Zedekiah in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. Judah's last king, 599 to 588 B.C. (See JEREMIAH.) Youngest son of Josiah and Hamutal (Jeremiah 1:3; Jeremiah 37:1), brother to Jehoahaz (2 Kings 24:17-18; 2 Kings 23:31). Ten years old when his father died, 21 when he mounted the throne. Originally named Mattaniah; Nebuchadnezzar changed his name to Zedekiah when he deposed Zedekiah's nephew Jehoiachin. This proves that Nebuchadnezzar treated his vassal kindly, allowing him to choose a new name (Zedekiah is Hebrew, "righteousness of Jehovah") and confirming it as a mark of his supremacy; this name was to be the pledge of his righteously keeping his covenant with Nebuchadnezzar who made him swear by God (Ezekiel 17:12-16; 2 Chronicles 36:13). In 1 Chronicles 3:15 Johanan is oldest, then Jehoiakim, Zedekiah is third in order, Shallum fourth, because Jehoiakim and Zedekiah reigned longer, namely, 11 years each; therefore Shallum, though king before Jehoiakim, is put last; on the other hand Zedekiah and Shallum were both sons of Hamutal, therefore put together. Had Zedekiah kept his oath of fealty he would have been safe, though dependent. But weak, vacillating, and treacherous, he brought ruin on his country and on himself. It was through the anger of Jehovah against Judah that Zedekiah was given up to his own rebellious devices, "stiffening his neck and hardening his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel" who warned him by Jeremiah; like Pharaoh of old (2 Chronicles 36:12-13), he would "not humble himself" (Jeremiah 38:5; Jeremiah 39:1-7; Jeremiah 52:1-11; and Jeremiah 21; 24; 27; 28; 29; 32; 33; 34; 37; 38)...