Zedekiah’s Reign

¹¹ Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. ¹² He did evil in the sight of^[a] the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, the Lord’s spokesman. ¹³ He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him vow allegiance^[b] in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and refused to return^[c] to the Lord God of Israel. ¹⁴ All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations.^[d] They defiled the Lord’s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.