The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1922-06-15
LESSON FOR JUNE 10
THE DOWNFALL OF JUDAH

THE DOWNFALL OF JUDAH
LESSON TExT-II Kings 6:l-M.
GOLDEN TExT-Bs not deceived: God
% not Knocked: for Whatsoever . man
REFERENCE NATERIAL-Deut. 3:16-
-: y. y. n: II Chron. 1:ll-z3: Luke -:
GA. -
PRIMARY roP1c-ood Punishins Dis
obsdient People.
JUNIOR TOPICIThs Capture Of Jeru-
salem.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
"A Nation That Disobeyed God.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Zedekiah was made king Of judah
by the king Of Babylon (24:17), but in
spite Of this kindness and the word
Of the Lord spoken to him BY Jeremiah
(Jer. 88:17. IS: Ct. Jer. 2:3), he re-
bslled against the king Of Babylon. He
relied upon the help Of Egypt. but all
that Egypt could do was to cause
temporary interruption Of the siege Of
Jerusalem.
I. The 8siss q jerusalem wv. 1-S).
I. Time Of wv. 1. y. 1t began On
the tenth day Of the tenth month Of
the ninth year Of Zedekiah's reign and
lasted about eighteen months. Tho
tenth month according to the Jewish
calendar corresponds to our December
January. ~ their calendar year began
about the middle Of March. The reason
the exact time = given Il that this
was to be an event Of great Importance
to the Jews In their exile.
2. The Method ". ~. Nebuchadnes-
Ear came In person with large army
and encamped against jerusalem and
built forts against It round about. It
q thought that siege walls were built
around the city, shutting It In. On
the tops Of these walls forts were built
from which missiles Of destruction
could be hurled by their engines Of
war against the city. With the city
shut In it, fall was only . question
Of time.
3. The Famine ". 81. 1t IL estimat-
cd that one-third Of the people Of Jeru-
salem died Of starvation.
u. zsdskiah's Flight and Fate wv.
~.
1. The City was Broken Up ". ~.
The Chaldeans had succeeded in max
ing nm opening In the wall 20 large
that they could make their way into
the city in spite Of all that the He
brews could do. Resistance was car
ried ON to the bitter end.
2. Zedekiah's Flight ". y. The king
with his men Of war Ned BY night to-
ward the plain. His object, NO doubt,
was to cross the Jordan at Jericho
and hide In the mountains east Of
Jordan.
3. zedekiah's Fate wv. SD. ~ He
was overtaken In the plains Of Jericho
". 81. When his flight was discovered
the Chaldean army pursued and cap.
tured him. (2) He was brought to
the king Of Babylon At Riblah ". o..
Riblah was q town north Of Damascus.
Il was the kings headquarters from
which he directed his armies against
Tyre and jerusalem. Before Neb-
uchadnessar. Zedekiah was tried ~
. criminal. (S) His fate ". y. His
sons were slain In his sight: his eyes
were put out: b. was bound with fet.
tess Of hrass; and they carried him
to Babylon where he remained psis.
oner until the day Of his death Ger.
52:11).
~. Jerusalem Destroyed wv. 6l0).
The dlsmantlins Of the city was d.
layed . month, perhaps awaiting In.
atructions from Nebuchadnexsar, who
was At Riblah.
1. They Burnt the House Of the Lord
". o.. This was the sacred temple
built by Solomon with additions and
notifications. Before burning It they
plundered II Of all its sacred contents.
2. Burnt the Kings House ". o..
This was doubtless the palace built
BY Solomon.
3. Burnt All the Houses Of Jeeu.
salem ". o.. The Implication u that
the common houses were left for the
people ". 12).
I. They Broke Down the Walls Of
Jerusalem. The aim was to rendes
the walls useless a. Q means Of Do.
tense.
". rhs oIspssltIs~ q ths psspis
wv. II. 12).
I. Carried Them into Captivity (v
~. The people who were left In thu
city and thoss who had deserted "a
the Babylonians were carried to Baby.
ion: all such - would b. Of use Il
Babylon.
2. The Poorest Of the Land wefs
Left ". l2). The people who would
not likely make any trouble were isfl
% vine-dressers and husoandmen
Doubtless they were looking forward
to colonisatioa By foreign peoples. Ths
object In leaving thsss people was thai
The country might b ready for thsil
coming. Over these people 0edaliah
Vas appointed - governor. with head
quarters at Alspah.
To tAo ThlSe.
| Let him that stole. steal no more