2 Kings 23:31-34 Meaning: A King Who Reigned Three Months and Did Evil
31Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
32He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, according to all that his fathers had done.
33Pharaoh Necoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
34Pharaoh Necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim; but he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there.
31Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
32And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done.
33And Pharaoh–nechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.
34And Pharaoh–nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.
31Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
32And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers had done.
33And Pharaoh-necoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.
34And Pharaoh-necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim: but he took Jehoahaz away; and he came to Egypt, and died there.
31A son of twenty and three years is Jehoahaz in his reigning, and three months he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother is Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah,
32and he doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers did,
33and Pharaoh-Nechoh bindeth him in Riblah, in the land of Hamath, from reigning in Jerusalem, and he putteth a fine on the land--a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.
34And Pharaoh-Nechoh causeth Eliakim son of Josiah to reign instead of Josiah his father, and turneth his name to Jehoiakim, and Jehoahaz he hath taken away, and he cometh in to Egypt, and dieth there.
31Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
32And he did evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers had done.
33And Pharaoh-Nechoh had him bound at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and laid a tribute upon the land of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
34And Pharaoh-Nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king instead of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And he took Jehoahaz; and he came to Egypt, and died there.
Meaning in one sentence
Jehoahaz became king after Josiah but reigned only three months. His evil reign and capture show Judah's swift decline into sin.
Context
These verses come right after Josiah's death. He was a king who had turned the nation back to God. But when he died in battle, the people of the land chose a new king without waiting for Pharaoh's approval. They picked Jehoahaz, a younger son of Josiah, passing over his older brother Eliakim. Jehoahaz reigned only three months in Jerusalem. The text tells us he did evil just like his forefathers, Manasseh and Amon, who had filled Judah with idols. Pharaoh Necho, the Egyptian ruler who had killed Josiah, soon put Jehoahaz in chains at Riblah, a place in Syria. He imposed a heavy fine of silver and gold on the land. Then he made Eliakim king instead and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Jehoahaz was carried off to Egypt, where he died. This moment marks a sharp turn downward for Judah. After a season of reform, the nation quickly fell back into what was wicked in God's sight.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this passage. First, the word for what Jehoahaz did: the verb ra' (evil) is the same one used throughout Kings for turning away from God, worshiping idols, ignoring His commands. This was not a small mistake. It was a deliberate choice to walk the path of Manasseh and Amon.
Second, the word for what Pharaoh did to Jehoahaz: 'asar, which means to bind or imprison. It is the same word used for putting someone in chains. The verse literally says Pharaoh "bound him" at Riblah. His outward captivity matched an inner bondage: Jehoahaz had already bound himself to sin.
Third, the word for the name change: sabab, meaning to turn or change. When Pharaoh changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim, he was asserting control. Yet both names contain God's own name, "God raises" and "Yahweh raises." Even under foreign domination, the hope of God's raising up a king still echoed.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this passage with different emphases. Some, like Matthew Henry, focus on the people's responsibility: they chose a king who led them back into evil, and God used Egypt to judge them. Others highlight the sovereignty of God over rulers, Pharaoh acted, but the Lord had already said He would remove Judah from His sight (verse 27). Commentators also note the name change. The new name still included God's name, yet the king did not live up to it. This reminds us that God's purposes continue even when human leaders fail. Both readings agree that these events show Judah's swift return to sin after Josiah's reforms ended.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume Jehoahaz was an innocent victim, a young king deposed by a foreign power for no fault of his own. In fact, the text explicitly says he did evil in the Lord's sight, just like his evil ancestors. His three-month reign was long enough to show his heart. The brevity does not excuse the sin. He was not punished for something he did not do; he reaped the consequence of his own choices.
Living This Out
This passage asks a quiet but pointed question: when the good influence is gone, what do you turn to? After Josiah died, the people chose a king who led them back to the very sins Josiah had torn down. They did not stay faithful on their own. You may have had a person in your life who helped you follow God. If that influence fades, what happens to your choices? This week, notice the small decisions you make when no one is watching. Are they leaning back toward old patterns, or toward God? The heavy fine on the land also reminds us that sin costs more than we expect. It affects not just us but those around us.
Main takeaway: Jehoahaz's three months of evil show that even a short life lived apart from God leaves a costly, damaging legacy.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jehoahaz became king after his good father Josiah. But he did not follow God like his father did. You can always choose to follow God, no matter what other people do.
For ages 9, 12
After Josiah died, the people chose a younger son named Jehoahaz to be king. He only ruled for three months, but in that short time he did evil things like worshiping idols. The people had followed Josiah when he was alive, but their hearts were not really changed. When you have a chance to choose leaders, pray for wisdom to pick people who want to honor God. The choices you make matter, even if you only have a short time.
Questions People Ask
Why did the people choose Jehoahaz instead of his older brother?
The Bible does not give a reason, but commentators suggest Jehoahaz may have been more ambitious or favored by a popular party. He was twenty three and his older brother Eliakim was twenty five. The people bypassed the firstborn and made Jehoahaz king, perhaps hoping for a stronger leader. But he did evil, and his reign ended quickly in captivity.
What does it mean that Pharaoh changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim?
Changing a name in ancient times showed authority and ownership. By giving a new name, Pharaoh made it clear that Jehoiakim ruled as his vassal. Both names include God's name: Eliakim means 'God raises' and Jehoiakim means 'Yahweh raises.' But the king did not live up to the name.
Where is Riblah, and why is it mentioned?
Riblah was a city in Syria, in the land of Hamath along the Orontes River. It was a strategic place where Pharaoh Necho set up his headquarters. Later, Nebuchadnezzar also used it as a base. Jehoahaz was brought there in chains, showing his complete defeat.
How long did Jehoahaz reign, and what happened to him?
He reigned only three months in Jerusalem. Pharaoh Necho imprisoned him at Riblah, then took him to Egypt, where he died. So his reign was very short, ending in exile and death.
Who are the 'fathers' that Jehoahaz imitated in doing evil?
The 'fathers' refer to his grandfather Manasseh and great-grandfather Amon, both of whom did evil by promoting idolatry. Despite Josiah's reforms, Jehoahaz returned to their wicked ways. This shows that the people's hearts were still inclined toward false worship.
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