Jechoniah is mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy, even though his father is not, because Jechoniah’s reign marked the deportation of the largest number of people to Babylon, as dated in Ezekiel 1:2. As well, after Jechoniah, the line of David had no more kings or important people (Jeremiah 22:14–30).
It was with Jechoniah that the royal glory of the house of David had finally come to an end (Jeremiah 22:24–30). After him and his little-known brothers, all the descendants of David were unknown and unimportant people.1
After Josiah, the kings are nothing more than mere pawns of Egypt and Babylon. Matthew names Jechoniah (that is, Jehoiachin) last, because this king was deported with the largest segment of the people of Judah into captivity (Ezekiel 1:2 is dated from that deportation).2
11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.