Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
Zedekiah. Nebuchadnezzar appointed him. His name, originally Mattaniah, was, according to the custom of Oriental conquerors, changed into Zedekiah; and though the son of Josiah (1 Chronicles 3:15; Jeremiah 1:2-3; Jeremiah 37:1), he is called (2 Chronicles 36:10) the brother of Jehoiachin, i:e., according to the latitude of Hebrew style in words expressing affinity, his relative or kinsman (see the notes at 2 Kings 24:18; 26:1-21 : cf. 1 Chronicles 3:15; Jeremiah 37:1, where he is described as uncle; also Genesis 13:8; Genesis 14:16; Genesis 29:12-15).