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At this Zedekiah commanded that they 〃commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison； and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street； until all the bread in the city were spent。 Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison。〃 Verse 21。
The king dared not openly manifest any faith in Jeremiah。 Though his fear drove him to seek information of him privately； yet he was too weak to brave the disapprobation of his princes and of the people by submitting to the will of God as declared by the prophet。
From the court of the prison Jeremiah continued to advise submission to the Babylonian rule。 To offer resistance would be to invite sure death。 The message of the Lord to Judah was： 〃He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword； by the famine； and by the pestilence： but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live； for he shall have his life for a prey； and shall live。〃 Plain and positive were the words spoken。 In the name of the Lord the prophet boldly declared； 〃This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army； which shall take it。〃 Jeremiah 38：2； 3。
At last the princes； enraged over the repeated counsels of Jeremiah； which were contrary to their set policy of resistance； made a vigorous protest before the king； urging
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that the prophet was an enemy to the nation； and that his words had weakened the hands of the people and brought misfortune upon them； therefore he should be put to death。
The cowardly king knew that the charges were false； but in order to propitiate those who occupied high and influential positions in the nation； he feigned to believe their falsehoods and gave Jeremiah into their hands to do with him as they pleased。 The prophet was cast 〃into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech； that was in the court of the prison： and they let down Jeremiah with cords。 And in the dungeon there was no water； but mire： so Jeremiah sunk in the mire。〃 Verse 6。 But God raised up friends for him； who besought the king in his behalf； and had him again removed to the court of the prison。
Once more the king sent privately for Jeremiah； and bade him faithfully relate the purpose of God toward Jerusalem。 In response； Jeremiah inquired； 〃If I declare it unto thee； wilt thou not surely put me to death？ and if I give thee counsel； wilt thou not hearken unto me？〃 The king entered into a secret compact with the prophet。 〃As the Lord liveth； that made us this soul；〃 Zedekiah promised； 〃I will not put thee to death； neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life。〃 Verses 15； 16。
There was still opportunity for the king to reveal a willingness to heed the warnings of Jehovah； and thus to temper with mercy the judgments even now falling on city and nation。 〃If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes；〃 was the message given the king； 〃then thy soul shall live； and this city shall not be burned with
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fire； and thou shalt live； and thine house： but if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes； then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans； and they shall burn it with fire； and thou shalt not escape out of their hand。〃
〃I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans；〃 the king replied； 〃lest they deliver me into their hand； and they mock me。〃 But the prophet promised； 〃They shall not deliver thee。〃 And he added the earnest entreaty； 〃Obey； I beseech thee； the voice of the Lord； which I speak unto thee： so it shall be well unto thee； and thy soul shall live。〃 Verses 17…20。
Thus even to the last hour； God made plain His willingness to show mercy to those who would choose to submit to His just requirements。 Had the king chosen to obey； the lives of the people might have been spared； and the city saved from conflagration； but he thought he had gone too far to retrace his steps。 He was afraid of the Jews； afraid of ridicule； afraid for his life。 After years of rebellion against God； Zedekiah thought it too humiliating to say to his people； I accept the word of the Lord； as spoken through the prophet Jeremiah； I dare not venture to war against the enemy in the face of all these warnings。
With tears Jeremiah entreated Zedekiah to save himself and his people。 With anguish of spirit he assured him that unless he should heed the counsel of God； he could not escape with his life； and all his possessions would fall to the Babylonians。 But the king had started on the wrong course； and he would not retrace his steps。 He decided to
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follow the counsel of the false prophets； and of the men whom he really despised； and who ridiculed his weakness in yielding so readily to their wishes。 He sacrificed the noble freedom of his manhood and became a cringing slave to public opinion。 With no fixed purpose to do evil； he was also without resolution to stand boldly for the right。 Convicted though he was of the value of the counsel given by Jeremiah； he had not the moral stamina to obey； and as a consequence he advanced steadily in the wrong direction。
The king was even too weak to be willing that his courtiers and people should know that he had held a conference with Jeremiah； so fully had the fear of man taken possession of his soul。 If Zedekiah had stood up bravely and declared that he believed the words of the prophet； already half fulfilled； what desolation might have been averted！ He should have said； I will obey the Lord； and save the city from utter ruin。 I dare not disregard the commands of God because of the fear or favor of man。 I love the truth； I hate sin； and I will follow the counsel of the Mighty One of Israel。
Then the people would have respected his courageous spirit； and those who were wavering between faith and unbelief would have taken a firm stand for the right。 The very fearlessness and justice of this course would have inspired his subjects with admiration and loyalty。 He would have had ample support； and Judah would have been spared the untold woe of carnage and famine and fire。
The weakness of Zedekiah was a sin for which he paid a fearful penalty。 The enemy swept down like a resistless avalanche and devastated the city。 The Hebrew armies
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were beaten back in confusion。 The nation was conquered。 Zedekiah was taken prisoner； and his sons were slain before his eyes。 The king was led away from Jerusalem a captive； his eyes were put out； and after arriving in Babylon he perished miserably。 The beautiful temple that for more than four centuries had crowned the summit of Mount Zion was not spared by the Chaldeans。 〃They burnt the house of God； and brake down the wall of Jerusalem； and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire； and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof。〃 2 Chronicles 36：19。
At the time of the final overthrow of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar； many had escaped the horrors of the long siege； only to perish by the sword。 Of those who still remained； some； notably the chief of the priests and officers。
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and the princes of the realm； were taken to Babylon and there executed as traitors。 Others were carried captive； to live in servitude to Nebuchadnezzar and to his sons 〃until the reign of the kingdom of Persia： to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah。〃 Verses 20； 21。
Of Jeremiah himself it is recorded： 〃Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuchadnezzar…adan the captain of the guard； saying； Take him； and look well to him； and do him no harm； but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee。〃 Jeremiah 39：11； 12。
Released from prison by the Babylonian officers； the prophet chose to cast in his lot with the feeble remnant； 〃certain poor of the land〃 left by the Chaldeans to be 〃vinedressers and husbandmen。〃 Over these the Babylonians set Gedaliah as governor。 Only a few months passed before the newly appointed governor was treacherously slain。 The poor people； after passing through many trials； were finally persuaded by their leaders to take refuge in the land of Egypt。 Against this move； Jeremiah lifted his voice in protest。 〃Go ye not into Egypt；〃 he pleaded。 But the inspired counsel was not heeded； and 〃all the remnant of Judah； 。 。 。 even men； and women； and children；〃 took flight into Egypt。 〃They obeyed not the voice of the Lord： thus came they even to Tahpanhes。〃 Jeremiah 43：5…7。
The prophecies of doom pronounced by Jeremiah upon the remnant that had rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar by fleeing to Egypt were mingled with promises of pardon to those who should repent of their folly and stand ready to return。 While the Lord would not spare those who turned
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from His counsel to the seductive influences of Egyptian idolatry； yet He would show mercy to those who should prove loyal and true。 〃A small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah；〃 He declared； 〃and all the remnant of Judah； that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there； shall know whose words shall stand； Mine； or theirs。〃 Jeremiah 4