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Jeremiah
Jehoiakim
1. Jehoiakim was a king of Judah who reigned from approximately 609 BC to 598 BC. He is an important figure in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Jeremiah.
2. In Jeremiah, Jehoiakim is portrayed as a wicked and oppressive ruler who rejected the message of God's prophets and led Judah into deeper sin and idolatry. Jeremiah prophesied against Jehoiakim and his reign, warning him of God's judgment if he did not turn from his ways.
3. One of the most significant events in Jehoiakim's story in Jeremiah is described in chapter 36. In this chapter, Jeremiah dictates his prophecies to Baruch, his scribe, who writes them down on a scroll. Baruch is instructed to read the scroll to the people of Judah in the temple, in hopes of bringing them to repentance.
4. When the officials of Judah hear about the scroll, they request that it be brought to the king. However, when Jehoiakim hears the words of the scroll, he becomes angry and orders that it be burned. He then sends men to arrest Jeremiah and Baruch, but they are protected by the Lord and escape.
5. Jehoiakim's rejection of God's word and his attempt to destroy the scroll containing Jeremiah's prophecies symbolize his rebellion against God and his refusal to listen to the warnings of the prophets. As a result, he is ultimately judged by God's wrath. In chapter 22 of Jeremiah, God declares that Jehoiakim will not have a royal burial, but instead will be buried like a donkey, dragged and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.
6. Jehoiakim's story in Jeremiah serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and rebellion against God, and as a reminder that all rulers and leaders are subject to God's ultimate authority and judgment.
