Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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 (1863)
(justice of Jehovah).
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
ZEDEKI'AH (justice of Jehovah). The last king of Judah, the son of Josiah, and the uncle of Jehoiachin. His proper name was "Mattaniah," but Nebuchadnezzar changed it to "Zedekiah" when raising him to the throne. He commenced his reign at twenty-one, and reigned eleven years, 598-588 b.c. 2 Chr 36:11. He was a weak man, and the people were completely demoralized. He had not courage to vindicate Jeremiah, but allowed the people to be led astray by
false prophets; and the consequence was disastrous. In the ninth year of his reign he revolted against Nebuchadnezzar, in consequence of which the Assyrian monarch marched his army into Judaea and took all the fortified places. In the eleventh year of his reign, on the ninth day of the fourth month (July), Jerusalem was taken. The king and his people endeavored to escape by night, but, the Chaldaean troops pursuing them, they were overtaken in
the plain of Jericho. Zedekiah was seized and carried to Nebuchadnezzar, then at Riblah, in Syria, who reproached him with his perfidy, caused all his children to be slain before his face and his own eyes to be put out, and then, loading him with chains of brass, ordered him to be sent to Babylon. 2 Kgs 25:1-11; 2 Chr 36:12, 2 Chr 36:20. Thus the double prophecy concerning him - that he should be carried to Babylon, but never see it - was
literally fulfilled. Jer 32:4-5; Jer 34:3; comp. Eze 12:13. A false prophet in the reign of Ahab. 1 Kgs 22:11, 1 Kgs 22:24-25; 2 Chr 18:10, 2 Chr 18:23-24. 3. A false prophet who was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar. Jer 29:21-22. One of the princes at the court of Jehoiakim. Jer 36:12.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
the Lord is my justice; the justice of the Lord
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
ZEDEKI'AH (justice of Jehovah). The last king of Judah, the son of Josiah, and the uncle of Jehoiachin. His proper name was "Mattaniah," but Nebuchadnezzar changed it to "Zedekiah" when raising him to the throne. He commenced his reign at twenty-one, and reigned eleven years, 598-588 b.c. 2 Chr 36:11. He was a weak man, and the people were completely demoralized. He had not courage to vindicate Jeremiah, but allowed the people to be led astray by
false prophets; and the consequence was disastrous. In the ninth year of his reign he revolted against Nebuchadnezzar, in consequence of which the Assyrian monarch marched his army into Judaea and took all the fortified places. In the eleventh year of his reign, on the ninth day of the fourth month (July), Jerusalem was taken. The king and his people endeavored to escape by night, but, the Chaldaean troops pursuing them, they were overtaken in
the plain of Jericho. Zedekiah was seized and carried to Nebuchadnezzar, then at Riblah, in Syria, who reproached him with his perfidy, caused all his children to be slain before his face and his own eyes to be put out, and then, loading him with chains of brass, ordered him to be sent to Babylon. 2 Kgs 25:1-11; 2 Chr 36:12, 2 Chr 36:20. Thus the double prophecy concerning him - that he should be carried to Babylon, but never see it - was
literally fulfilled. Jer 32:4-5; Jer 34:3; comp. Eze 12:13. A false prophet in the reign of Ahab. 1 Kgs 22:11, 1 Kgs 22:24-25; 2 Chr 18:10, 2 Chr 18:23-24. 3. A false prophet who was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar. Jer 29:21-22.