Zedekiah: A Prince of Judah
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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 marked the final chapter in the history of the independent kingdom of Judah, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile.

Historical Context:
Zedekiah ascended to the throne in 597 BC after King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deposed Jehoiachin and took him into captivity. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah as a vassal king, changing his name from Mattaniah to Zedekiah, which means "Yahweh is righteousness" (2 Kings 24:17). His reign lasted for eleven years, during which he faced immense political and spiritual challenges.

Reign and Political Challenges:
Zedekiah's reign was characterized by political instability and pressure from surrounding nations. Despite being a vassal to Babylon, he was caught in the geopolitical struggle between Babylon and Egypt. Influenced by his advisors and the political climate, Zedekiah eventually rebelled against Babylonian rule, a decision that would lead to dire consequences for Judah.

Prophetic Counsel:
Throughout his reign, Zedekiah received counsel from the prophet Jeremiah, who urged him to submit to Babylonian rule as a means of preserving the nation (Jeremiah 27:12-15). Jeremiah's message was one of submission to God's will, warning that rebellion against Babylon would lead to destruction. Despite this, Zedekiah vacillated between listening to Jeremiah and yielding to the pressure of his officials and false prophets who promised deliverance.

The Siege and Fall of Jerusalem:
In 588 BC, Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem in response to Zedekiah's rebellion. The siege lasted approximately two years, leading to severe famine and hardship within the city. The biblical account in 2 Kings 25:1-3 describes the dire conditions: "By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food."

Capture and Punishment:
As the Babylonians breached the city walls, Zedekiah attempted to escape 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, and he was taken in chains to Babylon (2 Kings 25:6-7). This fulfilled the prophecy given by Jeremiah and Ezekiel regarding his fate (Jeremiah 34:3; Ezekiel 12:13).

Legacy:
Zedekiah's reign is often viewed as a tragic end to the Davidic line of kings ruling in Jerusalem. His failure to heed prophetic warnings and his rebellion against Babylon led to the destruction of the temple, the city, and the exile of the people. Despite his tragic end, Zedekiah's account serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God's commands and the importance of seeking divine guidance in times of crisis.

Biblical References:
· 2 Kings 24:17-20
· 2 Kings 25:1-7
· 2 Chronicles 36:11-21
· Jeremiah 21:1-10; 27:12-22; 34:1-7; 37:1-10; 52:1-11
· Ezekiel 12:8-13

Zedekiah's life and reign are a testament to the complexities of leadership under divine mandate and the severe repercussions of straying from God's ordained path. His account is preserved in the biblical narrative as a somber chapter in the history of God's chosen people.
Nave's Topical Index
Jeremiah 36:12
Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, see, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Last King of Judah
... of Judah accompanied Seraiah, "a quiet prince," on an important mission to Babylon.
Jeremiah 51:59. During this visit to the Chaldean court, Zedekiah renewed ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 36 the last king.htm

Ezekiel
... as perfidious as her people-witness Zedekiah's treachery to ... elegy over the princes
of Judah"Jehoahaz taken ... the high seas (xxvii.); her proud prince will be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/ezekiel.htm

The Captivity.
... But Zedekiah would not listen, and at last broke out with ... yet have been peace; but
Ishmael, a prince of the ... and carried all the remnant of Judah, and Jeremiah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson x the captivity.htm

Palestine under Pagan Kings.
... A comparatively unimportant prince, the "King of Sodom," whose ... ordered all the sons
of Zedekiah to be ... force to complete the desolation of Judah and Jerusalem. ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/palestine under pagan kings.htm

Altar and Temple
... and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to ... the priest is pre-eminent; in Zechariah
the prince. ... through Solomon died with the wretched Zedekiah and Jeconiah ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/altar and temple.htm

The Ascension of Isaiah.
... Zedekiah, the brother of his father, was he who, in the days ... twentieth year of the
reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah." Herein Isaiah ... 299] But the prince of this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the ascension of isaiah.htm

Egypt
... the dominion of Nineveh, the King of Judah became an ... But another Ethiopian prince,
Tuant-Amon, made a last ... Trusting to the support of Egypt, Zedekiah of Judah ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ...
... son of Amame, and he who came from Judah to Jeroboam ... and Ambacum were still prophesying
in the time of Zedekiah. ... to be built, to Christ the Prince, are seven ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxi the jewish institutions and.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... in the days of Uzziah king of Judah;" so that ... of this seeming contradiction to dissuade
Zedekiah from believing ... who seems to be a weak and effeminate prince. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

The Apocalypse of Baruch.
... twenty-fifth year of Jechoniah, king of Judah, it was ... Zedekiah, the king, is taken
captive to Babylon, while ... which thou rawest is the last prince (dux ultimus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the apocalypse of baruch.htm

Resources
Who was King Zedekiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What was the Babylonian captivity/exile? | GotQuestions.org

When and how was Judah conquered by the Babylonians? | GotQuestions.org

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