2 Kings 25:30, commentary and pictures

2 Kings 25:30 belongs to the final section of Kings, which covers the history of the remaining kingdom of Judah after the ten tribes had been swept away, through the period of the Babylonian Captivity, and it closes that history. That closing history records the wicked and weak reigns of the kings of Judah, whose rebellions brought Babylon's repeated conquests, culminating in Jerusalem's fall and the deportation of its people to Babylon. The immediate setting is Nebuchadnezzar's taking of Jerusalem and carrying of many into captivity, Zedekiah's rebellion and the final capture of the nation, after which only a little company under Gedaliah was left in the land.

Zedekiah was the last king, blinded by Nebuchadnezzar and taken to Babylon where he died in captivity, and afterward Judah never regained independent government but continued only as a province subservient to the great world kingdoms. The verse marks the end of Jehoiachin's captivity, who had been carried to Babylon with his family and all the mighty of the land and the craftsmen and smiths, leaving only the poorest in the land, and who was kept in prison thirty-seven years until Nebuchadnezzar's death. After Nebuchadnezzar's death Evil-merodach released Jehoiachin from prison, spoke kindly to him, set his throne above the thrones of the captive kings who were with him in Babylon, and showed him kind royal favor.

As part of that favor the king gave him a continual, regular daily allowance, a daily rate for every day, for the rest of his life, keeping him in that honored and continually provided condition. Jehoiachin's long confinement under Nebuchadnezzar, though he had only contemplated rebellion, was unusual and unnecessary, neither excused by the general practice of the age nor needed to secure Nebuchadnezzar's interests. It proves cruelty of disposition and pleasure in wantonly inflicting suffering on those who provoked resentment.