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festival thus celebrated by the Hebrews from the times of Samuel
the prophet； and the plenty of sacrifices now was the occasion
that all things were performed according to the laws； and
according to the custom of their forefathers。 So when Josiah had
after this lived in peace； nay； in riches and reputation also；
among all men； he ended his life in the manner following。
CHAPTER 5。
How Josiah Fought With Neco ＇King Of Egypt。＇ And Was Wounded And
Died In A Little Time Afterward； As Also How Neco Carried
Jehoahaz； Who Had Been Made King Into Egypt And Delivered The
Kingdom To Jehoiakim； And ＇Lastly＇ Concerning Jeremiah And
Ezekiel。
1。 Now Neco； king of Egypt； raised an army； and marched to the
river Euphrates； in order to fight with the Medes and
Babylonians； who had overthrown the dominion of the Assyrians；
（8） for he had a desire to reign over Asia。 Now when he was come
to the city Mendes； which belonged to the kingdom of Josiah； he
brought an army to hinder him from passing through his own
country； in his expedition against the Medes。 Now Neco sent a
herald to Josiah； and told him that he did not make this
expedition against him； but was making haste to Euphrates； and
desired that he would not provoke him to fight against him；
because he obstructed his march to the place whither he had
resolved to go。 But Josiah did not admit of this advice of Neco；
but put himself into a posture to hinder him from his intended
march。 I suppose it was fate that pushed him on this conduct；
that it might take an occasion against him； for as he was setting
his army in array； （9） and rode about in his chariot； from one
wing of his army to another； one of the Egyptians shot an arrow
at him； and put an end to his eagerness of fighting； for being
sorely wounded； he command a retreat to be sounded for his army；
and returned to Jerusalem； and died of that wound； and was
magnificently buried in the sepulcher of his fathers； when he had
lived thirty…nine years； and of them had reigned thirty…one。 But
all the people mourned greatly for him； lamenting and grieving on
his account many days； and Jeremiah the prophet composed an elegy
to lament him； （10） which is extant till tills time also。
Moreover； this prophet denounced beforehand the sad calamities
that were coming upon the city。 He also left behind him in
writing a description of that destruction of our nation which has
lately happened in our days； and the taking of Babylon； nor was
he the only prophet who delivered such predictions beforehand to
the multitude； but so did Ezekiel also； who was the first person
that wrote； and left behind him in writing two books concerning
these events。 Now these two prophets were priests by birth； but
of them Jeremiah dwelt in Jerusalem； from the thirteenth year of
the reign of Josiah； until the city and temple were utterly
destroyed。 However； as to what befell this prophet； we will
relate it in its proper place。
2。 Upon the death of Josiah； which we have already mentioned； his
son； Jehoahaz by name； took the kingdom； being about twenty…three
years old。 He reigned in Jerusalem； and his mother was Hamutal；
of the city Libhah。 He was an impious man； and impure in his
course of life； but as the king of Egypt returned from the
battle； he sent for Jehoahaz to come to him； to the city called
Hamath （11） which belongs to Syria； and when he was come； he put
him in bands； and delivered the kingdom to a brother of his； by
the father's side； whose name was Eliakim； and changed his name
to Jehoiakim and laid a tribute upon the land of a hundred
talents of silver； and a talent of gold； and this sum of money
Jehoiakim paid by way of tribute； but Neco carried away Jehoahaz
into Egypt； where he died when he had reigned three months and
ten days。 Now Jehoiakim's mother was called Zebudah； of the city
Rumah。 He was of a wicked disposition； and ready to do mischief；
nor was he either religions towards God； or good…natured towards
men。
CHAPTER 6。
How Nebuchadnezzar； When He Had Conquered The King Of Egypt Made
An Expedition Against The Jews； And Slew Jehoiakim； And Made
Jeholachin His Son King。
1。 Now in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim； one whose
name was Nebuchadnezzar took the government over the Babylonians；
who at the same time went up with a great army to the city
Carchemish； which was at Euphrates； upon a resolution he had
taken to fight with Neco king of Egypt； under whom all Syria then
was。 And when Neco understood the intention of the king of
Babylon； and that this expedition was made against him； he did
not despise his attempt； but made haste with a great band of men
to Euphrates to defend himself from Nebuchadnezzar； and when they
had joined battle； he was beaten； and lost many ten thousands ＇of
his soldiers＇ in the battle。 So the king of Babylon passed over
Euphrates； and took all Syria； as far as Pelusium； excepting
Judea。 But when Nebuchadnezzar had already reigned four years；
which was the eighth of Jehoiakim's government over the Hebrews；
the king of Babylon made an expedition with mighty forces against
the Jews； and required tribute of Jehoiakim； and threatened upon
his refusal to make war against him。 He was aftrighted at his
threatening； and bought his peace with money； and brought the
tribute he was ordered to bring for three years。
2。 But on the third year； upon hearing that the king of the
Babylonians made an expedition against the Egyptians； he did not
pay his tribute； yet was he disappointed of his hope； for the
Egyptians durst not fight at this time。 And indeed the prophet
Jeremiah foretold every day； how vainly they relied on their
hopes from Egypt； and how the city would be overthrown by the
king of Babylon； and Jehoiakim the king would be subdued by him。
But what he thus spake proved to be of no advantage to them；
because there were none that should escape； for both the
multitude and the rulers； when they heard him； had no concern
about what they heard； but being displeased at what was said； as
if the prophet were a diviner against the king； they accused
Jeremiah； and bringing him before the court； they required that a
sentence and a punishment might be given against him。 Now all the
rest gave their votes for his condemnation； but the elders
refused； who prudently sent away the prophet from the court of
＇the prison＇； and persuaded the rest to do Jeremiah no harm； for
they said that he was not the only person who foretold what would
come to the city； but that Micah signified the same before him；
as well as many others； none of which suffered any thing of the
kings that then reigned； but were honored as the prophets of God。
So they mollified the multitude with these words； and delivered
Jeremiah from the punishment to which he was condemned。 Now when
this prophet had written all his prophecies； and the people were
fasting； and assembled at the temple； on the ninth month of the
fifth year of Jehoiakim； he read the book he had composed of his
predictions of what was to befall the city； and the temple； and
the multitude。 And when the rulers heard of it； they took the
book from him； and bid him and Baruch the scribe to go their
ways； lest they should be discovered by one or other； but they
carried the book； and gave it to the king； so he gave order； in
the presence of his friends； that his scribe should take it； and
read it。 When the king heard what it contained； he was angry； and
tore it； and cast it into the fire； where it was consumed。 He
also commanded that they should seek for Jeremiah； and Baruch the
scribe； and bring them to him； that they might be punished。
However； they escaped his anger。
3。 Now； a little time afterwards； the king of Babylon made an
expedition against Jehoiakim； whom he received ＇into the city＇；
and this out of fear of the foregoing predictions of this
prophet； as supposing he should suffer nothing that was terrible；
because he neither shut the gates； nor fought against him； yet
when he was come into the city； he did not observe the covenants
he had made； but he slew such as were in the flower of their age；
and such as were of the greatest dignity； together with their
king Jehoiakim； whom he commanded to be thrown before the walls；
without any burial； and made his son Jehoiachin king of the
country； and of the city： he also took the principal persons in
dignity for captives； three thousand in number； and led them away
to Babylon； among which was the prophet Ezekiel； who was then but
young。 And this was the end of king Jehoiakim； when he had lived
thirty…six years； and of them reigned eleven。 But Jehoiachin
succeeded him in the kingdom； whose mother's name was Nehushta；
she was a citizen of Jerusalem。 He reigned three months and ten
days。
CHAPTER 7。
That The King Of Babylon Repented Of Making Jehoiachin King； And
Took Him Away To Babylon And Delivered The Kingdom To Zedekiah。
This King Would Not Relieve What Was Predicted By Jeremiah And
Ezekiel But Joined Himself To The Egyptians； Who When They Came
Into Judea； Were Vanquished By The King Of Babylon； As Also What
Befell Jeremiah。
1。 But a terror seized on the king of Babylon； who had given the
kingdom to Jehoiachin； and t