Biblical references
Text: World English Bible (public domain). The ESV and NKJV are the preferred study translations and are referenced, not reproduced.
17 The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s father’s brother, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah. 18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 20 For through the anger of the LORD, this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
1 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign. He reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2 He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3 For through the LORD’s anger this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 He did that which was evil in the LORD his God’s sight. He didn’t humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the LORD’s mouth. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God; but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.
Biblical account
Layer: Biblical text
Nebuchadnezzar made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king and renamed him Zedekiah; twenty-one, he reigned eleven years, did evil, and rebelled against Babylon.
Historical overview
Layer: Historical reconstruction · Period: Spring 597 BC
ABC 5 records that Nebuchadnezzar "appointed there a king of his own choice" after capturing the city.[1]
- Zedekiah: Installed[1]
- Nebuchadnezzar II: Overlord[1]
Kingdoms: Neo-Babylonian Empire, Kingdom of Judah
Date and chronology derivation
Ranges are computed by the project's deterministic chronology engine from the biblical statements and each model's reign anchors. They are reconstructions, not independent dates.
597 BC
Model-independent (applies under every chronology model) · precision: day
How this range was derived
Earliest bound
- Synchronism: Capture of "the city of Judah" on 2 Addaru, Nebuchadnezzar year 7 (ABC 5) = Jehoiachin's surrender (2 Kgs 24:10–15) — independently dated between 15 Mar 597 BC and 16 Mar 597 BC (Babylonian date 2 Addaru, year 7 of Nebuchadnezzar = 15/16 March 597 BC (Parker & Dubberstein)) (2 Kings 24:10–15)[1, 2, 3]Assumption: 2 Addaru year 7 (ABC 5) = 15/16 March 597 BC. "City of Judah" = Jerusalem; the unnamed king = Jehoiachin (identifications by the editors).
- “The king of Babylon made Mattaniah … king in his place” — Nebuchadnezzar installs Mattaniah as King Zedekiah (2 Kgs 24:17–20) days later Capture of Jerusalem and deportation of Jehoiachin (March 597 BC) (2 Kings 24:17)[1]Assumption: ABC 5 records the appointment in the same entry as the capture; the 45-day margin covers the "turn of the year" (2 Chr 36:10).
Latest bound
- Synchronism: Capture of "the city of Judah" on 2 Addaru, Nebuchadnezzar year 7 (ABC 5) = Jehoiachin's surrender (2 Kgs 24:10–15) — independently dated between 15 Mar 597 BC and 16 Mar 597 BC (Babylonian date 2 Addaru, year 7 of Nebuchadnezzar = 15/16 March 597 BC (Parker & Dubberstein)) (2 Kings 24:10–15)[1, 2, 3]Assumption: 2 Addaru year 7 (ABC 5) = 15/16 March 597 BC. "City of Judah" = Jerusalem; the unnamed king = Jehoiachin (identifications by the editors).
- “The king of Babylon made Mattaniah … king in his place” — Nebuchadnezzar installs Mattaniah as King Zedekiah (2 Kgs 24:17–20) days later Capture of Jerusalem and deportation of Jehoiachin (March 597 BC) (2 Kings 24:17)[1]Assumption: ABC 5 records the appointment in the same entry as the capture; the 45-day margin covers the "turn of the year" (2 Chr 36:10).
What else was happening? (model-independent)
- Jehoiakim (reign): 609 BC – 597 BC
- Daniel's refusal of the king's food and the ten-day test (Dan 1:8–16): 606 BC – ?
- Nebuchadnezzar II (reign): 605 BC – 562 BC
- Nebuchadnezzar's golden image on the plain of Dura (Dan 3:1–7): 603 BC – ?
- Nebuchadnezzar's decree honouring the God of the three Judeans (Dan 3:28–30): 603 BC – ?
- The refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace (Dan 3:8–27): 603 BC – ?
- Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree and Daniel's interpretation (Dan 4:4–27): 605 BC – 563 BC
- Nebuchadnezzar's boast, madness and restoration (Dan 4:28–37): 604 BC – 562 BC
- Daniel's night vision of the four beasts and its interpretation (Dan 7): ? – 539 BC
- Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat at Susa (Dan 8): ? – 539 BC
- Capture of Jerusalem and deportation of Jehoiachin (March 597 BC): 597 BC
- Jehoiakim submits to Nebuchadnezzar for three years, then rebels (2 Kgs 24:1–4): 605 BC – 597 BC
- Zedekiah (reign): 597 BC – 586 BC
- Jehoiachin (reign): 598 BC – 597 BC
Claims, evidence and classifications
Each claim is classified on its own. A classification describes the evidence for that specific claim, not for the event as a whole.
Nebuchadnezzar appointed a new king of his own choice in Jerusalem in 597.
Independently corroboratedMachine-proposedExternal evidence
ABC 5 records the appointment; 2 Kgs 24:17 names him Zedekiah (Mattaniah). The chronicle does not give the name.
Supporting
- He appointed there a king of his own choice, received heavy tribute and sent it to Babylon.[1]Strength: direct·rev. 13′·Claim checked
Research date 2026-10-13
Evidence by type
The same evidence regrouped by kind of source. Each item names the claims it bears on.
Archaeological evidence
None recorded for this event.
Scientific findings
None recorded for this event.
Ancient documents
- He appointed there a king of his own choice, received heavy tribute and sent it to Babylon.[1]Bears on: supporting — “Nebuchadnezzar appointed a new king of his own choice in Jerusalem in …”
Modern news and announcements
None recorded for this event.
Reference works and summaries
None recorded for this event.
Related passages and events
| From | Relationship | To | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| this event | Same eventhigh · Biblical text | Jeremiah 52:1–3 | Parallel: Zedekiah's age, reign and rebellion. |
| this event | Same eventhigh · Biblical text | 2 Chronicles 36:10–13 | Parallel in Chronicles (Zedekiah "his brother"). |
| this event | Followed byhigh · Biblical text | The final siege of Jerusalem begins (10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year) | Zedekiah's rebellion led to the final siege. |
Prophetic relationships
No prophecy or proposed-fulfillment relationships have been recorded for this event.
Commentary references
Layer: Interpretation. This is commentary, not historical evidence.
Guzik notes that Mattaniah was renamed Zedekiah and reigned eleven years.[4]
Unanswered questions and research gaps
Research process
1 logged searches
| Date | Query | Where | Useful |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-13 | ABC 5 (Livius) re-read | local text | 1 |
Sources
- 1.Lendering, Jona (ed.). ABC 5 (Jerusalem Chronicle / Chronicle of the early years of Nebuchadnezzar) — English translation on Livius.org. Livius.org. www.livius.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textFull translation page read (obverse 1–27, reverse 1′–13′). Cuneiform and the printed editions (Wiseman 1956; Grayson 1975; Glassner 2004) were not consulted directly. Julian equivalents on the page follow Parker & Dubberstein.Verification log
- 2.Wikipedia contributors. Nebuchadnezzar Chronicle — Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. en.wikipedia.orgClaim checkedPopular summaryUsed for museum/acquisition details of BM 21946.Verification log
- 3.Wikipedia contributors. Jehoiakim — Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. en.wikipedia.orgClaim checkedPopular summaryVerification log
- 4.Guzik, David. 2 Kings 24 — Enduring Word Bible Commentary. Enduring Word. enduringword.comClaim checkedTheological commentaryInterpretive resource — not historical corroboration.Verification log