Why does the Lord say of Coniah “Write this man down as childless” and that none of his offspring “shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah”?
The imagery in the final verse of the passage is of a scribe recording prisoners of war being taken into Babylon. A register of this kind would record the head of every family, followed by his dependents and would often have a comment listing the person as disgraced or banished. In the imagery the official in charge declares Jehoiachin as childless, a man who will not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.
1 This is of course the Lord’s judgment against Jehoiachin, being spelled out. The reality is that Jehoiachin did have children (1 Chronicles 3:17–18), but the meaning of this verse is that none of his children would ever continue his reign as king of Judah. These words are not aimed primarily at Jehoiachin, but rather at the people of Judah. The Lord is spelling out the consequences of following unfaithful kings. The covenant blessing of having a king in the line of David who would bring safety and peace to the land has been removed forever. Those who were still in the land hoping that either Jehoiachin or one of his sons would return to restore the land are hoping in vain. Both the kings and the people of Judah have broken the covenant and so now curse for the nation is the inevitable result.
30 Ainsi parle l'Eternel: Inscrivez cet homme comme privé d'enfants, Comme un homme dont les jours ne seront pas prospères; Car nul de ses descendants ne réussira A s'asseoir sur le trône de David Et à régner sur Juda.