Now, Mattaniah...
I thank you for your gifts,
and for the service you've done me.
You...
are the new King of Judah.
Your name will be...
Zedekiah.
Of course, to maintain our favor,
my ministers will determine the gold tribute
we will expect as an expression of your friendship...
each year.
One more thing...
I will take Jehoiakim's ministers with me to Babylon,
together with many of the authorities of Jerusalem,
with the exception of those you choose
to help you govern the city.
In exchange for that service,
we will expect another sign... of friendship.
You have acted wisely, my king.
Peace has been restored to the kingdom of Judah.
And the Babylonians did not destroy our city.
Exactly.
See, you don't have to listen to those madmen
that think of themselves as prophets.
- It's time to return to Jerusalem. - Perhaps the new king will listen.
King Zedekiah should feel secure now,
it should be safe for us to go.
- I will go alone. - But why?
Because it is my turn to take the risk,
and I don't want both of us to suffer the same fate at the same time.
King, the tribute to Babylon is madness!
Our only hope,
the only hope for your people is with Egypt!
No! My lord...
Don't you realize Egypt is finished?
The whole world is in the hands of the King of Babylon.
I think we should send ambassadors
to beg for mercy, and to reduce the tribute.
Forget the tribute, my lord.
If you want to be free, you must join with Egypt.
Nebuchadnezzar is far away again. He will not ask for tribute.
He will accept some territory, where he can put up a garrison.
I...
think we will cease paying tribute to Babylon.
We can take advantage of the fact Babylon thinks we're its ally.
Tomorrow I will send an ambassador to the pharaoh
to sound out whether they would help us.
So now you're a party with Egypt!
Well, we have to see if it's less risky
to trust Egypt or Babylon.
If you want to be free...
never mind about Egypt or Babylon;
turn to God!
Who are you?
It is Hilkiah's son.
Oh.
So you are the false prophet I've been hearing about.
My name is Jeremiah.
And I speak only the truth as God shows it to me.
God demands you make a fool of yourself in front of this court?
To show that you must accept the supremacy of Babylon,
or Jerusalem will be destroyed.
The yoke of slavery is upon you,
and you must concede.
I could kill you where you stand for this message of treason.
Thus says the Lord:
"For lo,
I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north,
and I will utter My judgments against all the cities of Judah,
for all their wickedness in forsaking Me."
The army of Babylon approaches to carry out God's plan.
Your army stands ready, my king.
Egypt is strong again and will join our battle.
If you would turn to God instead of your generals,
you would hear Him say: "Deceive not yourselves.
Pharaoh's army, which has come forth to help you,
shall return to Egypt.
And Babylon shall come again, and fight against this city,
- and take it, and burn it." - That's blasphemy!
God has turned His face against this city!
And He shall destroy it with fire unless you repent!
I am Hananiah!
The Lord says:
"This is how I will break the yoke of Babylon."
Thus says the Lord God of Israel:
"This is how I will break
the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon
from the neck of all nations,
within two years."
God has spoken through His prophet-
Hananiah!
The Lord has not sent you!
You have broken wooden bars...
only to forge iron bars in place of them.
You have made this people trust in a lie.
Within a year, you will be dead.
He has blasphemed! Blasphemer!
And you...
you will be a slave in Babylon.
Seize him!
Thus says the Lord:
"Behold,
I am bringing on Judah...
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
all the evil I have pronounced against them,
because I've spoken to them and they have not listened.
I have called to them,
and they have not answered."
You are a fool...
a fool.
Babylonians! Babylonians!
The Babylonian army is returning!
Babylonians!
The army of Babylon is returning!
Your prophesy was true.
The Babylonians are coming.
How far away is the Babylonian army?
- About five days away. - There's no time to waste.
Spread the word.
When their army arrives,
everyone must go out and surrender to them.
It is God's will. Surrender to Him,
and their lives will be saved.
What can I do for you, Jeremiah?
Be careful.
It appears our pleas fall on deaf ears and hardened hearts.
A hardened heart can become a dangerous weapon.
He said it would come to pass, and it has.
The Egyptians are mounting a counterattack
that will deter the Babylonians.
But Jeremiah's words inflame the people with false concerns.
All of what you say is based on your belief
that Jeremiah is a false prophet.
But if you are wrong...
Why would God send a prophet from the wilderness
when you are surrounded by schooled priests?
Why would He destroy His own people?
Why would He accuse you of injustices?
Elishama,
you believe this man, do you not?
I remain unsure, Your Majesty,
but there's a growing number of citizens who...
don't share my doubts.
My king...
but you must not fight the Babylonians.
It is Jeremiah's prophecy. You must lay down your swords,
you must open your hearts to Babylon,
for only by surrender can we implement God's will.
If God finds my rule unjust,
then I must act to beg His mercy.
I am declaring all of the slaves of Israel
free as of this moment.
(uproar)
Your Majesty is making a grave mistake.
Many people depend upon the slaves...
I did not ask for your opinion, General Shapan!
It shall be done, and it shall be done immediately!
If the army of Babylon arrives,
God shall find an Israel without slaves.
Do you understand?
He finally makes a decision, and this is the decision he makes.
A guard reports the king freed Jeremiah this morning.
- What? - He's shaken the king's confidence.
Imagine what he could do to our country.
That prophet does not work for- for God...
he works for Babylon.
- Jeremiah! - Shhh!
The king has freed the slaves.
You're free to return to your family, your home.
But what prompted this change of heart?
That is between God and the king.
There are those who would say it's because of your preaching.
You see? Your words have even reached us here in Bahurim.
We will leave tomorrow, first thing in the morning.
I'm afraid...
I'm afraid I can't go with you.
Why?
I don't mean to doubt your concerns in any way, but...
if you go to the king, and tell him your mission is fulfilled...
It is God I serve, not the king.
Jeremiah, you have implemented God's will,
the king has freed the slaves.
Surely, this must make a difference.
All of Judah will celebrate,
and those who seek you harm now will have no cause to do so.
We can still have a life together.
We've got so much to give to each other.
No! No!
No!
- How did you? - Shhh. Rest, rest.
My cousin was able to arrange this.
You must go.
Look, I've brought you something to eat.
- I will stay with you. - No.
You must get your family out of Jerusalem.
The king's pride will incite the Babylonians.
God is working through them to destroy the city.
But why would He do such a thing?
He has to tear it down before He can build it up once again.
Go. Gather your family.
Start your life over.
God will be with you, and He will bless you.
I can't leave you. I love you, Jeremiah.
And I love you, too.
But God has taught me we cannot always have
what we desire in this world.
Why God has shown me your love, and not allowed me to have it,
I don't know... but I know it is His will.
I can't go. I will stay.
- You must go. - I'll stay.
Seize her.
Why?
The king has come to his senses.
He's reversed his decision about slavery.
Because Babylon's turned back? They will return.
Do not interfere, Jeremiah.
The king has served his God,
now he has to serve his people.
He has always shown a particular interest in the daughter of Eliakim.
I think he'll be glad when he hears
you have been kind enough to bring her to him.
- No! Let her go! - Stop him!
- Go back! - Judith!
No!
Aaargh!
No-
no...
No, no!
Come.
No!
No! No!
Guard!
Oh, Lord...
thou hast deceived me!
Thou art stronger than I, and has prevailed!
I will not make mention of You,
or speak any more in Your name.
Where are your Egyptians now?
We have three or four months,
perhaps as much as a year.
It will give us time to appeal to the pharaoh.
"The great Nebuchadnezzar will be satisfied with some territory
where they can put up a garrison"?
My lord?
Drink.
My lord...
Who is there?
I must ask you...
if you have any word from the Lord.
Speak!
Don't test my patience.
What have I done to offend you...
that would cause you to put me in prison?
You said things that caused rancor among my people.
I spoke the truth.
Where are your prophets now...
who said Babylon will not come against you or this land?
I have not called you here to condemn me.
I have called you here to speak to me of God's will.
I have nothing further to say.
What?!
You...
who predicted the Egyptians would turn back, and they did?
You... who predicted the death of Hananiah
after he smashed the yoke from your neck,
and who died within a year, just as you said?
You...
who prophesied the Babylonian army would attack,
and lay siege to our city as they have
for the last two years?
You...
the "great prophet,"
have nothing further to say?
You had an opportunity to please the Lord...
but you didn't have the courage
to stand by what you knew to be true.
What?!
Oh, forgive me, O Lord.
Is that all you have left?
The ability to grovel at the feet of your king?
If you want answers,
turn to God.
Guard!
Take this... man,
this "prophet" out of my sight.
Go, leave!
Thus saith the Lord,
"I will give this city into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,
King of Babylon, and he shall take it.
And the Babylonians shall set fire to this place,
for the children of Israel have turned unto Me their back."
- This man must die. - No!
He is a prophet, my lord.
He is a traitor, my lord. Traitors die.
Is there nothing else to talk about other than this prophet?
What about the defense of Jerusalem?
This concerns the defense of our city, Lord King.
He depresses the soldiers left within the city walls.
More desert every night.
There was a time when I valued your counsel, General Shapan.
And now, my lord?
Who will you choose to hold off the Babylonians
who threaten our city from without?
Discontent amongst our people from within.
Do not give the people...
any cause to act foolishly, my lord.
"And I will gather them...
out of all the countries whither I have driven them in Mine anger,
and I will bring them again into this place,
and I will cause them to dwell safely."
Make way, make way!
You, come with me.
"And I will make an everlasting covenant,
and they shall be My people."
Speak this treason no more!
Thus saith the Lord:
"Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself and to all thy friends,
and they shall die by the sword of their enemies
and thine eyes shall behold it."
God has promised that you shall keep your life
if you go out to the Babylonians.
It is not treason to follow the will of God!
It is sin not to!
Obey your God now!
Anyone else found attempting to surrender...
will be killed.
Preach what you want down there...
"prophet."
Your Majesty?
- Yes, what is it? - It's about the prophet Jeremiah.
What?
Even here?
Who are you?
I'm Ebed-Melech, a lowly eunuch, Your Majesty.
"Ebed-Melech" means "servant to the king."
I serve you gladly, my lord.
You're one of the few who do.
What do you know of Jeremiah?
I followed the General and his men.
They lowered Jeremiah into the cistern.
He will die there.
Good.
If he dies, the wrath of God will come upon us.
Has it not already?!
I could have you beheaded, yet you persist.
Why?
How is it that you, my eunuch,
hear the voice of God to confirm your faith in this man,
while I, King of Judah,
implore the Lord for a sign-
one word-
yet hear nothing?
Pull him up.
Have him taken to the court of the guard.
And tell no one of this conversation...
or you will die.
Jeremiah,
are you all right?
Yes.
I need to ask you for one more favor.
I have granted you this audience, but it will be your last.
What is of such importance that you risk your life to see me?
Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord which I speak unto thee
and your life will be saved.
And the city will not be burned.
So now you're speaking for the Lord again.
Well, never mind, our armies are prepared.
How can you continue to lie
to yourself as well as your people?
Truth is in the eye of the beholder.
The Word of the Lord which I speak to thee is the truth.
The Word of the Lord which you asked me to seek is silence!
If God has something to say to me,
why does He send you to tell me?
Why would the Lord speak to you...
unless you've committed your life to Him?
I have.
Then instead of erecting monuments to false gods,
make your life a living monument to the Word of God.
It is as my people desire.
You are king! They look to you for leadership.
Your pursuit of your own pleasure, wealth and power
have taught the people to trust in false gods.
You have lead them to believe
that the one true God is not enough!
You have destroyed the kingdom God has promised!
It is you who have scattered God's flock!
You have not attended to them,
so God will attend to you for your evil.
Save me, Jeremiah!
I cannot.
God will if you surrender to Babylon.
My people will turn on me if I do.
- They'll kill me. - No, that will not happen.
You will live...
but as a slave.
I will never live as a slave.
You are a slave even now.
- Take him back to his cell. - Yes, my lord.
Come.
See that he's not harmed!
It is time, my friend,
to prepare for the end of our work...
and a new beginning.
Jeremiah, you called for us?
I wish...
for you to witness a business transaction.
The city is under siege and starving,
and you're making business transactions?
This is Hanamel, my cousin.
I...
I had a dream-
God told me to say,
"Buy My field that is at Anathoth.
Buy it for yourself, Jeremiah."
You preach that the city is about to fall and yet
you buy land as if nothing is happening?
Thus saith the Lord:
"I will gather the remnant of My flock
out of all the countries whither I have driven them,
and behold,
I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.
But this one, I shall write in their hearts,
and I shall be their God,
and they shall be My people."
My lord, the walls have been breached. We must flee.
Bring my sons.
Thank you, Father.
- Go. - Thank you.
Come! Come! My sons!
Wait, my lord!
Surround the king! Surround the king!
Lay down your arms!
(jeering)
You do not bow to your conqueror?
We bow only for the one true God.
Your God put you here!
So...
in order to please your God...
for I do not wish to anger any god,
no matter how minor,
I sentence you to death.
I'm sure that's what your God wants.
Do you have any final words?
You have to speak up. We do things quickly here.
I understand there has been a prophet in your country...
who told you this would come to pass.
Jeremiah.
Jeremiah, yes! That's the one.
What did he say of your future?
He said I would not die by your hand.
He did?
Well, we must keep your life, then.
Mustn't we?
And who are those handsome young men...
who tried to escape with you?
My sons.
No!
This is the last thing you will ever see.
Alive...
as your God told you.
Aaaargh!
(keening and cheers)
Nebuchadnezzar! Nebuchadnezzar!
Guards!
Guards! Guards! Guards!
Help!
Come!
Are you Jeremiah?
Yes.
I am Nebuzaradan, Captain of the Guard of Babylon.
How do you know me?
Every Babylonian soldier knows of Jeremiah.
My king, Nebuchadnezzar, has commanded me to set you free.
Free?
(speaking Babylonian)
The Temple shall be rebuilt...
and next time it shall also be built