T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S v. 22. Made Gedaliah ruler. Geda- liah was Jeremiah’s friend (Jer. 25: 24), and having, by the prophet’s coun sel, fled from the city as abandoned of God, he surrendered himself to the con queror (Jer. 30:2, 17) and was pro moted to the government of Judea.— Sel. He had joined with Jeremiah in ad vising Zedekiah to surrender. Had this counsel prevailed, Judah would not have been plucked up out of her land. This was known to Nebuchadnezzar, however, and explains his choice of Gedaliah as well as the treachery of the people toward him notwithstanding his oath (vs. 24, 25; Jer. 40:44).—Gray. PICTORIAL QUESTIONS ‘ Who was Zedekiah? What was his name before he became king? 2 Kings 24:17.' Whom did he follow on the throne? Who appointed him king? How old was he when he re- LESSOTJ ceived his appointment? QUESTIONS 2 Kings 24:18. Against W. H. Pike whom did Zedekiah re bel? How long had he reigned before Jerusalem was besieged? How long did the siege last? How did the people maintain themselves in the city all this time? What did they do when the famine was sore? What way did the king flee? What time did he flee? Who fled with him? Where did the Chaldeans capture Zedekiah? What became of bis army? What was done to the king? What happened to the king’s sons? Where did they take Zede kiah ? What year was it, in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, that he destroyed Jerusalem? How did he destroy the temple? How did he destroy the city? What did he do to the walls? What be came of the best of the people? What became of the priests? 25:18-21, What became of the poorest class? What did Nebuchadnezzar do with all the brass and gold? PRACTICAL QUESTIONS Ought any nation to allow one so young as Zedekiah to rule? If Zedekiah had followed the Word of God as given by Jeremiah would he have rebelled
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days of His patience, but in vain. Their hearts were still hardened and there fore execution is awarded to the ut most. The king of Babylon did not de sign to send any colonies to people Jeru salem, and therefore ordered it to be laid in ashes as a nest of rebels.— Henry. Captain of the guard. His office as captain of the guard called him to execute the awards of justice on criminals. Hence, although not en gaged in the siege of Jerusalem (Jer. 39:13), he was dispatched to raze the city, to plunder the temple, and trans port the inhabitants to Jerusalem.— Jamieson. v. 9. Burnt the house of the Lord. The completeness of the desolation might well have caused the heart-rend ing outcry of Psalm 79: “ O God, the heathen are come into thine inherit ance: Thy holy temple have they de filed. They have made Jerusalem a heap of stones. The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the land. Their blood they have shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was no man to bury them.”— Exp. Bible. v. 11. The rest of the people.' Such is the divine judgment upon sin. God pleads long with man but if man will not turn, then God whets His sword and becomes terrible in His retribution.-1-“-. Meyer. v. 13. In the house of the Lord. We have no information Respecting the dis position of the ark. It may have been hidden by Jeremiah or by some other pious priest Who took the precaution of conveying it and the sacred docu ments it contained to a place of safety. How wonderful it would be if, in the restoration of the Jews to the ancient city, the ark of the covenant should yet be discovered in connection with the vast suberterranean vaults beneath the temple site.— Meyer. v. 19. He took an officer. Nebuchad nezzar, instead of consigning the citi zens to indiscriminate massacre, select ed for punishment only the most re sponsible personages.— Dummelow. v. 21. So Judah was carried away. Thus the guilty city drank, at the hands of God, the dregs of the cup of His fury. It was the final vengeance. “ The punishment of thine iniquity is accom plished, O daughter of Zion! He will no more carry thee away into captivity” (Lam. 4:22).—““Rawlinson.
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