2 Kings 24:17

_AND THE KING OF BABYLON MADE MATTANIAH HIS FATHER'S BROTHER KING IN HIS STEAD, AND CHANGED HIS NAME TO ZEDEKIAH._ Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead. Adhering to his former policy of maintaining a show of monarchy, Nebuchadnezzar appointed the third and youngest son of Josiah (1 Chronicles 3:15), full brother of Jehoahaz, and uncle of the captive Jehoiachin. But according to the custom of conquerors, who changed the names of the great men they took captive in war, in token of their supremacy, he gave him the new name of Zedekiah - i:e., 'The righteousness of God.' This being a purely Hebrew name, it seems that he allowed the puppet king to choose his own name, which was confirmed. His heart toward God was the same as that of Jehoiakim impenitent and heedless of Gods word....

8-20 Jehoiachin reigned but three months, yet long enough to show that he justly smarted for his fathers' sins, for he trod in their steps. His uncle was intrusted with the government. This Zedekiah was the last of the kings of Judah. Though the judgments of God upon the three kings before him might have warned him, he did that which was evil, like them. When those intrusted with the counsels of a nation act unwisely, and against their true interest, we ought to notice the displeasure of God in it. It is for the sins of a people that God hides from them the things that belong to the public peace. And in fulfilling the secret purposes of his justice, the Lord needs only leave men to the blindness of their own minds, or to the lusts of their own hearts. The gradual approach of Divine judgments affords sinners space for repentance, and believers leisure to prepare for meeting the calamity,...

Verse 2 Kings 24:17. _MADE MATTANIAH HIS FATHER'S BROTHER KING IN HIS STEAD_] He was the son of Josiah, and brother to Jehoiakim. _CHANGED HIS NAME TO ZEDEKIAH._] 2 Kings 23:34....

Mattaniah, son of Josiah and brother of Jehoahaz, but thirteen years his junior, adopted a name significant of the blessings promised by Jeremiah to the reign of a king whose name should be “Yahweh, our righteousness” Jeremiah 23:5....

AND THE KING OF BABYLON MADE MATTANIAH HIS FATHER'S BROTHER KING IN HIS STEAD,.... The third son of Josiah, 1 Chronicles 3:15 AND CHANGED HIS NAME TO ZEDEKIAH; for the same reason the king of Egypt changed the name of Eliakim, 2 Kings 23:34 to signify his subjection to him; though some think it was to put him in mind of the justice of God, as the name signifies, that would overtake him, should he be treacherous to him, and rebel against him; so the Jewish Midrash....

2. JEHOIACHIN AND ZEDEKIAH: THE BEGINNING OF JUDAH'S CAPTIVITY CHAPTER 24 _ 1. Jehoiakim, Servant of Nebuchadnezzar, and His Death (2 Kings 24:1; 2 Chronicles 36:6)_ 2. Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6; 2 Chronicles 36:8) 3. The first deportation to Babylon (2 Kings 24:11) 4. Zedekiah, the last king, and his rebellion (2 Kings 24:17) The foe of Judah, the chosen instrument of the Lord to execute His

2 Kings 24:8. JEHOIACHIN AND THE FIRST CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH. The name of this king is also given as Coniah (Jeremiah 22:24) and Jeconiah (Jeremiah 29:2). Evidently Babylon's vengeance for his father's treachery fell on him. 2 Kings 24:8. Eighteen years old: 2 Chronicles 36:9 has eight, an obvious error, for Jehoaichin was evidently grown up (Jeremiah 22:28). The Captivity dates from his reign, and he is considered the last of the kings of J

CHANGED HIS NAME. See note on 2 Kings 23:34....

_Mattaniah_ He was the brother of Jehoiakim, and as we gather from 1 Chronicles 3:15, he was Josiah's third son. He is wrongly called -the brother" of Jehoiachin, 2 Chronicles 36:10, unless we accept the word translated -brother" for some general term of relationship and render it -kinsman". Thus Lot is called Abraham's _brother_, Genesis 14:16 and Bethuel also in Genesis 24:48. So also in 2 Kings 10:13 -the _brethren_of Ahaziah were not all that king's _brothers_". On the changing of names of persons taken captive o

III. THE REIGN AND REBELLION OF JEHOIAKIM 23:36-24:7 TRANSLATION (36) Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Zebudah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. (37) And he did evil in the eyes of the LORD according to all which his fathers had done. (1) In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal three years; then he turned away and rebelled against him. (2) And the LORD sent against him bands of Chaldeans and bands of Arameans and bands of Moabites and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by the hand of His servants the prophets. (3) Surely on account of the word of the LORD it came on Judah to remove them from before His face for the sins of Manasseh, according to all he had d...