⁶Nebuchadnezzar attacked him. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylonia. He put Jehoiakim in bronze chains. And he took him to Babylon. ⁷Nebuchadnezzar also took articles from the Lord’s temple. He took them to Babylon. He put them in his own temple there.

⁸The other events of Jehoiakim’s rule are written in the records of the kings of Israel and Judah. He did things the Lord hated. Those things and everything that happened to him are also written in those records. His son Jehoiachin became the next king after him.

Jehoiachin Becomes King of Judah

⁹Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months and ten days. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

¹⁰In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him. He brought him to Babylon. He also brought articles of value from the Lord’s temple. He made Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. Zedekiah was Jehoiachin’s uncle.

Zedekiah Becomes King of Judah

¹¹Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 11 years.

¹²He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He didn’t pay any attention to the message the Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.

¹³Zedekiah also refused to remain under the control of King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had made him take an oath in God’s name. But his heart became very stubborn. He wouldn’t turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.

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