The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-08-24
INTERNATIONAL.
.Sl|NlAYSQlOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR AUGUST rs.
THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH.


Many years after the kingdom OF
Israel was taken captive by the AS
syrians, Judah was carried away to
Babylon. Judah's 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 :1-2). 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 Besieped wv. 1-3).
Zedekiah owed his kingship to the king
Of Babylon Chapter PAID, who ap-
pointed him to the throne after the re-
moval Of Jehoiakim. His name was
changed from Mattaniah to Zedekiah.
He was not good man GA :l9).
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.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 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
half. For 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 10Y. The richest, even |
ladies in silken robes, wandered about |
searching for scraps in the dung heaps |
Clam. 800. Their tongues claye !
to the roofs of their mouths, and their |
skins were dried up. Added to these /
horrors were murderous fights between I
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
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 traitor ,(II ChrOn. 36:13). AS
a 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 Ger. 80 :11). In this
we have Il marvellous fulfiIlment of
ezekiel - :3). which says
that Zedekiah shall be taken to Baby
Ion and die there and yet not see the
city. He could not see it 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.
y III. The Destruction Of the City wv.
500. Not only were the people taken
captive but the city itself was sub
iected 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.
z g. ~.
w. Disposition Of the inhabitants
and the Contents OF the Temple wv.
11-21). l. The inhabitants< vv. II, 12).
They were divided into two classes, r
those who had deserted to the Baby
onians during the siege and those who
we're found inside of the city at the
line it was taken. Many doubtless de-
serted to the Babylonians during this :,
slcSe, dS even JtEtluluu was dIISSltu
IN this charge Ger. 3S 49,. The poor
If the land were left to be vine dress
RS and husbandmen- The wealthy
md influential were taken away, as =
hey would be of value to the conquer
ng nation; besides they would be
menace IL left behind. The poor were
eft because pauper captives would be
/ burden.
Besides it was very undesirable
or the land to lie ia waste, as then
hey could not exact tribute from it
70 that end encouragement was given
" the Babylonians as vineyards and
ields" were given to the poor.
2. The contents Of the temple wv. :
3-21). From the temple which had r
zen twice plundered before III Chron
ST., 10Y, such Of gold, silver and
rome vessels as still remained were
AIKEN, even the great pillars Of the
1olten sea. The captives and the treas
re were delivered to ACKNOWLEDGMENT
t Roblah, where more than threesc0re
4 men were killed wv, 1921.