- 162-
The remainder of this mournful tale is soon told. After the flight and capture of the king,
the city could not long hold out. A month later,* and on the seventh day of the fifth
month (Ab) Nebuzar-adan ["Nebo gave posterity"] penetrated into the city.
- Perhaps a month's respite was allowed, to ascertain the royal commands in regard to the
city.
The Temple was set on fire, as well as the king's palace. The whole city was reduced to
ruins and ashes, and the walls which had defended it were broken down (2 Kings 25:9,
10). After three days the work of destruction was completed; and ever afterwards was the
10th (9th) of Ab mourned as the fatal day of Jerusalem's fall* (Jeremiah 52:12; Zechariah
7:3, 5; 8:19).
- According to Josephus (War, vi 4. 8), this was also the day of the destruction of the
Temple of Herod by the Romans.
"The rest of the people left in the city," and those who had previously passed to the
enemy, together "with the remnant of the multitude," were carried away (2 Kings 25:11).
We can scarcely be mistaken in regarding these captives as the chief part of the non-
combatant population of Jerusalem and Judah.
The capture of Jerusalem found Jeremiah in prison for his faithfulness in announcing the
coming ruin, and for warning his people of their impending fate. But the same faith and
faithfulness led him there to yet loftier display of the prophetic character than even when
bearing steadfast testimony amidst gainsaying, persecution, and suffering. In that prison,
and in full view of the impending desolation, he announced, with the same firm faith as
formerly the judgments upon Israel, not only the terrible doom that would overtake
Babylon (Jeremiah 51:1), but also the certain restoration of Israel. And in sublime
confidence of this event, he bought while in prison - in this also obedient to the Divine
direction - fields in Anathoth, as it were in anticipation of the return of his people to their
own land (Jeremiah 32:6-23). And beyond this did his rapt vision descry a better and
spiritual restoration of Israel (Jeremiah 32:37-44). Assuredly, viewing the Prophet in the
surroundings of his time and circumstances, it is not easy to understand how any one can
fail to perceive either the sublime dignity of the prophetic office, or the Divine character
of prophecy.
But the end has not yet been fully told. All of any value in the Temple that could be
removed, either whole or when broken up, was taken to Babylon. As already stated, the
general population of Jerusalem and of Judah were carried into captivity. Only the
poorest in the land were left to be husbandmen and vine-dressers, so as not to leave the
soil uncultivated -probably in expectation of a future colonization from Babylonia.
(^)