a logical or historical setting for these kingly oracles.  They also imply that the royal house of Judah had been struck down, and that the new king is to rise out of a background of gloom and is to inaugurate an entirely new era.  The character and rule of this king of popular hopes reflect many of the traits of David and Josiah; but his aims and methods are in accord with the moral and social standards of the great pre-exilic prophets.  They portray a temporal ruler; but the spirit which actuates him and the principles which guide him are noble and unselfish.  As subsequent history clearly shows, the prophet or prophets who painted these portraits apparently hoped that a son or grandson of Jehoiachin would realize them.  It is exceedingly probable in the light of the later predictions of Haggai and Zechariah (Sections xciv, XCV) that these prophecies were written not long after the birth of Zerubbabel.  The kingdom over which he was to rule and to which he was to bring perfect justice and peace was the prophetic counterpart of Ezekiel’s priestly plan of the restored and redeemed community.  The ethical ideals thus concretely set forth were never fully realized in Israel’s troubled history; but they remain as valid and commanding to-day as they were far back in the Babylonian period.  The abolition of all the insignia of war, the high sense of official responsibility, the protection of the weak by the strong, and the reign of perfect peace and harmony throughout all the earth are the goals for which all earnest, consecrated souls in every age and race are striving.  It is natural and proper that the Christian Church should see in Jesus the fullest and truest realization of these ancient kingly ideals.

V. The Rule of Nabonidus.  The successors of Nebuchadrezzar proved weak and inefficient.  His dissolute son, Amil-Marduk, was soon murdered by his brother-in-law Nergalsharuzur (Gk.  Neriglissar).  This ruler is probably the Nergal-sharezer of Jeremiah 39:3 who directed the final capture and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.  After reigning four years he died, leaving the Babylonian empire to his young son, who soon fell a victim to a conspiracy of his nobles.  They placed on the throne a certain Nabuna’id, who is known to the Greek historians as Nabonidus.  He appeared to be more interested in excavating ancient ruins and in rebuilding old temples than in ruling his subjects.  By his arbitrary religious policy and his neglect of the popular gods of the Babylonians, he completely alienated the loyalty of his people.  During the latter part of his reign, which extended from 555 to 538 B.C., he left the government largely in charge of his son Belsharuzur, the Belshazzar of the story in Daniel.