IEZONIA (Heb. Ja'āzāujah and Jēzaujāh [ä], “Jahweh hears”). - The name of several figures in the Old Testament.
1. One of the military commanders who, having dispersed after the Babylonian conquest of 587-86, Godolia (v.) in order to cooperate in the material and moral recovery of the region. He was the son of a Maacathite, perhaps so called from the name of his village or from that of a famous ancestor (cf. I Par. 2, 48; 4, 19). I. had to go to Egypt with the group of fugitives after the murder of Godolia (II Reg. 25, 23-26; Ier. 40, 8); but in Ier. 42, 1, where I. appears as the chief instigator of this decision, “Azaria” should rather be read.
2. The leader of the Rechabite group, whom Jeremiah brought into the Temple (Ier. 35, 3).
3. A figure well known to the Jews exiled in Babylon, but unknown to us. Ezekiel (8, 11) describes him as the foremost representative of idolatrous worship. His father Saphan does not appear to be identifiable with King Iosia’s secretary (II Reg. 22, 3, 4; Ier. 29, 3; etc.).
4. One of the most prominent representatives of anti-Babylonian policy (Ez. 11, 1).