1)
Was Tzidkiyah truly a Rasha?
1.
'Rashi' citing R. Eliezer b'Rebbi Meshulam: His only Aveiros were not humbling himself in front of Yirmeyah (Yirmeyah 38:17; Tzidkiyah did not heed him), and [rebellion against, i.e.] transgressing his Shevu'ah to Nebuchadnetzar (verse 13). He did not do "v'So'avosav? veha'Nimzta Alav" of Yehoyakim (verse 8), even though it says "like all that Yehoyakim did" (Melachim II, 24:5). Malbim (Melachim II, 24:19) ? that verse refers to these two Aveiros, which also Yehoyakim did. Tzidkiyah was a Tzadik; his generation were Resha'im (Sanhedrin 103b 1 ).
2.
Midrash Tanchuma (Vayetzei 4): Yes.
1
The Gemara said also that he did not protest against his generation. (PF)
