ZEDEKIAII, ( Tieb. Sidliiyyult, or Sidliiyyalia, Yahweh is my vindication). A fre quent Old Testament name; especially the last King of Judah (11. Kings xxiv. 17; xxv.; Citron. XXXVi. 11 et seq.; Jeremiah, passim). At his first capture of Jerusalem (n.c. 597) Nebu chadnezzar deposed King Jehoiachin, carried him away to Babylon. and left as king in his place his uncle Mattaniah, the third of the sons of Josiah, changing his name to Zedekiah. The best part of the people bad been carried off into captivity, and Jehoiachin was still the legitimate king to the people, so that Zedekiah's position was a sorry one. Jeremiah openly announces the divine preference for the exiles, and can see no good in the shadow-monarchy of Zedekiah. Upon the withdrawal of the Babylonian army. the neighboring States began a conspiracy against Nebuchadnezzar and attempted to seduce Zede kiah; and within Jerusalem there was a strong party led by fanatical prophets ready to throw off the Babylonish yoke (Jer.
Zedekiah himself went to Babylon in his year (Jer. li. 59), probably to vouch for his loyalty. But in B.c. 588 he could no longer re sitt the pressure of the 'Patriots,' and revolted. He still consulted Jeremiah, who, however, re sisted all his advances; the latter was finally immured by his enemies, but was released through the favor of the king (xxxii.-xxxviii.). Zedekiah thus appears as a well-meaning but weak man, unfitted for his circumstances. After a valiant defense of a year and a half, Jerusalem was taken by storm. Zedekiah with some follow ers escaped eastward to the Jordan, but was cap tured, and carried to the presence of Nebuchad nezzar in Syria, where judgment was given upon him for his treason. His sons were slain before him, his eyes were put out, and he was carried in fetters to Babylon.