REGEM-MELECH, or Rogom-Melech, and Sherezer, sent a Deputation to the Priests and to the Prophets at Jerusalem, to know if they were still to fast and to mortify themselves on the fifth Month of the holy Year, in Memory of the Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, which had been burnt by the Chaldeans on the tenth Day of the fifth Month1. The Answer of Zechariah the Prophet, was, That God little regarded their Fasts, which were not accompany’d by Justice and Charity: But he did not answer directly to the Question that had been proposed to him, concerning the Fast of the fifth Month. For which Reason they continu’d the Observation of it, and still continue it to this Day.
It may be asked, Who were Regem-melech and Sherezer? Some think2 they were Babylonian Proselytes, fearing God, and Officers of King David, who conform’d to the religious Observances of the Jews of their Country. Theodoret conjectures they were Chief of the Cushites settled in Palestine, or of some other People that came into this Country. Grotius, Sanctius, Menochius will have them to be Jews dwelling at a Distance from Jerusalem, and who had at their Head Sherezer and Regem -Melech. And indeed there is great Probability that this Deputation came from the Jews beyond Euphrates, of whom Sherezer and Regem-Melech were the Chief. For, could the Jews of Palestine be ignorant of what was to be observed in the Country where they lived; they who every Year went up thrice to Jerusalem?
Read this article in its place on the printed pages