John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up , etc.] Against Jerusalem; this was in the latter end of the third, or the beginning of the fourth of Jehoiakim’s reign, and the first of Nebuchadnezzar, ( Jeremiah 25:1 46:2), when Jehoiakim was taken, but restored upon promise of subjection and obedience, and hostages given, at which time Daniel and his companions were carried captive, with some of the vessels of the temple; (see Gill on “ Daniel 1:1”) (see Gill on “ Daniel 1:2”) and Jehoiakim became his servant three years : which were the fifth, sixth, and seventh years of his reign: then he turned and rebelled against him ; being encouraged by the king of Egypt, who promised to assist him against the king of Babylon; Nebuchadnezzar is the Nabocolasser in Ptolemy’s canon; and Berosus f305 testifies, that seventy years before the Persian monarchy he made war against the Phoenicians and Jews, and it is from this time the seventy years’ captivity is to be dated.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - If Jehoiakim had served the Lord, he had not been servant to Nebuchadnezzar. If he had been content with his servitude, and true to his word, his condition had been no worse; but, rebelling agains Babylon, he plunged himself into more trouble. See what need nation have to lament the sins of their fathers, lest they smart for them Threatenings will be fulfilled as certainly as promises, if the sinner's repentance prevent not. (2Ki 24:8-20)
Original Hebrew בימיו3117 עלה5927 נבכדנאצר5019 מלך4428 בבל894 ויהי1961 לו יהויקים3079 עבד5650 שׁלשׁ7969 שׁנים8141 וישׁב7725 וימרד׃4775
