Forefather
Righteous Jeconiah (Jehoiachin), forefather
VII-VI века до Р.Х.
Also known as: Иехония праотец, Иоахин, Хония
Forefather Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) — the penultimate King of Judah, who ascended the throne at age 18 and reigned only three months before Jerusalem's capture by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC; he was led into Babylonian captivity, where, according to tradition, he was later released from confinement by Nebuchadnezzar's successor; he is mentioned in the genealogy of the Savior (Matthew 1:11-12) as the father (per Matthew's genealogy) of Shealtiel.
Forefather Jeconiah (Hebrew Yehoyachin, "the Lord will establish"; also called Jehoiachin, or in shortened form Konya) was the son of King Jehoiakim and ascended the throne of the Kingdom of Judah at the age of 18. He reigned in Jerusalem for only about three months before the city was besieged and captured by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon in 597 BC (2 Kings 24:8-16; 2 Chronicles 36:9-10). Jeconiah surrendered to the Babylonians together with the royal court and was led into captivity in Babylon, where a substantial portion of Judah's nobility, soldiers, and craftsmen were also resettled.
According to 2 Kings 25:27-30, after 37 years of captivity, upon the accession of Evil-Merodach (son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar), Jeconiah was released from prison, shown royal honor, and received a court allowance for the rest of his life.
Jeconiah is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ according to the Evangelist Matthew (Matthew 1:11-12) as the father of Shealtiel (though according to 1 Chronicles 3:17-19 the precise genealogical connection is described somewhat differently) — he is venerated by the Church among the Old Testament forefathers, ancestors of the Savior according to the flesh, commemorated on the Sunday of the Forefathers, the Sunday preceding the Nativity of Christ.