Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-24

The closing years of the kingdom OF
judah constitute one Of the most in
tenseIy interesting and important Pc
RODS in ali history-secular or sacred
World politics were in as unsettled a
condition as at the present time. As
syria was on the wane; BabylOnia was
in the ascendency; Egypt was about 10
jump at the throat OF Babylon To Sc
cure her share OF the spoils of Assyria:
and poor little Judah was between the
upper and neither millstones, without
strength and without hope. Yes, with
out nope, for although Josiah had
wrought a great change. the nation had
turned their back on God once too Of
ten. their doom had been spoken, and
only waited Tor the blow To tall.
Jeremiah, as the spokesman OF God,
mad been telling them for many years
their impending doom. and had leaned
toward Babylon rather than Egypt. He
had impressed Josiah sufficiently to
make him lean toward Babylon too and
against Egypt. When Pharoah Necho
made a campaign against Babylon. he
went out TO tight him. although warn
ed against it, Incognito, he was found
however by Gods arrow. and came home
bleeding 10 death in his chariot There
was great mourning for him. for he had
been a great king.
THE TWO PARTIES
The nation divided into two PARTIES
those wEO favored Egypt an ally. and those
WHO favored Babylon. There was probabIy
also a national party. very small. who were
depending wholly on God. like jeremiah but
who foTesaw their inability TO bring others
10 that position The people who favored Baby
Ion we're 4 little strong just now because of
Josiah's influence, - they put Jehoahaz his
son, on the throne. probably going past his elder
brother 70 do this His reign was very brief,
Fw~ INrg4w~
three months later, put him down. bound him
ard carried him TO Egypt where he died. Necho
took his brother. Eliakim. changed his name
70 1ehOiakim. and placed him on the throne
and eVacted a large indemnity from the nation
for their hostility 70 his plans. OF course,
Jeheiakim favored Egypt; the Egyptian party
therefore was in the aSeendsncy.
But this did not suit the Babylonisn king.
Nao2F'l9ssar or his son and commander-in-
his father az this time until his fathers death
during that year - In the third year of Je
hois zIm, NebuchednezZaT hesieged the city and
tcOk captive many Of the best people. even
some II the royal faInily-DanieI and his
hrctners tor ro's-Snst- whose names were aft
erwsrds changed 70 Shadrack- Meshsck and
AbednsgO-
one year later. the fourth year of Jehoiakim
AMI this = the most important year in the
chronology fsee Jer. 25:I-3Tt-and the first
year Of Ne5uchsdneZxar. he captured Jehois kim
himself and bound him with the intention OF
carrying him to Babylon. He changed his
mind and left him in Jerusalem. probably think
ing he would be more valuable to him there
tn&U as a captive m the rHWttat. This
Year jeremiah spoke again: it had been twenty
three years siuce he began to speak for God
TO this people. This same year he was com
marded to write his prophecies in q book for
perTanencv- This same year he prophesied
that the captivity should last for seventy years
This same year Baruch tJeremiah's sacrethry)
was promised deliverance- This same year
Nebuchacnezzar began TO reign alone. This
same year jeremiah prophesied that all the ma
ions were 70 Dc conquered by Nebuchsdnezzar.
that he vas 20 Be- the first world emperor.
See Jer- =. =. SO. AZ.
The next year Nehuchadnezzar had his
aream 81 world empires. which Daniel inter
preted 70 him And tine NEXT. the fifth Of Je-
hoiakim. this latter king r-begIed against Neb-
uehadnezzar and refused 70 psy the tar which
bad been imposed upon HMM other words the
Egyptian party was growing stronger in Jeru-
sa,sm, IN spite Of the preaching Of jeremiah.
paid attention this for about five years
bat then in tie seventh year Of bis reign 1.-THE
conquered him the next year Ibis eighth
Ishoiakim was succeeded By bis son. Jehoia-
chin He Is also called Jeconiah and Corizh
A very interesting sideIiEht on scrIpturaI &C.
curacy Is given in connection with him. I'd
Kings says be was eighteen years old when he
began 10 reign, while the record in "a Chroni-
eles is eight years- II would seem to be an
tnAceuracy, but IL Is rot Chronicles is the
religious. while Kings is the political history
Of the nati9n. He was eighteen years cid, but
the correct translation Of the passage in Chroni-
eiss is. be was son O eight years" that IS
power. Tsis Is absolutely accurate. for IL was
in the eighth year OF Nebuchadnezzar's power
rather.
THE FINAL BREAK.
Jehoischtn reigned only three months and ten
days. For Nebuehsdnezzsr took him and car
rief him captive 20 Babylon with . great mum
her Of people leaving only the poorest in the
lsud. Among these captves were Ezekiel and
Morfecsi 1.-THE first cousin Of Esther He was
~aptivity Is dated not only all Of the prophecies
% Ezekiel. but the seventy years Of tudah's
captivity IN Babylou- From &c also. most prob
ably. must Be dated the beginning Of the LINES
~ the GentiIes" du1ng which Jerusalem shall
be trcfden under foot Of the Gentfl.s. and
which viii -snd when Jesus. the King Of the
kingdom % David 90 Davtd's throne At Jerusa-
lem Ever sinSe Nebuchadnezxar captured Je-
hoiachin. jerusalem has been under Gentle
direct line from David. for when he was taken
away captive. Nehuchadnezxsr placed HIS uncle
Mattauish iIOsiah's third SOM on the throne
his vsssaL bis underlinE. ard changed dhis
70 Zedekiah- Thus Josiah hal three Of
hts sons 20 sit the throne-JehoahaE placed
there by the PEOPLE. Jehoiakim placed there by
the king % Egypt. snd Zedekish placed there
by th~ king OF Bsbylon.
Zstekiah never king in fact. hut only
the puppet cf Sebuchsdneizsr. He was q
wsakling who Yielded 10 the viii Of the last
adviSor-aiulozt entirely. For eleven years he
zcted as Nebu~hadnexzarss tax collector: but
T-rty rebeIled. Nebuchsdnezzsr laid siege 10
the city IN the ninth year Of his vaSSalage.
The city well-nigh impregnsble. II could
only be reached from one sfde-th~ north-be-
.aw~- ~ IRE praringtous cliffs on fhe other
three. The victorious armies Of the first world
Fnngueror were pCv-erieS@ against II. Jeremiah
Babylon and their lives and their city.
but the princes. favorable 10 the Egyptian
rarty. Induced Zedekiah put him In a dun
gem for giving such advice.
But what force couid not accomplish famine
I'D The conditions were distressing, and
weakened the fighting men. Feeding sn army
81 IN. north wan we're rot able TO resist. q