at 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 Z