daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, was also the mother of Jehoahaz (2Ki 23:31); consequently he was his own brother and the half-brother of Jehoiakim, whose mother was named Zebidah (2Ki 23:36). His reign lasted eleven years, and in its attitude towards the Lord exactly resembled that of his brother Jehoiakim, except that Zedekiah does not appear to have possessed so much energy for that which was evil. According to Jer 38:5 and Jer 38:24., he was weak in character, and completely governed by the great men of his kingdom, having no power or courage whatever to offer resistance. but, like them, he did not hearken to the words of the Lord through Jeremiah (Jer 37:2), or, as it is expressed in 2Ch 36:12, “he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spake to him out of the mouth of the Lord.”
Verse 20
2Ki 24:20 “For because of the wrath of the Lord it happened concerning Judah and Jerusalem.” The subject to היתה is to be taken from what precedes, viz., Zedekiah’s doing evil, or that such a God-resisting man as Zedekiah became king. “Not that it was of God that Zedekiah was wicked, but that Zedekiah, a man (if we believe Brentius, in loc.) simple, dependent upon counsellors, yet at the same time despising the word of God and impenitent (2Ch 36:12-13), became king, so as to be the cause of Jerusalem’s destruction” (Seb. Schm.). On וגו השׁליכו עד cf. 2Ki 24:3, and 2Ki 17:18, 2Ki 17:23. “And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babel,” who, according to 2Ch 36:13, had made him swear by God, to whom he was bound
