The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-25
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties TanGht by Study of the
International Sunday schooI Lesson APP
pointed for March O, 1899. Jer.. 39s LILO.
Zone reading these notss should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
Indicate! RbOye.l
SUBJECTS: ]. JERUSALEM TAKEN BY Ne
BUCHADSEzzAR. III. ZEDEKIAH's ESCAPE
AND PUNISHMENT. III. JEREMIAH.
j. CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM.
]. Data.
2Ki, %: 1-3; Jer, 50: Ia.
2. Time.
We date B. c. 5Ss, or A. VI. 34I6. Tho city
was besieged in the ninth year of the reign Of
ZodckiAh, to wit, b. C. 500. IL began in the
tenth month, known among tho Hebrews as
the msnth of Tebcth, and corresponding with
about our January. The siege continued till
the 18th year of the reign Of Zedekiah. The
fourth month lShammuz), the ninth day. Thus
il lasted for about is months. Zodekah was
born b. G. GO, aud was therefore about -
years old u Ch., 80 IL jeremiah was
born about Gi3 b. C., and hence was about 50
years Of age.
3. Zedetiah.
He was a son OF Josiah, brother Of Jehoiakim.
II owed his successOrship rs King of Judah en-
tirely TO NebuchadneZZar, King of Babylon.
Accepting il thus, he made a solemn covenant
with Nebuchadnezzar to be loyal to Chaldean
subsection. lie violated his oath, reboling
against Nebuchadnczzar, siding with Egypt,
which was an enemy Of the Babylonian King.
| q Xii, 81: 20; , CHI, &c: 1913; Ezc., Il: u,
Isl He began to rule when 81 years Of age
and continued for IL years. lie was therefore
only abont aud 80 when discrowned. From
Ncbuchadnezzar's point Of view he was quite
justified in furnishing Zedekiah.
T. NeJuehadas=sar.
He was the King Of Babylon. The name Is
NcbO defend the crown. IL was during his
reign Chaldea reached its eliminating emil
nence.
8. The Siege
Besieging used to be a common way Of con-
Quoting war. With modern weapons such a
plan would be utterly useless and is out Of date.
NebHchaduozzar made thorough work of the
siege. lie was himself present. All his forces
were pitched about the city. Forts were built.
The people could not hold out long. One year
and one.half told the story. Provisions failed.
The people lost faith aud spirit. The city was
doomed. The Chaldeans took possession.
G. Suggestion.
We see how certain Gods word "a of full
flllment Had Zedekiah not been disbelieving
he would have escaped, aided in some way by
Providence. We see, too, the sad results Of DISC
beying God. We learn to keep promises.
ii. ZADEKIAH CAPTURED AND PUNISHED
]. Data
xxi, 25:47; Jcr, 39:47.
2 Tine
This practically agrees with the date of the
paragraph above.
g. Place.
Three walls surrounded Jerusalem. The
first, or the old wall, iuclosed Mount Zion and
Mount Ophel. About midway on the north
side Of Milo was what is called the Middle
Gate " b, but IS put down ordinarily on maps
Of ancient Jerusalem as Water Gate. A thor
Oughfare runs through il from the Temple the
whole length Of the TyrOpeOn Valley. having
exit nj tho northwest through the second wall
at the Gate Benjamin Tor Ephraim). where
jeremiah was arrested by Iriiah. (37: 49, The
Babyl0nian Princes. on entering the city, took
position at said Middle Water Gate. Zsde-
kiah was on Mount Zion. Seeing the siege was
raised and the Chaldeans in power and posses
sion, he fed south, passing through the Kings
garden, south Of the southern wall Of Ophel,
and out through into the road leading 10 Jeri-
cho by the southern route 10 said city. His
idea was probably to join his Egyptian ally.
He was the more eager 20 escape, since no was
conscious Of having violated his oath to Nebu-
chadnczzar, and hence knowing that mercy
would DO wholly wanting should he fall into
the hands Of the King Of Babylon. We do not
know how far Zedekiah had gone before being
overtaken and captured. Nebuchadnezzar was
at Riblah, place in Klamath, about 225 miles
north Of Jerusalem.
T. Zedekials Punishment.
The King Of Judah suffered terribly for his
sins. lie must have wished many time that
no had needed the warnings Of jeremiah. First
90 all he suffered fright and the terrOrs Of effort
10 escape. Then he was arrested and dragged
from 900 10 300 miles prisoner up 10 Riblah.
Then his children were slain before his eyes.
They must have been young, for Zedekish was
only 81 years old. Then all his confidential
friends were killed in his presence. His eyes
were destroyed. He was bound and loaded
down with chains. His enemies after that
dragged him out several hundred miles away
from Klamath 10 Babylon. The Kings house
was burned down. His Capital was RACED TO
the ground. All his principal people were
made captives.
8. Suggestions.
/ BE true 20 all your VOWS.