Page 8 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

But, as always in the midst of such decadency, there was a small minority who held
steadfastly to the former standards of sobriety and religion. They were secretly friends
and sympathizers with the prophet Jeremiah, and the moving spirit among them was

none other than the chief scribe of the king, Elishama.

A man of dignity, scholarship and eloquence, Elishama had occupied this important
post since the latter part of the reign of the good King Josiah, succeeding the venerable

and esteemed Shaphan. Deeply conversant with the affairs of state, and unequalled in
the realm for scholarship and in the drafting of official documents, he was retained as
the court writer at the accession of Jehoiakim, unworthy son of a worthy sire. Within
the palace itself, Elishama had his office or chamber.

Here, besides performing his official duties, this brilliant scholar and cultured
gentleman conducted a tutorial school. Daily, the sons of the more conservative
aristocrats of Jerusalem came to be taught by Elishama in the Law of Moses, in literature,

writing and science. The science course included the chemistry and mathematics of
Egypt.

One of the more advanced pupils of the school was Michaiah, the eighteen-year-

old grandson of Shaphan, the venerable and revered court-scribe, who had now retired
in favor of Elishama. The son of Shaphan and father of Michaiah was Gemariah,
Elishama’s contemporary and friend, himself a scribe of no mean ability. He had a
chamber within the confines of the Holy Temple.

The offices of Elishama had a dual usage: for his official work-shop as the chief
scribe of King Jehoiakim, and as class-rooms for the instruction of the studious young
men of the noble families of Jerusalem. There was still another purpose for which the

chamber of Elishama was occasionally used. It had become a rendez-vous for the
conservative princes of the old school who would repair thither from time to time for
illumination and discussion concerning the affairs of the nation. A number of these were
the fathers of the young men who were students in Elishama’s day-school.

These held themselves aloof from the festivities of the court and seldom issued
forth from their own homes. So the messages given by Jeremiah in the gate of the temple

had only come to them by second-hand report.

They were therefore desirous of hearing the messages directly, and requested
Elishama to arrange for an occasion on which they might hear the prophet in person or
an authentic record of his speeches.

So it was arranged. The prophet himself could not be present, but his amanuensis