WHEN THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WAS TAKEN INTO Assyria in the eighth century BCE, the Kingdom of Judah had not yet rejected the government and rightful authority of their SOVEREIGN. Before Judah’s apostasy, ETERNAL had said:
Hosea 4:15. “Though you, Israel, play the harlot, let not Judah offend...”
Then after Judah’s apostasy, ETERNAL said this about Judah:
Jeremiah 3:8,11. “...yet her [Israel's] treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. ...Then ETERNAL said to me, ‘Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.’”
Hence, more than 130 years after Israel’s capture, the time came when ETERNAL drove out the Jews, too, into national captivity and slavery. He sent them as slaves to Babylon, not to Assyria where Israel had been taken.
The CREATOR raised a very special prophet with a very special call and commission that only a few understand. This prophet was Jeremiah and the Mighty One set him apart before birth (Jeremiah 1:5). Jeremiah was a young lad when first given his vital call and commission; tradition indicates he was seventeen years old. By the time his commission was completed, he was an aged, white-haired patriarch. Notice the commission from the Mighty One to this Jewish lad living in Judah:
Jeremiah 1:1,10. “The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin... ‘See, I have this day set you [the lad Jeremiah] over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, To destroy [Strong's #H6] and to throw down, to build and to plant.’”
There it is! Jeremiah was set over NATIONS—plural, more than one nation. ETERNAL set him as a prophet over Judah—but not Judah alone, but over NATIONS—over KINGDOMS! He was set over these kingdoms to do two things:
- He was to “root out, pull down,” and “throw down.” The English word “destroy” comes from the Hebrew word “`abad” (Strong’s #H6) a primary root meaning to “wander away, i.e. lose oneself.” The meaning of the word `abad in itself makes this a mysterious commission.
- He was to “WANDER AWAY (
destroy), BUILD, AND PLANT.” Thus, his total commission was to “root out, pull down, throw down, wander, build, and plant.”
Not Realized Today
ETERNAL used Jeremiah as a prophet to warn the nation Judah of their rebellious transgressions. He sent Jeremiah to warn this rebellious nation of impending punishment—their invasion and captivity at the hands of Chaldean armed forces—unless they acknowledged their guilt and changed their ways. The Mighty One used Jeremiah to warn Judah of the impending captivity and the “
pulling down” or “overthrowing” of the throne of David in the Kingdom of Judah.
Judah did not heed this warning so King Nebuchadnezzar’s armies invaded the land of Judah and took the Jews captive to Babylon. Thus, the Jews ceased from being a kingdom. Moreover, there no longer existed a ruler of David’s dynasty on the throne ruling over the Kingdom of Judah.
Nevertheless, wait, note it in your Scriptures! Jeremiah was commissioned to “wander, plant and to build”! To build and to plant what? Why, naturally, that which he was used in “rooting out” of Judah—the THRONE OF DAVID. He was set over the kingdoms—the Kingdom of Israel as well as Judah. He was used in “rooting out” that throne from Judah. Then what was Jeremiah commissioned to do in Israel? Ah! Note it! The second half of his strange and little-understood commission—“to wander, to plant, and to build”!
Therefore, as far as the world knows, the last king to sit on the throne of David was Zedekiah of David’s lineage. He was thrown off the throne and the throne rooted out of Judah in the year 586/585 BCE—at the time of the destruction of the Temple that Solomon built!
Judah Taken Captive to Babylon
What, then!
Did ETERNAL CREATOR forget His Covenant with David? Did the
throne cease to exist? True, the
kingdom—the government of Judah ceased as had the kingdom of Israel more than 130 years before! But the question is, “Did the throne of David cease to exist”? No, it did not! Let us see what else Jeremiah was commissioned to do in “
wandering, planting, and building”! Of necessity, that would have to be among the House of Israel since Judah was going into captivity. Jeremiah went among “LOST Israel,” now supposing she was GENTILE!
Therefore, the identity and location of the replanting must remain hidden to the world until this time of the end in which we now live!
The life and work of Jeremiah is a most fascinating story. The first chapters of the book of Jeremiah are devoted to his ministry of warning of the impending captivity of the Jews. Since the Jews rejected Jeremiah’s warning, ETERNAL caused their captivity. Babylon took Judah in three different stages over a period of about 19 years. You can read the part played by Jeremiah in their captivity in the book of Jeremiah.
Now notice an interesting fact. The last and final king recorded either in Scriptural or secular history as having sat on the throne of David was King Zedekiah of Judah (2 Kings 25:7; Jeremiah 52:10-11). When the Chaldean armies besieged Jerusalem, the city was broken up, the palace and temple destroyed. They killed ALL the sons of King Zedekiah before his eyes. So that there would be no man to carry on his dynasty, the army also killed all the princes of Judah. They put out King Zedekiah’s eyes and he was bound in chains and carried to Babylon, where he died. You will read of this captivity in 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36, and Jeremiah 39 and 52. These passages bring out the following points:
1. The king of Babylon slew all the sons of Zedekiah who were heirs to the throne of David.
2. He also slew all the nobles of Judah to leave no possible heirs for that throne.
3. Finally, after putting out Zedekiah’s eyes, the king who sat on David’s throne was himself taken to Babylon where he died in prison.
4. Thus, as it appears, and as the whole world has believed, the throne of David ceased with no possible heirs to keep his dynasty alive. It is certain that from that day on, the throne never again has existed in Judah, in Jerusalem, or among the Jews!
Jeremiah’s Mysterious Movements
Now the first part of Jeremiah’s mysterious commission was accomplished! As far as the world could see, or has seen since, the dynasty of David had ENDED! No king remained on the throne and the
last king ruling the House of Judah was dead. All his sons were dead. All other princes who might be possible heirs to carry on the dynasty had been killed.
No possible heir to the throne remained alive, so the world believes.
But wait! What about the SECOND part of Jeremiah’s important commission? Was the Mighty One able to keep His Covenant with David? The integrity of Scripture and the validity of the word of the SOVEREIGN depend upon His oath to Kind David to preserve a lineage through Solomon--on David’s throne. Jeremiah was among the captive Jews. Yet, he must remain free to carry out the second part of his commission.
Jeremiah 40:2-5. “And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him ‘...I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here. See, all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there’ ...So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift [expense money] and let him go.”
Jeremiah was now FREE to perform the second half of his commission, which included wandering, planting, and building. So where did Jeremiah go? We come now to an amazing, fascinating, and thrilling part of the Book of Jeremiah that has been almost entirely overlooked.
Jeremiah 40:6. “Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah ...to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land [of Judah].”
The king of Babylon made Gedaliah governor over a remnant of Jews in the land and since Jerusalem was destroyed, he made Mizpah his headquarters. However, the king of Ammon [now Jordan] plotted with a Jew named Ishmael to assassinate Gedaliah. The plot was executed; the governor and part of the Jews were slain. Jeremiah was among the survivors. Now notice carefully:
Jeremiah 41:10. “Then Ishmael carried away captive all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah, THE KING’S DAUGHTERS and all the people who remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard [from Babylon], had committed to Gedaliah. ...and carried them away captive and departed to go over to the Ammonites.”
Ah! Did you catch it? Read that passage again very carefully. Among this group of Jews were the king’s daughters! Daughters of Zedekiah, king of Judah, and of David’s dynasty! This is why “heirs” is a better translation in Jeremiah 33:17 instead of “a man.”1
King Zedekiah died in prison in Babylon (Jeremiah 52:11). All his sons had been killed. All the princes of Judah had been killed. All possible heirs to David’s throne had been killed—except the KING’S DAUGHTERS! Note that since there are no male heirs to King Zedekiah then his oldest daughter is now the Queen of Israel. Now we see why Jeremiah went to Mizpah!
Jeremiah Escapes with the Royal Seed.
Soon a man named Johanan replaced Ishmael as leader and, in fear of reprisals from Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldean army, the group remaining in Mizpah appealed to the prophet:
Jeremiah 41:10. “...and said to Jeremiah the prophet, ‘Please, let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to ETERNAL your SOVEREIGN, ...that ETERNAL your SOVEREIGN may show us the way in which we should walk...’”
The word of ETERNAL came to Jeremiah, and he told them not to fear, that ETERNAL would protect and deliver them. However, the people wanted to flee to Egypt. This is what the Mighty One warned them not to do. If they did, the sword of Nebuchadnezzar, which they feared, would overtake them there, and they would die (Jeremiah 42:7-16). But, as people usually do, they rejected ETERNAL’s warning and told Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 41:3:2. “You speak falsely! ETERNAL our SOVEREIGN has not sent you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to dwell there.’”
Jeremiah 43:5-7. “But Johanan ...took all the remnant of Judah ...men, women, children, the king’s daughters and ...Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch [Jeremiah’s secretary] the son of Neriah. ...So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of ETERNAL.”
On reaching Egypt, the CREATOR warned these Jews again through Jeremiah that they should die there by the sword and famine, and “none shall return except those who escape” (Jeremiah 44:14). Yes, a few in this company were under The Mighty One’s protection to fulfill ETERNAL’s promise to David. They shall ESCAPE! ETERNAL continues: “Yet a small number who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah” (Verse 28).
Baruch was Jeremiah’s constant companion and secretary. It is important to note here the CREATOR’s promise of protection to him:
Jeremiah 45:2-5. “Thus says ETERNAL, the SOVEREIGN of Israel, to you, O Baruch:... ‘Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land... But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.’”
Jeremiah, Baruch, and the Royal Seed for replanting and rebuilding David’s throne, all under the Mighty One’s protection, were to escape and return to the land of Judah! Then Jeremiah and his company were to journey to a strange land that they did not know. Now let Isaiah complete this prophecy, which is in the middle of a longer prophecy concerning the king of Assyria and Jerusalem:
Isaiah 37:31-32. “And the remnant who have escaped of the House of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of ETERNAL of Hosts will do this.”
This remnant with Jeremiah—the oldest of the king’s daughters who is now the Queen—shall take root downward! That is, BE REPLANTED! Then bear fruit upward! Be BUILT! Has the Mighty One failed in His solemn Covenant to keep David’s throne alive? Where was this planting and where was this building? Can we find it in CREATOR’s Word? Yes we can! The place and the people among whom the throne was reestablished are clearly identified!
Remember the amazing Davidic Covenant. Like the Covenant with Abraham, the Mighty One made the Davidic Covenant UNCONDITIONAL and unbreakable.
King David in Ireland
For a starting point of reference, we note this end time prophecy about Ephraim. The context is what is to befall Ephraim (British) in the latter days and what doctrine they will learn from it. The context is of the Crown of Ephraim and is contained in three chapters in Isaiah. Ephraim will experience this in the end-time and thus gain wisdom. However, in passing we find a key that unlocks many prophecies. Please read these three chapters to get the overall story flow.
Isaiah 28:1,3 (Young’s Literal Translation). “Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim. And the fading flower of the beauty of his glory, that is on the head of the fat valley of the broken down of wine... By feet trodden down is the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim.”
Later we shall show in detail that Ephraim is the British and their Commonwealth of Nations. Now considering the statement in the above verse, which of all the Commonwealth countries which one is most famous for their Pubs? I think all will agree it is the Irish. Thus, the SOVEREIGN identifies the place where the crown will be planted to remain until Shiloh arises to reclaim it.
...29:1-2, 7. “Woe to Ariel, Ariel, the city of the encampment of David! Add year to year, let festivals go round. And I have sent distress to Ariel, and it hath been lamentation and mourning, and it hath been to me as Ariel... And as a dream, a vision of night, hath been the multitude of all the nations who are warring against Ariel.”
The name "Ariel" is a symbolic name for Jerusalem (Strong's #H739/740) and is a place where King David lived (encamped) for a short time. Keyser states in his article:
“That this prophecy refers to the House of Israel is made plain from the context. The climax of the prophecy is the time of divine intervention in all human affairs. But why should the ‘city where David encamped’ symbolize the center of government of the House of Israel today? It is not a fitting expression for Jerusalem and Mt. Zion, for David DID MORE than encamp there. He dwelt there and ruled Israel from there! Notice further the name ARIEL. Here is a CITY WITH THE NAME ARIEL. It symbolizes the same people as does Mt. Zion in prophecy, but it is not Mt. Zion. It is only a place WHERE DAVID ENCAMPED.
“Cities in early times often changed names, or were given names, due to famous men who restored or rebuilt the sites, or to men who established the priority of their names in a genealogical line. Take for example the change of the name of Aegialea to Sicyon in Greece... Was there at Tara a famous king with the name of Ariel whose bloodline rules today in the British Royal Family? Indeed there was. Of four sons of Gede the Heremon, only the line of IRIAL (Irish for Ariel) continued to rule from Tara. His name was as RARE in Irish history as the name David was in Jewish history!” 2
In the same vein of thought Dr. Hoeh states:
"These scant evidences of history are more than mere coincidence. NO OTHER PLACE ON EARTH bears the names of Eber, of Dan, of David, and of Ariel."
“At first thought it may appear unusual that the Emerald Isle should have a recorded history far older than Rome. There is a reason. Unlike Italy, Ireland remained under the continuous dominion of one people. Irish history begins, not with the Tower of Babel, but at the end of the flood. Irish history is the only literature which specifically connects Israel with its past.
“The brothers Eber and Gede the Heremon founded a town after gaining possession of Ireland. To be the new capital of Ireland, they named it Tea-mur the town of Tea. At [later] different times in history it has borne other names, the most common being Tara (cp. the Hebrew word ‘Torah,’ meaning ‘Law’).
“Even to this day another of the names of the old site of Tara has been preserved: Dowd's Town—which means literally David's Town. The name is found attached to an area three miles north of Tara Hill (see B. M. Ordnance Survey maps, Ireland, 91, 101). Is it possible that David king of Israel visited Ireland and Tara toward the end of his life?
“After the of the founding of Tea, shortly after 1016 BCE an event occurred involving a beautiful woman who was ‘sorrowful to a harlot.’ The passage, quoted in the poem of Cuan O'Lochain (‘Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy,’ vol. xviii, 1839, and other works), has never been fully understood. It can hardly refer to Tea who had long been married to Gede the Heremon. But, if David gave his daughter Tamar in marriage to Irial, the son of Gede, then all becomes clear. Her half-brother had violated Tamar. She left the scene of the unfortunate event in a torn garb and remained unmarried in her brother Absalom's house. It was not until after the death of Absalom that David was free to depart for Ireland, very probably to give his disconsolate daughter in marriage to Irial.” 3
Thus, we see that the ruling family, in Ireland, was of the Royal Tribe of Ephraim as descendants of King David himself. This point will be folded back into the narrative later.
Continued in Chapter 8
