The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 448

the object of MaUsnise or hie princes in selecting this BI! the designation of Judah's 13.S"G king, it is hardly possible not to be struck with its singular propriety. To a people who were frequently instructed by "signs" it wa.s e. double symbol-first by way of contrast of the utter corruption of the nation, both prince and people; and second by way of prediction of coming doom for the kingdom. So far BI! the king wBll concerned, it was a grim satire on holy things to designate B creature like him Zedekiah. If hie person sod character were remarkable for anything, it was for the absence of right- eousness. (1) His devotion to idols was intense. "He did evil in the sight of the Lord his God" (ver. 12), by adhering to the heathen worship of his predecessors (2 Kings xxiv. 19; Jer. Iii. 2). (2) His unbelief was pronounced. He refUBed to believe Jeremiah the prophet speaking to him in Jehovah's name (Jer.xxxvii. 2). (3) His disobedience was flagrant. He rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear (allegiance) by God (ver. 13; cf. 2 Kings x.xiv. 20; Ezek. xvii.13-19)--a wickedness for which Jehovah declared he should die in Babylon. The reason of this revolt was the accession of a new Pharaoh, Hophrah in Scripture (Jer. xliv. 30), in the hieroglyphic inscriptions Uahi'bri, O~cu/>1'71 In the LXX., 'A.,,p£11s; or Apries, in Herodotus (ii. 161, 169; iv. 159). To him Zedek.iah, against Jeremiah's advice, despatched ambassadors, hoping to obtain "horses and much people" (Ezek. xvii. 15). N ebuchad- nezzar at once took the field, uncertain whether to march against Egypt or Jerusalem. By means:of divination he decided for Jerusalem (Ezek. xxi. 20--22). In the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, on the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar with bis armies sat down before Jeruse.lem (2 Kings xxv. 1). Hearing, however, of Pharaoh-Hophra's approach, he raised the siege (Jer. x.xxvii. 5). This having excited false hopes as to Nebuchad- nezzar's final withdrawal from the city (Ezek. xvii 17), Jeremiah warned king and people that he would soon return (Jer. xxxvii 8-10). This warning Zedekiah would not bear (eh. x.x.xvi. 16). 2. On the part of the people. Hardly second to their monarch were the priests, the princes, and the people. (1) Their passion for idolatry was as great: "They trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the heathen" (ver. 14). "Like priest, like people "-a proverb applicable to kings and subjects, masters and servants, as well as ecclesiastics and worshippers. (2) Their insolence was as high: "They polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jeru- salem" (ver. 14). "Jeremiah (x.xiii. 11) alludes to practices specially inconsistent with the holy place, and one of the Jewish captives explains what they were (Ezek. viii. 11-17). . There was (a) an image of Asherah; (b) totemistic animal-emblems on the wall of a temple-chamber; (c) weeping for' Tammuz yearly wounded;' (4) sun- worship and the rite of holding up ' the twig' to the nose" (Cheyne, ' Jeremiah: his Life,' etc., pp. 166, 167). (3) Their unbelief was as daring. Though Jehovah had "sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending them," yet had they "mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets " (vers. 15, 16)-a degree of criminality beyond that of which the Israelites had been guilty when they laughed Hezekiah's messengers to scorn (eh. xxx. 10), but not above that which hearers of the gospel may incur (Acts ii 13; xvii 32; Heh. L 29; 2 Pet. ii. 3, 4; Jude 18). II. AN INSTANCE OF DIVINE RETBmUTION. (Vers. 17-21.) The moral and spiritual corruption of the community in Zedekiah's time was so great that nothing remained but to pour out upon them the via.ls of long-threatened wrath (Deut. x:xviii. 21, 36, 52; xxxi. 16-21; Jer. v. 19; xxxii. 28--36). In the expressive language of the Chronicler," there was no remedy," "no hee.ling,'' more; nothing but fire and sword. After defeating Phara.oh-Hophra, or causing him to retreat, Nebuchadnezzar returned to his head-quarters at Riblah, on the east bank of the Orontes, thirty-five miles north- east of Baa.lbec, and despatched his captains, Nergsl-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sar- sechim, Rab-saris, Rab-mag, and others to resume the siege of Jerusalem, which, however, triumphantly withstood their assaults until the beginning of the eleventh year, when the supply of provisions began to fail (Jer. Iii. 6). On the ninth day of the fourth month, i.e. in July, ».o. 686, "there was no bread for the people of the land.• The starving defenders of the city c~uld no. longer hold out. The horrors of,,the situa- tion may be gathered from Lam. IL.19; 1v. 3-10; Ezek. v. l0;_Ba:uch u. 3. 1:'he besiegers eventually effected a breach m the north wall, and poured in like a destroyrng flood. Then ensued: 1. Merciless carnage. The Cha.ldean soldiers butchered all and  (52 TIIE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [orr. xxxvi. 1-23,