And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
This should have been the history of king Jehoiachin's reign, but, alas! it is only the history of king Jehoiachin's captivity, as it is called, Eze 1:2. He came to the crown, not to have the honour of wearing it, but the shame of losing it. Ideo tantum venerat, ut exiret - He came in only to go out. I. His reign was short and inconsiderable.
Commenting on 2 Kings 24:8-20
ZEDEKIAH'S EVIL REIGN. (Kg2 24:17-20) the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his father's brother, king in his stead--Adhering to his former policy of maintaining a show of monarchy, Nebuchadnezzar appointed the third and youngest son of Josiah (Ch1 3:15), full brother of Jehoahaz, and uncle of the captive Jehoiachin.
Made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead - He was the son of Josiah, and brother to Jehoiakim. Changed his name to Zedekiah - See the note on Kg2 23:34.