The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-08-17
JEREMIAH CAST
INTO PRISON

LESSON TEXT. Jeremiah g.
MEMORY VERSE. l5.

when men shall reyie you and prosecute
you, and say all manner OF evil against
you falsely, for my sake Matt. 5:ll:
TINE OF this lesson was B c. 5Ss-5S6,
IS years after our last lesson during the
last siege Of jerusalem by Nebuchadnez-
zar. from the 9Th 10 the llth year Of Zede-
kah's reign.
PLACE.-Jerusalem surrounded by tho
besieging armies Of the Cnaldedns. and
suffering from famine and pestilence DER
3s:2)
jeremiah had prophesled nearly 40 years
(since 62G) and was prematurely old
man.
Zsdeklah was the last king OF Judah.
reigning II years.
Nebuchadnezzar. 18th and 18th year OF
his reign.
Jehoiakim reigned six years after
he had burned the roll OF JeremiaiIs
prophecies, which, like the fabled
phoenix rose anew and fresh from
the ashes He was slain in 597.
The first blow OF the threatened
doom of Judah had fallen during the
fourth year Of his reign, the first toll
ing OF the bell Of Judgment which
should have summoned the very dead
in sin to awake But they gave no
heed.
Jehoiachin. his son, ascended the
throne, a bad. weak boy. utterly unfit
TO cope with the situation. His reign
hoiachin descended the full force OF
the divine vengeance incurred by
previous generations. He was scarcely
on the throne when the Chaldean
forces which had been ravaging Ju-
dea, were Joined by Nebuchadnezzar
himself, and closed around Jerusa-
lem, and Jehoiachin surrendered at
discretion. The arm of Babylon raised
to strike his father fell on him, and
fulfilled the prophecy against Jehoia-
kim. He shall have none to sit upon
the throne OF David" Jehoiachin was
kept a prisoner In Babylon for 81
years and was then released. Ezekiel
was carried away with him, and tho
great-grandfather of Mordecai, Queen
Esthers cousin.
This was the second blow OF divine
judgment. the beginning OF the second
captivity, when 10000 people were car
ried captive to Babylon. Among them
were the kings wives and officers,
and 1000 that were strong and apt
for war, and 1000 craftsmen; and q
large part OF the 5,40O vessels of gold
and silver from the Temple and pal
aces. The policy OF Nebuchadnezzar
was to remove out of the way all those
who might be able to organize re-
volt when he and his army had de-
parted. Such men It would have been
dangerous to leave behind 1t would
seem as II all this would have been
sufficient to prevail on the people to
repent and be saved.
Zedekiah, the brother of Jehoiakin.
was placed upon the throne by Nebu-
chadnezzar, "a shadow king over
desperate band of men. During the
first nine years Of his reign the ma
ton, instead OF embracing the oppor-
tunity Of repentance, plunged more
deeply into folly The dregs Of the
people, left behind In Jerusalem. laid
this flattering unction to their souls:
I'VE have been spared by Jehovah,
therefore we are righteous in his
sight"
During a brief respite while Nebu-
chadnezzar left Jerusalem free while
he fought the Egyptians jeremiah
went forth out Of Jerusalem to go into
the land of Benjamin. His home was
at Anathoth In Benjamin. three or
four miles north of the city. II was
apparently to secure his share of the
tithes and produce Of the Levlticai
glebe Of the village. due to him as one
of its priests. Knowing that the Chal-
deans would return, 1t was imperative
that he should obtain tie means OF
subsistence to take back into the city,
so soon to be beleagured afresh. 9th
ers think It was to secure himself In
the possession of an Inheritance
There was natural rush to get out
OF the city after so long a confine-
ment. jeremiah went wi.h the others,
When Jeremiah was in the gate OF
Benjamin, the north gate Of the city,
that by which any one would go to
the country of Benjamin which ad-
Joined Jerusalem, a guar,l said: Thou
fallest away to the Chaldeans; you
are trying to desert TO the enemy"
His well known prophecies of the de-
struction OF the city, and advice that
the people should yield the city to the
Chaldeans, gave color TO this accusa-
tion.
Then said jeremiah: False! A liel
/ fall not a way to the Chaldeans.
He was arrested by the guard and
brought to the princes, the officials OF
the government, who were wroth with
jeremiah. He had compared them to
rotten figs. He was the strongest and
most resolute opponent of their war
policy. But for him they would have
had II all their own way.
jeremiah was placed in a dungeon
under the prison building jerusalem
was honey combed with subterranean
cisterns, vaulted or arched overhead,
and cabins, vaults, the subterranean,
arched spaces Of a cistern, containing
water.
At last Zedekiah, the king, secretly
took him out to inquire; "Is there any
word from the Lord?" Jeremiah re-
piled. There is" The word was'
Thou shalt be delivered into the hand
of the king of Babylon" At Jeremiah's
request, and to escape from the guilt
of being the murderer Of the prophet,
zedekiah had him cared for in the
court of the guard. and supplied him