Jeremiah Honored by the Babylonians

‎When the Babylonians stormed Jerusalem they found Jeremiah still confined within the prison court. At first, he was seized with the others and chained; but when the invaders knew who he was, they treated him with great honor, as well they might, for he was the one man who had most upheld their power in Jerusalem, the one who, having declared Nebuchadnezzar to be God’s destined instrument, had protested against opposing him.

‎Jerusalem itself was mercilessly ravaged. The city was burned, its chief buildings were torn stone from stone, thousands of its people slain in the streets; and all those of any importance who escaped the slaughter were carried off with King Zedekiah to be held captive in Babylon. Only a few hundred of the lowest and poorest of the inhabitants were allowed to remain among the smoking ruins. As for Jeremiah, he was bidden by Nebuchadnezzar’s captain to choose as he wished, whether to go with the army to Babylon there to receive a high honor, or to stay with the remnant of his people in Judah. Jeremiah, still hoping to be of use to his people, elected to abide in Judah.