Topical Bible: King: Influenced by Popular Opinion: Zedekiah

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Zedekiah, originally named Mattaniah, was the last king of Judah before the Babylonian conquest. He was the son of Josiah and the uncle of Jehoiachin, whom he succeeded as king. His reign lasted from 597 to 586 BC, a period marked by political instability and spiritual decline. Zedekiah's rule is notably characterized by his susceptibility to popular opinion and external pressures, which ultimately led to the downfall of Jerusalem.

Appointment and Early Reign

Zedekiah was appointed king by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon after the latter had exiled Jehoiachin to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar changed Mattaniah's name to Zedekiah, meaning "The Lord is my righteousness," perhaps as a symbolic gesture to assert control over Judah. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 24:17-18).

Influence of Popular Opinion

Throughout his reign, Zedekiah struggled with the influence of his advisors and the people of Judah, who were divided in their loyalties. Many of the people, including the princes and false prophets, advocated for rebellion against Babylon, believing that Egypt would come to their aid. Despite the prophet Jeremiah's consistent warnings to submit to Babylon as God's instrument of judgment, Zedekiah vacillated between obedience to God's word and the popular opinion of his court and people.

Jeremiah repeatedly counseled Zedekiah to surrender to Babylon to spare the city and its people from destruction. In Jeremiah 38:17-18 , the prophet implores, "This is what the LORD, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then your life will be spared, and this city will not be burned down; you and your household will live. But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans, who will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape their grasp.’"

Rebellion and Consequences

Despite these warnings, Zedekiah succumbed to the pressure of his officials and the prevailing sentiment among the people, choosing to rebel against Babylon. This decision was influenced by false prophets who assured him of victory and the misguided hope of Egyptian support. In 2 Chronicles 36:12 , it is noted, "He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke for the LORD."

The rebellion led to a devastating siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. In the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to the city, which lasted for about eighteen months. The conditions within Jerusalem became dire, leading to famine and suffering among the inhabitants.

The Fall of Jerusalem

In 586 BC, the Babylonians breached the walls of Jerusalem. Zedekiah attempted to flee the city but was captured on the plains of Jericho. His sons were killed before his eyes, and then he was blinded and taken in chains to Babylon (2 Kings 25:6-7). The city of Jerusalem was burned, and the temple was destroyed, marking the end of the kingdom of Judah.

Legacy

Zedekiah's reign serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of ignoring divine counsel in favor of popular opinion. His failure to heed the warnings of Jeremiah and his reliance on false assurances led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people. His account is a testament to the importance of faithfulness to God's word, even in the face of overwhelming pressure to conform to the prevailing sentiments of the time.

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Jeremiah 38:19,24-27
And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.
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Library

The Poetical Books.
... Psalms of David" something as a popular hymn-book ... five-fold division of the Law,
influenced the compilers ... King James' translators did not know what they meant ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter vii the poetical books.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... that the theological instinct has superseded popular enthusiasm, and ... at Bethel: for
it is the king's sanctuary, and ... forward this view he was influenced by the ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... war is given rather differently in Judges 1:1-9, where the king is called ... Others,
again, have come down to us through an atmosphere of popular tradition, the ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm