New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-08-24
LESSON FOR AUGUST rs.
THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH.

LESSON TEXT-II Kings 25:l-2l.
GOLDEN TEXT-As l live, saith the
Lord God, l have no pleasure in the
death Of the wicked. Ezekiel 1911.
Many years after the kingdom Of
Israel was taken captive by the AS.
syrians, Judah was carried away to
Babylon. Judah's captivity a In
three stages, covering about twenty
years. The first deportation was while
JehOiakim was king. Daniel and his
friends e into captivity at this
time (Dan. 1:1-6). The seventy years
captivity dates from this time. The
second deportation was while Jehoia-
kim reigned. Most likely Ezekiel was
carried away with this second com
pany Ezekiel 1:1-2). The third de-
portation, some twelve years after the
second, Is the n described in our les
sol At this time the greater part Of
the nation was removed to Babylon.
Only the poor and unimportant were
left. Jerusalem itself was destroyed
at this time.
l. Jerusalem Besieged wv. 1-3).
Zedekiah owed his kingship to the king
of Babylon Chapter 24:17), who ap-
pointed him to the throne after the re-
moval Of Jehoiaklm. His name was
changed from Mattanlah to Zedekiah.
He was not a good man GA :19).
Though having his position by the will
of the king of Babylon, he rebelled
against that king. He thought that by
the aid of the surrounding nations,
especially Egypt, he could throw off
the yoke Of Babylon. Jeremiah cOun-
seled submission, but the king refused.
Northumberland came in person with
all his host and laid siege to Jerusalem,
even building forts against 1t ". ~.
This siege lasted for about Il year and
a half. For a while during that period
the Chaldean army withdrew because
Of the appearance Of PharaOh's army
(Jer. 81 :5). Shut Off from help from
without, the Jews soon were famish-
ing for want Of bread. The horrors Of
this famine were awful. For a descrip-
ton of 1t one should read the hook OF
Lamentations. Mothers ate their w
children (Lam. 4:1O). The richest, even
ladies in silken robes, wandered about
searching for scraps in the dung heaps
(Lam. 4:5-1O). Their tongues clave
to the roofs of their mouths, and their
skins were dried up. Added to these
horrors were murderOus fights between
parties among the Jews. Some wanted
to surrender; others insisted upon
holding out.
II. Zedekiah's Flight wv. 40. At
length the city was broken up, and the
king and his warriors fed by night. His
thought vas to escape to the country
beyond the Jordan. The Chaldean
army overlook him, scattered his army,
and carried Zedekiah to Riblah, where
Nebuchadnezzar had his headquarters.
Here Judgment was passed upon him.
In his trial II was shown that his
solemn oath Of allegiance to the Chal-
deans had been broken, thus showing
himself n traitor III ChrOn. SO :13). As
n punishment for his ~treachery his own
SONS were slain before him, his eyes
put out ". y. and he himself carried
to Babylon, where he remained a pris-
oner till his death (Jer. 80 ny. In this
we have n marvellous fulfllment Of
prophecy Ezekiel ~ :3). which says
that Zedekinh shall be taken to Baby
lon and die there and yet not see the
city. He could not see 1t because his
eyes were out. Let US learn from this
that that which God says will surely
come to pass, eve though we cannot
explain its details.
~. The Destruction Of the City wv.
S-1O). Not only were the people taken
captive, but the city itself was sub
jected to the utmost rigOrs Of war.
| They plundered the house of the Lord,
the palace and the houses Of the. rich,
and then consigned them to the flames
". 81. They even broke down the
walls of Jerusalem ". 10) and mas
sacred many of the people liam.
pa, ~.
~. Disposition Of the Inhabitants
and the Contents Of the Temple wv.
11-21). 1. The inhabitants wv. II, 12).
They were divided into two classes,
those who had deserted to the Baby
lOnians during the siege and those who
were found inside Of the city Mt the
time 1t was taken. Many doubtless, de-
serted to the BabylOnians during this
siege. as ven Jeremiah was arrested
on this charge tJer. 3S :13). The poor
of the land were left to be vine dress
ers and husbandmen. The wealthy
and influential were taken away, Is
they would be Of value to the conquer
ing nation: besides they would be a
menace il left behind. The poor were
left because pauper cabtives would be
a burden.
Besides 1t was very undesirable
for the land to lie in waste, as then
they could not exact tribute from II.
To that end encouragement was given
by the Babylonians rs vineyards and
fields" were given to the poor.
2. The contents Of the temple wv.
1920. From the temple which had
been twice plundered before (I ChrOn.
36:7. 10Y, such of gold, silver and
bronze vessels as still remained were
taken, even the great pillars of the
molten sea. The captives and the treas
IRE were delivered to Nebuchadnezzar
at Roblah, where mor than %threescore
Of men were killed wv. 1920.
BE Not Remiss.
The friendly word, the kindly usages
Of companionship and recollection, are