1. Zedekiah. Verses 1-27, 31-34 are almost identical with 2 Kings 24:18-25:21, 27-30 (see comments there). This chapter was probably added to show the complete historical fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning the downfall of Judah. On the authorship of this chapter see 344.
One and twenty years old. At the time of the greatest crisis in her history, Judah had the misfortune of finding her leadership in the hands of a young, inexperienced, and vacillating king.
Hamutal. Zedekiah was a half brother of Jehoiakim (see 2 Kings 23:36), but a full brother of Jehoahaz (see 2 Kings 23:31), who years before had been taken from the throne by Necho II of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar’s great rival.