The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 435

own life we.s spared, though he we.a led away a prisoner; the city was not sacked and burned, as afterwards; and no massacre of the inl.abitants took place. A tender tone pervades Jeremiah's references to this unfortunaoo king (Jer. xxii. 24--30). Ezekiel likens him to II the highest branch of the cedar," which the "great eagle, with great wings, long-winged, full of feathers, which had divers colours," crops off (Ezek. xvii. 3, 4); and again (according to some) to "a young lion," who had "learned to catch the prey, and devoured men," but" the nations set age.inst him on every side," and "he we.s taken in their pit," e.nd put in chains, and brought to the King of Babylon (Ezek. xix. 6-9). We may share with Jeremiah in his sympathy for the unhappy young king in hie exile (Jer. xxii. 28). Had his circumstances been more favourable, better things might h:. e been hoped of him. The nobility of self-sacrifice redeems a character from many faults. II. THE CITY DESPOILED. If Jehoiachin's irurrender saved the people from slaughter, it could not save the city from plunder, nor its inhabitants from captivity. Nebu- _chadnezzar was no kid-gloved conqueror; where his mailed hand fell, he let it be felt. This city had rebelled against him, and he would effectually cripple its power to rebel again by impoverishing, degrading, and weakening it to the utmost. Nebuchadnezzar was intent only on his own ends, yet unconsciously he was carrying out to the letter the predictions which God's prophets had been dinning into the people's ears with so little result during all the years of their backsliding. The city was despoiled: 1. Of its wealth and sacred vessels. "He carried out thence a.II the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon . . . had made," etc. Jehoiakim had saved his treasures at the expense of exactions from the people, and his "covetousness" had doubtless filled them still more (Jer. xxii. 17). These ill-gotten gains were now carried away, and with them such of the temple vessels as were made of, or plated with, gold, the "cutting to pieces" being probably confined to the latter, with such large articles as the golden candlestick, etc. Of the smaller articles some few were spared (eh. xxv. 15), and the rest were preserved in Babylon, and restored on the return (Ezra i. 7-11). Judgment thus a.gain began e.t the house of God. As, with the wealth of the city, the wealth-producers were also taken (ver. 14), it is easy to see to what poverty it was reduced. 2. Of its royal family and nobles. "And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives," etc. The land was thus deflowered of its king and aris- tocracy. 'l'he nobles, indeed, had proved no source of strength to the nation, but had set an example of luxury, oppression, co'!lruption, and idolatry. Still, they were the representatives of its old hereditary families; they had high social position and great influence ; and they ought to have been, if they were not, patrons and examples of everything good and gi-eat. Those who have rank, fortune, and leisure may be of the highest service to a state, if only they devote their powers to its true welfare. They contribute elements of re6nement, culture, and wealth to it, which cannot be lost without impoverishment. If, however, they abuse their opportunities, and grow luxu- rious, idle, and wicked, they have generally to suffer severely in the end. 3. Of its artisans and warriors. "And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and crafts- men and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war," etc. Besides removing from the city the wealth that enriched it, and the nobles who adorned it, Nebuchadnezzar took away the skilful bands that did its work, and the strong arms that fought for it. lie left none" save the poorest sort of the people of the land." This was to drain the city dry of every element of its prosperity. The middle classes of a nation-its wealth-producers aud skilled labourers-even more than its aristocracy- are the source of its strength. By them is created the ea.pita.I of the country; through them that capital undergoes constant renewal and increase; they supply the wants of every other class; without them tbe nobles would be helpless, and on them " the poorest sort of people "-too often the unfortunate, the shiftless, the inefficient classes -depend for casual employment e.nd support. Nebuchaduezzar looked well to his own interests when he deported these classes, and not the poor, the less able, less thrifty, to Babylon. But their departure was ruinous to Jerusalem, and this also Nebuchadnezzar intended. It was, indeed, e.n irretrievable, crushing blow which had fallen on the nation, none the less ruinous e.nd terrible that it had been so long predicted, and was so Lrichly deserved. Piety tends to the enrichwent and strengthening of a nation, aa of 486 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [on. XXV. 1-30,