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.
2 KINGS 24:18KJVWhat does 2 Kings 24:18 mean?
2 Kings 24:18 reports that Zedekiah became king of Judah at the age of twenty-one and ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. The verse also gives the name of his mother, Hamutal, and her family background, identifying her as the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.
This verse is part of a historical record, listing the basic facts about Zedekiah’s reign as king. The writer is giving background information to set the stage for the events that follow, especially the final years of Judah before the Babylonian conquest. Mentioning Zedekiah’s mother and her lineage was a common way in ancient records to establish a king’s legitimacy and family connections.
The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 24:18
- "Zedekiah" (צִדְקִיָּהוּ, Tsidqiyyahu) means "Yahweh is righteous," which is ironic given the troubled reign he had.
- "Hamutal" (חֲמוּטַל, Ḥamutal) is a rare name, and her mention ties Zedekiah to earlier kings, as she was also the mother of Jehoahaz (see 2 Kings 23:31), showing a family link in the royal line.
- "Jeremiah" (יִרְמְיָה, Yirmeyahu) here is not the prophet Jeremiah, but a different man from Libnah, clarifying family background and avoiding confusion with the well-known prophet.
Why 2 Kings 24:18 matters
- This verse clarifies that Zedekiah was not a child when he became king, but a young adult, which matters for understanding his decisions and leadership.
- The mention of Hamutal and her father Jeremiah of Libnah connects Zedekiah to a specific family line, which helps readers trace the royal lineage and see patterns in Judah’s final kings.
- By setting up Zedekiah’s background, the verse prepares the reader for the dramatic events that follow in Judah’s history, including the fall of Jerusalem.