Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign in Judea and Jerusalem: From this verse we learn that Jehoiakim was probably two years older than his brother Jeconiah (see the comments on verse 34). Jehoiakim ruled Judah from 609 to 598 B.C. During the first few years of Jehoiakim’s reign, Judah was subject to Egypt (see verse 37). When the Babylonians defeated the Egyptians in 605 B.C., Judah became a vassal kingdom subject to Babylonia.

And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord is literally “and he did the evil before the Lord.” What he did was considered evil by the Lord.

Here is another way to render this verse:

• When Jehoiakim began to rule in Judah and Jerusalem, he was twenty-five years old. The Lord considered the things he did to be evil [or, He was a sinful ruler].

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.