2 Chronicles 36:1-4·~1 min
Jehoahaz Succeeds Josiah
The people make Jehoahaz king, but Egypt quickly strips him of the throne, taxes Judah, and replaces him with his brother under a new name. Jehoahaz is taken away to Egypt.
T1hen the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father. 2Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. 3And the king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 4Then Neco king of Egypt made Eliakim brother of Jehoahaz king over Judah and Jerusalem, and he changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.
Section summaryJehoahaz is raised up by the people after Josiah's death, but his reign lasts only three months before Egypt removes him. Neco burdens Judah, installs Eliakim under the new name Jehoiakim, and carries Jehoahaz away to Egypt.
Role in the chapterThis opening section shows Judah's sudden weakness after Josiah. The kingdom is no longer setting its own course, and foreign power begins to shape its kings and future.