Therefore, at Josiah's unexpected death, Jeremiah approved the action of the people in raising the unfortunate Jehoahaz to the throne. Necho's substitution of Jehoiakim filled the prophet with alarm. The happy years of Josiah's reign vanished like a mist; and, with a heart that was heavy-laden, Jeremiah left Anathoth, where he had been living quietly with his relatives and friends, and went down to the turmoil in Jerusalem. Satisfying himself that he had not exaggerated the situation in the capital, and, seeing now that the calamity of Josiah's death was more far-reaching than he had at first supposed, Jeremiah addressed himself to Jehoiakim with the following warning: "Woe to him who buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; Who causeth his neighbor to labor without wages, and giveth him not his pay; Who saith, 'I will build me a vast palace with spacious chambers; Provided with deep-cut windows, ceiled with cedar and painted with vermillion.' Dost thou call thyself king because thou excellest in cedar? Thy father--did he not eat and drink and execute law and justice? He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. 'Was not this to know me?' saith the Lord. But thine eyes and heart are bent only on thy dishonest gain, And on the shedding of innocent blood and on oppression and violence!" Nor did Jeremiah hesitate to point out that such a state of affairs could not exist long and that such a king could not reign long over Israel. He even foretold the fate of Jehoiakim. He knew that the political situation, as it would develop when Nineveh was conquered, would once more embroil Judah. Jehoiakim, he was sure, could not stand the test. Therefore, he could see nothing but the fall and untimely death of Jehoiakim, and he added, "They shall not lament over him, saying one to another, 'Oh, my brother!' or 'Oh, my sister!' They shall not wail for him, saying, 'Oh, Lord!' or 'Oh, his glory!' but shall be glad when he is 'buried as an ass is buried, drawn out and cast forth.'" On that very day came the news of the Battle of Carchemish. It was one of the epoch-making struggles of ancient history. Victory perched proudly on the banner of Nebuchadrezzar and Necho was utterly routed, fleeing toward Egypt, the Babylonians in hot pursuit. Within that very year all signs of Egyptian rule in Syria and Palestine were wiped out. "The king of Babylon had taken from the brook of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt." Judah became a Babylonian province and Jehoiakim but the shadow of a king. CHAPTER IX. _The Temple of the Lord._ Nebuchadrezzar had taken up his headquarters where Pharaoh-Necho had encamped at Riblah, and there received the homage of the little Syrian and Palestinian states that he had wrested from Egypt.