silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors: and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.”

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Q. How did Daniel interpret this vision ?

A. He represented the head of gold as a symbol of the glory of the Assyrian empire; and the other parts of the image, the silver, the brass, and the iron mixed with the clay, as figures of three great monarchies which should arise in succession after the Assyrian, and bear rule over all the earth: but which should be successively broken in pieces, and be followed by a kingdom that should stand for ever.

*

Q. How was Nebuchadnezzar affected by this disclosure ?

A. He said to Daniel "Of a truth your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” And "he fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him." Also "he gave him many great gifts, and made devel tbp and

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• The three monarchies besides the Assyrian, were the Persian, Grecian, and Roman. The two former, and the Assyrian also, seem to be noticed because of their political relation to Judah ; and 'the latter, not only because of its relation to Judah, but also on account of the influence of the Romish government in the Christian Church. For the illustration of these prophecies, consult Bp. NEWTON'S Dissert. the Bp. of CLOGHER's Dissert. and M. ROLLIN's Anc. Hist.

him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men."

Q. What service did Daniel render his companions? A." He requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon."

Q. Of what impiety was Jehoiakim guilty at this time? A. A roll containing a message from the Lord to the house of Judah being read to him, he cut it to pieces and cast it into the fire.*

Q. What did the Lord say concerning the death of this prince?

4. He said, "They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah Lord! or Ah his glory! He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem."t

Q. With what family did the Lord contrast the rebellious house of Judah?

Jeremiah

A. With the family of the Rechabites. having tried their fidelity by inviting them to drink wine, was commanded to deliver this message to them, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever."

The Jews mark the 29th of Chisleu in their calendar, as an annual fast for the burning of this roll. See PRIDEAUX's Connect. part i. book 1

t See his character, Jerem. xxii. 13—17. and doom, 18, 19. and xxxvi, 30-31, + Jerem. xxxv. See page 241.

A. M. 3406. Q. What befel Jehoiakim ? B, C. 598. A. In the eleventh year of his reign, Nebuch. 8. Nebuchadnezzar again invaded Judah, and having captured Jerusalem, plundered the temple of part of its wealth, carried Jehoiakim in fetters to Babylon, and placed Jehoiachin* his son on the throne. Q. What befel Jehoiachin?

A. After reigning three months and ten days,† he was deposed and carried to Babylon with all his house, " and all the princes, and all the mighty men, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained save the poorer sort of the people of the land."

Q. What message did the Lord send to the captives by Jeremiah?

A. He commanded them to build houses, to plant gardens, and to promote marriages among themselves, as they had many years to remain in the land ; ‡ and also to seek the welfare of Babylon, from which he promised them deliverance after the accomplishment of seventy years.§

Q. What became of Jehoiachin in Babylon ?

A. He was put into prison, where he remained seven and thirty years.

* Called also Coniah and Jeconiah.

+ In comparing 2 Kings xxiv. 8. and 2 Chron. xxxvi. 9. some error appears to have crept into the text, as there is a variation of ten years in the age of Jehoiachin.

Jerem. xxix. 4–7.

§ Ezekiel, who appears to have gone to Babylon at this time, dates the captivity from the deposition and imprisonment of Jehoiachin, i. 2. xl. 1. Jerem. xxix. 10—14.

BB

Q. Who succeeded him?

A. Mattaniah; whom Nebuchadnezzar caused to swear by the Lord to be faithful, and whose name he changed to Zedekiah.*

Q. Did Zedekiah fear the Lord ?

A. No: being deluded by false prophets, he "hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD."

Q. Did these prophets go unpunished?

A. No: Abab and Zedekiah were slain by Nebuchadnezzar ; the family of Shemaiah was doomed to extirpation;† and Hananiah, who prophesied in the fourth year of Zedekiah, was smitten for his iniquity, and died in the same year.

Q. What violation of the Mosaic law was tolerated in this reign?

A. The princes and people retained both male and female Hebrews in servitude, beyond the term of six years, the period prescribed by the Mosaic law.‡

Q. What prediction concerning Babylon did Jeremiah send to his captive countrymen at this time?

A. He wrote the Lord's judgments against Babylon in a book; and having given it to Seraiah, one of the

* Jehoiachin had an uncle and a brother of this name, 1 Chron. iii. 15—16. Which of these succeeded him it is not easy to determine.-Compare 2 Kings xxiv. 17. with 2 Chron. xxxvi. 10.

+ Jerem. xxix. 20-32.

When Nebuchadnezzar encamped before the city, they were induced to let their servants go free: but when he raised the siege to go to fight against the Egyptians, they compelled them to return to servitude.-See Jerem. xxxiv.

Jewish princes, then about to proceed on an embassy to Babylon,* charged him to read it to the captives there, and afterwards to sink it with a stone in the Euphrates, repeating these words, "Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her."

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Q. Did Zedekiah remain faithful to Nebuchadnezzar ? A. No he entered into an alliance with Hophra, king of Egypt, and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. A. M. 3415. Therefore Nebuchadnezzar came with all B. C. 589. his army and laid siege to Jerusalem, Zedek. 9. in the tenth day of the tenth month, in the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign.

Q. What occurred in Babylon the self same day?

A. The word of the Lord made known this event to Ezekiel,† who communicated it to his brethren. And though in the evening of the same day the wife of the prophet died, yet he was forbidden to mourn; that he might be a sign to the rebellious house of Judah.

Q. What service did the Egyptians render to Zedekiah?

A. They advanced toward Jerusalem with an army, and caused Nebuchadnezzar to raise the siege. Unwilling however to hazard a battle with him, they returned to Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar again laid siege to the city. The supplies of provision being thus cut off; the inhabitants suffered all the horrors of famine,

*This is the explication usually given of Jerem. li. 59, as there is no account elsewhere of Zedekiah having gone to Babylon. + Ezek. xxiv.