2 Kings 23:35 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 23:35 mean?

2 Kings 23:35 describes how King Jehoiakim collected silver and gold from the people of Judah through taxation in order to pay a tribute demanded by Pharaoh Nechoh of Egypt. The verse explains that Jehoiakim imposed this burden on the land’s people to fulfill the Egyptian ruler’s command.

This verse is set during a time when Judah was under the control of Egypt, following Pharaoh Nechoh’s defeat of King Josiah. Jehoiakim, who was made king by Pharaoh, is shown here acting as a vassal, gathering wealth from his own people to send as tribute. The verse highlights the political and economic pressure Judah faced from foreign powers during this period.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 23:35

• וַיַּעַשׁ (taxed, vayya‘ash): This word, translated as "taxed," comes from a root meaning to assess or lay out, showing that Jehoiakim was not simply collecting regular taxes but was specifically assessing the people to meet Pharaoh’s demand.
• פִּי (commandment, pi): This word literally means "mouth," often used for "command" or "order." It emphasizes that Jehoiakim’s actions were directly in response to Pharaoh’s spoken demand, not his own initiative.
• נָגַשׂ (exacted, nagash): This verb means to press or exact payment, suggesting a forceful or burdensome collection from the people, not a voluntary offering.
• מַסֵּהוּ (taxation, massehu): This word refers to the individual assessment or levy placed on each person, highlighting that the burden was distributed among all the people according to what each was assessed.

Why 2 Kings 23:35 matters

• 2 Kings 23:35 clarifies that Jehoiakim’s rule was heavily influenced by foreign powers, showing the loss of Judah’s independence and the hardship placed on ordinary people.
• The verse emphasizes the practical impact of political subjugation, as the people themselves bore the cost of their king’s tribute to Egypt.
• This detail helps explain the growing dissatisfaction and unrest in Judah during Jehoiakim’s reign, setting the stage for later events in the book.