מלכים ב, פרק כ״ד, פסוק י״ח

Zedekiah's ascension to the throne at the age of twenty-one presents a complex chronological and genealogical puzzle regarding the final kings of Judah. His young age does not easily align with the lifespans and reigns of his predecessors. Jehoahaz became king at twenty-three, and Jehoiakim assumed the throne at twenty-five, ruling for eleven years. Based on this timeline, Zedekiah should have been at least thirty-five years old when he took power, rather than twenty-one [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. An additional historical complication arises from the Book of Jeremiah, which seems to indicate that Zedekiah was already recognized as a king during the early years of Jehoiakim's reign [אברבנאל].

To resolve these discrepancies, several theories have been proposed. One approach suggests that his father, Josiah, actually crowned Zedekiah during his own lifetime for a period of three years, after which the people forcefully placed Jehoahaz on the throne [ראב״ע]. However, this theory faces harsh criticism for lacking biblical support and relying on weak historical logic [אברבנאל]. Another perspective relies on tradition, identifying Zedekiah with a royal figure named Shallum. The name Shallum implies that he was either perfect in his deeds or that the Davidic dynasty was completed and finalized during his era. His given name, Zedekiah, reflects that God justified the harsh judgment decreed upon him. According to this tradition, he was the third son in birth order but the fourth to rule [חז״ל]. Yet, this identification is difficult to reconcile with historical records that list Shallum and Zedekiah as two entirely separate sons [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

A more straightforward solution proposes that Zedekiah was simply Josiah's youngest son. If he was only ten years old when his father died, his coronation at the age of twenty-one is perfectly accurate and requires no complex chronological adjustments [רד״ק]. Conversely, a radically different approach suggests that Zedekiah was not Josiah's son at all, but rather his grandson. In this view, he was the son of Jehoiakim and the older brother of Jehoiachin, as grandchildren are frequently referred to as sons in biblical texts. Although Zedekiah was two or three years older than Jehoiachin, the younger brother initially seized the throne because he was politically stronger. When the king of Babylon eventually deposed the younger brother, he transferred the crown to the older, more deserving Zedekiah. In this context, descriptions of Zedekiah as an "uncle" do not denote a family relationship, but rather stem from the word for "beloved," indicating that he was the favored choice of the Babylonian king [אברבנאל].

Stepping back to view the broader historical landscape reveals a striking parallel in the fates of Josiah's descendants. One son and one grandson, Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin, each ruled for a mere three months before being deposed by foreign kings and dying in exile. In stark contrast, another son and grandson, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, each ruled for exactly eleven years. Both of these monarchs ultimately rebelled against the king of Babylon, and both suffered exile as a result [אברבנאל]. Finally, a minor detail regarding the royal family notes that while the written text spells the name of the king's mother as Hamital, tradition dictates it is pronounced Hamutal [מנחת שי].