Nebuchadnezzar called together a number of the leading men of Judah and
explained his intentions with regard to the government. He also
described the killing of Jehoiakim. It was not the policy of the
conqueror to establish any rigorous system of public control. He
required that Judah should remain as a tributary power, but he desired
the country to make progress in its own way, and he took occasion to
proclaim that Jeconiah should reign in the place of his father,
Jehoiakim, who had just met his fate at the hands of the invader. Those
who listened to Nebuchadnezzar were well pleased with his words and
also with the elevation of Jeconiah to the throne.
The Babylonian ruler, having now fully accomplished his ends, gave
orders for the early departure of the victorious army for the plains of
Chaldea. He decided to take with him, as prisoners of war, a number of
youths of Judah. He had the twofold object of showing to his people
some tangible evidence of his victory and of gaining for his court the
advantage of having as aids and attendants some of the more cultured
young men of Judea. With the aid of Jeconiah a list of suitable youths
was soon prepared by the victorious monarch’s officers. These chosen
ones were notified, the day of departure was fixed, and all energies
were bent toward the speedy return of the army to the land of the
Euphrates.
Let us now visit some of the homes of Judah, where the mandate of the
Babylonian king had fallen as a pall upon the inmates. With one of
these homes, located centrally and bearing evidence of prosperity and
culture, the reader is already somewhat acquainted. In the room where
young Ezrom took leave of his sisters, twenty-five years before, an
interesting group had gathered. Monroah, the last survivor of Salome’s
children, had wedded Amonober, and four lovely children blessed their
union. These youths were now orphans, however, the youngest being a
maiden of sixteen, who possessed the rare beauty for which the family
was noted. Her name was Perreeza. The three brothers were named
Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The love of these brothers for their
sister was returned with all the ardor of an affectionate and sincere
girl. These youths were among those selected as prisoners of war.
In company with the young men, when they broke the news of the king’s
decision to Perreeza, was Jeremiah the Prophet.
“Oh, brothers!” exclaimed the distressed maiden, “must ye be torn away
from an only sister? Oh, man of God! What will Perreeza do? My heart
will break. Oh, my brothers! We cannot part!” and she fell on the neck
of Hananiah and wept bitterly.
“We think it not strange, dear damsel,” said the prophet, “that thy
young heart is made sad. But the things that are enshrouded in mystery
to-day will yet beam forth in wondrous wisdom.”
“If to Babylon my brothers go, I must accompany them,” said Perreeza,
with much decision. “It must be so! Jerusalem will have no charms for
me when those I love dearer than life are far away!”
“Surely that would be our joy and desire,” replied Azariah, “but alas!
I fear it will not be possible to have such a request granted. The
exact number is selected and no females are marked on the captive
list.”
“But dear brother, an effort must be put forth without delay to procure
thy sister permission.”
“Yea, beloved, and an effort will be put forth, promptly and urgently.”
This answer of the brother partly soothed the troubled spirit of the
young damsel, and the suggestion on her part opened a little door of
hope before the brothers.
Amonober, father of these interesting youths, was a brother of King
Josiah. Another brother was Baromon, who had died leaving a widow,
Josepha, a son, Daniel, and two daughters. The two families stood among
the foremost in the religious and social life of the Holy City. Young
Daniel was one of the noble youths chosen by Nebuchadnezzar to go to
Babylon. His pious and noble mother and sisters, after their first
outburst of grief, committed him to God’s care. They became reconciled
to their bereavement through the counsel of Jeremiah, who declared that
the God of Israel was shaping the whole affair for the advancement of
his kingdom on earth.