The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Zedekiah
(zd´´k´) (KEY) , in the Bible. 1 Last king of Judah. He was the third son of Josiah to occupy the throne, the others being Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim. Zedekiah, whose name was originally Mattaniah, succeeded Jehoiachin. He was set on the throne as the puppet of Nebuchadnezzar, but he allowed the patriot party to sway him into allying himself with the Egyptian pharaoh Apries (Hophra). This violated an agreement with Nebuchadnezzar, and the Chaldaeans came to Palestine and destroyed the kingdom of Judah. Zedekiah was carried with his people into captivity in Babylonia. Jeremiah was contemporary with Zedekiah. 2 False prophet of Ahab. 3 Hebrew false prophet in Babylonia. 4 Prince of Judah.
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