The Restoration Of Jehoiachin To A Position Of Honour (Jeremiah 52:31-34).
When Nebuchadrezzar crushed the rebellion of Jehoiakim in 597 BC, with Jehoiachin coming to the throne as the Davidic king while the final days of the siege were in progress, he took the 18 year old Jehoiachin back to Babylon where he was imprisoned, replacing him on the throne with his father's half-brother Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:8-17). Now Nebuchadrezzar's son Evil Merodach (Amel-Marduk) would release Jehoiachin from prison in 562 BC, the year of his accession, and raise him to a position of honour in Babylon. To ‘eat bread before the king' was a sign of high favour. Such magnanimity was often shown at the commencement of a new reign. This incident almost certainly ends the prophecy of Jeremiah in order to emphasise the fact that the promises of a restored Davidic monarchy as prophesied by Jeremiah were not just a dream.
‘And it came about in the thirty seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty fifth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,'
When he was released Jehoiachin had been in prison for thirty seven years, although his prison conditions were probably not onerous as he had not really rebelled against the Babylonians. That had been his father's doing. He would, of course, still be a hostage and a reminder of Babylon's conquests. Interestingly records have been discovered which reveal something about the daily rations appointed for him, for his sons born to him in Babylon (confirming the mild nature of his imprisonment) and for his servants.
Evil Merodach (Awel or Amel-Marduk) was not a good king. He lived a life of extravagance and debauchery and was assassinated by his brother Neriglissar, who took the throne in 560 BC. But ‘in the year of his reign' (i.e. his accession year) he ‘lifted up the head of Jehoiachin', that is, showed him favour by releasing him from prison and making decent provision for him.
‘And he spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon, and changed his prison clothes. And Jehoiachin ate bread before him continually all the days of his life,'
Jehoiachin received the king's mercy and was given a position of prominence among the hostage kings of other countries, having his prison clothes replaced with clothing worthy of a king. To ‘eat bread before the king' was to be in a position of great favour, and fortunately for Jehoiachin this practise was clearly continued by Neriglissar. This would certainly have been looked on by the Jewish exiles as very propitious.
‘And for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him by the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.'.
Evil-Merodach allocated to Jehoiachin a portion of food for him and his attendants which he received daily until the day of his death. This restoration of Jehoiachin was a sign that things were looking up, and suggested that YHWH was once again acting on behalf of His people. It was a glimmer of light in the darkness.
Remarkably a number of records which are dated prior to Jehoiachin's release from prison, have been discovered. These were found in a barrel-vaulted underground chamber near the Ishtar Gate, which was connected with the royal palace by a stairway. These referred to rations which were distributed to various persons out of the royal stores. They do suggest that Jehoiachin's prison conditions were reasonable. possibly almost similar to a house arrest. An extract from the particular section read as follows:
‘To Ya'ukinu, king (of the land of Yaudu), ------ half a PI (a PI equals about six and a half gallons) for Ya'ukinu, king of the land of Ya-(hudu), two and a half sila (a sila was around one and a half pints) for the five sons of the king of the land of Yahudu, four sila for eight men, Judeans (each) half (a sila).'
Thus the prophecy of Jeremiah ends on an historical note of hope indicating that just as his prophecies of doom had been fulfilled, so now there was hope for the fulfilment of his prophecies of future hope concerning the Davidic house. Babylon had now received its just reward for its guilt, and the house of David was in the ascendant. This theme is taken up in Revelation where all that Babylon represented is brought into judgment, and the greater David reigns in triumph.