To read—Jer. lii. 1-11. Golden Text—Jer. xxix. 13.
This chapter describes the fate of Judah. Later kings were all wicked. Warnings of Jeremiah and other prophets all been in vain. Time has come for judgment. Captivity in Babylon, long foretold, now about to commence. Came about in reign of Zedekiah. The eleven verses of this lesson almost identical with Jer. xxxix. 1-10.
I. The King (1-3). His name. Originally Mattaniah, was son of good King Josiah and uncle of late King Jehoiachin. Jeremiah had prophesied of a future king (Jer. xxiii. 5-7) as the "Lord our righteousness." The king assumed that name, and was called Zedekiah.
His acts. "Did evil," but had not always been altogether evil. Had made covenant with nobles and priests to abolish slavery (xxxiv. 8-10). But his great wrong was breaking his solemn oath of allegiance to king of Babylon (2 Chron. xxxvi. 13). This looked upon as his crowning vice (Ezek. xvii. 8), for which God's anger was upon him (ver. 3).
Lesson. When thou vowest a vow defer not to pay it.
II. The Siege (4-7). City besieged for last time. Jews never forgot day it began. Was January—tenth day of their tenth month. Great mounds or (earth-works) outside walls to shoot burning arrows, etc.; houses outside thrown down (Jer. xxxiii. 4). Famine and pestilence soon ravaged crowded population inside.
The assault. City, after eighteen months, taken by assault at northern gate (B.C. 587). King and his family and royal guard escaped by passage between two walls (Jer. xxxix. 4), by royal gardens, down steep descent towards Jericho. There he was overtaken and made prisoner. His broken oath caused his destruction (Ezek. xvii. 20).
Lesson. Evil shall hunt the wicked to overtake him.
III. Babylon. He was taken to Babylon. His sons killed in his sight, then his eyes put out, bound with chains, kept in prison till death. Feeble in will, faithless in promise, judgment came upon him.
Lesson. 1. The word of the Lord standeth sure.