Page 74 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised

Manasseh’s (c. 687-642) tribute is mentioned in Assyrian records (pictured right). He
must have tried to revolt because the Assyrians carried him as a prisoner to Babylon,
which they controlled. The Chronicler sees this as a punishment for Manasseh’s
idolatry. After Manasseh repented and returned to the Lord, the Assyrians allowed him
to return to his throne in Jerusalem.

Josiah (c. 640-609) introduced religious reforms, like Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah before
him, but he was more thorough than they in removing local shrines and idols. These
reforms were based on a book of the law found in the Temple. Because Assyrian power
was waning, Josiah was able to extend his control and the elimination of idolatry
northward as far as Naphtali.

In 609, Pharaoh Neco went through Palestine to aid the Assyrians, who were hard-pressed by the
Babylonians. Josiah saw this move as a danger to his kingdom, and he opposed Neco’s army at the pass
of Megiddo in northern Israel. Josiah was defeated and killed, and the prophet Jeremiah composed a
lamentation for him. Neco was delayed by this battle, and the last Assyrian effort to repulse the
Babylonians was defeated.

With the extinguishing of Assyrian power, Neco took over control of Syria-Palestine. Jehoahaz (609),
who succeeded Josiah, probably tried to follow an independent policy; Neco deposed him and took him
captive to Egypt. Neco put his brother Eliakim in his place and gave him the throne name Jehoiakim
(609-598).

After Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon
defeated Neco at Carchemish in
northern Syria in 606 BCE, Jehoiakim
became a vassal of Nebuchadnezzar,
and some of the Judean nobility,
including Daniel, were taken to
Babylon. After the Egyptian army
repulsed the Babylonians in 601,
Jehoiakim revolted against Babylon,
contrary to the advice of Jeremiah. The
Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, and
Jehoiakim was taken captive and died.

Jehoiachin (598-597) succeeded to the
throne of Judah during the siege of
Jerusalem. In 597, the Babylonians
finally took the city and seized treasures from the palace and Temple. Jehoiachin was carried captive to
Babylon with thousands of Jewish leaders, soldiers, and artisans.

Nebuchadnezzar placed Jehoiachin’s uncle Mattaniah on the throne of Judah, giving him the throne
name Zedekiah (597-586). After some years, Zedekiah, disregarding the warnings of Jeremiah, revolted
against Babylonia, relying on possible Egyptian help.

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