In answer to this command, the Levites hung their harps upon the willow trees near the banks of the river, as it is written, "Upon the willows in her midst had we hung up our harps." Then they said, "If we had but performed the will of God and sung His praises devoutly, we should not have been delivered into thy hands. Now, how can we sing before thee the prayers and hymns that belong only to the One Eternal God?" as it is said, "How should we sing the song of the Lord on the soil of the stranger?" Then said the officers of the captors, "These men are men of death; they refuse to obey the order of the king; let them die." But forth stepped Pelatya, the son of Yehoyadah, and thus he addressed Nebuchadnezzar:-- "Behold, if a flock is delivered into the hands of a shepherd, and a wolf steals a lamb from the flock, tell me, who is responsible to the owner of the lost animal?" "Surely the shepherd," replied Nebuchadnezzar. "Then listen to thine own words," replied Pelatya. "God has given Israel into thy hands; to Him art thou responsible for those who are slain." The king ordered the chains to be removed from the captives, and they were not put to death. * * * * * Through Kamtzah and Bar Kamtzah was Jerusalem destroyed; and thus it happened. A certain man made a feast; he was a friend of Kamtzah, but Bar Kamtzah he hated. He sent a messenger to Kamtzah with an invitation to his banquet, but this messenger making a mistake, delivered the invitation to his master's enemy, Bar Kamtzah. Bar Kamtzah accepted the invitation, and was on hand at the appointed time, but when the host saw his enemy enter his house, he ordered him to leave at once. "Nay," said Bar Kamtzah, "now that I am here, do not so insult me as to send me forth. I will pay thee for all that I may eat and drink." "I want not thy money," returned the other, "neither do I desire thy presence; get thee gone at once." But Bar Kamtzah persisted. "I will pay the entire expense of thy feast," he said; "do not let me be degraded in the eyes of thy guests." The host was determined, and Bar Kamtzah withdrew from the banquet-room in anger. "Many Rabbis were present," said he in his heart, "and not one of them interfered in my behalf, therefore this insult which they saw put upon me must have pleased them." So Bar Kamtzah spoke treacherously of the Jews unto the king, saying, "The Jews have rebelled against thee." "How can I know this?" inquired the king. "Send a sacrifice to their Temple and it will be rejected," replied Bar Kamtzah. The ruler then sent a well-conditioned calf to be sacrificed for him in the Temple, but through the machinations of Bar Kamtzah the messenger inflicted a blemish upon it, and, of course, not being fit for the sacrifice it was not accepted.