Zedekiah in Babylonian prison

Illustration

During his lifetime, Jeremiah the prophet had to deal with five different Judean monarchs with king Josiah the Great being the first one and king Zedekiah the last.

Zedekiah was born when his father Josiah was around 30. As Josiah died at the age of 39 during a battle against the Egyptians, Zedekiah probably grew up without really knowing his father and the great reforms he did. Instead, he was surrounded by his corrupted older brothers, a court divided in different political parties and a nation standing on the brim of destruction with foreign forces pressing from the outside.

King Zedekiah's birth name was actually Mattaniah which means "Gift of God". For me, this is the only and maybe the most striking clue to understanding Josiah's heart for his son. Yet Mattaniah is forced to give up his name and take another as he becomes a vassal of the Babylonian king. Name changes are a big deal in Biblical narratives and often mark a turning point in the life of a character. For Zedekiah, it's as if once he gave up his birth name, he also gave up his father's vision for him. This becomes evident in his chaotic politics and conflicted relationship with Jeremiah the prophet. Ultimately, his cowardice and indecisiveness lead the Davidian dynasty to its final downfall.

Thus, the youngest and maybe the most beloved son of Josiah ends up in a Babylonian prison where he remained for the rest of his life with his eyes taken out never to see light again...