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determined to destroy me； as though I had been guilty of some
wickedness； and where are now those men who deceived us； and said
that the king of Babylon would not come and fight against us any
more？ but I am afraid now to speak the truth； lest thou shouldst
condemn me to die。〃 And when the king had assured him upon oath；
that he would neither himself put him to death； nor deliver him
up to the rulers； he became bold upon that assurance that was
given him； and gave him this advice： That he should deliver the
city up to the Babylonians； and he said that it was God who
prophesied this by him； that ＇he must do so＇ if he would be
preserved； and escape out of the danger he was in； and that then
neither should the city fall to the ground； nor should the temple
be burned； but that ＇if he disobeyed＇ he would be the cause of
these miseries coming upon the citizens； and of the calamity that
would befall his whole house。 When the king heard this； he said
that he would willingly do what he persuaded him to； and what he
declared would be to his advantage； but that he was afraid of
those of his own country that had fallen away to the Babylonians；
lest he should be accused by them to the king of Babylon； and be
punished。 But the prophet encouraged him； and said he had no
cause to fear such punishment； for that he should not have the
experience of any misfortune； if he would deliver all up to the
Babylonians； neither himself； nor his children； nor his wives；
and that the temple should then continue unhurt。 So when Jeremiah
had said this； the king let him go； and charged him to betray
what they had resolved on to none of the citizens； nor to tell
any of these matters to any of the rulers； if they should have
learned that he had been sent for； and should inquire of him what
it was that he was sent for； and what he had said to him； but to
pretend to them that he besought him that he might not be kept in
bonds and in prison。 And indeed he said so to them； for they came
to the； prophet； and asked him what advice it was that he came to
give the king relating to them。 And thus I have finished what
concerns this matter。
CHAPTER 8。
How The King Of Babylon Took Jerusalem And Burnt The Temple And
Removed The People Of Jerusalem And Zedekiah To Babylon。 As Also；
Who They Were That Had Succeeded In The High Priesthood Under The
Kings。
1。 Now the king of Babylon was very intent and earnest upon the
siege of Jerusalem； and he erected towers upon great banks of
earth； and from them repelled those that stood upon the walls； he
also made a great number of such banks round about the whole
city； whose height was equal to those walls。 However； those that
were within bore the siege with courage and alacrity； for they
were not discouraged； either by the famine； or by the
pestilential distemper； but were of cheerful minds in the
prosecution of the war； although those miseries within oppressed
them also； and they did not suffer themselves to be terrified；
either by the contrivances of the enemy； or by their engines of
war； but contrived still different engines to oppose all the
other withal； till indeed there seemed to be an entire struggle
between the Babylonians and the people of Jerusalem； which had
the greater sagacity and skill； the former party supposing they
should be thereby too hard for the other； for the destruction of
the city； the latter placing their hopes of deliverance in
nothing else but in persevering in such inventions in opposition
to the other； as might demonstrate the enemy's engines were
useless to them。 And this siege they endured for eighteen months；
until they were destroyed by the famine； and by the darts which
the enemy threw at them from the towers。
2。 Now the city was taken on the ninth day of the fourth month；
in the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah。 They were indeed
only generals of the king of Babylon； to whom Nebuchadnezzar
committed the care of the siege； for he abode himself in the city
of Riblah。 The names of these generals who ravaged and subdued
Jerusalem； if any one desire to know them； were these： Nergal
Sharezer； Samgar Nebo； Rabsaris； Sorsechim； and Rabmag。 And when
the city was taken about midnight； and the enemy's generals were
entered into the temple； and when Zedekiah was sensible of it； he
took his wives； and his children； and his captains； and his
friends； and with them fled out of the city； through the
fortified ditch； and through the desert； and when certain of the
deserters had informed the Babylonians of this； at break of day；
they made haste to pursue after Zedekiah； and overtook him not
far from Jericho； and encompassed him about。 But for those
friends and captains of Zedekiah who had fled out of the city
with him； when they saw their enemies near them； they left him；
and dispersed themselves； some one way； and some another； and
every one resolved to save himself； so the enemy took Zedekiah
alive； when he was deserted by all but a few； with his children
and his wives； and brought him to the king。 When he was come；
Nebuchadnezzar began to call him a wicked wretch； and a
covenant…breaker； and one that had forgotten his former words；
when he promised to keep the country for him。 He also reproached
him for his ingratitude； that when he had received the kingdom
from him； who had taken it from Jehoiachin； and given it to him；
he had made use of the power he gave him against him that gave
it； 〃but；〃 said he； 〃God is great； who hated that conduct of
thine； and hath brought thee under us。〃 And when he had used
these words to Zedekiah； he commanded his sons and his friends to
be slain； while Zedekiah and the rest of the captains looked on；
after which he put out the eyes of Zedekiah； and bound him； and
carried him to Babylon。 And these things happened to him； （13） as
Jeremiah and Ezekiel had foretold to him； that he should be
caught； and brought before the king of Babylon； and should speak
to him face to face； and should see his eyes with his own eyes；
and thus far did Jeremiah prophesy。 But he was also made blind；
and brought to Babylon； but did not see it； according to the
prediction of Ezekiel。
3。 We have said thus much； because it was sufficient to show the
nature of God to such as are ignorant of it； that it is various；
and acts many different ways； and that all events happen after a
regular manner； in their proper season； and that it foretells
what must come to pass。 It is also sufficient to show the
ignorance and incredulity of men； whereby they are not permitted
to foresee any thing that is future； and are； without any guard；
exposed to calamities； so that it is impossible for them to avoid
the experience of those calamities。
4。 And after this manner have the kings of David's race ended
their lives； being in number twenty…one； until the last king； who
all together reigned five hundred and fourteen years； and six
months； and ten days； of whom Saul； who was their first king；
retained the government twenty years； though he was not of the
same tribe with the rest。
5。 And now it was that the king of Babylon sent Nebuzaradan； the
general of his army； to Jerusalem； to pillage the temple； who had
it also in command to burn it and the royal palace； and to lay
the city even with the ground； and to transplant the people into
Babylon。 Accordingly； he came to Jerusalem in the eleventh year
of king Zedekiah； and pillaged the temple； and carried out the
vessels of God； both gold and silver； and particularly that large
laver which Solomon dedicated； as also the pillars of brass； and
their chapiters； with the golden tables and the candlesticks； and
when he had carried these off； he set fire to the temple in the
fifth month； the first day of the month； in the eleventh year of
the reign of Zedekiah； and in the eighteenth year of
Nebuchadnezzar： he also burnt the palace； and overthrew the city。
Now the temple was burnt four hundred and seventy years； six
months； and ten days after it was built。 It was then one thousand
and sixty…two years； six months； and ten days from the departure
out of Egypt； and from the deluge to the destruction of the
temple； the whole interval was one thousand nine hundred and
fifty…seven years； six months； and ten days； but from the
generation of Adam； until this befell the temple； there were
three thousand five hundred and thirteen years； six months； and
ten days； so great was the number of years hereto belonging。 And
what actions were done during these years we have particularly
related。 But the general of the Babylonian king now overthrew the
city to the very foundations； and removed all the people； and
took for prisoners the high priest Seraiah； and Zephaniah the
priest that was next to him； and the rulers that guarded the
temple； who were three in number； and the eunuch who was over the
armed men； and seven friends of Zedekiah； and his scribe； and
sixty other rulers； all which； together with the vessels which
they had pillaged； he carried to the king of Babylon to Riblah； a
city of Syria。 So the king commanded the heads of the high priest
and of the rulers to be cut off there； but he himself led all the
captives and Zedekiah to Babylon。 He also led Jose