Alleged Contradictions and Inaccuracies

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The Death of Jehoiakim

2 Kings 24:6

"So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers . . . "¹

2 Chronicles 36:6

"Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon."

Jeremiah 22:18,19

"He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem."

Jeremiah 36:30

" . . . and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost."

Ezekiel 19:9

"And they put him in ward in chains and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel."²

Problem:

It is argued that these passages are apparently contradictory since Jehoiakim is said to be carried off to Babylon and yet cast beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

Solution:

The passages are capable of being harmonized. Consider the following:

1. Jehoiakim was captured by Nebuchadnezzar and taken to Nebuchadnezzar's headquarters near Jerusalem, (but not to Babylon).
2. Jehoiakim was put in a cage and bound in fetters to be carried to Babylon. (None of the passages asserts that he was actually taken to Babylon.)
3. Jehoiakim died before leaving for Babylon³ so his body was dumped outside the walls of Jerusalem.⁴

1. In Scripture, "he slept with his fathers" means "he died". See, for example: 2 Kings 13:9,13; 14:16; 15:7,38. Return

2. Although Jehoiakim is not specifically mentioned it is almost certain that he is the one to whom Ezekiel refers. Return

3. Perhaps he died from exposure while awaiting transportation to Babylon. It has been suggested that the A.V. of 2 Chron. 36:8 "Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him" be read literally, "that which was found upon him." The abomination upon him might refer to extraordinary tattooing which would explain why he would be put into a cage and transported as a museum piece to Babylon. Return

4. This would serve as a further humiliation to the Jews. Return