Jeconiah (also Jehoiachin or Coniah), was the eighteenth king of Judah and successor to Jehoiakim. His reign was the shortest of all of the Kings, lasting a mere three months and ten days. His rule came to an abrupt end when Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and carried off Jeconiah along with the city's residents. He is also known for being the last ruler of Judah by birthright and Jeremiah's proclamation concerning this.
Jeconiah's life is described in First Chronicles, Second Kings and Jeremiah, along with being mentioned briefly in Ezekiel and Esther in reference to captivity.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Jehoiachin inherited the throne at the age of eight. His reign was three months and ten days.
Manhood[]
Jehoiachin could have also inherited the throne at eighteen. His reign was three months (supposedly three months and ten days, as it is not explicably stated).
Legacy[]
Descendants[]
Known as the "Jeconiah Curse", God prevents any descendants of Jeconiah from ever inheriting the throne.
30This is what the Lord says:
"Record this man as if childless,
a man who will not prosper in his lifetime,
for none of his offspring will prosper,
none will sit on the throne of David
or rule anymore in Judah."[1]
Age[]
There is debate as to if his age when he became King was eight or eighteen. Nebuchadnezzar began his reign in 605 BC, thus Jehoiachin was born in c. 615 BC. However, most Hebrew manuscripts say he was 8 years old, instead of 18. The most likely explanation for this apparent contradiction is that in the process of copying the texts, one copyist overlooked a word. In 2 Kings, it says his age was 8 and 10 (שְׁמֹנֶ֨ה עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה). In 2 Chronicles, it says his age was 8 (שְׁמוֹנֶ֤ה). The word for ten (עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה) is missing in 2 Chronicles, which shows it is likely a copyist error.