swim to the surface, and attach itself to the wooden {Judah. handle he had thrown upon the water. B. c. 893. 484. ELISHA, AND BENHADAD.-Benhadad king of Syria now renewed his war with Israel, but by means of Elisha all his plans were known at Samaria, he therefore sent a body of troops to Dothan, to seize the prophet. At the prayer of Elisha, God interceded for him, and his servant beheld the adjoining mountain covered with horses and chariots of fire. Elisha then smote the Syrians with blindness, and leading them into Samaria, he restored their sight, and showed them to be at the mercy of the Israelites. But he directed Jehoram to refresh them, and let them return unmolested. 485. Samaria besieged. Benhadad now laid siege to Samaria, the inhabitants soon began to suffer from the scarcity of provisions: and at last so severe was the famine that women eat their own children. (2 Kings vi.). Jehoram threatened Elisha with death if he did not obtain relief from God. Elisha declared that the morrow would bring with it provisions in abundance. An officer thought it impossible, but the Almighty alarmed the Syrians by strange noises, at which they fled, and abandoned their camp, property, and provisions. The prediction of Elisha was thus verified; and the unbelieving officer was trodden to death at the gate of the city by the pressure of the crowd rushing out to seize the booty. B. C. 892. 486. BENHADAD'S DEATH.-Benhadad was now taken ill, and sent his captain Hazael with presents of 40 camels' burden to the prophet to enquire respecting his disease. Elisha after predicting its fatal termination, informed Hazael that he would succeed him; Hazael could not wait for his master's death, and therefore stifled Benhadad with a wet cloth, and thus gained possession of the kingdom. B. C. 885. 487. Jehoram's death. On the death of Benhadad, JEHORAM renewed his attack upon RamothGilead: but being wounded, he returned to Jezreel, leaving 484. How did he astonish Benhadad? 485. How were the Israelites relieved at the siege of Samaria ? 486. How came Benhadad by his death? 487. How came Jehoram by his death? Jehu his captain to prosecute the war. Ahaziah king (Judah. of Judah visited Jehoram at Jezreel; in the mean while Elisha sent a prophet to anoint Jehu king over Israel, (2 Kings ix. 11-13.) 488. Jehu hastened to Jezreel to secure the throne and met Jehoram and Ahaziah coming to meet him. After reproaching Jehoram with his wickedness Jehu shot him dead with an arrow, and the king's body was thrown into Naboth's vineyard, in fulfilment of the proAhaziah king of phecy of Elijah (2 Kings ix. 25.). Judah, who was on a visit at the time, fled, but was overtaken at Gur, and shared the same fate, and his body was taken to Jerusalem. Jehu, seeing Jezebel at a window, (1 Kings xvi. 9. 16.) commanded her to be thrown down, and her body was devoured by dogs, as before related. Jehoram reigned 12 years, and was slain. B. c. 884. 489. Jehu was the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and he now put to death the whole posterity of Ahab: afterwards he slew the priests and prophets of Baal, and destroyed the statue and the houses of Baal. (2 Kings ix. x.) He also put to death 42 of the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah. In reward for his zeal, God promised Jehu that his children should sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation, but no longer, as he still maintained the idolatry of Jeroboam. After a reign of 28 years, he was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz. 856. B. C. There was a prophet also of the name of Jehu. 490. The Rechabites take their origin from Jehonadab, the son of Rechab a man of eminent piety, who assisted Jehu in destroying the house of Ahab, and the worshippers of Baal. He directed his posterity (Jer. xxxv.). -(1) to drink no wine: (2) neither to possess nor occupy any houses, fields, or vineyards: (3) but to dwell in tents. They gained their livelihood by being Scribes. 491. Jehoahaz did evil in the sight of the Lord; and in punishment, during his reign Israel became a prey to the Syrians. Little however is known of his career. 488. By what means did Jehu come to the throne? How came Jezebel by her death? destroy the worship of Baal? 490. Who were the Rechabites? of Jehoahaz over Israel? 489. How did Jehu What was his character? 491. Describe the reign After reigning 17 years, he died, and was succeeded { Judah. by his son Jehoash. 841. B. c. (2 Kings xiii.) 492. Jehoash, or Joash, for two years shared in the government of his father, as well as in his sins, and altogether reigned 16 years. The aged ELISHA was at this time on his death-bed; Joash went to visit him, when Elisha uttered his last prophecy; he commanded the King to shoot with his arrows from the window, and smite the ground, and 'he smote thrice, and stayed;' Elisha told him he should 'have smitten five or six times, whereas now thou shalt 'smite Syria but thrice.' (2 Kings xiii. 17-20.). B. C. 838. 493. Jehoash attacked the Syrians, and obtained three signal victories, according to the prediction of Elisha. B. C. 836. Amaziah, king of Judah, now marched against Jehoash, who rebuked him in a kind of parable, or apologue of the thistle, and the cedar, (2 Kings xiv. 9, 10.) But Amaziah, would not forbear: a battle was fought and Amaziah taken prisoner. Jehoash then seized Jerusalem, broke down part of the wall of the city, and plundered the Temple. Shortly after, Jehoash died in peace, and was succeeded by Jeroboam II. 825. B. c. 2 Kings xiii. 10. 494. After the death of Elisha, some Israelites went to bury a man in a field, but seeing a band of Moabites approaching, they hastily threw the body into Elisha's grave, and when it touched the prophet's remains it came to life again. 2 Kings xiii. 20, 21. 495. Jeroboam II. succeeded his father Joash, and though by his great talents and energy he restored the kingdom to the highest prosperity, yet he walked in evil ways; he continued the Syrian war, regained the district east of the Jordan, and took Damascus. (2 Kings xiv. 25.). Jonah, Amos, and Hosea, prophesied during his reign; the two latter especially warned the Israelites of the consequences of their wickedness, but it was in vain. After reigning 41 years, Jeroboam II, died. (2 Kings xiv. 23.) B. C. 784. 496. An Interregnum for 11 years followed the death of Jeroboam II., B. C. 784-773. which was succeeded by the accession of Zachariah, son of the late king. After 492. Describe the reign of Jehoash. What prophecy did Elijah utter on his death-bed? By what sign did he give an assurance to the king of Israel that he should conquer the Syrians? 493. How did Jehoash succeed against Judah? 494. What miracle was performed by the dead body of Elisha? 495. Describe the reign of Jeroboam II. over Israel: what prophets flourished in his reign? 496. What a short reign of six months, following in the evil {Judah. footsteps of his predecessors, he was killed by Shal lum, who thus became the executioner of the threatenings of the Lord against the house of Jehu. 2 Kings xv. 496. Shallum, son of Jabesh, reigned over Israel but one month, for Menahem one of the generals of Zachariah, marched his troops to Samaria, and there slew him. (2 Kings xv.) B. c. 772. 497. Menahem, son of Gadi, succeeded, but he followed the conduct of his predecessors; in his capture of Tiphsah he committed the grossest barbarities. Soon after, Pul, (or Sardanapalus) king of Assyria, attacked his dominions, and made him a tributary prince. He reigned 10 years, and died 761. B. c. (2 Kings xv.) 498. Pekahiah, the son of Menahem, succeeded; but after a wicked reign of 2 years, he was murdered by his general Pekah, son of Remaliah. 759. B. C. 499. Pekah ascended the throne of Israel, and like his predecessors did evil in the sight of the Lord.' He combined with Rezin king of Syria, against Judah. At first they were unsuccessful: (B. C. 742.) but on the accession of the wicked Ahaz to the throne of Judah, they proved victorious, and took an immense multitude of prisoners to Samaria. (2 Chron. xxviii. 6-8.). Oded, a prophet of the Lord, remonstrated against their taking captive their brethren of Judah; consequently, after being fed and clothed, they were sent back with the spoil to their own land. The allied kings now aimed at placing the son of Tabeal upon the throne of Judah, but the latter (Isa. vii.). called to his aid Tiglath-Pileser (or Arbaces), king of Assyria; who slew Resin, and carried away many of the inhabitants into Assyria. B. C. 740. At length Hoshea, (or Hosea) son of Elah, conspired againt Pekah, and slew him, and ultimately reigned in his stead. B. c. 739. (2 Kings xv.) 500. Hoshea.-Upon the death of PEKAH, an Interregnum of nine years took place before the acces 499. followed the death of Jeroboam II. ? How came Zachariah by his death? 496. How long did Shallum reign, who succeeded him? 497. What occurred to Israel under Menahem? 498. How long did Pekahiah reign? how did he die? How long did Pekah reign? What occurred to Israel in his reign? 500. What took place on the death of Pekah? What occurred in the early part of the reign of Hoshea? What Israel. sion of Hoshea (B. C. 739–730.); but soon after ascending the throne, Shalmaneser, the son and successor of Tiglath-Pileser, invaded Israel, and obliged Hoshea to become tributary. (B. c. 728.) After a few years, Hoshea attempted to throw off the Assyrian yoke by forming an alliance with So, king of Egypt. (B. c. 725.) Shalmaneser marched against him, and besieged Samaria; which was taken, and reduced to a heap of ruins, in the 9th year of Hoshea's reign. (721. B. C.) Hoshea was dethroned, and the kingdom of Israel subverted. Hoshea was the last King of Israel. 501. Captivity of Israel.—Shalmaneser now took the 'Ten Tribes,' HOSHEA, and most of the Israelites, captives into Media; whence they never more returned. 3283. A. M. 721. B. C. Thus putting an end to the Kingdom of Israel, after it had lasted 254 years, as a separate monarchy (2 Kings xvii. xviii.). The depopulated cities were now occupied by people sent from the Assyrian do minions. 502. Esar-haddon, the grandson of Shalmaneser, 44 years afterwards (678. B. C.) took away 'the remnant that still remained in the land,' (2 Chron. xxx. 6; xxxiv. 9.); and sent colonies from Cuthan to inhabit Samaria, who took the name of Samaritans, and sometimes Cuthæans. Judah. 503. Jehoram. On the death of Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, his son of like name with the king of Israel, succeeded to the throne of Judah. He married Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab king of Israel, (2 Chron. xxii.); and at her instigation murdered all his brothers, and introduced idolatry. In punishment of his wickedness, he was unfor events attended the destruction of the kingdom of Israel? Who conquered Hoshea; and when? Who was the last king of Israel? 501. By whom, when, and where, were Hoshea, and the Ten Tribes of Israel taken captive? Did the Israelites ever return from captivity? How long did the kingdom of Israel last? 502. What became of "the remnant" left in Israel by Shalmaneser? Who inhabited Samaria after the captivity of the Israelites? Whence originated the Samaritans? 503. Who succeeded Jehoshaphat on the throne of Judah? What was the character of his reign? |