Antiquities Book 10, Chapter 6
How Nebuchadnezzar, When He Had Conquered The King Of Egypt Made An Expedition Against The Jews, And Slew Jehoiakim, And Made Jehoiachin 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 affrighted 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.
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 affrighted 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.