Jeremiah 22 Study Notes

22:17 Not only was Jehoiakim tyrannical, covetous, and oppressive; he was also guilty of shedding innocent blood. For example, because the prophet Uriah had prophesied against him, the king brought Uriah back from Egypt and had him executed (26:20-23).

22:18-19 A humiliating death awaited evil King Jehoiakim. His own family (brother . . . sister) and friends would not mourn his death, but he would be buried like a donkey, dragged off and thrown outside Jerusalem’s gates. This meant no burial at all, which was considered a curse (Dt 28:26). Some have questioned the fulfillment of this prophecy because 2Kg 24:6 says that Jehoiakim “rested with his fathers.” But “resting” with one’s fathers is not the same thing as being buried (see 2Kg 15:38; 16:20). The fact that Scripture does not describe the later fulfillment of this prophecy in no way indicates that it did not happen. Second Kg 24:6 does not contradict this prophecy because 1Kg 21:19; 22:30-38,40 use the same wording for King Ahab’s similarly disgraceful death.

22:18 This call to mourning may have come on the eve of Nebuchadnezzar’s 597 BC attack on Jerusalem.

22:20 The people are told to pick a mountain in the north, Lebanon, for example, or Bashan in northern Transjordan, or Abarim, the mountains of Moab, east of the Dead Sea. From these heights they could broadcast their lament over what was about to happen. The words your lovers refer to the faithful patriots in Judah, the leaders of the nation, or perhaps Egypt and those countries to whom King Jehoiakim had looked for help against Babylon.

22:21 The word rendered secure can also mean “complacent.”

22:22-23 There is a play on words in the expression the wind will take charge of [or “will shepherd”] all your shepherds. The coming doom is also likened to childbirth. The people will groan when pains come on you, agony like a woman in labor.

22:24-30 In these verses Jehoiachin (son of Jehoiakim) is condemned. He reigned for only three months. Jehoiachin was also called Coniah (vv. 24,28), which is an abbreviated form of Jeconiah, the alternate of the throne name Jehoiachin. See textual footnote at 37:1.

22:24 A signet ring contains the king’s official seal, which he used to stamp official documents. Such documents bore the sign of royal authority (Hg 2:23). Because of Jehoiachin’s sins, God says in figurative language that, were the King a signet ring on his right hand, he would rip that privilege away from him. Jehoiachin was exiled to Babylon in 597 BC (2Kg 24:8-17; 25:27-30).

22:26 Jehoiachin’s mother was Nehushta (2Kg 24:8).

22:29 The repetition of earth gives a strong and solemn emphasis to the message God was about to deliver.

22:30 The words record this man as childless are startling since Jehoiachin had seven sons (1Ch 3:17). This is an allusion to the fact that none of his descendants would ascend to the throne. Is 39:7 predicted that some of Hezekiah’s descendants (Jehoiachin and his sons fell into this category) would “be taken away” to become “eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” The Weidner Tablets verify that Jehoiachin and his sons received a daily ration of oil while captive in Babylon. Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, reigned after him, but he died before Jehoiachin died in Babylon. Thus Jehoiachin was the last living Judean king in the line of David.