Introduction:
Zedekiah, originally named Mattaniah, was the last king of Judah before the Babylonian conquest. He was the son of Josiah and the uncle of his predecessor, Jehoiachin. His reign is marked by political turmoil, rebellion against Babylon, and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem.

Biblical Account:
Zedekiah's account is primarily found in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Jeremiah. He ascended to the throne at the age of 21 and reigned for 11 years from 597 to 586 BC. His reign was characterized by a complex relationship with the Babylonian empire, which had already exerted control over Judah.

Appointment by Nebuchadnezzar:
Zedekiah was installed as king by Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, after the latter had captured Jerusalem and taken Jehoiachin, along with many nobles and skilled workers, into exile. Nebuchadnezzar changed Mattaniah's name to Zedekiah, which means "The Lord is my righteousness," perhaps as a sign of his vassal status (2 Kings 24:17).

Rebellion and Prophetic Counsel:
Despite his position as a vassal king, Zedekiah eventually rebelled against Babylon, influenced by false prophets and political advisors who assured him of Egypt's support against Babylon. The prophet Jeremiah, however, consistently warned Zedekiah against rebellion, urging submission to Babylon as God's will for Judah's punishment and eventual restoration (Jeremiah 27:12-15). Jeremiah's counsel was largely ignored, leading to dire consequences.

Siege and Fall of Jerusalem:
In response to Zedekiah's rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem in 588 BC. The siege lasted approximately two years, resulting in severe famine and hardship within the city. The biblical narrative describes the desperate conditions and the eventual breach of Jerusalem's walls (2 Kings 25:1-4).

Capture and Punishment:
As the Babylonians entered the city, Zedekiah attempted to flee but was captured near Jericho. He was brought before Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, where he witnessed the execution of his sons before his eyes were put out. He was then taken in chains to Babylon, where he remained imprisoned until his death (2 Kings 25:6-7; Jeremiah 39:6-7).

Religious and Moral Context:
Zedekiah's reign is often viewed as a period of moral and spiritual decline. Despite the reforms of his father, Josiah, idolatry and injustice were rampant in Judah. Zedekiah's failure to heed prophetic warnings and his reliance on political alliances rather than divine guidance are seen as contributing factors to Judah's downfall.

Legacy:
Zedekiah's reign marks the end of the Davidic monarchy in Judah until the prophesied restoration. His life and reign serve as a somber reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God's commands and the importance of heeding prophetic counsel. The fall of Jerusalem under his rule fulfilled numerous prophecies and set the stage for the Babylonian Exile, a pivotal event in Jewish history.

References in Scripture:
· 2 Kings 24:17-20; 25:1-7
· 2 Chronicles 36:11-21
· Jeremiah 21:1-10; 24:8-10; 27:1-22; 32:1-5; 34:1-7; 37:1-21; 38:14-28; 39:1-7; 52:1-116667. Tsidqiyyahu -- "Yah is righteousness," six Israelites
... "Yah is righteousness," six Israelites. Transliteration: Tsidqiyyahu or Tsidqiyyah
Phonetic Spelling: (tsid-kee-yaw') Short Definition: Zedekiah. ...
/hebrew/6667.htm - 6k

'As Sodom'
... 'AS SODOM'. 'Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/as sodom.htm

The Last King of Judah
... Zedekiah at the beginning of his reign was trusted fully by the king of
Babylon and had as a tried counselor the prophet Jeremiah. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 36 the last king.htm

The Last Agony
... THE LAST AGONY. 'In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month,
came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the last agony.htm

Ezekiel
... alike (xvi.). And her kings are as perfidious as her people-witness Zedekiah's
treachery to the king of Babylon (xvii.). But contrary ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/ezekiel.htm

Carried Captive into Babylon
... In the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he,
and all his host, against Jerusalem," to besiege the city.2 Kings 25:1. The ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 37 carried captive into.htm

Zedekiah
... ZEDEKIAH. 'Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king ... whom Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon made king'"Jeremiah 37:1. Zedekiah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/zedekiah.htm

On Daniel. I. Preface by the Most Holy Hippolytus, (Bishop) of ...
... Babylon. Now there are born to the blessed Josiah these five sons"Jehoahaz,
Eliakim, Johanan, Zedekiah, or Jeconiah, and Sadum. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on daniel i preface by.htm

The Sad Fate of a Guilty Nation
... THE OLD TESTAMENT THE SAD FATE OF A GUILTY NATION. Jerusalem was taken in the eleventh
year of the rule of Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the fourth month. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the sad fate of a.htm

The Fall of Judah
... THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES THE FALL OF JUDAH. 'Zedekiah was one and twenty years
old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.12. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the fall of judah.htm

Jeremiah
... xxxvi.), and his successor Jehoiachin, who was exiled to Babylon after a three months'
reign, was followed by the weak and vacillating Zedekiah, who reigned ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/jeremiah.htm

Zedekiah's (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Zedekiah's (6 Occurrences). ... Jeremiah 39:7 Moreover he put
out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. ...
/z/zedekiah's.htm - 8k

Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)
... His original name was Mattaniah; but when Nebuchadnezzar placed him on the throne
as the successor to Jehoiachin he changed his name to Zedekiah. ...
/z/zedekiah.htm - 49k

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

/z/zeeb.htm - 10k

Zedeki'ah (62 Occurrences)
Zedeki'ah. Zedekiah, Zedeki'ah. Zedekiah's . Multi-Version Concordance
Zedeki'ah (62 Occurrences). 1 Kings 22:11 And Zedekiah the ...
/z/zedeki'ah.htm - 25k

Zephani'ah (10 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 21:1 The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, in the king
Zedekiah's sending unto him Pashhur son of Malchiah, and Zephaniah son of ...
/z/zephani'ah.htm - 9k

Gemariah (5 Occurrences)
... (2.) The son of Hilkiah, who accompanied Shaphan with the tribute-money from Zedekiah
to Nebuchadnezzar, and was the bearer at the same time of a letter from ...
/g/gemariah.htm - 9k

Fetters (21 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 25:7 They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes
of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon. ...
/f/fetters.htm - 12k

Malchi'ah (3 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 21:1 The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, in the king
Zedekiah's sending unto him Pashhur son of Malchiah, and Zephaniah son of ...
/m/malchi'ah.htm - 7k

Mattaniah (16 Occurrences)
... (3.) The original name of Zedekiah (qv), the last of the kings of Judah (2 Kings
24:17). He was the third son of Josiah, who fell at Megiddo. ...
/m/mattaniah.htm - 14k

Malkijah (13 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 21:1 The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, in the king
Zedekiah's sending unto him Pashhur son of Malchiah, and Zephaniah son of ...
/m/malkijah.htm - 10k

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