Study Desk

When He speaks, there is a storm of waters in the heavens. He makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and brings the wind from His store-houses.

No man thinks well, and he is without learning. Every man who works with gold is put to shame by his false gods. For the objects of worship that he makes are false, and there is no breath in them.

He Who is the Share of Jacob is not like these. For He is the Maker of All. And Israel is the family who receives His gifts. The Lord of All is His name.

"I will punish Babylon and all the people of Chaldea for all their sins that they have done in Zion in front of your eyes," says the Lord.

Not even a stone will be taken from you for a corner stone, or a stone to be used to build upon. But you will be a waste forever," says the Lord.

The land shakes and moves in its pain. For the Lord's plans against Babylon stand, to make the land of Babylon a waste land without people.

So the Lord says, "See, I will help you in your cause and punish Babylon for you. I will dry up her sea, and make her well dry.

Do not let your heart become weak. Do not be afraid at the news that will be heard in the land. For news will come this year, and other news will come the next. There will be fighting in the land, with ruler against ruler.

Then heaven and earth and all that is in them will call out for joy over Babylon. For the destroyers will come to her from the north," says the Lord.

We are ashamed because much has been said against us. Our faces are covered with shame, for strangers have gone into the holy places of the Lord's house.

For the Lord will destroy Babylon. He will quiet her loud voice. Their waves will sound like many waters, and the noise of their voices is loud.

For the destroyer is coming against Babylon, and her strong men will be taken. Their bows are broken. For the Lord is a God Who makes the sinner pay for his sin, and He will be sure to punish.

The Lord of All says, "The wide wall of Babylon will be broken to the ground. Her high gates will be set on fire. So the people will work hard for nothing, and because of the fire nations become tired."

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

On the ninth day of the fourth month, the hunger became very bad in the city. There was no food for the people of the land.

They also took away the pots, the tools, the objects for putting out the lamps, the washing pots, the dishes for special perfume, and all the brass objects used in the work of the Lord's house.

The captain of the prison soldiers also took away the deep dishes, the fire holders, the washing pots, the other pots, the lamp-stands, the dishes for special perfume, and the dishes for drink gifts, that were made of fine gold and fine silver.

He took the two pillars, the brass pool, the twelve brass bulls that were under the pool, and the stands, which King Solomon had made for the house of the Lord. The brass of all these objects was too heavy to weigh.

He also took from the city one captain who had been over the men of war, and seven of the king's wise men who were found in the city. He took the writer who worked for the captain of the army, who called together the people of the land. And he took sixty men of the land who were found in the city.

So Jehoiachin changed from his prison clothes, and ate with the king every day for the rest of his life.