Who was King Zedekiah in the Bible?

The name given by Nebuchadnezzar to Mattaniah, son of Josiah, whom he set on the throne of Judah. Zedekiah reigned eleven years, B.C. 599-588, and was the last king of Judah. His reign was evil; he did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah, and profaned the name of Jehovah by breaking his oath to the king of Babylon. The chief priests and the people also transgressed greatly. On Zedekiah revolting from Nebuchadnezzar, he formed an alliance with Egypt (cf. Ezek. 17:3-20); but Egypt was defeated, and then Nebuchadnezzar pushed on the siege of Jerusalem.

Zedekiah was many times warned by Jeremiah against his course, and was advised to submit to Babylon; but for this Jeremiah was persecuted by the princes of Judah. When the city was taken, Zedekiah, with his wives and children, attempted to escape, but he was captured. Two prophecies respecting him are remarkable: one that he shall speak with the king of Babylon, and "his eyes shall behold his eyes," Jer. 32:4; and the other that "he shall be brought to Babylon, yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there." Ezek. 12:13. And thus it came to pass: on being carried before Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, his sons were slain before his face, then his eyes were put out, and he was carried to Babylon. 2 Kings 24:17, 20; 2 Kings 25:2, 7; 1 Chr. 3:15; 2 Chr. 36:10-11; Jer. 1:3; Jer. 21:1-7; Jer. 24:8; Jer. 27:3, 12; Jer. 28:1; Jer. 29:3; Jer. 32:1-5; Jer. 34:2-21; Jer. 37 — Jer. 39; Jer. 44:30; Jer. 49:34; Jer. 51:59; Jer. 52:1-11.

However, Jerusalem's destruction was not yet complete. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah , the uncle of Jehoiachin, as king in Judah (v.17). His name was Mattaniah, but changed to Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar, who thus emphasised his authority over him. Zedekiah was 21 years old and reigned 11 years in Jerusalem, but practised the same evil that Jehoiachin had, dishonouring God by idol worship (v.19). Jeremiah 37-39 records the history of Zedekiah's reign, showing the utter weakness of the man, yet his stubborn persistence in evil. He foolishly rebelled against the king of Babylon in spite of Jeremiah's warnings to him.

Zedekiah was the last of the kings ruling in Judah before their complete captivity. He became king at age 21,reigning 11 years, during which he proved as evil as the kings before him, though being a son of Josiah. Thus, following Josiah's good reign, the condition of Judah degenerated rapidly.

Zedekiah has been justly characterized as "weak vacillating, and treacherous." His weakness and subserviency to his princes mark him as a man wholly unfit to wear a crown, or sit upon a throne: "Behold he [Jeremiah] is in your hand," he says to them, "for the king is not he that can do anything against you" (Jer. 38:5). He was hypocritical also. He feigned a desire for the prophet's prayers, saying, "Pray now unto the Lord our God for us" (Jer. 37:3). He pretended too, at times, to have confidence in the prophecies of Jeremiah ("Enquire, I pray thee, of the Lord for us," Jer. 21:2), which when delivered, he refused to heed, or believe. "He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord" (2 Chron. 36:12). He was not so openly wicked as his three predecessors, perhaps, and not willingly given to persecution. This is probably why Josephus judging after the standards of men, speaks of "his gentle and righteous disposition." But the Lord seeth not as man seeth, neither are His thoughts man's thoughts. He says, "He stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel." So God took him away in His anger.

Concerning Zedekiah, the last of the lion's whelps (Ezek. 19:5-9), the youngest of Josiah's sons. He succeeded his nephew Jehoiachin, who, after an evil reign of one hundred days, was carried into captivity in Babylon (2 Chron. 36:9-10). His short reign was so bad that Jehovah said that no man of his seed should ever sit upon the throne of David (Jer. 22:24-30). When speaking of these vile occupants of Israel's throne the Holy Spirit said, "Oh earth, earth, earth, hear the Word of Jehovah." He would have the rulers of every nation and in every age understand how hateful to God are the unrighteous ways of those, who, as His responsible stewards rule over the children of men. Zedekiah profited nothing by the calamities which befell his predecessors. He was Israel's last hope. He was "a spreading vine of low stature" (Ezek. 17:6) a very humiliating figure of speech indeed! But there might still have been crumbs of blessing for the unhappy people had he walked humbly with God. After his overthrow Jeremiah said of him "The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations" (Lam. 4:20). Poor creature though he was, he counted for something with the people that were still in the land. With Zedekiah's downfall Israel's hopes were extinguished until the coming in power of the Lord Jesus. Zedekiah was a weak character, easily influenced by his courtiers and even by women. His outstanding sin was his violation of his oath of fealty to his over-lord Nebuchadnezzar. The Chaldean "made him swear by God, but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning to the Lord God of Israel" (2 Chron. 36:13). Nebuchadnezzar thought to secure him by making him swear by the sacred name; but the sequel proved that Jehovah's name was less to the Jew than to the Gentile! "Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain" (Exo. 20:7). Had he been true to his covenant, Zedekiah'ss kingdom, poor and despicable though it was, might have stood (Ezek. 17:14); but now, "As I live, says the Lord Jehovah, surely in the place where the king dwells that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die." Again, "Thus says the Lord Jehovah, as I live, surely Mine oath that he has despised, and My covenant that he has broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head" (Ezek. 17:16-19).

"And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his [Jehoiachin's] stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from His presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon."

Zedekiah was Josiah's youngest son, and full brother of Jehoahaz. He was, at his father's death, only ten years old. Nebuchadnezzar changed his name (as a token of his vassalage) but did not put upon him the name of some heathen deity, as in the case of Daniel and the three Hebrew children. He "had made him swear by God," and his new name, Righteousness of Jehovah, may have been given him to remind him of his oath; or, it may have had some connection, even in the heathen king's mind, with Jehovah's righteousness in taking from this wicked people (called by His name) their political independence, and subjecting them to his dominion.

"Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon." He had no real faith in Jehovah, Israel's covenant-keeping God, and therefore did not scruple to break his covenant with Nebuchadnezzar. But how dearly he paid for this violation of his oath! "And it came to pass, in the ninth year of his reign, … that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, … and the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon."

Nebuchadnezzar made Mattaniah, the youngest son of Josiah, King over Judah (compare verse 18 with chapter 23:31). His name means "the gift of Jehovah" and he changed it into Zedekiah, "the righteousness of Jehovah." Here is no doubt a prophetic hint. When Judah and Jerusalem went down in judgment, in unspeakable ruin and shame, God indicated in thievery names of the last king that there would yet come from David's line He, who is His own precious gift and in whom righteousness will be given and established. Zedekiah filled full the measure of wickedness and finally rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Jeremiah 37 gives us Zedekiah in the same state of disobedience. A show of religion is kept up, and, having a moment of respite which excites some hope, the king seeks an answer from the Lord by His prophet. But the favourable circumstances, through which it might appear that the wicked may escape from judgment, do not alter the certainty of the word. Jeremiah sought to avail himself of the opportunity to avoid the judgment which was coming upon the rebellious city; but this only serves to manifest the hatred of the heart to God's testimony; and the princes of the people — accusing Jeremiah of favouring the enemy, because he proclaimed the judgment that should fall on the people by their means — put him in prison. Zedekiah manifests some conscience by releasing him {See preceding note.}. In general there is more conscience in Zedekiah personally than in some others of the last kings of Judah (see v. 21, and Jer. 21; Jer. 38:10, 14, 16). On this account, perhaps, were those few words of favour and mercy addressed to him in Jeremiah 34:5. But he was too weak to allow his conscience to lead him in the path of obedience (compare Jer. 38:2-12). This last chapter gives us the history of his weakness. Nevertheless in the midst of all this scene of misery and iniquity we find some rare examples of righteous men; and, however terrible His judgment may be, God remembers them; for His judgment is terrible because He is righteous. Ebed-melech, who delivered Jeremiah, is spared. Baruch also preserves his life; and even Zedekiah, as we have seen, is comforted by some words of encouragement, although he must undergo the consequences of his faults. The ways of God are always perfect, and if His judgments are like an overwhelming torrent as to man, still everything, even to the smallest detail, is directed by His hand; and the righteous are spared. The prison even becomes a place of safety for Jeremiah, and Jehovah deigns not only to spare Ebed-melech, but to send him a direct testimony of His favour by the mouth of Jeremiah, that he may understand the goodness of God in whom he had trusted.

After Jehoiachin was taken away captive, Nebuchadnezzar established Zedekiah, his uncle, and made him "take oath by God" (2 Chr. 36:13) to remain faithful to him. But Zedekiah profaned the name of the Lord by breaking his oath and rebelled against the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar then came against Jerusalem with his entire army and captured the city after a terrible siege lasting two years which reduced the inhabitants of the city to famine. Zedekiah was taken, his sons were slain before his eyes, his eyes were put out, and he was taken away to Babylon, burdened with chains of brass. Priests, temple guards, and men of war were massacred; the temple, the king's palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem were burned; and the walls of the city were broken down. All the gold, silver and brass of the house of the Lord was carried away. "And Nebuzaradan the captain of the body-guard carried away captive the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the deserters that had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude. But the captain of the body-guard left of the poor of the land for vinedressers and husbandmen." (2 Kings 25:11-12)

In Jeremiah 34, a comforting word is addressed to Zedekiah, apparently because of his kindness towards the prophet. He was an evil ruler, but he was not without kindly feeling. Many a bad man whose conscience towards God is not utterly silenced has a great deal of natural feeling. He has the sense that a thing is wrong, but he has no force to do the right. He sees what is right and values the man that says what is right, but has no spiritual power to carry him in the path of what is right.

Now Zedekiah was this kind of man. There were worse kings than he, and he showed some disposition to listen to the prophet. Nevertheless, Zedekiah brought on the crisis of judgment for Jerusalem and his people. It is not the most daring man that does the worst deed. Weakness may be guilty where there is no looking to God for strength. And such was the case with Zedekiah. But the Lord showed him mercy, because, I think, of what he had done to His servant Jeremiah. "Thou shalt not die by the sword, but thou shalt die in peace." How gracious is Jehovah! He tempered the judgment which fell upon Zedekiah because of a certain relenting in the heart of the king towards His prophet. The kindly act is not forgotten by God.