There is no account of the death of this prophet; but a building is pointed out a few miles to the southeast of the ruins of Babylon, which is said to be the tomb of Ezekiel. It certainly has been regarded so for many ages, nor is the circumstance of his residing at Kaibar opposed thereto; he might have removed to Babylon, or have died when on a journey to that city. Benjamin of Tudela mentions this tomb in the twelfth century, and relates the great resort of the Jews thither yearly at the feast of expiation, when the book of the prophet was publicly read.

This hasty glance at the prophecies of Ezekiel, relating to his own people, may be closed with a brief mention of the remarkable vision of the second temple, Ezek. xl.—xlviii., justly considered one of the most difficult portions of the Bible.

These chapters evidently are connected with the last chapter of the book of Revelation. As yet all remains a mystery; but the time will come when these things shall be understood. Let us be thankful that all passages of Scripture which contain instruction needful for our salvation, are made plain now, and may be understood by the unlettered countryman as well, or better, than by those deeply versed in human sciences. Whether this vision is descriptive literally of a temple to be built, or figuratively gives a delineation of the gospel church, is the point most frequently under consideration; this still is enveloped in clouds and darkness. But let us not forget that there is much instruction in these chapters, applicable to every age. Let us desire to drink of the waters of life, and to partake of the fruit of the tree of life, which is for food, and of the leaves that are for medicine, encouraged by the gracious declarations in the book of Revelation, that the leaves are for the healing of the nations, and that the fruit is set forth in a constant supply. But especially let us remember the invitation; "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S CONQUESTS.

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CHAPTER V.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S CONQUEST OF THE NATIONS AROUND PALESTINE.

AFTER the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar proceeded to subjugate or destroy the nations around the land of Palestine. These operations were begun in the year following; they occupied this mighty conqueror several years. He is styled in Scripture "the rod of God's anger;" as such he was not only employed to punish the Jews, but also to inflict punishment upon those who had assisted in the downfal of the Jewish nation, to gratify their own envy and evil feelings toward the chosen people of the Lord. They rejoiced in the humbling of Judea, although some of them had encouraged the Jews to rebel against the Assyrians. In this work Nebuchadnezzar was "the servant of Jehovah;" he is expressly men tioned as such, Jer. xxv. 9, and elsewhere. These nations continued subject to the Babylonian government, till it was overthrown in its turn by Cyrus. That government lasted seventy years, calculating from the taking of Nineveh, B.c. 606, by the Babylonians and Medes, to the capture of Babylon by Cyrus, B.C. 606. That this servitude of the nations would last seventy years, was expressly declared, Jer. xxv. 11; xxix. 10; xxvii. 7; Isa. xxiii. 15. When that time was completed, they, as well as the Jews, were delivered from the oppression of the Chaldeans.

The prophecies relative to the subjugation of these nations may be enumerated. It will be a profitable exercise for the reader to turn to the passages.

The Tyrians, Isa. xxiii. 1-15; Jer. xxv. 22; Ezek. xxvi. 7-13; xxvii. 2-26.

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NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S CONQUESTS

The Sidonians, Jer. xxv. 22; xlvii. 4; Ezek. xxviii. 21-23.

The Philistines, Jer. xxv. 20; Ezek. xxv. 16; Zeph. ii. 5.

The Egyptians, Isa. xix. 4—23; Jer. xlvi. 3—26; Ezek. xxix. 2-12; xxx. 20—26; xxxii. 2-16; Joel iii. 19.

The Ethiopians, Isa. xviii. 1—7 ; Ezek. xxx. 4—11. The Arabians, Jer. xxv. 24.

The Edomites, Amos i. 11, 12; Obed. 10-16; Jer. xlix. 17.

The Moabites, Ezek. xxv. 8-11; Jer. xxv. 21; xlviii. 40-47.

The Ammonites, Amos i. 13-15; Ezek. xxv. 4-10.

The Syrians, or Damascus, Amos i.; Jer. xlix.

Some particulars respecting a part of these nations may be gathered from common history, in addition to the above notices of them in Scripture. Tyre is one respecting which the fullest details are preserved. At that time Tyre was a very strong city, upon the coast of the Mediterranean, just at the northern extremity of Palestine. Its territory was small, but its wealth and power were great; for Tyre was at that time the centre of the trade of the known world, the general mart of commerce, and possessed a great number of ships. From Ezek. xxvii. we learn the particulars of its trade; they give interesting information respecting the chief productions of various countries, all of which were brought to this great emporium as a centre, from whence they were supplied to other lands. The following is Vincent's summary view.

"From Hermon, and the mountains in its neighbourhood, fir for planking; and from Libanus, cedars for masts.

"From Bashan, east of the sea of Galilee, oaks for

oars.

"From Greece, or the Grecian isles, ivory to adorn

the benches or the wastes of the galleys, and sumptu

ous buildings.

"From Egypt, linen ornamented with different colours, for sails or flags, or ensigns.

"From Peloponnesus, blue and purple cloths for awnings.

From Sidon and Aradus, mariners: but Tyre itself furnished pilots and commanders.

"From Gebul or Biblos, on the coast beyond Tripolis and Berytus, calkers.

From Persia and Africa, mercenary troops.

From Aradus, the troops that garrisoned Tyre, with the Gammadim.

"From Tarshish, or by distant voyages towards the west, and towards the east, great wealth, iron, tin, lead, and silver. Tin implies Britain or Spain, or at least a voyage beyond the straits of Hercules, (now Gibraltar.)

"From Greece, and the countries bordering on Pontus, slaves and brass ware.

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From Armenia, horses, horsemen, and mules.

"From the gulf of Persia, and the isles within that gulf, horns (tusks) of ivory and ebony. The export of these isles was the manufactures of Tyre.

"From Syria, emeralds, purple, broidered work, fine linen, coral, and agate. The exports to Syria were the manufactures of Tyre in great quantities.

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From Judah and Israel, the finest wheat, honey, oil, and balsam.

"From Damascus, wine of Chalybon, (the country bordering on the modern Aleppo,) and wool in the fleece. The exports to Damascus were costly, and of various manufactures.

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From the tribe of Dan, situated nearest to the Philistines, the produce of Arabia, bright or wrought iron, cassia or cinnamon, and the calamus aromaticus. In conducting the transport of these articles, Dan went to and fro, that is, formed and conducted the caBy one interpretation they are said to come

ravans.