Part 2 (1/2)
”Then thou art commanded, without delay, to appear in my master's presence, and there learn his sovereign will concerning thyself and the city.”
”Commanded! Ha, ha, ha! Go thy way, and inform thy master that if he desires to see Jehoiakim, King of Judah, he must call at the royal palace, where he may have his desires gratified.”
”Then I go. Faithfully will I convey thy answer to my ill.u.s.trious sovereign.”
The minister hastened from the royal palace, to convey to the king the result of the interview, while the King of Judah, waxing more desperate, still applied himself to his cups.
The King of Babylon, on his arrival in Jerusalem, ordered his magnificent royal tent to be pitched in the center of a large square in the very heart of the city. The great body of the army was stationed in another part--the royal guard remaining near the royal tent. From this spot went forth the summons to the King of Judah to appear in the presence of the King of Babylon.
”Where is his Royal Highness, the King of Judah?” asked Nebuchadnezzar.
”In his palace, O king, indulging in excess of wine, apparently perfectly at ease.”
”Is he not forthcoming?” asked the king, with a darkened brow.
”He laughs to scorn thy commands, O king! and wishes to inform thee that if thou hast aught to communicate he may be consulted at his palace.”
”By all the G.o.ds, the fellow is mad!” cried Nebuchadnezzar in a pa.s.sion.
”I'll have to bend his stubborn will--yea, I shall do it. I thirst not for his blood; but let the guilty monarch beware how he trifles with my commands! Balphoras! haste thee back with a double guard, and inform Jehoiakim that my orders are not to be trifled with; and moreover, that if he persists in his stubbornness, I shall send sufficient force to drag him into my presence as a guilty culprit.”
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 ill.u.s.trious 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.