Pharaoh Neco II Crowns Jehoiakim King of Judah

c. 609 BCE

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You are looking at a bronze statue of Pharaoh Neco II, displayed in the Penn Museum, Philadelphia. King Josiah designated his second son Jehoahaz as his successor to the throne. After his death, the people proclaimed Jehoahaz king, but his reign lasted only three months. During that time he provoked the wrath of King Necho II of Egypt, and Necho advanced upon the land of Israel, attacked and captured Jehoahaz. He took him in fetters to Egypt where he died in captivity. King Necho placed Jehoahaz's brother, Eliakim, on the throne, and changed his name to Joiakim.

2 Chronicles 36:1-41

‍Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And 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.Then 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.

Bronze statue of Pharaoh Neco II, Penn Museum, Philadelphia

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Overview

In the Bible

2 Chronicles 36:1-41

Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.

Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And the king of Egypt (Neco II) dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

Then Neco (II) 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.

דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים ב' ל"ו, א-ד:

"וַיִּקְחוּ֙ עַם־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֶת־יְהֽוֹאָחָ֖ז בֶּן־יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ וַיַּמְלִיכֻ֥הוּ תַֽחַת־אָבִ֖יו בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ בֶּן־שָׁל֧וֹשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה יֽוֹאָחָ֣ז בְּמָלְכ֑וֹ וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה חֳדָשִׁ֔ים מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ וַיְסִירֵ֥הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֖יִם (נְכוֹ הַשֵּׁנִי) בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַֽיַּעֲנֹשׁ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵאָ֥ה כִכַּר־כֶּ֖סֶף וְכִכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב׃ וַיַּמְלֵ֨ךְ מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֜יִם (נְכוֹ הַשֵּׁנִי) אֶת־אֶלְיָקִ֣ים אָחִ֗יו עַל־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַיַּסֵּ֥ב אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ יְהֽוֹיָקִ֑ים וְאֶת־יֽוֹאָחָ֤ז אָחִיו֙ לָקַ֣ח נְכ֔וֹ וַיְבִיאֵ֖הוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה."