Being come at the head of his army to two highways, the one of which led to Jerusalem, and the other to Rabbah, the chief city of the Ammonites, this king, not knowing which of them it would be best for him to strike into, debates for some time with himself, and at last casts lots. God makes the lot fall on Jerusalem, to fulfil the menaces he had pronounced against that city, _viz._ to destroy it, to burn the temple, and lead its inhabitants into captivity.(17) One would imagine, at first sight, that this king had been prompted to besiege Tyre, merely from a political view, _viz._ that he might not leave behind him so powerful and well-fortified a city; nevertheless, a superior will had decreed the siege of Tyre.(18) God designed, on one side, to humble the pride of Ithobal its king, who fancying himself wiser than Daniel, whose fame was spread over the whole East; and ascribing entirely to his rare and uncommon prudence the extent of his dominions, and the greatness of his riches, persuaded himself that he was “a god, and sat in the seat of God.”(19) On the other side, he also designed to chastise the luxury, the voluptuousness, and the pride of those haughty merchants, who thought themselves kings of the sea, and sovereigns over crowned heads; and especially, that inhuman joy of the Tyrians, who looked upon the fall of Jerusalem (the rival of Tyre) as their own aggrandizement. These were the motives which prompted God himself to lead Nebuchadnezzar to Tyre; and to make him execute, though unknowingly, his commands. _Idcirco ecce ego adducam ad Tyrum Nabuchodonosor._ To recompense this monarch, whose army the Almighty had caused “to serve a great service against Tyre”(20) (these are God’s own words;) and to compensate the Babylonish troops, for the grievous toils they had sustained during a thirteen years’ siege; “I will give,”(21) saith the Lord God, “the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey, and it shall be the wages for his army.”(22)