The King of Judah’s treatment of the Chaldean ambassador, in regard to
the tribute money, had so exasperated the King of Babylon, that he was
determined to chasten his audacity with rigor. This monarch, at this
period of his reign, was of rather a mild disposition, but, like his
sires before him, a love of conquest had become with him a strong
passion.
Three years before, he had dealt with much mildness toward the
inhabitants of Jerusalem. On taking the city, he charged his soldiers
to show no indignity to the inhabitants, under the severest
penalty—which charge was well heeded. Towards Jehoiakim he also evinced
a kind disposition. With but few restrictions, he was permitted to
reign. Now that Jehoiakim had abused these acts of kindness, had
violated solemn obligations, and, in addition to all this, had publicly
ridiculed the ambassador, Nebuchadnezzar’s indignation was kindled to a
flame.
The King of Judah on this occasion, as well as on all other occasions
of embarrassment and perplexity, sought relief in mixed wines. These
stimulated his courage for the time being, which, being left to its own
resources, was of a low order; but, under the effects of these
deceitful liquids, he became heroic.
“Jared!” said Jehoiakim, “where is that Sherakim who was so full of
fight at the banquet hall last night?”
“As my soul liveth, O king, I know not his whereabouts. I have not seen
him since early dawn; and then he appeared to be in haste, and was in
no mood for conversation.”
“A curse on his cowardly head! I suppose these Chaldeans have put his
valor to flight. Jared! how many armed men have we within the royal
enclosures?”
“Two hundred of the royal guard, O king, are present—all armed and
ready to face death for their illustrious sovereign.”
“It is well!” said Jehoiakim, filling his bowl. “Ha, ha, ha! Let the
King of Babylon beware of my vengeance? What does the fool desire? The
King of Judah is not to be frightened. Jared! where is Sherakim?”
“Sherakim, O king, is not to be found.”
“Ah, I had forgotten. Sherakim not to be found! Ha, ha, ha! Sherakim
not to be found! The cowardly babbler! Jared, command more wine!
Sherakim has fled—he is afraid of a shadow—he has not the courage of a
maiden. Have I not known him of old? Did not a thunderstorm always make
him cry? Ha, ha, ha! Sherakim the orator! fool! coward!”
“A messenger, O king, from the King of the Chaldeans, desires to be
introduced into thy presence. Shall I conduct him to the apartment?”
“Is he alone or accompanied?”
“Accompanied by armed men.”
“Let the messenger be admitted, but let the guard remain behind.”
The messenger was accordingly ushered into the presence of Jehoiakim.
“And what business of importance has brought thee into the presence of
the King of Judah?” asked Jehoiakim, with curling lip.
“I stand in thy presence as a bearer of a message from my sovereign
master, King of Babylon.”
“Methinks I have seen thee on another occasion.”
“And was not my behavior honorable and becoming?”
“Did the King of Judah say otherwise?”
“Yea, otherwise.”
“How?”
“By his vile and haughty treatment of the king’s ambassador.”
“Be sparing with thine insolence, or at this time thou mayest fare far
worse.”
“The Chaldean ambassador is not to be frightened by idle threats from
one who lives at the mercy of his master.”
“Thinkest thou thyself safe because thou art surrounded with a few
soldiers? Knowest thou not that within my call there are hundreds of
armed men, ready to execute my will?”
“And knowest thou not that Jerusalem is in the hands of the Chaldeans,
and that threescore thousand men of war are stationed in the city?”
“Threescore thousand! But come, sir, what is the message of the King of
Babylon to the King of Judah? Let thy words be few.”
“Then thou art commanded, without delay, to appear in my master’s
presence, and there learn his sovereign will concerning thyself and the
city.”
“_Commanded!_ Ha, ha, ha! Go thy way, and inform thy master that if he
desires to see Jehoiakim, King of Judah, he must call at the royal
palace, where he may have his desires gratified.”
“Then I go. Faithfully will I convey thy answer to my illustrious
sovereign.”
The minister hastened from the royal palace, to convey to the king the
result of the interview, while the King of Judah, waxing more
desperate, still applied himself to his cups.
The King of Babylon, on his arrival in Jerusalem, ordered his
magnificent royal tent to be pitched in the center of a large square in
the very heart of the city. The great body of the army was stationed in
another part—the royal guard remaining near the royal tent. From this
spot went forth the summons to the King of Judah to appear in the
presence of the King of Babylon.
“Where is his Royal Highness, the King of Judah?” asked Nebuchadnezzar.
“In his palace, O king, indulging in excess of wine, apparently
perfectly at ease.”
“Is he not forthcoming?” asked the king, with a darkened brow.
“He laughs to scorn thy commands, O king! and wishes to inform thee
that if thou hast aught to communicate he may be consulted at his
palace.”
“By all the gods, the fellow is mad!” cried Nebuchadnezzar in a
passion. “I’ll have to bend his stubborn will—yea, I _shall_ do it. I
thirst not for his blood; but let the guilty monarch beware how he
trifles with my commands! Balphoras! haste thee back with a double
guard, and inform Jehoiakim that my orders are not to be trifled with;
and moreover, that if he persists in his stubbornness, I shall send
sufficient force to drag him into my presence as a guilty culprit.”
The communication was in perfect accordance with the desires and
expectations of the Chaldean officer. Balphoras was in possession of an
amiable mind. He was respectful to his superiors, kind and gentle to
his inferiors. Wherever he was known among his countrymen he was
greatly beloved. However, he was not insensible to injury or
indifferent to abuse. He felt deeply; but had learned to be a greater
conqueror than his master, inasmuch as he that governeth his own spirit
is greater than he that taketh a city. Balphoras, without being unkind
or selfish, desired to witness the humiliation of the King of Judah.
The command of his king, therefore, was put in immediate execution, and
the Chaldean minister, accompanied by a strong and imposing guard, once
more was on his way to demand admission into the presence of the King
of Judah.
“Jared! Well would I have served those guilty dogs, if I had given
orders to have their heads taken off. What sayest thou, Jared?”
“They richly deserved it, O king,” answered Jared, with his face in
another direction, on which played a suppressed smile.
“Let them beware how they insult the King of Judah! Jared! hast thou
learned aught of Sherakim’s whereabouts?”
“Naught, O king.”
“Ungrateful dog! Cowardly fool! Miserable brawler!—Sherakim! Bah!
Jared, order more wine. Whom should Jehoiakim fear? Jared! what trouble
is there in the porch? Haste thee and see.”
Jared hastened to obey the commands of his drunken sovereign, and
presently returned.
“The same messenger from the King of the Chaldeans demands an interview
with the King of Judah.”
“Let him be admitted. Ha! ha! What next?”
Balphoras, with a firm, dignified step, walked into the presence of
Jehoiakim, who, in spite of his wine-propped courage, almost trembled
beneath the Chaldean’s penetrating glance.
“And what hast thou to communicate at this time?”
“My communication is short and decisive.”
“The shorter the better—let it be delivered.”
“My illustrious sovereign, the King of Babylon, wishes the King of
Judah to understand, that his commands are not to be trifled with; and,
moreover, that if the King of Judah persists in his stubbornness, he
must be dragged into his presence as a guilty culprit.”
“Who dares to utter such words in my presence?” cried Jehoiakim, in a
rage.
“The Chaldean minister, as the words of his illustrious sovereign.”
“Go and tell thine ‘illustrious sovereign’ that Jehoiakim spits upon
his insolent demands.”
“Thy raving is in vain. Better far to bridle thy rage and comply. Be it
known to the King of Judah, that I have three hundred chosen men of war
at my bidding, who wait for the word of command. What is the choice of
the King of Judah?”
“Be it known to thee, insolent fool,” cried the exasperated king, “that
Jehoiakim laughs to scorn thy threats, and spurns thy counsels.”
“Alas for thine obstinacy, proud and reckless man!” answered Balphoras,
as he left the apartment; “thy doom is sealed!”
After the departure of the Chaldean, Jehoiakim gave orders to his
officers to be ready, at all hazards, to defend the royal enclosures
against all further intrusion from the Chaldeans.
“A curse upon his guilty head! Ha, ha! ‘Dragged into his presence,’ eh!
Never! Fools! Villains! Let them beware of Jehoiakim’s vengeance.”
While the King of Judah thus indulged in his wild delirium, a strong
detachment of the Chaldean army was on a rapid march towards the royal
palace, with orders to make a prisoner of Jehoiakim, and bring him into
the presence of the King of Babylon. They soon reached the king’s gate,
and demanded admittance; which demand was promptly and haughtily
refused. This was but the signal for attack, and a furious combat
followed. Both the Chaldeans and Jehoiakim’s men fought valiantly. The
passage was defended with extreme bravery and valor; but after a most
desperate struggle, the Chaldeans proved successful in forcing an
entrance. The sentry at the palace door was soon overcome, and a
company of Chaldeans rushed into the royal mansion; and, after some
search, they found the king. Without ceremony he was dragged from his
hiding place, and ejected from his palace. A shout of triumph broke
from the Chaldeans, which only exasperated their antagonists. Another
desperate rush was made for the rescue of their king, but it proved
unavailing. He was conducted to the open street amid a general fight.
The din of battle brought together vast multitudes, who, seeing their
king a captive, added greatly to the strength of Judah’s forces; and
the Chaldeans found themselves continually attacked from unexpected
quarters. Thus the conflict waxed hotter and hotter as the Chaldeans
desperately fought their way through the exasperated men of Judah.
Finally, the King of Judah was carried into the presence of
Nebuchadnezzar and had he, even then, humbled himself, he might have
escaped an awful doom. The behavior of Jehoiakim in the presence of the
Chaldean monarch was that of a madman. To every inquiry he replied in
the most insulting and abusive epithets; and to seal his own fate he
madly rushed on the King of Babylon with his sword, and had it not been
that this potentate was on his guard, it would have gone hard with him.
This was beyond endurance. Nebuchadnezzar, stung to the quick, grasped
his sword, commanded his officers to stand aloof, and faced his enraged
foe. They made a few passes, and the sword of the Chaldean was plunged
into the heart of the King of Judah.”
“Take the ungrateful dog,” said the excited Babylonian, “and drag his
worthless carcass, and throw it outside the city walls.”
The command was immediately put in execution.
Thus perished the wicked king, according to the word of the Lord, by
the mouth of his servant Jeremiah.