THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH.

"And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place:

"But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

"Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.

"And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes all these he brought to Babylon. "And 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. CHRON. XXXVI.

15-19.

SUCH is the melancholy account of the end of the kingdom of Judah. After the prosperous reign of Josiah, the history soon comes to a close. A few more kings sat

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upon the throne for a short time each. Their names are, first, Jehoahaz, a son of Josiah. He only reigned three months. The king of Egypt put him down, and made next Eliakim, his brother, king in his room. He turned his name into Jehoiakim. He reigned eleven years, and did evil in the sight of the Lord. "Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon." Jehoiachin or Jeconiah his son, reigned in his stead. He was also a wicked man. And "Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him also to Babylon; and made Zedekiah, his brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem." Zedekiah also did evil and "humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet, from the mouth of the Lord." He rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, “who had made him swear by God." Then it was God yet further warned him and the people of Judah, as in the verses before us. And as they regarded Him not, they were given over completely to their enemies. Many were slain. The treasures of the temple, and riches of the nation, were carried to Babylon. The house of God was burnt, and those that escaped the sword were taken for slaves. Only some of the poor of the land were left to be vine-dressers and hus

bandmen. This was 588 years before the Lord Jesus came into the world.

There was a partial restoration of some Jews to the land seventy years after this; in the days of Cyrus, king of Persia. But they never attained to any thing like their former glory. Their temple was indeed rebuilt, as had been foretold by the prophet Isaiah. (chap. xliv. 28.) Their government was partially restored under Ezra and Nehemiah, who were sent from Persia for this end. But still from that time till they were finally dispersed again under the Romans, they had no regular government of their own; being under the Persians, or Grecians, or Egyptians, or Syrians, or Romans, until our Lord came. And when He came, He foretold that terrible destruction which came upon them by the hands of the Romans, who destroyed their city, and burned up their temple leaving not one stone upon another, even as it is unto this very day.

Very affecting and very instructive is the history of this wonderful people. In drawing to a close this commentary on their history, it is only a few of such reflections can be made. The best commentary on their fall, are the Lamentations of Jeremiah. These are a very affecting part of Scripture,

written by one who was deeply affected by their sad history. Observe the opening of that song. "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! She that was great among nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!" Again, "Judah is gone into captivity, because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest."

But a greater than Jeremiah hath uttered the voice of lamentation over this wondrous city and nation. It is said of Jesus, "When he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it." St. Matthew tells us His words, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not."

But in looking at this people, let us not overlook the most extraordinary part of their history, namely, how amidst all they have gone through of warfare, and captivity, suffering, and persecution, they are still preserved a people distinct from other nations upon earth. Their history differs from all other histories of nations and king

doms. They were God's chosen people, and He said they should "not be reckoned among the nations." They are therefore like the burning bush that Moses looked upon, which burned, but was not consumed. So there is still a people of the Jews, scattered among all nations, yet dwelling alone. And in the midst of all that has been done to dishonour, to destroy, and to extirpate them, they are still preserved distinct. As As says the prophet Malachi iii. 6, "I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Because they are God's chosen seed, and because God is faithful to keep His word, therefore, though He has punished them, they have not been destroyed or wholly cast away. He has said, "Behold the eyes of the Lord are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth.” This is fulfilled, for there is no kingdom of Judah. But it is added, "saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord; for lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth." (Amos ix. 8, 9.) This also has been fulfilled. There is not a civilized nation where