The new law-book seemed a great victory.  Yet sometimes victories are more dangerous than defeats.  They lead to self-satisfaction.  This was certainly the case with this victory of the authors of Deuteronomy.  The people were careful to offer up their sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem, and very few offerings were brought to the old village shrines.  But the real kernel of the truth which the prophets had proclaimed was in danger of being forgotten.  This was the truth that no forms of sacrifice, no solemn religious feasts are of any account in the sight of God unless accompanied by simple justice and brotherly kindness between neighbors.  This was the state of affairs against which one more great reforming prophet was raised up to fight—­Jeremiah, of the little town of Anathoth, five miles north of Jerusalem.

A CONVERSATION IN A JERUSALEM STREET

To understand clearly what Jeremiah’s message was and why it was needed let us listen to a conversation between two citizens of Jerusalem.  This one is imaginary.  But there must have been many, in reality, very similar to this.

First citizen: Did you hear of my good fortune?  I have just got a fine piece of ground for almost nothing.

Second citizen: How?

First citizen: I had loaned some money to an old farmer, and made him pledge me his field as security.  Last summer the Babylonian soldiers came through that valley and burned all the wheat and barley stacks.  So the old man couldn’t pay back the loan.  He tried to tell his story to King Jehoiakim, but the king drove him from the palace.  So I went and took his field.

Second citizen: What would the prophets have said to a transaction like that?  Did not Isaiah call down woes from Jehovah on those who took away poor men’s fields?

First citizen: I have just offered a sacrifice to Jehovah.

Second citizen: I suppose, then, it is all right.  But did not the prophets speak against sacrifice, unless one remembered justice and mercy?

First citizen: Yes, but they were speaking of the old sacrifices on the “high places,” at the village shrines.  Everyone knows they were heathen shrines and hateful to Jehovah.  I offered my sacrifice at the temple yonder, just as we are told to do in the law of Moses, which King Josiah’s servants found in the temple.

Look!  Why is all that crowd gathered over there in the temple yard?  Let us go and see what is happening.  I heard some one say, that a certain Jeremiah who calls himself a prophet, was to speak there to-day.  All my friends who have heard him say that he is a false prophet.

(They reach the edge of the crowd.  Jeremiah is standing on the steps of the temple, addressing the people, as follows:)