16 He also led away 7,000 soldiers and 1,000 skilled workers, all of them trained for battle.
17 Then Nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin's uncle Mattaniah king of Judah and changed his name to Zedekiah.
18 Zedekiah was 21 years old when he was appointed king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for 11 years. His mother Hamutal was the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.
19 Zedekiah disobeyed the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done.
20 It was Zedekiah who finally rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.The people of Judah and Jerusalem had made the Lord so angry that he turned his back on them. That's why these horrible things were happening.