Jeremiah 52:31-34--Jehoiachin Released from Prison

Jeremiah 52:31-34
English Standard Version

Jehoiachin Released from Prison
31 And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. 32 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table, 34 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, until the day of his death, as long as he lived.

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We have reached the end of the book of Jeremiah.  The book ends telling us of the release of King Jehoiachin from prison.  The king of Babylon mentioned here had a very short reign (from extra-biblical sources, he was also known as Amel-Marduk and reigned from 562 B.C. to 560 B.C.)  He was the son of Nebuchadnezzar.  (See Topical Bible: Evil-Merodach).  We don't hear anything about him in the book of Daniel, but we would imagine that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah had great influence on him.  The only thing that this king of Babylon is known for is releasing Jehoiachin, king of Judah from prison and treating him like one of the royal family for the rest of the days of his natural life.  Jehoiachin was given regular clothes and allowed to eat at the king's table and given daily provisions--whatever he needed was taken care of so that he was in need of nothing for the rest of his days.  As were his needs for the day, so was his allowance for that day, just as it would be for one of the kings or princes of the royal family.  There certainly had been a change in heart in the leadership of the Babylonian Empire, but that did not continue to future generations as we see in the book of Daniel.  The LORD did everything as he promised by the prophet Jeremiah and the other prophets.  He disciplined His people and put down the rebellion that was going on in the priesthood and the palace, but He preserved a remnant so that His covenant promises could be fulfilled.