Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-08-23
LESSON FOR AUGUST 26.
THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH.

| Lord God, have no pleasure in the
death of the wicked.-Ezekel 3S:11.
Many years after the kingdom of
Israel was taken captive by the AS
syrians, Judah was carried away to
Babylon. Judahs captivity was in
three stages, covering about twenty
years. The first deportation was while
Jehoiakim was king. Daniel and his
friends went into captivity at this
time dan. :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 one described in our les
son. 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.
I. Jerusalem Besieeed wv. 1-3).
Zedekiah owed his kingship to the king
of Babylon Chapter "a 10, who APP
pointed him to the throne after the re-
moval of Jehoiakim. His name was
changed from Mattaniah to Zedekiah.
He was not q 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.
Nebuchadnezzar came in person with
all his host and laid siege to Jerusalem,
even building forts against it ". u.
This siege lasted for about 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 book of
Lamentations. Mothers ate their own
children Clam. 4:10). The richest, even
ladies in silken robes, wandered about
searching for scraps in the dung heaps
Clam. 500. 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 fled by night. His
thought was to escape to the country
beyond the Jordan. The Chaldean
army overlook him, scattered his army,
and carried Zedekiah to Riblah, where
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS had his headquarters.
Here judgment was passed upon him.
In his trial 1t was shown that his
solemn oath of allegiance to the Chal-
deans had been broken, thus showing
himself q traitor (1 Chron. SO :13). AS
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 pris-
oner till his death (Jer. 80 :11). In this
we have a marvellous fulfillment of
prophecy ezekiel 12:3), which says
that ZedelSiah shall be taken to Baby
Ion 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, even though we cannot
explain Its details.
III. The Destruction Of the City wv.
S-10). 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 ". 10Y and mas
sacred many of the people Clam,
2:3, ~.
w. 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 it was taken. Many doubtless de.
serted to the BabylonIans during this
siege, as even jeremiah was arrested
on this charge (Jer. 8S :13). The poor
of the land were left to be vine dress
ers and husbandmen. The wealthy
: and influential were taken away, as
they would be of value to the conquer
ing nation; besides they would be q
menace If left behind. The poor were
left because pauper captives would bC
burden.
Besides it was very undesirable
for the land to lie in waste, as theT
they could not exact tribute from It
To that end encouragement was glveT
by the Babylonians as vineyards ant
fields" were given to the poor.
2. The contents Of the temple wv
1920. From the temple which hnt
been twice plundered before III Chron
] 1877, 10), such Of gold, silver ont
bronze vessels as still remained wer
taken, even the great pillars of tn