Chapter XXIV
Vcr. 1-7. Jeiioiakim Procures HIS OWN Ruin. I.Nebuchadnezzar—The son of Nabopolassar, the founder of the Chaldee monarchy. This Invasion took place in the fourth year of Jehoiaklm's, and the first of Nebuchadnezzar's reign (Jeremiali 2.5. 1; cf, 46. 2), The young king of Assyria being probably detained at home on account of his father's demise, despatched, along with the Chaldean troops on his border, an army composed of the tributary nations tliat were contiguous to Judea, to chastise Jehoiaklm's revolt from his yoke. But this hostile band was only an instrument iu executing the Divine ludgmenitv.
his palace, and Manasseh on some portion of the roof of the temple. Josiah dexnolished both of tliese structures. 13. the high places . . . which Solomon had builded (See on 1 Kings 11. 7.) the right hand of the Mount of Corruption—The Mount of Olives is a hilly range on the east of Jerusalem. This range has three summits, of whicn the central one is the Mount of Corruption, so called from the idol temples built there, and of course
Jerusalem Taken hy Nebuchadnezzar. 2 KINGS XXV. Zedekiah 2'txken Captive,'
heart towards God was thesarae as that of Jehoiakim, Impenitent and heedless of God's word. '^0. tliroiigli the anger of the Lord . . . he cast them out of liis presence —i. e., in the course of God's righteous providence, his policy as king would prove ruinous to his country. Zedekiah rebelled against tlie king of Babylon-Instigated by ambassadors from the neighbouring states who came
2) denounced by the prophets against Judah for the sins
of the people; and hence, though marching by the orders
of the Assyrian monarch, they are described as sent by
the Lord {v. 3). 3. the Lord ivould not pardon—(see on
ch. 23. 26 ; Jeremiah 15. 1). 6. Jelioiafcini slept witli his
ra;thers—Tliis phraseology can mean nothing more tlian
.that he died; for he was not buried with his royal ances-
to congratulate him on his ascension to the throne (cf. Jeremiah 17. 3, with 28. 1), and at the same time get him to join them in a common league to throw off the Assyrian yoke. Though warned by Jeremiah against this step, the infatuated and perjured (Ezekiel 17. 13) Zedekiah persisted in his revolt.
tors; and whether he fell in battle, or his body was sub-
jected to posthumous insults, he was, according to the
prediction (Jeremiah 22. 19), not honoured with the rites of
sepulture (Jeremiah 36. 30). Jelioiacliin liis son reigned in liis stead—The very brief reign of this prince, which
lasted only three months, during which he was a humble
vassal of the Assyrians, is scarcely deserving to be taken