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entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.

9 Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren.

10 And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

11 And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire,

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12 And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.

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13 And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.

14 And he brake in pieces the 'images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.

15¶ Moreover the altar that was at Beth-el, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.

16 And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.

17 Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Beth-el.

18 And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones 10 alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.

19 And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria,

which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Beth-el.

20 And he "slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.

21 ¶ And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.

22 Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;

23 But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem.

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24¶ Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.

25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

26¶ Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.

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27 And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.

28 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

29¶ In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.

30 And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead.

31 ¶ Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's

name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

32 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

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33 And Pharaoh-nechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

34 And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.

35 And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-nechoh.

46¶Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

37 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

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THE great work of reformation, carried on by Josiah in the kingdom of Judah, is further narrated in this chapter.

The first thing here related concerning it is, what he did in regard to the book of God, which had been found. He assembled the people, small and great; and then read in their ears all the words which it contained. This is a very remarkable fact. It demands your especial notice. Nothing can be known or done aright, unless you have the Word of God to guide you. All is dark where that word is not known. All is wrong where that word is not followed. Souls cannot be taught the right way; sinners cannot be saved; saints cannot be edified; the wicked cannot be warned; nor the penitent and humble encouraged, but by the truth of the gospel of Christ. Great men, and good men, and

useful men, in all ages, have taken their stand upon that Word; taught its heavenly truths; and witnessed, more or less, its glorious effects. Preach the word: search the Scriptures: pray for the Spirit: and God will give his blessing. (2 Tim. iv. 1, 2; John v. 39; and vi. 63.)

Having learned the mind and will of God, as revealed in his Word, they immediately began to act according to its dictates in correcting abuses, removing abominations, and restoring the service of God according to its appointed order. All saving knowledge must be practical. What you are taught, you must carry into effect. The Word of God is not designed for our curiosity, nor amusement; but for our wisdom and welfare. The preaching of the gospel was never meant to gratify itching ears; but to win souls. Christ is the matter of the word; and Christ must be the theme of the discourse. Christ the foundation of our hope; Christ the rule of our life; and Christ our all in all.

Entering upon this appointed course of reformation, all orders readily concurred to further the design. When the Lord puts forth his power, much may be done in a short time. When all hearts unite, it may always be regarded as a symptom for good. Let this teach you never to shrink from arduous services, when fairly called in the providence of God to engage therein. And if you are thus called, you will have great humblings, great supports, and great encouragements, mixed, perhaps, with great hopes, and great disappointments. All real usefulness begins in deep humility. It can only be effected by the special support and saving blessing of the Lord. These blessings Josiah found; these blessings others have found; these blessings you may find. The grace of Christ is sufficient for all emergencies, and for all our necessities. This has been the case in all ages past, and will be so in all time to come, and for evermore.

In every work of reformation, two things must always be aimed at; namely, the suppression of what is wrong; and the establishment of what is right. Josiah first destroyed idolatry; then he also set forward the pure worship of God. Luther uprooted the papal

3 Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;

delusions; and then proclaimed the glorious the LORD, which he spake 'by his servants doctrine of Christ. The consequences were, the prophets. darkness vanished; and light broke in. In families, parishes, and congregations, the same maxims must always be observed. By the truth of God sweep away what is contrary to that truth. By the same truth set forward the truth itself, in all its lovely proportions, and all its saving blessings. God will bless his own Word, and make it effectual for all the purposes of his love, to the praise and glory of his name.

In noticing this great reformation wrought by Josiah, we must not forget, that both he and what he should do had been foretold long before; even from the apostasy of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin. (1 Kings xiii. 1—3.) Was that prediction thus fulfilled? So will every word of God, in due season, take effect. So will every prophecy be accomplished; every promise fulfilled; every denunciation verified. Heaven and earth may pass away; but not one jot or tittle of that word shall fail. What encouragement to circulate the Bible! to send forth missionaries! to preach the gospel at home and abroad, till the kingdoms of the earth become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ!

But good men must die. So must we all die. The most useful men are often taken away while much remains to be done; perhaps that others may be stirred up to imbibe their spirit, and prosecute their labours. Let us all work, then, in our day, and while it is day; for the night cometh when no man can work.

CHAPTER XXIV.

1 Jehoiakim, first subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, then rebelling against him, procureth his own ruin. 5 Jehoiachin succeedeth him. 7 The king of Egypt is vanquished by the king of Babylon. 8 Jehoiachin's evil reign. 10 Jerusalem is taken and carried captive into Babylon. 17 Zedekiah is made king, and reigneth ill unto the utter destruc tion of Judah.

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servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.

2 And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of

4 And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.

5 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

6 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

7 And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.

10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.

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11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.

12 And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his 'officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.

13 And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.

14 And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.

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15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war,

even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.

17¶ And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

18 Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

19 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

20 For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

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It was intimated, in the last chapter, that, notwithstanding the great amendment wrought in the reign of Josiah, the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his wrath; but declared that he would cast off the city which he had chosen, and the house, of which he had said, "My name shall be there;" and remove also Judah out of his sight, as he had removed Israel (v. 26, 27). These were fearful denunciations; and they clearly indicate the evil nature of sin, national as well as personal; and shew, that very sore judgments may impend over those nations, where much good may be doing and done.

Alas! how soon do declensions take place. When great and good men are taken away, others, of an inferior or opposite character, often succeed; and then many are carried away by the new influence, who were not heartily engaged in the previous amendment. Thus, in Judah; in our own land; and in others also, the lamentable consequences in respect of numbers, who have from time to time engaged in a good cause, more perhaps from external influence than inward principle, have too often appeared; and so will it be again. Let this teach us to look more to the Lord, and rely less upon man, for permanent success and lasting blessings.

After the death of Josiah, his son, Jehoahaz, succeeded to the throne; whose course was wicked; and who was soon brought under subjection to the king of Egypt; who removed him from the throne to make way for his

brother Eliakim, whom Pharaoh put in his room. He, also, like his predecessor, did evil in the sight of the Lord. How fallen and degraded do we now see the kings of Judah! In subjection to another king; tributaries to a foreign ruler; set up or laid aside at pleasure; titles taken away, and names given or changed, at the will of their conquerors; how low are they sunk! how greatly are they fallen! What brought them into this miserable condition? Nothing but their sins and provocations against the Lord (v. 3, 4, 9, 19, 20).

In this narration, fresh trials awaited the tributary king. The king of Babylon came against him. For three years he became his vassal servant. Then he turned and rebelled against him. This roused the fury of his enemies. At the commandment of the Lord, bands of the Chaldees, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, came against Judah. Previous iniquities were now visited; and the innocent blood shed in Jerusalem, which the Lord had never nationally pardoned, was now required at their hand. After him succeeded Jehoiachin to the throne; and he too did evil in the sight of the Lord. In his wicked reign the captivity of Judah began to take place. The king was taken captive; the temple, palaces, and cities were spoiled. Several thousands of the inhabitants were carried away. His brother Mattaniah was made a sort of tributary king in his room; and he, having his name changed to Zedekiah, did evil as others before him had done. This seems to have been the last king of Judah. The measure of their iniquities was now full; and henceforth, for a long series of years, we shall have to regard the chosen race in a state of misery and exile in a distant land.

How came all these things to pass? What brought all these miseries upon that people? The reason is here given. Through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence (v. 20). What provoked that displeasure? A long course of enormous sin and aggravated guilt, nationally and individually committed; which had never been nationally repented of, and so was never nationally forgiven.

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Does not this speak to ourselves? not God mark the sins of men? regard temples, cities, princes, priests, or people, when he shall come forth from his place to punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity? Behold Israel. Behold Judah. Behold Jerusalem. Behold the temple; and see what sin does in the desolation of nations, as well as in the destruction of souls. And what will be the case in the last day? Then, without respect of persons, or regard to distinction, shall the wicked be turned into hell, and all the people that forget God. Oh, let men and nations repent! Let there be great cries for mercy; let there be deep humiliation before God. Let them turn from their evil ways, and seek the protection and blessing of the Most High. Let them remember, that though there may be some eminent characters occasionally raised up, and some great amendment from time to time take place; yet, if there be a return to former wicked ways, God may be so provoked thereby as to give over such nations into the hand of their enemies, and to leave such sinners to perish at last and for ever.

CHAPTER XXV.

1 Jerusalem is besieged. 4 Zedekiah taken, his sons slain, his eyes put out. 8 Nebuzar-adan defaceth the city, carrieth the remnant, except a few poor labourers, into captivity, 13 spoileth and carrieth away the treasures. 18 The nobles are slain at Riblah. 22 Gedaliah, who was set over them that remained, being slain, the rest flee into Egypt. 27 Evil-merodach advanceth Jehoiachin in his court.

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ND it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

2 And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

4 And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.

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6 So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.

7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

8 ¶ And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-adan, 'captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:

9 And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire.

10 And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.

11 Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the 'fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carry away.

12 But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.

13 And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

14 And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they

away.

15 And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took

away.

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16 The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD; the brass of all these vessels was without weight.

17 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.

18 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the

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