The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-10-31
Lessen for November 3
JUDAH TAKEN CAPTIVE

LESSON TEXT-II Kings 25:1-12.
GOLDEN TEXT-Righteousnes ex-
alteth a nation but sin is a reproach
to any people.-Proverbs 14:34.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Black Man God
Cared For
JUNIOR TOPIC-In Time of Danger.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Results of Doing Wrong.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-Nations Accountable to God.
|. The Siege of Jerusalem tvv. l-3).
1. The time wv. l, p. 1t began on
the tenth day of the tenth month OF
the ninth year or Zedekiah's reign, last
ing about eighteen months. The tenth
month according to the Jews calen-
dar, corresponds to our December-Jan-
uary, as their calendar began about
the middle of March. The reason the
exact time is given is that this was
to be an event of great Importance
to the Jews In their exile. In their
gloomy exile God directed Ezekiel to
utter a parable unto the captives Of
that day Geek. PAY.
2. The method w. 11). Nebuchad-
hSHAol NCllnC III pNlSOh VAIN u ASA 81
army and encamped against Jerusalem,
building forts against it round about.
It Is thought that several walls were
built around the city, shutting 1t in.
On the tops of these walls forts were
built from which missiles Of destruc-
ton could be hurled by their engines
of war against the city. With the
city thus shut in, Its fall was only a
question of time.
3. The famine ", 81. Geikle says,
ut was speedily followed, as is always
the case, with an outbreak of pesti-
lence. Food was well-nigh gone. There
had long been no bread. Mothers
were at last driven to murder and
eat their children. The richest citi-
zens wandered about searching for
scraps in the dung hills" Even out
side the city the people were starving.
"There was no bread for the people
of the land" 1t is estimated that
one-third of the people of Jerusalem
died of starvation.
II. zedekiah's Flight and Fate wv.
40.
l. THE city was broken up" ". ~.
The Chaldeans had succeeded in max
ing an opening in the wall so 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 ". ~. The king
with his men of war fed by night to-
ward the plain. His object no doubt
was to cross the Jordan at Jericho
and hide in the mountains east Of
the Jordan.
g. Zedekiah's fate wv. SD.
a. He was overtaken In the plains
of Jericho ". 81. AS soon as the
Chaldean army discovered the fight
they pursued and captured him.
b. He was brought to the king Of
Babylon at Riblah ". g.. Riblah was
a town north of Damascus. 1t was
the kings headquarters from which he
directed his armies against Tyre and
Jerusalem. Before NebuchadnezZar
Zedekiah was tried as a criminal.
C. His fate. His sons were slain in
Ills SlSlI Ills wv II cyCo NtlC pNI OuIs
He was bound with letters of brass
and they carried him to Babylon where
he remained a prisoner to the day Of
his death (Jer. 52:1D.
III. Jerusalem Destroyed wv. S-1O).
The dismantling Of the city was
delayed a month, perhaps awaiting in
structions from Nebuchadnezzar who
was at Ribah. The work of destruc-
ton was executed by the officer next
in rank to the king.
l. They burnt the house of the Lord
". 81. This was the sacred temple
built by Solomon, with additions and
alterations Before burning 1t, they
plundered 1t Of all It's sacred con-
tents.
2. Burnt the kings house ". 81.
This was doubtless the palace built by
Solomon.
3. Burnt all the houses of Jeru-
salem ". 81. The implication is that
the common houses were left for the
people ". 12).
4. They broke down the walls of
Jerusalem. The aim in this was to
render the walls useless as a means
of defense.
~. The Disposition of the Temple
Furniture and Priests wv. 1920.
!. The temple furniture carried to
Babylon wv. 1910. The pillars Of
brass and the brazen sea were broken
into pieces by the Babylonians and to-
gether with the utensils were carried
to Babylon.
9. Certain officers and priests taken
to Riblah wv. 1920. These officers
and priests and three score men Of
the land were taken to Riblah, where
they were slain by the king of Babylon.
The events recorded in Second Kings
cover period Of 30S years. God had
said. IF thou wilt, then will; they
had invited disaster by disobedience.