Who is King Zedekiah in the Bible?

Quick Facts

Father: King Josiah, 1Ch 3:15
Mother: Hamutal, 2Ki 24:18
Predecessor: King Jehoiachin, 2Ki 24:15-18
Succession: 20th king
Length of reign: 11 years, 2Ch 36:11
Age when crowned: 21 years, 2Ch 36:11
Kingdom: Kingdom of Judah
Reign: 597 BC–586 BC
Morality: evil king, 2Ch 36:12
Other names: Mettaniah, 2Ki 24: 17
Biblical history: 2Ch 36:11-13; 2Ki 24:17-20; Jer 21:1-14; Jer 38:10-28; Jer 39:1-8

Background

The name Zedekiah mean ‘the justice of God‘. Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became a king and he reigned for 11 years in Jerusalem.  His mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Though the times he lived in were evil, he still did not seek YAHWEH, the God of Israel, rather he worshiped idols to invite trouble into his life. Zedekiah was the last king of Judah to reign; after him, there was no other king and the kingdom went into exile in Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar II makes Zedekiah a king

For some years, the Kingdom of Judah was kicked about by foreign powers. After King Josiah died, his fourth son Jehoahaz succeeded him. But Pharoah Necko deposed and replaced him with Jehoiakim, Josiah’s second son. Later Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon deposed Jehoiakim and replaced him with his son Jehoiachin. Just 3 months into King Jehoiachin’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar II deposed him and replaced him with Mattaniah, Josiah’s third son, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Nebuchadnezzar II made Zedekiah swear an oath in God’s name to be loyal to the Babylonian throne. But since God had determined to destroy the Kingdom of Judah for their sins, He caused Zedekiah to break the oath he swore to Nebuchadnezzar II by rebelling. (2 Kings 24:17-20) 

Nebuchadnezzar II against Zedekiah

When Zedekiah and the kingdom of Judah rebelled against Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar II came with a vast army against him in the 9th year and the 10th month of his reign. And when King Zedekiah saw that trouble was at hand, he sent Pashur and Zephaniah to Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord for help (Jer 21:1). 

Then Jeremiah said: God will deliver Jerusalem to the Babylonians and they will breach the walls of the city. On entering the city, they will kill both humans and animals. And God will have Zedekiah and his officials captured to be taken alive to Nebuchadnezzar II who will neither spare them nor pity them but will kill them. And he who remains in the city of Jerusalem will die by the sword, famine, and pestilence, but he who will go out and surrender to the Babylonian army who have besieged the city will live. And the city of Jerusalem will be burnt with fire when it is captured. (Jer 21:1-14)

All that Jeremiah said went unheeded. Zedekiah and his officials remained headstrong and did not surrender the city to the Babylonians to obtain mercy.

The fall of Jerusalem and Zedekiah

The siege leading to the destruction of Jerusalem began in the 10th month of the 9th year of Zedekiah’s reign. On the 9th day, the 4th month, and the 11th year of Zedekiah’s reign, the Babylonians broke into the city and came to its middle gate. Following the breach, Zedekiah and his soldiers fled the city through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. The Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho.

They captured Zedekiah and Co and brought them to Riblah where Nebuchadnezzar II passed judgment on them. Nebuchadnezzar II had Zedekiah watch his sons and his noblemen being killed (Jer 39:6) before he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon (Jer 39:7).

The Babylonians stripped the Temple of Solomon of all valuables and set it on fire. They set on fire all the palaces and the houses of the city and broke the city walls. They carried away the people into exile, leaving only the poorest of them as vinedressers and plowmen. The evil that overtook Zedekiah, his sons, his officials, and Jerusalem fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah the prophet (Jer 21:1-14). Bible reference Jeremiah 39:1-10

Contemporaries of Zedekiah

  • Prophet Jeremiah – he prophesied about the fall of Zedekiah and Jerusalem (Jer 21:1-14).
  • Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon was the only king mentioned in the account of Zedekiah. It was he who made Zedekiah a vassal king (2Ch 36:10). However, the relationship between them deteriorated when King Zedekiah rebelled against him (2Ch 36:13).

Major events during Zedekiah’s reign

  • The capture and destruction of Jerusalem happened during the reign of Zedekiah. (Jer 39:1-10)
  • The desolation of the kingdom of Judah. (Jer 39:1-10)
  • The people of Judah were taken into exile. (Jer 39:1-10)

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