2 Kings 24:17

“And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, etc.] The third son of Josiah, (<130315>1 Chronicles 3:15) and changed his name to Zedekiah; for the same reason the king of Egypt changed the name of Eliakim, (<122334>2 Kings 23:34) to signify his subjection to him; though some think it was to put him in mind of the justice of God, as the name signifies, that would overtake him, should he be treacherous to him, and rebel against him; so the Jewish Midrash. Ver. 18-20. Zedekiah was twenty years old when he began to reign, etc.] So that he was but between nine and ten years of age when his father Josiah died; for Jehoahaz reigned three months, Jehoiakim eleven…”

“ZEDEKIAH'S EVIL REIGN. (Kg2 24:17-20) the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his father's brother, king in his stead--Adhering to his former policy of maintaining a show of monarchy, Nebuchadnezzar appointed the third and youngest son of Josiah (Ch1 3:15), full brother of Jehoahaz, and uncle of the captive Jehoiachin. But, according to the custom of conquerors, who changed the names of the great men they took captives in war, in token of their supremacy, he gave him the new name of Zedekiah--that is, "The righteous of God." This being a purely Hebrew name, it seems that he allowed the puppet king to choose his own name, which was confirmed. His heart towards God was the same as that of…”

“Mattaniah, son of Josiah and brother of Jehoahaz, but thirteen years his junior, adopted a name significant of the blessings promised by Jeremiah to the reign of a king whose name should be “Yahweh, our righteousness” Jeremiah 23:5-8. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Zedekiah - That he might admonish him of (what this name signifies) the justice of God, which had so severely punished Jehoiakim for his rebellion; and would no less certainly overtake him, if he should be guilty of the same perfidiousness. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 24:20”

“24:17 Like the three kings before him, Mattaniah received a throne name, Zedekiah. • Jehoiachin’s uncle: See 1 Chr 3:15-16.”

“the king: Ch2 36:10, Ch2 36:11; Jer 37:1, Jer 52:1 his father's brother: He was son of Josiah, brother to Jehoiakim, and uncle of Jehoiachin. Ch1 3:15, Ch1 3:16; Ch2 36:10 changed: The change of name was to shew Nebuchadnezzar's supremacy, and that Zedekiah was only his vassal or viceroy. The custom of changing names, we are assured by travellers, still exists in the East. Kg2 23:34; Ch2 36:4 4 Kings (2 Kings) 24:18”

“Over the lower classes of the people who had been left behind Nebuchadnezzar placed the paternal uncle of the king, who had been led away, viz., Mattaniah, and made him king under the name of Zedekiah. He was the youngest son of Josiah ( Jer 1:3; Jer 37:1); was only ten years old when his father died, and twenty-one years old when he ascended the throne; and as the uncle of Jehoiachin, who being only a youth of eighteen could not have a son capable of reigning, had the first claim to the throne. Instead of דּדו, his uncle, we have in Ch2 36:10 אהיו, his brother, i.e., his nearest relation. On the change in the name see at Kg2 23:34. The name צדקיּהוּ, i.e., he who has Jehovah's…”