IOACHAZ (SELLUM). – King of Judah (609 B.C.), Iosia (v.), also called Sellum (Jer. 22:11). He was raised to the throne after his father’s death with popular support, although the rightful heir was his brother Eliacim, Iosia’s firstborn.
But this displeased the powerful Pharaoh Nechao, who, after the victory at Mageddo (609 B.C.), controlled the kingdom of Judah: whether because he did not sanction a succession that had taken place without his consent, because the new king was hostile to Egyptian policy, or because Iosia’s elder son was scheming to obtain the throne, Nechao, after barely three months of reign, deposed I. and sent him prisoner to Egypt, where he died (II Reg. 23:31–34; Jer. 22:10–12); in his place he installed Eliacim, Ioakim (v.).