Jeremiah warns


 




 FROM HISTORY 


THE JEWS CARRIED AWAY 


INTO BABYLONISH CAPTIVITY.



FOR a long time after the erection of Solomon's temple, the children of Judah carried on the service of God in its purity, God especially blessing and prospering them. But at last they ran into idolatry, and so far forsook the worship of God as to place false gods in the temple, which had been solemnly dedicated to the service of God. 

2 Chron. 33.

They further transgressed the law of God by breaking the Sabbath. Our Heavenly Father did not immediately punish them for committing these grievous sins, but raised up prophets and sent them to Jerusalem to faithfully warn the people to cease sinning against God. The prophet Jeremiah stated to them that if they would cease breaking the Sabbath, the city of old Jerusalem should stand forever; but if they would not, the city should be destroyed.

 Jeremiah 17:24-27.

They did not heed the warning voice of the prophets, but mocked them, until God's wrath was kindled against them, and he permitted Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to take Jerusalem. His army destroyed Solomon's beautiful temple, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem; in fact, he destroyed the city, and carried many of the Jews into Babylon, where they served the king of Babylon seventy years.

Just before the seventy years ended, the mighty kingdom of Babylon was overcome by the Medo-Persian empire. The Medes and Persians were friendly to the Jews, and made a decree, which permitted them to return to their own land. They then rebuilt the city of Jerusalem and the temple, which remained in existence until destroyed by the Romans A. D. 70. From the time of their return from Babylonish captivity to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, the Jews underwent many vicissitudes.

In 332 B. C., Jerusalem was brought under the rule of Alexander the Great, who was the first king of the Grecian empire. The Greek language, during the reign of the Grecians, became common in the land of Judea.

In our next, we will speak of the second destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews. 





S. H. LANE.