Zedekiah reigned as the final monarch of the Kingdom of Judah. Installed as a puppet king by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, his reign spanned from approximately 597 to 586 BCE. His defiance of Babylonian authority led to a siege of Jerusalem, culminating in the city’s destruction, the destruction of the First Temple, and the exile of the Judean elite to Babylon.
This period marks a pivotal moment in Jewish history. The fall of Jerusalem and the end of the Davidic monarchy ushered in a period of profound reflection and change. It solidified the Babylonian exile, a formative experience that shaped Jewish identity and religious practice, leading to the development of synagogues and the canonization of scriptures. Understanding this era provides crucial context for subsequent developments in Jewish history, including the eventual return from exile and the Second Temple period.
