GOD GAVE KING JEHOIAKIM INTO NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S HAND

Daniel does not simply say that Nebuchadnezzar defeated Judah. He tells us that “the Lord gave” Jehoiakim into his hand. Babylon was powerful, but behind the political and military events was the sovereign hand of God.

The important question here is: Why did God do this?

Historical Background: How Judah Reached This Point

Jehoiakim ruled during one of the most turbulent periods in Judah’s history. For many years, the kingdom had been moving away from God. Although there had been seasons of revival, idolatry, injustice, violence, and disobedience repeatedly returned.

King Josiah, Jehoiakim’s father, had brought major spiritual reforms to Judah. When the Book of the Law was discovered in the temple, Josiah humbled himself before God and attempted to turn the nation back to covenant faithfulness 2 Kings 22–23.

But Josiah’s reforms did not permanently change the hearts of the people. After Josiah died in battle at Megiddo around 609 BC, Judah became caught between two great competing empires: Egypt to the south and Babylon to the northeast.

Josiah's son Jehoahaz became king, but Pharaoh Neco of Egypt removed him after only three months. Neco then placed Josiah's son Eliakim on the throne and changed his name to Jehoiakim.

“And Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king… and turned his name to Jehoiakim.” — 2 Kings 23:34

This is important. Jehoiakim initially ruled Judah as a king under Egyptian domination. He taxed the people heavily to pay tribute to Pharaoh Neco 2 Kings 23:35.

Then the international balance of power dramatically changed. In 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated Egypt at the Battle of Carchemish. Babylon became the dominant power in the region.

Judah therefore moved from Egyptian influence into Babylonian control. But the book of Daniel wants us to see something deeper than geopolitics. Babylon did not succeed merely because its army was stronger.

Jehoiakim Did Evil Before God

2 Kings 23:37 gives God's assessment:

“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.”

Jehoiakim did not continue the godly reforms of his father Josiah. Jeremiah reveals that his reign was characterized not merely by idolatry but also by injustice, oppression, greed, and violence.

Therefore, God's judgment was not arbitrary. The spiritual and moral condition of Judah had deteriorated. God is concerned not only about worship in the temple but also about how people live and how they treat others.

Judah Had Persistently Rejected God's Warnings

God did not suddenly send Babylon to conquer Judah without warning. For years God sent prophets calling Judah to repentance.

“The LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened.” — Jeremiah 25:4

Jeremiah 25:4, 7:25, 11:7, 29:19, 35:15

This is one of the most important truths behind Daniel 1. Before God sent judgment, He sent His Word. Before He sent Nebuchadnezzar, He sent prophets. Before captivity came, opportunities for repentance came.

But Judah repeatedly refused to listen. Judgment came after prolonged resistance to God's correction.

Jehoiakim Personally Rejected God's Word

One of the clearest demonstrations of Jehoiakim's attitude appears in Jeremiah 36. God instructed Jeremiah to dictate His warnings to Baruch, who wrote them on a scroll. The scroll eventually reached Jehoiakim.

As the words were read to him, Jehoiakim took a knife, cut portions from the scroll, and threw them into the fire.

This was much more than destroying a document. It symbolized Jehoiakim's attitude toward divine authority:

“I will not submit to what God has said.”

But burning God's Word could not cancel God's Word. God simply instructed Jeremiah:

“Take thee again another roll…” — Jeremiah 36:28

Jehoiakim destroyed the scroll, but he could not destroy the decree of God. We cannot remove God's truth by rejecting it. Ignoring the Word does not invalidate the Word.

God Had Already Announced Babylonian Judgment

Jeremiah prophesied that because Judah refused to listen, God would bring Nebuchadnezzar against them.

Remarkably, God even calls Nebuchadnezzar: “my servant.”

This does not mean Nebuchadnezzar was a godly man. It means God sovereignly used him to accomplish a divine purpose. Nebuchadnezzar thought he was expanding his empire. But God was accomplishing something much greater.

Babylon had its political agenda; God had His sovereign agenda.

The Judgment Had Roots Before Jehoiakim

Jehoiakim's sins were serious, but Judah's judgment had been accumulating for generations. Under King Manasseh, Judah had descended deeply into idolatry, bloodshed, and wickedness.

2 Kings 24:3–4 specifically connects the Babylonian judgment with Manasseh's sins, including the shedding of innocent blood.

So Jehoiakim inherited a nation already under severe divine warning—and instead of leading Judah into repentance, he continued the rebellion.

Jehoiakim Rebelled Against Babylon

After Babylon became dominant, Jehoiakim served Nebuchadnezzar for approximately three years and then rebelled.

Politically, Jehoiakim may have hoped that Egypt would regain sufficient power to protect Judah. But spiritually, his rebellion reflected something deeper: he refused to accept the prophetic message that Babylonian domination was part of God's judgment.

Jeremiah repeatedly warned Judah not to trust false hopes of political rescue. Their fundamental problem was not Babylon.

Their fundamental problem was their broken relationship with God.

Therefore, “The Lord Gave”

Now Daniel 1:2 is becoming much clearer:

“And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand…”

Notice that Daniel does not say: “Nebuchadnezzar was too powerful for Judah.” He says: “The Lord gave.”

That expression establishes one of the major themes of the entire Book of Daniel:

Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, but ultimately God gave Jerusalem into his hand.

9. Why Did God Give Jehoiakim Into Nebuchadnezzar's Hand?

Therefore, Daniel 1 is not simply the story of Babylon defeating Judah. It is the story of God disciplining His covenant people while remaining sovereign over the nations.

10. But Judgment Was Not the End of the Story

This is essential to understanding Daniel.

God sent Judah into Babylon, but He did not abandon Judah in Babylon. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah went into captivity, yet God's presence went with them.

In fact, Babylon became the setting where God would demonstrate His power. In the midst of God’s judgements, He remembers mercy. The fire could not consume His servants. The lions could not destroy Daniel.

So Daniel 1:2 introduces the message of the whole book:

God may allow His people to enter circumstances they do not understand, but He has never surrendered His throne.