also two of the greatest calamities at the same time that
Jerusalem was besieged； a famine and a pestilential distemper；
and made great havoc of them。 And though the prophet Jeremiah was
in prison； he did not rest； but cried out； and proclaimed aloud；
and exhorted the multitude to open their gates； and admit the
king of Babylon； for that if they did so； they should be
preserved； and their whole families； but if they did not so； they
should be destroyed； and he foretold； that if any one staid in
the city； he should certainly perish by one of these ways； …
either be consumed by the famine； or slain by the enemy's sword；
but that if he would flee to the enemy； he should escape death。
Yet did not these rulers who heard believe him； even when they
were in the midst of their sore calamities； but they came to the
king； and in their anger informed him what Jeremiah had said； and
accused him； and complained of the prophet as of a madman； and
one that disheartened their minds； and by the denunciation of
miseries weakened the alacrity of the multitude； who were
otherwise ready to expose themselves to dangers for him； and for
their country； while he； in a way of threatening； warned them to
flee to the enemy； and told them that the city should certainly
be taken； and be utterly destroyed。
5。 But for the king himself； he was not at all irritated against
Jeremiah； such was his gentle and righteous disposition； yet；
that he might not be engaged in a quarrel with those rulers at
such a time； by opposing what they intended； he let them do with
the prophet whatsoever they would； whereupon； when the king had
granted them such a permission； they presently came into the
prison； and took him； and let him down with a cord into a pit
full of mire； that he might be suffocated； and die of himself。 So
he stood up to the neck in the mire which was all about him； and
so continued； but there was one of the king's servants； who was
in esteem with him； an Ethiopian by descent； who told the king
what a state the prophet was in； and said that his friends and
his rulers had done evil in putting the prophet into the mire；
and by that means contriving against him that he should suffer a
death more bitter than that by his bonds only。 When the king
heard this； he repented of his having delivered up the prophet to
the rulers； and bid the Ethiopian take thirty men of the king's
guards； and cords with them； and whatsoever else they understood
to be necessary for the prophet's preservation； and to draw him
up immediately。 So the Ethiopian took the men he was ordered to
take； and drew up the prophet out of the mire； and left him at
liberty ＇in the prison＇。
6。 But when the king had sent to call him privately； and inquired
what he could say to him from God； which might be suitable to his
present circumstances； and desired him to inform him of it；
Jeremiah replied； that he had somewhat to say； but he said
withal； he should not be believed； nor； if he admonished them；
should be hearkened to； 〃for；〃 said he； 〃thy friends have
determined to destroy me； as though I had been guilty of some
wickedness； and where are now those men who deceived us； and said
that the king of Babylon would not come and fight against us any
more？ but I am afraid now to speak the truth； lest thou shouldst
condemn me to die。〃 And when the king had assured him upon oath；
that he would neither himself put him to death； nor deliver him
up to the rulers； he became bold upon that assurance that was
given him； and gave him this advice： That he should deliver the
city up to the Babylonians； and he said that it was God who
prophesied this by him； that ＇he must do so＇ if he would be
preserved； and escape out of the danger he was in； and that then
neither should the city fall to the ground； nor should the temple
be burned； but that ＇if he disobeyed＇ he would be the cause of
these miseries coming upon the citizens； and of the calamity that
would befall his whole house。 When the king heard this； he said
that he would willingly do what he persuaded him to； and what he
declared would be to his advantage； but that he was afraid of
those of his own country that had fallen away to the Babylonians；
lest he should be accused by them to the king of Babylon； and be
punished。 But the prophet encouraged him； and said he had no
cause to fear such punishment； for that he should not have the
experience of any misfortune； if he would deliver all up to the
Babylonians； neither himself； nor his children； nor his wives；
and that the temple should then continue unhurt。 So when Jeremiah
had said this； the king let him go； and charged him to betray
what they had resolved on to none of the citizens； nor to tell
any of these matters to any of the rulers； if they should have
learned that he had been sent for； and should inquire of him what
it was that he was sent for； and what he had said to him； but to
pretend to them that he besought him that he might not be kept in
bonds and in prison。 And indeed he said so to them； for they came
to the； prophet； and asked him what advice it was that he came to
give the king relating to them。 And thus I have finished what
concerns this matter。
CHAPTER 8。
How The King Of Babylon Took Jerusalem And Burnt The Temple And
Removed The People Of Jerusalem And Zedekiah To Babylon。 As Also；
Who They Were That Had Succeeded In The High Priesthood Under The
Kings。
1。 Now the king of Babylon was very intent and earnest upon the
siege of Jerusalem； and he erected towers upon great banks of
earth； and from them repelled those that stood upon the walls； he
also made a great number of such banks round about the whole
city； whose height was equal to those walls。 However； those that
were within bore the siege with courage and alacrity； for they
were not discouraged； either by the famine； or by the
pestilential distemper； but were of cheerful minds in the
prosecution of the war； although those miseries within oppressed
them also； and they did not suffer themselves to be terrified；
either by the contrivances of the enemy； or by their engines of
war； but contrived still different engines to oppose all the
other withal； till indeed there seemed to be an entire struggle
between the Babylonians and the people of Jerusalem； which had
the greater sagacity and skill； the former party supposing they
should be thereby too hard for the other； for the destruction of
the city； the latter placing their hopes of deliverance in
nothing else but in persevering in such inventions in opposition
to the other； as might demonstrate the enemy's engines were
useless to them。 And this siege they endured for eighteen months；
until they were destroyed by the famine； and by the darts which
the enemy threw at them from the towers。
2。 Now the city was taken on the ninth day of the fourth month；
in the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah。 They were indeed
only generals of the king of Babylon； to whom Nebuchadnezzar
committed the care of the siege； for he abode himself in the city
of Riblah。 The names of these generals who ravaged and subdued
Jerusalem； if any one desire to know them； were these： Nergal
Sharezer； Samgar Nebo； Rabsaris； Sorsechim； and Rabmag。 And when
the city was taken about midnight； and the enemy's generals were
entered into the temple； and when Zedekiah was sensible of it； he
took his wives； and his children； and his captains； and his
friends； and with them fled out of the city； through the
fortified ditch； and through the desert； and when certain of the
deserters had informed the Babylonians of this； at break of day；
they made haste to pursue after Zedekiah； and overtook him not
far from Jericho； and encompassed him about。 But for those
friends and captains of Zedekiah who had fled out of the city
with him； when they saw their enemies near them； they left him；
and dispersed themselves； some one way； and some another； and
every one resolved to save himself； so the enemy took Zedekiah
alive； when he was deserted by all but a few； with his children
and his wives； and brought him to the king。 When he was come；
Nebuchadnezzar began to call him a wicked wretch； and a
covenant…breaker； and one that had forgotten his former words；
when he promised to keep the country for him。 He also reproached
him for his ingratitude； that when he had received the kingdom
from him； who had taken it from Jehoiachin； and given it to him；
he had made use of the power he gave him against him that gave
it； 〃but；〃 said he； 〃God is great； who hated that conduct of
thine； and hath brought thee under us。〃 And when he had used
these words to Zedekiah； he commanded his sons and his friends to
be slain； while Zedekiah and the rest of the captains looked on；
after which he put out the eyes of Zedekiah； and bound him； and
carried him to Babylon。 And these things happened to him； （13） as
Jeremiah and Ezekiel had foretold to him； that he should be
caught； and brought before the king of Babylon； and should speak
to him face to face； and should see his eyes with his own eyes；
and thus far did Jeremiah prophesy。 But he was also made blind；
and brought to Babylon； but did not see it； according to the
prediction of Ezekiel。
3。 We have said thus much； because it was sufficient to show the
nature of God to such as are ignorant of it； that it is various；
and acts many different ways； and that all events happen after a
regular manner； in their proper season； and that it foretells
what must come to pass。 It is also sufficient to show the
ignorance and incredulity of men； whereby they are not permitted
to foresee any thing that is future； and are； without any guard；
exposed to calamities； so that it is impossible for them to avoid
the experience of those calamities。
4。 And after this manner have the kings of David's race ended
their lives； being in number twenty…one； until the last king； who
all together reigned five hundred and fourteen years； and six
months； and ten days； of whom Saul； who was their first king；
retained the government twenty years； though he was not of the
same tribe with the rest。
5。 And now it was that the king of Babylon sent Nebuzaradan； the
general of his army； to Jerusalem； to pillage the t