will not say to each other, “Alas!” (verse 18). Instead he will have the burial of a donkey (verse 19)—that is, he will have no burial at all; his body will be left exposed on the ground.⁸⁰

20–23 In these verses the Lord speaks to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; Jerusalem is personified as a woman. Let her cry out from Lebanon, Bashan and Abarim—that is, from the entire land (verse 20). All the allies Jerusalem trusted in have been crushed by the Babylonians. In verse 23, the Lord addresses those who live in Lebanon—that is, the palace in Jerusalem (1 Kings 7:1–2)—and warns them that if they do not repent they will soon be groaning like a woman in labor.

24–27 Jeremiah next mentions Jehoiakim’s son Jehoiachin, also called Jeconiah; he reigned for only three months (2 Kings 24:8–17). Even if Jehoiachin were God’s own signet ring, the symbol of royal authority, God would still “pull him off” (verse 24). God says He will hand Jehoiachin over to the king of Babylon, and he and his mother will be “hurled” into exile and never return (verses 26–27). This prophecy was fulfilled a few years after Jeremiah wrote these words (2 Kings 24:15).

28–30 Jehoiachin lived for many years in exile in Babylon (see 2 Kings 25:27–30; Jeremiah 52:31–34). Though he had children, none of them became king of Judah (verse 30). Jehoiachin was a direct ancestor of Jesus (1 Chronicles 3:17; Matthew 1:12); in Matthew he is called Jeconiah. In Hebrew, both names mean, “The Lord establishes.” Jehoiachin was the last of Judah’s kings to die; with his death the throne of David became extinct—“dis–established”! Yet that is not the last word. The Lord was going to establish a new King on David’s throne, the Messiah Jesus Christ. And it is to this Messiah that Jeremiah turns as he begins the next chapter.