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2 Kings Chương 24
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Things are here ripening for, and hastening towards, the utter destruction of Jerusalem. We left Jehoiakim on the throne, placed there by the king of Egypt: now here we have, I. The troubles of his reign, how he was brought into subjection by the king of Babylon, and severely chastised for attempting to shake off the yoke (2Ki 24:1-6), and how Egypt also was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, 2Ki 24:7. II. The desolations of his son's reign, which continued but three months; and then he and all his great men, being forced to surrender at discretion, were carried captives to Babylon, 2Ki 24:8-16. III. The preparatives of the next reign (which was the last of all) for the utter ruin of Jerusalem, which the next chapter will give us an account of, 2Ki 24:17-20.
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Jehoiakim Subdued by Nebuchadnezzar (599 BC)
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約雅敬被尼布甲尼撒制服（主前599年）
¹ 約雅敬年間，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒上來。約雅敬服事他三年，然後背棄他、背叛他。
² 耶和華打發迦勒底的軍兵、亞蘭的軍兵、摩押的軍兵、亞捫人的軍兵攻擊他，差遣他們毀壞猶大，正如耶和華借他僕人眾先知所說的話。
³ 這事臨到猶大人，誠然是耶和華所命的，要將他們從自己眼前趕出，是因瑪拿西所犯的一切罪；
⁴ 又因他所流無辜人的血；因為他使耶路撒冷滿了無辜人的血；耶和華決不肯赦免。
⁵ 約雅敬其餘的事、凡他所行的，豈不都寫在猶大列王的紀上麼？
⁶ 約雅敬與他列祖同睡；他兒子約雅斤接續他作王。
⁷ 埃及王不再從自己的國出來；因為巴比倫王將埃及王所管之地、從埃及河直到伯拉河，都奪去了。
此處我們頭一次讀到一個在舊約歷史和預言中都佔有重要地位的名字：就是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒（2Ki 24:1）——那個金頭。他是一位強大的君王，是活人之地強者的恐懼；然而他的名字若不是被用於毀滅耶路撒冷和擄掠猶太人，便不會出現在聖經中。
I. 他使約雅敬成為進貢者，並使他臣服三年（2Ki 24:1）。尼布甲尼撒在約雅敬第四年開始作王。在他第八年把他擒為俘虜，卻因他應許效忠而把他復位。那應許他守了大約三年，隨後就背叛了，大概是盼望得到埃及王的幫助。約雅敬若像所當行的那樣事奉他的神，就不會作巴比倫王的僕人；但神要借此叫他知道事奉神與事奉列國的王有何分別（2Ch 12:8）。他若甘心臣服、信守諾言，處境就不會更壞；但背叛巴比倫王，反而使自己陷入更大的麻煩。
II. 他背叛時，尼布甲尼撒差遣軍隊去毀壞他的國——迦勒底、亞蘭、摩押、亞捫的軍兵，此時全在巴比倫王的麾下、受他雇傭（2Ki 24:2），同時仍保留著、如今又顯出他們對以色列神百姓自古以來的敵意。然而此處沒有提及他們從巴比倫王所受的命令，只提到那位萬王之王所發的：耶和華打發這一切軍兵攻擊他；又說（2Ki 24:3）這事臨到猶大人誠然是耶和華所命的，否則尼布甲尼撒的命令也不能成就。許多人在不知不覺中成就了神的旨意。神容許猶大如此被攪擾，有兩個用意：——1. 刑罰瑪拿西的罪——神如今在第三四代追討。他如此長久等候才追討，為要看這國是否悔改；但他們雖經約西亞竭力改革，仍舊不悔改，一遇轉機就易於重陷從前的偶像崇拜。如今舊債既被追討，他們就要為從前的審判被傳喚；神所積存、封在他寶庫中的（申命記32:34，伯14:17）如今重新啟用；為記念那事，他把猶大從自己眼前趕出，並讓世人知道時間不能磨滅罪的罪債，緩刑不是赦免。瑪拿西所行的一切都被記起，特別是他所流的無辜人的血——我們可以推想其中有許多是神見證人和敬拜者的血——這是耶和華決不肯赦免的。那麼除了褻瀆聖靈之外，還有不可赦免的罪麼？這是指今生刑罰的豁免。瑪拿西雖然悔改了，我們也有理由相信甚至他所行的逼迫和殺害也蒙了赦免，使他免了將來的烈怒；然而這些罪既是全國性的罪，就仍舊歸在這地上，呼喊著全國性的審判。也許當時還有人是幫兇和教唆者；而當今的王自己也流了無辜人的血，正如耶利米書22:17所示。請看流人血的罪是何等惹動神怒，它的呼聲何等響亮，何等持久。請看各國何等需要為列祖的罪哀傷，免得自己因之受苦。2. 神要借此成就預言；這事是照耶和華借他僕人眾先知所說的話。猶大寧可被從他眼前趕出，不，天地寧可廢去，神的話也不落空。威脅與應許一樣必應驗，除非罪人悔改在先。
III. 埃及王也被巴比倫王制服，國家的一大片被奪去（2Ki 24:7）。不久前他還欺壓以色列（2Ki 23:33）。如今他自己被貶，無力企圖收復失地或援助盟友。他不敢再從自己的國出來。後來他曾試圖援助西底家，卻被迫撤退（Jer 37:7）。
IV. 約雅敬看見自己的國土荒涼、自己也將落入仇敵手中，看來因心碎而亡，正值壯年（2Ki 24:6）。如此約雅敬與他列祖同睡；但沒有說他與列祖同葬，因為無疑耶利米的預言應驗了——他不像他父親那樣有人為他哀哭，而是被埋葬像驢一樣（Jer 22:18,19），他的屍首被拋棄（Jer 36:30）。
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Jehoiakim Subdued by Nebuchadnezzar (599 BC)
¹ In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
² And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.
³ Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;
⁴ And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.
⁵ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
⁶ So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.
⁷ And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
We have here the first mention of a name which makes a great figure both in the histories and in the prophecies of the Old Testament; it is that of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (2Ki 24:1), that head of gold. He was a potent prince, and one that was the terror of the mighty in the land of the living; and yet his name would not have been known in sacred writ if he had not been employed in the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the Jews.
I. He made Jehoiakim his tributary and kept him in subjection three years, 2Ki 24:1. Nebuchadnezzar began his reign in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. In his eighth year he made him his prisoner, but restored him upon his promise of faithfulness to him. That promise he kept about three years, but then rebelled, probably in hopes of assistance from the king of Egypt. If Jehoiakim had served his God as he should have done, he would not have been servant to the king of Babylon; but God would thus make him know the difference between his service and the service of the kings of the countries, 2Ch 12:8. If he had been content with his servitude, and true to his word, his condition would have been no worse; but, rebelling against the king of Babylon, he plunged himself into more trouble.
II. When he rebelled Nebuchadnezzar sent his forces against him to destroy his country, bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, Ammonites, who were all now in the service and pay of the king of Babylon (2Ki 24:2), and withal retained, and now showed, their ancient enmity to the Israel of God. Yet no mention is here made of their commission from the king of Babylon, but only of that from the King of kings: The Lord sent against him all these bands; and again (2Ki 24:3), Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah, else the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar could not have brought it. Many are serving God's purposes who are not aware of it. Two things God intended in suffering Judah to be thus harassed:—1. The punishment of the sins of Manasseh, which God now visited upon the third and fourth generation. So long he waited before he visited them, to see if the nation would repent; but they continued impenitent, notwithstanding Josiah's endeavours to reform them, and ready to relapse, upon the first turn, into their former idolatries. Now that the old bond was put in suit they were called up upon the former judgment; that was revived which God had laid up in store, and sealed among his treasures (De 32:34, Job 14:17), and in remembrance of that he removed Judah out of his sight, and let the world know that time will not wear out the guilt of sin and that reprieves are not pardons. All that Manasseh did was called to mind, but especially the innocent blood that he shed, much of which, we may suppose, was the blood of God's witnesses and worshippers, which the Lord would not pardon. Is there then any unpardonable sin but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? This is meant of the remitting of the temporal punishment. Though Manasseh repented, and we have reason to think even the persecutions and murders he was guilty of were pardoned, so that he was delivered from the wrath to come; yet, as they were national sins, they lay still charged upon the land, crying for national judgments. Perhaps some were now living who were aiding and abetting; and the present king was guilty of innocent blood, as appears Jer 22:17. See what a provoking sin murder is, how loud it cries, and how long. See what need nations have to lament the sins of their fathers, lest they smart for them. God intended hereby the accomplishment of the prophecies; it was according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servants the prophets. Rather shall Judah be removed out of his sight, nay, rather shall heaven and earth pass away, than any word of God fall to the ground. Threatenings will be fulfilled as certainly as promises, if the sinner's repentance prevent not.
III. The king of Egypt was likewise subdued by the king of Babylon, and a great part of his country taken from him, 2Ki 24:7. It was but lately that he had oppressed Israel, 2Ki 23:33. Now he is himself brought down and disabled to attempt any thing for the recovery of his losses or the assistance of his allies. He dares not come any more out of his land. Afterwards he attempted to give Zedekiah some relief, but was obliged to retire, Jer 37:7.
IV. Jehoiakim, seeing his country laid waste and himself ready to fall into the enemy's hand, as it should seem, died of a broken heart, in the midst of his days (2Ki 24:6). So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; but it is not said that he was buried with them, for no doubt the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled, that he should not be lamented, as his father was, but buried with the burial of an ass (Jer 22:18,19), and his dead body cast out, Jer 36:30.
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Jehoiachin Carried Captive to Babylon (599 BC)
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約雅斤被擄至巴比倫（主前599年）
⁸ 約雅斤登基的時候年十八歲，在耶路撒冷作王三個月。他母親名叫尼護施他，是耶路撒冷人以利拿單的女兒。
⁹ 約雅斤行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，與他父親所行的一樣。
¹⁰ 那時，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒的軍兵上到耶路撒冷，城就被圍困。
¹¹ 巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒來到城前，他的軍兵圍困那城。
¹² 猶大王約雅斤和他母親、臣僕、首領、太監，一同出城投降巴比倫王；巴比倫王便拿住他。那時是巴比倫王第八年。
¹³ 巴比倫王將耶和華殿裡和王宮裡的一切財寶都從那裡拿出來，又把以色列王所羅門在耶和華殿裡所造的一切金器都毀壞了，正如耶和華所說的。
¹⁴ 他又將耶路撒冷的眾民、眾首領、一切勇士，共一萬人，並一切工匠、鐵匠，全都擄去；除了國中極貧窮的人以外，沒有剩下的。
¹⁵ 他將約雅斤、王母、后妃、太監，和國中一切大能的人，都從耶路撒冷擄到巴比倫去了。
¹⁶ 一切大能的勇士共七千人，工匠和鐵匠一千人，一切能上陣的勇士，巴比倫王都擄到巴比倫去了。
¹⁷ 巴比倫王立約雅斤的叔叔瑪探代替他作王，給他改名叫西底家。
¹⁸ 西底家登基的時候年二十一歲，在耶路撒冷作王十一年。他母親名叫哈慕她，是立拿人耶利米的女兒。
¹⁹ 西底家行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，與約雅敬所行的一樣。
²⁰ 因此耶和華的怒氣在耶路撒冷和猶大發作，直到將他們從自己面前趕出。西底家背叛巴比倫王。
這本該是約雅斤王王朝的歷史，但唉！這只是約雅斤王被擄的歷史——正如以西結書1:2所稱的。他登上寶座，不是為了戴冠冕的榮耀，而是為了失冠冕的羞辱。Ideo tantum venerat, ut exiret——他進來只是為了出去。
I. 他的王朝短暫而無足輕重。他只作了三個月的王，隨後就被廢去並被擄到巴比倫，正如他父親若再多活那麼久大概也會遭遇的一樣。這位不幸的少年君王何等不幸，竟被推入一所將傾之屋、一個將沉之座！他有一個何等不仁的父親，竟生他來為自己受苦，又因自己的罪和愚昧，除了自己的禍患之外，一無所有可以遺留給兒子！然而這位少年王作王的時間已足以表明，他為列祖的罪受苦誠然公道，因為他追隨了他們的腳蹤（2Ki 24:9）：他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，與他們所行的一樣；他沒有作任何事來截斷咒詛的世襲，清償他冠冕上的債務；所以（transit cum onere——債務隨冠冕而下傳）他自己的罪加上列祖的罪都要一併算賬。
II. 在他王朝一開始就臨到他、他的家人和百姓的災禍極其沉重。1. 耶路撒冷被巴比倫王圍困（2Ki 24:10,11）。他先前已差軍隊蹂躪鄉村（2Ki 24:2）。如今他親自前來，圍困那城。於是神的話應驗了（申命記28:49-69等）：耶和華要從遠方、從地極帶一國攻擊你，面貌凶惡，那國先要吃你地裡的果子，然後在各城門圍困你。2. 約雅斤立即無條件投降。他一聽見巴比倕王親自前來攻城——此時他的名聲已極其可畏——便求和並出去見他（2Ki 24:12）。他若先與神和好，並採取希西家在同樣情形下所採取的方法，就不必懼怕巴比倫王，反而能勇敢、榮耀、成功地守住（一人可追趕千人）；但因為缺少以色列人的信心和敬虔，他就連一個男子漢、一個軍人、一個君王的決心也沒有。他和他的王室——他的母親和后妃、臣僕和首領——把自己當作戰俘交出；這正是他們作罪之僕的結果。3. 尼布甲尼撒洗劫了教會和國家的寶庫，把兩者的金銀都帶走（2Ki 24:13）。於是以賽亞所傳神的話應驗了（2Ki 20:17）：你家裡所有的都要被帶到巴比倫。甚至所羅門所造、存留以備舊的用壞時使用的聖殿器皿，他也從殿中取去，並開始把它們切碎，但轉念之間，把它們留作己用，因為我們看見伯沙撒用這些器皿飲酒（Da 5:2,3）。4. 他把耶路撒冷的一大部份擄走，以削弱這城，好使自己穩穩掌控它的統治權並防止它反叛，又借所擄之人的財富或勞役使自己富足。在此之前八年，即尼布甲尼撒元年、約雅敬第三年，已有一批人被擄去，其中就有但以理和他的同伴（見Da 1:1,6）。他們表現極好，這位精明的君王便渴慕多得這樣的人。如今他擄去了：（1）這位少年王自己和他的全家（2Ki 24:15），我們看見（2Ki 25:27-29）他三十七年一直是嚴密看守的囚犯。（2）一切顯要人物、首領和官長，他們的財富積存歸給主人以至於禍患（Ec 5:13），引誘仇敵先向他們下手。（3）一切軍人——大能的勇士（2Ki 24:14）、國中的大能者（2Ki 24:15）、一切能上陣的勇士（2Ki 24:16）。這些人既不能保衛自己，征服者也不留下他們保衛本國，卻把他們擄去為自己效勞。（4）一切製造兵器的工匠和鐵匠；擄去他們，實際上就是解除這城的武裝，正如非利士人的策略（1Sa 13:19）。在這次被擄中，先知以西結也被帶走（Eze 1:1,2），末底改也是如此（Es 2:6）。這位約雅斤又稱為耶哥尼雅（1Ch 3:16），在輕蔑中（Jer 22:24，那裡預言他被擄）稱為哥尼雅。
III. 巴比倫王在約雅斤之後所立的繼任者。神已宣告他無子（Jer 22:30），所以政權便交給他的叔叔。巴比倫王立約西亞的兒子瑪探雅為王；為要提醒他、並讓世人知道他是巴比倫王所立的，便改了他的名字，稱他為西底家（2Ki 24:17）。神有時責備他的百姓：他們立君王卻不是借著我（Ho 8:4）；如今為懲罰他們，巴比倫王倒要來立他們的王。那些使用自由、堅持自由來對抗神權柄的人，被奪去自由誠然公道。這位西底家是猶大諸王中的末代。巴比倫王所給他的名字意思是耶和華的公義，預表神要在他的傾覆中榮耀自己的公義。1. 請看這位西底家何等不敬虔。雖然神對他前三任的審判本可警告他不可追隨他們的腳蹤，他卻行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，與其餘的人一樣（2Ki 24:19）。2. 請看他何等不智。正如他的前任因失了宗教而失了勇氣，他也因失了宗教而失了智慧，因為他背叛巴比倫王（2Ki 24:20）——他原是巴比倫王的進貢者——竟激怒了他根本無力對抗的那位；若他對巴比倫王忠心，巴比倫王本會保護他。這是他所能作的最大的蠢事，加速了他國家的傾覆。這事之所以發生，是因耶和華的怒氣發作，為要將他們從自己面前趕出。當注意，當受託管理國家大計的人行事不智、違背自己真正的利益時，我們當看到其中神的不悅。正因百姓的罪，神除掉忠信人的口才、奪去長老的聰明，又向他們的眼隱瞞關乎公眾平安的事。神要毀滅誰，就先使誰糊塗。
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Jehoiachin Carried Captive to Babylon (599 BC)
⁸ Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
⁹ And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.
¹⁰ At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
¹¹ And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.
¹² And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
¹³ And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
¹⁴ And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
¹⁵ And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
¹⁶ And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
¹⁷ And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
¹⁸ Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
¹⁹ And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
²⁰ For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
This should have been the history of king Jehoiachin's reign, but, alas! it is only the history of king Jehoiachin's captivity, as it is called, Eze 1:2. He came to the crown, not to have the honour of wearing it, but the shame of losing it. Ideo tantum venerat, ut exiret—He came in only to go out.
I. His reign was short and inconsiderable. He reigned but three months, and then was removed and carried captive to Babylon, as his father, it is likely, would have been if he had lived but so much longer. What an unhappy young prince was this, that was thrust into a falling house, a sinking throne! What an unnatural father had he, who begat him to suffer for him, and by his own sin and folly had left himself nothing to bequeath to his son but his own miseries! Yet this young prince reigned long enough to show that he justly smarted for his fathers' sins, for he trod in their steps (2Ki 24:9): He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as they had done; he did nothing to cut off the entail of the curse, to discharge the incumbrances of his crown, and therefore (transit cum onere—the incumbrance descends with the crown) with his own iniquity that of his fathers shall come into the account.
II. The calamities that came upon him, and his family, and people, in the very beginning of his reign, were very grievous. 1. Jerusalem was besieged by the king of Babylon, 2Ki 24:10,11. He had sent his forces to ravage the country, 2Ki 24:2. Now he came himself, and laid siege to the city. Now the word of God was fulfilled (De 28:49-69, etc.), The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, of fierce countenance, that shall first eat of the fruit of thy land and then besiege thee in all thy gates. 2. Jehoiachin immediately surrendered at discretion. As soon as he heard the king of Babylon had come in person against the city, his name having at this time become very formidable, he beat a parley and went out to him, 2Ki 24:12. Had he made his peace with God, and taken the method that Hezekiah did in the like case, he needed not to have feared the king of Babylon, but might have held out with courage, honour, and success (one should have chased a thousand); but, wanting the faith and piety of an Israelite, he had not the resolution of a man, of a soldier, of a prince. He and his royal family, his mother and wives, his servants and princes, delivered themselves up prisoners of war; this was the consequence of their being servants of sin. 3. Nebuchadnezzar rifled the treasuries both of the church and of the state, and carried away the silver and gold of both, 2Ki 24:13. Now the word of God by Isaiah was fulfilled (2Ki 20:17), All that is in thy house shall be carried to Babylon. Even the vessels of the temple which Solomon had made, and laid up in store to be used as the old ones were worn out, he cut off from the temple, and began to cut them in pieces, but, upon second thoughts, reserved them for his own use, for we find Belshazzar drinking wine in them, Da 5:2,3. 4. He carried away a great part of Jerusalem into captivity, to weaken it, that he might effectually secure to himself the dominion of it and prevent its revolt, and to enrich himself with the wealth or service of those he took away. There had been some carried away eight years before this, in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar and the third of Jehoiakim, among whom were Daniel and his fellows. See Da 1:1,6. They had approved themselves so well that this politic prince coveted more of them. Now he carried off, (1.) The young king himself and his family (2Ki 24:15), and we find (2Ki 25:27-29) that for thirty-seven years he continued a close prisoner. (2.) All the great men, the princes and officers, whose riches were kept for the owners thereof to their hurt (Ec 5:13), tempting the enemies to make a prey of them first. (3.) All the military men, the mighty men of valour (2Ki 24:14), the mighty of the land (2Ki 24:15), the men of might, even all that were strong and apt for war, 2Ki 24:16. These could not defend themselves, and the conqueror would not leave them to defend their country, but took them away, to be employed in his service. (4.) All the craftsmen and smiths who made weapons of war; in taking them he did, in effect, disarm the city, according to the Philistines' policy, 1Sa 13:19. In this captivity Ezekiel the prophet was carried away (Eze 1:1,2) and Mordecai, Es 2:6. This Jehoiachin was also called Jeconiah (1Ch 3:16), and in contempt (Jer 22:24, where his captivity is foretold) Coniah.
III. The successor whom the king of Babylon appointed in the room of Jehoiachin. God had written him childless (Jer 22:30) and therefore his uncle was entrusted with the government. The king of Babylon made Mattaniah king, the son of Josiah; and to remind him, and let all the world know, that he was his creature, he changed his name and called him Zedekiah, 2Ki 24:17. God had sometimes charged it upon his people, They have set up kings, but not by me (Ho 8:4), and now, to punish them for that, the king of Babylon shall have the setting up of their kings. Those are justly deprived of their liberty that use it, and insist upon it, against God's authority. This Zedekiah was the last of the kings of Judah. The name which the king of Babylon gave him signifies The justice of the Lord, and was a presage of the glorifying of God's justice in his ruin. 1. See how impious this Zedekiah was. Though the judgments of God upon his three immediate predecessors might have been a warning to him not to tread in their steps, yet he did that which was evil, like all the rest, 2Ki 24:19. 2. See how impolitic he was. As his predecessor lost his courage, so he his wisdom, with his religion, for he rebelled against the king of Babylon (2Ki 24:20), whose tributary he was, and so provoked him whom he was utterly unable to contend with, and who, if he had continued true to him, would have protected him. This was the most foolish thing he could do, and hastened the ruin of his kingdom. This came to pass through the anger of the Lord, that he might cast them out from his presence. Note, When those that are entrusted with the counsels of a nation act unwisely, and against their true interest, we ought to take notice of the displeasure of God in it. It is for the sins of a people that God removes the speech of the trusty and takes away the understanding of the aged, and hides from their eyes the things that belong to the public peace. Whom God will destroy he infatuates.
此處事態正為耶路撒冷的徹底毀滅而成熟，並加速邁向其中。前文我們看見約雅敬被埃及王立而坐在王位上；如今此處記載：I. 他統治時的患難，就是他怎樣被巴比倫王所制服，又因企圖掙脫那軛而受到嚴厲的懲治（2Ki 24:1-6），以及埃及又怎樣被尼布甲尼撒征服，2Ki 24:7。II. 他兒子統治時的荒涼，那統治只持續了三個月；隨後他和他的眾臣僕被迫無條件投降，被擄到巴比倫，2Ki 24:8-16。III. 下一個統治——也是最後一個統治——為耶路撒冷的徹底傾覆所作的預備，其內容下一章將向我們說明，2Ki 24:17-20。