The communication was in perfect accordance with the desires and expectations of the Chaldean officer.  Balphoras was in possession of an amiable mind.  He was respectful to his superiors, kind and gentle to his inferiors.  Wherever he was known among his countrymen he was greatly beloved.  However, he was not insensible to injury or indifferent to abuse.  He felt deeply; but had learned to be a greater conqueror than his master, inasmuch as he that governeth his own spirit is greater than he that taketh a city.  Balphoras, without being unkind or selfish, desired to witness the humiliation of the King of Judah.  The command of his king, therefore, was put in immediate execution, and the Chaldean minister, accompanied by a strong and imposing guard, once more was on his way to demand admission into the presence of the King of Judah.

. . . . . . .

“Jared!  Well would I have served those guilty dogs, if I had given orders to have their heads taken off.  What sayest thou, Jared?”

“They richly deserved it, O king,” answered Jared, with his face in another direction, on which played a suppressed smile.

“Let them beware how they insult the King of Judah!  Jared! hast thou learned aught of Sherakim’s whereabouts?”

“Naught, O king.”

“Ungrateful dog!  Cowardly fool!  Miserable brawler!—­Sherakim!  Bah!  Jared, order more wine.  Whom should Jehoiakim fear?  Jared! what trouble is there in the porch?  Haste thee and see.”

Jared hastened to obey the commands of his drunken sovereign, and presently returned.

“The same messenger from the King of the Chaldeans demands an interview with the King of Judah.”

“Let him be admitted.  Ha! ha!  What next?”

Balphoras, with a firm, dignified step, walked into the presence of Jehoiakim, who, in spite of his wine-propped courage, almost trembled beneath the Chaldean’s penetrating glance.

“And what hast thou to communicate at this time?”

“My communication is short and decisive.”

“The shorter the better—­let it be delivered.”

“My illustrious sovereign, the King of Babylon, wishes the King of Judah to understand, that his commands are not to be trifled with; and, moreover, that if the King of Judah persists in his stubbornness, he must be dragged into his presence as a guilty culprit.”

“Who dares to utter such words in my presence?” cried Jehoiakim, in a rage.

“The Chaldean minister, as the words of his illustrious sovereign.”

“Go and tell thine ‘illustrious sovereign’ that Jehoiakim spits upon his insolent demands.”

“Thy raving is in vain.  Better far to bridle thy rage and comply.  Be it known to the King of Judah, that I have three hundred chosen men of war at my bidding, who wait for the word of command.  What is the choice of the King of Judah?”

“Be it known to thee, insolent fool,” cried the exasperated king, “that Jehoiakim laughs to scorn thy threats, and spurns thy counsels.”