Jehoiakim [key], in the Bible, king of Judah, son of Josiah. On Josiah's death his son Jehoahaz became king. However, Pharaoh Neco II dethroned him and set up another of Josiah's sons, Eliakim, who took the name Jehoiakim. He was given the name by the Egyptians as a sign of his vassal status. From 605 b.c., after the Babylonians defeated Egypt, Jehoiakim became a vassal of Nebuchadnezzar. However, after three years, Jehoiakim rebelled. He died in 598 just as Nebuchadnezzar was besieging Jerusalem. He was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin.
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