and he spoke kindly to him, and set his seat above the seat of the kings that were with him in Babylon.

and speaketh with him good things and putteth his throne above the throne of the kings who are with him in Babylon,

And said kind words to him, and put his seat higher than the seats of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.

The kings that were with him - Probably captive kings, like Jehoiachin himself. Compare Judges 1:7.

"He spake kindly to him (cf. Jeremiah 12:6), and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babel." This is not to be understood literally, as signifying that he assigned him a loftier throne than the other kings (Hitzig, Thenius), but figuratively: loco honestiore eum habuit (Ros.). The "kings with him" were dethroned kings, who were kept at the court like Jehoiachin to add to its splendour, just as Cyrus kept the conquered Croesus by his side (Herod. i. 88).