ירמיהו, פרק כ״ב, פסוק י״א

A harsh prophecy seals the fate of a Judean king, condemning him to a permanent exile with no hope of ever seeing his homeland again. The warning is directed at a figure named Shallum, son of Josiah. Because this is not the king's commonly known name, there are different understandings of his true identity.

The primary approach among commentators [רש״י ומצודת דוד] is that this refers to King Zedekiah. He is called Shallum in the book of Chronicles because he was the fourth and final royal descendant of Josiah. Others believe the prophecy targets Jehoiachin, Josiah's grandson. Because grandsons are often considered sons in biblical tradition, this aligns with the history of the king who was exiled to Babylon and ultimately died there [רד״ק]. A third perspective identifies Shallum as Jehoahaz, who was captured and taken to Egypt by Pharaoh shortly after Josiah's death [אבן עזרא וביאור שטיינזלץ].

The narrative emphasizes that the king took the throne directly in place of his father, Josiah. This detail clarifies that his legitimate claim to the monarchy stemmed directly from Josiah, rather than from the king who actually preceded him in power [מצודת דוד]. Alternatively, this detail highlights his true capability; he was genuinely worthy and fit for the crown, and it was precisely for this reason that he was removed from his position and taken into exile [מלבי״ם].

The description of the king leaving his home is understood differently depending on his identity. For those who identify him as Zedekiah, the prophet is speaking of a future event with such absolute certainty that he describes it as if the Babylonian exile has already taken place, even though it has not yet occurred [רש״י ומצודת דוד]. Conversely, if the king is Jehoahaz, the description simply records a past historical fact, reflecting his actual capture and removal to Egypt [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Regardless of his exact identity, the final judgment remains absolute. The exiled king will never return, destined instead to live out the rest of his days and die in a foreign land.