Effects of Josiah's Foreign Policy--Jehoahaz--Jehoiakim-- Egyptian Idolatry introduced--The Prophets--Uriah the Son of Shemaiah--Jeremiah's renewed Labours--Fall of Assyria-- Nebuchadnezzar--Baruch reads Jeremiah's Scroll--Submission of Jehoiakim--His Rebellion and Death--Jehoiachin--Zedekiah-- Siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar--The Siege raised owing to the Intervention of Egypt--Defeat of the Egyptians--Renewal of the Siege--Capture of Jerusalem--Zedekiah in Babylon-- Destruction of the Capital--Jeremiah's Lamentations _page_ 298 608-586 B. C. E. CHAPTER XVII. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DESTRUCTION. The National Decay--The Fugitives--Enmity of the Idumæans-- Johanan, Son of Kareah--The Lamentation--Nebuchadnezzar appoints Gedaliah as Governor--Jeremiah Encourages the People-- Mizpah--Ishmael Murders Gedaliah--The Flight to Egypt-- Jeremiah's Counsel Disregarded--Depopulation of Judah--The Idumæans make Settlements in the Country--Obadiah--Condition of the Judæans in Egypt--Defeat of Hophra--Egypt under Amasis-- Jeremiah's Last Days _page_ 317 586-572 B. C. E. CHAPTER XVIII. THE BABYLONIAN EXILE. Nebuchadnezzar's treatment of the Exiles--The Exiles obtain grants of land--Evil-Merodach favours Jehoiachin--Number of the Judæan Exiles--Ezekiel's captivity in the first period of the Exile--Moral change of the People--Baruch collects Jeremiah's Prophecies and compiles the Histories--The Mourners of Zion-- Proselytes--The Pious and the Worldly--The Poetry of the Time-- Psalms and Book of Job--Nabonad's Persecutions--The Martyrs and the Prophets of the Exile--The Babylonian Isaiah--Cyrus captures Babylon--The Return under Zerubbabel _page_ 329 572-537 B. C. E. CHAPTER XIX. THE RETURN FROM BABYLON, THE NEW COMMUNITY IN JUDÆA, EZRA AND NEHEMIAH. The Journey to Jerusalem--The Samaritans--Commencement of the Rebuilding of the Temple--Interruption of the Work--Darius-- Haggai and Zechariah--Completion of the Temple--Contest between Zerubbabel and Joshua--Intermarriage with Heathens--The Judæans in Babylonia--Ezra visits Jerusalem--Dissolution of the Heathen Marriages--The Book of Ruth--Attacks by Sanballat--Nehemiah-- His Arrival in Jerusalem--Fortification of the Capital-- Sanballat's Intrigues against Nehemiah--Enslavement of the Poor--Nehemiah's Protest--Repopulation of the Capital--The Genealogies--The Reading of the Law--The Feast of Tabernacles-- The Great Assembly--The Consecration--Departure of Nehemiah-- Action of Eliashib--Withholding the Tithes--Malachi, the Last of the Prophets--Nehemiah's Second Visit to Jerusalem--His measures _page_ 354 537-420 B. C. E. CHAPTER XX. THE SOPHERIC AGE.