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the glory of the Lord filled the house; so that the priests could not 
enter because of the glory! 
We cannot easily imagine a more splendid monarch, nor a 
happier people: heaven and earth united to exalt them in the face 
of the nations: but alas! how soon did the gold become dim, and 
the fine gold changed! Solomon forgot the guide of his youth ; and, 
in his old age, bowed down to Ashtaroth, the goddess of Zidon, 
and to the abomination of Ammon; and built altars, and sacrificed 
unto the gods of his strange wives. His example was followed by 
many of his successors, until their idolatry became so abominable 
in the sight of Jehovah, who had peculiarly styled himself the 
God of Israel, that, after a succession of heavy judgments, blended 
with signal mercies, he finally withdrew his protection from the 
ungrateful tribes of Israel and Judah; and 44 Nebuchadnezzar 
“ king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and besieged it, 
“ with a large army: and famine prevailed in the city, and there 
“ was no bread for the people; the city was broken up, and all 
44 the men of war fled by night, by the way of the gate which is 
44 by the king’s garden; and Zedekiah king of Judah, went by the 
65 way towards the plains: and the army of the Chaldees overtook 
“ him in the plains of Jericho, and brought him to Nebuchadnez- 
“ zar, who gave judgment upon him ; and they slew the sons of 
44 Zedekiah king of Judah, before his eyes, and then put out the 
44 eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and car- 
44 ried him to Babylon. And they slew the young men with the 
44 sword, and had no compassion upon the young man or maiden ; 
44 nor upon the old man, nor him that stooped for age: and all the 
44 vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures 
