Editing Zedekiah (section)

==Life and reign==
[[File:Germany Zwiefalten Münster Nebuchadnezzer and Zedekiah.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Nebuchadrezzar II|Nebuchadnezzar]] confronts Zedekiah, who holds a plan of [[Jerusalem]], in this [[Baroque sculpture|Baroque]]-era depiction in [[Zwiefalten Abbey]] in [[Germany]]]]

According to the [[Hebrew Bible]], Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar II in 597 BC. This is in agreement with a [[Babylonian Chronicles|Babylonian chronicle]], which states,<blockquote>The seventh year: In the month Kislev the king of Akkad mustered his army and marched to Hattu. He encamped against the city of Judah and on the second day of the month Adar he captured the city [and] seized [its] king. A king of his own choice he appointed in the city [and] taking the vast tribute he brought it into Babylon.<ref>{{cite book|title=Readings from the Ancient Near East: Primary Sources for Old Testament Study|date=September 2002|publisher=Baker Academic|isbn=978-0801022920|page=[https://archive.org/details/readingsfromanci0000unse/page/159 159]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/readingsfromanci0000unse/page/159}}</ref></blockquote>

The kingdom was at that time a tributary to Nebuchadnezzar II. Despite the strong remonstrances of [[Jeremiah]], [[Baruch ben Neriah]] and other family and advisors—and ignoring the example of his older brother [[Jehoiakim]]—Zedekiah entered into an alliance with Pharaoh [[Apries|Hophra]] of Egypt and [[Judah's revolts against Babylon|revolted against Babylon]]. Nebuchadnezzar responded by invading Judah ({{bibleverse|2|Kings|25:1|HE}}). Nebuchadnezzar began a [[Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC)|siege of Jerusalem]] in December 589 BC. During this siege "every worst woe befell the city, which drank the cup of God's fury to the dregs" ({{bibleverse|2|Kings|25:3|HE}}; {{bibleverse||Lamentations|4:4|HE}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Lamentations|5|HE}}).

After laying siege to the city for about thirty months, Nebuchadnezzar finally succeeded in capturing Jerusalem in 586 BC.<ref>{{cite book|last=Knight|first=Doug and Amy-Jill Levine|title=The Meaning of the Bible|year=2011|publisher=HarperOne|location=New York City|isbn=9780062067739|page=31}}</ref> Zedekiah and his followers attempted to escape, making their way out of the city, but were captured on the [[Tell es-Sultan|plains of Jericho]] and taken to [[Riblah]]. There, Zedekiah saw his sons put to death. Then his [[eye-gouging|eyes were put out]] and he was loaded with chains and carried captive to Babylon ({{bibleverse|2|Kings|25:1–7|HE}}; {{bibleverse||Jeremiah|32:4–5|HE}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Jeremiah|34:2–3|HE}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Jeremiah|39:1–7|HE}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Jeremiah|52:4–11|HE}}; {{bibleverse||Ezekiel|12:13|HE}}), where he remained a prisoner until he died.

After the fall of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar sent [[Nebuzaradan]] to destroy the city. It was plundered and razed to the ground, and [[Solomon's Temple]] was destroyed. Only a small number of vinedressers and [[Animal husbandry|husbandmen]] were permitted to remain in the land ({{bibleverse||Jeremiah|52:16|HE}}).The sages also explain proverbs 24:30 as follows: I passed by the field of a lazy man, This is Ahaz. And the vineyard of a senseless man, this is Manashe. And behold, it was all overgrown with thorns, this is Amon. And its surface was covered with Nettle, this is Jehoiakim. And its stone wall was broken down, this is a reference to Zedekiah, in whose days the temple was destroyed.