The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-24

"a God, havo no pleasure IN the
4 Of the Wicked.-Ezekiel @:u.
Iany years after the kingdom Of
ael was taken captive by the AS
5rIans, Judah was carried away to
Babylon, Judah's captivity was in
three stages, covering about twenty
gears. The first deportation was while
behoiaklm was king. Daniel and his
friends went into captivity at this
hme (Dan. 1910. 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.
bany Ezekiel 1872. The third de-
portation, some twelve years after the
second, is the one described In our les
cot. At this time the greater part OF
nation was removed to Babylon.
chly the poor and unimportant were
left jerusalem Itself was destroyed
at this time.
1. Jerusalem seseged wv. 1-3).
Zedekiah owed his kIngshlp to the king
Of Babylon (chapter Paid, who ap-
pointed him to the throne after the re-
movaI Of Jehoiaklm. His name was
changed from Mattanlah to Zedekiah.
de was not good man (24:19).
Enough having his position by the will
pf the king of Babylon, he rebelled
against that king. He thought that by
The aid Of the surrounding nations,
especially Egypt, he could throw or
Ihe yoke Of Babylon. jeremiah coun-
lele1 submission, but the king refused.
Eebuchadnezzar came in person with
IN his host and laid siege to Jerusalem,
even building forts against 1t ". -.
This siege lasted for about a year and
| half. For while during that period
the Cha'dean army withdrew because
Of the appearance of Pharaoh's army
Tier. $3.50. Shut off from help from
without, the Jews soon were famish-
Ing for want of bread. The horrors Of
this famine were awful. For desCrlp-
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
tLam. 4:5.10). Their tongues clave
TO the roofs Of their mouths, and their
skins were dried up. Added to these
horrors we're murderous fights between
parties among the Jews. Some wanted
to surrender; others insisted upon
holding out.
IS II. ZedekIah's Flight wv. 40. At
length the city was broken up, and the
kim 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 Zedeklah to Riblah, where
Nebuchadnezzar had his headquarters.
Here Judgment was passed upon him.
In his trial it was shown that his
solemn oath Of allegiance to the Chal-
deans had been broken, thus showing
himself a traitor on Chron. 36:13), AS
D punishment for his treachery his own
sons were slain before him. his eyes
put out w. y, and he himself carried
10 Babylon, where he remained pris.
Dner till his death (Jer, 52:1D. In this
I'VE have marvellous fulfllment of
prophecy Ezekiel 1879, which says
that Zedekiah shall be taken to Baby
ion and die there and yet not see the
city. he could not see 1t because his
Ieyes were out. Let us learn from this
I that that which God says will surely
4 come 70 pass, even though we cannot
explain its details.
NH. The Destruction Of the City wv.
s-10). Not only were the people taken
captive, but the city itself was sub
Sected 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 Lan,
P:8, ~.
~. Deposition Of the Inhabitants
and the Contents Of the Temple wv.
11.21). /. 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 at the
time It was taken. Many doubtless de-
serted to the Babylonlans during this
Siege, as even Jeremiah was arrested
bn this charge (Jer. 3S:13). The poor
of the land were left to be vine dress.
eFs and hushandmen. The wealthy
and influential were taken away, as
they would be Of value to the conquer
ing nation; besides they would be o
menace If left behind, The poor were
81 because pauper captves would be
Z burden.
Besides 1t was very undesirable
tor. the land to lie in waste, as then
they could not exact tribute from It.
10 that end encouragement was given
By the Babylonlans as vineyards and
fields" were given to the poor.
2. The contents Of the temple wv.
dS-21). From the temple which had
been twice plundered before III Chron.
S6a, 10y, such of gold silver and
bronze vessels as still remained were
SIrnos nynn tho c,raof pIIloy.s ~ ~