Page images
PDF
EPUB

sented as enemies to the state, and to public peace. The reason is, that men love to go on in their sins, and are displeased with every one who would reform them, or make them uneasy in their wicked practices.

2. God can raise up friends for his people where they least expect it. Who would have thought of Jeremiah's finding a friend at court? and that an Ethiopian proselyte; while the Israelites persecuted him. This friend acted with great zeal and courage, dealt plainly with the king, and ventured his place and head to save the prophet. Thus can God at any time, and in any place, raise up friends to his servants, and deliver them out of their troubles.

3. How absurd and impious is it to disobey God, from a fear of being mocked or bantered by men. How meanly and ridiculously did Zedekiah act, in being more afraid of the jests of a few of his subjects, than of the displeasure of the Almighty. This fear goes a great way with many persons now, especially with the young : they are disposed to do their duty, and to be firm in it; but they are afraid their acquaintance should laugh at them,. These fears are often groundless; and there is, as in the case of Zedekiah, a secret reverence for those who are good in such as will not imitate them. How weak and childish a spirit is that, which cannot bear to be laughed at, rather than give up faith and a good conscience. Such, as the prophet tells Zedekiah, will be worse laughed at hereafter wicked men and devils will severely mock them, for loving the praise of men more than the praise of God.

4. Amidst our greatest zeal for God and religion, we ought prudently to consult our own welfare. While we are harmless as doves, as to giving offence, and bold as lions in the cause of God, we ought to be wise as serpents. This affair was prudently concerted between the king and the prophet; there was no lie nor equivocation. He spoke the truth, but not the whole truth; and this he was not obliged to tell. It is wrong to expose ourselves to danger, when no good can be answered by it. We should walk circumspectly, noi as fools, but as wise.

CHAP. XXXIX.

In which we have an account of Jerusalem being taken; of Zedekiah being made blind, and sent to Babylon; of the city being ruined, and the people taken captive.

1 N the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth

2 army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. [And] in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth [day] of the month, the city was broken up; after two years siege a

3 breach was made, and the city was taken by storm. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, [even] Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.

4

And it came to pass, [that] when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls and he went out the way of the 5 plain. But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, which lay to the north of Jerusalem, and where he waited to hear of the success of the siege, where he gave judgment upon him; that is, called a council, by which Zedekiah was condemned as a rebellious subject, and a trai6 tor to the king of Babylon, he having violated his oath. Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes who must have been young, as Zedekiah was but thirty two years old: also the king of Babylon slew all the no7 bles of Judah that were taken prisoners. Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes; he first slew his children, and then put out his eyes, that no other object might thrust out the idea of that bloody scene; and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon, qwhere he had time to reflect on his guilt in bringing these calamities on his friends and himself by his obstinacy.

8

And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, who took Jeremiah's advice and surrendered, with the rest of the people that 10 remained. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time, that the land might not grow quite wild and be overrun by beasts.

11

Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, 12 Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee: having been informed, by some who had gone over to the Chaldeans of what Jeremiah had foretold, what he had advised Zedekiah to do, and what he had suf13 fered on these accounts. So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, 14 Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes; Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people; and thus, while the false prophets were destroyed by those judg

15

ments which they said would never come, Jeremiah was secured from those which he foretold would actually come.

Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he 16 was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon' this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be [accom17 plished] in that day before thee; or, in thy sight. But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD; and thou shalt not be 18 given into the hand of the men of whom thou [art] afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD; having delivered my prophet, from good principles and with great courage, this act of kindness shall preserve thy life. No doubt the Chaldeans heard of this, and were thereby inclined to spare Ebedmelech amidst the general desolation.

[ocr errors]

1.

{{

REFLECTIONS.

WE here see how punctual and awful God is in fulfilling

his threatenings. Zedekiah and his princes would not believe them, because the false prophets had deceived them; but at length the direful judgment came, and the word was fulfilled in all its terrors. So sinners promise themselves impunity, and harden their hearts; but God will bring his words upon them for evil, and not for good. An awful standing lesson of the evil of sin, and a caution to us that we do not make light of it.

2. See how ill men judge of the value of earthly things. Amidst the calamities of Judah, the rich men were driven from their fine houses and large estates, and the poor, who had nothing, were put into possession of them. The rich, who had been cruel oppressors, were carried captive; and the poor of the land, who had been oppressed, were now possessed of large estates, and lived in plenty. The poor perhaps had envied the rich, and the rich despised the poor; but the condition of the poor proved to be most eligible. Such surprizing revolutions are often seen in the course of providence, and therefore it becomes us to rejoice as though we rejoiced not, and toweef as though we wept not, since nothing below is certain and stable.

3. We see that God can secure his servants amidst general desolations. When a man's ways please the Lord, he can make even his enemies to be at peace with him. The prophet found better usage among enemies and heathens, than among his own countrymen, the princes, nobles, and priests of Israel. Thus the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of their tribulation, and reserves the unjust to be punished. So will it be in the future judgment: while the wicked are overwhelmed with speedy destruction, God will take care of his servants; and give his angels charge to look well to them for

the day cometh that shall burn like an oven, and the proud shall be destroyed; but God's servants shall be his in the day when he maketh up his jewels.

4. God remembers and will reward the favour and kindness shown to any of his servants, especially his ministers. Ebedmelech delivered Jeremiah; who was therefore sent to him with a comfortable assurance of protection in the day of evil. Because he had acted kindly to the prophet, and did it upon good principles; not from mere humanity, but from regard to God, knowing that he was doing right, and trusting in God to prosper and defend him; there fore God would deal kindly by him, and put it into the hearts of the Chaldeans to protect him. God will still be pleased with the fayour shown to his ministers and people; and they who show it, and trust in him, mercy shall compass them about. God is not unrighteous to forget any work and labour of love that is done to his saints.

CHAP. XL, XLI.

Jeremiah being set free by Nebuzaradan, goes to Gedaliah; the dispersed Jews come to him; and Johanan informs him of Ishmael's conspiracy.

HE word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after

from Ramath, when he had taken him, being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Ju2 dah, [which were] carried away captive to Babylon. And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The 3 LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. Now the LORD hath brought (it,] and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed 4 his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which [were] upon thine hand: if it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee; I will set mine eye upon thee for good; promising to be his friend, and to treat him in a respectful manner: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land [is] before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, 5 thither go. Now while he was not yet gone back, while Jeremiah was hesitating, [he said,] go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, a worthy, honourable character, a person of rank, whose grandfather and father were ministers of Hate to Josiah, and whose father saved thee, and whom the king

This refers to the forty second chapter, where he warns the people left in the land; and the story before us is to illustrate that prophecy. Jeremiah had been set free, but was taken captive by some of the Chaldeans who did not know him, and was carried to Ramah ; but the captain of the guard set him free again.

of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave 6 him victuals and a reward, and let him go. Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

7

Now when all the captains of the forces which [were] in the fields, [even] they and their men who had fled, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not car8 ried away captive to Babylon; Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the 9 son of a Maachathite, they and their men. And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, assured them of his protection, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, 10 and it shall be well with you. As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us; that is, to send the tribute and to receive orders: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken: while you remain tributary to the king of Babylon you may enjoy the fruits of 11 the land. Likewise when all the Jews that [were] in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that, [were] in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahi12 kam the son of Shaphan; Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

13

Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, 14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? out of a personal pique to thee, or hatred to the Jews; hoping to bring more to his dominions, or make those that remained his vassals. But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed 15 them not. Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know [it :] wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah 16 perish? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael; he is an honest man, and I cannot believe the report.

« EelmineJätka »