Bible Dictionary
Zedekiah
Zedekiah, meaning “Jehovah is righteousness,” was the last king of Judah. He rebelled against Babylon, saw Jerusalem destroyed, and was taken captive after his sons were killed and he was blinded. The name was also borne by other men, including a false prophet.
Definition
Zedekiah means “righteousness of Jehovah.” Most prominently, Zedekiah was the last king of Judah, originally named Mattaniah. The name was also borne by a false prophet in Ahab’s time and by other men connected with Judah.
Biblical Usage
As king, Zedekiah rejected prophetic warnings, rebelled against Babylon, and suffered the destruction of Jerusalem. A different Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, opposed Micaiah as a false prophet.
Historical Background
Nebuchadnezzar placed Zedekiah on Judah’s throne, but he later allied with Egypt and revolted. After an eighteen-month siege, Jerusalem was destroyed; Zedekiah was captured, blinded after witnessing the death of his sons, and taken to Babylon.
Scripture References
2 Kings 23:31
2 Kings 24:17
2 Kings 24:18
2 Kings 24:19
2 Kings 24:20
Jeremiah 52:2
Jeremiah 52:3
2 Kings 25:1
2 Kings 25:3
Lamentations 4:4
Lamentations 4:5
Lamentations 4:10
2 Kings 25:1-7
2 Chronicles 36:12
Jeremiah 32:4
Jeremiah 32:5
Ezekiel 12:12
Jeremiah 52:16
2 Kings 25:22
2 Kings 25:24
1 Kings 22:11
1 Kings 22:24
2 Chronicles 18:10
2 Chronicles 18:23
Jeremiah 36:12
2 Kings 25:7
Jeremiah 39:1-7
Jeremiah 62:1-11
1 Chronicles 38:10
Jeremiah 21:0-0;
Ezekiel 16:11-21
Jeremiah 27
Jeremiah 37:5-11
Jeremiah 34:21
Ezekiel 17:15-20
Jeremiah 34:7
Jeremiah 52:4
Jeremiah 38:9
1 Kings 22
2 Chronicles 18
Jeremiah 29:21
Jeremiah 29:22
Jeremiah 38:12
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Righteousness of Jehovah. (1.) The last king of Judah. He was the third son of Josiah, and his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, and hence he was the brother of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31; 24:17, 18). His original name was Mattaniah; but when Nebuchadnezzar placed him on the throne as the successor to Jehoiachin he changed his name to Zedekiah. The prophet Jeremiah was his counsellor, yet “he did evil in the sight of the Lord” (2 Kings 24:19, 20; Jer. 52:2, 3). He ascended the throne at the age of twenty-one years. The kingdom was at that time tributary to Nebuchadnezzar; but, despite the strong remonstrances of Jeremiah and others, as well as the example of Jehoiachin, he threw off the yoke of Babylon, and entered into an alliance with Hophra, king of Egypt. This brought up Nebuchadnezzar, “with all his host” (2 King 25:1), against Jerusalem. During this siege, which lasted about eighteen months, “every worst woe befell the devoted city, which drank the cup of God’s fury to the dregs” (2 Kings 25:3; Lam. 4:4, 5, 10). The city was plundered and laid in ruins. Zedekiah and his followers, attempting to escape, were made captive and taken to Riblah. There, after seeing his own children put to death, his own eyes were put out, and, being loaded with chains, he was carried captive (B.C. 588) to Babylon (2 Kings 25:1-7; 2 Chr. 36:12; Jer. 32:4, 5; 34:2, 3; 39:1-7; 52:4-11; Ezek. 12:12), where he remained a prisoner, how long is unknown, to the day of his death. After the fall of Jerusalem, Nebuzaraddan was sent to carry out its complete destruction. The city was razed to the ground. Only a small number of vinedressers and husbandmen were permitted to remain in the land (Jer. 52:16). Gedaliah, with a Chaldean guard stationed at Mizpah, ruled over Judah (2 Kings 25:22, 24; jer. 40:1, 2, 5, 6). (2.) The son of Chenaanah, a false prophet in the days of Ahab (1 Kings 22:11, 24; 2 Chr. 18:10, 23). (3.) The son of Hananiah, a prince of Judah in the days of Jehoiakim (Jer. 36:12).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(justice of Jehovah).