דברי הימים ב, פרק ל״ו, פסוק ד׳

Following the death of King Josiah at the hands of Pharaoh Necho, the Egyptian ruler imposes a heavy tax on the Kingdom of Judah [רש״י]. Necho then takes an active role in the local government by deposing the current leader, Jehoahaz, and appointing his brother Eliakim to take his place on the throne.

Upon crowning the new king, the Egyptian ruler changes Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. Because both names carry the exact same meaning [ביאור שטיינזלץ], the decision to rename him is deeply symbolic rather than practical. It is a common practice for kings and rulers to assign new names to their servants and subordinates to show ownership, mastery, and absolute control. Similar displays of dominance occurred when an earlier Pharaoh renamed Joseph and when the chief eunuch renamed Daniel [רש״י]. This deliberate act highlights the severe political shift in the region, proving that the Kingdom of Judah is now a subjugated state entirely under Egyptian rule [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

As for the deposed king, Jehoahaz is taken captive and brought to Egypt. He never returns from his exile, and his ultimate fate remains unknown [ביאור שטיינזלץ].