Chapter 44 the demise of the jewish state

According to rumors (well-founded), Sennacherib was ready to change his previous policy of tolerance, and he was determined to destroy the Jewish capital so as not to worry about it. This message so alarmed the Jews that they finally turned to their prophet. The king let them down, but the prophet Jeremiah encouraged the people excitedly, saying that as long as they are determined to defend Jerusalem to the end, they will get the support of Jehovah. It looks like his prophecy came true.Assyrian soldiers sink into the swamps of the Nile Delta.Most of the soldiers died of the plague.The rest of the people were infected by this strange disease

Terrified, and encountering the strange thing of mice eating their bowstrings, they refused to fight any more and retreated home. Jeremiah was overjoyed, but he was too happy.The enemy is preparing for revenge! In the middle of the sixth century BC, the king of Judah was Zedekiah.He is completely controlled by foreigners.All he is interested in is his enjoyment, and the independence of the country has nothing to do with him. By this time Assyria had been conquered by the Chaldeans (another tribe of the Semites).The Chaldeans formed a new nation with the ancient city of Babylon as its capital.

Whoever is master is the same to Zedekiah.As long as he was left to live in peace, he was equally willing to pay tribute to Assyrians, Egyptians, or Chaldeans.But cowards like him are often reckless when they should be prudent. When Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of the Chaldeans, came into conflict with Egypt, Zedekiah, listening to his friend, thought that the time had come to take some great action, and bring high honor to the king of Judah. The prophet Jeremiah, who foretold disasters, cried out that this is stupidity. He confronted the king and warned him that to act rashly would only invite disaster.

Zedekiah's enthusiasm was strong, and he could not listen to different opinions. Jeremiah desperately reminded the king that he had served four Jewish kings and none of them had taken his word for it. Zedekiah was furious and drove Jeremiah away. He suddenly declared independence and stopped paying tribute to Chaldea.Nebuchadnezzar immediately besieged Jerusalem. Jerusalem is not prepared for long-term resistance.Food and water were scarce, and soon the plague was rife among the poor.Jeremiah will not listen to the word "surrender". The people were weakened by illness, and they turned against Jeremiah.They accused the faithful leader of being bribed by the Chaldeans.People did not listen to his defense, and threw him into a dungeon.

A kind Negro took pity on the old man, rescued him from the dungeon, and hid him in the guard's room until the siege was over. The last king of Judah abandoned his people before Jerusalem formally surrendered. He took a few entourages and left the palace gate in the middle of the night, avoiding the Chaldean sentry line. When daylight came, he was already on his way to the Jordan River. Nebuchadnezzar got the news and sent cavalry to stop it. Zedekiah was captured near Jericho. He was taken back to the king's tent of the Chaldean king and tortured. First, his son was executed before his eyes.He was then blinded and sent to Babylon to be displayed in the triumphant procession of the Chaldean emperor.Soon he died in a Babylonian prison.

The highly civilized Chaldeans spared Jeremiah's life and held him in great esteem.They respected his selflessness and wisdom.Let him stay at home and let no one hurt him. However, most Jews feared being deported to Mesopotamia like the Israelites.They were about to flee to Egypt.Jeremiah urges them to stay where they are.But the people of Jerusalem, in a state of panic, did not heed his counsel.They migrated southwest with their carry-on luggage.Jeremiah followed his people with loyalty.But he was too old and the long journey was too much for him, and he died in an Egyptian village and was buried beside the road.

That was five hundred and eighty-six years before Christ was born. Jerusalem was reduced to ruins. In the land of Joshua and David lived a Chaldean governor. The blackened ruins of the temple stand under the blue sky of Canaan. The independent Jewish state finally perished. Judah paid an irreparable price for disregarding the will of Jehovah.