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Class-Book of Old Testament History

<hr class="sect_35" /> <h3> CHAPTER <abbr title="7">VII.</abbr> DEATH OF JOSIAH. CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH. <abbr title="Second">2</abbr> Kings <abbr title="chapters 23, 24">xxiii. xxiv.</abbr>   <abbr title="Second Chronicles">2 Chron.</abbr> <abbr title="chapters 35, 36">xxxv. xxxvi.</abbr>   B.C. 623<abbr title="through">–</abbr>588.</h3> BUT the religious reformations of the pious king could not ward off the destined destruction of his kingdom. At this period the great Assyrian empire had considerably declined432, while the kingdom of Egypt under a powerful monarch named Necho433, had recovered much of its ancient glory. This king now resolved to gain possession of Carchemish434, which commanded the passage of the Euphrates. From motives which cannot be certainly divined, Josiah resolved to oppose his progress through his own territory, and, in spite of an embassy from the Egyptian monarch begging him not to interfere, drew up his forces at Megiddo, and, as though with a presentiment of his doom, disguised himself before entering into the battle. His fears were verified; struck by the Egyptian archers, he was removed from the field to die before he reached Jerusalem, where he was committed to the grave amidst the profoundest grief of his people, and especially of the prophet Jeremiah, who composed a funeral elegy over this last and best of the kings of Judah, B.C. 610 (<abbr title="Second Chronicles">2 Chr.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 35">xxxv.</abbr> 25; <abbr title="Lamentations">Lam.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 4">iv.</abbr> 20). His son and successor Jehoahaz or Shallum (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 22">xxii.</abbr> 11), only held the throne for 3 months. On his return from Carchemish, Necho condemned the land to pay a tribute of 100 talents of silver, and a talent of gold, and sending for the new king to Riblah435 in the land of Hamath, put him in bonds, and thence removed him to Egypt, where he died (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 23">xxiii.</abbr> 34). His brother Eliakim was now permitted by the Egyptian monarch to ascend the throne, and in obedience to the same authority changed his name to Jehoiakim. In the <abbr title="fourth">4th</abbr> year of his reign, or B.C. 606, Nebuchadnezzar, placed by his father Nabopolassar at the head of the Assyrian armies, marched forth to avenge the Egyptian invasion. In a pitched battle at Carchemish (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 46">xlvi.</abbr> 1<abbr title="through">–</abbr>13) he utterly defeated Pharaoh-Necho, and recovered Cœlesyria, Phœnicia, and northern Palestine. Then advancing into Judæa he drove all who had no fenced cities—and amongst the rest the Rechabites (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 35">xxxv.</abbr> 11)—to Jerusalem, captured that city, placed Jehoiakim in fetters, rifled the Temple, and carried off to Babylon some of the sacred vessels, and many of the principal Hebrew nobles, including Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (<abbr title="Daniel">Dan.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 1">i.</abbr> 1<abbr title="through">–</abbr>6). On promise, however, of faithfulness to his liege lord Jehoiakim was suffered to retain his kingly dignity, at least in name, for 3 years longer. At the close of this period he had the hardihood to try and throw off the yoke, and rebelled against his suzerain. But this only involved his kingdom in deeper misery436. Unable to take the field in person, Nebuchadnezzar sent a numerous force against him from his now subject provinces of Chaldæa and Syria, as well as Moab and Ammon (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 24">xxiv.</abbr> 2). These overran the whole country, and reduced it to the lowest degree of wretchedness and misery. During the period of degradation that now ensued, Jehoiakim, either in a contest with some of his many foes, or owing to a rising of his oppressed subjects, came to a violent end. His body lay ignominiously exposed upon the ground, and was buried with the burial of an ass, without pomp or ceremony, beyond the gates of Jerusalem, B.C. 599 (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 22">xxii.</abbr> 18, 19; <abbr title="chapter 36">xxxvi.</abbr> 30). Jehoiachin his son, also called Jeconiah and Coniah, was now placed upon the throne (<abbr title="Second Chronicles">2 Chr.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 36">xxxvi.</abbr> 9), but after a reign of 3 months and 10 days, Nebuchadnezzar’s army appeared before Jerusalem, and the young king and his court surrendered at discretion. The Temple was again pillaged of such vessels that yet remained, the king himself, the nobles, and chief artisans were removed to Babylon437, and none, save the poorest of the population, were left behind (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 24">xxiv.</abbr> 8<abbr title="through">–</abbr>16). Mattaniah, the uncle of the captive king, was now placed by the Babylonian monarch in charge of the exhausted kingdom, and took the name of Zedekiah. In defiance of the dictates of common prudence, and of the advice of the prophet Jeremiah (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapters 27, 28">xxvii. xxviii.</abbr>; <abbr title="Compare">Comp.</abbr> <abbr title="Ezekiel">Ezek.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 17">xvii.</abbr> 12<abbr title="through">–</abbr>21), he was foolish enough to court an alliance with Pharaoh-Hophra, or Apries, a new and enterprising monarch in Egypt438. Instantly the Babylonian armies were put in motion, and overran all Judah, while Jerusalem together with Lachish and Azekah alone held out. A temporary delay was caused by an effort of the king of Egypt to relieve his ally, and the necessity of first repulsing the Egyptian forces. This achieved, the Chaldæans again presented themselves before the walls of the Holy City, and besieged it for upwards of 16 months. The wretched inhabitants were reduced to the most fearful straits. Famine prevailed throughout the city (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 25">xxv.</abbr> 3); the tongue of the sucking child clave to the roof of its mouth for thirst, the young children cried for bread, and no man brake it unto them (<abbr title="Lamentations">Lam.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 4">iv.</abbr> 4); nobles that had ever before fed delicately, searched even dunghills for any remnants of food that might be found (<abbr title="Lamentations">Lam.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 4">iv.</abbr> 5); and mothers boiled their own children (<abbr title="Lamentations">Lam.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 4">iv.</abbr> 10). The Lord at last poured upon the city the cup of His fierce anger for all its iniquities, and its Day of Doom was come. At length the Chaldæan armies effected a breach in the strong walls, and made their way into the city. With a few of his troops Zedekiah effected his escape to Jericho, but was pursued, captured, and sent to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah. Judgment was then passed upon him (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 25">xxv.</abbr> 6), and his sons having first been put to death before his face, his eyes were thrust out439, and laden with fetters he was removed to Babylon, B.C. 588. Punishment having thus been inflicted on the king, Nebuzar-adan, an officer high in the confidence of the Babylonian monarch, was dispatched to Jerusalem, to carry out the complete destruction of the city. By his orders, the Temple, the royal palace, the houses of the wealthy, were set on fire; the walls were broken down; the sacred vessels of the once glorious House of Jehovah were plundered; the brazen pillars were broken up; the chief priests were put to death; and the rest with the greater part of the inhabitants were removed to Babylon. A scanty remnant was permitted to remain in their native land to be vine-dressers and husbandmen (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 52">lii.</abbr> 16), under the superintendence of Gedaliah, who with a Chaldæan guard (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 40">xl.</abbr> 1, 2, 5) was stationed at Mizpeh440 (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 25">xxv.</abbr> 23; <abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 40">xl.</abbr> 6), a strong fortress 6 miles north of Jerusalem. Declining the offer of a retreat at Babylon, Jeremiah resolved to share the lot of this miserable remnant in his own land (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 40">xl.</abbr> 6). But even the late terrible misfortunes could not calm the spirit of faction. Gedaliah was assassinated under circumstances of revolting treachery by Ishmael, a man of royal blood, together with some of the Chaldæan guard (See <abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 25">xxv.</abbr> 25; <abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 41">xli.</abbr> 1<abbr title="through">–</abbr>10). Johanan, one of the captains of the army of Judah, who had in vain warned Gedaliah of his danger (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 40">xl.</abbr> 13<abbr title="through">–</abbr>16), gathered a force and pursued the assassin as far as Gibeon, but he effected his escape beyond Jordan to the country of the Ammonites (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 41">xli.</abbr> 15). Then the little remnant of Jews, fearful of the vengeance of the Babylonian monarch, contrary to the advice of Jeremiah (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 42">xlii.</abbr> 7<abbr title="through">–</abbr>22), fled into Egypt, and after first settling at Tahpanhes (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 43">xliii.</abbr> 7), were scattered throughout the country at Migdol, Noph, and Pathros (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 44">xliv.</abbr> 1), whither also Jeremiah accompanied them, to share their fortunes and to die441. <hr class="chap_50" /> <h2 class="vm_30 h2head"> BOOK <abbr title="11">XI.</abbr> FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO THE CLOSE OF THE CANON.</h2> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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