Zedekiah Reigns in Judah

Zedekiah's reign is defined by stubbornness toward the Lord's word through Jeremiah, rebellion against Babylon, and a hardened refusal to turn back. The priests and people join him in widespread defilement of the temple.

Z¹¹edekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. ¹²And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke for the LORD. ¹³He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. ¹⁴Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.