2 Kings 24:8-17 ESV

17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah. 18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 20 For because of the anger of the LORD it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

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17 Ginawa ng hari ng Babilonia na hari si Matanias, tiyuhin ni Jehoiakin bilang haring kapalit niya, at pinalitan ang kanyang pangalan ng Zedekias. 18 Si Zedekias ay dalawampu't isang taon nang magsimulang maghari, at siya'y naghari sa loob ng labing-isang taon sa Jerusalem. Ang pangalan ng kanyang ina ay Hamutal na anak ni Jeremias na taga-Libna. 19 Siya'y gumawa ng kasamaan sa paningin ng PANGINOON, ayon sa lahat ng ginawa ni Jehoiakim. 20 Sapagkat dahil sa galit ng PANGINOON ay nangyari sa Jerusalem at sa Juda na sila ay kanyang itinaboy sa kanyang harapan. At si Zedekias ay naghimagsik sa hari ng Babilonia.


THE LAST KING OF JUDAH

Zedekiah was the last king of Judah and thus, he witnessed the temple destroyed by Babylon in 586 BC and the majority of the people carried into exile. The story of Zedekiah is told in 2 Kings 24–25, 2 Chron 36, and the book of Jeremiah. Zedekiah’s original name was Mattaniah. He was the son of King Josiah and the brother of King Jehoahaz and King Jehoiakim. Zedekiah wouldn’t be included in the line to the throne, if not he kings preceding did not make bad decisions, both spiritually and politically, and were removed in succession.

Second Kings gives the basic historical outline and 2 Chron 36. And, Jeremiah fills in much of the behind-the-scenes information and the spiritual component of Zedekiah’s life. During the siege of Jerusalem, Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to intercede to the Lord for Judah to be delivered. Jeremiah returned God’s answer: He has irrevocably handed Judah over to judgment, first by plague, and those who escape that will fall to the Babylonians. Thus, the only hope that any of the people have is to surrender to the Babylonians. “Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives” (Jer 21: 9).

Zedekiah did not like God’s answer. False prophets contradicted Jeremiah and preached a more favorable message (see Jer 23). However, God reiterated His message to Jeremiah (see Jer chap 24–25). King Zedekiah imprisoned Jeremiah to the courtyard of the guard in the palace but he did not compromise his message.


Meanwhile, Jeremiah assured Zedekiah that the king will die peacefully in Babylon, but that the city of Jerusalem will not escape. Later, Zedekiah had freed all the slaves that should have been freed every seven years, a command of the Law that was neglected over the years. However, Zedekiah then reversed his decision and allowed the freed slaves to be enslaved again.

Finally, during the Babylonian siege, Zedekiah fled the city by night but was captured. Zedekiah’s sons were killed before him, and then he was blinded and taken to Babylon in chains (see Jer 52; 2 Kings 25; 2 Chron 36). Then the Babylonians broke down the walls of Jerusalem, burned the temple, and took the temple articles to Babylon with them, They took the king Zedekiah there where he died years later. No doubt it was a peaceful death as the Lord had promised, but what awful memories he must have endured during the rest of his life!

Zedekiah had been given a tremendous opportunity. He missed the throne three times when two of his brothers and then his nephew were crowned. Yet, he finally received stewardship of the kingdom. Zedekiah had seen firsthand the mistakes of his brothers and nephew and had direct messages from God through prophet Jeremiah. Yet he failed to learn and did not submit to the Lord. As a result, Zedekiah lost his sons, his sight, his throne and his freedom.

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