מלכים ב, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ל״ג

A young king's brief attempt to lead the Kingdom of Judah meets a tragic end under the crushing weight of the Egyptian empire. Pharaoh Necho asserts his dominance over the region, capturing the Judean king and subjugating the nation both politically and economically.

The events leading to the imprisonment of King Jehoahaz stem from a dispute over authority. The people of Judah took it upon themselves to crown Jehoahaz without seeking Pharaoh's approval [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In doing so, they bypassed the proper order of succession. By choosing the younger Jehoahaz, they ignored the legal right of his older brother, Jehoiakim, who was the rightful heir to the throne [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. Reacting to this unauthorized appointment, Pharaoh Necho intercepted Jehoahaz and took him to Riblah, a city in northern Syria [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. There, he bound the young king in copper chains, ensuring he would never sit on the throne again [מלבי״ם, מצודת ציון].

Alternatively, the capture of Jehoahaz was the result of a direct military conflict. Driven by a desire to avenge the death of his father, Josiah, who had died at the hands of Pharaoh Necho, Jehoahaz initiated a military campaign. He raided Egypt and dealt them a heavy blow. However, on his return journey, Pharaoh Necho confronted him in the land of Hamath and successfully took him prisoner. Because Pharaoh had not originally intended to wage war against Judah, and it was Jehoahaz who provoked the attack, God permitted the Egyptian ruler to overpower and capture the Judean king [רד״ק, חומת אנך].

The abruptness of this downfall reflects the complexity of the king's situation [מנחת שי]. Pharaoh seized Jehoahaz right in the middle of his short reign in Jerusalem, completely and permanently removing him from power [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Following the king's removal, Pharaoh imposed a severe financial penalty on the land of Judah [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This heavy fine served as a direct punishment for the people's audacity in crowning the younger brother over the older heir [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. It was not a one-time payment, but rather a permanent annual tax forced upon the nation [רלב״ג]. As part of this tribute, Judah was required to pay a talent of gold. While this is generally understood to mean a single talent, ancient Aramaic translations suggest a plural amount, leaving the exact quantity of gold unspecified [רד״ק].