In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
During Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked, and Jehoiakim served him for three years. Then he turned around and rebelled against him.
This verse describes how King Jehoiakim of Judah first submitted to the powerful Babylonian king but then foolishly chose to rebel against him.
📚 Historical Context
During the reign of Jehoiakim, who was a king of Judah installed by the Egyptians, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar invaded the region as part of his empire's expansion. Jehoiakim submitted to Nebuchadnezzar and served him as a vassal for three years, but this submission was likely a pragmatic response to military pressure rather than full allegiance. This event fits into the broader biblical narrative of Judah's weakening under foreign powers, leading toward the Babylonian exile.
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