the king of Babylon made an expedition with mighty forces against
the Jews； and required tribute of Jehoiakim； and threatened upon
his refusal to make war against him。 He was aftrighted at his
threatening； and bought his peace with money； and brought the
tribute he was ordered to bring for three years。
2。 But on the third year； upon hearing that the king of the
Babylonians made an expedition against the Egyptians； he did not
pay his tribute； yet was he disappointed of his hope； for the
Egyptians durst not fight at this time。 And indeed the prophet
Jeremiah foretold every day； how vainly they relied on their
hopes from Egypt； and how the city would be overthrown by the
king of Babylon； and Jehoiakim the king would be subdued by him。
But what he thus spake proved to be of no advantage to them；
because there were none that should escape； for both the
multitude and the rulers； when they heard him； had no concern
about what they heard； but being displeased at what was said； as
if the prophet were a diviner against the king； they accused
Jeremiah； and bringing him before the court； they required that a
sentence and a punishment might be given against him。 Now all the
rest gave their votes for his condemnation； but the elders
refused； who prudently sent away the prophet from the court of
＇the prison＇； and persuaded the rest to do Jeremiah no harm； for
they said that he was not the only person who foretold what would
come to the city； but that Micah signified the same before him；
as well as many others； none of which suffered any thing of the
kings that then reigned； but were honored as the prophets of God。
So they mollified the multitude with these words； and delivered
Jeremiah from the punishment to which he was condemned。 Now when
this prophet had written all his prophecies； and the people were
fasting； and assembled at the temple； on the ninth month of the
fifth year of Jehoiakim； he read the book he had composed of his
predictions of what was to befall the city； and the temple； and
the multitude。 And when the rulers heard of it； they took the
book from him； and bid him and Baruch the scribe to go their
ways； lest they should be discovered by one or other； but they
carried the book； and gave it to the king； so he gave order； in
the presence of his friends； that his scribe should take it； and
read it。 When the king heard what it contained； he was angry； and
tore it； and cast it into the fire； where it was consumed。 He
also commanded that they should seek for Jeremiah； and Baruch the
scribe； and bring them to him； that they might be punished。
However； they escaped his anger。
3。 Now； a little time afterwards； the king of Babylon made an
expedition against Jehoiakim； whom he received ＇into the city＇；
and this out of fear of the foregoing predictions of this
prophet； as supposing he should suffer nothing that was terrible；
because he neither shut the gates； nor fought against him； yet
when he was come into the city； he did not observe the covenants
he had made； but he slew such as were in the flower of their age；
and such as were of the greatest dignity； together with their
king Jehoiakim； whom he commanded to be thrown before the walls；
without any burial； and made his son Jehoiachin king of the
country； and of the city： he also took the principal persons in
dignity for captives； three thousand in number； and led them away
to Babylon； among which was the prophet Ezekiel； who was then but
young。 And this was the end of king Jehoiakim； when he had lived
thirty…six years； and of them reigned eleven。 But Jehoiachin
succeeded him in the kingdom； whose mother's name was Nehushta；
she was a citizen of Jerusalem。 He reigned three months and ten
days。
CHAPTER 7。
That The King Of Babylon Repented Of Making Jehoiachin King； And
Took Him Away To Babylon And Delivered The Kingdom To Zedekiah。
This King Would Not Relieve What Was Predicted By Jeremiah And
Ezekiel But Joined Himself To The Egyptians； Who When They Came
Into Judea； Were Vanquished By The King Of Babylon； As Also What
Befell Jeremiah。
1。 But a terror seized on the king of Babylon； who had given the
kingdom to Jehoiachin； and that immediately； he was afraid that
he should bear him a grudge； because of his killing his father；
and thereupon should make the country revolt from him； wherefore
he sent an army； and besieged Jehoiachin in Jerusalem； but
because he was of a gentle and just disposition； he did not
desire to see the city endangered on his account； but he took his
mother and kindred； and delivered them to the commanders sent by
the king of Babylon； and accepted of their oaths； that neither
should they suffer any harm； nor the city； which agreement they
did not observe for a single year； for the king of Babylon did
not keep it； but gave orders to his generals to take all that
were in the city captives； both the youth and the handicraftsmen；
and bring them bound to him； their number was ten thousand eight
hundred and thirty…two； as also Jehoiachin； and his mother and
friends。 And when these were brought to him； he kept them in
custody； and appointed Jehoiachin's uncle； Zedekiah； to be king；
and made him take an oath； that he would certainly keep the
kingdom for him； and make no innovation； nor have any league of
friendship with the Egyptians。
2。 Now Zedekiah was twenty and one year's old when he took the
government； and had the same mother with his brother Jehoiakim；
but was a despiser of justice and of his duty； for truly those of
the same age with him were wicked about him； and the whole
multitude did what unjust and insolent things they pleased； for
which reason the prophet Jeremiah came often to him； and
protested to him； and insisted； that he must leave off his
impieties and transgressions； and take care of what was right；
and neither give ear to the rulers； （among whom were wicked men；）
nor give credit to their false prophets； who deluded them； as if
the king of Babylon would make no more war against them； and as
if the Egyptians would make war against him； and conquer him；
since what they said was not true； and the events would not prove
such ＇as they expected＇。 Now as to Zedekiah himself； while he
heard the prophet speak； he believed him； and agreed to every
thing as true； and supposed it was for his advantage； but then
his friends perverted him； and dissuaded him from what the
prophet advised； and obliged him to do what they pleased。 Ezekiel
also foretold in Babylon what calamities were coming upon the
people； which when he heard； he sent accounts of them unto
Jerusalem。 But Zedekiah did not believe their prophecies； for the
reason following： It happened that the two prophets agreed with
one another in what they said as in all other things； that the
city should be taken； and Zedekiah himself should be taken
captive； but Ezekiel disagreed with him； and said that Zedekiah
should not see Babylon； while Jeremiah said to him； that the king
of Babylon should carry him away thither in bonds。 And be…
3。 Now when Zedekiah had preserved the league of mutual
assistance he had made with the Babylonians for eight years； he
brake it； and revolted to the Egyptians； in hopes； by their
assistance； of overcoming the Babylonians。 When the king of
Babylon knew this； he made war against him： he laid his country
waste； and took his fortified towns； and came to the city
Jerusalem itself to besiege it。 But when the king of Egypt heard
what circumstances Zedekiah his ally was in； he took a great army
with him； and came into Judea； as if he would raise the siege；
upon which the king of Babylon departed from Jerusalem； and met
the Egyptians； and joined battle with them； and beat them； and
when he had put them to flight； he pursued them； and drove them
out of all Syria。 Now as soon as the king of Babylon was departed
from Jerusalem； the false prophets deceived Zedekiah； and said
that the king of Babylon would not any more make war against him
or his people； nor remove them out of their own country into
Babylon； and that those then in captivity would return； with all
those vessels of the temple of which the king of Babylon had
despoiled that temple。 But Jeremiah came among them； and
prophesied what contradicted those predictions； and what proved
to be true； that they did ill； and deluded the king； that the
Egyptians would be of no advantage to them； but that the king of
Babylon would renew the war against Jerusalem； and besiege it
again； and would destroy the people by famine； and carry away
those that remained into captivity； and would take away what they
had as spoils； and would carry off those riches that were in the
temple； nay； that； besides this； he would burn it； and utterly
overthrow the city； and that they should serve him and his
posterity seventy years； that then the Persians and the Medes
should put an end to their servitude； and overthrow the
Babylonians； 〃and that we shall be dismissed； and return to this
land； and rebuild the temple； and restore Jerusalem。〃 When
Jeremiah said this； the greater part believed him； but the
rulers； and those that were wicked； despised him； as one
disordered in his senses。 Now he had resolved to go elsewhere； to
his own country； which was called Anathoth； and was twenty
furlongs distant from Jerusalem； （12） and as he was going； one of
the rulers met him； and seized upon him； and accused him falsely；
as though he were going as a deserter to the Babylonians； but
Jeremiah said that he accused him falsely； and added； that he was
only going to his own country； but the other would not believe
him； but seized upon him； and led him away to the rulers； and
laid an accusation against him； under whom he endured all sorts
of torments and tortures； and was reserved to be punished； and
this was the condition he was in for some time； while he suffered
what I have already described unjustly。
4。 Now in the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah； on the tenth
day of the tenth month； the king of Babylon made a second
expedition against Jerusalem； and lay before it eighteen months；
and besieged it with the utmost application。 There came upon them
also two of the greatest calamities at the same time that
Jerusalem was b