Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 24:17
And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
17. Mattaniah ] He was the brother of Jehoiakim, and as we gather from 1Ch 3:15, he was Josiah’s third son. He is wrongly called ‘the brother’ of Jehoiachin, 2Ch 36:10, unless we accept the word translated ‘brother’ for some general term of relationship and render it ‘kinsman’. Thus Lot is called Abraham’s brother, Gen 14:16 and Bethuel also in Gen 24:48. So also in 2Ki 10:13 ‘the brethren of Ahaziah were not all that king’s brothers ’. On the changing of names of persons taken captive or placed in some position of subjection see note on 2Ki 23:34.
Zedekiah ] Both this name and Mattaniah have Jah = Jehovah for their termination. We may therefore suppose that the choice of his new name was left to the Jewish king. Mattan-jah = gift of Jehovah; Zedek-jah, righteousness of Jehovah.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 Jer 23:5-8.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead] He was the son of Josiah, and brother to Jehoiakim.
Changed his name to Zedekiah.] 2Kg 23:34.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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 rebellion and perfidiousness of which his predecessor was guilty.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17-19. the king of Babylon madeMattaniah, his father’s brother, king in his steadAdhering tohis former policy of maintaining a show of monarchy, Nebuchadnezzarappointed the third and youngest son of Josiah (1Ch3:15), full brother of Jehoahaz, and uncle of the captiveJehoiachin. But, according to the custom of conquerors, who changedthe names of the great men they took captives in war, in token oftheir supremacy, he gave him the new name of
Zedekiahthat is, “Therighteous of God.” This being a purely Hebrew name, it seemsthat he allowed the puppet king to choose his own name, which wasconfirmed. His heart towards God was the same as that of Jehoiakim,impenitent and heedless of God’s word.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead,…. The third son of Josiah, 1Ch 3:15
and changed his name to Zedekiah; for the same reason the king of Egypt changed the name of Eliakim, 2Ki 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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 , his uncle, we have in 2Ch 36:10 , his brother, i.e., his nearest relation. On the change in the name see at 2Ki 23:34. The name , i.e., he who has Jehovah’s righteousness, was probably chosen by Mattaniah in the hope that through him or in his reign the Lord would create the righteousness promised to His people.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(17) Mattaniah his fathers brother.He was the third son of Josiah (comp. Jer. 1:3; Jer. 37:1), and full brother of Jehoahaz-Shallum (2Ki. 23:31). Jehoiachin was childless at the time (comp. 2Ki. 24:12; 2Ki. 24:15 with 2Ki. 25:7 and Jer. 22:30). In the exile he had offspring (1Ch. 3:17-18). (The LXX. reads, his son, , a corruption of , uncle).
And changed his name to Zedekiah.His former name meant gift of Jah; his new one, Jah is righteousness (or myrighteousness). The prophecy of Jeremiah (Jer. 23:1-9), denouncing the shepherds that destroy and scatter the flock and promising a future king, whose name shall be Jehovah is our righteousness (lahweh idgnu), evidently refers to the delusive expectations connected with Zedekiahs elevation. Nebuchadnezzars act of clemency in putting another native prince on the throne may have been the execution of a promise made at the surrender of the city.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. His father’s brother He was half-brother to Jehoiakim, but own brother to Jehoahaz. Compare 2Ki 24:18 with 2Ki 23:31; 2Ki 23:36.
Changed his name See note on 2Ki 23:34.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Zedekiah Begins his Rule
v. 17. And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his father’s brother, v. 18. Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. v. 19. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done, v. 20. For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until He had cast them out from His presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Reader! is it not awful, when we see that neither kindness nor severity will operate upon some minds. Zedekiah had seen the ruin of his kingdom by reason of sin; and yet he sinned more. Oh! how certain is it, that nothing but grace can change the heart. Dearest Lord, (I would say for myself and Reader), take not, oh! take not thine Holy Spirit from us!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 24:17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Ver. 17. And the king of Babylon had made Mattaniah. ] His name signifieth God’s gift, the same as Nathanael, Theodore, Diodate. Good Josiah gave all his children good names but they proved all stark naught.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
changed his name. See note on 2Ki 23:34.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the king: 2Ch 36:10, 2Ch 36:11, Jer 37:1, Jer 52:1
his father’s brother: He was son of Josiah, brother to Jehoiakim, and uncle of Jehoiachin. 1Ch 3:15, 1Ch 3:16, 2Ch 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. 2Ki 23:34, 2Ch 36:4
Reciprocal: 1Ch 3:14 – Josiah Jer 1:3 – unto the end Jer 21:1 – when Eze 17:5 – the seed Eze 17:13 – hath taken Dan 1:7 – gave names
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 24:17. And changed his name to Zedekiah That he might admonish him of (what his 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.