The Reign and Dethronement of Jehoahaz

361 And the people of the land take Jehoahaz son of Josiah, and cause him to reign instead of his father in Jerusalem. 2 A son of three and twenty years 'is' Jehoahaz in his reigning, and three months he hath reigned in Jerusalem, 3 and turn him aside doth the king of Egypt in Jerusalem, and fineth the land a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold; 4 and 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.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 36:1-4

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 36:1-21

(Read 2 Chronicles 36:1-21)

The ruin of Judah and Jerusalem came on by degrees. The methods God takes to call back sinners by his word, by ministers, by conscience, by providences, are all instances of his compassion toward them, and his unwillingness that any should perish. See here what woful havoc sin makes, and, as we value the comfort and continuance of our earthly blessings, let us keep that worm from the root of them. They had many times ploughed and sowed their land in the seventh year, when it should have rested, and now it lay unploughed and unsown for ten times seven years. God will be no loser in his glory at last, by the disobedience of men. If they refused to let the land rest, God would make it rest. What place, O God, shall thy justice spare, if Jerusalem has perished? If that delight of thine were cut off for wickedness, let us not be high-minded, but fear.