Hamutal is a significant yet often overlooked figure in the history of the Kingdom of Judah. She is primarily recognized as the mother of two of Judah's last kings, Jehoahaz and Zedekiah. Her account is interwoven with the tumultuous final years of the Davidic dynasty, as recorded in the Old Testament.

Biblical References

Hamutal is mentioned in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Her lineage is noted in 2 Kings 23:31, which states, "Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah." Similarly, 2 Kings 24:18 records, "Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah."

Family and Background

Hamutal was the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, not to be confused with the prophet Jeremiah. Libnah was a town in the Shephelah, the lowland region of Judah, indicating that Hamutal came from a Levitical city, as Libnah was assigned to the Levites (Joshua 21:13). This connection suggests that Hamutal was likely raised in a religious environment, which may have influenced her sons' reigns.

Role as Queen Mother

As the wife of King Josiah, one of Judah's most righteous kings, Hamutal held the esteemed position of queen mother. This role was significant in the royal court, often involving influence over political and religious matters. Her sons, Jehoahaz and Zedekiah, both ascended to the throne during a period of great instability and external threat from the Babylonian Empire.

Jehoahaz's Reign

Jehoahaz, also known as Shallum, was Hamutal's first son to become king. His reign was brief, lasting only three months before he was deposed by Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt and taken captive to Egypt, as described in 2 Kings 23:33-34. Despite his short reign, Jehoahaz's ascension to the throne indicates the influence Hamutal may have wielded in the royal succession.

Zedekiah's Reign

Hamutal's second son, Zedekiah, originally named Mattaniah, was installed as king by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon after the exile of Jehoiachin, Jehoahaz's nephew. Zedekiah's reign, lasting eleven years, was marked by political turmoil and ultimately ended with the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:1-7). Zedekiah's reign fulfilled the prophecies of Jeremiah, who warned of the consequences of Judah's disobedience to God.

Legacy

Hamutal's legacy is closely tied to the decline of the Kingdom of Judah. Her sons' reigns were characterized by political upheaval and the fulfillment of prophetic warnings against idolatry and disobedience to God. Despite the tragic outcomes of her sons' reigns, Hamutal's role as queen mother underscores the importance of maternal influence in the royal lineage and the unfolding of Judah's history. Her life and family serve as a poignant reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by the Davidic dynasty in its final days.2 Kings 23:31
Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
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2 Kings 24:18
Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
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Jeremiah 52:1
Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
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