Through Jeremiah the Lord had declared of the wicked men who presumptuously dared to stand before the people in His name: "Both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in My house have I found their wickedness." Jeremiah 23:11. In the terrible arraignment of Judah as recorded in the closing narrative of the chronicler of Zedekiah's reign, this charge of violating the sanctity of the temple was repeated. "Moreover," the sacred writer declared, "all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which He had hallowed in Jerusalem." 2 Chronicles 36:14. 450

Herren havde ladet Jeremias sige om de onde mænd, som formastede sig til at træde frem for folket i hans navn: "Thi både profet og præst er vanhellig, selv i mit hus har jeg mødt deres ondskab, lyder det fra Herren." Jer. 23,11. I den frygtelige skildring af tilstandene i Juda, hvormed krønikeskriveren afslutter sin beretning om Zedekias regering, gentages denne beskyldning for at krænke templets hellighed. Den hellige forfatter sagde: "Ligeledes gjorde alle Judas øverster og præsterne og folket sig skyldige i megen troløshed ved at efterligne alle hedningefolkenes vederstyggeligheder, og de besmittede Herrens hus, som han havde helliget i Jerusalem." 2Krøn. 36,14.