2 Kings – Chapter 24

Old Testament20 Verses

Chapter Summary

2 Kings 24 opens with the words: "In his days Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon came up, and Joakim became his servant three years: then again he rebelled against him." The chapter centers on Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah and Manasses. Across its 20 verses, two threads run through the text: God's kingdom and kingship and family and covenant relationships. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1In his days Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon came up, and Joakim became his servant three years: then again he rebelled against him.

2And the Lord sent against him the rovers of the Chaldees, and the rovers of Syria, and the rovers of Moab, and the rovers of the children of Ammon: and he sent them against Juda, to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by his servants, the prophets.

3And this came by the word of the Lord against Juda, to remove them from before him for all the sins of Manasses which he did;

4And for the innocent blood that he shed, filling Jerusalem with innocent blood: and therefore the Lord would not be appeased.

5But the rest of the acts of Joakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? And Joakim slept with his fathers:

6And Joachin, his son, reigned in his stead.

7And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his own country: for the king of Babylon had taken all that had belonged to the king of Egypt, from the river of Egypt, unto the river Euphrates.

8Joachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Nohesta, the daughter of Elnathan, of Jerusalem.

9And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that his father had done.

10At that time the servants of Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, came up against Jerusalem, and the city was surrounded with their forts.

11And Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, came to the city, with his servants, to assault it.

12And Joachin, king of Juda, went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his nobles, and his eunuchs: and the king of Babylon received him in the eighth year of his reign.

13And he brought out from thence all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house: and he cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon, king of Israel, had made in the temple of the Lord, according to the word of the Lord.

14And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the valiant men of the army, to the number of ten thousand, into captivity: and every artificer and smith: and none were left, but the poor sort of the people of the land.

15And he carried away Joachin into Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his eunuchs: and the judges of the land he carried into captivity, from Jerusalem, into Babylon.

16And all the strong men, seven thousand, and the artificers, and the smiths, a thousand, all that were valiant men, and fit for war: and the king of Babylon led them captives into Babylon.

17And he appointed Matthanias, his uncle, in his stead: and called his name Sedecias.

18Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Amital, the daughter of Jeremias, of Lobna.

19And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that Joakim had done.

20For the Lord was angry against Jerusalem and against Juda, till he cast them out from his face: and Sedecias revolted from the king of Babylon.

Important Verses in 2 Kings 24

In his days Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon came up, and Joakim became his servant three years: then again he rebelled against him.

2 Kings 24:1

And for the innocent blood that he shed, filling Jerusalem with innocent blood: and therefore the Lord would not be appeased.

2 Kings 24:4

And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that his father had done.

2 Kings 24:9

For the Lord was angry against Jerusalem and against Juda, till he cast them out from his face: and Sedecias revolted from the king of Babylon.

2 Kings 24:20

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, 2 Kings was written with the exiles in Babylon, called to repentance and hope in view. Chapter 24 of 25 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 20 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah, Manasses and Solomon, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The passage starts with these words: "In his days Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon came up, and Joakim became his servant three years: then again he rebelled…" The chapter ends with: "For the Lord was angry against Jerusalem and against Juda, till he cast them out from his face: and Sedecias revolted…" The wider setting of 2 Kings is this: Second Kings continues from Elijah's fiery departure and Elisha's ministry to the destruction of both kingdoms: Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC and Judah to Babylon in 587 BC, when the Temple was burned. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of 2 Kings around Events from about 850 to 560 BC; final form during the Babylonian exile.

Who Wrote It

Unknown; compiled by prophetic circles, traditionally linked to Jeremiah

When It Was Written

Events from about 850 to 560 BC; final form during the Babylonian exile

Catholic Commentary

Read at the narrative level, this chapter describes real persons, decisions, and consequences within prophets, kings, and exile. A pivotal line is verse 1: "In his days Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon came up, and Joakim became his servant three years: then again he rebelled against him." The passage repeatedly touches on God's kingdom and kingship.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 113). Here, the prophets prepared for Christ and called Israel to repentance (CIC 64, 522). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize God's kingdom and kingship as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.

People in This Chapter

Nebuchadnezzar3 mentionsJeremiah1 mentionManasses1 mentionSolomon1 mention

Reflection for Today

2 Kings Chapter 24, containing 20 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation, offers a distinct passage for prayer and meditation.

The Magisterium teaches that every biblical passage must be read in light of Christ, the center of Scripture (CIC 1700). Here the emphasis falls on lectio divina and meditation on God's Word, which shapes how the Church understands prophets, kings, and exile.

If this passage raises questions, seek the Church's teaching through the Catechism, a faithful priest, or sound Catholic commentaries. Private interpretation must remain in harmony with the Magisterium (CIC 2105).

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 2 Kings Chapter 24 about?

2 Kings 24 contains 20 verses. It opens with "In his days Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon came up, and Joakim became his servant three years: then again he rebelled…" and closes with "For the Lord was angry against Jerusalem and against Juda, till he cast them out from his face: and Sedecias revolted…". The book as a whole is historical narrative with prophetic accounts.

What is a key verse in 2 Kings 24?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "In his days Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon came up, and Joakim became his servant three years: then again he rebelled against him." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in 2 Kings Chapter 24?

This chapter mentions Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah, Manasses, Solomon.

Who wrote 2 Kings and when?

Unknown; compiled by prophetic circles, traditionally linked to Jeremiah. Events from about 850 to 560 BC; final form during the Babylonian exile.

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