¹³ He made a treaty with a member of the royal family and forced him to take an oath of loyalty. He also exiled Israel’s most influential leaders,

¹³ He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath of loyalty in God’s name. Zedekiah was a hard and stubborn man, refusing to turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.

¹⁵ Nebuchadnezzar led King Jehoiachin away as a captive to Babylon, along with the queen mother, his wives and officials, and all Jerusalem’s elite. ¹⁶ He also exiled 7,000 of the best troops and 1,000 craftsmen and artisans, all of whom were strong and fit for war. ¹⁷ Then the king of Babylon installed Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s^[a] uncle, as the next king, and he changed Mattaniah’s name to Zedekiah.

Zedekiah Calls for Jeremiah

37 Zedekiah son of Josiah succeeded Jehoiachin^[a] son of Jehoiakim as the king of Judah. He was appointed by King Nebuchadnezzar^[b] of Babylon.

² This was after King Jehoiachin,^[a] the queen mother, the court officials, the other officials of Judah, and all the craftsmen and artisans had been deported from Jerusalem.

Good and Bad Figs

24 After King Nebuchadnezzar^[a] of Babylon exiled Jehoiachin^[b] son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, to Babylon along with the officials of Judah and all the craftsmen and artisans, the Lord gave me this vision. I saw two baskets of figs placed in front of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem.