278 lines
22 KiB
XML
278 lines
22 KiB
XML
<div2 id="iiKi.xxv" n="xxv" next="iiKi.xxvi" prev="iiKi.xxiv" progress="72.47%" title="Chapter XXIV">
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<h2 id="iiKi.xxv-p0.1">S E C O N D K I N G S</h2>
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<h3 id="iiKi.xxv-p0.2">CHAP. XXIV.</h3>
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<p class="intro" id="iiKi.xxv-p1">Things are here ripening for, and hastening
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towards, the utter destruction of Jerusalem. We left Jehoiakim on
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the throne, placed there by the king of Egypt: now here we have, I.
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The troubles of his reign, how he was brought into subjection by
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the king of Babylon, and severely chastised for attempting to shake
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off the yoke (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.1-2Kgs.24.6" parsed="|2Kgs|24|1|24|6" passage="2Ki 24:1-6">ver. 1-6</scripRef>),
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and how Egypt also was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.7" parsed="|2Kgs|24|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:7">ver. 7</scripRef>. II. The desolations of his
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son's reign, which continued but three months; and then he and all
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his great men, being forced to surrender at discretion, were
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carried captives to Babylon, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.8-2Kgs.24.16" parsed="|2Kgs|24|8|24|16" passage="2Ki 24:8-16">ver.
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8-16</scripRef>. III. The preparatives of the next reign (which was
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the last of all) for the utter ruin of Jerusalem, which the next
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chapter will give us an account of, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.17-2Kgs.24.20" parsed="|2Kgs|24|17|24|20" passage="2Ki 24:17-20">ver. 17-20</scripRef>.</p>
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<scripCom id="iiKi.xxv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24" parsed="|2Kgs|24|0|0|0" passage="2Ki 24" type="Commentary"/>
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<scripCom id="iiKi.xxv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.1-2Kgs.24.7" parsed="|2Kgs|24|1|24|7" passage="2Ki 24:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.24.1-2Kgs.24.7">
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<h4 id="iiKi.xxv-p1.7">Jehoiakim Subdued by
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Nebuchadnezzar. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p1.8">b. c.</span> 599.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xxv-p2">1 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
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came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he
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turned and rebelled against him. 2 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p2.1">Lord</span> sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and
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bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the
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children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it,
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according to the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p2.2">Lord</span>,
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which he spake by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely at the
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commandment of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p2.3">Lord</span> came
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<i>this</i> upon Judah, to remove <i>them</i> out of his sight, for
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the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; 4 And
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also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem
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with innocent blood; which the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p2.4">Lord</span>
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would not pardon. 5 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim,
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and all that he did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the
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chronicles of the kings of Judah? 6 So Jehoiakim slept with
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his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. 7
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And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for
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the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the
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river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxv-p3">We have here the first mention of a name
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which makes a great figure both in the histories and in the
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prophecies of the Old Testament; it is that of
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<i>Nebuchadnezzar,</i> king of Babylon (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.1" parsed="|2Kgs|24|1|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), that head of gold. He was a
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potent prince, and one that was the terror of the mighty in the
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land of the living; and yet his name would not have been known in
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sacred writ if he had not been employed in the destruction of
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Jerusalem and the captivity of the Jews.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxv-p4">I. He made Jehoiakim his tributary and kept
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him in subjection three years, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.1" parsed="|2Kgs|24|1|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Nebuchadnezzar began his reign
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in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. In his eighth year he made him his
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prisoner, but restored him upon his promise of faithfulness to him.
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That promise he kept about three years, but then rebelled, probably
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in hopes of assistance from the king of Egypt. If Jehoiakim had
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served his God as he should have done, he would not have been
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servant to the king of Babylon; but God would thus make him know
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the difference between his service and <i>the service of the kings
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of the countries,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.12.8" parsed="|2Chr|12|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 12:8">2 Chron. xii.
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8</scripRef>. If he had been content with his servitude, and true
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to his word, his condition would have been no worse; but, rebelling
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against the king of Babylon, he plunged himself into more
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trouble.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxv-p5">II. When he rebelled Nebuchadnezzar sent
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his forces against him to destroy his country, bands of Chaldeans,
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Syrians, Moabites, Ammonites, who were all now in the service and
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pay of the king of Babylon (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.2" parsed="|2Kgs|24|2|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:2"><i>v.</i>
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2</scripRef>), and withal retained, and now showed, their ancient
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enmity to the Israel of God. Yet no mention is here made of their
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commission from the king of Babylon, but only of that from the King
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of kings: <i>The Lord sent against him</i> all these bands; and
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again (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.3" parsed="|2Kgs|24|3|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>),
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<i>Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah,</i>
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else the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar could not have brought it.
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Many are serving God's purposes who are not aware of it. Two things
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God intended in suffering Judah to be thus harassed:—1. The
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punishment of the sins of Manasseh, which God now visited upon
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<i>the third and fourth generation.</i> So long he waited before he
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visited them, to see if the nation would repent; but they continued
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impenitent, notwithstanding Josiah's endeavours to reform them, and
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ready to relapse, upon the first turn, into their former
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idolatries. Now that the old bond was put in suit they were called
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up upon the former judgment; that was revived which God had <i>laid
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up in store,</i> and <i>sealed among his treasures</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.34 Bible:Job.14.17" parsed="|Deut|32|34|0|0;|Job|14|17|0|0" passage="De 32:34,Job 14:17">Deut. xxxii. 34; Job xiv.
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17</scripRef>), and in remembrance of that he removed Judah out of
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his sight, and let the world know that <i>time will not wear out
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the guilt of sin</i> and that reprieves are not pardons. All that
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Manasseh did was called to mind, but especially the <i>innocent
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blood that he shed,</i> much of which, we may suppose, was the
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blood of God's witnesses and worshippers, <i>which the Lord would
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not pardon.</i> Is there then any unpardonable sin but the
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blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? This is meant of the remitting of
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the temporal punishment. Though Manasseh repented, and we have
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reason to think even the persecutions and murders he was guilty of
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were pardoned, so that he was delivered from the wrath to come;
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yet, as they were national sins, they lay still charged upon the
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land, crying for national judgments. Perhaps some were now living
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who were aiding and abetting; and the present king was guilty of
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innocent blood, as appears <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.22.17" parsed="|Jer|22|17|0|0" passage="Jer 22:17">Jer. xxii.
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17</scripRef>. See what a provoking sin murder is, how loud it
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cries, and how long. See what need nations have to lament the sins
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of their fathers, lest they smart for them. God intended hereby the
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accomplishment of the prophecies; it was <i>according to the word
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of the Lord, which he spoke by his servants the prophets.</i>
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Rather shall Judah be <i>removed out of his sight,</i> nay, rather
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shall <i>heaven and earth pass away,</i> than any word of God fall
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to the ground. Threatenings will be fulfilled as certainly as
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promises, if the sinner's repentance prevent not.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxv-p6">III. The king of Egypt was likewise subdued
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by the king of Babylon, and a great part of his country taken from
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him, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.7" parsed="|2Kgs|24|7|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. It was
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but lately that he had oppressed Israel, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.23.33" parsed="|2Kgs|23|33|0|0" passage="2Ki 23:33"><i>ch.</i> xxiii. 33</scripRef>. Now he is himself
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brought down and disabled to attempt any thing for the recovery of
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his losses or the assistance of his allies. He dares not <i>come
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any more out of his land.</i> Afterwards he attempted to give
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Zedekiah some relief, but was obliged to retire, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.37.7" parsed="|Jer|37|7|0|0" passage="Jer 37:7">Jer. xxxvii. 7</scripRef>.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxv-p7">IV. Jehoiakim, seeing his country laid
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waste and himself ready to fall into the enemy's hand, as it should
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seem, died of a broken heart, in the midst of his days (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.6" parsed="|2Kgs|24|6|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>). So <i>Jehoiakim slept
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with his fathers;</i> but it is not said that he was <i>buried with
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them,</i> for no doubt the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled, that
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he should not be lamented, as his father was, but <i>buried with
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the burial of an ass</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.22.18-Jer.22.19" parsed="|Jer|22|18|22|19" passage="Jer 22:18,19">Jer.
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xxii. 18, 19</scripRef>), and his dead body cast out, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.36.30" parsed="|Jer|36|30|0|0" passage="Jer 36:30">Jer. xxxvi. 30</scripRef>.</p>
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</div><scripCom id="iiKi.xxv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.8-2Kgs.24.20" parsed="|2Kgs|24|8|24|20" passage="2Ki 24:8-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Kgs.24.8-2Kgs.24.20">
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<h4 id="iiKi.xxv-p7.5">Jehoiachin Carried Captive to
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Babylon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p7.6">b. c.</span> 599.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="iiKi.xxv-p8">8 Jehoiachin <i>was</i> eighteen years old when
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he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And
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his mother's name <i>was</i> Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of
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Jerusalem. 9 And he did <i>that which was</i> evil in the
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sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p8.1">Lord</span>, according to all
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that his father had done. 10 At that time the servants of
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Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the
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city was besieged. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
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came against the city, and his servants did besiege it. 12
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And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon,
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he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his
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officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of
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his reign. 13 And he carried out thence all the treasures of
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the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p8.2">Lord</span>, and the
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treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of
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gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the
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<span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p8.3">Lord</span>, as the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p8.4">Lord</span> had said. 14 And he carried away all
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Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour,
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<i>even</i> ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and
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smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the
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land. 15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the
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king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the
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mighty of the land, <i>those</i> carried he into captivity from
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Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 And all the men of might,
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<i>even</i> seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand,
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all <i>that were</i> strong <i>and</i> apt for war, even them the
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king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon. 17 And the king
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of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead,
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and changed his name to Zedekiah. 18 Zedekiah <i>was</i>
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twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
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eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name <i>was</i>
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Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 And he did
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<i>that which was</i> evil in the sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p8.5">Lord</span>, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
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20 For through the anger of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiKi.xxv-p8.6">Lord</span> it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah,
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until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah
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rebelled against the king of Babylon.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxv-p9">This should have been the history of king
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Jehoiachin's <i>reign,</i> but, alas! it is only the history of
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king Jehoiachin's <i>captivity,</i> as it is called, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.1.2" parsed="|Ezek|1|2|0|0" passage="Eze 1:2">Ezek. i. 2</scripRef>. He came to the crown, not
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to have the honour of wearing it, but the shame of losing it.
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<i>Ideo tantum venerat, ut exiret—He came in only to go
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out.</i></p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxv-p10">I. His reign was short and inconsiderable.
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He reigned but three months, and then was removed and carried
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captive to Babylon, as his father, it is likely, would have been if
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he had lived but so much longer. What an unhappy young prince was
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this, that was thrust into a falling house, a sinking throne! What
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an unnatural father had he, who begat him to suffer for him, and by
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his own sin and folly had left himself nothing to bequeath to his
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son but his own miseries! Yet this young prince reigned long enough
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to show that he justly smarted for his fathers' sins, for he trod
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in their steps (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.9" parsed="|2Kgs|24|9|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:9"><i>v.</i>
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9</scripRef>): <i>He did that which was evil in the sight of the
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Lord,</i> as they had done; he did nothing to cut off the entail of
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the curse, to discharge the incumbrances of his crown, and
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therefore (<i>transit cum onere—the incumbrance descends with the
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crown</i>) with his own iniquity that of his fathers shall come
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into the account.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxv-p11">II. The calamities that came upon him, and
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his family, and people, in the very beginning of his reign, were
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very grievous. 1. Jerusalem was besieged by the king of Babylon,
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<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.10-2Kgs.24.11" parsed="|2Kgs|24|10|24|11" passage="2Ki 24:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10, 11</scripRef>. He
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had sent his forces to ravage the country, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.2" parsed="|2Kgs|24|2|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Now he came himself, and laid
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siege to the city. Now the word of God was fulfilled (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.49-Deut.28.69" parsed="|Deut|28|49|28|69" passage="De 28:49-69">Deut. xxviii. 49</scripRef>, &c.), <i>The
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Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, of fierce
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countenance,</i> that shall first <i>eat of the fruit of thy
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land</i> and then <i>besiege thee in all thy gates.</i> 2.
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Jehoiachin immediately surrendered at discretion. As soon as he
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heard the king of Babylon had come in person against the city, his
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name having at this time become very formidable, he beat a parley
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and went out to him, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.12" parsed="|2Kgs|24|12|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:12"><i>v.</i>
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12</scripRef>. Had he made his peace with God, and taken the method
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that Hezekiah did in the like case, he needed not to have feared
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the king of Babylon, but might have held out with courage, honour,
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and success (one should have chased a thousand); but, wanting the
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faith and piety of an Israelite, he had not the resolution of a
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man, of a soldier, of a prince. He and his royal family, his mother
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and wives, his servants and princes, delivered themselves up
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prisoners of war; this was the consequence of their being servants
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of sin. 3. Nebuchadnezzar rifled the treasuries both of the church
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and of the state, and carried away the silver and gold of both,
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<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.13" parsed="|2Kgs|24|13|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. Now the word
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of God by Isaiah was fulfilled (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.20.17" parsed="|2Kgs|20|17|0|0" passage="2Ki 20:17"><i>ch.</i> xx. 17</scripRef>), <i>All that is in thy
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house shall be carried to Babylon.</i> Even the vessels of the
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temple which Solomon had made, and laid up in store to be used as
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the old ones were worn out, he cut off from the temple, and began
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to cut them in pieces, but, upon second thoughts, reserved them for
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his own use, for we find Belshazzar drinking wine in them,
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<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Dan.5.2-Dan.5.3" parsed="|Dan|5|2|5|3" passage="Da 5:2,3">Dan. v. 2, 3</scripRef>. 4. He carried
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away a great part of Jerusalem into captivity, to weaken it, that
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he might effectually secure to himself the dominion of it and
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prevent its revolt, and to enrich himself with the wealth or
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service of those he took away. There had been some carried away
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eight years before this, in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar and
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the third of Jehoiakim, among whom were Daniel and his fellows. See
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<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Dan.1.1 Bible:Dan.1.6" parsed="|Dan|1|1|0|0;|Dan|1|6|0|0" passage="Da 1:1,6">Dan. i. 1, 6</scripRef>. They had
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approved themselves so well that this politic prince coveted more
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of them. Now he carried off, (1.) The young king himself and his
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family (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.9" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.15" parsed="|2Kgs|24|15|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), and
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we find (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.10" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.25.27-2Kgs.25.29" parsed="|2Kgs|25|27|25|29" passage="2Ki 25:27-29"><i>ch.</i> xxv.
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27-29</scripRef>) that for thirty-seven years he continued a close
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prisoner. (2.) All the great men, the princes and officers, whose
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riches were <i>kept for the owners thereof to their hurt</i>
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(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.11" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.5.13" parsed="|Eccl|5|13|0|0" passage="Ec 5:13">Eccl. v. 13</scripRef>), tempting the
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enemies to make a prey of them first. (3.) All the military men,
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the <i>mighty men of valour</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.12" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.14" parsed="|2Kgs|24|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), <i>the mighty of the land</i>
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(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.13" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.15" parsed="|2Kgs|24|15|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), <i>the men
|
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of might, even all that were strong and apt for war,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.14" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.16" parsed="|2Kgs|24|16|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. These could not defend
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themselves, and the conqueror would not leave them to defend their
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country, but took them away, to be employed in his service. (4.)
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All the craftsmen and smiths who made weapons of war; in taking
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them he did, in effect, disarm the city, according to the
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Philistines' policy, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.15" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.13.19" parsed="|1Sam|13|19|0|0" passage="1Sa 13:19">1 Sam. xiii.
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19</scripRef>. In this captivity Ezekiel the prophet was carried
|
||
away (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.16" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.1.1-Ezek.1.2" parsed="|Ezek|1|1|1|2" passage="Eze 1:1,2">Ezek. i. 1, 2</scripRef>) and
|
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Mordecai, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.17" osisRef="Bible:Esth.2.6" parsed="|Esth|2|6|0|0" passage="Es 2:6">Esth. ii. 6</scripRef>. This
|
||
Jehoiachin was also called <i>Jeconiah</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.18" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.3.16" parsed="|1Chr|3|16|0|0" passage="1Ch 3:16">1 Chron. iii. 16</scripRef>), and in contempt (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p11.19" osisRef="Bible:Jer.22.24" parsed="|Jer|22|24|0|0" passage="Jer 22:24">Jer. xxii. 24</scripRef>, where his captivity
|
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is foretold) <i>Coniah.</i></p>
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<p class="indent" id="iiKi.xxv-p12">III. The successor whom the king of Babylon
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appointed in the room of Jehoiachin. God had written him childless
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||
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.22.30" parsed="|Jer|22|30|0|0" passage="Jer 22:30">Jer. xxii. 30</scripRef>) and
|
||
therefore his uncle was entrusted with the government. The king of
|
||
Babylon made Mattaniah king, the son of Josiah; and to remind him,
|
||
and let all the world know, that he was his creature, he changed
|
||
his name and called him <i>Zedekiah,</i> <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.17" parsed="|2Kgs|24|17|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. God had sometimes charged it
|
||
upon his people, <i>They have set up kings, but not by me</i>
|
||
(<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.8.4" parsed="|Hos|8|4|0|0" passage="Ho 8:4">Hos. viii. 4</scripRef>), and now, to
|
||
punish them for that, the king of Babylon shall have the setting up
|
||
of their kings. Those are justly deprived of their liberty that use
|
||
it, and insist upon it, against God's authority. This Zedekiah was
|
||
the last of the kings of Judah. The name which the king of Babylon
|
||
gave him signifies <i>The justice of the Lord,</i> and was a
|
||
presage of the glorifying of God's justice in his ruin. 1. See how
|
||
impious this Zedekiah was. Though the judgments of God upon his
|
||
three immediate predecessors might have been a warning to him not
|
||
to tread in their steps, yet <i>he did that which was evil,</i>
|
||
like all the rest, <scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.19" parsed="|2Kgs|24|19|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:19"><i>v.</i>
|
||
19</scripRef>. 2. See how impolitic he was. As his predecessor lost
|
||
his courage, so he his wisdom, with his religion, for he
|
||
<i>rebelled against the king of Babylon</i> (<scripRef id="iiKi.xxv-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.24.20" parsed="|2Kgs|24|20|0|0" passage="2Ki 24:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>), whose tributary he was, and
|
||
so provoked him whom he was utterly unable to contend with, and
|
||
who, if he had continued true to him, would have protected him.
|
||
This was the most foolish thing he could do, and hastened the ruin
|
||
of his kingdom. This came to pass <i>through the anger of the Lord,
|
||
that he might cast them out from his presence.</i> Note, When those
|
||
that are entrusted with the counsels of a nation act unwisely, and
|
||
against their true interest, we ought to take notice of the
|
||
displeasure of God in it. It is for the sins of a people that God
|
||
<i>removes the speech of the trusty and takes away the
|
||
understanding of the aged,</i> and <i>hides from their eyes the
|
||
things that belong to</i> the public <i>peace.</i> Whom God will
|
||
destroy he infatuates.</p>
|
||
</div></div2> |