Jeconiah

Jeconiah, also known as Jehoiachin and Coniah, was a king of Judah and the son of Jehoiakim. He reigned in Jerusalem for a short period, traditionally about three months, around 597 BCE, during a time of Babylonian pressure on the kingdom.

His accession came after the capture of the city by Nebuchadnezzar II. Following the siege of Jerusalem, Jeconiah was taken into exile in Babylon, where he remained a prisoner for about 37 years. Historical and biblical sources describe his long captivity and his eventual release, though details of his later life and death are sparse. Babylonian records note that he was treated with some honor in exile, but they do not provide a full account of his death.

Jeconiah’s place in biblical genealogies has been a source of both interest and debate. In the Hebrew Bible, Jeremiah 22:24-30 pronounces a curse on Coniah, saying that none of his descendants would prosper or sit on the throne. This has fueled discussion about the Messianic lineage, since the New Testament presents Jesus as a descendant of David. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jeconiah is listed as the father of Shealtiel, linking Jesus to the Davidic line through the royal line of Judah. In Luke’s genealogy, a different line from David is traced to Jesus, which has been interpreted in various ways to address the curse tradition.

Overall, Jeconiah is remembered as a briefly reigning king who was displaced to exile in Babylon, with his story contributing to discussions of prophecies, the Davidic covenant, and the lineage of Jesus in Christian tradition.