608 – 597 BC evil reign start to finish during time of Prophets Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel
Jehoiakim Made King by Pharaoh Necho II
34Pharaoh Neco 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 brought him to Egypt, and he died there. 35So Jehoiakim gave the silver and gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land in order to give the money at the command of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land, each according to his valuation, to give it to Pharaoh Neco.
36Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 37He did evil in the sight of YHVH, according to all that his fathers had done.
2 Kings 23:34-37
4The king of Egypt [Necho II] made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Joahaz his brother and brought him to Egypt. 5Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and he did evil in the sight of YHVH his God.
2 Chronicles 36:4-5
Cities of Judah Warned
1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from YHVH, saying, 2“Thus says YHVH, ‘Stand in the court of the YHVH’S house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the YHVH’S house all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not omit a word! 3‘Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the calamity which I am planning to do to them because of the evil of their deeds.’ 4“And you will say to them, ‘Thus says YHVH, “If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, 5to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened; 6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse to all the nations of the earth.”’”
A Plot to Murder Jeremiah
7The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of YHVH. 8When Jeremiah finished speaking all that YHVH had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You must die! 9“Why have you prophesied in the name of YHVH saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of YHVH.
10When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of YHVH and sat in the entrance of the New Gate of YHVH’S house. 11Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, “A death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied against this city as you have heard in your hearing.”
12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, “YHVH sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13“Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of YHVH your God; and YHVH will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. 14“But as for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight. 15“Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and on its inhabitants; for truly YHVH has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
Jeremiah Is Spared
16Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “No death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of YHVH our God.” 17Then some of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying,
18“Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Thus YHVH of hosts has said,
“Zion will be plowed as a field,
And Jerusalem will become ruins,
And the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.”’19“Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear YHVH and entreat the favour of YHVH, and YHVH changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But we are committing a great evil against ourselves.”
20Indeed, there was also a man who prophesied in the name of YHVH, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land words similar to all those of Jeremiah.21When King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and all the officials heard his words, then the king sought to put him to death; but Uriah heard it, and he was afraid and fled and went to Egypt. 22Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him went into Egypt. 23And they brought Uriah from Egypt and led him to King Jehoiakim, who slew him with a sword and cast his dead body into the burial place of the common people.
24But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not given into the hands of the people to put him to death.