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of Israel。 For I am the Lord： I will speak； and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass； it shall be no more prolonged： for in your days； O rebellious house； will I say the word； and will perform it； saith the Lord God。
〃Again；〃 testifies Ezekiel； 〃the word of the Lord came to me； saying； Son of man； behold； they of the house of Israel say； The vision that he seeth is for many days to come； and he prophesieth of the times that are far off。 Therefore say unto them； Thus saith the Lord God； There shall none of My words be prolonged any more； but the word which I have spoken shall be done； saith the Lord God。〃 Ezekiel 12：22…28。
Foremost among those who were rapidly leading the nation to ruin was Zedekiah their king。 Forsaking utterly the counsels of the Lord as given through the prophets； forgetting the debt of gratitude he owed Nebuchadnezzar；
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violating his solemn oath of allegiance taken in the name of the Lord God of Israel； Judah's king rebelled against the prophets； against his benefactor； and against his God。 In the vanity of his own wisdom he turned for help to the ancient enemy of Israel's prosperity； 〃sending his ambassadors into Egypt； that they might give him horses and much people。〃
〃Shall he prosper？〃 the Lord inquired concerning the one who had thus basely betrayed every sacred trust； 〃shall he escape that doeth such things？ or shall he break the covenant； and be delivered？ As I live； saith the Lord God； surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king； whose oath he despised； and whose covenant he brake； even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die。 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war： 。 。 。 seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant； when； lo； he had given his hand； and hath done all these things； he shall not escape。〃 Ezekiel 17：15…18。
To the 〃profane wicked prince〃 had come the day of final reckoning。 〃Remove the diadem；〃 the Lord decreed； 〃and take off the crown。〃 Not until Christ Himself should set up His kingdom was Judah again to be permitted to have a king。 〃I will overturn； overturn； overturn； it；〃 was the divine edict concerning the throne of the house of David； 〃and it shall be no more； until He come whose right it is； and I will give it Him。〃 Ezekiel 21：25…27。
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Chapter 37
Carried Captive Into Babylon
In the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign 〃Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came； he； and all his host； against Jerusalem；〃 to besiege the city。 2 Kings 25：1。 The outlook for Judah was hopeless。 〃Behold； I am against thee；〃 the Lord Himself declared through Ezekiel。 〃I the Lord have drawn forth My sword out of his sheath〃 it shall not return any more。 。 。 。 Every heart shall melt； and all hands shall be feeble； and every spirit shall faint； and all knees shall be weak as water。〃 〃I will pour out Mine indignation upon thee； I will blow against thee in the fire of My wrath； and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men； and skillful to destroy。〃 Ezekiel 21：3； 5…7； 31。
The Egyptians endeavored to come to the rescue of the beleaguered city； and the Chaldeans； in order to keep them back； abandoned for a time their siege of the Judean capital。 Hope sprang up in the heart of Zedekiah； and he sent a
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messenger to Jeremiah； asking him to pray to God in behalf of the Hebrew nation。
The prophet's fearful answer was that the Chaldeans would return and destroy the city。 The fiat had gone forth； no longer could the impenitent nation avert the divine judgments。 〃Deceive not yourselves；〃 the Lord warned His people。 〃The Chaldeans 。 。 。 shall not depart。 For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you； and there remained but wounded men among them； yet should they rise up every man in his tent； and burn this city with fire。〃 Jeremiah 37：9； 10。 The remnant of Judah were to go into captivity； to learn through adversity the lessons they had refused to learn under circumstances more favorable。 From this decree of the holy Watcher there could be no appeal。
Among the righteous still in Jerusalem； to whom had been made plain the divine purpose； were some who determined to place beyond the reach of ruthless hands the sacred ark containing the tables of stone on which had been traced the precepts of the Decalogue。 This they did。 With mourning and sadness they secreted the ark in a cave； where it was to be hidden from the people of Israel and Judah because of their sins； and was to be no more restored to them。 That sacred ark is yet hidden。 It has never been disturbed since it was secreted。
For many years Jeremiah had stood before the people as a faithful witness for God； and now； as the fated city was about to pass into the hands of the heathen； he considered his work done and attempted to leave； but was prevented by a son of one of the false prophets； who reported
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that Jeremiah was about to join the Babylonians； to whom he had repeatedly urged the men of Judah to submit。 The prophet denied the lying charge； but nevertheless 〃the princes were wroth with Jeremiah； and smote him； and put him in prison。〃 Verse 15。
The hopes that had sprung up in the hearts of princes and people when the armies of Nebuchadnezzar turned south to meet the Egyptians； were soon dashed to the ground。 The word of the Lord had been； 〃Behold； I am against thee； Pharaoh king of Egypt。〃 The might of Egypt was but a broken reed。 〃All the inhabitants of Egypt；〃 Inspiration had declared； 〃shall know that I am the Lord； because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel。〃 〃I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon； and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down； and they shall know that I am the Lord； when I shall put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon； and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt。〃 Ezekiel 29：3； 6； 30：25； 26。
While the princes of Judah were still vainly looking toward Egypt for help； King Zedekiah with anxious foreboding was thinking of the prophet of God that had been thrust into prison。 After many days the king sent for him and asked him secretly； 〃Is there any word from the Lord？〃 Jeremiah answered； 〃There is： for； said He； thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon。
〃Moreover Jeremiah said unto King Zedekiah； What have I offended against thee； or against thy servants； or against this people； that ye have put me in prison？ Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you； saying；
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The king of Babylon shall not come against you； nor against this land？ Therefore hear now； I pray thee； O my lord the king： let my supplication； I pray thee； be accepted before thee； that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe； lest I die there。〃 Jeremiah 37：17…20。
At this Zedekiah commanded that they 〃commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison； and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' stree