In the Third Year of Jehoiakim - Daniel 1:1

In the book of Daniel, Daniel began his book in chapter one and verse one, where he referred to “the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah” where we read,

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

The verse reads, “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, ...” Daniel began with the words, “in the third year” which means “within year number three” “of the reign of Jehoiakim” or “pertaining to the royal power and sovereign rule and dominion belonging to Jehoiakim whose name means Jehovah raises up and was son of Josiah and the third from the last king of Judah; subject vassal of Nebuchadnezzar who reigned for eleven years before he died a violent death either in combat or by the hands of his own subjects” “king of Judah” which means “the royal ruler and leader belonging to Judah whose name means praised and the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon” “came Nebuchadnezzar” or “entered, lit upon and attacked Nebuchadnezzar whose name means may Nebo protect the crown” “king of Babylon” which means “royal ruler and leader belonging to Babylon whose name means confusion (by mixing) and was known as Babel or Babylon which was the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) which is situated on the Euphrates” “unto Jerusalem” or “to Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Daniel referred to year three of the rule and dominion of “Jehoiakim” as to the time when “Nebuchadnezzar”entered and attacked “Jerusalem”.

The verse continues, “and besieged it.” Daniel added the words, “and besieged”  or “and bound, confined, distressed and assaulted” “it” which means “the city of Jerusalem”. Daniel said “Nebuchadnezzar” attacked “Jerusalem” and confined it. 

When we consider Daniel's words in this verse, we learn the timing for the overthrow of the city of Jerusalem by“Nebuchadnezzar”. The year was 605 B.C., and “Jehoiakim” was the “king” of Judah. He was in the third year of his rule, and the people of Judah had violated the law and ways of God. They were warned over and over again by “Jeremiah and Ezekiel” (See Jeremiah 7:5-7, 31; 19:4-6; Jerusalem 25:8-9; Ezekiel 17:11-21), however they continued in their pernicious ways. The Northern Kingdom of Israel already fell to Assyria in 722 B.C., and although Judah was spared at that time through King Hezekiah (See 1 Kings 17-18), they did not repent of their ways. “In 612 B.C. Assyria was conquered by the Babylonian prince Nebuchadnezzar who later became the king after his father died that same year”. Only seven years afterward he attacked and took over “Jerusalem”, and God's warning to the people of Israel was fulfilled. God did not want it this way for the people of Israel, but they defied Him, and when they continued in their rebellion, the were exiled to Babylon for seventy years. God wants us to obey Him and align with His ways as well, and because we have sinned against Him, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins and to be raised from the dead after three days. (See Romans 3:23: John 3:16) When we yield to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to keep us following His ways and to avoid paying troublesome consequences for our behavior. 

Next time Daniel says, “the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".