Theocratic Ministry School Review - Theocratic Collector.com

Zedekiah, the son of King Josiah by his wife Hamutal, originally bore the name Mattaniah.
When his nephew King Jehoiachin was taken captive by the Babylonians, Mattaniah was
made vassal king, subject to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. At that time his name was
changed by Nebuchadnezzar to Zedekiah, meaning “Jehovah is righteousness.” Zedekiah
was required to take an oath in Jehovah’s name that he would remain loyal to
Nebuchadnezzar. But would he keep his oath-bound promise?—2 Ki. 24:12, 17, 18; 2 Chron.
36:13; Jer. 37:1.
For a while Zedekiah did. But in time he yielded to the pressure from powerful princes in
his realm who were agitating for revolt against the Babylonians. So he broke his promise and
rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and turned to Egypt for help. To quell this rebellion, the
king of Babylon led his forces against Jerusalem, laying siege to the city in the ninth year of
Zedekiah’s reign.—Jer. 52:3, 4; Ezek. 17:15.
As Jeremiah had foretold, Jerusalem did fall to the Babylonians. In the 11th year of
Zedekiah’s reign, the enemy forces breached the city’s walls. Under the cover of darkness,
Zedekiah and a detachment of warriors took flight, but were overtaken in the desert plains of
Jericho. Brought before Nebuchadnezzar for judgment, Zedekiah first witnessed the slaying of
his sons. Then he was blinded and taken prisoner to Babylon. The fear of man had indeed
proved to be a snare to him.—Jer. 52:9-11.
7. What are Jehovah’s “footstool” and his “booth”
(Lamentations 2:1) O how Jehovah in his anger beclouds the daughter of Zion! He has
thrown down from heaven to earth the beauty of Israel. And he has not remembered his
footstool in the day of his anger.
(Lamentations 2:6) And he treats his booth violently like that in a garden. He has brought his
festival to ruin. Jehovah has caused to be forgotten in Zion festival and sabbath, And in his
angry denunciation he shows no respect for king and priest.
(w07 6/1 p.9 par 2)
2:1, 6—What is Jehovah’s “footstool” and his “booth”? The psalmist sang: “Let us come
into his grand tabernacle; let us bow down at his footstool.” (Psalm 132:7) Hence, the
“footstool” of Lamentations 2:1 refers to Jehovah’s house of worship, or his temple. The
Babylonians ‘burned the house of Jehovah’ as if it were a booth, or a mere hut, in a garden.—
Jeremiah 52:12, 13.
8. What did Jeremiah mean when he said that Jehovah would
“remember and bow low over” him, and why is this of great
significance to us?
(Lamentations 3:20) Without fail your soul will remember and bow low over me.
(w 07 6/1 p.11 par 3)