4. There was underlying all these political reasons a moral cause in =the divine purpose to discipline the nation=. The captivity was a weeding-out process, to separate the precious from the vile, the false from the true, the "remnant" from the mass. There had always been two distinct elements in Is'ra-el and Ju'dah--the spiritual, God-fearing few, and the worldly, idol-worshiping many. The worldly and irreligious took part in the resistance to the king of Bab'y-lon, and the worshipers of Je-ho'vah, led by the prophets, urged submission. As a result the nobles and the warriors, for the most part, perished; while the better part, the strength and hope of the nation, were carried away captive. Notice that the captives were mainly of the middle class, the working element (2 Kings 24. 14-16). Those who had submitted to the Chal-de'ans were also taken away (2 Kings 25. 11). The prophet expressed greater hope for those taken away than for those left behind (Jer. 24. 1-10). The captives were the root of Ju'dah, out of which in due time a new nation should rise; and, as we shall see, the captivity in Bab'y-lon proved to be the most benign experience in all the history of God's chosen people. Blackboard Outline I. =Cap. Isr. Jud.= 1. Isr. 721. Jud. 587. 2. Ass. Sar.--Chal. Neb. 3. Cas. Sea.--Riv. Eup. 4. Nev. ret.--Bro. b. II. =Thr. Cap. Jud.= 1. Jeh. cap. 607. 2. Jehn. cap. 598. 3. Zed. cap. 587. III. =Caus. Cap.= 1. Pol. Or. conq. 2. Reb. kgs. Jud. 3. Riv. Eg. Bab. 4. Div. pur. dis. Review Questions From what earlier captivity must that of Ju'dah be distinguished? What were the dates of these two captivities? By whom was each nation taken captive? Where was each nation carried captive? What followed the captivity in each nation? What were the three captivities of Ju'dah? What were the events of the first captivity of Ju'dah? Who were carried away at this time? What date is connected with this captivity? What were the events of the second captivity of Ju'dah? Who were then taken away? What were the events of the third captivity? How long was Je-ru'sa-lem left in ruins? By whom and when were the Jews permitted to return from captivity? What causes may be assigned for the carrying away of the Jews? What were the customs of ancient Oriental conquerors? How did the conduct of the kings of Ju'dah bring on the captivity? What rivalry between nations was a cause of the captivity? What were the two parties in the kingdom of Ju'dah? How was the carrying away of the Jews a political necessity? What was the moral cause of the captivity? PART TWO IV. =The Condition of the Captives in Chal-de'a= was far better than we are apt to suppose.