Thus perished the wicked king, according to the word of the Lord, by the
mouth of his servant Jeremiah.



CHAPTER VI.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR called together a number of the leading men of Judah and
explained his intentions with regard to the government. He also described
the killing of Jehoiakim. It was not the policy of the conqueror to
establish any rigorous system of public control. He required that Judah
should remain as a tributary power, but he desired the country to make
progress in its own way, and he took occasion to proclaim that Jeconiah
should reign in the place of his father, Jehoiakim, who had just met his
fate at the hands of the invader. Those who listened to Nebuchadnezzar
were well pleased with his words and also with the elevation of Jeconiah
to the throne.

The Babylonian ruler, having now fully accomplished his ends, gave orders
for the early departure of the victorious army for the plains of Chaldea.
He decided to take with him, as prisoners of war, a number of youths of
Judah. He had the twofold object of showing to his people some tangible
evidence of his victory and of gaining for his court the advantage of
having as aids and attendants some of the more cultured young men of
Judea. With the aid of Jeconiah a list of suitable youths was soon
prepared by the victorious monarch's officers. These chosen ones were
notified, the day of departure was fixed, and all energies were bent
toward the speedy return of the army to the land of the Euphrates.