Bible Passage: 2 Kings 24

This chapter records the times of turmoil in Judah, under the rule of Jehoiachin, also known as Jeconiah, who led a life of depravity and brought unrest to his nation. Verse 9 stated that like his father, Jehoiachin did evil in the sight of the Lord. Jehoiachin was a wicked king and angered God by burning a scroll that Prophet Jeremiah wrote. God then decreed that none of his descendants could ever ascend the throne of David.

In Jeremiah 22:24, 30, a curse was placed on Jehoiachin’s lineage.

²⁴ “As I live,” says the Lord, “though Coniah^[b] the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off;

³⁰ Thus says the Lord:
‘Write this man down as childless,
A man who shall not prosper in his days;
For none of his descendants shall prosper,
Sitting on the throne of David,
And ruling anymore in Judah.’”

However, he was later mentioned again in Matthew 1:12 in the genealogy of Jesus.

¹² And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.

According to some bible scholars, this curse contradicted the fact that Jesus was the rightful king and Messiah, given that Jesus was born of Joseph, one of Jehoiachin’s descendants. Some people explained that Joseph was only the legal parent of Jesus and not His biological father, hence the curse was still fulfilled.

I would think that perhaps, despite the curse as recorded in Jeremiah, despite Jehoiachin’s evil ways, it was his repentance and God’s mercy on him that Jehoiachin could still part of the genealogy of Jesus. Jehoiachin spent 37 years in prison, a humiliated and forgotten man after King Nebuchadnezzar held him captive to Babylon.

He had lots of time to consider his life, and perhaps brought to mind stories he had heard about his grandfather, Josiah, and memories of the dishonorable death of his father. Perhaps he even prayed for forgiveness and humbly sought mercy from the Lord. Hence, in a way, God fulfilled the curse but was also compassionate and kept Jehoiachin in Jesus’ lineage.