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custody； and appointed Jehoiachin's uncle； Zedekiah； to be king；
and made him take an oath； that he would certainly keep the
kingdom for him； and make no innovation； nor have any league of
friendship with the Egyptians。
2。 Now Zedekiah was twenty and one year's old when he took the
government； and had the same mother with his brother Jehoiakim；
but was a despiser of justice and of his duty； for truly those of
the same age with him were wicked about him； and the whole
multitude did what unjust and insolent things they pleased； for
which reason the prophet Jeremiah came often to him； and
protested to him； and insisted； that he must leave off his
impieties and transgressions； and take care of what was right；
and neither give ear to the rulers； （among whom were wicked men；）
nor give credit to their false prophets； who deluded them； as if
the king of Babylon would make no more war against them； and as
if the Egyptians would make war against him； and conquer him；
since what they said was not true； and the events would not prove
such ＇as they expected＇。 Now as to Zedekiah himself； while he
heard the prophet speak； he believed him； and agreed to every
thing as true； and supposed it was for his advantage； but then
his friends perverted him； and dissuaded him from what the
prophet advised； and obliged him to do what they pleased。 Ezekiel
also foretold in Babylon what calamities were coming upon the
people； which when he heard； he sent accounts of them unto
Jerusalem。 But Zedekiah did not believe their prophecies； for the
reason following： It happened that the two prophets agreed with
one another in what they said as in all other things； that the
city should be taken； and Zedekiah himself should be taken
captive； but Ezekiel disagreed with him； and said that Zedekiah
should not see Babylon； while Jeremiah said to him； that the king
of Babylon should carry him away thither in bonds。 And be…
3。 Now when Zedekiah had preserved the league of mutual
assistance he had made with the Babylonians for eight years； he
brake it； and revolted to the Egyptians； in hopes； by their
assistance； of overcoming the Babylonians。 When the king of
Babylon knew this； he made war against him： he laid his country
waste； and took his fortified towns； and came to the city
Jerusalem itself to besiege it。 But when the king of Egypt heard
what circumstances Zedekiah his ally was in； he took a great army
with him； and came into Judea； as if he would raise the siege；
upon which the king of Babylon departed from Jerusalem； and met
the Egyptians； and joined battle with them； and beat them； and
when he had put them to flight； he pursued them； and drove them
out of all Syria。 Now as soon as the king of Babylon was departed
from Jerusalem； the false prophets deceived Zedekiah； and said
that the king of Babylon would not any more make war against him
or his people； nor remove them out of their own country into
Babylon； and that those then in captivity would return； with all
those vessels of the temple of which the king of Babylon had
despoiled that temple。 But Jeremiah came among them； and
prophesied what contradicted those predictions； and what proved
to be true； that they did ill； and deluded the king； that the
Egyptians would be of no advantage to them； but that the king of
Babylon would renew the war against Jerusalem； and besiege it
again； and would destroy the people by famine； and carry away
those that remained into captivity； and would take away what they
had as spoils； and would carry off those riches that were in the
temple； nay； that； besides this； he would burn it； and utterly
overthrow the city； and that they should serve him and his
posterity seventy years； that then the Persians and the Medes
should put an end to their servitude； and overthrow the
Babylonians； 〃and that we shall be dismissed； and return to this
land； and rebuild the temple； and restore Jerusalem。〃 When
Jeremiah said this； the greater part believed him； but the
rulers； and those that were wicked； despised him； as one
disordered in his senses。 Now he had resolved to go elsewhere； to
his own country； which was called Anathoth； and was twenty
furlongs distant from Jerusalem； （12） and as he was going； one of
the rulers met him； and seized upon him； and accused him falsely；
as though he were going as a deserter to the Babylonians； but
Jeremiah said that he accused him falsely； and added； that he was
only going to his own country； but the other would not believe
him； but seized upon him； and led him away to the rulers； and
laid an accusation against him； under whom he endured all sorts
of torments and tortures； and was reserved to be punished； and
this was the condition he was in for some time； while he suffered
what I have already described unjustly。
4。 Now in the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah； on the tenth
day of the tenth month； the king of Babylon made a second
expedition against Jerusalem； and lay before it eighteen months；
and besieged it with the utmost application。 There came upon them
also two of the greatest calamities at the same time that
Jerusalem was besieged； a famine and a pestilential distemper；
and made great havoc of them。 And though the prophet Jeremiah was
in prison； he did not rest； but cried out； and proclaimed aloud；
and exhorted the multitude to open their gates； and admit the
king of Babylon； for that if they did so； they should be
preserved； and their whole families； but if they did not so； they
should be destroyed； and he foretold； that if any one staid in
the city； he should certainly perish by one of these ways； …
either be consumed by the famine； or slain by the enemy's sword；
but that if he would flee to the enemy； he should escape death。
Yet did not these rulers who heard believe him； even when they
were in the midst of their sore calamities； but they came to the
king； and in their anger informed him what Jeremiah had said； and
accused him； and complained of the prophet as of a madman； and
one that disheartened their minds； and by the denunciation of
miseries weakened the alacrity of the multitude； who were
otherwise ready to expose themselves to dangers for him； and for
their country； while he； in a way of threatening； warned them to
flee to the enemy； and told them that the city should certainly
be taken； and be utterly destroyed。
5。 But for the king himself； he was not at all irritated against
Jeremiah； such was his gentle and righteous disposition； yet；
that he might not be engaged in a quarrel with those rulers at
such a time； by opposing what they intended； he let them do with
the prophet whatsoever they would； whereupon； when the king had
granted them such a permission； they presently came into the
prison； and took him； and let him down with a cord into a pit
full of mire； that he might be suffocated； and die of himself。 So
he stood up to the neck in the mire which was all about him； and
so continued； but there was one of the king's servants； who was
in esteem with him； an Ethiopian by descent； who told the king
what a state the prophet was in； and said that his friends and
his rulers had done evil in putting the prophet into the mire；
and