lon, and one of the principal lords of the council, that always
attended the court. His three friends were also promoted to honours and
dignities.

At this time Jehoiakim revolted from the king of Babylon, whose generals,
that were still in Judea, marched against him, and committed all kinds of
hostilities upon this country.(1041) "He slept with his fathers," is all
the Scripture says of his death. Jeremiah had prophesied, that he should
neither be regretted nor lamented; but should "be buried with the burial
of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem:" this was
no doubt fulfilled, though it is not known in what manner.

Jechonias(1042) succeeded both to the throne and iniquity of his father.
Nabuchodonosor's lieutenants continuing the blockade of Jerusalem, in
three months' time he himself came at the head of his army, and made
himself master of the city. He plundered both the temple and the king's
palace of all their treasures, and sent them away to Babylon, together
with all the golden vessels remaining, which Solomon had made for the use
of the temple: he carried away likewise a vast number of captives, amongst
whom was king Jechonias, his mother, his wives, with all the chief
officers and great men of his kingdom. In the room of Jechonias, he set
upon the throne his uncle Mattaniah, who was otherwise called Zedekiah.

This prince had as little religion and prosperity as his
forefathers.(1043) Having made an alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, he
broke the oath of fidelity he had taken to the king of Babylon. The latter
soon chastised him for it, and immediately laid siege to Jerusalem. The
king of Egypt's arrival at the head of an army gave the besieged a gleam
of hope; but their joy was very short-lived; the Egyptians were defeated,
and the conqueror returned against Jerusalem, and renewed the siege, which
lasted near a twelvemonth.(M177) At last the city was taken by storm, and
a terrible slaughter ensued. Zedekiah's two sons were, by Nabuchodonosor's
orders, killed before their father's face, with all the nobles and
principal men of Judah. Zedekiah himself had both his eyes put out, was
loaded with fetters, and carried to Babylon, where he was confined in
prison as long as he lived. The city and temple were pillaged and burnt,
and all their fortifications demolished.

Upon Nabuchodonosor's return to Babylon, after his successful war against
Judea, he ordered a golden statue to be made,(104