The works of the pious and profoundly-learned Joseph Mede, B.D., sometime fellow of Christ's Colledge in Cambridge

CHAP. I.

The disposition of the years of Iehoiakim according to the several Events mentioned in Scripture.

Iehoiakimi 1••

IN the First year of Iehoiachim, as soon as the King of Egypt had made him King, Nebuchadnezzar being sent by his Father yet liv∣ing, came into the Land to reduce those of Phoenicia and Coelesyria (which had revolted to the King of Egypt) unto his obedience; wherewith Iehoiakim being affrighted, became his tributary and served him three years, 2 Kings 24. 1.

This was that Expedition whereof Berosus speaks, Lib. 3. rerum Chaldaicarum, citante Iosepho: Cùm audivisset Nabuchdonosoris parens Nabopolla∣sarus Satrapam AEgypti & Coelesyriae Phoeniciaeque locis praefectum rebellionem fecisse, nec ipse jam labores ferr•• posset; traditâ filio Nabuchdonosoro adhuc aetate viginti parte copiarum, eum misit: & ille cum rebelli praelio congressus, victor evasit, & regionem denuo sub ipsorum potestatem redegit.

And this was the Expedition whereof we read, 2 Kings 24. 7. That the King of Egypt came not again out of his Land any more: (viz. after he had made Iehoiakim King) For the King of Babel had taken from the River of Egypt unto the River Euphrates all that pertained unto the King of Egypt, viz. Phoenicia, Coelesyria, &c.

This also was the Expedition whereof the Rechabites speak Ier. 35. 11. When Ne∣buchadnezzar King of Babel came up into the Land, we said, Come let us go to Ierusalem for fear of the Army of the Chaldeans: So we dwell at Ierusalem. For this coming of the King of Babel into the Land must either be in the first of Iehoiakim, or in the fourth, or in the last year of his Reign. In the last it could not be; for they speak of it as of a thing a good while past, when Iehoiakim was yet reigning: And the Prophet says he was bidden go to these Rechabites in the Reign of Iehoiakim; where no year being named, it seems to be supposed as a thing happening about the beginning of his Reign, or before Nebuchadnezzar was yet returned home out of those quarters. Nor could it be in the fourth year; for then Nebuchadnezzar be∣sieged and took Ierusalem, Dan. 1. but here he came but into the Land, and the Re∣chabites were safe in Ierusalem. Therefore it must be in the first.

And from this time to the first year of Darius with Cyrus (that is, to the first of Cyrus his 9* 1.1 years) are just 70 years; at what time Daniel made his Prayer, as having hoped his people should then have returned from Captivity, Dan. 9. 2. &c. But he anticipated the Epocha which God intended.

Iehoiakimi 4••.

In the Fourth year of Iehoiakim, (or Third compleat) which was the ••irst of Ne∣buchadnezzar, Iehoiakim after three years service, as soon as he heard of the death of Nabopollasar and recalling of Nebuchadnezzar out of those parts, taking courage and rebelling upon the advantage of the time, Nebuchadnezzar returns again, and the first time besieged Ierusalem, took it, carried many of the people captive, and Daniel

amongst them, also part of the Vessels of the House of the Lord. This is that Expe∣dition whereof Daniel speaks Chap. 1. And from hence to the first year of Cyrus solus, (that is, of those six* 1.2 years which he reigned compleat after Darius his death) are 70 years: which was the time when God according to the Prophecy of * 1.3 Ieremie released their Captivity.

Iehoiakimi 5••.

In the Fifth year of Iehoiakim, in the ninth month, the same month that Nebuchad∣nezzar had taken and spoiled the City the year before, they proclaimed a publick Fast, Ier. 36. 9. that so by humbling themselves upon the remembrance of the for∣mer year's calamity, they might pacifie the farther wrath of God towards them. For the like reason after the destruction of the City they used, even till Zacharie's time, to fast upon the 4. 5. and 10. months (Zacharie 7. 3. and Chap. 8. 19.) be∣cause Nebuchadnezzar began that fatal siege in the 10. month, took the City in the 4. burnt it in the 5. Ier. 52. v. 4, 6, 12. and 2 Kings 25. At this Fast Baruch read his Roll.

Iehoiakimi 11••.

This year the King of Babel sent to Ierusalem to bring Iehoiakim bound in setters unto Babylon, 2 Chron. 36. 6. But his servants used him in such manner, that he died miserably before he went, and was buried with the burial of an Asse, drawn, and cast forth beyond the Gates of Ierusalem; Ier. 22. 19. Whereupon the people made his son Iehoiachin King; when presently Nebuchadnezzar (who had then accomplished the 7.* 1.4 year of his reign) came, besieged the City, took and carried the new King Ie∣hoiachin captive, when he had reigned but three months.

Some Objections touching this disposition of Iehoiakim's years.

Obj. Iehoiakim in the 9. month of the 5. year of his Reign was not yet in Captivity, as is plain by Ier. 36. 9. Therefore Nebuchadnezzar had not approched Ierusalem and made a deportation in the 4. year of Iehoiakim.

I answer, it follows not. For the Captivity of Iehoiakim seems not to have been a Captivity of his person, but of his people; and that for these Reasons. First, If Iehoiakim were carried captive either in the 4. or 7. year of his reign, how could he be said to reign 11. years? did he reign whilest he was in Babylon? Secondly, Iehoia∣kim was buried Sepulturâ asini, protractus & projectus extra portas Ierusalem, Ier. 22. 19. If he died at Ierusalem, how could he be a captive in Babylon? Thirdly, It is no where said that Iehoiakim himself was carried captive: Of his people captived we hear Dan. 1. and of part of the Vessels of the House of God; of his Servitude both first and second, 2 Kings 24. 1, 2.

Obj. But 2 Chron. 36. 6. it is said, that Nebuchadnezzar came up against him, and bound him with fetters to carry him to Babylon.

Ans. True; it appears he meant to have carried him, but not that he performed it. 2. This coming up of the King of Babylon, if we compare it with the Text of the 2 Kings 24. will be his first coming up, when Iehoiakim became his tributary three years. Therefore this coming up and this binding, though joyned in one sentence, was not at the same time.

Obj. But you will say, When then was this binding to have carried him?

Ans. I suppose in the last year of his reign and life; and that his ill usage at that time was the occasion of his so miserable death, before he was yet gone from Ieru∣salem. And yet perhaps those who came to fetch him went not home empty, but carried those 3023 mentioned Ier. 52. 28. though I had rather refer them to Iehoia∣chin's going, which was immediately.

Object. The first deportation of the Iews was in the 7. of Nebuchadnezzar, Ier. 52. 28. Therefore not the 4, but the 11. of Iehoiakim's reign.

Ans. Ieremy intended not a rehearsal of all the Captivities, nor of the full num∣ber of captives, as appears by the smalness of the number. It may be those numb••rs contain men of particular quality, and such as were disposed of in one and the same place. But here I am resolved.

I. M.

Notes

• * 1.1

  To the first of those years whereof Cyrus reigned 9. Vid. Can. Ptol.
• * 1.2

  Xenophon Cy∣ropaed. 2 Chron. 36. 22. Ezra 1. 1.
• * 1.3

  Ier. 25. 12. & 29. 10. Dan. 9. 2.
• * 1.4

  Ier. 52. 28.