2 Chronicles 36:1-4 Meaning: Choosing Without God
1Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
2Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3The king of Egypt removed him from office at Jerusalem, and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
4The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Neco took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
1Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s stead in Jerusalem.
2Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
4And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
1Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s stead in Jerusalem.
2Joahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3And the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and fined the land a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
4And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Neco took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
1And the people of the land take Jehoahaz son of Josiah, and cause him to reign instead of his father in Jerusalem.
2A son of three and twenty years is Jehoahaz in his reigning, and three months he hath reigned in Jerusalem,
3and turn him aside doth the king of Egypt in Jerusalem, and fineth the land a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold;
4and the king of Egypt causeth Eliakim his brother to reign over Judah and Jerusalem, and turneth his name to Jehoiakim; and Jehoahaz his brother hath Necho taken, and bringeth him in to Egypt.
1And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead, in Jerusalem.
2Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
3And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and imposed a fine upon the land of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
4And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Judah choose the younger son after Josiah's death? This passage shows the trouble that came from a hasty political choice.
Context
After King Josiah died, the people of Judah faced a crucial decision. They wanted a new king quickly. Instead of turning to God, they turned to the influential citizens, the people of the land, and together they set Jehoahaz, Josiah's younger son, on the throne. He was twenty-three years old and reigned only three months. Then the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco stepped in. He deposed Jehoahaz, fined the country heavily, and made Eliakim, the older brother, king instead. He even changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim, a clear sign of Egyptian control. This rapid turnover reveals a kingdom drifting from God. The people's choice, made without consulting the Lord, was quickly overturned by a foreign power. It is a sobering moment that sets the stage for the decline leading to exile.
Key Words
Three Hebrew phrases carry the weight of this passage. First, the people of the land, 'am ha'aretz in Hebrew, appears at key moments in Chronicles. These were the influential citizens who had a voice in succession. They acted decisively after Josiah's death, but their decision was not from God. It reminds us that even respected voices can lead us astray when we do not seek the Lord.
Second, the word for deposed (or removed) is the Hebrew verb sur in a form that means to cause someone to turn aside forcefully. Pharaoh Neco removed Jehoahaz from office. The verb carries weight: it is not a peaceful transition but a violent interruption. Our own plans can be overturned in a moment by forces beyond our control.
Third, Neco changed Eliakim's name, the verb sabab means to turn or change. In the ancient world, a name change signaled ownership and submission. This was humiliating, and it shows Judah's loss of independence. When we make choices without God, we may find ourselves subject to powers we never intended to serve.
How Christians Read This Verse
Many Protestant commentators see this as evidence of the people's disregard for God's will. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown suggest the people preferred Jehoahaz over his older brother because they expected little good from Eliakim. Others, like Barnes, note that the chronicler here emphasizes the moral lesson over pure history. The people of the land had earlier supported faithful kings like Josiah, but now they acted unwisely. Some readers observe the hand of God behind the scenes, using Egypt as an instrument of discipline. The passage does not condemn the people directly, but it shows the consequences of acting without seeking the Lord. Christians across traditions agree that human plans are fragile, and that God remains sovereign even when foreign powers seem to control events.
A common misunderstanding
Some assume the phrase people of the land always describes faithful believers, since they supported Josiah after a conspiracy. In fact, this is a social group, the influential citizens, and their choices vary. In this passage they act without seeking God, and their decision leads to instability. The term does not guarantee spiritual faithfulness; it describes a role in leadership.
Living This Out
You may face a big decision this week, choosing a job, a place to live, or a leader to support. The people of Judah rushed to pick a king without prayer, and their plan collapsed in three months. Before you decide, pause. Ask God for wisdom. Trust that His guidance matters more than your quick instincts. And if your plans are overturned by circumstances beyond your control, remember that God is still at work. He is not surprised by the shifts in power or the setbacks in your life. You can lean into Him when everything else feels uncertain.
Main takeaway: Rushing to make decisions without seeking God can lead to disappointment, but His sovereign plan remains unchanged through every human failure.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
After good King Josiah died, the people picked a new king without asking God. That king only stayed for three months! Then a foreign king took over. It is always better to ask God before we make big decisions.
For ages 9, 12
The people of Judah had a choice: they could look to God for direction, or do what seemed right to them. They chose the younger brother Jehoahaz, but their plan fell apart when Egypt took control. This story shows that our own plans can be fragile, but God's plans are strong. Even when things go wrong, God is still in charge.
Questions People Ask
Why did the people choose Jehoahaz instead of the older brother?
The Bible does not say directly, but commentators suggest the people may have preferred Jehoahaz because they expected little good from Eliakim. They acted on their own judgment rather than seeking God's will.
Who were 'the people of the land'?
This phrase refers to influential citizens, likely landowners or community leaders, who had a role in appointing kings (as seen in 2 Chronicles 26:1 and 33:25). They were not necessarily faithful to God.
Why did Pharaoh Neco change Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim?
Changing someone's name was a sign of authority and control. By renaming the new king, Neco showed that Judah was now subject to Egypt. The name Jehoiakim includes the divine name 'Yah,' perhaps to remind the king of his oath or to claim loyalty.
What does this passage teach us about God?
Even when human leaders make poor choices and foreign powers take control, God remains sovereign. This passage begins a section that leads to the exile, showing that God's judgment is just and His plans are not thwarted by human decisions.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study