The Jerusalem Creed

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Chaos raged through the streets of the ancient walled city. Women ran with tear-filled faces through the dusty alleyways and thoroughfares, hauling screaming children with them. Able-bodied men were issued swords to help defend the walls, some lucky enough to also receive a shield. Supplies were limited, so many were only equipped with farm tools as weapons. Even some of the older men were ushered to the walls to defend the city, despite their confused and bewildered complaints.

Their king, a noncommittal man by the name of Jehoiakim, had pledged allegiance to Babylon after the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar II had defeated Pharaoh Neco at the Battle of Carchemish several years before. When the Babylonian king failed in his attempt to invade Egypt, Jehoiakim had flip-flopped back to an alliance with Egypt once more.

The high priest, an old man named Tovar, had warned against making an allegiance with any pagan kings, telling Jehoiakim that God had forbidden any such alliance.

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