Jehoahaz King of Judah

2022-11-14

Fast Facts

Age at Ascension: 23 years (2 Kings 23:31; 2 Chronicles 36:2)
Reign Began: ca. 609 B.C.
Reign Ended: ca. 609 B.C.
Reign Duration: 3 months (2 Kings 23:31; 2 Chronicles 36:2)
Father: Josiah
Mother (or Queen): Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah (2 Kings 23:31)
Predecessor: Josiah
Successor: Jehoiakim
Aliases and Alternate Spellings: Shallum (1 Chronicles 3:15; Jeremiah 22:12)
Location of Reign: Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:2)
Burial: Egypt (Jeremiah 22:12)

Summary

Jehoahaz son of Josiah succeeded his father as king but had a short three-month reign. He did evil like many of his ancestors.

After Necho left off fighting his enemies, the king returned and took Jehoahaz captive down to Egypt and made his brother king.

Jehoahaz is also known as Shallum. “For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more: But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more” (Jeremiah 22:11-12). The LORD had just warned the sons of Josiah to execute judgment, and they would be spared. Jehoahaz served as a reminder that doing wickedly has permanent consequences. His successors did not listen.

This is a part of the Kings of Judah series. To go back to the table of contents, proceed here.