The Raymer enterprise., 1911-08-10
JEREMIAH CAST
INTO PRISON
S.l,y Sekssl L.s.ss fer A.s. -. 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper

yOus say dll IlduueE Ok CIVIL d6dlunl
you falsely. for my sake."-Matt. 5:n.
TIME Of this lesson was B. C. $685.
IS years after our last lesson during the
last siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnez-
Ear. from the 9Th to the 11th year Of Zede-
kiah's reign.
PLACE.-Jerusalem surrounded by the
besieging armies of the Chaldeans, and
suffering from famine and pestilence (Jer
as:2).
jeremiah had prophesied nearly 40 years
(since 626) and VIZ prematurely old
man.
Zedekiah was the last king Of Judah.
reigning II years
Nebuchadnexzar. 18th and 18th year Of
his reign.
Jehoiakim reigned six years after
he had burned the roll Of Jeremiahs
prophecies, which, like the tabled
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. bad. weak boy. utterly unfit
to cope with the situation. His reign
lasted only three months. Upon Je-
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 prisoner in Babylon for 81
years and was then released.
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 a
large part Of the 5.400 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 1t 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 a
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 fattering 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 90 into
the land Of Benjamin. His home was
at Anathoth in Benjamin. three or
four miles north Of the city. 1t was
apparently to secure his share Of the
tithes and produce Of the Levitical
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 the 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 confine-
ment. jeremiah went with the others.
When jeremiah was in the gate OF
Benjamin. the north gate Of the city,
that by which any one would 90 to
the country Of Benjamin which ad-
Joined Jerusalem, a guard said: Thou
fallest away to the Chaldeans; you
are trying to desert to the enemy"
Then said Jeremiah: False! A lie!
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 It all their own way.
jeremiah was placed In 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: rs 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"