Verses 1-2 serve both as a transition from Jehoiakim’s reign (chapter 36) and as a summary heading for chapters 37–44, which apparently came into the book of Jeremiah as a unit.

Zedekiah: For his appointment as king, see 2 Kgs 24.17; 2 Chr 36.10.

Good News Translation adopts the principle of using the more widely known name of a person where a lesser known name occurs. This is the reason that Nebuchadrezzar is rendered “Nebuchadnezzar” (see 21.2) and Coniah is rendered “Jehoiachin” (see 22.24).

The order of the verse is rather confusing, which is the basis for the restructuring of Good News Translation.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .