Nebuchadnezzar] called more accurately in Jeremiah 25:9 and elsewhere 'Nebuchadrezzar.' He was the son of the Nabopolassar who conquered Nineveh (see on 2 Kings 23:29), and, as his father's general, defeated the Egyptians in 605 at Carchemish on the Euphrates (Jeremiah 46:2). This success left the countries lying between the two great powers of Babylon and Egypt at the mercy of the former (2 Kings 24:7); and consequently when Nebuchadnezzar succeeded his father, Jehoiakim (as here related) submitted to him. Some inscriptions of Nebuchadnezzar have been discovered in various parts of Palestine, but such as are decipherable relate not to his campaigns but to his buildings.
Became bis servant three years] It is rather difficult to harmonise the statements respecting Jehoiakim's reign contained in this chapter with 2 Chronicles 36:5-8 and in Daniel 1:2. In 2 Chronicles 36:6; Jehoiakim is said to have been bound in fetters by Nebuchadnezzar in order to be carried to Babylon, and in Daniel his capture is described as having taken place in his third year. He was, however, in his own capital in the 'fourth' year of his reign (Jeremiah 36:1); so that if these passages are to be reconciled with Kings it must be assumed that he was restored to his throne by the Babylonian king, and that the events here related took place after his restoration.