The Prophecies-Miseries of the Forced March-Gedaliah the Friend of the PeopleHis Kindness to Jeremiah-The Crafty Perfidy of Ishmael-The Murder of Gedaliah-Johanan and the Principal Jews take refuge in Egypt-Babylonia takes Vengeance-Description of Babylon-Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Magicians, Soothsayers, &c., in the Court-Astrology-Nebuchadnezzar's Dream-The Interpretation thereof-The Golden Image set up-The Miraculous Preservation of the Three Young Men-The Insanity of the King— Evil-Merodach-The Impious Feast-The Handwriting on the Wall-Daniel's Interpretation-The Fall of Babylon-Cyrus-Hope for the Jews.

THE bitter end which the prophets had foreseen and foretold had come. The meridian splendour of Solomon's reign had gradually faded into twilight, and now the purple twilight had deepened into night. No doubt, of the captives carried away into Babylon, there were some who read, however obscurely, the Divine Promise of a Redeemer, and the brightness of the glory they held in anticipation rendered them oblivious of all the troubles that must first come. The bitter lamentations of Jeremiah, the heart-stirring appeals of Isaiah, the marvellous visions of Ezekiel, the pathetic words of Micah, the revelations of Amos, were familiar to them. They all pointed to a latterday glory, but the Jews counted the latter days to be near at hand: doubtless a deliverer would soon arrive as strong as Samson, as brave as Gideon, as good as Samuel; a soldier and a statesman who should overthrow these Babylonians, teach these blaspheming idolaters there was still a God in Israel, and set up a kingdom that should be the joy of the whole earth, and last till time should be no more. That even the most clear-sighted, the most spiritually-minded should foresce that the kingdom to be set up was not a kingdom of this world; that he who set it up should in earthly estimation be no higher than a carpenter, with a log for his throne, and an adze for his sceptre—would appear most improbable.

What the Jews looked for was a Joshua, a David, culminating in a Solomon in all his glory. They went forth weeping, but

they felt no doubt but that they should come again with joy, sowing bitter seed now, but to gather abundant sheaves presently. Were they not the children of Abraham? Were not all the promises given to him and to his seed for ever? These Gentiles, however triumphant they might be now, were doomed racesonly the scaffolding of a great building, that when the building was complete, might be carried away and cast into the fire.

While some of the ancient Hebrews might thus comfort their downcast spirits, the great majority of the people would be too full of heaviness to think of anything but present misery: the old home was broken up, joyous anticipations all blighted, the ambitious hopes laid low, the old loves ended; driven hard and fiercely on their forced march day by day; receiving and expecting no mercy from their rough captors, who dealt out their rude blows on women and children, and had no second thought about piercing a man with a javelin if he uttered complaining words or gave a scornful look-all these things were enough to put away a by-past joy, or the hope of a future glory.

There were none left in all the land but the very poorest of the people-mere agricultural labourers to till the land for haughty lords and Baal's priests and prophets; the weakly, the sickly, the aged, the infirm, found no compassion with this people, except in Gedaliah, a person, Josephus says, of a noble family; at all events, he was of a noble spirit, which often-times is better. Jeremiah, the lamentable prophet, was in jail, and the Babylonians occupied Jewry. The Jews regarded Jeremiah as their enemy, because he told them the truth. As soon as Gedaliah was appointed governor, he liberated Jeremiah, offered him safe conduct to any place he chose to go to, or an honourable maintenance if he pleased to remain in the land. Jeremiah chose the latter alternative; he could not tear himself away from the holy hill of Zion, nor cease to bewail over the ruins of the Temple wherein the heavenly glory had been displayed. He selected Mizpah for his residence, and the one favour he asked was that an old pupil of his, named Baruch, might be allowed to reside with him. This man was a very skilful linguist.

Gedaliah established his quarters at Mizpah, and was in all

probability on terms of intimacy with Jeremiah. He treated those who were under his rule with great consideration, encouraging them to cultivate the land, to rebuild their houses on their old foundations, and to make the best of the little that was left to them; but there was one man, Ishmael by name, and Ishmael by nature, crafty as a fox, and cruel as a wolf, who put forth claims to the overturned royalty. To him Gedaliah behaved very generously; he pitied the man whose fortunes were blighted, and lent a patient ear to the pitiful tale. When some of the influential Jews, who were still tolerated in the land, informed Gedaliah that Ishmael was not to be trusted, he declined to receive their statements, and swore by his gods that such perfidy as they ascribed to this man could not exist in any human breast. It was in vain that Johanan and his friends endeavoured to persuade Gedaliah, who that very day asked Ishmael to a feast, with ten of his companions. It was a very sumptuous banquet; the libations were numerous; Gedaliah drank heavily, and presently fell asleep over the board. It was then that Ishmael and his ten companions rose up and killed his host and all his friends. They made a slaughter after this of all the Jews in the neighbourhood, after compelling them to yield all the jewels, trinkets, and money, which had been buried in the fields to hide them from the Babylonians; he seized upon the daughters of Zedekiah, left in the charge of Gedaliah, and carried them away with him to the court of the Ammonites.

As soon as Johanan became acquainted with these circumstances, he pursued Ishmael, with a considerable number of people; the man himself escaped, but the spoil was recovered. Johanan was in great dismay at what had happened; he feared the wrath of Nebuchadnezzar when he heard of the murder of Gedaliah, and he came in great haste to Jeremiah to inquire of him what was best to be done. The prophet counselled caution and patient waiting, but Johanan was resolved on a stroke of policy of his own: they would take refuge with the king of Egypt, and trust to his honour and good feeling in securing their safety. Jeremiah plainly refused to have any partnership in such a matter, but Johanan and the principal remaining Jews