The Curse of Jeconiah
Jeremiah 22:29 כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה כִּתְבוּ אֶת-הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה עֲרִירִי גֶּבֶר לֹא-יִצְלַח בְּיָמָיו כִּי לֹא יִצְלַח מִזַּרְעוֹ אִישׁ יֹשֵׁב עַל-כִּסֵּא דָוִד וּמֹשֵׁל עוֹד בִּיהוּדָה:
Thus Said HaShem: Write ye this [man stripped of able-men] (or childless), a man that shall not have his days; for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Yehudah (Judah).
And earlier on...
Jeremiah 22:23 חַי-אָנִי נְאֻם-יְהוָה כִּי אִם-יִהְיֶה כָּנְיָהוּ בֶן-יְהוֹיָקִים מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה חוֹתָם עַל-יַד יְמִינִי כִּי מִשָּׁם אֶתְּקֶנְךָּ:
As
I live, Said HaShem, though Coniah son of Jehoiakim, king of Yehudah (Judah), were the signet upon My right hand, I would tear you off even from there.
This is the infamous curse of Jeconiah. He has been Cursed by God for being a bad king when he is sitting in the throne of David and doing what is abominable in the sight of the King of kings.
However, if compared with Haggai 2:23,
In that day, Said HaShem of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel, Said HaShem, and will make thee as a signet; for I Have Chosen thee, Said HaShem of hosts.
Zerubbabel is the descendant of Jeconiah. God, apparently, Has Established him back as the signet ring of Yehudah (Judah). However, firstly, one has to know the definition of a signet. A signet in the Hand of God means that certain someone can rule, as a king, but Zerubbabel is just a governor.
Due to his own effort Zerubbabel has gained favour in the Eyes of the Lord but as he is a governor, he never sits upon the throne of Yehudah, he is just a governor and the true ruling power is still Darius'. God Made this promise to Zerubbabel because he merits it himself, not through his grandfather's royal descend. Interestingly, God Said, 'write Jeconiah as stripped of able-man' (succession-less), which means that actually, Jeconiah is considered 'childless' and he will not have a succession on the throne of David and this is fulfilled.
So there you have it, his son being Governor of Yehudah but not a king. However, this implies that one of his seed did prosper but this he merits it himself, and none of Zerubbabel's seeds ascend the throne. Interestingly enough, the curse about the signet only applicable to Jeconiah but not his descendants.
The only verse that signifies God's Curse to his descendants is in Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) 22.29, there God Made no mention of a Chotam (signet). However, God Brought this Chotam issue out to Zerubbabel, in a sense that, God is reminding him of something.
However, there is more:
"R. Johanan said: Exile atones for everything, for it is written, Thus saith the Lord, write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days, for no man of his seed shall prosper sitting upon the throne of David and ruling any more in Judah. (Jer. XXII, 30). Whereas after he [the king] was exiled, it is written, And the sons of Jechoniah, — the same is Assir — Shealtiel his son etc. (1 Chr. III, 17)33. [He was called] Assir, (Imprisoned) because his mother conceived him in prison. Shealtiel, because God did not plant him in the way that others are planted. We know by tradition that a woman cannot conceive in a standing position. [yet she did conceive standing. Another interpretation: Shealtiel, because God obtained [of the Heavenly court] absolution from His oath.4 Zerubbabel [was so called] because he was sown in Babylon.
Footnotes
33. I Ch. III, 17. Notwithstanding the curse that he should be childless and not prosper, after being exiled he was forgiven.
4. Which He had made, to punish Jeconiah with childlessness."
Sanhedrin 37b - 38a, Soncino Talmud Edition
My Commentary
If the literal meaning of the verse is to be taken upon, then yes, his curse of childlessness has been redeemed but his curse of without successions has not. He had never had a descendant on the throne of David ever again. There is a multitude facets in God's Words. As explained (Jeremiah 23.29) 'Is not My word like as fire? Saith HaShem; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces'. (See my previous posts)
Another interesting insight:
" . . . they made the Calf and deserved to be exterminated, and I would have thought that He would curse and destroy them, yet, no sooner had they repented, than the danger was averted, And the Lord repented of the evil (ib. XXXII, 14).And so in many places. For example, He said about Jeconiah: For no man of his seed shall prosper (Jer. XXII, 30) and it says, I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations... In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet (Hag. II, 22 f.). Thus was annulled that which He had said to his forefather, viz. As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim King of Judah were the signet upon My right hand, yet I would pluck thee thence (Jer. XXII, 24)."
Bamidbar Rabbah XX:20, Soncino Midrash Rabbah
My Opinion
Since this is a Midrash, I would like to add in something. As I have said, lastly in the previous argument, God Has Never Used the signet issue on Jeconiah's descendants. What has God Annulled? However, I find this intriguing as the prophecy of Haggai has not been fulfilled. Also, God Introduces this condition: He Will Weaken the nations considerably. This does not happen, then does Zerubbabel be a signet unto God? Take it this way: God Will Shake the Heaven and the Earth, then the nations will be weakened but this does not happen, so the 'day' did not come to pass, if the day does not come to pass, Is Zerubbabel a signet ring unto God? (Note that God Used; 'In That Day') Also, if that day come to pass, emphasise on 'if', then the Curse will be Annulled.
Then the last quote:
"R. Joshua ben Levi, however, argued as follows: Repentance sets aside the entire decree, and prayer half the decree. You find that it was so with Jeconiah, king of Judah. For the Holy One, blessed be He, swore in His anger, As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet on a hand, yet by My right - note, as R. Meir said, that is was by His right hand that God swore - I would pluck thee hence (Jer. 22:24). And what was decreed against Jeconiah? That he die childless (Without Succession). As is said Write ye this man childless (Without Succession) (Jer. 22:40). But as soon as he avowed penitence, the Holy One, blessed be He, set aside the decree, as is shown by Scripture's reference to The sons of Jeconiah - the same is Assir - Shealtiel his son, etc. (1 Chron 3:17). And Scripture says further: In that day . . . will I take thee, O Zerubbabel . . . the son of Shealtiel . . . and will make thee as a signet (Haggai 2:23). Behold, then, how penitence can set aside the entire decree!
Pesikta Rabbati, Piska 47, translated by William G. Braude, Yale University Press, pg. 797-798
My Commentary
Repentance does help in setting aside heavenly punishment. However, as I have point out, Zerubbabel has never been a signet unto God. Even though it seems that God Has Forgiven Jeconiah but Zerubbabel has never been a signet. If the curse of God (Being stripped of able-men) being taken literary, then yes, it has been annulled but not with the word of being without succession.
However, Zerubbabel does, through his pious deeds, win favours in the Eyes of HaShem.
Conclusion
The conclusion is this, the curse has not been lifted fully. It is with God's Mercy that Jeconiah's descendants prosper and is their own personal act that save them. With all these prophecies concerning the uplifting of the curse, none really produce concrete result. The Haggai's prophecy is unfulfilled and cannot be fulfilled after Zerubbabel's death.
Even though the Rabbis have comes up a number of explanation that the Curse might be lifted, we still haven't see any concrete evidence on this. I would prefer to say that the Curse is still valid, seeing that Jeconiah's seeds really do not ascend the throne. Although one almost did, but he still have not.
I am sort of differing with the Sages, not to mislead but to open an honest discussion. Please, I pray you, is there anyone to help me with this matter. The things I am saying might be complete nonsense, so please help me to correct my way.
Shalom.
6 comments:
Henri.
Found this post very interesting and thought provoking. As you say, there are many interpretations of the curse-lifted or not.
As of yet, I am still looking at various sources, although at this moment, I feel the curse still holds. And that Zerubbabel, as a signet, reigned with a limited power over the Jewish people on their return from captivity.
Here are some words from others to add to the pot.
This, by Rabbi Tovia Singer.
According to an opinion found in a number of rabbinic sources, which include Tractate Sanhedrin and Leviticus Rabbah, Jeremiah's devastating curse was reversed as a result of Jeconiah's heartfelt repentance while imprisoned in his tiny Babylonian dungeon. This opinion states that while Jeconiah was in his cell, his wife was lowered into the small confinement where Jeconiah was imprisoned. He had not seen her for a long time and Jeconiah desired greatly to be intimate with her. His wife warned him, however, that she was menstruating and it would be sinful for them to indulge in marital relations during that time. In spite of Jeconiah's desire to be with her, he resisted committing this grave sin of having sexual relations with a menstruous woman. As a result of this extraordinary act of contrite repentance in exile, the curse of Jeremiah 22:30 was lifted. The Talmud therefore concludes that repentance in exile atones for all sins.
Zerubavel was remarkably righteous, and as a result, he played a central role in the restoration of the second commonwealth. In fact, as a result of his faithfulness, Zerubavel was bestowed with great authority over the Jewish people. This authority was, however, limited. When the Jewish people returned from their Babylonian exile, although Zerubavel was given the signet ring of nobility and power (Haggai 2:23), he was unable to sit on the throne of David and rule as king. Instead, as a result of Jeremiah's curse on his grandfather, Zerubavel could only act as governor over the Jewish people.
Haggai 2:22.
22. And I will overthrow the throne of the kingdoms, and I will destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. And I will overthrow the chariots and their riders; and the horses and their riders shall come down, each one by the sword of his brother.
Rashi:
and I will destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations The kingdom of Persia, which now rules over the entire world, will fall into the hands of another kingdom at the end of thirty-four years from the building of the Temple, as we learned in tractate Avodah Zarah (9a).
I hope these help with your study.
Shalom.
awesome blog, do you have twitter or facebook? i will bookmark this page thanks. peace maria
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