Bible Contradiction? Did Jehoiakim die in Babylon or near Jerusalem?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Did Jehoiakim die in Babylon or near Jerusalem?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

He died in Babylon.

“Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord his God. ⁶ Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him with bronze chains to take him to Babylon.” (2 Chronicles 36:5-6)

He died near Jerusalem.

“Therefore thus says the Lord in regard to Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, “They will not lament for him: ‘Alas, my brother!’ or, ‘Alas, sister!’ They will not lament for him: ‘Alas for the master!’ or, ‘Alas for his splendor!’ 19 “He will be buried with a donkey’s burial, Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” (Jeremiah 22:18-19)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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