Evening star., 1922-06-17


months. In accordance with the pre-
dictions of jeremiah the Babylonians
or Chaldeans, returned to Jerusalem
after they had crushed the Egyptians
and renewed their efforts to force the
king and the people to surrender
Our lesson opens with the return OF
Nebuchadnezzar to Judah's strong
hold. filled with the determination to
master Zedekiah, who had turned
traitor in his efforts to form an al
lance with Egypt While his return
vindicated the prophet. yet this patrio,
suffered more than any other person
within Jerusalem, nevertheless, up tc
the very end he tried in vain to per
suade both the king and the people
to surrender, because 1t was the only
course that promised them chance
to be saved.
The end did not come without a
strenuous struggle. jeremiah in his
lamentations has mirrored the in
describable horrors and suffering
within the city. Famine drove the
Hebrew mothers to such pitch OF
madness that they consumed their
own children. In spite of the untold
sorrows and the weakness OF the
army. due to the lack Of food, they
made defense of the city which re-
vealed the strength. strategy and
Stlck-tO-lt-lVenesS OF tne e"ish Peo
pie. They pulled down their houses
to strengthen the city fortihcations'
which Zedekiah had thought were in
vulnerable. They heroically tried TO
destroy the effectiveness of the per-
sistent blows of the engines of de-
struction by catching the battering
rams that shook the walls of the city
day and night with chains which
would weaken the blows or over
turn them.
Geikie tells US that "archers made
the defense increasing hard by con-
high wooden forts; catapults Of all
sizes hurled stones into the town
with a force as deadly as that OF
modern bullets. and darts tipped with
fire kindled the roofs of houses:
mines were dug under the walls and
attempts at escalade by ladders were
renewed at every favorable oppor-
tunity" Each day brought some
fresh horror and suffering. Not once
during the siege. although the forces
within the city grew gradualiy
weaker through lack of food and
wounded, did the defenders Of Jeru.
salem propose to quit the defense OF
the capital city. They fought IKE
the heroes of Verdun. determined that
their enemy should not pass within
the city walls French warriors at
tribute their victory to God, who CEN
turtles before used the Babylonians
to punish Judah for refusing to obey
Him and heed His prophets warning.
They had forgotten Him and their
sin had found them out and as re-
suit they were conquered.
Something had to give away under
the persistent pounding Of the Baby
lonian battering rams. Suddenly one
night the middle gate of the temple that
formed the city's Notifications on the
east side Of the city gave way and the
city was at the mercy of Nebuchad-
nezzar. Zedekiah and his forces immedi-
ately retired under cover Of the night.
They left too late. II they had gone
out when Jeremiah advised then he
could have saved his throne and the
tected and overtaken In their flight on
the wide plains Of Jericho where they
we're forced to give battle: There.
where Joshua fought his nrst tri.
umphant battle in Palestine. e the
were conquered.
They took the wretched king to
Riblah. where Nebuchadnezzar had
his headquarters in Syria. on the
banks Of the Orontee river. When
the leaders OF Judah's religious and
military forces were presented before
the victorious commander they were
all put to death, possibly by beheac-
ing. Zedekiah. whom the great
Babylonian general considered to be
an migrate and traitor, received
Characteristic sentence from his con-
oueror. He was forced to witness
the barbarous cruelty Of his sons be.
ing slain before his own eyes, SO tnat
the last sight that he beheld probably
was their dying agony. Then, as q
last savage act, probably Nebuchad-
nezzar himself with his own spear
struck out both of Zedekiah's eyes
Tho memory Of the horrors of the re-
our minds to make US all determine
that we will never rest until wal
shall cease as a means OF settling
disputes among nations and men.
Later the king. who by his weak
personal character. evil court advis-
ers and vacillating and iniquitous
career. was sent as a prisoner TO
apparently contradictory prophecies
Of Ezekiel and Jeremiah were fulfill
ed that he should not see Babylon
and yet that he should die there.
The drastic destruction of the city
was inspired by political principles
that characterized the policy OF
babylon Only such destruction was
of their seditious conduct impossible;
The palaces, public buildings and
fortincations were completely de,
stroyed so that Jerusalem could
never again become a hotbed for re-
bellion and treason. The fanaticai
loyalists who sought shelter within
the walls Of the temple. whose wor-
tered in the precincts of the sacred
sanctuary The vessels Of the tenn
pie, which numbered 5000, according