And he did evil in the sight of the LORDThis phrase indicates a moral and spiritual evaluation from God's perspective, emphasizing divine judgment rather than human opinion. The "evil" refers to actions contrary to God's commandments, often involving idolatry and injustice. In the context of 2 Kings, this evil is typically associated with the worship of foreign gods and neglect of the covenant with Yahweh. The phrase "in the sight of the LORD" underscores God's omniscience and the accountability of leaders to divine standards. This evaluation is a recurring theme in the books of Kings, highlighting the spiritual decline of Judah and Israel.
just as his father had done
This phrase connects the actions of the current king, Jehoiachin, to those of his predecessor, Jehoiakim. It suggests a pattern of sin and disobedience passed down through generations, reflecting the influence of familial and cultural legacies. Jehoiakim's reign was marked by idolatry and rebellion against God, as seen in2 Kings 23:37. This continuity of evil behavior underscores the failure of the Davidic kings to lead the people in faithfulness to God, contributing to the eventual downfall of Judah. The phrase also serves as a reminder of the importance of righteous leadership and the consequences of failing to break cycles of sin.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JehoiachinThe king of Judah who reigned for three months. His reign was marked by evil in the sight of the LORD, following the sinful ways of his predecessors.
2.
JudahThe southern kingdom of Israel, which was under the rule of Jehoiachin during this period. It was a time of political instability and spiritual decline.
3.
The LORDThe covenant God of Israel, who judges the actions of kings and nations according to His righteous standards.
4.
JehoiakimJehoiachin's father, whose reign was also characterized by evil practices and disobedience to God.
5.
Babylonian ExileThe impending consequence of Judah's persistent sinfulness, leading to the Babylonian captivity.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Sinful LeadershipLeadership that turns away from God leads to national decline and judgment. Jehoiachin's reign serves as a warning about the impact of ungodly leadership.
Generational Patterns of SinJehoiachin followed in the sinful footsteps of his father, Jehoiakim. This highlights the importance of breaking generational cycles of disobedience and seeking God's ways.
God's Righteous JudgmentDespite the evil actions of leaders, God's judgment is just and serves as a call to repentance and return to His covenant.
The Importance of Personal ResponsibilityEach individual, regardless of their heritage, is responsible for their own actions before God. Jehoiachin's failure to seek God emphasizes the need for personal accountability.
Hope Amidst JudgmentEven in the face of judgment, God's promises remain. The Babylonian exile was not the end for Judah, pointing to God's redemptive plan through Christ.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 2 Kings 24:9?
2.How does 2 Kings 24:9 illustrate the consequences of following evil influences?
3.What can we learn from Jehoiachin's actions about leadership and accountability?
4.How does Jehoiachin's reign compare to other kings who "did evil" in God's sight?
5.How can we ensure our actions align with God's will, unlike Jehoiachin's?
6.What steps can we take to avoid repeating Jehoiachin's mistakes in our lives?
7.Why did Jehoiachin do evil in the sight of the LORD according to 2 Kings 24:9?
8.How does 2 Kings 24:9 reflect the consequences of disobedience to God?
9.What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Kings 24:9?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 24?
11.Who was King Jehoram/Joram in biblical history?
12.How old was Jehoiachin when he became king of Jerusalem? Eighteen (2 Kings 24:8) Eight (2 Chronicles 36:9)
13.How long did he rule over Jerusalem? Three months (2 Kings 24:8) Three months and ten days (2 Chronicles 36:9)
14.In 2 Samuel 21:5-6, why does David permit the execution of Saul's descendants if Deuteronomy 24:16 forbids punishing children for a parent's wrongdoing?What Does 2 Kings 24:9 Mean
And- That single conjunction keeps us tied to the flow of the narrative that began in2 Kings 23:36-37 with Jehoiakim’s rebellion and now turns to his son, Jehoiachin.
- It reminds us that sin does not happen in a vacuum; it stacks up, one choice after another, until judgment arrives (see2 Kings 24:1-4;Romans 2:5-6).
- The verse sits on the cusp of Babylon’s final siege (2 Kings 24:10-12), so this “and” signals the last straw in Judah’s history before exile.
He did evil- Scripture does not list every specific crime, yet other texts fill in the picture:
- Idolatry and covenant infidelity—Jehoiachin “followed detestable practices” (2 Chronicles 36:9;Jeremiah 22:24-28).
- Social injustice inherited from his father—unpaid labor, bloodshed, arrogant rule (Jeremiah 22:17).
- Hardness toward prophetic warnings—Jeremiah pleaded, but the king persisted (Jeremiah 22:1-5).
- “Evil” is God’s verdict, not merely human opinion.Galatians 6:7 reminds us, “Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return”.
In the sight of the LORD- Nothing escapes the divine gaze: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).
- This phrase means God Himself is the standard and the witness. Even a three-month reign (2 Kings 24:8) comes under His scrutiny.
- It also hints at coming accountability: “Each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). Jehoiachin would soon face that reckoning when Nebuchadnezzar carried him to Babylon.
Just as his father had done- Jehoiakim “did evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 23:37), and his son copied the pattern.
- Consequences flow through generations (Exodus 20:5-6), not because children are forced to sin, but because they so often embrace the example handed down to them.
-Ezekiel 18:20 balances the principle: “The soul who sins is the one who will die”. Each person bears personal responsibility even while family influence is real.
- The repetition warns us that unrepented sin can become a family legacy, yet a new legacy is possible when someone chooses repentance and obedience (2 Chronicles 34:3-7 for contrast in Josiah).
summary2 Kings 24:9 tells the tragic story of a young king who simply continued the rebellion he saw at home. The connective “And” shows sin’s momentum, “He did evil” names his moral failure, “in the sight of the LORD” frames everything under God’s watchful authority, and “just as his father had done” exposes the powerful pull of example. The verse stands as a sober reminder that God sees, judges, and calls each generation to break with inherited evil and walk in faithful obedience instead.
(9)
And he did that which was evil . . .--Ezekiel 19:5-9 refers to him, according to Keil and Ewald; but Thenius asks how, in his position, and during his brief reign of ninety (?) days, a considerable number of which must probably be allowed for the siege, he could possibly do what is there described. Hitzig refers the passage to Zedekiah; and so Thenius. Josephus calls Jehoiachin "naturally good and just;" probably misunderstanding the words of
Jeremiah 22:24;
Jeremiah 22:28.
Verse 9. -
And he did that which was evil the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done (see
2 Kings 23:37; and comp.
2 Chronicles 36:9). Josephus says that Jehoiachin was
φύσει χρηστὸς καὶδίκαιος ('Ant. Jud.,' 10:7. § 1); but Jeremiah calls him "a despised broken idol," and "a vessel wherein is no pleasure" (
Jeremiah 22:28). The present passage probably does not mean more than that he made no attempt at a religious reformation, but allowed the idolatries and superstitions which had prevailed under Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim to continue. It is in his favor that he did not actively persecute Jeremiah.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
And he didוַיַּ֥עַשׂ(way·ya·‘aś)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213:To do, makeevilהָרַ֖ע(hā·ra‘)Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451:Bad, evilin the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣י(bə·‘ê·nê)Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869:An eye, a fountainof the LORD,יְהוָ֑ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israeljust asכְּכֹ֥ל(kə·ḵōl)Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everyhis fatherאָבִֽיו׃(’ā·ḇîw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1:Fatherhad done.עָשָׂ֖ה(‘ā·śāh)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213:To do, make
Links
2 Kings 24:9 NIV2 Kings 24:9 NLT2 Kings 24:9 ESV2 Kings 24:9 NASB2 Kings 24:9 KJV
2 Kings 24:9 BibleApps.com2 Kings 24:9 Biblia Paralela2 Kings 24:9 Chinese Bible2 Kings 24:9 French Bible2 Kings 24:9 Catholic Bible
OT History: 2 Kings 24:9 He did that which was evil (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) 
