Zedekiah

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew Ṣidqiyyāhû (“Yahweh is righteousness”)
• Period/Era: Divided Kingdom (late Judah; final years before the Exilic period)
• Main References: 2 Kings 24:17–25:30; 2 Chronicles 36:10–21; Jeremiah 21; 24; 27–29; 34; 37–39; 52; Ezekiel 12; 17
• Key Connections: Son of Josiah; uncle of Jehoiachin; installed by Nebuchadnezzar II; repeatedly addressed by the prophet Jeremiah

Who was Zedekiah?

Zedekiah was the last king of the kingdom of Judah, ruling in Jerusalem under Babylonian dominance.
He was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar II after the exile of King Jehoiachin.
His reign ended with Jerusalem’s capture and the destruction of the temple.
He is portrayed in relation to prophetic warnings, especially those delivered by Jeremiah.

Key Events & Achievements

• Accession: Made king by Babylon and renamed Zedekiah after Mattaniah, beginning a vassal reign in Jerusalem (2 Kings 24:17).
• Revolt and Siege: Rebelled against Babylon, leading to a prolonged siege of Jerusalem (2 Kings 24:20–25:2).
• Capture and Exile: Fled during the city’s fall, was captured, and taken to Babylon as Judah entered exile (2 Kings 25:4–7).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Zedekiah’s reign marks Judah’s final collapse under Babylon and highlights the political cost of disregarding prophetic counsel in a time of imperial pressure.

Key Verse

"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done." — 2 Kings 24:19, NIV