Daniel by Terry Thompson

Author:Terry Thompson [Thompson, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: christian fiction
Publisher: Ambassador International
Published: 2021-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

1   Ezekiel 2:1-6

18

JERUSALEM’S FALL

588 B.C.

Daniel stood nearby as Ezekiel proclaimed the word of Yahweh amid a cluster of houses in the compound. Almost every day for five years, he had prophesied to all who would listen. He had been condemning his people’s continuing rejection of God, both in Judah and Babylon. He had warned that God’s judgment on His people would continue and that Jerusalem would someday be completely destroyed, including the temple. He had also prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar would attack Egypt.

Today, however, Daniel was hearing something new from his prophet friend. Ezekiel was proclaiming Jerusalem’s destruction was eminent. “For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver. Into his right hand came the divination, ‘Jerusalem,’ to set battering rams, to open the mouth of slaughter, to lift up the voice with a battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build a siege wall. And it will be to them like a false divination in their eyes; they have sworn solemn oaths. But he brings iniquity to remembrance, that they may be seized. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you will be seized with the hand.”’1

Daniel knew King Nebuchadnezzar had a large army contingent camped around Jerusalem. They were sent there soon after King Zedekiah sent messages of complaint to Babylon about tax increases and tighter restrictions on Judah’s trade with neighboring nations. King Nebuchadnezzar had mentioned that he had been consulting with the sorcerers again regarding whether to invade Jerusalem a third time. Daniel took offense at such circumventing of his advice and counsel but could not control who the king trusted most. Bulludhu’s advice often prevailed because he told the king what the king wanted to hear.

Ezekiel’s prophesy was confirmed sooner than Daniel had anticipated. Late that afternoon, King Nebuchadnezzar summoned him to his chambers.

“Belteshazzar, I am leaving in a few days for Jerusalem with a small army contingent commanded by Nabonidus to reinforce the troops already there. Zedekiah has fortified the city more than we had anticipated with stronger walls and gates. Nabonidus will begin a siege of the city cutting off all food and supplies. You have seen the reports from my overseers there that Zedekiah has been communicating with Pharaoh Hophra, attempting to forge an alliance. I have no desire to go to war with Egypt again. Apparently, Zedekiah thinks I am a fool. Nine years ago, I showed mercy to him and over twenty-five thousand people remaining in Jerusalem, plus three times that many in all of Judah. I made him king with a level of independence. Now, he has betrayed me and will pay for it dearly.”

Daniel understood his limitations in influencing decisions regarding the king’s many vassalages.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.