Ahikam was a faithful and influential court official in the Kingdom of Judah during the reigns of the godly King Josiah and his wicked son, Jehoiakim. His name, which means “My brother has risen” or “Brother of support,” reflects his role as a key supporter of God’s Word and the protector of the prophet Jeremiah. He stands out in the turbulent final decades of Judah as a man of great integrity whose family had a profound impact on the nation’s spiritual and political life.
1. A Key Figure in Josiah’s Reformation
Ahikam is first introduced in the Scriptures as one of the trusted men whom King Josiah sent to inquire of the Lord after the discovery of the Book of the Law in the Temple.
Ahikam was the son of Shaphan, the scribe, a family of royal officials who were instrumental in the religious revival of the time. The King recognized Ahikam’s wisdom and piety, commissioning him to lead the delegation:
“And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.” — 2 Kings 22:12–13 (KJV)
Ahikam and the others went to the prophetess Huldah, who confirmed the impending judgment on Judah due to its persistent idolatry, but also promised Josiah peace in his lifetime for his repentance and faithfulness.
2. The Protector of Jeremiah
Perhaps Ahikam’s most significant contribution, and the act for which he is most famously remembered, was his courageous intervention to save the prophet Jeremiah from a violent death.
During the reign of King Jehoiakim, the priests, false prophets, and people sought to kill Jeremiah for prophesying the destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. Ahikam, using his great influence and standing in the royal court, stood in defense of God’s prophet:
“Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.” — Jeremiah 26:24 (KJV)
This act of protection was critical, as it allowed Jeremiah to continue his prophetic ministry during one of the darkest periods of Judah’s history.
3. Father of the Governor
Ahikam’s righteous legacy continued through his son, Gedaliah, who would himself become a prominent figure in the post-exilic period. After the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, Gedaliah was appointed by King Nebuchadnezzar to be the governor over the poor remnant of Judah who were left in the land:
“And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.” — 2 Kings 25:22 (KJV)
The Babylonians, recognizing the faithful and pro-Chaldean stance of Ahikam’s family (Jeremiah having advised submission to Babylon), entrusted the governance of the remaining Judean community to his son. The prophet Jeremiah was also committed to Gedaliah’s care, further cementing the family’s vital connection to the ministry of the true prophets of God.