Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/363

 In the  year  606  B.  C.,  Nabuchodonozor  (Fig.  54),  king  of Babylon,  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  an  immense  army,  marched against Jerusalem,  and,  having  taken  it, carried away  the  king  and  the  principal inhabitants as  captives. Sixteen years  later, those who  were  left  in  Jerusalem  revolted once more  against  Nabuchodonozor,  and the latter  returned  with  a still  greater  army, and after  a siege  of  eighteen  months,  he took  Jerusalem  by  storm  (588  B.  C.).



Then the  whole  city  was  given  up  to fire  and  pillage. The Temple  itself  was consumed by  fire,  and  the  sacred  vessels were carried  off. All the  people that escaped the  sword  were  led  into  captivity in Babylon,  and  the  splendid  city  of  Jerusalem  was  reduced  to a heap  of  ruins.

Jeremias remained  in  Jerusalem  (Fig.  55),  and,  sitting  on  the ruins of  the  desolate  city,  he  lamented  in  the  most  pathetic  manner the miseries  of  his  people,  and  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem. “How doth the  city  sit  solitary  that  was  full  of  people;  how  is  the mistress of  nations  become  as  a widow ;  the  princess  of  provinces