Zedekiah

20So listen to the word of the LORD, all of you far from home. I sent you away from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:

21The LORD who leads heaven's armies, the God of Israel, speaks about two men. They are Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah. They tell you lies and say the words came from me. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He will kill them while you watch.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;

22Because of them, the people of Judah in Babylon will say a curse. They will say, "May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab. The king of Babylon burned them in the fire."

And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;

NoteBurning a person in a fire was a punishment some kings used. People remembered it, so these two names were used in curses.

23They did a shameful thing in Israel. They slept with other men's wives. They told lies and said the words came from me. I never told them to say those things. I know it, and I saw it, says the LORD.

Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.

NoteMarried people promise to belong only to each other. These men broke that promise with other men's wives. In Israel that was counted as a very serious wrong.