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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 that immediately； he was afraid that
he should bear him a grudge； because of his killing his father；
and thereupon should make the country revolt from him； wherefore
he sent an army； and besieged Jehoiachin in Jerusalem； but
because he was of a gentle and just disposition； he did not
desire to see the city endangered on his account； but he took his
mother and kindred； and delivered them to the commanders sent by
the king of Babylon； and accepted of their oaths； that neither
should they suffer any harm； nor the city； which agreement they
did not observe for a single year； for the king of Babylon did
not keep it； but gave orders to his generals to take all that
were in the city captives； both the youth and the handicraftsmen；
and bring them bound to him； their number was ten thousand eight
hundred and thirty…two； as also Jehoiachin； and his mother and
friends。 And when these were brought to him； he kept them in
custody； and appointed Jehoiachin's uncle； Zedekiah； to be kin