15. Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother, his wives, his officials and the prominent people of the land.
16. The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans.
17. He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.
18. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.
19. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done.
20. It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence.Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.