1The message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 2“Yahweh, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3‘You said, “Woe is me now! For Yahweh has added sorrow to my pain! I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.”’
4“You shall tell him, Yahweh says: ‘Behold, that which I have built, I will break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up; and this in the whole land. 5Do you seek great things for yourself? Don’t seek them; for, behold, I will bring evil on all flesh,’ says Yahweh, ‘but I will let you escape with your life wherever you go.’”
King Jehoiakim ruled Judah from approximately 609-598 B.C. He was the son of Josiah, and younger brother of Jehoahaz, king of Judah. He was originally called Eliakim, but Pharoah Neco changed his name and put him on the throne instead of his elder brother. He reigned for eleven years, and when Egypt fell to Babylon, Jehoiakim became a vassal of Babylon until he revolted after three years. After this revolt the Babylonians invaded Judah, but before the fall of Jerusalem, he died and left his throne to his son Jehoiachin. (see 2 Kings 23:34-24:6; 1 Chron 3:15; 2 Chron 36:4-8; Jer 1:3; 22:18, 19; 25:1; 26:1, 21-23; 35:1; 36:1-32; 52:2; Daniel 1:2).