Hananiah took his place beside his new king. It had not been a month since Zedekiah had been made King in Jerusalem, and already the kings of the neighboring states were coming to visit. Ithobal of Tyre was the second king to come – Sihon of Ammon had left only three days ago. And, it had not escaped his notice that the noble families of Jerusalem were abuzz with the hope for profits from doing business with these nations – and their liege lord Hophra of Egypt. Clearly, Troas had acted quickly on his advice on how to sway the heart of the new king.
Hananiah leaned over to speak softly into Zedekiah’s ear. “My Lord, it is said that it is Ithobal of Tyre who set in motion Egypt’s plans to build the canal. It is said he is wise and a hard bargainer, but that his word can be trusted.”
The young king nodded his head and waited as the doorkeeper announced the arrival of his counterpart. Though equals in title and sovereign powers, Zedekiah felt very much like a young maiden being eyed by a potential suitor before negotiating the wedding price. “Greetings Ithobal, King of Tyre and Protector of all sea faring merchants,” Zedekiah said.
“Blessings on he who sits on the Throne of David,” replied Ithobal. “I knew your father, Josiah, and have been blessed by the wisdom of the scribes he sent to tutor my own son years ago in the ways of your language and your God.” Ithobal bowed and motioned for his servants to present the gifts he had brought: Myrrh from Persia, fine gems from the southern tip of Africa. Even a fine cloth known as silk from a land so far to the east that it was known only as the Land of the Rising Sun.
Once the gifts had been presented, Zedekiah thanked him, saying “All Jerusalem is blessed by your presence. I have prepared a feast in your honor this evening. Please, accept my hospitality and refresh yourself before we dine tonight.”
King Ithobal bowed, hands spread. “Your highness is most kind. But see, the day is yet young. I would enjoy the King of Judah’s company for a stroll in your fine gardens.” Standing to his full height, he stretched out his burly right arm in the direction of the royal gardens, inviting Zedekiah to lead him in a tour of the grounds. His grin broadened into a smile when Zedekiah rose to indulge his request.
“So, King Ithobal, tell me what business brings you to Jerusalem so soon after my ascension to the throne? You never paid such an honor to my dead half brother, Jehoiakim,” asked Zedekiah as they walked into the gardens out of ear shot of the other members of the court.
They walked down a green lawn flanked on either side by well-tended red and yellow tulips. A cool breeze blew in from the mountains. Ithobal, a master of diplomacy, was in the element he most enjoyed. “Jehoiakim was an able leader, but he suffered from a flaw fatal to too many who rise to the place of a king: He was ruthless and unprincipled. He sought only his own advantage, not that of the people he governed. I prefer not to deal with such men.”
“And what leads you to believe that I am different?” asked Zedekiah.
“My man, Troas, whom you will meet, tells me that you are. He was here for your coronation. It was he who suggested I come to pay my respects – to see for myself if you might be the kind of leader he believes you to be.”
Zedekiah’s raised eyebrows emphasized the surprise and inquisitiveness in his voice. “And what kind of leader does he believe me to be?”
“Zedekiah, my friend, the same as I. One who chafes under the oppression of an overlord. One who would see his people free from tyranny. Answer me truthfully, when you took the vow to serve the King of Babylon, was your heart in it?”
Zedekiah shifted his gaze to the ground as they slowed their pace. Finally, he answered: “No, it was not. But the prophet Jeremiah says it is the will of our God that we serve Babylon.”
“I thought as much. Troas told me that you were, shall we say, less than enthusiastic in pledging fealty to Babylon.”
“But what else was I to do?” pleaded Zedekiah. “The armies of Babylon surrounded us at every turn. I had to submit, or see Jerusalem destroyed.”
King Ithobal indulged Zedekiah’s excuses for another ten minutes, nodding his head in sympathy with the young king’s plight. But when he again brought up the prophet Jeremiah’s name, and how he had instructed the new king that Judah must submit to Nebuchadnezzar, Ithobal determined that it was time to turn the conversation in the direction he wished it to go.
“I have heard of this Jeremiah,” said King Ithobal. “I have heard he is a great wizard. Rumor has it that he is the teacher of the Hebrew wise man who advises Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel. Is this true?”
“Yes, it is he. Why do you ask?” Zedekiah responded cautiously.
Ithobal placed his arm around the younger man’s shoulder and leaned closer to his ear, as would a father to a son. “I have learned much of this prophet, and I fear he seeks only to aggrandize himself at your expense. He once served in a prominent position under the reign of your father, Josiah. He lost that position when Jehoiakim came to power. Now, with his disciple advising Nebuchadnezzar and you under the spell of his powers, he seeks to elevate himself at any cost. I would wager that he has kept secret from you the recent triumphs of Pharaoh Hophra and his growing power.”
“Indeed, of what triumphs do you bear news?” asked Zedekiah.
The King of Tyre recounted the story of Egypt’s victory over Kush. He told of how Babylon had tried to use that nation to open a second front on her enemy’s southern border, coming so soon after Nebuchadnezzar’s own loss at Migdol. He also spoke of the canal project, and the city of Pithom which had been built to house the nearly thirty thousand slaves and craftsmen who now worked to complete it. And then, Ithobal dangled his surprise carrot in front of the young, impressionable king.
“Within a year,” Ithobal said, “Pharaoh Hophra plans to travel on a diplomatic trip to foster trade and economic cooperation with the states of the Gaza Plain. The Pharaoh is especially interested in coming to pay you a visit.”
Zedekiah’s slow pace through the garden now came to a complete halt. “Interested in visiting me!” exclaimed Zedekiah. “Why, in the name of Jehovah God, would he wish to do that?”
“As I said, my friend, you are a king who chafes at the thought of your people suffering the tyranny of the tyrant from Babylon. Pharaoh Hophra wishes to solidify an alliance against Babylon, but you are the key to making that alliance a reality. Hophra knows that. That’s why he wishes to come and pay his respects to you here in Jerusalem.”
Ithobal watched Zedekiah’s reaction carefully. At this point it was necessary only to sell Zedekiah on the prestige of having Pharaoh Hophra pay him a personal visit. Step two would be to convince the new king of Judah to hear the arguments for forming an alliance against Babylon. Each stage would give Zedekiah the ability to deny to Jeremiah or anyone else that he was openly betraying his allegiance to Babylon. In the mean time, through economic incentives, Tyre and Egypt would buy influence among the merchants of Jerusalem. Eventually, it would be their calls for supporting Egypt which would cause Zedekiah to renounce Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon. This prophet Jeremiah could rant and rave all he liked. In the end, the power of gold would triumph, as it always did. King Ithobal was not disappointed by the impressionable king’s response.
“I will receive Pharaoh with honor when he arrives,” said Zedekiah. “Even Jeremiah will see the necessity of keeping on good terms with Egypt. After all, I will not violate any trust to which I have sworn with Nebuchadnezzar. It is good. Now, come, we should return to make ready for the banquet I have had prepared in your honor.”
As the two walked back to rejoin the others at court, Ithobal silently congratulated himself on moving his agenda forward. Truly, he would enjoy the evening that awaited as his just reward.
Have you jumped into the middle of the story and want to “catch up”? Go to achieves at http://wisejargon.wordpress.com/2008/10/and go back to October, 2008 to find the Prologue.
Would you like to read The Brotherhood of the Scroll whenever you want? Order the ebook at http://www.wisejargon.com/orderpages/orderlantz2.html
Do you have a Bible Study that’s looking for new material? Consider The Study Guide to the Brotherhood of the Scroll. You can find it at http://www.wisejargon.com/orderpages/orderlantz3.html




