The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-09-07
THE CAPTIVITY
OF JUDAH q q
sunday School Lesson Tor sspt. ;. ist
Specially Prepared for This Pepper.

memory verses, 1871.
GOLDEN TExT.-"Be sure your sin will
find you out."-Num. 32:2S.
T1ME.-1n the eleventh year of KIM
Zedeklah, y. c.. 5s6
PLACE.-Jerusalem Riblah. where Zede.
kiah was taken before Nebuchadnezzar, 2t
miles north of Jerusalem.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Pa
accounts In Kings A:1S-20; rs :1-30: Jer. 80
Ia, and still fuller account In Jer. so. Zede.
kiah's oath to acknowledgements, Jer. 81 :59;
Eek. HI1-H On the 70-years captivity
see Jer. 25:11; 2s:10; Lev. 25:1-7; 1884, IS.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. IL. "Zedekiah, reigned II years."
AS viceroy of Nebuchadnezzar, who
had stipulated that "he would surely
guard the country for him, and
neither make any political changes
nor favor the Egyptians"
V. ~. EVIL in the sight of the
Lord" He failed to be loyal to
Jehovah or to support, as 1t was his
privilege to do, the temple worship,
and the true prophets. "Humbled not
himself before jeremiah" While he
had frequently sought this prophets
advice, and asked an interest In his
prayers (see chapter 3O, he had not
followed the prophets advice, nor
protected his person.
v. 13. HE also rebelled:" When
Zedekiah had been on the throne
about eight years, he Joined the neigh
foring city, Tyre. and, seeking aid
from Egypt, they rebelled against
Babylon, refused to pay tribute and
prepared themselves to defy Its
power.
v. IA. Moreover" etc.: The writer
Ia now about to show what disease
caused the death Of Judah. 1t was
the same of which her sister Israel
died (See Q Kings 17:7-2S). priests
and people transgressed: II was sad
indeed when priests, who should have
been the guides in righteousness, be
came the companions of the people In
doing evil.
v. IL. God Of their fathers" Since
the time Of Abraham, God had been
blessing their race, and trying to re.
veal Himself to them. "Sent .
His messengers" The name mes.
senger" commonly, but not always.
refers to a prophet Some Of Judah's
kings had been messengers for God.
He had also sent to this race, Moses.
Samuel. Elijah. Elisha, and more re.
Gently Isaiah. jeremiah and Ezekiel.
v. 16. "They mocked tho messep,
gers" Nearly every prophet had
been maltreated by the people he
sought to help, jeremiah had been
Knocked by q false prophet, Hananiah
(See Jer. 28l. "Despised bis words:
Refused to heed the warning given by
the prophets, or to walk in the ways
OF righteousness which they pointed
out. "Misused:" Better in Revised
Version, "Scoffed at:" Verbal mock
cry, not bodily harm, Is here alluded
to. Bodily harm had, however, been
inflicted upon the prophets in many
cases. and quite recently Urijah had
been slain (Jer. 26:20-23). -ssirsl =
v. II. Therefore," Because OF
what has just been stated. "He
brought Chaldees:" The
Chaldean. or Babylonian, army
came to besiege the city. Judah's
JcuVNdu was SOu vi oil DtO-
pies, and ofttimes used one In chias.
tising another. 1t was a natural pun
ishment, for sin weakens any people
and no nation could live long while
practicing such iniquities as were rife
in Judah. "Slew no com.
passion" etc.: The Chaldeans. as
warriors, were very cruel. .kzAx...
v. Is. "All the vessels .
Cod" The sacred furniture and
dishes which had been left after the
previous sacking of the temple G.
Chron. 36:10). A list Of the vessels
now taken Is given In Kings
25:13.17. ~---.,.-. --.--.,.
v. 10. Burnt the house Of Cod"
Thus they slowed their defiance Of
Israel's God. Brake down the wall: I"
After many months OF beating upon
the walls with battering.rams, q place
at the northern side gave way. and
the Chaldeans entered at midnight.
v. 20. Them that had escaped" ="
Those who had survived the siege and
such % had previously surrendered
themselves to the enemy. Carried
. Babylon" King Nebuchad.
nexsar hrst held sort of court at
Riblah. some 200 miles north OF
Jerusalem. Here the leaders In re.
bellion were picked out and summar-
lily punished. jeremiah, and probably
others. were permitted to return to
the city. while the remainder. includ.
Ing the king. were taken to Baby ron.
v. 81. ITO fulfll the word" ETC..
See marginal references. jeremiah
had always held out this gleam of
hope: After the captivity, return.
Until the land sabbaths:"
Read Lev. 25:l.7; 1884. IS. BY that
law It was provided that the land
should lie idle every seventh year.
This law evidently had been disre-
garded by the people. who were uni.
formly SO careless concerning Gods
requirements. Now, through being 80
largely depopulated, the land would
enjoy enforced rest for 10 years.
Practical Points.
v. II. One may. like Zedekiah, be a
king In name, yet a slave at heart.
v. H. God counts as done unto Him.
self any iniquity done His ambassa.
doris or His brethren.-Matt. 25:45.
v. II. God uses even the evil traits
In man for working out His purposes
Of good.--Ps. 1910.
v. Is. Let US lay up our treasures
where they can never be stolen.-Mott.
$40.
v. 20 The calamities which sin
hrin1a here are hut tokens NJ tho ator