Is Jeremiah 36:30 an unfulfilled prophecy?

Jeremiah 36:30—”This verse prophesies that Jehoakim would have none to sit on the throne of David, yet 2 Kings 24:6 says that after Jehoiakim his son Jehoiachin reigned in his place. This is an unfulfilled prophecy.”

There is no contradiction here, it is a misunderstanding of the Hebrew term ” yâshab .” The Hebrew verb translated “sit” (יושׁב, yâshab ) clearly implies “dwell,” “remain,” “abide” “settle”—meaning in this context more or less permanent enthronement. In no sense did Jehoiakim’s son Jehoiachin ” yâshab” on the throne—for his city fell to Nebuchadnezzar’s armies after only three months of his reign and Jehoiachin was taken into captivity. Contrary to what the critic alleges, this prophecy that Jehoakim would have no dynasty in his name was fulfilled.

The Qur’ān contains a somewhat more perplexing prophecy: “”The Roman Empire has been defeated – in a land close by: But they, after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious – within a few years” (Al-Rum 30:2-4). According to reputed Qur’ānic scholar Yusuf Ali, the Arabic word for “a few” (بِضع bidh’un ) signifies a period of three to nine years; or according to the Islamic Foundation Qur’ān footnote #1330 it refers to three to ten years; Mohammed (pbuh) himself stated that the ‘small number’ predicted is between three and nine years (Al-Baizawi). The Persians defeated the Byzantines and captured Jerusalem at about 614/615 AD. Yet renowned Muslim historian Al-Tabari and scholar Al-Baizawi place the defeat 13-14 years later in 628AD. It would seem that this passage is at least as problematic as Genesis 4:12.

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