seems to have reigned but two years (B.C. 562-560). Influenced probably
by Daniel, he showed kindness to Jehoiachin, who had been a prisoner in
Babylon for thirty-seven years. He released him, and “spoke kindly to
him.” He was murdered by Nergal-sharezer=Neriglissar, his brother-in-law,
who succeeded him (Jeremiah 39:3, 13).
- EVIL-SPEAKING is expressly forbidden (Titus 3:2; James 4:11), and
severe punishments are denounced against it (1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:10). It
is spoken of also with abhorrence (Psalm 15:3; Proverbs 18:6, 7), and is
foreign to the whole Christian character and the example of Christ. - EXAMPLE of Christ (1 Peter 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks
(Phil. 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 5:3); of the Jews
as a warning (Hebrews 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James
5:10). - EXECUTIONER (Mark 6:27). Instead of the Greek word, Mark here uses
a Latin word, speculator, which literally means “a scout,” “a spy,” and at
length came to denote one of the armed bodyguard of the emperor. Herod
Antipas, in imitation of the emperor, had in attendance on him a company
of speculatores. They were sometimes employed as executioners, but this
was a mere accident of their office. (See MARK, GOSPEL OF.) - EXERCISE, BODILY (1 Timothy 4:8). An ascetic mortification of the
flesh and denial of personal gratification (comp. Colossians 2:23) to which
some sects of the Jews, especially the Essenes, attached importance. - EXILE (1.) Of the kingdom of Israel. In the time of Pekah, Tiglath-pileser
II. carried away captive into Assyria (2 Kings 15:29; comp. Isaiah 10:5, 6)
a part of the inhabitants of Galilee and of Gilead (B.C. 741).
After the destruction of Samaria (B.C. 720) by Shalmaneser and Sargon
(q.v.), there was a general deportation of the Israelites into Mesopotamia
and Media (2 Kings 17:6; 18:9; 1 Chronicles 5:26). (See ISRAEL,
KINGDOM OF.)
(2.) Of the kingdom of the two tribes, the kingdom of Judah.
Nebuchadnezzar, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 25:1), invaded
Judah, and carried away some royal youths, including Daniel and his
companions (B.C. 606), together with the sacred vessels of the temple (2
Chronicles 36:7; Daniel 1:2). In B.C. 598 (Jeremiah 52:28; 2 Kings 24:12),
in the beginning of Jehoiachin’s reign (2 Kings 24:8), Nebuchadnezzar