Page 73 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

give his report, which was substantially the same as he had given to his friends
informally. “I did my best, your Majesty, to strengthen the hands of the prophet Jeremiah,
and to warn Zedekiah against allowing himself to be persuaded by the hotheaded Jewish

leaders, into a course of rebellion against Babylon, but I feel reasonably certain that he
will ultimately succumb to their insistent pressure and will attempt some sort of coup. I
advise that we station a detachment of troops in Damascus and another in the borders
of Egypt, who can move in from both sides and quell the rebellion when it breaks out.

I have spoken to Pharaoh of the matter and he agrees to the troops being stationed in
Egypt. I may say of Pharaoh, that he is quite well-disposed and friendly to your
Majesty’s government, as well he might be, for nothing can be more apparent than the
present decadency of Egypt. They would be little more able to defy the might of

Babylon than Jerusalem and Judah! ”
“How is your esteemed father, O Belteshazzar?” the king inquired with gentleness.
“I can say, your Majesty, in response to your kind inquiry, that during the months
of my stay in Jerusalem, my father, in our terminology, was “gathered to his people.”

Also my revered teacher, Elishama, the scribe, passed away while I was there. I can
even rejoice that they have gone and will not witness the further woes that will come
upon our people and city as a punishment from Jehovah for their sin and apostasy, and
who have so miserably failed in being the custodians of His truth and His intended light-

bearers to all nations. Jehovah plays no favorites, He honors those who honor Him,
especially if they have had the privilege of knowing Him. He holds Himself responsible,
in no small particular, to maintain any people or kingdom who depart from Him, after
He has plainly revealed Himself.” With these weighty words, the conference was

terminated as Daniel at the King’s nod, bowed and withdrew. The King was not so
obtuse as to fail to understand that the last words were spoken as being applied to him
as well as to the people of Judah, and he pondered the matter in his heart.

It was also at this juncture that affairs came to a head in Jerusalem. The expected
revolt under Zedekiah had brought the Chaldean armies in until they pressed upon
Jerusalem in a siege that lasted nearly two years.

Nebuzar-Adan was in full charge of the Babylonian armies, but under close
supervision of the king, who maintained contact by daily messengers to and from.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s ugly and rebellious temper toward the God of the Hebrews
was reflected in his stiffening attitude toward the city of Jerusalem. He commanded
Nebuzar-Adan to deal ruthlessly with the city as soon as it fell and this time to destroy
both the city and the temple when it should fall into his hands. Nebuzar-Adan could not
account for this sudden severity, by contrast with the clemency toward the city he had

previously shown and his reverence for the temple.