Sinful 8 Year Old?

[Midas]

2Ch 36:9 mentions that Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, for three months, and “did evil in the sight of the Lord”. Kings provides some further insight into Jehoichin.

Accepting that evil was done during Jehoichin’s short reign, and that in a formal sense it was done at his command, how can an eight year old truly be responsible for it? An eight year old cannot run a country, and given the other minority reigns described in Kings and Chronicles, likely did not run the country, but rather had a regency presumably ruled by close family (e.g. a mother), and adult advisors.

How does this kid come to be deemed responsible for the evil that was committed?

 

[Southernscotty]

2Ch 36:9 mentions that Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, for three months, and “did evil in the sight of the Lord”. Kings provides some further insight into Jehoichin.

Accepting that evil was done during Jehoichin’s short reign, and that in a formal sense it was done at his command, how can an eight year old truly be responsible for it? An eight year old cannot run a country, and given the other minority reigns described in Kings and Chronicles, likely did not run the country, but rather had a regency presumably ruled by close family (e.g. a mother), and adult advisors.

How does this kid come to be deemed responsible for the evil that was committed?

"My opinion" Is that children back then were a lot more grown up than they are today. They had to be to survive. It was a much different world back then and obviously he was accountable.

 

[Yekcidmij]

2Ch 36:9 mentions that Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, for three months, and “did evil in the sight of the Lord”. Kings provides some further insight into Jehoichin.

Accepting that evil was done during Jehoichin’s short reign, and that in a formal sense it was done at his command, how can an eight year old truly be responsible for it? An eight year old cannot run a country, and given the other minority reigns described in Kings and Chronicles, likely did not run the country, but rather had a regency presumably ruled by close family (e.g. a mother), and adult advisors.

How does this kid come to be deemed responsible for the evil that was committed?

Maybe, but there's a variant in 2 Kings 24:8 where he's listed as "18" years old.

 

[Hank77]

2 Kings 24:8
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.


Jehoiachin was eighteen years old - He is called Jeconiah, 1 Chronicles 3:16, and Coniah, Jeremiah 22:24. In 2 Chronicles 36:9, be is said to be only eight years of age, but this must be a mistake; for we find that, having reigned only three months, he was carried captive to Babylon, and there he had wives; and it is very improbable that a child between eight and nine years of age could have wives; and of such a tender age, it can scarcely be said that, as a king, he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. The place in Chronicles must be corrupted.
That he was a grievous offender against God, we learn from Jeremiah 22:24, which the reader may consult; and in the man's punishment, see his crimes.

2 Kings 24 Clarke's Commentary

Commentaries written by scholars who studied for many years can be a great help with sorting through the OT histories. This particular commentator took 40 yrs. to write his commentary.

 

[Yekcidmij]

2 Kings 24:8
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.


Jehoiachin was eighteen years old - He is called Jeconiah, 1 Chronicles 3:16, and Coniah, Jeremiah 22:24. In 2 Chronicles 36:9, be is said to be only eight years of age, but this must be a mistake; for we find that, having reigned only three months, he was carried captive to Babylon, and there he had wives; and it is very improbable that a child between eight and nine years of age could have wives; and of such a tender age, it can scarcely be said that, as a king, he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. The place in Chronicles must be corrupted.
That he was a grievous offender against God, we learn from Jeremiah 22:24, which the reader may consult; and in the man's punishment, see his crimes.

2 Kings 24 Clarke's Commentary

Commentaries written by scholars who studied for many years can be a great help with sorting through the OT histories. This particular commentator took 40 yrs. to write his commentary.

It seems the "8" year old managed to have lots of kids in exile too:

1 Chr 3:17 The sons of Jehoiachin the exile:
Shealtiel his son, 3:18 Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.