LIBRARY j 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 SAN 01 EGO
 
 511
 
 THE 
 
 SOVEREIGNS 
 
 THE BIBLE. 
 
 BY ELIZA R. 8TEELE, 
 
 Author of "HtroiM* of 8*cr*4 Hbtorj," " Summer Joonuj to the WM," 
 
 " We have added uuto all our sin* this evil, to ask us a king." 
 
 1 SAM. zii. 19. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 DODD & MEAD, PUBLISHERS, 
 
 [SUCCESSORS TO M. W. DODD.] 
 No- 762 BROADWAY. 
 
 15337
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1651, 
 
 BY M. W. DODD, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of 
 New-York. 
 
 EDWARD O. JENKINS 
 
 TEK AND STXKIOITPBB.
 
 TO 
 
 MY REVERED PASTOR, 
 
 EEV. I. S. SPENCEE, D.D., 
 
 THIS VOLUMB IS, BT PIRUISSIOH, 
 
 DcMcaUb.
 
 THESE memoirs are collected from the books of 
 Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, and the prophets. They 
 are sent forth with a hope that the story of a race, 
 so favored of God, and so rebellious, may be fraught 
 with interest and instruction to all who read it. 
 
 " If I have done well, and as is fitting the story, 
 it is that which I desired ; but if slenderly and mean* 
 ly, it is all I could attain to." 2 MACCABEES, xv 
 
 ELIZA B. STEELE. 
 Brooklyn, October, 1851.
 
 SAUL, 
 
 * 
 
 9 
 
 JEHOIAOHIN, . . 
 
 -e 
 
 388 
 
 DAVID, 
 
 113 
 
 ZEDEKIAH, 
 
 389 
 
 SOLOMON, 
 
 176 
 
 ISRAEL. 
 
 
 JUDAH. 
 
 
 JEROBOAM, 
 
 218 
 
 REHOBOAM, 
 
 206 
 
 NADAB, . 
 
 226 
 
 ABU AM, 
 
 211 
 
 BAASHA, 
 
 227 
 
 ASA, 
 
 213 
 
 ELAH, 
 
 228 
 
 JEHOSHAPHAT, 
 
 231 
 
 ZIMRI, . 
 
 229 
 
 JEIIORAM, 
 
 305 
 
 OMRI, ... 
 
 230 
 
 AHAZIAH, . . 
 
 307 
 
 AHAB, . . . 
 
 241 
 
 ATHALIAH, 
 
 308 
 
 AHAZIAH, . . 
 
 273 
 
 JOASH, . 
 
 311 
 
 JEIIORAM, . . 
 
 276 
 
 AMAZIAH, 
 
 329 
 
 JEHU, 
 
 301 
 
 UZZIAH, 
 
 333 
 
 JEHOAHA/, . . 
 
 315 
 
 JOTHAM, . 
 
 337 
 
 JEHOASH, . . . 
 
 316 
 
 AHAZ, . . 
 
 338 
 
 JEROBOAM H., 
 
 318 
 
 HEZEKIAH, 
 
 344 
 
 ZACHARIAH, 
 
 321 
 
 MANASSEH, . 
 
 363 
 
 SHALLUM, 
 
 322 
 
 AMON, 
 
 369 
 
 MENAHEM, . . 
 
 322 
 
 JOSIAH, 
 
 370 
 
 PEKAHIAH, . . 
 
 324 
 
 JEHOAHAZ, 
 
 379 
 
 PEKAH, . . . 
 
 324 
 
 JEHOIAKIM, . 
 
 380 
 
 HOSHEA, 
 
 326
 
 nf tlje 3JthU* 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE promises of God were fulfilled. With 
 an outstretched hand, and with wondrous mira- 
 cles, he had led his suffering people forth from 
 the oppressor's power, and placed them in a 
 pleasant and fertile land. Lofty mountains and 
 verdant plains diversified the scene, while every- 
 where in abundance were gathered honey r wine, 
 and oil. " Butter of kine, milk of goats, fat of 
 rams rams of the breed of Bashan fat of kid- 
 ney of wheat, and pure blood of the grape," were 
 in lavish profusion around them. Their enemies 
 were driven away, and they lived under the 
 gentle sway of their judges and prophets, and of 
 their powerful God. Still they were neither con- 
 tented, grateful, nor happy. The barbaric pomp 
 1*
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of the surrounding nations dazzled their eyes; 
 they contrasted it with their own republican 
 plainness, and the " pride of life" was awakened. 
 " Earthly and sensual" as they had become, they 
 no longer saw Him who was invisible, nor the 
 glorious Euler and court above, but desired an 
 earthly king to rule over them. A deputation 
 of the people sought Samuel, and demanded a 
 king. Then the heart of Samuel sank within 
 him ; for all the corruption of a court, and all 
 the evils which a monarchy would bring upon 
 his countrymen, came before his prophetic spirit, 
 and he grieved at their request. His own rejec- 
 tion, also, as their ruler, smote upon his heart, 
 and, turning from his ungrateful people, he 
 sought the sanctuary, where, low before his 
 God, he poured out his sorrow and asked for 
 counsel. The Lord spoke comfortably to his 
 aged servant, and bade him not to grieve, say- 
 ing: 
 
 " They have not rejected thee ; they have re- 
 jected me, that I should not reign over them." 
 
 The Lord also reminded Samuel of their un- 
 grateful conduct since the day they were brought 
 out of Egypt, in forsaking Him for other gods,
 
 DfTBODUCTION. 7 
 
 telling him, " As they have done to me, so they 
 will they do to thee." 
 
 The prophet was then charged to "protest 
 solemnly" against the people's rash request ; to 
 point out all the evils of a monarchy ; and then, 
 if they still persisted, a king should be given 
 them. Samuel returned to the door of the taber- 
 nacle, and addressed the assembled people. He 
 repeated the words he had heard in the holy 
 place, and then described the evils of a monar- 
 chical government. He told them they were 
 choosing a master who would use them but as 
 his servants. " He will take your sons to run 
 before his chariots," said the prophet, "and to 
 make music for him, and till his lands. He 
 will make your daughters his cooks and hand- 
 maids ; while of your sheep and your fields he 
 will take a tenth. Ye will cry out, then, to the 
 Lord to save you, and he will not hear." 
 
 To all this the people still cried out : " Nay, 
 but we will have a king to reign over us, that 
 we may be like other nations 1" 
 
 Again the humbled prophet returned to the 
 tabernacle for counsel. He was bid to hearken 
 to the people and give them their desire. Stand-
 
 8 INTRODUCTION 
 
 ing before tliem, the prophet announced the favor- 
 able reply to their petition, and then desired them 
 to disperse to their homes and await the pleasure 
 of the Lord.
 
 InnL 
 
 SAUL, the first monarch of the Hebrews, -was 
 a Benjamite. This tribe was the smallest of all, 
 and at that time in disrepute with its brethren. 
 He was the son of Kish, a man of considerable 
 wealth, and of repute among his brethren. 
 Saul was a remarkably tall man, possessed of a 
 majestic exterior, while his talents and disposi- 
 tion were of the highest order. To quote the 
 words of the inspired writer, he was " a choice 
 young man and a goodly." As he was chosen 
 by the Lord, he no doubt possessed those quali- 
 ties which would have insured the prosperity 
 of Israel and his own happiness, if he had fol- 
 lowed the advice of Samuel, and obeyed his 
 God. Samuel was told to expect the chosen 
 king in Raman at a certain day and hour. He 
 remained there until the time appointed, when 
 Saul entered the city. There was no miracle 
 employed to bring him from his home at Gibeah 
 to Ramah ; he imagined he was following his
 
 10 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 parent's command when his heavenly Father 
 was leading him along the path which he willed 
 him to take. 
 
 The white, silvery-coated ass was a valuable 
 animal in Judea, and those who possessed them 
 kept them with much care. A drove belonging 
 to the father of Saul was missing, and Kish sent 
 his son, attended by a herdsman, to seek for 
 them. They passed through Mount Ephraim 
 and the land of Benjamin, and arrived near 
 Kamah, without finding them. Seeing himself 
 so far from home, Saul proposed to return, lest 
 his absence should alarm his father. The servant 
 said, " Behold, there is a wise and holy man in 
 Ramah, who perhaps may advise us how to pro- 
 ceed." " Our bread is out," Saul replied, " and 
 I have no money to pay the prophet." " I have 
 a quarter of a shekel in silver," his man rejoined, 
 and strongly urged Saul to enter the city. As 
 Saul stood gazing at the walls of Ramah, which 
 crowned the summit of a hill before him, he 
 beheld a group of maidens come out the gate 
 and descend the hill. With one hand they held 
 up their loose flowing robes, and with the other 
 supported vases upon their heads. They sought
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 11 
 
 the fountain which bubbled in the grove near 
 the spot where stood Saul. "Is the seer Samuel 
 in the city?" Saul asked. "He is," replied the 
 foremost damsel, letting down her pitcher; "he 
 arrived this morning, to preside over a feast and 
 sacrifice which take place to-day. Make haste, and 
 ye may meet him ere he reach the high-place." 
 
 Saul and his servant entered the city just aa 
 Samuel, with a procession of people, passed 
 before the gate. The prophet had anxiously 
 watched the approach of every person that day, 
 expecting the instant arrival of the appointed 
 King of Israel. No indications had as yet been 
 given him of the Lord's will. At length the 
 tall, princely form of Saul met his eye as he 
 stood in the gateway, and the Spirit whispered 
 him, " Behold the man tha^t shall rule my people!" 
 
 As Samuel stopped to gaze upon Sanl, the 
 latter ventured to say : " Tell me, I pray thee, 
 where is the seer's house ? "I am the seer," 
 answered Samuel. " Go up before me to the 
 high -place, and think not of thine asses, for they 
 are found. On thee, young man, and on thy 
 father's house, is all the desire of Israel 1" The 
 astonished .Saul replied, "Why speakest thou
 
 12 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 thus to me ? Am I not of the smallest tribe, 
 and the smallest family of that tribe ?" 
 
 Samuel replied not, but placing Saul in an 
 honorable post in the procession, proceeded to 
 the high-place. "When they returned, Saul was 
 carried by Samuel into his house, where he 
 held a feast, at which were assembled thirty of 
 the principal men of the place. To the aston- 
 ishment of all, Saul was placed 1 in the seat of 
 honor above them, and before him were placed 
 the choicest dishes of the table. The feast was 
 over, and, led by the prophet, the wondering 
 Saul, who walked as if in a dream, followed 
 through the court and up the stairs to the roof 
 of the house. 
 
 The house-top was a usual resort of the people 
 of Judea, for there might be found pure air and 
 repose. A battlement ran around it, to protect 
 it from the view of others. Here the eye of 
 Saul, if he had not been so preoccupied, might 
 have wandered with delight over rich valleys, 
 clothed with fields of wheat, groves of olives, 
 and vineyards ; over stately mountains, and that 
 "great and wide sea" which lay at the west. 
 But he saw nothing except the prophet, who
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 13 
 
 poured into his astounded ears the tale of his 
 glorious destiny. He should be the monarch 
 of that great country ; the leader of its armies, 
 and conqueror of its enemies ! Placed on the 
 throne, not by the will of a few, but by the 
 High and Mighty Lord of Israel, under whose 
 protecting arm he should fear no change ! 
 Scarcely able to credit this account, Saul would 
 have rejected it as false, had any other than 
 the prophet related it To assure him of the 
 truth, Samuel foretold him all that would hap- 
 pen to him on his journey home, and every 
 person he should meet with, 
 
 The next morning Samuel led the future king 
 out of the city ; and when they reached a retired 
 place, poured sacred oil upon his head, kissed 
 him, and proclaimed him King " anointed by 
 the Lord to be Captain over his inheritance !" 
 
 Everything happened to Saul as Samuel had 
 foretold, and he was thus convinced of the truth 
 of his communication. He reached his home, 
 where, without speaking of the promises of 
 Samuel, he related all else that occurred. 
 
 Mizpeh was one of the three cities to which it 
 was the habit of Samuel to repair to hold meet 
 2
 
 14 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 ings for the administration of justice, or to give 
 religious instructions. Te this city he repaired 
 after his interview with Saul, and called an 
 assembly of the people. When they had met 
 together, the prophet thus addressed them : 
 
 " Hear, now, O people, the words which I am 
 commissioned to deliver to you from the Lord. 
 I brought you up out of Egypt, and delivered 
 you out of the hand of all who oppressed you, 
 and ye have this day rejected me and my pro- 
 phet as rulers over you, and seek one of your- 
 selves as your king! I have caused all the 
 evils resulting from such a step to be placed be- 
 fore you, and yet ye persist. Now, then, I will 
 grant your request, and upon your own heads 
 be the consequences !" Samuel then took a vase, 
 in which were lots, from which was to be drawn 
 the tribe and family of the king. 
 
 Eagerly gazed the tribes, as the hand of Samuel, 
 directed by the Lord, drew forth the lots, each 
 hoping the future monarch would be taken from 
 among their number. To the surprise of the 
 assembled Israelites, as if to humble their pride, 
 the tribe of Benjamin, lowest and smallest of all, 
 was chosen. From this tribe the lot fell upon the
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 15 
 
 family of Matri, the house of Kish, and his son 
 
 Saul. To conceal his agitation, the young riian 
 
 : had retired to a secluded spot, but was soon 
 
 brought into the assembly, where, by his tall and 
 
 commanding form, he was easily distinguished. 
 
 " Behold the man whom the Lord hath chosen I" 
 
 said the prophet. " There is none like him among 
 
 all the people !" Then the assembly shouted, and 
 
 the air rang with cries of " God save the Bang I" 
 
 '"Hear now, Hebrews," said Samuel, "the 
 
 : words of the Lord, as they were given to Moses. 
 
 God, whom ye recognized then as your king and 
 
 governor in all things, ever mindful of His people's 
 
 -interests, has left laws and regulations for your 
 
 .guidance in every situation of life. Foreseeing 
 
 -what hath now come to pass, He hath given you 
 
 these laws for you and your king." He then 
 
 read from Deuteronomy the following words, 
 
 .dictated by God to Moses, foreseeing their wish 
 
 for a monarchy, and that they would say, "I 
 
 .will set a king over me, like as all the nations 
 
 that are about me." They are in such a case 
 
 enjoined to choose one of their own nation, and 
 
 * Or, as in the Hebrew. " L t the King Uve."
 
 16 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 not a stranger ; and with a view to prevent their 
 incursions to the neighboring nations, the king 
 was forbidden to keep a great trcop of horses ; 
 neither should he multiply wives, lest they turn 
 his heart from God, nor multiply hoards of gold. 
 These laws were to be written in a book by the 
 king, which must be given in charge to the Le- 
 vites. The king was likewise required to read the 
 laws often ; to fear God and keep his command- 
 ments ; and above all, that his heart be not lifted 
 up above his brethren. Should these commands 
 be obeyed, the kingdom of Israel was promised 
 to him and his children. These laws, few and 
 simple as they seem, comprise all that was neces- 
 sary for man's happiness here and hereafter. 
 The lusts bf the flesh and the pride of life were 
 here condemned, and man was required to fear 
 God and walk humbly before Him. We shall see 
 if Saul obeyed these commandments. Samuel 
 then caused the book in which these laws were 
 written to be given to the care of the Levites. 
 The people departed, well pleased with their 
 king, except a few, who thought one from their 
 tribe, more numerous than that of Benjamin, 
 bhould have been chosen. In the contempt of
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 17 
 
 * 
 
 their hearts they exclaimed : " How shall this 
 t?an save us?" Saul heeded them not, but re- 
 turned to his home, surrounded by a band of 
 men who had devoted themselves to his service. 
 Peace reigned over the country for some time. 
 Saul, having no opportunity of acting as king, 
 returned to his pastoral life, waiting the signal of 
 the Lord to come forth and take the reins of the 
 kingdom. The time had now arrived. Nahash, 
 king of the neighboring tribe of Ammonites, 
 suddenly surrounded the town of Jabesh-Gilead, 
 which belonged to the half tribe of Manasseh, 
 east of the Jordan, and demanded its surrender. 
 The citizens, despairing of succor, agreed to 
 deliver the city if they could have favorable 
 terms. " Hear, then, my only conditions," said 
 the bloody Ammonite : "I will thrust out your 
 right eyes, that you may be a reproach to Israel, 
 and a monument of my power." Dismayed at 
 this proposal, the elders of the city requested 
 seven days truce, that they might send for help ; 
 " and then," they said, " if there be no man to 
 save us, we will come out to thee." Nahash, 
 foolishly confident, granted them the seven days 
 respite. The deputation from the beseiged city 
 2*
 
 18 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 
 
 \ 
 
 caused great distress and confusion in the village 
 of: Gibeah, where the king dwelt. Saul, in great 
 humility and patience, had awaited the time for 
 showing himself a king indeed, and in the mean- 
 while occupied himself, as usual, with his pas- 
 toral pursuits. At eventide that day he followed 
 the herd from the field as usual, and, as he entei ed 
 the city, heard around him cries of distress at 
 every hand. " What aileth the people, that 
 they weep ?" said Saul, amazed. And they told 
 him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. Saul 
 heard them with indignation, while energy and 
 strength from on high swelled his heart. Seizing 
 a sword, he hewed in pieces his yoke of oxen, 
 which stood beside him, and sent these bloody 
 e^isi^ns by the hands of messengers throughout 
 all the land. " With these tokens of war bear 
 \rith ye this message," cried the king: " Who- 
 soever cometh not forth after Saul, and after: 
 Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen !" 
 The fear of the Lord fell upon the people ; they 
 dared not disobey the commands of His anointed, 
 but came out in numbers to join the standard of 
 the king. 
 The army of Sau_ was assembled at Bezek.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 19 
 
 flere lie reviewed and numbered them, and 
 found they amounted to three hundred and 
 thirty thousand inen. Thirty thousand were of 
 the tribe of Judah, and the remainder from the 
 other tribes of Israel. The messengers of Jabesh- 
 Gilead were called to behold the array, and de- 
 spatched back to the city with these words : 
 " Thus shall ye say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead 
 to-morrow, by that time the sun is hot, ye 
 shall have help !" The joy of the besieged city 
 was great when they heard this news. Heralds 
 were immediately sent to the enemy, with a 
 promise from the men of Jabesh to evacuate 
 the city on the morrow, and deliver themselves 
 up to the Ammonites. The army of Saul, 
 divided into three bands, surrounded the Am- 
 monites, and, falling suddenly upon them at 
 early dawn, completely routed and slew them. 
 The triumphant army, exulting in the prowess 
 of their king, returned to Gibeah. " Where are 
 the men," they exclaimed, " who were unwilling 
 that Saul should reign over us? Bring them 
 forth that we may put them to death !" But 
 victory had not so intoxicated Saul as to make 
 him forget mercy. " There shall not a man be
 
 20 SOVEKEiQNS OF THE BiBLK. 
 
 put to death to-day/' he said. " For the Lord 
 hath been merciful this day to us, and hath 
 wrought the salvation of Israel." As Saul had 
 not been solemnly anointed king, Samuel now 
 saw a fitting time had arrived, while so many of 
 the people were met together. He therefore bade 
 the people follow him to Gilgal, a city one league 
 west of the Jordan. Here was an altar which 
 Samuel had dedicated to the Lord. Around this 
 all the people were assembled,while the prophet 
 and the king stood upon each side. As Samuel 
 gazed upon the people he had so long governed, 
 and whom he was now to leave to the guidance 
 of another, a shadow passed over his brow and 
 over his heart ; but subduing his feelings, he 
 said to the Israelites : " Lo, I have hearken- 
 ed unto your voice, and now behold your 
 king walketh before you! I have been your 
 ruler, and lived among you from my childhood 
 until this day, when I am old and gray-headed. 
 And now, if any have aught against me, behold, 
 here I am ! Witness against me before the Lord, 
 and before Saul his anointed. Whose ox have 
 I taken ? Whose ass have I taken ? Whom 
 have I defrauded ? Whom have I oppressed
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 21 
 
 or of whose hand have I received any bribe to 
 blind mine eyes therewith ? Speak, and I will 
 restore it you." The elders, answering for the 
 people, said, with emotion : " Thou hast not 
 defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou 
 taken aught of any man's hand." " The Lord is 
 witness against you," said Samuel ; " and his 
 anointed is witness this day, that ye have not 
 found aught in my hand !" And they answered, 
 " He is witness !" " Now, therefore, listen, O 
 Israel," cried the prophet, " while I rehearse to 
 you some of the righteous acts of the Lord, 
 which he did to you and your fathers. When 
 they cried unto the Lord, He raised up Moses 
 and Aaron, and brought your fathers up out of 
 the land of Egypt, and placed them here. Bat 
 they forgat the Lord their God, and He sold 
 them into the hand of Sisera, and into the 
 hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of 
 the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 
 And they cned unto the Lord, and said, ' We 
 have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord 
 and have served idols ; but now deliver us, and 
 we will serve none but thee.' The Lord sent 
 Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, who at
 
 22 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 different times delivered you out of the hands of 
 jour enemies, and you dwelled safely. And 
 now, when ye heard Nahash, king of the child 
 ren of Ammon, was coming against you, ye for- 
 got these former deliverances which the Lord 
 wrought through your judges, and demanded an 
 earthly king, instead of the Lord who ruled you 
 before ! The Lord hath granted your desire, 
 and the king ye have chosen is before you ! 
 To prove to you, my people, that I speak not 
 my own words alone, when I reprove you for 
 this great wickedness which ye have done in the 
 sight of the Lord, in asking for a king, I will 
 show you a sign from heaven. Is it not wheat- 
 harvest to-day, when ye know it never rains ? 
 I will call unto the Lord, and He shall send 
 thunder and rain, that ye may see the Lord 
 heareth me, and approves of my rebukes to 
 you." So Samuel called unto the Lord. The 
 humbled people stood in awe and fear, looking 
 from the severe prophet to the clear summer 
 sky, which was smiling placidly flown upon 
 them. Suddenly the stillness was broken by a 
 deafening roar of terrific thunder, while the 
 fearful flashes of dazzling lightning outshone
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 23> 
 
 the sun. Blinded and trembling, the people 
 prostrated themselves upon the ground, crying 
 for mercy. "0 Prophet!" they cried, "pray 
 for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that 
 they die not ; for we have added unto all our 
 sins this evil, to ask us a king I" " Fear net," 
 said the softened prophet. "If in future you 
 and your king will serve the Lord, and not rebel 
 against Him, then the Lord will not forsake you, 
 for it hath pleased Him to make you His own 
 peculiar .people. The awful warning of to-day 
 Was to show you the Lord still watches over 
 your doings. I am no longer your ruler, but I 
 shall not cease to pray for you, as your priest 
 and prophet. Hear now my last words : Obey 
 the Lord, and ye and your king shall prosper ; 
 but if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be 
 consumed, both ye and your king!" The 
 assembly then slowly dispersed. 
 
 Saul, from this time, took upon himself the 
 state of a king. His house was filled with 
 servants, who approached him with the lowliest 
 reverence. A body-guard of three thousand 
 men surrounded him wherever he moved ; .and'
 
 21 SOVEREIGNS OF THB BIBLE. 
 
 another of one thousand was formed, for his son 
 Jonathan. 
 
 War again hovered over the land. The Phi- 
 listines were making depredations upon the bor- 
 ders, and although they had been gallantly re- 
 pulsed by Jonathan, only gave way to return in 
 larger bands. At length they assembled before 
 the town of Michmash in Ephraim, to the number 
 of thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horse- 
 men, and an immense multitude on foot. Saul 
 caused the silver trumpets of war to sound 
 throughout the land to gather the people. Badly 
 provided for battle, and fearing the army which 
 had assembled, the great mass of the people fled 
 across the Jordan, or concealed themselves in the 
 rocks and fastnesses of the hills. Never was a 
 monarch or a general more painfully situated 
 than was Saul at that moment. An immense 
 army rapidly approaching, and his craven peo- 
 ple refusing to rally around him. Samuel had 
 promised at the end of seven days to be with 
 him. These days were rapidly passing, and 
 every day some new desertions from his ranks. 
 The seventh day was passing, and Saul found
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 25 
 
 himself with only six hundred men, almost to- 
 tally unarmed. The Philistines had obtained 
 such complete possession of the country, that 
 they had taken away all arms, and forbidden the 
 Israelites to resort to smith or armorer ; but to 
 bring every rural instrument to be repaired in 
 their land. Saul and his son Jonathan were in 
 armor and possessed weapons of war ; beside them, 
 there were but few. What was Saul to do ? The 
 Philistines were rapidly approaching, must he 
 stay still and be slaughtered? Ah, had the king 
 trusted in the word of the Lord, sent through 
 his holy prophet, who now lingered to try the 
 faith and obedience of Saul, he would have tar- 
 ried till he came to give his counsel. But proud 
 of his once high station and power, he rashly re- 
 solved to take upon himself the priestly office 
 and offer sacrifices, in hopes some miraculous ma- 
 nifestation would be granted to succor him. The 
 sacrifice was over, and the word was brought 
 him that Samuel approached. Saul went forth 
 to meet him, but when he beheld the prophet 
 arrayed in his priestly garments of purple, and 
 scarlet, and gold embroidery ; when he saw the
 
 2(> SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE". 
 
 "dazzling Urim and Thumnrm upon his shoulders, 
 and looked upon his solemn countenance, he felt 
 he had offended greatly in taking upon him 
 the priestly office; " Saul, what hast thou done?" 
 asked the prophet. The king rallied arid sought 
 to excuse himself. " The people were forsaking 
 me," he said, " the Philistines were approach- 
 ing, and no one but God to rely upon, I offered 
 a sacrifice to entreat his help.-" 
 
 " Thou hast done foolishly," said Samuel se- 
 verely. ' ' Since the days of Moses, saw ye any offer- 
 ing sacrifice save the priests alone? Art thou a 
 son of Aaron, art thou even of the race of Levi, 
 "that thou takest upon thee their offices? Were 
 they anointed, and set apart, and sanctified, by 
 "God and by Moses, that a son of Benjamin should 
 stand before the altar and offer sacrifice ? Thou 
 -art a king, Saul, but not a priest. Hadst thou 
 obeyed the Lord's commands, it would have bet- 
 ter pleased him than thy ill -judged sacrifice-; 
 and he would have established thy kingdom for 
 : ever. Now that thou hast thus -offended, thy 
 kingdom shall be taken: from thee and given to 
 smother!" Samuel, after delivering this mes-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 27 
 
 sage from the Lord, went to Gibeah, where the 
 humbled and repentant Saul followed him with 
 his diminished army. 
 
 The two armies were encamped in sight of 
 each other. The activity and military display 
 which was observable among the Philistines, 
 compared with the timidity, the gloom, which 
 reigned in their own band, stung the soul of the 
 son of Saul. Calling to him his armor-bearer, 
 who was a valiant and active young man, Jona- 
 than thus addressed him " Come, I am tired of 
 this inactivity ; what sayest thou to a passage of 
 arms with those uncircumcised idolaters?" 
 " Willingly, my prince; but our numbers are 
 too small to battle yonder host." " Numbers ! " 
 cried the ardent youth, " I did but mean thee 
 and myself, unknown to my father. We have 
 the help of the Lord. He needs not numbers, 
 and can conquer by few as by many." The ar- 
 mor-bearer caught the military ardor of young 
 Jonathan, and exclaimed, " Do all thy heart 
 dictates thee, I will go with thee to death ! " and 
 they two secretly withdrew from the camp. 
 
 The Philistines had sent out three bands to 
 ravage the country, but had left a party en-
 
 28 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 trenched upon a rocky eminence, between Gi- 
 beah and Michmash. This garrison Jonathan 
 intended to surprise. The courageous young 
 men reached the foot of the rocks. " We will 
 now come from beneath the cover of the trees," 
 said Jonathan, " and show us to the garrison. 
 If they tell us to remain until they come down, 
 we will refrain: but if they call us to come up, 
 we will do so, knowing this to be the signal that 
 the Lord is with us," Accordingly, the prince 
 and his armor-bearer emerged from the shade, 
 and caught the eye of the enemy on the rocks 
 above. " Ho, ho ! " they exclaimed, " Behold the 
 Hebrews are venturing out from their holes. 
 Perchance they know not our numbers, and we 
 will call them up and slay them." One of them 
 accordingly approached the summit of the pre- 
 cipice, and called to the young men to ascend, as 
 he could show them something wonderful, Jon- 
 athan took this as a signal the Lord would de- 
 liver the Philistines into the snare he had laid 
 for them ; and with a stout heart clambered up 
 the precipice, followed by his armor-bearer. 
 Springing upon the summit, the two young he- 
 roes immediately began to attack-rigkt and left,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 29 
 
 with such fury that slain and wounded soon 
 strewed the ground around them. Amazed and 
 unprepared, the Philistines staggered back. A 
 belief arose that the gallant chief was but leader 
 of a band, now following him; and with cries of 
 dismay they turned and fled. Confusion and 
 fear infected the whole army, and they were 
 soon flying in small numbers over the country. 
 King Saul had in the meantime pitched his tent , 
 beneath a brilliant pomegranate tree, where he 
 commanded a view of the camp of the Philis- 
 tines. He was now seated beneath the tree, and 
 at his side was Abiah, a priest, clad in his white 
 robe, crossed in front by the gay-colored Ephod, 
 which hung down to his feet. The two were 
 sadly discoursing, when the watchmen, who were 
 looking at the enemy's camp, proclaimed they 
 were attacked and were flying. Saul immedi- 
 ately arose and discovered the Philistines were 
 dispersed by some unseen conqueror. " Num- 
 ber our people," he exclaimed," and see who is 
 gone from us." When the absence of Jonathan 
 and his armor-bearer was discovered, Saul trem- 
 bled for his son, ar.d conjured the priest to 
 bring the Ark that its presence might destroy
 
 80 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 the enemy. He soon, however, countermanded 
 his order, as he saw the Philistines were com- 
 pletely routed. He called his men to follow, and 
 exclaimed, " Cursed be the man who this day 
 tasteth food before I am avenged of my enemies !" 
 and with sword in hand assisted in the pursuit. 
 Those fearful souls who had concealed them- 
 selves now came forward, and the Philistines, 
 attacked in all their bands, were routed from the 
 borders of Israel. 
 
 When the enemy was defeated, the victors re- 
 turned to the camp ; weary and faint for hunger 
 ihey had been during the day, but refrained 
 from tasting anything, even the wild honey 
 which they beheld in the forest, as they feared 
 the curse of Saul. Jonathan, flushed with vic- 
 tory, was returning at night, followed by his 
 armor-bearer, when he came upon a party of 
 men who had been driving home some cattle 
 taken from the Philistines, but who now lay 
 with the cattle along the ground. " "Why He ys 
 here?" cried Jonathan ; " take the spoil to my 
 father." " We are faint with hunger," said 
 one, " and need repose ere we proceed." " Hun- 
 ger," exclaimed the young prince, " see here are
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 81 
 
 trees dropping with honey," and putting the 
 point of his spear into a hollow tree, he brought 
 forth honey-comb and ate. " Eat; it hath much 
 refreshed me," he said. The people, who had 
 gazed with consternation, now sprang up, crying, 
 " Hold thy hand, Jonathan ; no one can eat food 
 this day, for thus hath the king decreed." " My 
 father has but added to the trouble of the peo- 
 ple by this decree. The battle, however, is over ; 
 eat, I give you leave." 
 
 Eagerly accepting the permission, the fam- 
 ished men not only grasped. the honey, but 
 killed sheep and oxen and calves, and slew and 
 ate them in their blood, against the commands 
 of Moses. To prevent them from thus sinning, 
 Jonathan despatched messengers to Saul, and 
 asked leave for them to eat as usual. " Ye have 
 transgressed," said Saul, " but roll hither a large 
 stone, and let each man slay and eat according 
 to our laws." Saul erected an altar of stone to 
 the Lord, before which the cattle were slain. 
 The blood was given to the priest wherewith to 
 sprinkle the altar, and the fat and kidney burnt 
 as a peace-offering; the remainder they cooked 
 and ate. Saul seeing his men were refreshed by
 
 82 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 food, and excited by conquest, formed the bold 
 design of following the routed Philistines to 
 their country, and at one blow destroy the 
 enemy who had so long harried his border and 
 oppressed his people. His wishes were no sooner 
 known, than eagerly acceded to by his victorious 
 band. Saul inquired first of the Lord whether 
 he should go up to battle, and the answer was 
 unfavorable. This was attributed by the king 
 to the sin of the people, whereas it was his own 
 sin in rashly cursing them. The early death of 
 Jonathan is supposed by some to be in con- 
 sequence of this curse. The anger of Saul arose 
 when he saw he must abandon his projected 
 invasion. " Call hither the chiefs of the people !" 
 he cried, " and let us see where lies this sin which 
 is so heavily punished ! As the Lord liveth, 
 though it be Jonathan my son, he shall surely 
 die!" 
 
 The people loved Jonathan, and fearing for 
 him, they answered not a word when assembled 
 and questioned by Saul. This gloomj silence 
 inflamed the anger of the king, thus leading him 
 into further error instead of repenting his rash 
 oath. Determined to be avenged of his imagi-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 33 
 
 nary injury, he commanded the people to stand 
 upon one side of the altar, while he and Jonathan 
 took the other. His chiefs obeyed, saying, " Do 
 as it seemeth good to thee." Saul then, taking 
 Jonathan by the arm, drew him upon one side 
 of the altar, while the representatives of the 
 people stood upon the other. " Cast the lots 1" 
 he cried imperiously to the priest. Abiathar 
 cast, and they fell upon Saul and Jonathan. 
 Undismayed, the king called out boldly, " Cast 
 again, priest 1 cast lots between me and Jonathan 
 my son!" The priest approached the altar, 
 while a shudder passed over the people, who 
 gazed with dread upon their king, his face 
 flushed with passion, and on the slender form 
 of their young prince, whose face was pale, but 
 whose brow was bright with heroic fortitude and 
 submission to his God. Abiathar, with a tremb- 
 ling hand, threw the lots, and turning away, 
 covered his face with his robe. Jonathan the 
 young prince must die I 
 
 By resentment Saul had been wrought up to 
 violence, but when he found he had doomed his 
 cherished son to death, his heart sank within 
 him. He could not go back, for he had sworn.
 
 34r SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 The Lord had been called to the controversy, 
 and he must now fulfill his oath. Stifling his 
 feelings, he turned to Jonathan, "Tell what thou 
 hast done," he asked. Then answered Jonathan 
 mildly, " I did but taste a little honey with the 
 end of my spear, and lo I must die !" 
 
 Bitterly did Saul repent his oath, and his mad 
 conduct. His anger .had passed, but not its con- 
 sequences. He could have fallen upon the neck 
 of his son and blessed him, but he had reared a 
 funeral pile for him, and he must now place him 
 upon it. "I have sworn, and God hath heard 
 my oath," he said, struggling with his anguish. 
 "Jonathan, my son, thou must surely die !" 
 
 Loud clamors arose from the people when 
 they heard these ruthless words. " Shall Jona- 
 than die, who hath wrought this great salvation 
 for Israel ?" they cried, " God forbid !" cried 
 others; and murmuring thus, they crowded 
 towards the altar. " As the Lord liveth !" cried 
 the chiefs, " there shall not a hair of his head fall 
 to the ground, for he hath, gotten the victory 
 this day!" 
 
 Saul dropped the arm of Jonathan. The 
 people pressed around their beloved prince,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 35 
 
 they bore him away from his stern father, who 
 sullenly turned away and entered the royal tent, 
 Jonathan was saved ! 
 
 The peace which ensued was not of long du- 
 ration. During it Saul resided in his palaoe 
 with his family. By his wife, Ahinoam, he had 
 three sons, and two daughters. Their names 
 were, Jonathan, Ishui, Melchi, Michal, and 
 Merab. His father, Kish, and his uncle, Ner, 
 also dwelt with him. The king gathered around 
 him every man renowned for valor and strength, 
 and gradually formed a fine standing army, with 
 numerous horses and chariots; over which, as 
 commander, was placed is cousin Abner. Thus 
 were in part fulfilled the words of Moses and 
 SamueL 
 
 We now behold Saul elevated to the highest 
 point of earthly glory. As a king and a warrior 
 he had gained honor in the land ; his enemies 
 were subdued, and his country was at peace. 
 Power, wealth, and fame were his, and according 
 to worldly reasoning he should have happiness. 
 But this was denied him, for homage was not 
 given to Him from whom he had received all 
 these blessings. His faith and obedience were
 
 36 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 now put to a heavy trial, and by the result God 
 had decreed him to stand or fall. 
 
 The biblical reader is referred back to the 
 history of the Amalekites, who treated so un- 
 kindly the Israelites while passing through the 
 wilderness. This tribe was descended from 
 Ham T and inhabited Arabia the stony. The 
 Egyptians who oppressed the Israelites, and th6 
 Canaanites who dreaded their approach, were 
 alike descendants of Ham, and for these their 
 brethren's sakes they bore the wanderers no 
 good will. In this part of Arabia were enacted 
 many scenes of that extraordinary drama, in 
 which God, and Moses, and Aaron, and Joshua 
 were actors. A rocky desert, it is encircled by the 
 sea of Elath and the Eed Sea, and from its midst 
 arise the everlasting summits of Sinai and Horeb. 
 Among its craggy fastnesses are found fertile 
 valleys, where dwell its tribes. From one of 
 these rushed down the bloody Amalekites, to 
 add one more bitter drop to the cup of sorrows 
 of the wandering tribes of Israel. When it was 
 told them this was a people le by the Lord, 
 they scoffed at the tale and harrassed them sore. 
 At the command of Moses, Joshua selected a
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 37 
 
 band of warriors to drive the robbers back to 
 their hold. Upon the craggy side of Horeb 
 stood Moses, raising his hands to God in prayer 
 for his people, and Joshua prevailed. But when 
 in weariness his arms sank down at his side, 
 Amalek obtained advantage. Moses called to 
 him Aaron, and Hur, the husband of Miriam, 
 who supporting his hands in their imploring 
 position, the Amalekites were driven away to 
 their mountains. Then commanded God that 
 Moses should write the following in a book, as a 
 memorial to future rulers of Israel : " I will 
 utterly put out the remembrance of Amalekite 
 under heaven." This sentence of extermination 
 was not fulfilled until the days of Saul, when 
 we find him setting out to execute this fearful 
 doom, but failing to complete it. 
 
 Moses upon Horeb erected an altar to Jeho- 
 rah-nissi; meaning, "The Lord my banner;" 
 for under the standard of the Lord they had 
 conquered. 
 
 When upon the high-place of Balak, Balaam 
 
 afterwards prophesied against this nation. He 
 
 pronounced against them the destjny, they 
 
 shall perish for ever 1 Israel reached the pro- 
 
 4
 
 38 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 mised land, but ere they entered, listened to the 
 last words of their leader Moses. Among other 
 injunctions, he said to them, " Eemember what 
 Amalekite did to thee by the way, when ye 
 were come out of Egypt !" He then recapitu- 
 lates all they suffered from this nation who 
 "feared not God." He bade them, when ;the 
 land should be at peace with the neighboring 
 nations, to "blot out the remembrance of 
 Amalek from under heaven !" Moses, when 
 pronouncing this fearful doom, but uttered the 
 words which in the desert he had heard from 
 his God. And so fearful was he of punishment 
 accruing to them if God's express commands 
 were forgotten, that he cries with great solem- 
 nity to the people, "thou shalt not forget it !" 
 
 To Saul, first king of Israel, is given the 
 mournful task of fulfilling this sentence of 
 extermination against the offending tribe. "We 
 tremble lest, in acting according to the dictates 
 of his own will, instead of the decrees of a kind 
 but just God, he should incur the fearful penalty 
 of the disobedient ! 
 
 From the quiet of his repose in the royal 
 palace, the King of Israel was aroused by the
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 39 
 
 arrival of the prophet Samuel. Solemnly lie 
 walked up to the throne, and thus addressed the 
 monarch : 
 
 " I come with a message to. thee, O Saul, from 
 thy ruler and thy God." 
 
 "Speak on, O prophet," said the king. 
 
 "Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: I remember 
 that which ' Amalek did to Israel, how he laid 
 wait for him in the way when he came out of 
 Egypt. Now send Saul and smite Amalek, and 
 utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them 
 not. Slay man, woman, infant, ox, sheep, camel, 
 and ass ! " 
 
 Saul, whose active spirit longed for motion, 
 and who had always acquired more glory in war, 
 readily pledged himself to undertake the mission. 
 Orders were sent out to the tribes, and Saul found 
 himself at the head of a large army stationed at 
 Telaim. He reflected very little upon the cause 
 of this warfare, for his thoughts were filled with 
 his own exaltation, and the treasure he should 
 amass. The past history of Israel he rememr 
 bered not, nor did he heed the commands of God. 
 As it was the will of God, the Amalekites fell 
 an easy conquest into the hands of the Israelites.
 
 40 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Saul, flushed with pride, returned home laden 
 with spoils, among which was the cattle he had 
 been charged to destroy. So forgetful also was 
 he of aught but his own glory, that he even 
 spared Agag, king of the offending nation, whose 
 tall, commanding person was a conspicuous ob- 
 ject in the triumphal progress he made towards 
 Gilgal. Here he erected an arch of triumph, and 
 then awaited the arrival of Samuel, who was to 
 meet him there. 
 
 In the meanwhile the prophet was bowed in 
 mourning within the sanctuary ; for the Lord 
 had signified his displeasure at the conduct of 
 Saul. 
 
 Forgetting the command of God, and his 
 thoughts filled with himself alone, he had spared 
 Agag and retained much spoil. The sentence 
 had gone forth, his kingdom should be taken 
 away and given to another 1 
 
 Samuel grieved for Saul, and all night he re- 
 mained before the altar in prayer for him. 
 There was no sign of hope given him, and the 
 next day he repaired to Gilgal. Saul received 
 the prophet standing beside an altar, upon v^hich 
 he was preparing to slay the cattle he had taken
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 41 
 
 as an offering to God! So blind and forgetful 
 was he. 
 
 " Blessed be them, prophet! " said the king 
 with great complacency ; "I have performed 
 the commandments of the Lord." " Is it so ?" 
 said Samuel. " What then meaneth this bleat- 
 ing of sheep in mine ears, and lowing $>f oxen 
 which I hear?" " It is the spoil of the Ama-_ 
 lekites ; the best of which I have reserved to 
 sacrifice to the Lord." "Listen then, O king, and 
 I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me 
 last night." " Say on." " When thou wast 
 poor and humble, the Lord raised thee to the 
 head of the tribes of Israel, and anointed thee 
 their king. In return for these gifts, he asked 
 thee to destroy Agag and all that was his, and 
 hast thou obeyed him ? " Saul, still forgetful, re- 
 plied, " Yea, I have obeyed His commands. As 
 a proof, I have destroyed the Amalekites : behold 
 their king, and the cattle which I brought to 
 sacrifice unto the Lord." " Hath the Lord as 
 great delight in burnt-offerings as obedience?" 
 asked the prophet. " Behold, to obey is better 
 than sacrifice; thy rebellion and stubborness 
 have displeased the Lord; as thou hast i ejected 
 4*
 
 42 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 his word, lie hath rejected thee from the throne, 
 and thy kingdom shall be given to another I " 
 The prophet turned away; and Saul, eager to 
 propitiate him, followed him. " I have sinned, 
 O Samuel!" he said. "I have indeed trans- 
 gressed the commands of God, but it was be- 
 cause I feared the people who desired the spoil. 
 Return to the altar, I pray thee, that I may 
 humble myself before the Lord." 
 
 " I will not return with thee, Saul!" the 
 prophet said. " The Lord hath rejected thee, 
 and I reject thee." In despair, the king grasped 
 the mantle of Samuel to detain him ; but as the 
 prophet hastened onward, it rent in his hand. 
 Turning towards the king, Samuel solemnly 
 said, " Behold, this is a sign that the Lord hath 
 rent the kingdom from thee, and hath given it 
 to another!" " I have sinned," the king said 
 humbly; "yet do me not this dishonor before 
 the elders and people of Israel, to return before 
 the service before the altar is over. They await 
 us to commence." Samuel, who always felt deep 
 interest for Saul, willing to oblige him thus far, 
 returned, and they worshipped before the Lord, 
 
 Then said Samuel in a terrible voice, " Bring
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 43 
 
 ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalek- 
 ites!" The executioner was also called, who 
 stood, sword in hand, awaiting his fearful order 
 to slay. Agag knew his doom, and said to 
 Samuel, " The bitterness of death is past: I 
 have suffered shame, and now the grave is wel- 
 come ! " 
 
 And Samuel said, " As thy sword hath made 
 women childless, so shall thy mother be child- 
 less among women ! Hew him in pieces ! " The 
 command was obeyed. 
 
 The prophet then bade Saul farewell, and re- 
 turned to his home. The king, humbled, but 
 not repentant, also departed to Gilboa. 
 
 Samuel loved Saul, and he deeply mourned 
 his eirors and his punishment. The prayers of 
 the prophet were unavailing Saul must suffer, 
 and the only favor he could obtain for the king 
 was the privilege of reigning while he lived ; 
 at his death the crown would pass from his 
 family to that of another. To apprise this other 
 of the honor intended him, was now Samuel's 
 province. 
 
 "How long wilt thou mourn for Saul?" was 
 asked by the Lord " Fill thy horn with oil,
 
 44 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 and go to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I 
 provided me a king among his sons." " 
 can I go?" asked Samuel, " If Saul hear it, he 
 will Jdll me." Samuel was ordered to take a 
 heifer with him, and sacrifice at Bethlehem. 
 Small altars were erected in most of the towns, 
 at which it had been the custom to sacrifice and 
 ask counsel of the Lord, when any crime had 
 taken place or event occurred in that part of 
 the country. 
 
 Great anxiety was felt by the inhabitants of 
 Bethlehem, when it was known that the prophet 
 of the Lord approached the town. Came he to 
 make sacrifice for some unknown crime? or 
 came he to pronounce upon them some severe 
 decree of the Lord against them ? Thus ever 
 trembling are those whose consciences tell them 
 they have done that which deserves rebuke. 
 The elders of the city, in their robes of state, 
 arranged themselves upon each side of the gate, 
 to await the coming of Samuel. The prophet 
 approached upon his ass of silver hue, with his 
 white, flowing robe around him, and his trains 
 with the heifer following. Tho chief of tho 
 elders stood before him and thus addressed him*
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 45 
 
 " Comest thou peaceably to us, O prophet ?" to 
 which he answered : " Peaceably, O Elders ! I 
 come to sacrifice to the Lord, and ask Him to 
 bless the purpose which I would undertake." 
 Then addressing himself to Jesse and his sons, 
 he said : " Sanctify yourselves and come with 
 me to the feast." After the ceremony of sanc- 
 tification which consisted in washing their 
 clothes, and otherwise purifying themselves 
 Jesse and his sons approached the altar upon 
 which Samuel was sacrificing the heifer. Samuel, 
 in private, when they had retired to the room in 
 which Samuel had caused his share of the sacri- 
 fice to be sent and a feast laid, acquainted Jesse 
 with the errand upon which he was sent, and 
 desired him to cause his sons to pass before him 
 one by one. 
 
 First came Eliab, having a tall, powerful frame 
 and attractive countenance. " Surely," thought 
 Samuel, "the Lord's anointed is before me." 
 But he was made aware he was not to be the 
 future Lord of Israel, and told from on high that 
 the "Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man 
 looketh on the outward appearance, but the 
 Lord looketh on the heart."
 
 4:6 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Eliab passed on, and Jesse caused Abinadab to 
 approach. "Neither hath the Lord chosen him," 
 said the prophet. Shammah was then called, 
 and passed before them. "Neither hath the 
 Lord chosen him," said Samuel. Then seven of 
 the sons of Jesse were presented to Samuel, who 
 was perplexed that no sign had been given him 
 which was the future king. " Are here all thy 
 children ?" he asked Jesse. " There is another," 
 his father replied : " he is but a small lad, and 
 keepeth the sheep ; be cannot be chosen before 
 all his elder brethren." " Send and fetch him," 
 said the prophet, u for I cannot sit down to the 
 feast until I have seen him." He was sent for ; 
 and soon after there entered the room a youth 
 whom Samuel at once recognized as the future 
 sovereign of Israel. The countenance of David, 
 the youngest son of Jesse, expressed sweetness 
 and majesty; his cheeks were ruddy, his eyes 
 dark, clear, and sparkling, his hair black and 
 curling, his frame finely proportioned and pow- 
 erful, and his whole aspect spoke him at once 
 " chief among ten thousand." Samuel approach- 
 ed David, and, pouring upon his head the sacred 
 oil from the horn, he anointed him King ovel
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 47 
 
 Israel. From that moment the Spirit of the 
 Lord descended upon him, and endued him with 
 wisdom and prudence, strength and valor; a 
 spirit of prophecy, with knowledge of music, 
 that he might prophesy to his harp ; and with 
 many gifts, whereby he might govern with judg- 
 ment his kingdom. 
 
 The whole family then seated themselves to 
 the feast; after which, Samuel, charging Jesse 
 and David to conceal for awhile what had just 
 been enacted, departed for his house in Raman. 
 While the Spirit of the Lord descended upon 
 David, it was withdrawn from Saul. The grace 
 which was vouchsafed him departed, and left 
 the unhappy king to the power of his own evil 
 
 heart. Pride and passion ruled him; fear of 
 
 
 
 God's punishments rendered him weak and tim- 
 orous; while a knowledge that his successor was 
 appointed, was, perhaps, near him, deriding him, 
 or communicating to the people that Saul was 
 deserted by God and the prophet, filled him 
 with suspicion and rage. As these deadly pas- 
 sions ruled the king, his conduct became such 
 as to lead his servants and courtiers to believe 
 nim possessed with an evil spirit. His health
 
 48 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 gave way, and, after everything had been tried 
 to relieve the gloom and pain which seemed to 
 distress him, music was at last proposed. Some 
 of the head lords of the court approached the 
 king to gain his assent to this. Kneeling before 
 him, they said, "Let our lord now command 
 thy servants, now before thee, to seek out the 
 son of Jesse, who is a skillful player on the 
 harp, and perchance his music may soothe thee." 
 The king consented, and David was sent for. 
 The affairs of men are so skillfully interwoven 
 by the Kuler of mankind, that only the devout 
 watcher can perceive the hand of the Lord wind- 
 ing and weaving the threads. The illness of 
 Saul and the relief procured from music seem 
 natural circumstances ; but all that look may see 
 David led by the Lord to the court he was soon 
 to govern, and into the midst of events in which 
 he must be an actor. As it was customary to 
 carry presents when a prince was visited, Jesse 
 sent with his son an ass, laden with bread, 
 wine, and a kid. The pleasing form and coun- 
 tenance of David immediately prepossessed Saul 
 in his favor, and he was given the office of 
 armor-bearer, that he might be induced to
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 49 
 
 remain in court. The effect of David's music 
 was such as had been anticipated. When the 
 remembrance of what he was stirred within the 
 bosom of Saul, when he knew he was forsaken 
 of God and of Samuel, these black and 'gloomy 
 thoughts possessed his heart, and he retired to 
 some private place in his palace or garden, where 
 he might brood over his sorrows. Then David, 
 seated at a distance, would touch the strings of 
 his harp, and the soft melody would diffuse 
 itself into the soul of Saul, and awake a milder 
 feeling, and arouse him from his melancholy. 
 Perhaps such Psalms as the 23d might have 
 been sung, which gives hope to the penitent, 
 suffering heart. 
 
 The feebleness of the King of Israel was soon 
 known among his enemies ; and taking advan- 
 tage of it, the Philistines made a sudden inroad 
 into the country, and ere Saul was aware of 
 their intentions, they had penetrated as far as 
 Shochoh in Judah. 
 
 The inspired hymns and psalms of David had 
 however aroused him from his gloomy lethargy, 
 and with some of his ancient energy he sum- 
 moned his people to battle, and sought the ene*
 
 60 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 my. He found them encamped upon the slop* 
 of a hill, which arose from one side of the valley 
 of Elah ; and upon another which arose from the 
 other side of the valley, Saul stationed his host 
 in front of them. While the two bands were 
 thus eyeing each other, behold there cometh forth 
 from the camp of the Philistines an enormous 
 man, clad in brass armor, who defied the Israel- 
 ites to send forth their champion likewise, and 
 thus let the war be decided by the fate of the 
 two warriors. This sort of combat was common 
 in those days, and had the Israelites possessed 
 a man equal in strength and stature, the challenge 
 might have been accepted. But who could 
 compete with this man of might? His name 
 was Goliath, and he was a descendant of those 
 Anakims or giants which Joshua defeated and 
 drove into Gath. His frame was large and 
 powerful; his height eleven feet. Upon his 
 head was a helmet of brass ; over his body a 
 coat of mail formed of scales of brass closely 
 folding upon each other, and which weighed 156 
 Ibs. ; plates of the like metal covered his legs ; 
 in his hand he bore a spear, the handle of which 
 was twenty -six feet long, its iron point weighing
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 51 
 
 eighteen pounds. Before him came a man bear- 
 ing a great shield of shining brass. His chal- 
 lenge the men of Saul could not obey, as certain 
 death awaited them, and the camp was filled 
 with gloom and shame. 
 
 Morning and evening for forty days came 
 forth this monstrous warrior, defying the Israel- 
 ites, and jeering at their cowardice ; and no man 
 dared to meet him. At last there came a gentle 
 shepherd boy, and to the astonishment and de- 
 rision of all, declared, himself the champion of 
 Israel, and prepared to combat the giant This 
 boy was David. When Saul went to battle, 
 the eldest sons of Jesse joined him, and David, 
 being considered too young to go to battle, re- 
 turned to his aged father; and although he knew 
 he was an anointed king, humbly tended his 
 flocks. But his ambitious father desired to see 
 him among scenes more fitting his future des- 
 tiny, and said to him, " Take, my son, a measure 
 of this parched corn, and these ten loaves to thy 
 brethren in the camp ; carry, also, these cheesea 
 to their captain, and ask how thy brothers fare." 
 David obeyed his father, and soon reached the
 
 52 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 camp, as it was only four miles distant, and 
 entered it, leaving his load at the outer entrench- 
 ment. Undaunted by the din and shouting and 
 confusion of the camp, David sought his breth- 
 ren, and delivered his father's message. 
 
 While they were talking, Goliath, the giant, 
 came forth in the valley, as usual, defying the 
 Israelites. As the morning sun fell upon him, 
 he seemed an angel of wrath. Brandishing his 
 spear of flame and flashing sword, he cried, 
 " Why dare ye stand thus in battle array before 
 me ? am I not the champion of Philistia, and 
 ye but servants of Saul! If ye have a man 
 among you, send him forth to meet me I" Dis- 
 mayed, the soldiers drew back; while Saul, 
 again the slave to the terror which once before 
 overcame him, sat on the ground, his face buried 
 in his hands, unable to command his men to 
 advance or retreat. Beside him, covered with- 
 gloom, stood Jonathan and Abner, his generals, 
 vainly entreating leave to meet the giant. Uni- 
 versal fear reigned around. As David gazed 
 upon this man, the might of tne Lord's anointed 
 swelled through his frame. Again, as if from a
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 53 
 
 trumpet, came these braggadocia words, "I 
 defy the armies of Israel this day ! Give me a 
 man, that we may fight together I" 
 
 The men who stood near David urged each 
 other to go forward, and as incentives, repeated 
 the promises of Saul to the conqueror of Goliath. 
 "What say you shall be done to the man," 
 asked David, " who killeth this Philistine and 
 taketh away the reproach of Israel?" "The 
 man who killeth him shall be enriched," they 
 answered; "his family freed from taxes and 
 ennobled ; and himself married to the king's 
 daughter." " Uncircumcised Philistine!" ex- 
 claimed young David. " Dares he defy the armies 
 of the living God ? Let him come forth, for I 
 will meet and slay him!" Eliab, the eldest 
 brother of David, thought him too young and 
 forward, thus to mingle in affairs too great for 
 him, and reproached him angrily. "I know 
 the pride and naughtiness of thy heart, David," 
 he said. " Thou art ever ready to come down to 
 see the army. Hie back to thy sheep." "Nay," 
 said David, " what have I done to deserve this 
 rebuke ? was there not a cause for my coming 
 hither ?" He then turned from his brother, for 
 5*
 
 64 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 he felt a power within him, moving him on to 
 attempt the combat, and loudly declared his 
 wish to do battle with the giant. The words of 
 David were repeated to Saul, who sent for him 
 and questioned him. " Let no man's heart fail 
 him because of this blustering giant," he said; 
 " thy servant will go and fight with him." Saul 
 gazed with surprise upon the slender youth, 
 thus boldly seeking to combat the huge cham- 
 pion of Gath. " Thou art not able to fight this 
 Philistine," he said, "for thou art but a lad, 
 and he a man practiced in war from his youth." 
 " Thy servant ere now hath slain bears and 
 lions ; is this man more strong or more savage 
 than they ?" said the young man, his face glow- 
 ing, &c. "Once, when thy servant kept his 
 father's sheep, there came a lion and took a lamb 
 from the flock ; and I went out after him, and 
 smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth ; 
 and when he arose against me, I caught him by 
 his beard and slew him !" 
 
 The ardor and the energy of the young man, 
 while relating his feats of daring ; the inward 
 might which seemed to swell his soul and burst 
 in light from his eyes, so astonished and awed
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 55 
 
 the king and those around him, that they saw 
 the Lord was with him, and destined him to 
 wipe off the shame of Israel. " Permit me to 
 seek this uncircumcised Philistine, O king," said 
 David. " The Lord, who delivered me out of the 
 paw of the lion, he will deliver me from the 
 hand of Goliath." 
 
 And Saul said unto David, "Go, and the 
 Lord be with thee !" 
 
 The king ordered David to be armed with 
 coat of mail, sword, and helmet, but the youth- 
 ful warrior rejected these, for he knew he was 
 an agent of the Lord, and went not in his own 
 might. 
 
 Loud blustered the giant, and brightly flashed 
 his sword, as he defied the men of Israel to meet 
 him in fight ; when behold, to the astonishment 
 of either army, a stripling, clad in a muslin tunic, 
 and bareheaded, and armed but with a shep- 
 herd's staff, and a few pebbles which he picked 
 up from the brook, descended from the camp 
 of Israel towards the Philistine I 
 
 With a haughty stride, preceded by his 
 sword-bearer, came forward the Philistine until 
 near enough to see the champion who had ac-
 
 66 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 cepted his challenge for combat ; and when he 
 beheld the rosy-cheeked youth before him, 
 scorn and anger flashed from his eyes of fire. 
 "Am I a dog," he cried fiercely, "that thou 
 comest out to me armed with a staff?" Then, 
 with loud imprecations calling upon Dagon and 
 other of his false gods, he whirled his sword 
 around his head, crying, " Come on, and I will 
 give thy flesh to the fowls of the air and the 
 beasts of the field!" David, instead of flying 
 with terror, as the Philistine expected, stood 
 undaunted, and gazing firmly into the face of 
 his opponent, said, " Thou comest to me with a 
 sword, with a spear, and with a shield ; but I 
 come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, 
 the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast 
 defied !" These solemn words, which seemed to 
 come from some power greater than that of the 
 youthful lips which pronounced them, and the 
 holy light which shone from his pure eyes, pro- 
 duced an awe in the heart of the warrior which 
 he in vain strove to subdue. " This day will 
 the Lord deliver thee into my hands," continued 
 David, "and I will smite thee, and take thy 
 head from thee, and will give the carcasses of
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 57 
 
 all the army of the Philistines this day unto 
 the fowls of the air and the wild beasts of the 
 earth, as thou hast threatened me I This I will 
 do with the help of the Lord, that all the world 
 may fear the God of Esrael, and know, he needeth 
 not the sword and spear, for the battle is the 
 Lord's, and He will give it into our hands !" 
 Goaded to fury by the words of David, Goliath 
 rushed forward, with uplifted spear, and when 
 all the spectators expected to see the young man 
 fall, lo, the huge champion suddenly staggered 
 and fell at the feet of David. A stone which 
 the latter had flung from his sling had struck 
 his forehead and killed him instantly. There 
 was one moment of silent wonder and conster- 
 nation in either host ; but when the Philistines 
 beheld the Israelite boy spring upon the body 
 of their champion, unsheathe his sword and cut 
 off his head, they were smitten with terror and 
 fled. With loud shouts the Israelites pursued, 
 and drove them as far as one of their own cities, 
 Ekron, while their dead lay thick along the 
 roads. They then returned and plundered their 
 camp, where a rich spoil rewarded them for all 
 they had suffered from their enemy.
 
 68 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Saul returned to his camp after the defeat of 
 the Philistines, surrounded by his officers and 
 courtiers, who offered their congratulations to 
 him upon his victory. But the brow of the 
 king grew dark, r,s he looked from his tent and 
 beheld the youthful David loading an ass with 
 the head and the irraor of Goliath of Gath ; for 
 to him alone was the victory due. 
 
 " Whose son is this lad ?" he asked of his 
 general, Abner, " for as I have promised, I must 
 ennoble his family, and give him my daughter." 
 
 "As thy soul liveth," replied Abner, "I 
 cannot tell his father's name. 
 
 " Gk> forth, and inquire of him whose son he 
 is," said the king, and in obedience to this 
 request, Abner brought David before Saul, with 
 the head of the Philistine in his hand. 
 
 " Whose son art thou, young man?" inquired 
 the king. 
 
 "I. am the son of thy servant Jesse, the 
 Bethlehemite." 
 
 The modesty with which the young hero 
 spoke, and the noble soul which shone in his 
 countenance, greatly charmed the king and all 
 who stood around him.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 69 
 
 Saul conferred upon him a high rank in the 
 court, and command in the army, and bade him 
 henceforth leave his sheep and take his abode 
 in the palace. 
 
 Jonathan, the son of Saul, had always ad- 
 mired the young David while at his father's 
 court as a musician; but now that he had so 
 acquitted himself in deeds of arms, his soul was 
 knitted to his in bands of love which never 
 were severed except by death. He called 
 David to him when his father had ceased speak- 
 ing, and with many expressions of friendship, 
 threw over his shoulders his robe, which was of 
 worsted woven with many colors, such as was 
 usually worn by children of noble families. He 
 also gave him his girdle of silk embroidered 
 with gold and jewels, his sword, and his bow. 
 Giving the robe to another was in those days a 
 token of great honor, and as such David grate- 
 fully received it, although he knew he was ap- 
 pointed to a rank far higher than that of Jona- 
 than; and bowed himself to Jonathan as a 
 faithful friend and servant. 
 
 The victory complete and all the spoil gather- 
 ed, Saul and his army turned their faces towards
 
 60 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Gibeah, the royal home. From every town 
 they passed, the people came forth with shouts 
 to meet them, accompanied with singing women, 
 who, to the tabret, the flute, and cymbal, sang 
 the heroes' praises. David, clad in his royal 
 robe of many hues, excited much attention, and 
 was everywhere greeted as the real conqueror 
 of the Philistines. 
 
 The singing women especially sounded his 
 praises. From one band was heard, " Saul has 
 slain his thousands !" " But," answered another 
 band, " David has slain his tens of thousands !" 
 
 To see himself superseded thus by an un- 
 known youth, was a grievous wound to the 
 king's vanity. " The people would exalt this 
 boy above their sovereign," he said. " Perchance 
 they would give him my throne likewise !" 
 Saul spoke jestingly, but envy had taken a deep 
 hold upon his heart, and enmity succeeded to 
 the friendship he had professed for David. 
 
 Once more established in his own palace, 
 and all the excitement attendant on war being 
 at an end, melancholy and jealousy again took 
 possession of Saul. David's great popularity 
 with every one at the court, and the love of
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 61 
 
 Jonathan towards him, excited the king's envy 
 and suspicion. He knew his people's love had 
 departed from him, and he feared David was 
 the successor appointed by Samuel, and who 
 would be gladly received in his room. In order 
 to soothe his gloomy humors, David again took 
 his harp and sang to it some of his divinely 
 inspired verses. They failed of their usual 
 effect; and one day, while Saul was brooding 
 over his evil thoughts, jealousy and fear so 
 overcame him, that he threw his javelin at 
 David, determined to slay him. David avoided 
 it in time, and left the apartment. When the 
 cloud seemed to have passed from the brow of 
 Saul, David again ventured into his presence, but 
 the sight of him awoke the evil nature of the 
 king, and again he attempted to destroy him. 
 David's second escape induced Saul to cease the 
 attempt on his life ; but that he might be rid of 
 his rival, he appointed him captain of a troop, 
 and sent him against the Philistines, hoping he 
 might fall in battle. The people also, with 
 whom David was a great favorite, murmured 
 that the promise of Saul should not be fulfilled, 
 in the marriage of David to one of his daughters, 
 6
 
 62 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 " Thou shalt marry my daughter, the Princess 
 Merab," said Saul to David ; "but first perform 
 some valiant deed befitting the son of a king." 
 David deprecated all such desire as being un- 
 becoming his station as a shepherd, and replied 
 to Saul, " Who am I, or my father's family, that 
 I should seek to be son-in-law to the king? 
 Thy servant will perform any service to his 
 king, nor ask reward therefor." 
 
 "Go then," said the king, "and fight the 
 Lord's battles, and attack the outposts of the 
 Philistines." 
 
 Saul secretly rejoiced at being thus easily rid 
 of David, as he never expected to see him return 
 alive. In this he was disappointed, for the 
 young warrior returned crowned with victory, 
 and passed through the city towards the palace, 
 amid the acclamations of the admiring people. 
 In Saul was now seen the fruit of the indul- 
 gence of wicked passions : as the raging ocean 
 wave, dashing against the cliff, wears it away 
 little by little until it tumbles from its foundation 
 into the deep, so the fall of Saul from truth and 
 honor was rapid and mournful. 
 
 When he heard of the approach of David,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 63 
 
 he hastened and married his daughter Merab to 
 Adriel, son of Barzillai the Meholathite; a 
 marriage which, as it was done to dishonor the 
 Lord's anointed, was severely visited upon them- 
 selves and their children afterwards. 
 
 The remonstrances of the people, and of 
 Jonathan, however, induced Saul to promise 
 David his second daughter, Michal, who had 
 long been secretly attached to the"young hero. 
 David, however, had no faith in the promises 
 of the King ; he was aware of the enmity of 
 Saul, and declined the honor intended him. 
 Saul did not really intend to fulfill this promise, 
 but meant it to be another snare whereby he 
 hoped to be rid of David. His refusal accord- 
 ingly annoyed him, and defeated his wicked 
 plans; and he employed some of his confi- 
 dential courtiers to persuade David to accept 
 the princess. David was not easily to be won, 
 although the beauty of Michal would in other 
 circumstances have induced him joyfully to 
 accept her. " The king lightly esteems me," he 
 said to the courtiers ; " how then can I consent 
 to be his son-in-law ?" " Nay, David," replied 
 these artful men, "the king hath delight in
 
 64 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 tliee, and all his servants love thee : now there- 
 fore be the king's son-in-law." 
 
 As a last ground of refusal, David spoke of 
 his poverty. "It is no light thing for a poor 
 man to become a king's son-in-law," he said. 
 " My wife will scorn me if I bring no dowry." 
 These words reported to the king, suggested to 
 his evil heart another, and he imagined a 
 decisive means of causing David's destruction. 
 
 Saul said to his councillors, " Thus shall ye 
 say to David, The king desireth no other dowry 
 than a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that 
 he may be avenged of his enemies." These 
 foreskins Josephus and many commentators 
 think to be heads, or scalps, skulls of his 
 foes. David was given only a short time to 
 perform this exploit, which the cruel king 
 deemed a sure means of his destruction ; as he 
 might easily rout a band of these marauders, 
 yet if he stopped to sever their heads, fresh 
 bands would have time to come up and conquer 
 him. David's love to Michal, and trust in God, 
 induced him to accept these conditions. Again 
 was Saul disappointed by the triumphant return 
 of David with his spoils. Ashamed again of
 
 SOVEREIGN'S OF THE BIBLE. 65 
 
 breaking his word, Saul now did not retract, 
 and David married the princess Michal. Every 
 snare which Saul had set for David had hitherto 
 redounded to his credit, until he had risen in 
 the people's esteem as high as once stood Saul. 
 This so increased the enmity of the king, that 
 he determined to accuse him of ambition, and as 
 dangerous to the state, and thus have him pub- 
 licly executed. Jonathan was commanded to 
 head a party of guards, and bring David as a 
 prisoner to the palace. This Jonathan could 
 not refuse, but sent secretly first to David, who 
 dwelt in another building opening upon one of 
 the palace courts, and bade him conceal himself 
 in the garden or court. David obeyed him, and 
 the guards sought him in vain. Soon after, 
 Jonathan, who had a sincere friendship for 
 David, and who had experienced none of that 
 jealousy which had so moved his father, led the 
 king in his walks to that part of the garden 
 where David was concealed, in hopes of working 
 upon his good feelings and bringing about a 
 reconciliation between them. When near enough 
 for David to hear, the generous prince spoke 
 
 warmly of David, brought to the king's remenv 
 6*
 
 66 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 brance the services lie had rendered the king- 
 dom, his modesty and integrity, and the un- 
 likelihood of his entertaining views of the 
 throne. The cloud seemed to pass from the 
 brow of Saul as he listened, for he relied much 
 upon the good judgment of Jonathan, and 
 milder views were ruling his heart. This his 
 son perceived, and continued his defence of his 
 friend. " Thou knowest David put his life in his 
 hand, and slew the Philistine, Goliath, and the 
 Lord wrought a great salvation for all our land 
 thou sawest it, and didst rejoice ; wherefore wilt 
 thou sin against the innocent, and slay David 
 without a cause ?" His evil conduct thus brought 
 plainly before his eyes in a modest but firm 
 manner by his son, whom he so respected and 
 loved, wrought a change in Saul, and he ex- 
 pressed sorrow for his mistaken judgment of 
 David. To assure Jonathan, he sealed his pro- 
 mises with an oath: "As the Lord liveth," he 
 said, " David shall not be slain !" Saul was 
 penitent, and sincerely believed he should re- 
 spect these prot xises ; but truly said the wise 
 Jeremiah, "The heart is deceitful above all 
 things."
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 67 
 
 Then joyfully flew Jonathan towards his 
 friend, whom he brought to Saul, at whose feet 
 they both cast themselves. The king kindly 
 raised and blessed the friends, and peace was 
 once more in the palace. This harmony, how- 
 ever, was of short duration, for the Philistines 
 again made an inroad into the land of the 
 Hebrews, and David, with his men, were sent 
 to repel them. They fled before this powerful 
 warrior, and his triumphant return awoke again 
 the envy and malice which had lain dormant in 
 the heart of SauL 
 
 While David was singing to his harp a tri- 
 umphant song of victory, giving God the honor 
 of the battle, and perhaps using the words of 
 his 27th Psalm, " Though a host should encamp 
 against me, my heart shall not fear ; though war 
 should rise against me, in this (trust in God) I 
 will be confident." Saul, enraged at the admi- 
 ration his strains produced, again, with sudden 
 wrath, seized his javelin and hurled it at him. 
 David again escaped, and hurried to his house, 
 where he shut himself in. Here even he was 
 not safe from the insane king. Michal, his wife, 
 who tenderly loved him, informed him the door
 
 68 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 was beset with guards, who had orders to slay 
 him whenever he appeared. "Now then fly 
 this night from the back window," she said, " or 
 thou wilt be slain !" It was at these sad moment? 
 perhaps that the words recorded as his 59th ' 
 Psalm burst from the lips of David : " Delivei 
 me from my enemies, O my God j defend me 
 from those that rise up against me : deliver me 
 from the workers of iniqnity, and save me from 
 bloody men. For lo, they lie in wait for my 
 soul." 
 
 Sadness soon ceases as he remembers the 
 goodness of God, and he says, " But I will sing 
 of thy power, yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy 
 in the morning : for thou hast been my defence 
 and refuge in the day of my trouble." His 
 faithful wife assisted him to escape, by lowering 
 him from a window, and David fled to Ham ah, 
 where he placed himself under the protection 
 of Samuel. 
 
 Soon after, the guards of Saul burst into the 
 house, calling for David. Michal, to conceal 
 her husband's flight, and thus gain a little time, 
 put an image in his bed, and sent word he was 
 ill and could not arise. This image was, ac-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 69 
 
 cording to the Jewish writers, Abarbinal, and 
 Abendana, a painted statue of David, which, 
 according to the custom of loving wives, was 
 carved, and stood in one of her rooms. This 
 face, resembling David, she surrounded with 
 goat's hair, to appear more natural, and the 
 messengers, deceived, returned to Saul. The 
 king, however, once so amiabfe and noble, now 
 sunk into the depths of iniquity, determined not 
 to be defrauded of his prey, and bade the men 
 bring him, sick or well. Then the artifice of 
 Michal was discovered, and she was brought 
 before her enraged father. In a terrible voice 
 he exclaimed to her, " Why hast thou deceived 
 me so, and sent away my enemy, that he is 
 escaped?" Frightened by the king's violence, 
 Michal was tempted to resort to falsehood, and 
 declared David had threatened her life, if she 
 refused to do thus. This falsehood was soon 
 visited upon her head, for instead, of boldly 
 declaring her affection for David, and asserting 
 his innocence of any evil, she, by this base 
 assertion, added to the wrath of Saul, and led 
 him to think she had ceased to love him, and to 
 marry her to Phalti, one of his nobles. "We
 
 70 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 behold the Israelites now reduced to a state of 
 grievous bondage ; slaves to a cruel and treacher- 
 ous man, before whose bloody decrees their 
 bravest and best is obliged to fly. Truly they 
 had reaped their reward, they had thrown off 
 the authority of their holy prophet ; they had 
 asked a king, and were now only suffering from 
 the consequences. All this Samuel had pre- 
 dicted when he warned them of a king's op- 
 pressions, and said, "Ye shall cry out in that 
 day because of your king which ye shall have 
 chosen you ; and the Lord will not hear you in 
 that day!" Neither did he hear them when 
 wearied with the cruelty and violence of Saul ; 
 for trouble and war harried the land while he 
 lived, and indeed until the kingdom of Israel 
 was at an end. 
 
 The persecuted David in the meantime dwelt 
 in peace and safety at Ramah, with Samuel, in 
 the college of prophets. In this building young 
 men were taught by Samuel the principles oi 
 their religion, and sacred music, that they might 
 be able to go forth as preachers to teach the 
 people their duty. It was situated in Naioth, 
 near the city, upon high ground, from whence
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 71 
 
 there was a fine prospect of the ocean. Here 
 we may suppose David procured those images 
 of the great deep which are so interspersed 
 throughout his sacred songs. Thus meditating 
 upon "this great and wide sea," he adds: 
 
 " There go the ships ; there is that leviathan 
 Whom thou hast made to play therein. 1 ' 
 
 Again, in the hundred and seventh psalm, he 
 says, "Those see most the works of the Lord, 
 and his wonders on the deep, that go down to 
 the sea in ships ; for he commandeth and raiseth 
 the stormy wind which lifteth the waves thereof: 
 they mount up to the heaven; they go down 
 to the depths." 
 
 The restless spirit of Saul, which could know 
 no peace until David was destroyed, led him to 
 send a band of men to seize him even in the 
 sacred college. When they entered ^the hall 
 and beheld these holy men seated upon each 
 side engaged in worship, and Samuel at the 
 head of the room preaching in words given him 
 from the Lord; while, glowing with youthful 
 fervor, David knelt at his feet, breathing those 
 divine strains which yet stir the heart of those
 
 72 SOVEEEIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 who hear them ; the sacred and imposing scene 
 "the beauty of holiness" so affected them 
 that they repented their evil intentions, and, 
 kneeling down, joined in the worship. A sec- 
 ond and a third time did Saul send again to take 
 David, with the same striking result. The 
 events did not deter this wicked king from his 
 iniquitous purposes ; but, so lost was he to all 
 good, that he determined to go in person and 
 seize David, even in Samuel's presence. But 
 Saul could not approach the city where he had 
 been chosen from a low estate to be made sove- 
 reign over the land of Israel, nor enter the 
 presence of that holy prophet who had anoint- 
 ed him by the Lord's command, without such 
 thoughts and emotions as to show him the wick- 
 edness of his purposes. He remembered his 
 youth and early innocence, the great favor and 
 mercy he had received ; and, contrasting it with 
 his present corrupt and wicked state, the sharp- 
 est remorse and deepest penitence took such 
 possession of him, that, entering the college hall, 
 he threw off his armor and royal robes as being 
 unworthy to wear them, and falling prostrate at 
 the feet of Samuel, laid mourning and grovel-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 73 
 
 ling in the dust until the following day. The 
 Holy Spirit which filled the place struck him 
 down, and he lay a spectacle and a warning to 
 all whose hearts should harbor ambition or love 
 of power. Samuel showed the tenderest con- 
 sideration for the degraded monarch, although 
 he knew his penitence was not deep, having 
 only been produced by early recollections and 
 the presence of the prophet. A reconciliation 
 was concluded between him and David, who 
 was required to resort to court as usual, with 
 the promise of better treatment. 
 
 David put no trust in the promises of Saul, 
 but hastened to Gibeah before him, and sought 
 for Jonathan. "Tell me, Jonathan," he said, 
 " what have I done to thy father ? what 'sin 
 have I committed, that he seeks thus my life ?" 
 " God forbid that thou shouldst die !" replied 
 his friend. " My father hath nothing against 
 thee; for he tells me everything, and would 
 certainly inform me if he thought thou wert 
 guilty. Thou mayst trust him now, for hath he 
 not sworn to Samuel ?" " Nay, my friend ; thjr 
 father knows I have found grace in thy eyes, 
 
 and conceals his intentions from thee, lest thou 
 7
 
 74 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 be grieved. But, truly as the Lord liveth, and 
 as thy soul liveth, he still seeks my life ; there 
 is but a step between me and death, and here I 
 cannot remain." 
 
 "David, my friend," said Jonathan, "what- 
 ever thy soul desireth tell me, and I will do it 
 for thee." " To-morrow is the feast of the New 
 Moon, and the king will expect me at his table 
 as usual; but I would rather keep this feast 
 with my family at Bethlehem. This will be a 
 trial of thy father's intentions. If he show no 
 displeasure at my absence, then we shall know 
 his evil feelings towards me have ceased ; but if 
 he be wroth, then be sure he means me some 
 harm. Now, then, Jonathan," he added, with 
 energy, "deal truly with thy servant in that 
 which I shall propose. Remember the cove- 
 nant of the Lord which has bound us together, 
 and do what I request ; or, if thou thinkest me 
 guilty, rather slay me thyself, than betray me 
 to thy cruel father." " Far be it from thee to 
 distrust me, David. If my father harbor ill 
 against thee, thinkest thou I will not show it 
 thee?" 
 
 "What I propose, then," answered David,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 75 
 
 " is, that thou shalt devise some plan whereby I 
 may know thy father's intentions; some cun- 
 ning plan, that neither thou nor I may be be- 
 trayed." " Come out in -the fields, where I will 
 accompany thee homeward, and in secret we 
 may discuss our plans." When alone, without 
 witnesses, Jonathan, holding his right hand up to 
 heaven, said, "I vow, by the Lord God of Israel, 
 when I have sounded my father as thou hast 
 proposed, whatever good or ill he may intend 
 thee I will show it thee ! The Lord recom- 
 pense to Jonathan all evil he may do to David, 
 if he prove false to him !" Then turning to his 
 friend, he said, " David, after this thou mayest 
 repose confidence in me ; for if it please my 
 father to do thee evil, I will show it to thee 
 and send thee away in peace ; and the Lord be 
 with thee, as he once was with my father. All 
 I ask, in return, is kindness and protection to 
 me and my house when the Lord shall cut off 
 thy enemies, and thou shalt ascend the throne 
 of Israel." So Jonathan and David made a 
 eolemn league and covenant for themselves and 
 for their families, calling the Lord to witness 
 and take vengeance upon them, if their vows
 
 76 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 should be broken. After agreeing upon a plan 
 of communication in future, the loving friends 
 took an affectionate farewell, and separated. 
 
 The next day was the feast of the New Moon. 
 The silver trumpet sounded ; bullocks and 
 rams and spotless lambs were led to sacrifice ; 
 while flour and oil and wine were poured over 
 the altar of the Lord. A great feast took place 
 in the palace of Saul, at which all his nobles 
 and high officers were expected to appear. It 
 had been usual for David and Jonathan, sons of 
 Saul, to sit upon each side of him ; but Jona- 
 than, fearing his father v s anger when David's 
 absence was known, gave Abner his seat, and 
 sat below him. Saul noticed David's empty 
 seat, but thinking some uncleanness, by having 
 touched a corpse or other things, might have 
 forced him to abstain from meat, did not remark 
 upon it. When, however, on the second day 
 he did not appear, he asked, sternly, " Where- 
 fore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, nei- 
 ther yesterday nor to-day ?" Jonathan replied, 
 " David asked leave of me to visit his family at 
 Bethlehem, and I permitted him to go." " Thou 
 perverse and rebellious son!" exclaimed the
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 77 
 
 king with great fury. " Thou art leagued with 
 the son of Jesse ; but expect no favor at his 
 hands, i after my death, he mount the throne ; 
 thee and thy mother will be cast out to shame. 
 If he liveth, the throne and kingdom are lost to 
 thee ; therefore fetch him that he may perish." 
 
 With true friendship, braving his father's 
 anger, Jonathan asked, " Wherefore shall he be 
 slain ? what evil hath he done ?" 
 
 At this defence of David, Saul was so over- 
 come with blind fury as to snatch the javelin 
 which, used as a sceptre, stood beside his chair, 
 and hurled it at his beloved son. Jonathan nar- 
 rowly escaped, and hurried from the apartment, 
 burning with fierce anger, while the court was 
 filled with horror and dismay at this outrage. 
 
 The next day Jonathan sought the field where . 
 it had been agreed David was to lie concealed, 
 when he returned from Bethlehem ; and, to 
 avert suspicion, took with him his bow and ar- 
 rows, as if to shoot at a mark. David, from his 
 hiding-place, watched him for the signal of peace 
 or war, life or death, which, as had been arranged 
 at their last interview, was to be given by throw- 
 ing the arrows far or near. " Kun and pick the 
 7*
 
 78 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 arrows which I shoot," said Jonathan to his 
 quiver-bearer. Drawing his bow to its extreme 
 tension, Jonathan shot far past the mark which 
 was set up a signal to David that he must fly 
 far away. 
 
 As the boy sought the arrow, Jonathan called 
 . out in a loud voice, as if to him, but meant for 
 David's ear, " Make speed ! haste! stay not! the 
 arrow is beyond thee." The unconscious lad 
 gathered the arrows in haste and carried them 
 to his master. " I am tired of this amusement," 
 said the prince; "take them to the palace." 
 Although Jonathan had bade his friend adieu, 
 yet, seeing no one near, he ventured towards 
 the grove where he lay, to take a last farewell. 
 
 The decree had gone forth ; exile and shame 
 were now to be David's portion, and he well 
 might cry, " Save me, O God ; for the waters 
 are come in unto my soul." The stricken one 
 came forth and bowed himself three times to 
 the ground, in humble reverence of the chas- 
 tisement of the Lord, and in gratitude to his 
 only friend, so faithful found when "deadly 
 enemies compassed him about." The loving 
 friends then threw themselves into each other's
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 79 
 
 arms, kissed each other and wept bitter tears. 
 Jonathan mourned over the sin of his father and 
 loss of his friend ; but David's distress was deep- 
 er, as he was banished from home an<i friends 
 and wife and honor, to be a lonely wanderer, 
 surrounded on every side with all the snares and 
 pitfalls a^ruel and powerful king could spread 
 for his destruction. He was young yet, and his 
 sorrow was too great to remember, as he did 
 afterwards, the mercy already shown him, and 
 promised him from God. Throwing himself 
 upon the ground, with groans of anguish he 
 cried, " I sink in deep mire where there is no 
 standing ; I am come unto deep waters where 
 the floods overflow me I" 
 
 Jonathan raised his friend, and tenderly em- 
 bracing him, bade him a sad farewell. "Be 
 comforted, my friend," he said. " Go in peace, 
 trusting in God and in me. Eemember the 
 covenant we have sworn before the Lord, say- 
 ing, The Lord be between me and thee, and 
 between my seed and thy seed for ever. Thou 
 hast one sure and faithful friend ; let this thought 
 and hope of better days revive thee. And now 
 we must part, lest thou be observed, and, per-
 
 80 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 haps, slain, Farewell, David, my friend, fare* 
 well. 
 
 . In deep sadness Jonathan turned and sought 
 the palace, while the young hero, deliverer of 
 Israel, was forced to fly and hide himself in caves 
 and rocks from the persecutions of its king. 
 In the course of his wanderings he came near 
 the city of Nob, and resolved to enter the city, 
 and at the tabernacle which was then in that 
 city, throw himself before the Lord, and wor- 
 ship. Ahimelech, the high-priest, seeing David 
 approach, worn and travel-soiled, without his 
 usual guards and attendants, judged he was 
 flying from some new persecution of Saul, and 
 feared he would bring the wrath of the cruel 
 Saul upon Nob if they harbored him. " Why 
 art thou alone, and no man with thee ?" he asked 
 of David. Then the famished and lonely wan- 
 derer, fearing if the truth were known he should 
 be again driven forth, was tempted to resort to 
 artifice, and informed the priest he was sent 
 upon a private mission by Saul, and his men 
 would rejoin him in a short time. This false 
 hood was punished by the destruction of the 
 priests, which loaded the soul of David with
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 81 
 
 remorse, as will be afterwards seen. The ex- 
 pression in the 119th Psalm, written long after, 
 is also thought to refer to this fatal error. " My 
 soul melteth for heaviness: Remove from me 
 the way of lying." Before the altar stood the 
 golden table of shew bread, encased in plates of 
 gold, and laid up before the Lord, as memorial 
 of the goodness of God in supplying his people 
 with bread. This, when a week old, was the 
 perquisite of the priest, to be replaced every 
 Sabbath by fresher bread. David, pressed with 
 hunger, entreated the priest for some of his share 
 of the bread. He, knowing the future power of 
 David, dared not refuse, and after ascertaining 
 that he was not tainted with any impurity, con- 
 sented. Other men are spoken of as eating Tvith 
 David, but it is not known to whom the allusion 
 refers, unless it be Doeg and his men. This 
 man was a groom belonging to Saul, who re- 
 sorted to the tabernacle to fulfill some vow. 
 
 David eating the shew-bread is referred to by 
 our Lord, in justifying his disciples in plucking 
 the corn upon the Sabbath day. After satisfy- 
 ing his hunger, David asked the priest if he 
 could not furnish him with sword or spear.
 
 82 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 " The sword of Goliath, the Philistine, whom 
 thou slewest in the valley of Elah, is here," 
 replied Ahimelech. " It is wrapped in a cloth 
 behind the Ephod. If thou wilt, take that, for 
 it is the only one 1 ere." " There is none like 
 it; give it to me." said David. In Nob the 
 wanderer could not long repose, as he feared 
 that Doeg would report him to Saul ; so bidding 
 adieu to the kind priest, he again set out, nor 
 dared he rest until his own country was far be- 
 hind him. He entered the country of his ene- 
 mies the Philistines, and even dared to go to 
 Gath, the city of Goliath. So long time having 
 passed, he hoped to remain unknown. He was 
 however recognized by some of the people, who 
 took him before Achish the king. " Is not this 
 David, the conqueror of Goliath ?" they asked 
 the king. "Yea," said others, "this is he of 
 whom the singers said, Saul hath slain his thou- 
 sands and David his tens of thousands." Now 
 when the penetrating eye of Achish was upon 
 him, and his accusers, pressing around him, 
 might David cry, "Many bulls have compassed 
 me: strong bulls of Bashan have 'beset me 
 round. They gape 1 upon me with their mouths,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 83 
 
 as a ravening and a roaring lion." He might 
 justly think himself now in the valley of the 
 shadow of death, for if he were known, instant 
 death would be his fate. But he called upon 
 the Lord, and he heard him in his strait The 
 idea came to him of feigning himself mad, and 
 to the astonishment of all, he threw himself into 
 furious contortions, and uttered the wildest non- 
 sense. The friendship which afterwards sub- 
 sisted between Achish and David renders it 
 probable that he was not deceived by his feigned 
 insanity, but pretended to be, in order to save 
 the unfortunate young man from the wrath of 
 the people. He was willing also to propitiate 
 so formidable an enemy, now also an enemy of 
 Saul. To this end he cried out, " Lo, ye see 
 the man is mad : have I not madmen enough 
 around me, that ye must bring this fellow to 
 my house ? Away with him, and let him de- 
 part the city!" David went on his way rejoic- 
 ing in spite of all his troubles, for he felt that 
 the Lord was on his side, and that his frequent 
 preservation from such imminent dangers was 
 proof of Divine assistance. 
 
 While pursuing his lonely path, he is supposed
 
 84 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 to have composed the 34th Psalm. It is said by 
 commentators to be arranged with much art in 
 three parts. First he praises God, " I will bless 
 the Lord at all times. This poor man cried and 
 the Lord heard him and delivered him out of 
 all his troubles." Secondly, he teaches the way 
 of truth, "Come, ye little children I will 
 teach you the fear of the Lord." And thirdly, 
 sums up with this cheering truth, " The Lord 
 redeemeth the soul of his servants, and none of 
 them who trust in him shall be desolate." 
 
 "We next find the persecuted wanderer has 
 taken up his desolate abode in a cave, as he 
 dared not trust himself among the haunts of 
 men. This cave was near the large and beau- 
 tiful city of Adullam, upon the southern confines 
 of Judah. Here, alone, and abandoned of all 
 but God, he poured out his soul to him in prayer; 
 and praises, as may be seen in the 56th and 57th 
 Psalms. 
 
 The gloomy vault of the cave resounded with 
 the melodious voice of praise. What is it to 
 him that his enemies mark his steps, who have 
 prepared a net for him, and would swallow him 
 up ; his heart is fixed in trust of God, who, al-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 85 
 
 though exalted in his glory far above this earth, 
 yet he watched the path of his children to pro- 
 tect them. " Thou tellest my wanderings," he 
 sang ; " put thou my tears in thy bottle, are thoy 
 not in thy book ?" 
 
 As soon as David's retreat was known, he 
 was surrounded by a body of men, composed 
 partly of his friends, but mostly of those whom 
 the tyranny of Saul had driven forth from their 
 homes. Among these were three celebrated 
 warriors, Adino, Eleaser, and Shammah. See- 
 ing himself thus supported, David ventured from 
 his cave, and sought refuge in Moab, where his 
 parents were placed under the protection of 
 the king, while he shut himself in a fortress. 
 Here the prophet Gad, probably sent by Samuel, 
 found him, and bade him leave his retreat and 
 repair to Judah among his people. When Saul 
 heard that David had appeared, surrounded by 
 a band of warriors, his wrath was great, and 
 like many weak minds, he vented it upon those 
 around him. He was then encamped in Gibeah. 
 His station, according to a custom of that day, 
 was beneath a large tree, where he stood with 
 the emblem of power, a javelin, in his hand. 
 8
 
 86 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Around him were his chief officers and cour- 
 tiers, mostly of his own tribe. 
 
 "Hear now, ye Benjamites!" he exclaimed, 
 looking cowlingly around him, "ye see how 
 the son of Jesse hath increased in power, and 
 lieth in wait for me, and none of you told it me. 
 Ye have doubtless conspired with my son Jon- 
 athan against me. What would ye ? Can this 
 rebel give you fields and vineyards as I can? 
 Will he make ye captains as I have !" 
 
 No one ventured to answer except Doeg the 
 Edomite, who, in hope of reward, eagerly related 
 the attention which had been shown David by 
 Ahimelech the high-priest at Nob, and that he 
 had girt the son of Jesse with the sword of 
 Goliath. At this news, rage possessed the soul 
 of Saul. He sent immediately for Ahimelech, 
 who came with all his sons and a large company 
 of priests. "Why have ye conspired against 
 me," cried the king when Ahimelech stood be- 
 fore him, "thou and the son of Jesse, in that 
 thou hast given him bread and the sword of 
 Goliath!" 
 
 Ahimelech sought to excuse himself upon the 
 plea that David being the son-in-law of the king
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 87 
 
 deserved all this honor. The wicked king, list- 
 ening only to his passion, cried out, "Thou 
 shalt die thou and all thy father's house."^ He 
 then turned to his men, and bade them slay the 
 priests, but all shrunk in horror from touching 
 the priests of the Lord. Then the king said to 
 Doeg " Turn thou and fall upon the priests." 
 Ever ready in wickedness, Doeg and his band 
 attacked the priests, and after murdering them, 
 followed on to Nob, and utterly destroyed the 
 city and its inhabitants, except Abiathar, son of 
 Ahimelech, who escaped and joined David. 
 
 The grief of David was great when he learnt 
 how much blood had been shed upon his account. 
 "Alas!" he said, "I have occasioned the death 
 of all the persons of thy father's house. But I 
 knew, when I saw Doeg, he would surely tell 
 Saul. Abide thou with me, Abiathar, with me 
 thou shalt be in safety!" At this time, it is 
 supposed, David wrote the 52d Psalm, " Why 
 boasteth thou thyself in mischief, O mighty 
 man?" 
 
 While thus lying idle, surrounded by his fol- 
 lowers, David learnt that the Philistines had 
 made an attack upon Keilah, one of the cities
 
 88 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 of Judah. David's wish was to march immedi- 
 ately to its rescue, but ever willing to surrender 
 his will to that of his Almighty Father, he sent 
 for Abiathar, who now acted as high-priest. 
 
 Fortunately, Abiathar had brought with him 
 the robes of office, and now stood before David 
 clothed with the Ephod, a girdle of blue gold, 
 purple and crimson, which crossed his chest and 
 waist, and then fell to the ground, and the 
 Urim and Thummim, those mysterious jewels 
 by which the pleasure of the Lord was known. 
 
 The answer being favorable, David and his 
 men advanced towards Keilah, defeated the 
 Philistines, and after releasing the city, they 
 entered and fortified themselves there. 
 
 The persecuted David was not long to abide 
 in this haven of rest. News was soon brought 
 that Saul with a large army was marching 
 against it. Again David called for the high- 
 priest. When the usual sacrifices had been made 
 upon an altar of stone erected for the occasion, 
 David, prostrated before it, cried to the Lord, 
 " O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee tell thy 
 servant if Saul will come down to Keilah, as thy 
 servant heard?" The answer was, "He will
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 89 
 
 come down." Then David asked, "Will the 
 men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the 
 hands of Saul?" and the Lord said, "They will 
 deliver thee 1" David then arose, and with six 
 hundred men quitted the, treacherous city, and 
 sought refuge among the rocky fastnesses of the 
 wilderness of Ziph. Even here he was not safe, 
 as the inhabitants, fearing the fate of Nob, sent 
 messengers to Saul, offering to deliver him into 
 his hands. 
 
 Now, when deserted and betrayed at every 
 hand, one star alone lightened the gloom by 
 which David was surrounded. Jonathan, his 
 friend, true to the wanderer, came to offer him the 
 consolations of friendship, and renew the league 
 which they had sworn before God. Fearing his 
 confidence would fail, Jonathan bade him trust 
 still in the Lord, who would deliver him from 
 Saul, and lead him to a haven of rest. The 
 presence of Jonathan was a sweet cordial to the 
 fainting heart of David, and, in scripture phrase, 
 strengthened his hand in God. Their covenant 
 was renewed before the Lord in the presence of 
 the priest Abiathar, and then David and Jona- 
 than parted, never to meet more upon the earth, 
 8*
 
 90 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 We behold now David flying from one desert 
 and wilderness to another, closely pursued by 
 his untiring enemy. In the wilderness of Maon 
 he was driven so hard that it seemed impossible 
 to escape, but the persecuted son of Jesse eluded 
 his persevering foe for some time. At last he 
 became entangled in a rocky pass, and Saul, 
 exulting in the belief that his hated rival was in 
 his power, was just giving the order for a gen- 
 eral attack and slaughter, when, lo, a messenger 
 rushes into the camp! "Haste thee," he cries 
 to Saul, "the Philistines have invaded the land, 
 and are slaying and destroying all before them. 
 Reluctantly was Saul forced to delay the pursuit 
 of David and turn to drive back a foe of far 
 greater importance. 
 
 Thankful for this timely interposition of 
 Providence, David escaped with his men, and 
 secreted himself in the cave of En-gedi, among 
 the desert crags of the Dead Sea. Here, sur- 
 rounded by lonely wilds and gloomy cliffs, ac- 
 cessible only to the wild goat, it might well be 
 supposed the heart of this desolate young man 
 would faint within him, and in tears and com- 
 plaints he would give utterance to his despair.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 91 
 
 Not so the chosen of God, for in the 63d psalm, 
 supposed to have been written at this time, we 
 find him praising God for his " loving kindness 
 better than life." He also says, " My mouth 
 shall praise thee with joyful lips." His night 
 watches were spent in meditation upon God, who 
 had so far rescued him and who would still pre- 
 serve him while, he predicts, his enemies shall 
 fall by the sword. 
 
 Into these fastnesses did Saul follow David, 
 with a perseverance caused by the deadly en- 
 mity felt by the wicked for the virtuous. David 
 and his men watched Saul as with a picked band 
 of three thousand men he followed them from 
 one retreat to another. At last, when they came 
 very near, David and some of his followers con- 
 cealed themselves in a cave. While the men 
 of Saul had halted for their noon-day repast, 
 Saul looked around for a shelter from the heat 
 of the sun, and to the surprise of David's party 
 entered the cave where they were hidden. In 
 silence they remained at the end of the cavern 
 until Saul had laid himself down and had fallen 
 asleep. It was whispered to David by some of 
 those near him to arise and slay his enemy, whom
 
 92 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 God had so manifestly led into the toils. But 
 David with indignation answered, "The Lord 
 forbid that I should stretch my hand forth 
 against my master, the Lord's anointed !" 
 
 Willing that Saul should know of his forbear- 
 ance, and thus think more favorably of him, he 
 advanced quietly towards him, and cut off the 
 skirt of his robe. When he had safely retreated 
 again, his tender conscience reproached him for 
 putting this indignity upon his anointed king. 
 Why should he molest this unhappy man, he 
 thought, whose days were soon to draw to a 
 close, and whose throne he should in time 
 ascend. Saul soon after arose and left the cave. 
 He heard a voice behind him, crying, " My 
 Lord the King !" and what was his astonishment 
 when he turned and beheld David prostrated 
 before him in humble reverence, " Wherefore 
 doest thou listen to false charges against me, 
 saying David seeketh thy hurt," said David. 
 " Behold I and my men were in the cave whilst 
 thou slept, and many bade me kill thee, as the 
 Lord had delivered thee into my hand, but I 
 spared thee, and forebore to put forth my hand 
 against the Lord's anointed." While Saul in
 
 I
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 93 
 
 almost stupefaction gazed upon him, David con- 
 
 m 
 
 tinned, " Moreover, my father, behold the skirt 
 of thy robe in my hand which I cut off but 
 killed thee not, and judge if I harbor evil 
 against thee. As saith the proverb of the an- 
 cients, wickedness cometh from the wicked, and 
 my hand shall not be upon thee, and yet thou 
 huntest my life to take it. After whom is the 
 king of Israel come forth ? After a dead dog ? 
 The Lord judge between thee and me, and plead 
 my cause and deliver me out of thy hand!" 
 
 At the sight of the pure, innocent counte- 
 nance of David, whom he -had once " loved so 
 well," and the severed robe which taught him 
 David might have slain him and did not ; the 
 heart of Saul reproached him for his relentless 
 enmity. He felt a consciousness of the truth of 
 his young son-in-law, and shame for his own 
 conduct overcame him. ' Is this indeed thy 
 voice, my son David," exclaimed Saul, and lift- 
 ing up his voice he wept, " Thou art more right- 
 eous than I, David," he added, " for thou hast 
 rewarded me good for the evil I have 'done thee. 
 "Well I know no enemy of mine would have 
 spared rne as thou hast this day, wherefore the
 
 93 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 him and David's messengers, hastened to Abi- 
 gail, his mistress, ever a peacemaker. 
 
 " Behold," he said to her, " David sent mes- 
 sengers to salute our master, and he railed at 
 them. Now these men deserved not this as 
 they have never hurt us, but rather have been 
 a protection from the plundering Arabs. Our 
 master is such a man of Belial that a man can- 
 not speak to him without being rudely answered. 
 Now consider what thou will do, for these men 
 will not submit in quiet to insult;" 
 
 Abigail, fearing the revenge of David's men, 
 made haste and sought his camp, not giving 
 herself time to consult her husband, lest David 
 should arrive and attack them before he heard 
 her apology; and because she feared Nabal's 
 obstinate refusal which would lead to his de- 
 struction. Abigail rode upon an ass, and before 
 her was a train of asses bearing bread, wine, 
 sheep, corn, raisins, and figs. Abigail beheld 
 David and his band approaching, and she hasted 
 and lighted off the ass, and fell before David 
 and bowed herself to the ground. "Upon me, 
 my Lord," she said, "let this iniquity be ; but 
 let thy handmaid, I pray thee, have an audience.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 97 
 
 Regard not the conduct of Nabal, and let not 
 my Lord's hand be stained with blood, lest 
 when he come to the kingdom, as we know 
 thou shalt be ruler in Israel thou shalt then 
 feel grief that thou hast shed blood causelessly. 
 Now then receive this which thy handmaid hath 
 brought, and let it be given unto thy young 
 men. So may the soul of my lord be bound 
 in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God ; and 
 the souls of thine enemies slung out, as out of 
 the middle of a sling." David, gratified by the 
 supplies which Abigail brought, and pleased by 
 her beauty and submission, replied to her, 
 " Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent 
 thee this day to meet me. And blessed be thou 
 which has kept me this day from shedding 
 blood, and avenging myself with mine own 
 hand." David then received her offering and 
 bade her farewell, saying, " Go now up in peace 
 to thy house : I have hearkened to thy prayer, 
 and thou hast found acceptance with me." 
 
 When Abigail returned she sought her hus- 
 band to inform him of all that had passed. He, 
 however, was in the midst of a great entertain- 
 ment which he had given, and was too drunk 
 9
 
 98 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 to hear her. The next morning she told him, 
 and being weakened by debauch he was struct 
 with fright at the narrow escape he had experi- 
 enced, and fear of the future. He gradually 
 declined after this and died in ten days. 
 
 David now saw the Lord had avenged him 
 better than he could himself and blessed hia 
 God who had kept him from evil. After a due 
 time David, who had been much charmed with 
 Abigail, and felt he owed a great deal to her 
 intervention, sent to demand her as his wife. 
 
 Abigail knew David was the true king of 
 Israel, who would reign when Saul died, and 
 she was overcome with the great honor intended 
 her. She arose and bowed herself to the earth 
 before the messengers, and said, " Behold let 
 my lord's handmaid be as a servant unto him !" 
 
 With five female attendants Abigail rode 
 with the messengers to David, and she became 
 his wife. His first wife had been taken from 
 him by Saul, and given in marriage to Phalti, 
 as was said above. Since that time he had mar- 
 ried Ahinoam who belonged to his own tribe. 
 The custom of taking many wives prevailed 
 then, as it does now, in those eastern countries.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 99 
 
 Repose and domestic happiness wre, however, 
 not long to be the lot of David. His scouts, soon 
 after his marriage, gave him notice that Saul 
 with a band of chosen men was again marching 
 towards him. David could scarcely believe the 
 king should again listen to his bad advisers, 
 and seek his life. He resolved to go and observe 
 his movements himself, and turning to those 
 around him, asked, " Who will go down with 
 me to the camp of Saul ?" " I will go down 
 with thee," answered readily, Abishai, the son 
 of his sister Zeruiah. Accordingly the two sat 
 out by night, and arrived at a spot where, from 
 the rocks, they could look down upon the camp. 
 All were bound in sleep ; Saul, in the midst, lay 
 in his chariot with his javelin, the insignia of 
 royalty, stuck in the ground at his head, an 
 indication to David where he might be found. 
 
 Sadness stole over the heart of David, as he 
 looked upon one to whom he was ever bound in 
 ties of love. He grieved that the father of Jona- 
 than and Michal, instead of returning his affec- 
 tion, came out against him as if he were a bandit. 
 There lay also many he had known, and once 
 had loved him, now probably looking upon him
 
 100 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 as a malefactor. Indignation filled the soul of 
 Abishai, his nephew. "God hath delivered 
 thine enemy into thy hand ;" he said to David, 
 " now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee r 
 with my spear to the earth once, and I will not 
 smite him a second time, I promise thee." 
 "Destroy him not, Abishai!" David replied, 
 " for no one can stretch forth his hand against 
 the Lord's anointed and be guiltless I" When 
 Abishai murmured, David said, " Nay, Abishai, 
 as the Lord liveth the Lord shall smite him. 
 His day shall come, he shall descend into bat- 
 tle and perish ! Content thee with taking the 
 spear and cruse of water at his head, and let 
 us go." 
 
 David then crept cautiously and silently 
 down, and threading the ranks of sleepers who 
 felt too much contempt for him to fear an attack, 
 took from the head of Saul his spear and cruse 
 of water. Eetreating to the precipice which 
 overhung the camp, he cried with a loud voice, 
 "Abner, son of Ner, answerest not thou?" 
 " Who art thou that crieth in the king's pres- 
 ence," Abner answered. 
 
 " Art thou not a valiant man ?" cried David,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 101 
 
 jeeringly. " "Who has greater power than thee 
 in Israel? Wherefore then keepest thou not 
 better guard over thy king? There has been 
 one in the camp who might have destroyed 
 him." The people began to awake, and looked 
 up amazed, when David, calling to them, said, 
 "As the Lord liveth ye are worthy to die, 
 because ye have not guarded your master, the 
 Lord's anointed. Look, where is the king's 
 spear and the cruse of water at his head?" 
 Saul aroused by the noise, looked up and called 
 out, " Is that thy voice, my son David ?" " It 
 is my voice, my lord, the king," David replied, 
 " Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his ser- 
 vant ? What have I done ? Who hath stirred 
 thee up to come again and hunt me like a par- 
 tridge on the mountains ?" 
 
 Saul with the deepest hypocrisy, affected to 
 relent, "I have sinned;" he said. "Keturn, 
 my son David, for I will do thee no harm, be- 
 cause my life was precious in thy sight to-day. 
 I have played the fool, and have erred exceed- 
 ingly." David, however, was not to be deceived, 
 and listened not to the charmer, "charm he 
 
 never so wisely." He was satisfied with show 
 9*
 
 102 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 ing Saul he harbored no evil intention against 
 him, as he seemed to believe, and planting the 
 spear in the ground cried out, "Behold the 
 king's spear ! Let one of the young men come 
 over and fetch it. The Lord render to every 
 man his righteousness and his faithfulness : for 
 the Lord delivered thee into my hand, and I 
 would not stretch it forth against his anointed. 
 As I have spared thee, may the Lord spare me, 
 and deliver me out of my tribulation !" 
 
 The heart of Saul was touched, " Blessed be 
 thou, my son David !" he cried with emotion, 
 " I know thou shalt reign and prosper in spite 
 of aught I can do to prevent it Farewell. Go 
 in peace 1" This strange interview ended, and 
 Saul turned from his pursuit, while David, still 
 distrusting him, passed over with 600 men to 
 Achish, King of Gath, who gave him the city 
 of Ziklag, which ever after pertained to the 
 kings of Judah. 
 
 The Philistines, who had been long preparing 
 to invade the land of the Hebrews with great 
 force, after David had been with them a year 
 and four months, set out with a large army 
 towards their borders. Da rid and his men, in
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 103 
 
 return for the protection and favor they had 
 found, were required to join the expedition. 
 Unable to refuse, David lingered behind hoping 
 some chance would, befall which would prevent 
 the necessity of fighting against his country. 
 The opportunity was soon afforded him by 
 the nobles of Gath, who had been long jealous 
 of him. After much murmuring, one of them 
 boldly demanded of Achish, " What do these 
 Hebrews here while we march against their 
 land?" "Know you not it is David and his 
 band ?" replied the king. " They are at enmity 
 with Saul, and have dwelt peaceably here this 
 year past." The princes now all joined in de- 
 manding the departure of David. " Make this 
 fellow then return to the home you have ap- 
 pointed him," they said. " He will betray us to 
 his master, and thus gain forgiveness and favor." 
 Achish felt great friendship for David, and was 
 very unwilling to put this affront upon him, but 
 being forced to do it by his mutinous nobles, he 
 spoke to him thus gently. " David thou know- 
 est I love thee, and thou hast found favor in my 
 sight in thy coming in and going out, neverthe- 
 less thou must return, and go in peace to thy home
 
 104 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 in Ziklag." " What have I done ?" asked David, 
 " And what hast thou found against thy servant, 
 that my lord wilt not trust me to go down with 
 him to fight against the enemies of my Lord." 
 "Thou art good as an angel of God in my 
 sight," replied Achish ; " but my nobles ravor 
 thee not. The princes of Gath distrust thy faith, 
 and fear thou wilt betray them. Now, therefore, 
 depart in peace." David was rejoiced to turn 
 back, and he with his people departed. Alas, 
 sad was the reception awaiting them. When in 
 sight of Ziklag, the smok" which arose from its 
 ruined walls was all that remained of their .home. 
 Messengers soon met them, informing them of 
 the descent of the Amalekites, who had destroyed 
 the city, and returned bearing away the inhab- 
 itants captive, among whom were David's two 
 wives. At this terrible news, David and his 
 men lifted up their voices and wept. The sor- 
 rows and trials of David seemed never to come 
 to an end ; and, had he not trusted with such firm 
 faith that all would work together for good in 
 God's own time, his heart would have died 
 within him. He might well ask himself, as in 
 the 77th Psalm, " Hath God forgotten to ba
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 105 
 
 gracious ? Hath he in anger shut up his tender 
 mercies ?" But he calls to remembrance his favor 
 to his people of old, when "thou ledest thy 
 people like a flock,'' and his heart was strength- 
 ened. David's men turned in great wrath 
 towards him as being the cause of their absence, 
 and even threatened to stone him ; but he be- 
 seeched their forbearance until he had inquired 
 of the Lord what they should do in this strait. 
 David having thus calmed his men, called for 
 Abiathar. "With his ephod across his breast, the 
 high-priest sacrificed to the Lord, while David, 
 prostrate in prayer, asked if he should pur- 
 sue and overtake the robbers. The answer was 
 favorable, and he set out. Traces of the inva- 
 ders were soon found, as, after a short journey, 
 they overtook a man who seemed by his dress 
 to belong to them, but was apparently in a 
 dying state. They gave him some of their 
 food figs, raisins, and water which greatly 
 refreshed him. 
 
 "To whom belongeth thou?" asked David. 
 " I am a follower of the Amalekites," he replied. 
 " We made an invasion upon the borders of 
 Judea, and burned Ziklag with fire. Being
 
 106 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 wounded I was left behind, and have not tasted 
 food or water these three days." 
 
 " If I succor "thee, wilt thou guide me to those 
 men ?" asked David. The young man replied, 
 " Swear unto me that thou wilt neither kill me 
 nor deliver me to my master and I will show 
 the way they went." David promised protec- 
 tion ; and, under his guidance, they soon came in 
 sight of the robber band, spread over the green 
 sward feasting in triumph. The attack of David 
 was sudden and successful. All were slain 
 except four hundred young men, who fled upon 
 camels. David thus recovered his wives, and 
 all the other captives, together with his cattle 
 and goods, and great spoil taken from the Ama- 
 lekites. Two hundred of his men, already 
 fatigued with their march with Achish, were 
 unable to follow David, after the robbers, farther 
 than the brook Besor, where they were found 
 when the conquerors returned. These murmur- 
 ed at the thought of sharing the spoil with them, . 
 and said, " Let every man receive his wife and 
 the goods he hath lost, the rest is for the con- 
 querors." " Not so, my brethren," said David. 
 " They have guarded our carts and provisions,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLB. 10) 
 
 and they shall share what the Lord hath given 
 us. From this day forward, let it be a statute 
 in Israel, that he who goeth down to battle, and 
 he who tarrieth by the stuff, shall fare alike." 
 This was agreed upon, and was ever an ordinance 
 among the Hebrews. 
 
 Of David's share of the spoil, he sent presents 
 to his friends in Judea, among whom he had 
 taken refuge in the days of his trouble ; to tes- 
 tify his gratitude for their kindness. 
 
 The days of Saul were now fast drawing to a 
 close. His unsuccessful pursuit of David con- 
 vinced him he was protected by God, and Sam- 
 uel's prophecy would be fulfilled. He returned 
 upon his steps with a heart oppressed by fear 
 and remorse. From the gloom which fell upon 
 him, Saul was aroused by the intelligence that 
 Achish and David were marching upon Israel 
 with a large army. His trembling heart told 
 him these were the messengers of God about to 
 fulfill his doom and place his enemy upon his 
 throne. He sought Zadok, the high priest, whom 
 he had placed in the office when he destroyed 
 Ahimelech. Zadok received no answer, neither 
 by Urim nor Thummim. The evil feelings he
 
 108 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 had long indulged took from him all reliance 
 upon virtuous resolution, and Saul cowardly 
 sought the aid of sorcery in his behalf. He had 
 formerly published an edict against all sorcer- 
 ers and wizards, but he yearned after the coun- 
 sel and advice of Samuel, and determined to 
 resort to those who were said to raise the dead. 
 Saul, in disguise, with only two followers, at 
 midnight sought the hut of a sorceress, dwelling 
 in Endor, a village at the foot of Mount Gilboa. 
 Leaving his men outside the grove which sur- 
 rounded the house, Saul soon found himself in 
 the presence of the celebrated Witch of Endor. 
 "What wouldst thou with me?" she asked, 
 gloomily. " I pray unto thee," replied the king, 
 " to divine for me, by a familiar spirit, and bring 
 up from the dead him whom I shall name unto 
 thee." "Knowest thou not what Saul hath 
 done?" she asked. "He hath banished those 
 who have familiar spirits from the land ; where- 
 fore then, comest thou to lay a snare for my 
 life ? r ' " As the Lord liveth !" swore Saul, " there 
 shall no punishment happen to thee for this !" 
 "Whom then shall I bring up to thee?" 
 " Bring me up Samuel !" exclaimed the impious
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 109 
 
 king. The woman accordingly began her usual 
 incantations, after which she intended to deceive 
 Saul by a false image of Samuel ; what then was 
 her horror when she saw the earth open, and 
 looking down beheld one rising as if from the 
 dead, coming at her call. If this were indeed 
 Samuel, she felt convinced none but the king 
 would summon him forth. Uttering a wild 
 shriek, she cried, "Why hast thou deceived 
 me ? for thou art Saul !" " Be not afraid," said 
 the king. "What sawest thou." "I saw one 
 like the Gods, ascending from the earth," she 
 replied in terror. " What form is he of?" " An 
 old man cometh up, and he is covered with a 
 mantle ?" To the astonishment of Saul, Samuel 
 now really appeared before him wrapped in his 
 priestly robes, and the king overpowered with 
 awe sank prostrate upon the ground. 
 
 " Why has thou disquieted me, and brought 
 me up from the grave ?" asked the mysterious 
 figure in a solemn voice. " Alas, I am sore dis- 
 tressed," replied the trembling king. "God 
 hath departed from me, he answereth no more, 
 neither by prophets nor by visions; theiefore 
 have I called thee that thou mayst counsel me."
 
 110 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 " "Wherefore dost thou ask me, if the Lord hath 
 departed from thee ?" said the prophet. " There 
 is no longer hope for thee, for the Lord hath 
 rent the kingdom out of thy hand and given it 
 to David. He hath done this because thou 
 obeyedst not his voice. Hear thy doom, the 
 Lord will deliver thy strong men into the hand 
 of the Philistines, and to-morrow shalt thy sons 
 and thee be like me, with the dead'!" 
 
 This dreadful message delivered, the shadowy 
 form departed, and Saul fell prostrate along the 
 ground insensible. The woman approached, 
 and reverently prayed the king to be comforted, 
 and to take some refreshment to bring back his 
 strength again. "Nay," said the unhappy man, 
 "I will not eat." Yielding, however, to the 
 entreaties of his servants, who now entered, 
 Saul took some refreshment and departed. 
 
 Commentators all differ regarding the true 
 explanation of the above extraordinary event. 
 The reader must decide according to the light 
 which is granted him, whether this was a delu- 
 sion of the woman, or of Satan, or the prophet 
 himself was permitted by God to arise from the 
 tomb, where he laid awaiting the resurrection.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. Ill 
 
 morn ; to deliver to Saul the solemn message he 
 had received. 
 
 Meanwhile the war raged madly in Israel, and 
 Saul, the king, was fighting his last battle. In 
 vain were the bands of the Philistines destroy- 
 ed, for again they came on in larger masses, 
 and pressed sore upon the Israelites. Saul was 
 obliged to retreat to the foot of Mount Gilboa. 
 Surrounded by a small party of faithful follow- 
 ers and by his sons, he was forced back into the 
 mountain forests. Here shot at by the archers, 
 Saul, with the distress of a king, saw his people 
 slain around him, and with the agony of a father 
 beheld his sons struck by the enemy one by 
 one before him. Jonathan the beautiful and the 
 good, Abinadab, and Malchi-Shua, all were 
 dead. Then Saul fled into the mountain fast- 
 nesses, where he found himself alone with his 
 armor-bearer, while the yell of his pursuers was 
 heard nearer and nearer. 
 
 " I am wounded," he said," and can battle no 
 longer. Slay me, I pray thee, lest I fall alive 
 into my enemy's power. When the armor- 
 bearer, in sore affright, hesitated from such a 
 deed, the unhappy king in anguish of spirit fell
 
 112 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 upon his sword and died. His example was 
 followed by his armor-bearer. 
 
 Thus perished the first monarch of Israel, 
 after a disastrous reign of twenty years in the 
 prime of life. 
 
 Yes, here lay a mark for the archers, deserted 
 of God and the prophets, the man so desired by 
 the Hebrews, as one who was to lead them to 
 power and happiness. 
 
 Was the nation more prosperous for a mon- 
 archy? was Saul or the people happier? Let 
 the sad history of Saul answer ; and teach all 
 who read it contentment and submission to God.
 
 THE former part of the life of David has 
 already been told in the history of Saul. We 
 find him first a gentle shepherd boy, who, when 
 anointed by the prophet Samuel as king, and 
 strengthened in the inner-man with might from 
 the Lord, becomes a noble and a great warrior. 
 Although heir of the monarchy, he took no 
 steps towards assuming kingly power, and ever 
 avoided encounter with Saul, lest he should 
 injure him ; thus with much faith waiting God's 
 time to draw him from the pit in which he was 
 plunged. That time had now arrived. The 
 sun of Saul was set, and all men prepared to 
 hail the rising glory of David. 
 
 Encamped with his men near Ziklag, David 
 was sitting in his tent anxiously awaiting news 
 from the* army. Suddenly a man ran into the 
 camp, with his clothes rent, and earth strewed 
 upon his head in token of mourning. He
 
 114 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 prostrated himself at David's feet. ^ Whence 
 comest thou?" asked David. " Out of the camp 
 of Israel I am escaped," he said, breathless. 
 Trembling with emotion, David criqd, " How 
 went the battle ? I pray thee tell me quickly." 
 And he answered, " The people have fled from 
 the battle, and many are dead ; and Saul and. 
 Jonathan are dead also I" Great anguish then 
 wrung the heart of David when he heard this 
 dreadful tale ; but he subdued it to hear the 
 whole of the man's story. He had found Saul 
 still alive, who prayed him to kill him ; this he 
 did, and now brought the royal crown and 
 bracelet to David as corroboration of his truth. 
 Then David and those around him, in accord- 
 ance with their custom of giving outward mani- 
 festation of the grief which was rending their 
 hearts, tore their linen dresses, threw ashes upon 
 their heads, and, seated upon the ground, wept 
 and fasted all that day. While in this posture 
 of woe, David lamented with the lamentation 
 over Saul, and Jonathan his early friend, which 
 is found in the second book of Samuel, first 
 chapter. 
 
 A' the man who killed Saul had offended the
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 115 
 
 laws by laying his hand upon the Lord's anoint- 
 ed, he was doomed to death. This also con- 
 duced to prevent suspicion of David's participa- 
 tion in the deed. 
 
 After inquiring of the Lord, and receiving 
 his approbation, David and his family and fol- 
 lowers repaired to Hebron. Here the men of 
 Judah flocked to him, and he was publicly 
 anointed king of Judah. His first inquiry was 
 after the body of his predecessor, that he might 
 give him and his son honorable burial. The men 
 of Jabesh Gilead, he was told, had soon after the 
 battle sought them out, and after burning them 
 buried the ashes under a tree before their city 
 gate. David sent these men his thanks and 
 blessing, and promised them, as king of Judah, 
 his protection and kindness. David as yet was 
 only acknowledged king over Judah; the rest of 
 the tribes were gained over by Abner, who placed 
 Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, over them as king 
 of Israel. For two years both parties remained 
 quiet ; at the end of that time, Abner, with a 
 large host, crossed the Jordan, to attack the 
 men 01' Judah. David sent a band against them 
 headed by Joab, son of his sister Zeruiah. The
 
 116 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 two bands met in the beautiful valley of Gibeon, 
 surrounded by mountains, and by the limestone 
 ridge upon which stood that ancient city. Upon 
 each side of a great reservoir formed to supply 
 the city, and called the pool of Gibeon, encamped 
 the two generals. Skirmishes here began in 
 which many fell, until at length the whole host 
 engaged, and the men of Israel were defeated. 
 Abner fled, but was pursued by Asahel, brother 
 of Joab, who was light of foot as a wild roe. 
 Abner twice turned^ and bade Asahel leave the 
 pursuit of him and seek plunder from some of 
 the dead, or he should be obliged to slay him. 
 The young man, ambitious of taking so great a 
 prize, heeded him not, until at length Abner 
 turned again and smote him with a spear. Joab 
 and Abishai still pursued Abner, whom they 
 found upon a hill surrounded by a band of 
 Ephraimites who had joined him. Seeing him 
 so well intrenched, Joab sounded a retreat. He 
 took up his brother, whom he buried in the 
 family sepulchre at Bethlehem, and then re- 
 turned to -David, having lost nineteen men and 
 slain three hundred and sixty Israelites. 
 
 The kingdom of Israel, however, was not to
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 117 
 
 stand, for the Lord had declared David king, 
 and the counsels of the wicked must come to 
 nought. Ish-bosheth quarrelled with Abner, 
 and the haughty man, brooking no reproof, im- 
 mediately deserted the son of Saul and went 
 over to David. All Israel followed his example, 
 leaving the wretched Ish-bosheth with a slender 
 band of followers. Two of these, mistaking 
 David's character, thought to please him by de- 
 stroying his rival, and while Ish-bosheth slept 
 they murdered him and brought his head to 
 David. " Behold," said they, "the head of Ish- 
 bosheth, the son of Saul, thine enemy, which 
 sought thy life ; the Lord hath avenged my lord 
 the king this day of Saul and his seed." The 
 grief and anger of David at this outrage was 
 great. Turning to the men, he said, severely, 
 "When one told me he had slain Saul, 
 thinking to bring me good tidings, I took and 
 slew him ; therefore, as the Lord liveth who hath 
 redeemed my soul, I shall require of you the 
 blood of this man whom you have slain in his 
 house upon his bed I" 
 
 The men w^re executed, and the head of Ish-
 
 118 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 
 
 bosheth placed in the sepulchre of Abner at 
 Hebron. 
 
 Abner had* sued to be taken into favor with 
 David, who would listen to no negotiation unless 
 Abner first brought him Michal his first and 
 dearly beloved wife. Saul had >en her in 
 marriage to Phaltiel, who now was forced to sur- 
 render her. He truly loved Michal and followed 
 her weeping until near to Hebron, but as she was 
 to be the price of peace, and cement of the 
 treaty between himself and David, Abner com- 
 manded him to return, which he did sorrowing. 
 Abner next undertook to gain over to David, 
 that part of Israel who were still under arms 
 for the party of Saul. He accordingly left the 
 city just as Joab entered at another side, bring- 
 ing spoils from a troup whom he had conquered. 
 The earth is full of mischievous people who de- 
 light in trouble and confusion. Some of these 
 hastened to Joab, with the news that Abner had 
 been received graciously by David, and being a 
 great general would no doubt supersede him. 
 Joab was fired with rage that the murderer of 
 his brother Asahel and a daring rebel should 
 be thus received. Forgetting the respect due
 
 SOVEREIGN'S OF THE BIBLE. 119 
 
 to his king, he burst into David's presence cry- 
 ing, " What hast thou done ? Can it be that 
 Abner the traitor has been allowed entrance into 
 thy palace, and has gone in peace! Knowest 
 thou not he is a spy ?" 
 
 When David refused to answer these insolent 
 questions, the fierce man, bent upon revenge, 
 sent a band of his followers after Abner with a 
 message as from David praying his return. At 
 a well outside the city gates, Abner, upon his 
 return, found Joab and his brother Abishai. 
 Not dreaming of evil, Abner suffered himself 
 to be drawn aside by them, when Joab, exclaim- 
 ing, " this for the blood of Asahel," smote him 
 in the fifth rib, and he died there. 
 
 In full court was the king informed of this 
 cruel deed, and his grief and horror were so 
 great that he arose, and, lifting his hand to 
 heaven, said, " I and my kingdom are guiltless 
 before the Lord from the blood of Abner the 
 son of Ner. Let it rest upon Joab and upon his 
 father's house, and may sickness and sorrow 
 always pursue them for this." He then gave 
 orders for a great funeral, and said to Joab 
 and those around him, "Kend your clothei
 
 120 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 and gird you with sack-cloth and mourn for 
 Abner." 
 
 When the time was come, the body was laid 
 upon an ivory bier covered with purple cloth, 
 and followed by mourners, by David and a great 
 body of people. It was earned to a sepulchre 
 near the city. When it was laid within, the 
 king lifted up his voice and wept for Abner, 
 and all the people accompanied him with tears 
 and mournful cries. David then delivered a 
 lament, or funeral oration, over Abner : " Died 
 Abner for any folly or guilt ?" he said, " no 
 thy hands were not bound as a criminal, nor 
 thy feet in fetters as a malefactor, there was 
 nothing charged against thee ; as a man falleth 
 before a wicked man so fellest thou!" And 
 David and all the people wept again over him. 
 
 When the king returned to the palace, he and 
 his family sat down and mourned in sack-cloth 
 for Abner. Food was brought, of which they 
 all partook, but when it was presented to David 
 he rejected it, saying, " May God send every 
 evil upon me if I taste bread or aught else till 
 the sun be down I" When again pressed, he 
 refused, saying, "Know you not there is a
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 121 
 
 prince and great man fallen in Israel this day? 
 Abner was son of Saul's uncle, and cousin to a 
 king, moreover he was a man of talent whom I 
 could ill spare now. And jet these men I can- 
 not punish, anointed king though I be, for they 
 have great power with the soldiers. The time, 
 however, will come when I can punish .Toab.' 1 
 
 This public grief took away all suspicion that 
 David had connived at the death of Abner, and 
 the people were pleased with their king. The 
 elders of Israel joined him afterwards, and he 
 was anointed king over all the country. 
 
 The next great event in the life of David is 
 the building of the city of Jerusalem. Upon 
 the confines of Judah and Benjamin, there stood 
 a hill with three round summits in the midst of a 
 stony and hilly country. Deep, narrow valleys, 
 in the midst of which ran pure streams of water, 
 surrounded this hill upon three sides, while the 
 forests opened upon a stony plain. Upon 
 Mount Moriah, one of these hills, one of the 
 first scenes of this great history was enacted. 
 Here was Abraham's son bound for the sacrifice ; 
 type of that great sacrifice of one of Abraham's 
 eeed, by which he was promised all the nations 
 11
 
 122 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 of the earth should be blessed. Another hill 
 was occupied by the Jebusites whom the Israel- 
 ites had never yet conquered. It was to this 
 mountain, upon which Abraham had promised 
 the Lord would provide everything needful for 
 his people, that David was divinely led to 
 plant the seat of his power and of his religion. 
 David took the city, and the hill-fort on the top 
 of Mount Zion, and here he built a large city 
 called after himself, the city of David. 
 
 Behold David now at the height of his power. 
 All Israel acknowledged his dominion, and the 
 nations were awed into peace. His treasures 
 increased, the country prospered, and all was 
 peace around him. He possessed a large army 
 commanded by Joab, an able general, and a 
 numerous family of wives and children dwelt 
 within his palace. He was, moreover, in the 
 prime of life, for David only numbered thirty 
 years. Then his heart bursting with joy and 
 gratitude spoke forth the 101st Psalm; begin- 
 ning 
 
 I will sing of mercy and judgment : 
 Unto thee Lord will I sing.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 123 
 
 The wives of David were, Michal, daughter 
 of Saul; Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess ; Abigail, 
 widow of Nabal ; Maach, daughter of the king 
 Geshur ; Haggith, Abital, and Eglah. In taking 
 so many wives David only followed the custom 
 of the country in which he lived. It was per- 
 mitted by God for some good and wise purpose. 
 Afterwards he married others and took several 
 concubines. He had also seventeen sons. David, 
 by his wisdom and prosperity, had gained the 
 respect of Hiram, the king of Tyre, who sent 
 him a friendly deputation, and a present of some 
 of his workmen, as the Tyrians were skillful in 
 every kind of work. David, with their help, 
 built a stately palace made of Lebanon cedar, 
 the walls of which were adorned with exquisite 
 carving of the same, and hung with tapestry 
 dyed with Tynan scarlet. The Philistines be- 
 came alarmed at the growing power of David, 
 and attacked the country twice, but by the 
 Lord's help they were both times defeated. 
 Peace being again restored, David turned his 
 thought towards erecting an altar to that God 
 who had been his protector in evil, by whose
 
 124: SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 right hand he ever acknowledged he had gained 
 every victory. 
 
 The Ark of the Covenant had been fifty years 
 at Kirjath-Baale, where it had been sent after 
 it was recovered from the Philistines whom God 
 permitted to take it, in order to punish the high- 
 priest Eli, and his wicked sons. 
 
 David with much state and solemnity, sur- 
 rounded by thousands of the greatest men of 
 the land, set out to fetch the ark to Jerusalem. 
 
 This sacred ark was three feet nine inches 
 long made of choice wood and covered inside 
 and out with plates of gold. It was surrounded 
 on the summit with a railing of the same pre- 
 cious metal, while two cherubim with outstretch- 
 ed arms stood over it. In it were the tables of 
 the law, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna. This 
 was placed upon a cart, and drawn by oxen, as 
 horses were not used in Judah. As it was 
 shaken by the oxen, Uzzah, one of the conduc- 
 tors, stretched out his hand to keep it from 
 falling, when, to the surprise and horror of all, 
 he was immediately struck dead. This event 
 was doubtless caused by God, to impress the
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 125 
 
 nation with the sacredness of this ark, which, 
 perhaps, its long absence may have rendered 
 necessary. 
 
 David was so much distressed at this event, 
 that he feared God did not approve the ark's 
 removal, and he left it in the care of Obed-edom, 
 a Levite, who resided near. 
 
 The ark caused a blessing to rest upon the 
 house of Obed, and he and his prospered greatly. 
 
 This re-assured David, and at the end of three 
 months he again set forth with great state to 
 bring the ark. Everything was now arranged 
 in the most solemn manner. Instead of oxen, 
 Levites were commanded to carry ii, which they 
 bore by the golden staves put through large 
 rings in the side. When they had gone six 
 steps, sacrifices were offered upon an altar. 
 Again they went onward with shouting and 
 music and sound of trumpets, cimbals, psalter, 
 and harp, and dancing. David, wearing the linen 
 ephod of a priest and clothed in a white linen 
 robe, went before the ark singing and dancing 
 in the joy of his heart. 
 
 Thus they entered Jerusalem, and thus were 
 they beheld by Michal, who, inheriting the
 
 126 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 haughtiness of her father Saul, thought the 
 behavior of David lessened his dignity, and 
 despised him in her heart. 
 
 David had prepared curtains, which, in the 
 form of the first tabernacle, surrounded the ark ; 
 and here, with much joy, was the sacred coffer 
 placed. Burnt-offerings and peace offerings 
 were offered, and then the feasting began. To 
 the multitude who were gathered upon this 
 joyful occasion were distributed a cake of bread, 
 a piece of flesh, and flagon of wine each, they 
 were then blessed by David and dismissed to 
 their homes. 
 
 The 2d, 9th, and 24th* Psalms were supposed 
 to have been composed by the royal psalmist 
 upon this great event. In the first he says, 
 
 Yet have I set my king upon my 
 Holy hill of Zion. 
 
 In the second, 
 
 That I may show forth all thy praise, 
 In the gates of the daughter of Zion. 
 
 The third has those splendid verses commencing: 
 
 Lift up your heads ye gates, 
 
 And the King of Glory shall come in.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 127 
 
 How glorious does David now appear, who, 
 elevated to so high a post of honor as king over 
 the land, possessed of wealth and power and 
 prosperity, and yet not lifted up by pride, but 
 acknowledging all as given by God. When 
 firmly seated in his kingdom, his first thought 
 was that " he and his house would serve the 
 Lord." Accordingly a tabernacle was erected, 
 and the Ark, and the Law were set up for rev- 
 erence and worship. When the services were all 
 over, David returned to bless his household and 
 family. Here he was met by the proud Michal, 
 who exclaimed, jeeringly, " How glorious did 
 the king of Israel appear this day, his robes of 
 state laid aside, and a priest's ephod in their 
 place, dancing among the common people !" 
 David with a well-timed rebuke, replied, " It 
 was before the Lord that I thus humbled my- 
 self, He who chose me for king in place of thy 
 father and his house. I cannot appear too lowly 
 in his sight." The heart of David was thus 
 weaned from Michal, and he never saw her 
 more. This was doubtless the Lord's doings, 
 that there might not be any descendant of Saul 
 to disturb the country by seditions.
 
 128 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 David's house, by the assistance of his Tyrian 
 workmen, was now all finished, and while 
 inspecting and admiring it, he conceived the 
 purpose of building a temple to the Lord. A 
 holy man dwelt with David, and he was con- 
 sulted by the king. Nathan, without consult- 
 ing the Lord, pronounced the plan a wise one, 
 and commended David for it. Thia was not, 
 .however, to be David's privilege, as probably 
 the country was not settled enough for such an 
 undertaking. Accordingly a vision came to him 
 in the night, and endued him with a spirit of 
 prophecy, and bade him " Go and tell my serv- 
 ant David, Thus saith the Lord, shalt thou build 
 me an house for me to dwell in ? I have not 
 dwelt in a house since I brought the children 
 of Israel out of Egypt until this day." That 
 the king might not be disheartened, and think 
 the prohibition arose from the Lord's disappro- 
 bation, the prophet was to remind him of all 
 the favors granted him formerly, from the time 
 he was taken out of the sheep-cote until placed 
 upon a throne. He was farther promised that 
 the Lord would establish his house or family 
 upon the throne for ever, and one of his seed
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 129 
 
 % 
 
 should have the honor of building a temple to 
 the Lord. 
 
 With a heart full of gratitude David went to 
 the tabernacle, and there uttered a thanksgiving 
 for all the honors promised him and his house, 
 and humbled himself before the Lord as not 
 worthy of all he had received, and of all that 
 was promised. The warrior king was again 
 called upon to go to battle, as his enemies were 
 pressing upon the border of the kingdom. The 
 Philistines were the first defeated, and after them 
 the Moabites, and afterwards Hadadezer, king of 
 part of Syria. By the defeat of the latter, David 
 extended the borders of Israel to the river Eu- 
 phrates, and gained great spoil in gold shields, 
 brass, chariots and horses. The metals were 
 laid up in the tabernacle to be used in erecting 
 a temple. Of the horses, David only kept four 
 hundred for his own use, in which act, the pride 
 of his heart had led him to forget an express 
 command of God, who, by Moses forbade the 
 Hebrews to possess horses, lest they should be 
 led to seek conquests abroad, and neglect their 
 own border. Edom also was subdued, and David
 
 130 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 placed garrisons in the place, and returned home 
 triumphant. 
 
 He returned, and again ordered his court and 
 kingdom with much justice and judgment. Joab 
 was placed as general over the army ; Zadok and 
 Ahimelech were priests ; Seraiah, was secretary 
 of State; Benaiah was captain of the body- 
 guard ; and to the sons of David was given great 
 offices of State. While thus arranging his 
 officers, David remembered the . last possessor 
 of his throne, and inquired of his courtiers if 
 any of Saul's posterity were alive, that for Jon- 
 athan's sake he might do them a service. All 
 that he learned was that there was one of Saul's 
 servants named Ziba who lived near the city. 
 He was sent for, and brought before the king, 
 who asked him, "Art thou Ziba, servant of 
 Saul?" "Thy servant is he," answered the 
 man. And the king said, " Is there none of 
 the house of Saul remaining, that I may show 
 the kindness of God to him?" "Jonathan has 
 a son alive who is lame," Ziba replied, "for 
 when Saul was dead, his nurse fled with him, 
 and fell and lamed him." " Where is he ?"
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 131 
 
 " Behold he dwells in Lo-debar with his mother's 
 
 relations for he is poor." David's messengers 
 
 were sent with Ziba to fetch the young man, 
 
 who arrived, and with much terror, lest his death 
 
 was determined, prostrated himself at the feet 
 
 of the king. David gazed upon him with great 
 
 emotion, " Fear not," he said, " I will surely 
 
 show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's 
 
 sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul, 
 
 and give thee a seat at the royal table." Mephi- 
 
 bosheth, the son of Jonathan, bowed himself in 
 
 gratitude, and said, humbly. "What is thy 
 
 servant, that thou shouldst look upon one who 
 
 4s low in estate and worthless as a dead dog !" 
 
 David bade him arise and calling Ziba said, 
 
 " I have given unto thy master's son all that 
 
 pertained to Saul Thou, therefore, with thy 
 
 sons and servants shall make his retinue, and 
 
 till his lands for him, and bring him the profits." 
 
 Then said Ziba to the king, "According to 
 all that the lord my king hath commanded his 
 servant, that shall his servant do. 
 
 Accordingly, Ziba, with fifteen sons and 
 twenty servants, entered the service of Alephi- 
 bosheth, who, with his young son, were received
 
 132 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 at the king's table, and obtained the same honors 
 as the king's son. 
 
 In this year died Nahash the king of Ammon, 
 and his son Hamin ascended the throne. Dur- 
 ing the troubles of David Nahash had kindly 
 sheltered him, and now he wished, in return for 
 this, to show some attention to his son. Mes- 
 sengers were accordingly sent to Ammon. In 
 the mean time, the nobles who had been alarmed 
 at the great victories acquired over the sur- 
 rounding nations by David, mistrusted the ob- 
 ject of this embassy, and persuaded the young 
 king it was sent with the indention of spying 
 out the land to destroy them. Hanun believed 
 his courtiers, and the messengers of David were 
 received with insult, their flowing robes cut off 
 to the skirt, and half their beards were shaved 
 away. Cutting or injuring the beard was con- 
 sidered as the greatest indignity which could be 
 offered to a man, as it was only done in mourn- 
 ing or in slavery. The messengers stopped at 
 the ruins of Jericho, where they took shelter in 
 a few cottages near, and sent to David, as they 
 were ashamed to appear in this degraded man- 
 ner. The answer of David was, "Tarry ak
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 133 
 
 Jericho until your beards are grown, and then 
 return." 
 
 This insult must be avenged, and David sent 
 a host of the greatest warriors of the land, com- 
 manded by Joab, to the borders of Ammon. 
 The Ammonites had collected a vast army, by 
 sending for men to Syria, to the king of Maacah, 
 and to Ish-tob. Joab, when he came in sight 
 of the city of Medeba, beheld the Ammonites 
 issuing forth from the gates while their allies 
 were stationed where they could attack the 
 Israelites on the rear. To compass these two 
 hosts, Joab divided his army into two parts, 
 giving the command of those who were to re- 
 ceive the Ammonites to his brother Abishai, 
 while he, with his band, faced the Syrians. 
 When all was ready he addressed the assembled 
 army in the following words, which are said to 
 be as fine as any military address, ancient or 
 modern : Soldiers ! if the Syrians be too strong 
 for me then ye shall help me ; but if the child- 
 ren of Ammon be too strong for you then I 
 will come and help you. Be of good courage, 
 and let us quit ourselves like men for our peo-
 
 134: SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 pie and the city of our God : and the Lord do 
 that which seemeth to him good !" 
 
 Joab attacked and defeated the Syrians, which 
 so terrified the Ammonites that they fled into 
 their city and shut the gates. The Syrians, 
 joined by a large reinforcement, assembled 
 again soon after, but were attacked by David 
 
 CJ */ 
 
 in person, and so thoroughly conquered that 
 they made a treaty of peace with the Israelites. 
 David once more returned victorious to his city. 
 We behold the king of the Hebrews now at 
 the height of his glory. In the course of twenty 
 years he had terminated advantageously eight 
 wars his country was in peace, and prosperity 
 shone over the land. He had acquired great 
 wealth, and his name was renowned in all the 
 neighboring nations. He had nothing to do 
 now but to enjoy the wealth and the luxury 
 with which he was surrounded. Is this situa- 
 tion good for man ? Will not Pride assail him 
 will not luxury and indolence become sweet, 
 and thus lay the foundation for sensuality, under 
 whose assaults will not honor and even piety 
 succumb? If David was raised up partly that
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 135 
 
 his spiritual hymns might be the instruction and 
 the comfort of after- ages, and if the gift of pro- 
 phecy was given him that he might foretell of 
 Christ ; was not he permitted to stumble that 
 the great truth of man's fallen and inwardly 
 depraved nature might not be lost sight of. The 
 highest and the purest, if he relax one moment 
 from his watchfulness, will feel the sting of his 
 own wicked heart. Let him that standeth take 
 heed lest he fall ! We enter now into the dark 
 passages of David's life. 
 
 A year had David passed in ease and quiet 
 when the Ammonites again burst upon the bor- 
 ders. The king, unwilling to quit the delights 
 of his home, sent Joab forth, and with him 
 went Uriah, the Hittite, a famous warrior of 
 Israel. 
 
 The sun had set, the heat of the day was past, 
 and David indolently reposed upon the cushions 
 which were spread for him, according to Eastern 
 custom, upon the flat roof of his house. Here, 
 as the soft breezes blew over. him, he gazed out 
 upon the mountains that stand around Jerusa- 
 lem, upon the shining Dead Sea, and the dark 
 hills of Moab which rise beyond. His eye then
 
 136 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 glances down over the city which lay sloping at 
 his feet, and at length rests with emotion upon 
 a shadowy garden near his palace. There, in a 
 fountain, he beheld a beautiful woman bathing. 
 Doubtless she knew the palace overlooked her 
 retreat, and most probably hoped to attract the 
 eye of the king. But it did not lessen David's 
 sin that he was tempted. If he had then turned 
 his eyes away; if he had dismissed from his 
 heart the feelings which were gathering there, 
 and prayed to be delivered from temptation, all 
 would have been well, and he would have been 
 saved ! David did not do thus. He continued 
 to contemplate the fatal beauty which was to 
 lure him to destruction ; and even afterwards 
 asked who she was. Satan arranged everything 
 smoothly for him, the husband of Bathsheba 
 was Uriah, who was absent at the war, and David 
 thus saw a chance of secretly sinning. He sent 
 for Bathsheba, and she came, as willing as him- 
 self, to sin against her husband. When the 
 consequences of this interview began to appear, 
 David became alarmed, for he feared public 
 shame, and even, perhaps, death, for one or 
 both of them, as that was the punishment
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 137 
 
 awarded to his sin by law. By a cunning strat- 
 agem he hoped to shield himself. Uriah was 
 sent for from the war, upon pretence of inquir- 
 ing how the battle sped. Uriah came ; and 
 after answering all the questions of David, he 
 was told by the king to go to his house and 
 refresh himself, ^he next morning it was told 
 to David that Uriah slept in one of the courts 
 of the palace among the soldiers. He was called 
 before the king. "Camest thou not from a 
 journey ?" David asked, " why then didst thou 
 not go down to thy house, rest and refresh thy- 
 self?" "My lord, Joab and my fellow-soldiers 
 are encamped in the open field," said the noble 
 Uriah," and the Ark of the Lord remains in 
 curtains ; shall I then go to my house to eat and 
 drink, and lie with my wife ? As thou livest, 
 and as my soul liveth, I will not do this thing !" 
 David now began to find himself entangled in 
 the nets of wickedness, and he must resort to 
 every mean shift to conceal his crime. Uriah 
 was detained another day, and induced to drink 
 much wine, but still he slept in the king's court. 
 Probably the noble soldier had at first acted 
 
 from the generous impulse of his heart, but now 
 12*
 
 138 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 he doubtless felt suspicion, or tlie truth might 
 have been told him, as such transactions could 
 not be kept secret, and he would not consent to 
 be a party to his own dishonor. With a sinner 
 the downward course is rapid another crime 
 must be committed to conceal the first. What 
 now must the sinning David .do. The death of 
 Uriah would conceal all, but this he was not yet 
 wicked enough to do in cold blood. What if 
 he died in battle ? his name would then be cele- 
 brated as a hero who fell in the service of his 
 king and country. Unhappy David! Thus 
 did he gloss over, to his conscience, the murder- 
 ous design with which he sent a letter to Joab, 
 commanding him to place Uriah in a dangerous 
 post at the front of the battle, and thus let him 
 die. This command Joab basely obeyed. The 
 unfortunate man was the bearer of that letter. 
 He was given a post of honor while storming 
 the city, and there Uriah fell a sacrifice to the 
 passions of his king. After the prescribed time 
 of mourning David took Bathsheba to wife. 
 
 How closely does this story proclaim the truth 
 of Scripture history. Were the life of David a 
 creation pf man, would the glorious hero be
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 139 
 
 allowed thus to fall and become the contempt of 
 his readers? Rather would he have been rep- 
 resented incorruptible and god-like to the end. 
 
 If David's crimes were unknown to man, they 
 were beheld by an angry God. The sorrows of 
 his after-life may be dated from this sinful 
 period, for it is not possible for a man, however 
 repentant or pious he may be, to live the peace- 
 ful life he once did before he had been tempted 
 to sin. One day when David had retired to a 
 private apartment where he was uttering his 
 repentance and sorrow upon his harp, Nathan 
 the prophet stood before him. He was wrapped 
 in his white robe, and his long beard covered 
 all his face except the eyes, which were fixed 
 severely upon the king. " What wouldst thou, 
 Nathan ?" asked the king, while an inward tre- 
 mor shook him. " I come to submit a case to 
 my lord, the king, and to ask his justice upon 
 an offender." "Thou shall have it, speak." 
 
 " There were two men dwelling in a certain 
 city;" said the prophet, "the one rich, and the 
 other poor. The rich man had exceeding many 
 flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing 
 save one little ewe lamb which he had brought
 
 140 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 up and nourished. It grew up among his chil- 
 dren as one of them, and did eat of his own 
 meat, and drank of his cup, and was unto him 
 as a child. There came a traveler unto the rich 
 man, and he spared to take of his own herd to 
 dress for the wayfarer, but took the poor man's 
 lamb and gave it for food to his guest." David's 
 anger was kindled that any man dare be so un- 
 just in his dominions. "As the Lord liveth!" 
 he said, " the man deserves to die. But accord- 
 ing to our law let him restore fourfold because 
 he had no pity !" Then Nathan said to David, 
 "Thou art the man I" As if he heard the 
 words of an angry God pronouncing his doom, 
 the king fell prostrate before the prophet, over- 
 come with the terror of his conscience. 
 
 The Prophet continued, "Thus saith the 
 Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over 
 Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of 
 Saul : and I gave thee thy master's house and 
 thy master's wives into thy bosom, and if that 
 had not been enongh I should have given thee 
 more. Wherefore then hast thou despised the 
 commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his 
 sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittitel
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 
 
 thou hast slain him by the sword of Ammon, 
 and taken his wife to be thy wife ! Now, there- 
 fore, because thou hast despised me, the sWord 
 shall never depart from thy house 1 I will raise 
 up evil against thee from thine own house, I 
 will take away thy wives, and another shall lay 
 with them in the light of the sun ! Thou didst 
 this secretly, but I will cause it to be done to 
 thee before all Israel, that men may know I am 
 the Lord, the Avenger !" David who had lain 
 prostrate, his eyes shedding torrents of peniten- 
 tial tears, now exclaimed, "I have sinned 
 indeed against the Lord !" " The Lord will not 
 punish thy crime with death," the Prophet said, 
 " for he has promised the throne to thee and to 
 thy house, but, because thou hast caused the ene- 
 mies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child that 
 Uriah's wife has born to thee shall die." The 
 Prophet departed, and the miserable king, now 
 first tasting of the bitterness of sin, sought the 
 apartments of his children. Here the wail of 
 wo met his ear, the first fulfillment of that doom, 
 of shame, and blood and sorrow which had just 
 been pronounced over him. The child of Bath- 
 sheba was dying. David, clothed in a mourning
 
 142 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 garment of black goat's hair, his head strewed 
 with ashes, lay upon the floor fasting and groan- 
 ing in spirit. In vain the elders sought him, 
 entreated him to arise and eat ; the king remained 
 upon the ground praying for the child. Seven 
 days thus passed, and then the child died. All 
 feared to tell the king of its death, dreading the 
 consequences to him of a calamity the contem- 
 plation of which so shook him. 
 
 David saw them whispering at the door and 
 divined the cause. "Is the child dead?" he 
 asked. And they said, " He is dead." Then 
 David, to the surprise of all, arose from the 
 earth, bathed, anointed himself, and changed his 
 apparel. He then went into the tabernacle, 
 worshipped, and returning to his own house 
 asked for bread, and ate. 
 
 Some of those most familiar with the king 
 ventured to express their surprise at his greater 
 grief while the child was ill, than when it was 
 dead. David answered, "While the child was 
 yet alive, I fasted and wept, hoping that God 
 might yet be gracious to me and spare the child. 
 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast?
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 143 
 
 Can I bring him back again? I shall go to 
 him, but he shall not return to me." 
 
 Oh blessed words of David, foundation of 
 the bereaved one's hope, and soother of woes 
 which death inflicts ! 
 
 In the 51st Psalm, David breathed out the 
 penitence of his broken and contrite spirit. Ilis 
 repentance was accepted. Another son was 
 given him, born of Bathsheba, whom David 
 named Solomon, which means peaceful, as token, 
 that all was at peace between him and his Lord ; 
 to which Nathan added Jedidiah, Beloved of 
 the Lord, for God loved Solomon. David after- 
 wards joined his general, Joab, before Rabbah 
 the royal city of Ammon. It was taken and 
 spoiled, and the conquered people were made to 
 work for the Israelites as sawyers and workers 
 in iron and in the brick-kiln ; and thus was the 
 pride of Ammon quenched. 
 
 The first of the predictions of Nathan the 
 Prophet had been fulfilled, and now we are to 
 behold another and more dreadful enactment of 
 that evil in his own house, which he had been 
 foreshown as his punishment. David, by his 
 wife Maacah had twins, a fair young girl named
 
 144 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Tamar, and Absalom a beautiful young man, 
 with long flowing hair. Amnon, another son 
 of David, by Ahinoam, saw his lovely half-sister 
 and loved her. His feelings preyed upon him 
 so as to produce illness, which Jonadab, his 
 cousin, seeing, said to him, " Why art thou, 
 a king's son, so miserable?" When he knew 
 the cause, the bad man gave him such wicked 
 counsel as led Tamar into his power. Wh^ 
 his will had been obtained, he turned the 
 hapless girl adrift, who, with her royal robe of 
 various glowing dyes, embroidered with gold, 
 all torn in sign of mourning, and her dark hair 
 strewed with ashes, rushed into the house of her 
 brother. At this sight, and at the tale of her 
 woes, the wrath of Absalom arose ; but the more 
 surely to avenge her, he bade his sister keep 
 retired in his house, where " she remained, deso- 
 late." David was wroth with Amnon, but 
 more grieved for himself, for now he saw how 
 his lust was punished by the same crime in 
 his household. 
 
 Two years did Absalom nurse his wrath be- 
 fore he found a fitting opportunity of gratifying 
 it. At last he saw his time. He had purchased
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 145 
 
 a farm in Baal-hazor, and now, that the time of 
 sheepshearing had come, resolved to have a feast, 
 as is usual at these seasons, during which he 
 could slay his erring brother. He invited the 
 king and all his brothers, particularly Amnon, 
 to go down with him to his feast. The king 
 declined, but the young men went down. 
 "Mark ye, now," said Absalom to his ser- 
 vants, " when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, 
 and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then 
 kill him! Fear not, have I not commanded 
 you? Be courageous and be valiant!" The 
 feasting went on with music and mirth when 
 suddenly Absalom arose, " Smite Amnon ! he 
 cried and his brother fell dead. The rest 
 mounted their mules in haste and fled. A ter- 
 rified servant, the swiftest of all, ran hastily into 
 David's presence, and cried out, "Absalom 
 hath killed all the king's sons, and there is none 
 of them left !" Jonadab, by whose treacherous 
 advice this tragedy had come to pass, next came 
 in, and found the desolate king lying upon the 
 earth with his garments torn, while around him 
 stood his faithful servants, lamenting with their 
 
 clothes rent. " Let not ray lord suppose all hia 
 13
 
 146 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 sons are dead," he said, coldly, " Amnon alone 
 is slain. It had thus been determined by 
 Absalom from the day his sister Tamar was 
 forced. Let not the king then take it thus to 
 heart, Amnon has sinned, and he alone is 
 dead. Behold thy other sons approaching." 
 The king's sons now came in, and lifted up their 
 voices and wept ; and the king also, and all his 
 servants also wept sore. Absalom fled to his 
 grandfather, the king of Geshur. 
 
 This unworthy son was very dear to his 
 father, and David mourned not so much for 
 Amnon dead as for his beautiful young Absa- 
 lom. Joab had in vain pleaded for the young 
 man, but David was inflexible, thinking it bat 
 justice to Amnon that his brother should not be 
 pardoned. At last Joab, who was probably 
 acting for Absalom's friends, devised a cunning 
 scheme to entrap the king and force a pardon 
 for the youth. Accordingly, one day he sent a 
 woman into David's presence clothed in mourn- 
 ing garments of coarse goat's hair, with her hair 
 in disorder, and strewed with ashes. She fell 
 upon her face before the throne, crying, " Help, 
 king !". " What aileth thee, woman ?" asked 
 7
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 147 
 
 David. And she answered," Thy handmaid 
 is a widow, and had two sons, and they strove 
 together in a field, and there being none to part 
 them, one slew the other. And behold the wife 
 and family of my son, who was slain, have risen 
 and demand the other that they may smite him 
 in return, and thus avenge the fallen ; and thus 
 will the light of my family be quenched." The 
 king answered her, " Go to thy house and I 
 will give charge concerning thy case." The 
 woman knew this would not fulfill the views of 
 Joab, and wisely continued the conversation so 
 as to come around the point she wished. " I 
 pray thee," she said, " let the king not suffer 
 the avenger of blood to destroy my son 1" " As 
 the Lord liveth," answered David, " there shall 
 not one hair of thy son fall to the earth." Now, 
 then, was the woman's time to speak for Absa- 
 lom, and she said 4 "Let thine handmaid, I 
 pray thee, speak one more word unto my lord, 
 the king." "Say on," replied David, kindly. 
 " Wherefore, then, doth not the king grant to a 
 nation's prayers what he doth to a poor widow ?" 
 said the woman. " Amnon is dead and cannot 
 be recalled, and we must all needs die, and are
 
 148 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 as water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be 
 gathered up again. God forgiveth the sinner, 
 and as thou art like a minister of God over thy 
 people, then, O lord, the king, if thou forgivest 
 the son of his handmaid, so pardon and bring 
 back thy banished one I" The king, who had 
 sat with his hands covering his face that none 
 might see his tears and agony while his wounds 
 were thus probed, and the picture of his house's 
 tragedy brought thus before him, now, when 
 the woman had ceased speaking, composed him- 
 self, and said to her, " Conceal not from me, 
 woman, the thing I shall ask thee." " Let my 
 lord, the king, speak," the woman tremblingly 
 answered. " Hath not Joab consulted thee in 
 all this ?" asked the king. The woman said, 
 " As thy soul liveth, king, nothing can be hid 
 from thee. Thy servant Joab put all these 
 words into thy handmaid's mouth." Joab and 
 the courtiers, who all loved Absalom, had been, 
 at a distance, interested witnesses of this inter- 
 view, and now stepped forward, as the king, 
 calling them, said, ''As thou wishest let it be. 
 Go, therefore, and bring the young man. Let
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 149 
 
 him return to his home, but my face he shall not 
 see again." 
 
 Joab, satisfied with gaining so much, bowed 
 to the ground upon his face, and thanked the 
 king that he had found thus grace in his sight. 
 
 Absalom returned, and remained two years in 
 Jerusalem without daring to present himself 
 before his angry father. As he was in disgrace, 
 neither Joab nor the courtiers durst visit him. 
 Impatient at last of this weary life, Absalom, 
 despairing of seeing Joab another way, sent 
 his servants to set fire to Joab's barley fields, 
 a proof of his daring and violent spirit. Joab 
 sought Absalom to expostulate, which was just 
 what the young prince wished, who answered 
 boldly, " I did it that thou mightst come hither, 
 for I am weary of this life. Wherefore didst 
 thou not let me remain at Geshur if I am thus 
 to live in disgrace. Let me go to the king, he 
 can but kill me, and death is better than this 
 banishment." Joab promised to speak once 
 more to his father. David was willing to re- 
 ceive his son, for he loved him well ; and when 
 Joab brought him before him, he pardoned him 
 and gave him the kiss of peace. 
 13*
 
 150 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Absalom, although possessing a beautiful 
 form, was of a base and treacherous nature. He 
 took advantage of the favorable impression cre- 
 ated by his noble exterior to gain men's hearts, 
 that he might form a party strong enough to 
 take possession of his father's throne. So great 
 was his pride that he could not submit to be 
 ruled by another, although that other was his 
 own father! He gathered together men and 
 chariots secretly, and affected regal state. Nay, 
 so artful was he that he stationed himself by the 
 palace gate to intercept all who came with peti- 
 tions ; and with a deceitful face of sorrow would 
 tell them they could not obtain justice there. 
 " O that I were made judge in the land," he 
 would exclaim, " that any man who had suit or 
 cause might come to me, and I would do him 
 j ustice ! He would then permit the people to 
 kneel and kiss his hand, and thus stole all men's 
 hearts away. 
 
 When everything was ripe, he begged, and 
 obtained permission of the king to go to Hebron, 
 to pay a vow. 
 
 At Hebron an army was rapidly gathered, for 
 the Lori was not now on David's side. Even
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 151 
 
 Ahitophel, the prime minister, joined the rising 
 sun, as he probably was tired of the overgrown 
 power of Joab, the violent and bloody captain- 
 general. 
 
 When David heard of his son's hostile ap- 
 proach, he did not offer to resist him, nor did 
 he defend the city. He knew this was the doom 
 of "evil from his own house," which he was to 
 suffer in punishment of his sins, and he resolved 
 to suffer in silence. He did not wish to add to 
 the guilt of Absalom, so he gave orders for all 
 of his faithful friends, who might be obnoxious 
 to his son, to follow him out of the city. David 
 descended from the city to the brook Kidron, 
 where he stood, that all might pass over in safety 
 before him. His bodyguard, consisting of the 
 six hundred men who had been with him in all 
 his early battles, went over first. One of these 
 was Ittai, son of the king of Gath, and him 
 David urged to return in safety to his father's 
 court, and take back with him his countrymen. 
 This faithful friend and follower refused to go. 
 " As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king 
 liveth," he nobly said, "surely in what place 
 my lord tie king shall be, whether in death or
 
 152 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 life, even there also will thy servant be !" David 
 said to Ittai "Go, and pass over!" And he, 
 with his friends and little ones, passed over. 
 Next approached Zalok and Abiather, priests of 
 the Lord, with the Levites bearing the aik. 
 These also David sent back, lest they should 
 come to damage, or the public service cease in 
 the city. " If the Lord see fit," he said, " I shall 
 return to the city and the ark ; but if not, be- 
 hold, here am I, let him do as it seemeth good 
 unto him!" Then all the people, who looked 
 down from the city, and the masses who clus- 
 tered along the sides of the hills, wept loudly to 
 see their venerated monarch climbing the hill 
 barefoot, weeping, with his head covered in the 
 guise of a criminal. And all the people who 
 went with him covered their heads and wept 
 also. When David arrived at the summit of 
 the mount of Olives, he sat down and gazed with 
 a sorrowful heart upon the city spread out below 
 him. Sad and bitter must have been the thoughts 
 of the aged king, as he gazed upon the " city of 
 the great king ;" when he " marked well her 
 bulwarks," and "considered her palaces," and 
 gazed out to the mountains which stand about
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 153 
 
 Jerusalem. This city which he had conquered 
 and rebuilt, and which was " beautiful for situ- 
 ation, the joy of the whole earth," he was thrust 
 from, and obliged to leave as a fugitive ! Yet 
 he bowed himself and worshipped God, and 
 trusted and waited. 
 
 Hushai, a wise and prudent man, now came 
 running up to join his king, with his garments 
 torn in token of grief. David begged him to 
 return to the city and submit himself to Absa- 
 lom, and in concert with the priests, see all that 
 was going forward, and send him word by the 
 sons of Zadok and Abiather. Ziba, servant of 
 Mephibosheth, son of Saul, now approached, 
 with mules laden with bread, fruit, raisins, and 
 wine, and leading asses saddled for the use of 
 the king and his chiefs. These had doubtless 
 been sent by his master to David, but the faith- 
 less servant gave them as from himself, and 
 falsely told David that Mephibosheth remained 
 behind in hopes of seizing upon the throne of 
 his father. At this news David was wroth, and 
 gave to Ziba all the possessions of his master ; 
 which doubtless was the hope which originated 
 iiis treachery. The mournful troop had do-
 
 154 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 scended the hill, and passing the plain came to 
 the town of Bahurim. Here the king was met by 
 Shimei, a man of the family of Saul. The sight 
 of the sorrowing David could not stop his vene- 
 mous tongue, but he assailed the king with curses, 
 and threw stones at him. " Come out, come out 
 of the -city of which thou art not worthy, thou 
 bloody man of Belial," he cried. "The Lord 
 hath returned upon thee all the blood of the 
 house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned. 
 Behold thou art taken in thy mischief, and thy 
 kingdom given to Absalom, thou bloody man !" 
 The people of David were indignantly waiting 
 a sign from their king to silence this insolent 
 man, and Abishai, no longer able to contain 
 himself, cried out, " Why should this dead dog 
 curse my lord the king? Let me go over, I 
 pray thee, and take off his head I" "Nay, let 
 him curse," said the humbled king. "The 
 Lord hath permitted him to curse me, then 
 wherefore should you hinder him. Behold, even 
 my son who came forth from my bowels, he 
 seeks my life, all are against me ; but let them 
 alone, for the Lord hath bidden them I" 
 
 The meekness and resignation of the once
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 155 
 
 powerful warrior struck pity into the hearts of 
 his companions. They spoke not, however, but 
 in silence marched along, while Shimei pursued 
 them with curses and stones. When out of his 
 power they halted in the desert, struck their 
 tents and awaited news from Jerusalem. After 
 a few weary days, Jonathan and Ahimas, the 
 sons of the priests, were seen speeding upon 
 asses to the camp. " What news, what news," 
 was the cry of all. When they were come into 
 the king's presence, they cried, " Speed thee, O 
 king, across the Jordan ! Lodge not this night 
 in the wilderness lest thou and thy people be 
 destroyed!" They th'en related all that had 
 happened from the entrance of Absalom into 
 Jerusalem. When Absalom and Ahitophel and 
 their party had entered the royal palace, Hushai 
 resolved upon feigning ; and so as to serve David 
 the better, appeared before the usurper. Pros- 
 trating himself before him, he cried, " God 
 save the king!" "Is this thy kindness to thy 
 friend ?" said Absalom ; for traitors are seldom 
 agreeable to those they seek to please. " Whom 
 should I serve," replied Hushai evasively, "if 
 not the son of my friend, whom all Israel have
 
 156 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 declared king. As I have befriended David, 
 so will I be in thy presence." Hushai being a 
 man highly honored in the land he was associ- 
 ated with Ahitophel in council. " Give counsel 
 among you," said the usurper. " What shall 
 \*e do to secure our sovereignty ?" To avoid 
 all possibility of reconciliation between David 
 and his son, the wily Ahitophel advised Absa- 
 lom to take possession publicly of his father's 
 women, who were left behind in the palace. 
 This base counsel was followed ; and thus was 
 fulfilled the prophecy of Nathan! ^ Ahitophel 
 next wisely proposed to set out that night and 
 follow David with the soldiers they had with 
 them, and thus, by smiting him and his people, 
 the country would be at peace. To the great 
 alarm of Hushai, the proposal was agreeable to 
 Absalom and his warriors, and it would have 
 resulted in the utter destruction of his master. 
 He, therefore, thus addressed the council : The 
 counsel that Ahitophel hath given is not good. 
 For thou knowest, Absalom, thy father is a 
 great warrior and his men are mighty men of 
 war, and are now chafed in their minds as bears 
 robbed of their whelps. Therefore, I counsel
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 157 
 
 thee to gather together a larger array, consisting 
 of all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba; and head 
 it in thine own person; and we will so com- 
 pletely destroy them all there shall not be one 
 left." As it was not the purpose of the Lord 
 to permit Absalom to triumph, he turned his 
 heart and those of the people so that they were 
 pleased with the counsel of Hushai. Time was 
 thus gained for David. His friend hastened to 
 Zadok and bade him send word to David by his 
 son and his friend immediately. These two 
 young men, not to excite suspicion by their ab- 
 sence, had not entered the city, but dwelt at the 
 village of En-rogel near the king's gardens in the 
 valley beneath the city walls, A trusty servant 
 was despatched to the young men with the above 
 account and they were bidden to hasten to 
 David. A lad overheard their discourse, and 
 seeking Absalom's presence told him all ; pro- 
 bably hoping for a present. Soldiers were dis- 
 patched after the young men, who had arrived 
 near Bahurim, but seeing them coming they 
 sought shelter in a house friendly to David, and 
 were hid in an empty well, over which a woman 
 threw some clothes. Absalom's servants w^o
 
 158 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 foiled by this faithful woman, and they returned, 
 having despaired of seeing them. Hushai es- 
 caped from t}ie city, and Absalom dared not 
 touch the priest of the Lord. 
 
 Ahitophel. when he saw his counsel was de- 
 spised and the ruinous suggestions of Hushai's 
 accepted, knew that Absalom would be defeated, 
 and David reign again. He then had nothing 
 to hope for except disgrace and death ; so, in a 
 despairing mood, he hanged himself. 
 
 David and his band passed over Jordan. They 
 were met at Mahanaim by three warm friends of 
 David, called Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai. They 
 were well provided with refreshments for the 
 weary wanderers, and spread mats and carpets 
 for them, upon which were placed, in basons and 
 earthenware, flour, parched corn, honey, butter, 
 flesh of sheep, and milk. This timely supply 
 was gratefully received by David and his people. 
 Very different was this conduct from that of 
 Shimei. Absalom approached with a large 
 army, headed by Amasa, cousin of Joab. 
 
 With a sorrowing heart, David divided his fol- 
 lowers into three bodies, headed by Joab, Abis- 
 hai, and Ittai the prince of Gath. David was not
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 159 
 
 permitted to go to battle, as he was told by his 
 people, " Thou art worth ten thousand of us, 
 and it matters not if we die." Tlje king accord- 
 ingly remained in the city of Mahanaim. Ho 
 stood in the gate as his people passed, and call- 
 ing to him the three leaders said to them, "Deal 
 gently for my sake with the young man Absa- 
 lom !" The people heard these words of the old 
 man with pity for his great sorrow. 
 
 Joab met Absalom's army while spread about 
 in the woods of Ephraim. He fell upon them 
 suddenly and they were defeated. Absalom, 
 riding rapidly, bareheaded under the trees, was 
 caught by his thick hair among the boughs, and 
 his ass ran from under him, leaving him there. 
 A man ran and told Joab. " Behold I saw 
 Absalom hanging in an oak I" "Why did'st 
 thou not smite him ?" cried Joab angrily. " I 
 would have given thee ten shekels of silver and 
 his jeweled girdle !" " Though I should re- 
 ceive.a thousand shekels," said the honest sol- 
 dier, "I would not put forth my hand against 
 the king's son: for in our hearing tjie king 
 charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, not to 
 touch the young man. I should have wrciight
 
 160 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 evil if I had done it ; and thou thyself would'st 
 have told the king." " I maj not tarry thus 
 with thee !" said Joab impatiently ; "and calling 
 ten trusty men, he sought the spot where hung 
 this unhappy young man ; and in spite of his 
 father's injunction, and nothing moved by his 
 great beauty, this bloody and pitiless man shot 
 three arrows through him, and left his men to 
 finish the business. The prince was cast into a 
 pit, which was filled with stones heaped on high. 
 Then the trumpet of retreat was blown, and 
 the people returned to Mahanaim. The death 
 of Absalom was only known to the few who 
 killed him, and one of these was charged to go 
 before and tell David. Ahimaaz, the son of 
 Zadok, claimed the privilege of being first, but 
 it was not granted him until Cushi had set 
 forth, being, however, fleet of foot he soon out- 
 ran him. David meanwhile set in the gateway, 
 while a man stood in one of the towers and 
 watched. "I see a man running," he cried 
 down to David. " If he be alone," said the king, 
 "hebeareth good tidings; otherwise there would 
 be many flying." The other man was soon after 
 seen, and they were watched with great anxiety!
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 161 
 
 until at last Ahimaaz appeared and called from 
 a distance, " All is well." When he reached the 
 king he fell before him and cried, " Blessed be 
 the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up to 
 thee the men who lifted up their hands against 
 my lord the king!" "Is the young man Absa- 
 lom safe !" asked David trembling." " I saw him 
 not," he replied, "I saw only a great tumult." 
 Cushi now approached, calling out, "Tidings 
 my lord the king! The Lord hath avenged 
 thee this day of all those who rose up against 
 thee !" The king said, "Cushi ! Is the young 
 man Absalom safe?" Cushi, with his eyes 
 dropped to the ground, answered in a subdued 
 tone, " May all the enemies of the king be as 
 that young man is!" The king knew that Ab- 
 salom was dead. He turned from them and 
 ascended to the turret where alone he might in- 
 dulge his grief; and as he went he moaned, 
 "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absa- 
 lom ! would to God I had died for thee, O Absa- 
 lom, my son, my son !" 
 
 The army approached with trumpets and re- 
 joicing, and were surprised net to see the king's 
 approving smile. Joab asked for him, and was 
 U*
 
 162 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 told that David had shut himself up to mourn 
 for his son. The people ceased their rejoicing, 
 the victory was turned to mourning, and the 
 men silently entered the city. Joab was vexed 
 at this, as he thought, untimely grief for the usur- 
 per who had driven him and his people from 
 their home. He was a bold man, so he sought 
 the king and cried impatiently, "Thou hast 
 shamed the faces of thy servants this day, who 
 have saved thee from death : for thou showest 
 them thou lovest thine enemies better than thy 
 friends! Yea, if Absalom had lived, and all 
 we died, it would have pleased thee well ! Now 
 therefore arise, go forth and speak unto thy 
 servants ; for I swear they will not tarry here 
 with thee to weep, but be soon scattered." The 
 feeble monarch was obliged to submit to this 
 harsh language, and composing himself went 
 down to his seat in the gate ; a usual seat for a 
 judge or king while giving audience. His peo- 
 ple flocked gladly to him, and each received his 
 reward. The dispersed band of Absalom also 
 now came and surrendered to the king. David 
 ssnt messengers to Zadok and Abiathar in Jeru- 
 salem, and promised pardon to the people, and
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 163 
 
 the place of general to Amasa (which Joab had 
 held), as the king was well pleased to punish 
 him thus. His offers were received with appro- 
 bation, and king David set out to return to his 
 capital. Ferry-boats rowed them over Jordan, 
 near which they encountered the railer Shimei, 
 who, humbled and frightened, had the meanness 
 to prostrate himself and ask for pardon. Again 
 would Abishai have put him to death; but 
 David remembering the mercy showed himself, 
 answered : " There shall no man be put to 
 death this day in Israel ;" and Shimei was par- 
 doned. Ziba was also with him. Mesphibo- 
 sheth came also to meet the king, complaining 
 of the perfidy of Ziba; and declared he had not 
 trimmed his beard nor washed his feet since the 
 king departed. The king, probably, thought 
 bothwere a little to blame and divided the land 
 between them. 
 
 Barzillai, who had so kindly ministered 
 to the wants of David, accompanied him as 
 far as the river Jordan. He then bid the king 
 farewell. " Why not go over with me," asked 
 David. "I will give thee a home in Jerusa- 
 lem." "Nay my king," said Barzillai, "thy
 
 164: SOVEREIGN'S OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 seivant is this day four-score, nor can I taste 
 what I eat or what I drink, nor hear the voices 
 of the singers. Thy servant would be a burden. 
 Let then thy servant retoirn, that I may die in 
 my own city and be buried in the sepulchre of 
 my fathers. Behold thy servant Chimham, my 
 son, take him, and whatsoever seems good to 
 thee, so do to him." David accepted Chimham 
 as his servant, and kissed Barzillai, blessed him, 
 and bade him farewell. 
 
 The men of Judah came out of the city, sur- 
 rounded the king and bore him in triumph on- 
 ward. This, the men of other tribes, who had 
 gone to battle with the king, could not brook. 
 High words arose between the parties which the 
 king in vain endeavored to reconcile. At lengh 
 the cry arose, " Every man to his tent, O Israel I" 
 Sheba, a fierce Benjamite blew his trumpet for 
 his people, and with a great body of men with- 
 drew from the king and returned upon their 
 steps. Amasa, the newly appointed general 
 was sent to gather reinforcements, in order to 
 pursue them ; but being long absent, David sent 
 Abishai and Joab with their men after him. 
 Joab was exceedingly wrathful when he saw
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 165 
 
 Amasa placed above him, and resolved upon his 
 destruction. He soon met him, and while sa- 
 luting him in apparent amity, he slew him. The 
 men were astonished at this cold blooded mur- 
 der, but at the summons of Joab followed him 
 in pursuit of Sheba. He took refuge in the 
 town of Abel, from the walls of which his head 
 was thrown by a woman to save the town ; and 
 thus perished this rebel. 
 
 David now found himself again master of 
 Jerusalem and of his enemies, but not at peace. 
 The Lord designed farther trials for him, and 
 the next event of his reign was a tragic one, and 
 clothed with mystery. 
 
 A grievous famine desolated the land for three 
 years. David inquired at the altar for the cause, 
 as he feared it a continuation of his punishment. 
 The answer was, "It is for Saul and his bloody 
 house, because he slew the Gibeonites." It will 
 be remembered that this tribe, by a stratagem, 
 evaded the destruction which fell upon the nations 
 around from the troops of Joshua. 
 
 Joshua being thus deceived, made a league 
 with them; and the princes of Israel swore by 
 the Lord God of Israel, they would not harm
 
 166 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 them, so that after this oath they dared not 
 touch them. As the people of Israel murmured, 
 Joshua, to punish the Gibeonites, made them 
 bondmen, to hew wood and draw water for the 
 priests of the tabernacle. It is supposed they 
 were slain among the priests of Nob, by Saul, 
 and as the name of the Lord had been given for 
 their surety, he righteously punished the of- 
 fenders. It was determined that seven sons of 
 
 * 
 
 Saul should suffer death as an expiation of the 
 sin of their father, thus visited upon the second 
 and third generation. David had sworn to pro- 
 tect the children of Jonathan, and reluctantly 
 he, in obedience to what he believed the com- 
 mand of God, sent for the two sons of Eizpah, a 
 wife of Saul, and the five sons of Merah, a 
 daughter of Saul, who was now dead. One of 
 the most beautiful instances of maternal affec- 
 tion ever recorded, was now seen in Israel. 
 
 These victims of ancestral crimes were left 
 hanging; and beside her two sons sat Rizpah 
 upon sackcloth spread on the ground ; and night 
 and day the sorrowing mother watched, to shield 
 her darlings from injury by bird or beast. 
 When David heard of this untiring love and
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 167 
 
 devotion, he sent for the bones of Saul and Jona- 
 than, and they, with the bodies of the seven 
 young men were honorably buried in the sepul- 
 chre of their fathers. The slaughter of the 
 Gibeonites, thus avenged, the famine was stayed. 
 The above facts are considered by commenta- 
 tors as having been altered or distorted proba- 
 bly by the Rabins, as the whole is contrary to 
 many of the laws of the Jews and of Gpd. 
 
 David, doomed never to be at peace, is induced 
 by pride, to number the fighting men of his 
 land; who were found to amount to 800,000 
 valiant men of the sword, besides 500,000 men 
 of Judea. By the mouth of Gad, the prophet, 
 he was told he had sinned by thus arousing the 
 martial spirit of the land, which was now ripe 
 for slaughter upon their neighbors. A pesti- 
 lence swept over the land, which soon subdued 
 the haughty, and sorely punished David. When 
 70,000 were slain, an angel appeared upon 
 Mount Moriah, on the spot where Abraham 
 bound his son for sacrifice; and, as if for his sake, 
 the angel here stretched out his hand, and the 
 plague was stayed. This land upon which the 
 angel stood, David purchased from the owner
 
 168 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 for the purpose of building an altar to God, and 
 here afterwards stood the superb temple of Solo- 
 mon. 
 
 Arrived at the age of three-score and ten, 
 David felt the pulse of life was slackening, and 
 vital heat departing. His physicians recom- 
 mended him to procure a young person to sleep 
 with him, that he might thus be relieved of his 
 chills. He accordingly married a young woman 
 named Abishag. The beauty of this young 
 girl proved the ruin of Adonijah, the son of 
 David, and brother of Absalom. He had acquies- 
 ced in the decision of David, who had appointed 
 Solomon his successor ; but hoping now to ob- 
 tain Abishag, he set up the standard of rebel- 
 lion, and was joined by the treacherous Joab, 
 and Abiathar the high priest. These men were 
 probably actuated by the hope of ruling the 
 weak and dissolute Adonijah, which they could 
 not hope to do in the case of the virtuous Solo- 
 mon. Adonijah intrenched himself in the king's 
 gardens at En-rogel, where he soon gathered a 
 band of the idle and wicked. He had chariots 
 and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 
 He also slew sheep and oxen, and sacrificed at
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 169 
 
 an altar, with the help of Abiathar ; thus pre- 
 tending the sanction of God; and then enter- 
 tained his followers at a magnificent feast. 
 
 Nathan, the prophet, and Zodak the priest, in 
 alarm for the dying monarch, and for Solomon, 
 hastened to Bathsheba. " Hast thou not heard," 
 they said, " that Adonijah reigns, and David our 
 lord knoweth it not ? Hasten to him, and en- 
 deavor to rouse him, and save thy life, and that 
 of Solomon thy son! While thou speakest I 
 will go in." 
 
 Bathsheba immediately hastened into the 
 king's room and bowed before his couch. " What 
 wouldst thou?" he asked with a feeble voice. 
 " My Lord and my king," she said to him, 
 " thou swearest by the Lord thy God, to thine 
 handmaid, that Solomon my son should reign 
 after thee, and yet behold, Adonijah reigneth." 
 David arose in great excitement and asked, if 
 it were true " yea my Lord, he hath slain oxen 
 at an altar with Abiathar, and Joab. The eyes 
 of all Israel look to thee to decide who shall sit 
 upon thy throne, and if thou dost not act now, 
 I, and my son Solomon, will be destroyed." 
 
 When she ceased speaking, Nathan came in, and 
 15
 
 170 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 bowing low, confirmed the sad story, " Behold 
 they eat and drink, and cry, God save the king 
 Adonijah," he added, "Is this done by the 
 orders of my lord the king ? King David lifted 
 himself up in bed, and said, " call hither Bath- 
 sheba," for she had retired to the end of the 
 apartment. "When she stood before him, the 
 king lifted up his hand and swore, "As the 
 Lord liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of 
 all distress, even as I swear unto thee, by- the 
 God of Israel, saying assuredly thy son Solomon 
 should sit upon my throne, even so will I again 
 swear I" Bathsheba bowed before the king in 
 reverence, and said, " Let my lord, king David, 
 live forever 1" The king then called for Zadok, 
 and Benaiah, captain of the royal guards, who 
 with Nathan, stood before him. David gave his 
 orders to these trusty servants who hastened to 
 do as they were commanded. The king's mule, 
 upon which he rode in state processions, was 
 brought out, and the young Solomon placed 
 upon it royally clad. Then, surrounded by the 
 king's body guard and great officers of the court 
 he was led to the fountain Gibon, a public re- 
 sort, which was always crowded with people.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 171 
 
 Ilere, with a horn of holy oil taken from the 
 tabernacle, Zadok the high priest, anointed Solo- 
 mon, and proclaimed him king of Israel. Silver 
 trumpets were blown, and instruments of music 
 resounded, while the people cried with joy, 
 " God save king Solomon !" After this, the 
 young king, wearing his father's golden crown, 
 is led back to the palace, through the city which 
 rang with rejoicing ; was placed upon his father's 
 throne, where all did him homage. 
 
 The sound of the trumpets reached the party 
 of the usurper, who were in the midst of their 
 feast, Joab rose in alarm, crying " Wherefore 
 can the city be in such uproar ?" He was an- 
 swered by Jonathan, son of Abiathar, who came 
 running in, crying, " Save yourselves, Solomon 
 is crowned king!" The feast broke up in dis- 
 may, as no one hoped to succeed against the 
 king's decree, and the followers of the usurper 
 fled. Adonijah and Joab took lefuge in the 
 temple, and caught hold of the horns of the 
 altar, saying they would not come out until Sol- 
 omon swore they should not die. King Solo- 
 mon replied, "If Adonijah will show himself 
 worthy of pardon by his future life I wiJl now
 
 172 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 forgive him, but if lie still disturb the peace of 
 the realm he shall die." Adonijah came and 
 bowed himself before the king, and Solomon 
 commanded him to return to his house, and not 
 presume to come to court until he was called. 
 Adonijah departed, and probably Joab with 
 him. The rebellion of Adonijah, was the last 
 of those " evils out of his own house," which we 
 have seen Nathan the seer prophesied, would 
 come upon David, His penitence was accepted, 
 and he was allowed to descend to his tomb full 
 of days, and wealth, and honor. Before he died 
 he called his son Solomon and the chiefs of his 
 household before him. " I go the way of all 
 the earth, my son," he said to Solomon. Be 
 thou strong, and keep the charge of the Lord 
 thy God to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes 
 and commandments, as it is written in the law 
 of Moses ; that thou mayst prosper in all thou 
 ftoest ! My son, my son, it was in my mind to 
 build a house unto the name of the Lord my 
 God. But I have been a man c f war and have 
 shed blood and God forbade me. I was prom- 
 ised a son who should live in peace and quiet- 
 ness with all Israel,, and he should be allowed
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 173 
 
 to build the house. Now, my son, the Loid is 
 with thee. Build the house of the Lord and 
 prosper. I have laid up for thee treasures of 
 gold and silver and brass and stone and cedar, 
 and I have workmen in abundance. Be strong 
 and of good courage : dread not, nor be dismay- 
 ed!" Turning to the assembled princes, he 
 commanded them to assist his son. " Arise and 
 build the sanctuary!" he said, "Let it be exceed- 
 ing magnificent, of fame and glory throughout 
 all countries. The Lord your God is on your 
 side I" With some more advice to Solomon 
 regarding Joab, Barzillai, Shimei and others, 
 David the king expired. He was buried in a 
 stately sepulchre in the city of Jerusalem, which 
 was still there in the days of the apostles, and 
 is thought by some to be now in existence. 
 David died in the seventieth year of his age, 
 and fortieth of his reign. A man not without 
 error, as he partook of the fallen nature of his 
 race, in whose character may be seen grandeur 
 and tenderness, and deep piety such as never 
 man has displayed since. To use the words of 
 the celebrated Clarke, " As a king, a general, 
 a poet, a father, and a friend, he has had few 
 15*
 
 174 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 equals, and no superior, from his own time to the 
 present day." In his Psalms, in which he was 
 assisted by the Divine Spirit, we have a precious 
 legacy through which people of all nations and 
 situations and times can find hope, sympathy, 
 and an echo to their own religious, sorrowful, or 
 grateful feelings. The true piety which breathes 
 in them, and the praises sung to God, render them 
 very appropriate for public as well as private 
 worship ; and that they have been used in the 
 Church for so many centuries must be a proof of 
 their divinity. As poems they have never been 
 equalled in later ages, David was a prophet, and 
 a type of Christ. He excelled in music. He was 
 also a great hero and warrior, and just gover- 
 nor. He found the country of the Hebrews 
 distracted by internal divisions, and a prey to 
 enemies which hemmed it in on every hand; 
 but he left it prosperous, and its borders extend- 
 ing from Egypt to the Euphrates. Eaised from 
 a shepherd's life to sit upon a throne, victorious 
 and exalted as David became, we never hear 
 him giving himself credit for any of his successes. 
 His words always are, The king shall joy in 
 thy strength, O Lord : thou settest a crown of
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 175 
 
 pure gold on his head : some trust in chariots, 
 some in horses, but we will remember the name 
 )f the Lord our God : the Lord is my strength and 
 my shield, my fortress, my deliverer : It is lie 
 that giveth salvation to kings: If it had not 
 been the Lord who was on our side when men 
 rose up against us, then they had swallowed us 
 up quick," How different is this from the ego- 
 tistical vain-glory of the heroic Cesar ; / came, 1 
 saw, / conquered. Or the dying words of Julian 
 the Apostate : I die without remorse as I have 
 lived without guilt. The one humbly looking 
 to God, and giving him the glory for every event 
 of his life, the others giving the glory to them- 
 selves.
 
 Inlnmnn. 
 
 SOLOMON, the wise and the magnificent, com- 
 menced his reign at the tender age of twenty 
 years. He had not long sat upon the throne 
 when the conspirators, Adonijah, Abiathar, and 
 Joab were again busily engaged to depose him. 
 Solomon was aware of this, and upon their first 
 movement was determined to sentence them to 
 death, that he might strike fear into the hearts of 
 his enemies, and thus secure the peace of Israel. 
 
 The love of Adonijah for Abishag, the young 
 concubine of King David, was used as a pretext 
 for their first step. Could they obtain her for 
 this prince, their children, according to the law, 
 would be heirs to the throne, and consequently 
 Adonijah could assume royal powers. 
 
 Adonijah sought an interview with Bath- 
 sheba, and entered her presence with counter- 
 feit humility. "Comest thou on errand of
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 177 
 
 peace," asked the queen-mother. " Peaceably," 
 he answered. " I have something to say unto 
 thee." " Say on." " Thou knowest the king- 
 dom is mine by birthright ; and moreover, that 
 many of the people would have placed me upon 
 the throne. God has seen fit to give it to my 
 brother, and I submit. In quietly resigning my 
 right, all return I ask is Abishag, the virgin 
 wife of David. And now I come with one peti- 
 tion to thee." "Speak, Adonijah," she said. 
 " I pray thee go to king Solomon and ask him 
 for Abishag." Bathsheba saw not the design of 
 Adonijah, and deeming it a reasonable request 
 sought the presence of the king. When Solo- 
 mon saw his mother approach, he dutifully arose 
 from his throne, and bowed himself before her ; 
 he then resumed his throne, and caused a chair 
 of state to be placed beside him for her. "When 
 seated, she turned to her son and said, " My 
 son, I desire one petition of thee, and I pray thee 
 say me not nay." " Ask on, my mother, and I 
 will not say thee nay," he replied. " Let then 
 Abishag, the Shunamite, be given to Adonijah." 
 Solomon saw that Bathsheba had been urged to 
 this request by his rebellious half-brother, and
 
 178 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 knew the power which would accrue to him 
 were his request granted. " Why dost thou ask 
 Abishag, the Shunamite, for Adonijah !" he ask- 
 ed, ironically, "demanl for him the kingdom 
 also.; and for Joab and Abiathar. As the Lord 
 liveth, Adonijah hath petitioned now against his 
 own life !" Bathsheba was honorably dismissed, 
 and king Solomon hastened to issue his decree 
 of death against the conspirators. 
 
 Let those who condemn Solomon remember 
 his youth, and the dangerous conspiracy which 
 was organized against him by Joab, who carried 
 with him all the army ; Abiathar who ruled the 
 priests; and moreover, Adonijah, a son of David. 
 He had once before pardoned the latter, but told 
 him if he again offended he must die. Adonijah 
 was slain ; and Joab took sanctuary in the tab- 
 ernacle. He was dragged hence, and by his 
 blood avenged Abner and Amasa, and many 
 others whom he had slain. Abiathar being a 
 priest was spared ; but degraded from his priest- 
 hood, and banished to his native city; thus as 
 God foretold to Eli, the priesthood was taken 
 from his house ; Abiathar being the last descend- 
 ant Benaiah was put over the army in place 
 IS*
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 179 
 
 of Joab, and Zadok was made high-priest. By 
 these prompt measures, peace was restored to 
 the kingdom of Israel. 
 
 To strengthen himself abroad, Solomon sought 
 alliances with the surrounding nations by mar- 
 riage. At this time he married the daughter of 
 Pharaoh, king of Egypt ; but he afterwards added 
 to her an astonishing number of women. The 
 tabernacle was at Gibeon, and there, in the sec- 
 ond year of his reign, Solomon with a large 
 number of people repaired to offer thanks for 
 the prosperity that attended him. A thousand 
 burnt-offerings were offered. In a vision of the 
 night the Lord appeared to him, and declared 
 that whatsoever he asked should be given to 
 him. Solomon answered, "Thy servant, O 
 Lord, is placed over a great and numerous peo- 
 ple, and being young, knows not yet how to 
 govern them; give thy servant, therefore, an 
 understanding heart, that I may judge the peo- 
 ple wisely." The Lord answered Solomon; 
 " because thou hast asked this and not riches or 
 long life for thyself, behold I give tfree an un- 
 derstanding heart, and have added to this riches 
 and honor' Solomon awoke, and rejoiced at
 
 180 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 the promises given him, gave other burnt-offer- 
 ings to his God. 
 
 An opportunity was soon given to Solomon 
 to exhibit that wisdom with which he found 
 himself endued. Two women demanded a hear- 
 ing. Solomon received them seated upon his 
 throne, while the court was assembled around 
 him. The two women were led in, one bearing 
 a dead child, and the other a live one. Pros- 
 trating herself before the king, one of them said, 
 " O my Lord, I and this woman dwell in one 
 house, and each of us was delivered of an infant ; 
 the woman's child died in the night, because she 
 overlaid it ; and she arose at midnight and laid 
 it in thy handmaid's bosom, while she took from 
 me my living child." "Nay;" interposed the 
 other, fiercely; "the living child is mine, and 
 the dead is thine." " No !" cried the other, in 
 frantic grief, " the living child is my son, and 
 thine is the dead one !" 
 
 The courtiers looked at Solomon, and pitied 
 him, for they did not imagine he could see the 
 truth of this matter. He, however, knew of a 
 sure way to detect the real mother. "Bring 
 me a sword!" he cried; "divide the living in
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 181 
 
 two, and give half to the one and half to the 
 other!" Horror and scorn for this decision, was 
 expressed upon the face of the assembly. One 
 of the women, with a shriek, fell prostrate and 
 cried, " O kill him not, my lord ! Let her 
 take the child, and in nowise slay it!" The 
 other said, triumphantly, "Let the child be 
 divided, and give her a half!" Then was the 
 sagacity of Solomon seen ; the true mother was 
 discovered, and to her desolate bosom was given 
 the boy, while the other was driven forth to 
 punishment. This successful decision increased 
 men's admiration for Solomon's judgment, and 
 they were well pleased with the king that had 
 been given them. 
 
 Having the good will of his people, Solomon 
 entered into many new arrangements for the 
 benefit of the kingdom. The country was di- 
 vided into twelve districts, over each one of 
 which was appointed a purveyor, who supplied 
 the court for one month. He possessed also 
 many horses, dromedaries, and chariots, which 
 he sent to different cities to keep for him. He 
 entered into treaties of peace with all the nations 
 around him, and married the daughters of their 
 16
 
 182 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 kings and great men. The commerce of Solomon 
 was also very extensive. From Parvaim, sup- 
 posed to be Ceylon; and from Tarshish, the 
 coast of Africa, and from Ophir, ships brought 
 him gold, silver, precious stones, spices, ivory, 
 apes, linen, horses, and various valuable things. 
 For the support of his caravans and ships, Solo- 
 mon built many cities. Those upon the Red Sea 
 and Persian Gulf protected his southern trade, 
 while Baalbec, and Palmyra, or Tadmor, attest 
 his power, judgment, and magnificence upon his 
 northern frontier. His land now extended from 
 the Euphrates to Egypt, as it had been promised 
 to his ancestor Abraham, 1020 years before. 
 The Hebrew nation were now at the height of 
 prosperity, and " Judah and Israel dwelt safely, 
 every man under his vine and under his fig tree." 
 " Silver was in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar 
 trees as sycamores." Judah and Israel were 
 " eating and drinking and making merry." 
 
 We are further told, "God gave Solomon 
 wisdom and understanding exceeding much; 
 and largeness of heart, even as the sand upon 
 the sea shore. And Solomen's wisdom excelled 
 all the children of th East, and the wisdom of
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 183 
 
 Egypt." All this knowledge and this wealth 
 was now about to be converted to the use of 
 the Lord. Solomon saw the time was come to 
 commence the building of that great temple 
 which David had imagined, but of which he was 
 not thought worthy. 
 
 One of the truest of Solomon's allies and 
 friends was Hiram, king of Tyre. He had been 
 the friend of David ; and since the accession of 
 Solomon, friendly messages, and Josephus says, 
 riddles, had been sent between them. To him 
 Solomon now applied for such materials as was 
 to be found in his country. 
 
 The following is a letter which King Solomon 
 sent to Hiram, king of Tyre. 
 
 " Thou knowest how that David, my father, could not 
 build a house unto the name of the Lord his God. for the 
 wars in which he was engaged. Now that the Lord hath 
 given me peace upon every side, I purpose to build a 
 house unto the name of the Lord, according as God prom- 
 ised David, my father, saying, thy son whom I will set 
 upon thy throne shall build a house unto my name. Now 
 then, let thy servants go with mine to hew me cedars, 
 and firs, and algum trees, out of Lebanon, for my people 
 are not as skillful as thine to hew timber. Send me also 
 a man cunning to work in gold and silver, and brass, iron, 
 purple, crimson, and blue. I will pay thee and thy ser- 
 vants in wheat, barley, wine, and oil."
 
 184 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Hiram was well pleased with this message from 
 Solomon, and answered his letter thus : 
 
 " Blessed be the Lord this day, which hath given unto 
 David a wise son over this great people ! I have consid- 
 ered the things which thou sentest to me for; and I will 
 do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, fir, and algum. 
 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto 
 the sea, whence they shall be floated unto the place that 
 thou shalt appoint." 
 
 A league of amity was tnen made between 
 Hiram and Solomon ; and in return for the tim- 
 ber and cunning workmen, and the work subse- 
 quently done on the temple, Solomon gave him 
 twenty cities of Gallilee. These cities, however, 
 seem not to have pleased Hiram, who pro- 
 nounced them cabul, meaning despised a name 
 that attached to them some time after. 
 
 The great work of the temple had now com- 
 menced. Huge stones were chiselled for the 
 foundation, and the curious, large bevelled stones, 
 which are now seen at the foundation of the hill, 
 upon which the temple stood, are supposed by 
 many travelers to be the same that Solomon placed 
 there ; the only remains of that great structure. 
 The spot selected for the temple was on Mount
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 185 
 
 Moriah ; the spot where Abraham had offered 
 his son, and where the plague had been stayed 
 on the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite. 
 This hill arose on the east side of the city. 
 Its top was levelled, and around its precipitous 
 sides a wall was built of immense stones, twenty 
 feet long, strongly morticed together and wedged 
 into the rock at the foundation. In the space 
 between the walls were other walls and arches, 
 filled in with a solid mass of great stones fastened 
 together with melted lead, and with earth. The 
 top of the mount was with much labor rendered 
 level by taking away elevations and filling up 
 the hollows. Thus was formed a space seven 
 hundred and fifty feet square, surrounded by 
 precipitous sides three or four hundred feet deep ; 
 fitting pedestal for the splendid structure to be 
 placed upon it. 
 
 Authors differ so much regarding the mea- 
 sures of the temple and its courts, that we are 
 not able to decide to a certainty all its measure- 
 ments. This difference, however, is slight 
 Upon the top of the mount, and in the centre, 
 stood the temple surrounded by courts, each 
 
 lower than the other, thus giving them the ap- 
 16*
 
 186 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 pearance of a pyramid. This was a form then 
 prevalent through the eastern countries, and 
 which allowed a clear view, to the crowds of 
 worshippers assembled below, of the officiating 
 priests around the temple. The first court was 
 formed by a high wall which ran around the 
 area upon the top of the precipitous sides; which, 
 as well as the facing of the cliff, was of white 
 marble. This outer wall, according to Prideaux, 
 inclosed a space seven hundred and fifty feet 
 square. This was surrounded upon all sides by 
 an arcade supported with tAvo rows of pillars of 
 marble, except from the south side, which was 
 more magnificent, and contained three rows of 
 pillars. Within this was another wall inclosing 
 another court, leaving a space between that and 
 the outer wall seventy -five feet wide which was 
 called the court of the Gentiles. Again other 
 courts were inclosed, all floored with marble, 
 and surrounded with porticoes, over- which were 
 chambers for the use of the priests and singers. 
 In the centre of the last court, called that of the 
 priests, stood the temple itself. These courts, 
 as I said before, were each elevated so as to lead 
 up into each other by flights of steps and splen-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 187 
 
 did gates covered with plates of gold, silver, or 
 brass. 
 
 We are now in the last court, and before the 
 tsmple itself. This edifice was one hundred and 
 fifty feet in length, and one hundred and five in 
 breadth. In front of it was a porch of the width 
 of the house and two hundred and ten feet high. 
 The whole temple was built of stone, covered 
 with cedar, carved in a beautiful manner, and 
 the whole inside and out completely plated with 
 gold, so that it appeared all carved out of gold. 
 The temple was divided into two parts, the 
 Holy of Holies being the inner. This was over- 
 laid with the purest gold of Ceylon. In it stood 
 the ark, over which were two cherubim of gold, 
 bowing their wings before the mercy seat, as if 
 in adoration, This ark was a chest three feet 
 nine inches in length, and two feet three 
 inches in height. It contained the two tables 
 of the law, and the rod of Aaron, with a pot of 
 manna. It was placed upon a piece of rock 
 which had been purposely left when arranging 
 the platform on which the temple stood. This 
 also, and the room in which it was, were daz- 
 zling with carved gold. A curtain, woven of rich
 
 188 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 hues, was suspended by gold chains before the 
 door. The outer apartment of the temple con- 
 tained the altar of incense ; a table of precious 
 wood, covered with plates of gold, having 
 around it an ornamental edge of gold work, and 
 upon which a silver cup of sweet spices was set 
 to burn : the table of shew bread, also of gold, 
 containing twelve cakes or loaves of bread with 
 leaves of gold between them, and small gold 
 cups upon each pile, with incense burning ; and 
 the golden candlestick, a tall candelabrum of 
 pure gold, having its stalk richly carved, sup- 
 porting seven carved branches, bearing upon 
 the ends flowers holding lamps. Ten of these 
 superb candelabra stood upon each side the ark. 
 The doors of the temple were of cedar, overlaid 
 with carved gold, over which hung curtains of 
 blue, and scarlet, and purple embroidery upon 
 linen. Nothing could surpass the richness of 
 this temple, thus apparently formed entirely of 
 gold ; carved with flowers, palm trees, and cher- 
 ubic figures ; and its suspended curtains of gor- 
 geous embroidery. A cloister ran around its 
 sides and back, forming chambers for the priests, 
 above those were windows. Pass we out now
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 189 
 
 of this magnificent building, into the first court, 
 called the court of the priests. It was paved 
 with fflarble of divers colors, and surrounded by 
 an arcade, supported by two rows of marble 
 pillars. In this court were offered all the sacri- 
 fices, and here the services were held. Four 
 gates of gold led from this down several steps 
 into the court of the Israelites, the worshippers 
 not being permitted to go farther up ; a part of 
 this court was divided and arranged with gal- 
 leries for the women. A low balustrade, ele- 
 gantly ornamented, separated this from the outer 
 court, called court of the Gentiles, reached also 
 through golden gates and a descent of steps. 
 This being a place allotted for strangers and 
 foreigners was not considered as sacred as the 
 rest, and here it was that in our Saviour's time 
 stood the tables of the money changers. The 
 temple standing thus high above its courts, 
 which were only divided by open arcades or lovr 
 walls, its services must have been seen, and its 
 music heard, by the assembled worshippers be- 
 low, very distinctly. The temple court was two 
 hundred and eighty feet long, and two hundred 
 and two broad. Against the back part stood
 
 190 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 the temple, while in the court about it were 
 magnificent articles of worship, of gold and 
 brass. Before the porch stood two pillars of 
 brass, sixty feet high, exquisitely wrought, hay- 
 ing capitals adorned with net work, chain work 
 and pomegranates of brass. The one was called 
 Jachin, durability, and the other Boaz, strength 
 these, perhaps, were in imitation of Egyptian 
 obelisks. In the centre of the court, before the 
 temple, stood the altar of burnt offerings. This 
 .was built of unhewn stones, in the shape of a 
 pyramid ; the base was forty-eight feet square, 
 upon which were successive layers, each smaller 
 than the others, until the top was reached, which 
 was thirty-six feet square. This upper part was 
 the brazen altar, it being formed of that metal ; 
 and here the burnt-offerings were placed. The 
 priests ascended to it by a slanting pathway 
 built up to the last platform. Shovels, tongs, 
 pots, and basins of brass belonged to it, while at 
 each corner were square pillars, a foot high, and 
 hollow, to contain blood, called horns of the 
 altar. Between the altar and the arcade of the 
 court stood a magnificent tank, or fountain, 
 formed of brass by the men sent by Hiram of
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 191 
 
 Tyre. It was forty -eight feet in circumference, 
 and was supported by twelve oxen of brass, 
 three looking together towards the four corners. 
 A wreath of lillies surrounded it under the 
 brim. This was used by the priests to wash 
 themselves. Besides this, there were ten lavers, 
 five on each side of the court, for the purpose 
 of washing the offerings or articles used. These 
 were also cast in brass, and were supported by 
 spiral pillars, which stood upon a stand of brass 
 seven feet long by six broad, adorned by figures 
 of the lion, ox, and eagle. To this was fastened 
 four brazen wheels that they might be carried 
 about the court. Beside the brazen gate, which 
 was opposite the temple, stood a throne upon a 
 platform of brass where the king sat when he 
 was present at the sacrifices. Added to these 
 there were tables of marble and gold, which 
 stood about the court, and spoons, snuffers, 
 basins, and other utensils for worship, of brass 
 and gold, to the number of thousands, if we can 
 credit Josephus. 
 
 This superb temple and its courts being fin- 
 ished, Solomon made preparations for its dedica- 
 tion, of great magnificence. The day had ar-
 
 192 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 rived, and thousands of worshippers were ween 
 pouring down from the hills around, through 
 the streets, and up to the courts of the Lord ; 
 their joyful eyes lifted up to that glorious house 
 of gold and gems, from which a brilliant sun is 
 reflected in dazzling rays and scintillations. 
 Solomon, with an imposing train of courtiers, 
 nobles, warriors, and priests, issues from his 
 house, and crosses the bridge which leads to the 
 temple ; from which a hundred silver trumpets 
 are pouring forth their notes of joyful adoration. 
 The first to enter were a band of priests bearing 
 the ark and the holy vessels which were in the 
 tabernacle ; these, with reverence great, were to 
 be deposited within the Holy of Holies. Solomon 
 seated himself in state upon the brazen throne 
 prepared for him while the courts around and 
 below were filled with priests and people. The 
 ark was placed between the wings of the cheru- 
 bim, while, from the hundreds of priests, who 
 stood at each side, clothed in white linen, arose 
 the sound of singing, and harps, and cymbals, 
 and trumpets. Then the glory of the Lord came 
 down upon the altar, and the house and courts 
 were filled with smoke and flashes of light.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 193 
 
 Great awe filled the hearts of all ; the music 
 ceased, and the people prostrated themselves 
 before the Lord; while the voice of Solomon 
 was heard, saying : The Lord hath said that he 
 would dwell in thick darkness, but I have built 
 a habitation for thee to dwell in forever I" The 
 king then turned and blessed all the people, 
 who arose and the cloud dispersed. He ex- 
 plained to them in a few words the cause of 
 their assembling, and the origin of the temple, 
 which was designed by David, who was not per- 
 mitted to build it ; and it was completed by Sol- 
 omon. Immense flocks of sheep and oxen were 
 next brought forth, and after being properly 
 slain and cut urj by the officials, were lain upon 
 the great brazen altar before the temple. Solo- 
 mon kneeled upon the brazen scaffold on which 
 stood his throne, and lifting up his hands uttered 
 that noble prayer which hatn not a counterpart 
 in any language. He asked for blessings from 
 on high for the people, and acceptance of their 
 sacrifice in any sorrow or great emergency he 
 asked the Lord to " hear in heaven, thy dwelling 
 place, their prayer and their supplication, and 
 
 when thou nearest forgive and sustain." When 
 17
 
 194 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 prayers arose in drought, or famine, or war, or 
 sin, or suffering, or in the temple, the Lord was 
 adjured to "arise from thy resting place and 
 let thy priests, Lord, be clothed in salvation, 
 and let thy saints rejoice in goodness!" 
 
 The prayer was ended, and lo ! a flame from, 
 heaven descended upon the altar and consumed 
 the sacrifice ! At this manifestation of divine 
 approbation, arose great shouting, and singing, 
 and clamor of instruments of music, other sacri- 
 fices and burnt-offerings were offered ; and the 
 king and people departed from the temple in 
 joy. Seven days did Solomon keep up feasting 
 and rejoicing with the thousands assembled in 
 Jerusalem, and on the eighth day he sent them 
 away. And they blessed the king, and went 
 into their tents joyful and glad of heart for all 
 the goodness the Lord had done for David his 
 servant, and for his people Israel. 
 
 When all the feasting was over, the Lord 
 visited Solomon, and told him his supplication 
 for favor and protection to Israel was heard, aal 
 should be answered if they continued worthy, 
 of it. But if, on the contrary, he or his child- 
 ren, or his people, should now, or in future, di*
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 195 
 
 obey the Lord, then " will I cut off Israel out 
 of the land which I have given them ; and this 
 temple which I have hallowed for the worship 
 of my name, will I cast out of my sight ; and 
 Israel shall be a proverb- and a by- word among 
 all people!" A fearful prophecy, and truly 
 fulfilled! For ages have travelers, of all peo- 
 ple, come to gaze with astonishment upon the 
 ruins of that city and site of that temple ; and 
 have looked upon the remnant of that scattered 
 nation, and have bowed their heads with awe 
 before a God who can send down such fearful 
 j udgments I 
 
 Solomon now saw himself at the head of a 
 powerful nation. His borders were extended, 
 his fleet was large, and army numerous, and he 
 was at peace with all around him. In his pal- 
 ace he lived in great state. This palace is de- 
 scribed as being very splendid ; and composed 
 of several edifices connected together by courts, 
 and these surrounded by piazzas and arcades 
 supported by carved pillars. Around the whole 
 were gardens and grounds laid out in much 
 taste. The palace was built of white marble, 
 adorned with carved cedar and algum or cypress
 
 196 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 wood, and richly inlaid and ornamented with 
 precious stones. One of these magnificent rooms 
 Josephus describes as wainscoted half the way 
 up with such rare and precious marbles and 
 stones^ " as make the mines whence they are 
 dug famous." Above this ran a line of sculp- 
 ture upon, probably, white marble, u wheron are 
 represented trees and all sorts of plants, with 
 the shades that arose from their branches ; and 
 leaves wrought so prodigious subtile that you 
 would think they were in motion." The other 
 part of the wall up to the roof, was plastered 
 and painted in brilliant colors. One of the build- 
 ings of the palace was a splendidly adorned 
 banquet-room. Another was a hall of justice, 
 one hundred and seventy -five feet long ; which, 
 being supported by pillars of cedar from Leba- 
 non, is called the house of the forest of Leba- 
 non; upon the columns were suspended two 
 hundred targets, and three hundred shields, all 
 of beaten gold. Besides this palace, which stood 
 upon Mount Zion, there was a country house, 
 built for his wife, the daughter of the king of 
 Egypt. When Solomon visited her he rode in 
 a splendid chariot surrounded by archers clad
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 197 
 
 in garments of Tyrian purple, their long, flow- 
 ing locks sprinkled with gold dust. The king 
 himself was clad in white robes. Around this 
 palace lay those luxurious gardens which are 
 described in Solomon's Song. And here, in re- 
 tirement, he may probably have composed some 
 of those thousand songs and proverbs which 
 display so well his piety and learning ; and that 
 wisdom which is described as being greater than 
 that of the Egyptians. As a poet we can only 
 judge Solomon bj the book of Canticles, which 
 alone remains out of 1005 poems he is said to 
 have written. This, however, by its pleasing 
 and grand imagery, its touching portraiture of 
 passions and affections, will stamp him as a poet 
 of a superior order. His knowledge of natural 
 history was also great ; he is said to have writ- 
 ten upon botany, zoology, ornithology, and 
 various other departments of this science, but 
 we can only have proof of it by expressions in 
 his other writings, as they also are lost. Through- 
 out his writings that remain, are innumerable 
 illustrations drawn from, animals, birds, insects, 
 flowers, fruit, trees, natural scenery, and objects, 
 fire, water, air, and many others. The book of 
 17*
 
 198 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Eeclesiastes ranks him high as a moral philoso- 
 pher. The book of Proverbs shows us an ad- 
 mirable knowledge of human nature, and con- 
 tains advice for almost every relation of life. 
 Medical books are also supposed to have been 
 written by Solomon. 
 
 The fame of his wisdom, thus spread by his 
 writings, was conveyed to all the nations 
 around; and joined to the report of his wealth, 
 his navies, and conquests, attracted to his court 
 a great concourse of distinguished people. To 
 the ignorant, this sudden prosperity and glory 
 of Solomon, and his books, especially medical 
 ones, caused him to appear as a magician. Ages 
 after his death he was so considered, and tradi- 
 tions yet remain of Solomon's ring and seal, 
 whereby he built Tadmor in the desert, made 
 genii obedient to him, and cured diseases. 
 
 Among the sovereigns who came to visit Solo- 
 mon, was the Queen of Sheba, a country of 
 Arabia Felix. Descended, as some writers say, 
 from Abraham and Keturah. She cherished in 
 her heart, a knowledge of God, and was a woman 
 of great piety and virtue. The ships of Solomon 
 which came to her coasts for gold, precious
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 199 
 
 stones, and spices, gave her a great idea of his 
 power and riches. From others she heard of 
 his vast wisdom, and she respected him; but 
 when she learnt his deep piety, and was told of 
 the wonderous temple he was building to the 
 God of the Hebrews, she experienced a power- 
 ful wish to visit him, and hear from his lips the 
 exposition of things abstruse, which had puzzled 
 her. Accordingly, she sat out with a great train 
 towards Jerusalem. The deserts were passed, 
 the hills of Judea were in sight, and at length, 
 crowning the summit of one, that glorious city 
 of marble and gold arose before her. Over 
 roads, paved with smooth black stones, the 
 queen of the south passed on ; and behind her 
 came a long train of camels, laden with gold, 
 precious stones, spices, myrrh, and frankincense, 
 algum and balsam trees, and many more valua- 
 ble things. As they approached the city, its 
 walls and towers of stone, and gates of brass, 
 prepared. them a little for the magnificence with- 
 in. Solomon sent a stately train to meet the 
 queen and escort her to the palace. Here the 
 strangers were overwhelmed with the grandeur 
 of its halls, and terraces, and courts, inlaid and
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 adorned with gold, and rich painting, and rare 
 marbles. In the hall of State, was Solomon in 
 all his glory. The queen was dazzled when she 
 looked around her upon the gorgeously painted 
 walls, having devices of gems set in gold, and 
 upon the immense train of courtiers and officers 
 of State, clad in robes of all hues, adorned with 
 gold embroidery and jewels. The centre of all 
 this, was Solomon himself, clad in white ; it be- 
 ing his favorite color and was the reason, 
 probably, why the Saviour compared a lilly to 
 him. He sat upon that wondrous throne whose 
 unequalled magnificence was ascribed by Ara- 
 bian writers to magic. It was of ivory, adorned 
 with gold and jewels. Six steps led up to a 
 seat, upon each side of which was a lion, cast in 
 pure gold ; and twelve lions of the same were 
 upon the other steps, one upon each step. Upon 
 the ivory sides -of this throne, according to ori- 
 ental writers, were trees of inlaid gold, whose 
 fruit was made of precious stones, and whose 
 branches supported birds and peacocks formed 
 of gems of many hues. Upon the front of the 
 steps were, in like manner, delineated vine- 
 branches, the grapes formed by amethysts.
 
 SOVEREIGN'S OP THE BIBLE. 201 
 
 emeralds, and rubies. There is much more 
 related of the splendor and magic of this throne, 
 but for which we have no warrant from scrip 
 ture. It is there spoken of as being " overlaid" 
 with gold, and we may imagine it thus adorned. 
 
 The Queen of Sheba approached, with her ser- 
 vants bearing the presents, which were laid at the 
 foot of the throne. Solomon descended and led 
 her to the chair of State upon the ivory throne, 
 where a long interview took place between them ; 
 " and she communed with him of all that was in 
 her heart." From him she probably learned the 
 particulars of the history of the tribe, and laws 
 of Moses, of which she had only before received 
 intimations. He also conversed with her upon 
 government, of philosophy, and of plants ; for he 
 could tell of all, from the cedar of Lebanon to 
 the hyssop which grows on the wall ; also beasts, 
 fowls, fish, and reptiles. 
 
 " The report which I heard in my own land," 
 said the queen, " of thy acts, and of thy wisdom, 
 is true. I believed it not until I came and have 
 seen it with my own eyes ; and now I see the 
 half has not been told me; thy wisdom, and
 
 202 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 thy prosperity exceedeth the fame which reached 
 me !" 
 
 Again, with enthusiasm, she exclaimed, " Hap- 
 py are these thy servants, who continually hear 
 thy wisdom ! Blessed be the Lord thy God who 
 delighted on thee and set thee on the throne of 
 Israel !" 
 
 The queen was led to the glorious banquet 
 hall, and here again she was astonished at the 
 display, as all the vessels were of chased gold, 
 and the servants numerous and splendidly 
 dressed. She was next shown the temple, and 
 when she beheld the noble arched-bridge over 
 which Solomon passed from his palace to the 
 temple, and beheld above her those sacred gold- 
 en walls, she was overcome with awe ; and the 
 emotions which agitated her sensitive mind 
 caused her to become faint. She, however, ral- 
 lied and entered the temple with fear and rever- 
 ence. 
 
 . .After a long stay at the court of Solomon, the 
 Queen of Sheba departed, bearing with her 
 many valuable presents, gifts of the king. Her 
 report, upon her return, led many other Ara-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 203 
 
 bian princes to visit Jerusalem ; and, as they 
 were lavish of gold and other valuable things, 
 Solomon gradually acquired great treasures. 
 
 Years of peace and luxury passed, and Solo- 
 mon's youth-wisdom passed with them. Age 
 impaired his strength of mind, and pleasures 
 his love of divine things. He became luxuri- 
 ous ; and shut up in one of his magnificent pala- 
 ces, gave himself up to sensual pleasures. From 
 all the surrounding nations, he sent for beautiful 
 women until he numbered one thousand wives 
 and concubines. He launched into great ex- 
 travagancies, and as his treasure lessened, levied 
 heavy taxes upon his subjects. Nay, worse 
 than all, Solomon became so much under the 
 influence of these women as to permit them to 
 erect temples on high places, to their Gods Mo- 
 loch, Chemosh, Ashtoreth, and Milcom. It is 
 even said, they induced him sometimes to join 
 in their ceremonies, but surely not in earnest ; 
 as Solomon, however changed, never could have 
 forgotten his God. That he severely offended 
 Him is true, by having, in the first place, ac- 
 cumulated treasures and horses, and in making 
 foreign conquests. In taking. wives from idola-
 
 204- SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 trious nations he also broke an express law of 
 God given by Moses, and by them was led into 
 folly. 
 
 But Solomon was checked in his career. A 
 prophet was sent to him, by whom he was re- 
 proved, and told that God would rend from him 
 part of his kingdom. One tribe alone should 
 remain to his successors for David's sake, and 
 Messiah, his descendent; and his, days should 
 end in disquiet and war. 
 
 The surrounding nations were stirred up to 
 war against Solomon, and during the rest of his 
 days his borders were harried by Hadad the 
 Edomite, and Rezon, king of Syria. Discontent 
 arose among his people, and conspiracy among 
 the officers of his own household. Jeroboam, 
 encouraged by Ahijah, a prophet, headed a party 
 against the king, but being discovered fled into 
 Egypt. All this greatly distressed Solomon, 
 and he passed his remaining days in weariness 
 and vexation. He is supposed then to have 
 written Ecclesiastes. There he looks back to 
 the errors of his life and exclaims, " All is 
 vanity !" He tells of the pleasures and magnifi- 
 cence with which he surrounded himself, in.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 205 
 
 hopes of creating happiness, all of which was 
 madness and folly. " I builded me houses," he 
 says, " I planted me gardens with pools of wa- 
 ter ; I got me servants, and maidens, and cattle, 
 and treasures, men and wotne'i singers, and all 
 delights of the sons of men, wnaisoever my eyes 
 desired ; and behold all was vanity and vexation 
 ot spirit l" 
 
 This testimony of the vanity of earthly joys; 
 from such a man as Solomon ; a king filmed for ; 
 talents and accomplishments ; for treasures and 
 magnificence, beyond what was possessed by any 
 man who lived before him or since should be 
 laid to our hearts, and lead us to beware of their 
 influence over as. Solomon died and was buried 
 in the city of David his father, and his 
 Eehoboarn reigned in his stead.
 
 lUJjnhmir. 
 
 THE holy city of Shechem, where repose the 
 bones of Joseph and Joshua, was stirred out of 
 its usual quiet, by the pomp and noise attending 
 a coronation ; for here had repaired the prince 
 Eehoboam, to receive the crown of his father, 
 Solomon. God, however, had decreed against the 
 succession of Solomon's family. Peace was not 
 to be the portion of the Hebrews longer, for 
 they had sinned and were to be punished 
 
 While Solomon, in the height of his glory, was 
 weakly worshipping at the idol temples of his 
 Egyptian wife, he little imagined the scene then 
 enacting at the gates of Jerusalem where his 
 downfall was decreed by a power higher than 
 his own. Through the gates passed out Jero- 
 boam, once the son of a poor widow, now a ru- 
 ler in the land, and about to repair in great state 
 to his province. Before him, in the road, he be-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 207 
 
 lield, with flowing robes and hands uplifted, the 
 Prophet Ahijah Jeroboam stopped, and the 
 prophet taking off his robe tore it deliberately 
 in twelve pieces. 
 
 " Hear the words of the Lord God of Israel !" 
 he said. Behold I will rend the kingdom out 
 of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes 
 to Jeroboam ; take then these ten pieces. The 
 other two shall remain with Solomon's son for 
 David's sake. Reign then over the kingdom of 
 Israel ! If thou wilt walk in my ways I shall 
 build thee a sure house ; if not, the punishment 
 of David and Solomon shall be thine. I will 
 not however always afflict the seed of David." 
 
 Jeroboam departed on his way. He did not 
 long however remain in quiet, for Solomon, hear- 
 ing of the conduct of Ahijah, and thinking he 
 could alter the decrees of God, sent to kill him, 
 and Jeroboam fled to Egypt. 
 
 Rehoboam was crowned, and now stood sur- 
 rounded by his father's old councilors and rulers. 
 Jeroboam and a large band of conspirators were 
 also there, seeking an opportunity of overthrow- 
 ing his rival. 
 
 He advanced to the throne and spake thus ;
 
 208 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 
 
 Thy father, to support the great splendor in 
 which he lived, and also his idol temples laid 
 great taxes upon us which are grievous to be 
 borne ; now, therefore, O Rehoboam, take off 
 these taxes and we will serye thee well I" 
 
 The king demanded time to consider, and turn- 
 ing to the ministers of his father's kingdom asked 
 their advice. They counseled lenient measures, 
 as being best calculated to make this already 
 dissatisfied people his friends. The counsel of 
 the old men did not suit him, for he cared not 
 to lessen his income. His young friends and 
 followers, whom he now consulted, enjoined upon 
 him not to loosen the least item of their bonds, 
 but rather tighten them. Rehoboam rejected 
 the advice of old and well tried friends for that 
 of profligate youth, and his doom was sealed ; 
 the kingdom of the Hebrews was rent in twain. 
 " My answer is,"-hfi scornfully said to Jeroboam 
 and the people " if my father made your yoke 
 heavy I will add to your yoke ; and if he chas- 
 tised you with whips, I will chastise you with scor- 
 pions !" A stupor sat upon the assembly for a 
 moment, broken soon, however, by the shouts of 
 Jeroboam and his partisans : "Down with the 
 house of David 1 they cried what care we for
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 209 
 
 it who careth not for us! To your tents, O 
 Israel !" Great tumult ensued Jeroboam drew 
 off with nearly all the people ; and Rehoboam, 
 alarmed, sent Adoram after them, to renew the 
 interview. They heard him not, but turning, 
 stoned him to death. Then sprang Eehoboam 
 into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem. 
 
 The two tribes of Judah and Benjamin re- 
 mained faithful to the house of David. Of these, 
 Rehoboam, burning with wrath, assembled one 
 hundred and fourscore thousand warriors to fight 
 with Jeroboam. 
 
 The expedition, however, did not set out, for 
 the decree had gone forth that Israel and Judah 
 should be separated from that day. Shemaiah, a 
 prophet, commissioned from on high, stood before 
 the king and his men, and said ; Thus saith the 
 Lord ; ye shall not go up and fight against your 
 brethren, the children of Israel ; return every 
 man to his house, for this thing is from me !" 
 
 The word of power struck to their hearts and 
 the army dispersed. 
 
 Rehoboam was a weak and wicked prince ; 
 and during his reign a gross darkness and amaz- 
 ing stupidity came over the people. Their 
 18*
 
 210 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 powerful God was not forgotten, but was insulted 
 by altars built to idols, which, surrounded by 
 groves, were seen upon the sacred hills which 
 stood around about the holy city. To awake 
 them from their folly, the Almighty Avenger 
 stirred up Shishak, king of Egypt, to attack 
 Jerusalem, in hopes of conquering it for his friend 
 Jeroboam, Shishak could not take the city, but 
 was bought off by Eehoboam, who delivered up 
 to him, among other treasures, the golden shields 
 which were made by Solomon. These had been 
 borne by soldiers before the king when he went 
 in state to the temple ; and, not to curtail his 
 pomp, Eehoboam caused brass ones to be made 
 in their stead. 
 
 The remaining years of the king of Judah 
 were spent in skirmishes and bickerings with the 
 king of Israel. He reigned, however, seventeen 
 years. The family he left was numerous, for he 
 had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty- 
 eight sons and three-score daughters. Many cities 
 were built by this prince to secure his kingdom to 
 his son Abijah, whose mother was daughter of 
 Absalom. When he died he was buried in the 
 sepulchre of the kings of Judah, in the city of 
 David.
 
 Shi jam King of 3 nit a Jr. 
 
 Abijam, or Abijah, the son of Rehoboam'a 
 favorite wife Maacliah, succeeded his father on 
 the throne. His reign was short, and noted for 
 nothing except battles with the king of Israel. 
 He also continued the idol-worship instituted by 
 his father. The temple, however, was not neglect- 
 ed, and for its sake, and David's sake he was suf- 
 fered to sit upon the throne. He seems to have been 
 a valiant warrior and gained a great victory over 
 Jeroboam in the celebrated battle of Zemaraim. 
 
 The king of Israel, weary of the ineffectual 
 contest with Judah, determined, now that Reho- 
 boam was dead, to crush his young son with one 
 great blo'w. He gathered together eight hun- 
 dred thousand men and marched towards Jeru- 
 salem. The stout hearted king of Judah, was 
 not daunted by this array, and with an army of 
 
 only four hundred thousand went out to meet 
 15*
 
 212 80VEREISNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Jeroboam. The army of Israel lay at the foot 
 of Mount Ephraim, and Abijah pitched his camp 
 upon the mount, at a place called Zemaraim. 
 
 When each side had set their army and were 
 ready to charge, Abijah stood upon an eminence, 
 and tnus addressed the king of Israel and his 
 men: 
 
 'Hear me thou Jeroboam, and all Israeli 
 why stand ye here in battle array before : 
 the royal descendant of David ? Know you not ; 
 that the kingdom was given to David's seed for- 
 ever, and that none can prevail against it ? 
 what trust ye in ! Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, 
 the servant of Solomon, or the golden calves 
 he has erected for your worship ? As for us, we 
 have the Lord God on our side the sons of 
 Aaron minister unto him morning and evening 1 
 with sacrifice and sweet incense. children of 
 Israel ! fight not against your God, for if ye do : 
 ye surely shall not prosper I" 
 
 The words of truth were taking effect, and 
 
 Jeroboam, fearing for his army, detached a band 
 
 *lo the rear to fall upon the men of Judah, 
 
 while Abijah was speaking. The king now 
 
 found himself attacked in front and rear, aud ;
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 213 
 
 directed the priests to cry to the Lord for them. 
 Then arose the horrid din of battle shrieks and 
 cries were heard, and shouting of the sons of 
 Judah, and, above all, the peal of the sacred silver 
 trumpets of the Levites. The Israelites already 
 in a panic fled at once, and Abijah returned in 
 triumph to Jerusalem with prisoners and booty 
 in great numbers. 
 
 Of Abijah we have only to relate more, that 
 he married fourteen wives ; begat twenty -two 
 sons and sixteen daughters. He was buried in 
 the sepulchres of his father, at Jerusalem. 
 
 !su, CJjirt Ihtg nf 
 
 IN the life of this king we have a little relief 
 from the details of the godless men who pre- 
 ceded him. The piety of Asa, he most probably 
 received from his mother, as his father cared for 
 none of those things. He began his reign by 
 pulling down all idols, and spared not the
 
 214: SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 favorite image Astarte, worshipped by his grand- 
 mother, but caused it to be burned. The groves he 
 spared which was thought wrong ; but he proba- 
 bly thought it more politic to leave them. 
 
 Jerusalem was blest by a peace of ten years, 
 during which Asa employed himself in prepar- 
 ing for war ; which he could not always prevent. 
 Cities were repaired and built, and provided 
 against the day of want. 
 
 It proved these measures were just, for the 
 Ethiopians came down upon his borders with a 
 host of a thousand thousand men and three 
 hundred chariots. Asa soon collected together 
 an army and marched out to meet the enemy. 
 Of the men of Judah there were three hundred 
 thousand, bearing targets and spears; and of 
 Benjamites, two hundred and fourscore thousand 
 with shields, bows, and arrows. When the 
 pious Asa arrived at the city of Mareshah, where 
 he encamped, he looked with a sigh into the 
 beautiful valley of Zepathah, whose peaceful 
 glades and slopes were now alive with a host of 
 dark Ethiopians, Cushites, and Philistines, who, 
 with horrid clangor, cried the wild war cries of 
 tteir tribes. The king knelt down, with iua
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 215 
 
 priests around him, and cried unto the Lord his 
 God, and said: "O Lord it is nothing with 
 thee to help, whether with many or with them 
 who have no power. Help us then, O Lord our 
 God, for we rest on thee, and in thy name we 
 go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art 
 God ; let not man prevail against thee !" 
 
 The prayer of Asa was heard; the enemy 
 could not prevail against him, but were routed 
 with great slaughter. Great was the spoil in 
 gold and silver, arms, and cattle, and the army 
 returned towards Jerusalem with hearts rejoic- 
 ing in the mercy of God. To add to their satis- 
 faction, the prophet Azariah met them, and 
 congratulated them upon their success. " Hear 
 me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin!" he 
 said. " The Lord is with you, he hath given 
 you the victory and will not forsake you if ye 
 forsake not him. Seek him, and he will be 
 found of you. The worship and the law hath 
 hitherto been much neglected, and there was no 
 peace in those days, but great vexations fell 
 upon all, and nation destroyed nation. Be ye 
 strong, therefore, in the Lord, and your deeds 
 fihall be rewarded. With this word of encour-
 
 216 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 agement and admonition, the people were greatly 
 rejoiced. 
 
 The holy temple was now once more seen in 
 all the glory that had adorned it in the days of 
 Solomon. Its neglected courts no longer beheld 
 a cold ceremonial and scanty worshippers. It 
 was renewed and regilt, its walls replated, and 
 its golden vessels bnrnished, for Asa meantj with 
 great state, to dedicate hia spoil to the Lord. 
 The people with joy repaired to the temple, and 
 there, with grand ceremonial, were offered seven 
 hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. They 
 sware unto the Lord with great shouting and 
 sounding of trumpets and cornets, that they 
 would seek the Lord their God, with all their 
 heart and their soul ! Feasting, and music, and 
 other demonstrations of joy prevailed through- 
 out the city for many days. 
 
 The noise of these doings aroused the men of 
 Israel, who saw that the Lord was at Jerusalem, 
 and they came over in numbers to dwell beneath 
 the shadow of the temple. The king of Israel, 
 greatly alarmed, summoned his warriors, and set 
 put in hopes of conquering Judah. He com-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 217 
 
 menced by building the city of Ramah as A 
 stronghold for his men. 
 
 Asa, not being inclined to battle again, sent 
 gifts to Ben-hadad. king of Syria, to induce him 
 to make a diversion by attacking the cities of 
 Israel. This he willingly did, and the king of 
 Israel was forced to leave Ramah and return to 
 defend his borders. Asa congratulated himself 
 upon his cunning and destroyed Ramah, with 
 whose remains he built the towns of Geba and 
 Mispah. Great was his surprise then, when, 
 instead of praise, he obtained rebuke for his 
 deeds. 
 
 Hanani, the seer, stood before him, and said : 
 "Thou hast done foolishly, O Asa, in relying 
 upon the king of Syria. Why didst thou not 
 call upon the Lord ? Were not the Ethiopians 
 a huge host, with very many horsemen and 
 chariots ? Yet tkou didst rely upon the Lord, 
 and he delivered them into thy hands ! Hence- 
 forth, therefore, look for no more peace ! 
 
 The people who stood around lowered upon 
 the king, for they knew he was in the wrong ; 
 which so excited his wrath that he ordered his 
 
 guards to put the prophet in prison. This was 
 19
 
 an impolitic measure, for the people's murmurs 
 grew to angry woi ds, and they demanded the 
 prophet's release with great clamor. Asa's anger 
 grew stronger, and he oppressed the people with 
 fines and imprisonments. The peace in which 
 he lived was, as the seer had prophesied, gone 
 from him. His feet soon after became diseased : 
 the disorder ascended, and killed him, after two 
 years' suffering, in the forty -first year of his reign. 
 With great pomp, and hundreds of men burning 
 spices, Asa, the king, was carried upon a richly 
 adorned bier to his sepulchre in the tomb of his 
 fathers. 
 
 /irst Jting nf 
 
 JEROBOAM, the son of Nebat, having, as we 
 said above, created a party against Rehoboam; 
 caused himself to be crowned king. Ten tribes 
 of Israel came over to his standard, as the 
 prophet had foretold ; and the Jewish kingdom 
 was divided. He was a bold and politic man,
 
 THE GOLDEN CALF.? g.< 219.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 219 
 
 and set himself to work to establish himself 
 firmly upon his throne. 
 
 His first step was to rebuild and embellish 
 Shechem, in which he meant to reside. His 
 next was to keep his people with him when the 
 festivals of the church occurred, or they would 
 go up as usual to Jerusalem, and thus, perhaps, 
 be enticed away. With this view he caused 
 two temples to be erected, one at Dan and the 
 other at Bethel, the two extreme boundaries of 
 his kingdom. In these he placed golden calves, 
 with an altar before each, upon which to ar- 
 range the fire-offering. It is not supposed that 
 Jeroboam caused these images to be erected, 
 that the people might worship them. He could 
 not expect idolatry would be well received, and 
 an attempt at its introduction might alienate his 
 people from him. It is thought, by commenta- 
 tors, these so called calves were cherubim, such 
 as were over the ark in the temple winged 
 creatures with the face of an ox and figure of 
 man. 
 
 The feast of the tabernacles approached, and 
 Jeroboam sat in state to hold it, at Bethel. Here, 
 in his splendid temple, surrounded by numerous
 
 220 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 priests, raised from the people, and by crowds 
 of worshippers in tents outside, he addressed the 
 people : " You may be surprised, my country- 
 men, that I have here erected cherubim and 
 held our feasts instead of going to Jerusalem ; 
 but it was to save you the journey among your 
 enemies that I raised these altars. God is every- 
 where, and can hear your prayers here as well 
 as elsewhere. Now let the burnt offerings be 
 presented!" But Jadon, the prophet of the 
 Lord, who had been sent from Jerusalem, stood 
 before him. " Nay, thou art an idolater, Jero- 
 boam," he said, " God commanded Solomon 
 to build his temple in Jerusalem ; and these 
 altars raised by thy hand are abominable to 
 him. Ye false priests away ! for I see around 
 me the bones of priests who shall be slain some 
 future time by a pious king whom the Lord 
 will raise up to avenge him I" Jeroboam would 
 have stopped him, but he called out, "As a 
 token that all I say is true, this altar shall now 
 break apart and spill your sacrilegious offerings." 
 In a rage the king stretched out his hand to 
 seize Jadon when, lo ! his arm was withered 
 and fell at his side as dead ; and the altar com-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE, 221 
 
 ing apart spilled the offering. Great consterna- 
 tion sat upon every face, and the king knew that 
 a true prophet stood before him. With great 
 humiliation he said, " Entreat now the Lord thy 
 God, that my hand may be restored to me 
 again I" It was healed, and he then pressed the 
 holy man to enter his house and eat, and be 
 rewarded. The prophet answered, "If thou 
 wouldst give me half thine house I would not 
 go with thee; for so it was charged me by the 
 Lord my God; eat no bread, drink no water, 
 and return home by another way from that thou 
 earnest." 
 
 When the people dispersed, the two sons of a 
 man claiming to be a prophet, told their father 
 all that had occured. He was indignant that any 
 one should call himself prophet in his city, and 
 resolved to compass his destruction. " Saddle 
 me an ajs!" he cried: and when one was brought 
 he set out after Jadon, and found him resting 
 under an oak. "Come home with me, my 
 brother, and eat bread," he said. " Not so," re- 
 plied Jadon, " I was commanded not to eat nor 
 drink in the idolatrous city." "Nay, I am a 
 
 prophet, as thou art, and worship God as thou 
 10*
 
 222 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 dost, and he sent me to thee to make thee my 
 guest !" Jadon, instead of following the com- 
 mands of God, weakly consented to go with the 
 false prophet to his house. After securing his 
 victim, by inducing him to eat and to drink, 
 while yet they were at table, the malicious false 
 prophet cried out, in words which were put in 
 his mouth : " Hear now the word of the Lord, 
 Jadon! Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed 
 the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept his 
 commandment, but hast come back, and hast 
 eaten bread, and drunk water in the place which 
 the Lord did say to thee, eat no bread and drink 
 no water, thou shalt die by the way, and thy car- 
 case shall not lie in the sepulchre of thy fathers!" 
 
 The unhappy Jadon sat stupefied during this 
 address ; he saw he had been deluded ; he had 
 not obeyed his God, and now must suffer the 
 punishment of his folly. 
 
 In silence, without a word of reproach, Jadon 
 mounted his ass and slowly left the city, every 
 moment expecting some dreadful event by which 
 his forfeit life should be ended. Soon it came 
 from behind a rock at the road-side, sprang
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 223 
 
 out a monstrous lion, and seizing the prophet, 
 dragged him from his ass ! 
 
 Jadon was dead ; but the beast was not com- 
 missioned to do more, and now stood motionless 
 beside his body. The ass also stood gazing mourn- 
 fully upon his master. Some passers by, beheld 
 the extraordinary sight, and rushing into the city, 
 spread the news around. Crowds came forth, as 
 near as they dare, and gazed upon this wondrous 
 spectacle the three still together, and the lion, 
 by some power, forbidden to tear the man. Now 
 came forward the false prophet, and saw that the 
 words he had spoken were from on high, to pun- 
 ish the faithless Jadon. 
 
 "It is the prophet of Judah," he said, "he 
 was disobedient to the words of the Lord, there- 
 fore the Lord hath delivered him to the lion!" 
 Great fear fell upon all. The false prophet felt 
 remorse for the part he had played in this wo- 
 ful tragedy, and hastened to bury him as some 
 reparation. Jadon was laid upon his ass, when 
 the lion, as released from a spell, fled to the 
 woods. In mournful procession, they returned 
 to the city, and Jadon was buried in the sepul- 
 chre of the old prophet.
 
 224 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 He turned to his sons " this was of truth, a 
 man sent by God, and all that he said of future 
 wo will happen when I am dead and buried 
 beside him." 
 
 All these events, however, did not affect Jero- 
 boam. He still continued his false worship, 
 and was again tried by reverses. The war with 
 Abijam has been related above. This defeat 
 still failing to turn his heart, he was attacked in 
 his own family. His favorite son and heir, 
 Abijah, fell ill ; and, as everything had failed 
 to restore him, the king conjured his wife to go 
 to the prophet Ahijah, and ask him to entreat 
 the child's life of the Lord. 
 
 " He is offended with me for what he calls 
 my apostacy," said the king, " and peradven- 
 ture may not listen to thee ; therefore disguise 
 thyself and ask as for a stranger's son." 
 
 With a small train the queen set forth for 
 Shiloh, and, when near the prophet's abode, 
 alighted from her ass, and plainly clothed entered 
 the house. But Ahijah was a true prophet, and 
 the Lord had told him of her approach and gave 
 him a message for her. 
 
 The old and blind prophet heard the sound
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 225 
 
 of her feet as she entered and called out ; " Come 
 in, thou wife of Jeroboam, why feignest thou 
 to be another ? Enter, for thou must hear heavy 
 tidings !" 
 
 With her head weighed down by humiliation 
 and despair, the woful wife and mother heard 
 the doom of her house pronounced from on 
 high ! "Go tell Jeroboam," said the prophet, 
 " Thus saith the Lord God of Israel. I exalted 
 thee from among the people, and made thee 
 prince, over Israel, which I rent away from the 
 house of David ; but- as I gave, so will I take 
 away ; thy house shall be destroyed, and Israel 
 shall be shaken as a reed is shaken in the waters ; 
 and God shall root up Israel from this good 
 land which he gave their fathers, and these ten 
 tribes shall be scattered beyond the river. This 
 evil shall befall because of the sin of Jeroboam 
 and of Israel, who made images and worshipped 
 them ! Arise ! therefore, and return to thy house, 
 when thou enterest it thy child will die. Re- 
 joice that he dieth in his bed, and is buried by his 
 people, for the sons of Jeroboam shall be torn 
 by dogs and the fowls of the air !" Sa lly the 
 unhappy queen returned to Tirzah where the
 
 226 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 king impatiently awaited her. As she stepped 
 upon the threshold of the palace, the beloved 
 child, the royal heir, passed away. 
 
 Of the grief of Jeroboam there is nothing told 
 us ; but as he died not long after, we may sup- 
 pose his haughty spirit was crushed at last, and 
 his life was shortened by sorrow. Jeroboam 
 reigned twenty-two years. 
 
 , Sing nf %sntl. 
 
 EVENTS were not yet ripe for the overthrow of 
 the house of Jeroboam, and his son Nadab was 
 allowed to ascend the throne. His reign, how- 
 ever, only continued two years. Truly his days 
 were few and evil. He was a worshipper of the 
 golden calves. "While with' his army before the 
 city of Gibbethon, where he went to fight the 
 Philistines, he was treacherously slain by one 
 of his officers, named Baasha. He was left un- 
 buried, and deserted by his countrymen, who 
 followed the usurper, and placed him upou the 
 throne of Israel.
 
 of 
 
 THE prophecy was fulfilled ; as the prophet 
 Ahijah had foretold, the throne had passed from 
 the family of Jeroboam. The remnant of his 
 kindred who were not slain in battle, were mur- 
 dered by the usurper Baasha. He was the in- 
 strument of vengeance sent by the Almighty to 
 the sinning Jeroboam. But no feeling of awe, 
 nor fear for himself seems to have agitated his 
 bosom ; he gave not God the praise, but claimed 
 the triumph as proof of his own sagacity. 
 
 A gracious warning came to him from on high, 
 as it had to Jeroboam. Jehu, the son of Ha- 
 nani the prophet, was commissioned to reprove 
 him. He claimed an interview, and delivered 
 his message. 
 
 Baasha was reminded that he was taken from 
 the dust, and exalted to be a prince over Israel. 
 " But thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam,"
 
 228 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 said the prophet, ' and hast made my people to 
 sin. Behold then, I* will take away the succes- 
 sion from the house of Baasha. Him that dieth 
 of his posterity in the city, the dogs shall eat ; 
 and him that dieth of his in the field shall the 
 fowls of the air eat I" His reign was a long one, 
 and all we learn of it was, that wars between 
 him and Asa, king of Judah were frequent. How 
 he died is not mentioned : he reigned twenty- 
 four years. 
 
 lojr, Icing nf Ssntl. 
 
 LITTLE heeding the prophecies against the race 
 of Baasha, his son Elah ascended the throne, 
 and took up his abode in the beautiful city of 
 of Tirzah. His reign was, however, short : the 
 siege of the city of Gibbethon was fatal to him, 
 as it had been to the son of Jeroboam. The 
 army of Israel was encamped against it, but its 
 king was reveling in his royal palace at Tirzah.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 229 
 
 The army murmured at the desertion of its king, 
 and Zimri, a bold man, and'a military comman- 
 der, having half the king's chariots in his power, 
 fermented this discontent. He succeeded in be- 
 ing proclaimed king, and led his bands against 
 his master Elah. The unhappy son of Baasha, 
 was surprised in a drunken bout, at the house 
 of his steward Arra, and murdered. He had 
 reigned but two years. 
 
 imn, JHtig of 
 
 THIS murderer of his master, and usurper of 
 his throne reigned but seven days. 
 
 His time was employed in the destruction of 
 all the house of Baasha, and even his kinsfolk. 
 The avenger however was soon at his heels. 
 
 When tidings came to the remainder of the 
 
 army that Zimri had slain the king, and reigned 
 
 in his stead, they were indignant. Omri com- 
 
 mander of the hosts, who secretly desired the 
 
 20
 
 230 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 crown, was loudest in his disp!easure, and suc- 
 ceeded in gaining a large part of the soldiers 
 over to him. He was proclaimed king, and set 
 out to attack Zimri. The rest of the army, with 
 a captain called Tibni at its head, followed to 
 succor Zimri. They were not in time, how- 
 ever, to avert his fate ; for while closely besieged 
 in his palace by Omri, he set fire to the building^ 
 and perished in the flames. 
 
 <H>mn, Jttttg nf 
 
 DURING five years of the reign of this prince, 
 Israel was desolated by civil war. The party 
 of Tibni had crowned him king, and kept pos- 
 session of several strong-holds, but at last were 
 routed in battle and Tibni was slain. 
 
 Omri distinguished himself by building the 
 famous city of Samaria, so long the rival of 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 In his wars with Tibni, the city of Tirzah had
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 231 
 
 been nearly destroyed, and the palace had been 
 burned by Zimri. Therefore Omri purchased 
 the hill of Samaria for two talents of silver, and 
 erected a city. Its situation was beautifhl ; 
 crowning the summit of a hill, around which 
 arose other hills, covered with terraces, upon 
 which were grown rich fruits and vegetables. 
 Oh, that these magnificent halls and colonnades 
 were erected to the honor of the Lord of Israel ! 
 Instead, the temples of Baal and other idols 
 glittered in the sun of Palestine. After an evil 
 reign of twelve years, Omri died and was buried 
 in his royal city of Samaria. 
 
 TURN we from the record of the crimes of 
 Israel, to the peaceful days of the pious king of 
 Judah. During the reign of this illustrious 
 prince, religion and the laws were honored, and 
 the affairs of the kingdom were established upon
 
 232 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 a footing which had not been seen since the 
 days of Solomon. 
 
 To secure the peace of his country, Jehosha- 
 phat sent garrisons to all the cities on his border, 
 and thus kept the Israelites in check, as well as 
 other enemies. He also increased the army, 
 and arranged it under several captains around 
 Jerusalem. His next step was to attend to the 
 cause of religion, which had not flourished much 
 in the former reigns. Jehoshaphat sought the 
 Lord God of his fathers, and walked in his com- 
 mandments, therefore the Lord was with him, 
 and disposed the hearts of his people, and the 
 neighboring nations towards him. So great 
 was the fear with which his vigorous military 
 measures inspired the neighboring nations, that 
 they eagerly sought by presents to gain his good 
 will. The Philistines sent him silver as tribute- 
 money, and the Arabs, numerous flocks of sheep 
 and goats. 
 
 Although this good prince saw himself thus 
 honored, and surrounded by riches and a loving 
 people, he took not the glory upon himself, but 
 acknowledged the goodness of God towards him. 
 
 The remnant of the graves and high places
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 233 
 
 were destroyed ; the temple and ceremonial law 
 was resorted to with reverence. Not content 
 that all around him should enjoy the comforts 
 of religious knowledge, he sent messengers to 
 the country to disseminate the knowledge of the 
 law. Jehoshaphat did not intrust the high 
 interest to inferior agents, but commissioned 
 five princes to go themselves to the people. 
 Behold, then, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, 
 Nathaniel, and Michaiah, princes of the court, 
 leaving their lofty halls, and attended by nine 
 Levites carrying the Law to all the inhabitants 
 of the land ! It was read to them, explained by 
 the Levites, and expounded by the princes. 
 Such missionaries could not fail to be listened 
 to, and light was dispensed, and the fear of the 
 Lord fell upon the land. 
 
 The one fault of the reign of this great and 
 good prince, was his league with Ahab tha 
 wicked king of Israel. His ardent wish for 
 peace in the land led him into this error, and 
 overclouded his judgment. But Jehoshaphat 
 was at last convinced there could be no peace 
 with the wicked, for he was drawn in to join 
 with Ahab and attack the Syrians, enemies of
 
 234: SOVEREIGNS OF THE 3IBLE. 
 
 Israel. His repentance, however, did not avert 
 his punishment. 
 
 The battle of Ramoth-gilead will be related 
 in the life of Ahab. 
 
 Jehoshaphat narrowly escaping slaughter, re- 
 turned to his city of Jerusalem. Although sad 
 when he thought of the fate of Ahab, yet hs 
 supposed he had done his duty to assist a neigh- 
 bor and ally when in danger. Of his error, 
 he was, however, reminded soon ; for before the 
 city gate, he beheld Jehu, son of the prophet 
 Hanani, his arms folded and his head drooping 
 mournfully. Then did the heart of Jehoshaphat 
 sink within him,-^" It is a messenger from the 
 Lord I" he exclaimed. " Aye," said Jehu, " thou 
 hast helped the ungodly, shouldst thou love 
 them that hate the Lord ? For that thou hast 
 done this, the Lord will stir up the nations of 
 the Moabites and Ammonites to attack thee! 
 Thy punishment, however, will not be heavy, 
 for thou hast destroyed the groves of the idols, 
 and thy heart is inclined towards thy God." 
 The seer turned away, and the king slowly and 
 sadly sought his royal palace. 
 
 Jehoshaphat did not sit idly down, bat went
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 235 
 
 throughout his land to inspect the people, and 
 enjoin upon them fear of the Lord. More judges 
 were appointed, that the people might not suffer 
 from injustice, and to these Jehoshaphat said: 
 " Take heed what ye do ; for ye act not to please 
 the people, but the Lord, who is with you and 
 will help you ; wherefore let his fear be upon 
 you. There is no iniquity with the Lord our 
 God, nor taking of gifts." Happy the laud with 
 so wise and pious a ruler! When the king 
 returned to Jerusalem he formed there a court of 
 judicature of a higher order, over which presided 
 princes, levites, and priests. Here ecclesiastical 
 and political causes were heard. 
 
 This high court was opened by the king, who 
 addressed them upon their duties, ending thus : 
 "I leave Amariah, the high-priest, as chief 
 judge of all matters relating to religion; and 
 Zebadiah, prince of the house of Judah, as chief 
 judge of all civil matters, or things pertaining 
 to the royal family. The Levites shall be 
 officers of other causes. Deal faithfully, then, 
 in the fear of the Lord, and with a clean leart. 
 What cause soever that your brethren shall 
 bring before you j of law, of commandments, of
 
 236 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 statutes, or judgments; ye shall tell them of the 
 right, and warn them not to trespass against the 
 laws of the Lord. Deal courageously, and the 
 Lord shall be with the well-doer." 
 
 Jehoshaphat, the king, rested in peace in his 
 palace, and all was quiet around him. He re- 
 membered, however, the words of the seer, and 
 knew that for songs of joy, he must soon ex- 
 change the wild cry of battle. But he bowed 
 his head in resignation, and said: "it is the 
 Lord, let him do what seemeth to him good." 
 He did not long wait, for messengers came upon, 
 fleet camels to the city, giving notice that a 
 great army of Moabites, Ammonites, and others, 
 were hovering upon the borders of the Dead 
 Sea ready to invade his kingdom. And what 
 did Jehoshaphat do ? Did he bid them send out 
 warriors of might, and to man the battlements ? 
 No, he knew this came from the hands of the 
 Lord, and him he sought the first. 
 
 A Fast was proclaimed throughout Judah, 
 and the people were called to the temple to 
 humble themselves before their God. The peo- 
 ple flocked to Jerusalem, and the city and tem- 
 ple were filled. Silence reigned. In the highest
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 237 
 
 court of the temple, conspicuous to all, sur- 
 rounded by priests and Levites, knelt the king 
 of Judah with his hands raised in an appeal to 
 God for his humbled people. And he said : 
 
 " Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God 
 of the Heavens ? and rulest thou not over the 
 kingdoms of the heathen ? and in thy hand is 
 there not power and might, that none is able to 
 withstand thee? Yea, thou art our God who 
 didst drive out the inhabitants of this land be- 
 fore thy people, and gavest it to the seed of 
 Abraham forever ! and they dwelt therein, and 
 have built thee this sanctuary for thy name, so 
 that when evil cometh upon us as the sword, 
 judgment, pestilence, or famine we. could stand 
 in this house, in thy presence, and cry unto thee 
 in our affliction. Now then hear, and help us ! 
 Behold the children of Ammon, and Moab, have 
 come to cast us out of thy possession which thou 
 hast given us to inherit ! O God, wilt thou not 
 judge them? We have no might against this 
 great company that cometh against us. We 
 know not what to do ; our eyes are upon thee 
 for help in this great danger 1"
 
 238 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Jehoshaphat ceased ; the men of Judah, with 
 their wives and little ones, knelt in silence 
 around. Then stood forth a Levite to give to 
 the people a message from their Lord ! King 
 and priest were set aside, and the spirit de- 
 scended upon Jahaziel, a Levite of the house of 
 Asaph ! a thing that had not been seen before 
 among the Hebrews. 
 
 "Hearken ye, all Judah!" said the Levite, 
 " and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou 
 king Jehoshaphat I thus saith the Lord to you : 
 * Be not afraid, nor dismayed by reason of this 
 multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.' 
 To-morrow go ye down against them. Behold, 
 they come up by the cliff of Ziz. Ye shall find 
 them at the end of the brook, before the wilder- 
 ness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in 
 this battle, but set yourselves in array, stand 
 still and see the salvation of the Lord, O Judah 
 and Jerusalem!" The seer ceased. King Je- 
 hoshaphat bowed his head in reverence, and 
 prostrated himself before his Lord, while all the 
 people knelt in silence around. Then all arose, 
 and the air was filled with shouting, and by the 
 voices of the Levites and the Korhites, who
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 239 
 
 sang the praise of the Lord God of Israel ; and 
 the sound of their silver trumpets went out over 
 the city. 
 
 Early the next morning Jehoshaphat and his 
 army set out. There might have been some 
 among them who doubted the prophecy ; and 
 to avert such thoughts the king addressed 
 them, charging them to "believe in the Lord 
 your God, so shall you be established : believe 
 his prophets, so ye shall prosper." 
 
 Thus went forth in strong faith, the men of 
 Judah, accompanied with bands of sacred singers, 
 whose refrain praise the Lord : for his mercy 
 endiireth forever was caught up by Olivet and 
 re-echoed upon the hill of Zion. 
 
 The cliff of Ziz was gained, and the watch 
 tower ascended what saw they then? was the 
 word of the Lord sure and steadfast altogether? 
 yea, instead of fierce and restless bands of 
 men, lo ! the shores of the Dead Sea, and the 
 plain beyond, were strown with the dead ! The 
 enemy was vanquished ! Hidden in their differ- 
 ent ambushes, they had heard the tramp of the 
 hosts of Judah, and each running out slaugh- 
 tered many of each other's troops, and the re- 
 mainder fled. The army of Jehoshaphat descend
 
 240 . SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 ed and gathered much spoil in jewels and 
 gold. 
 
 Upon the fourth day they assembled in a 
 valley, and in prayer and solemn praises ac- 
 knowledged the blessings showered upon them 
 by the Lord. (This valley henceforth received 
 the name of Berachah, or blessing.) Thus they 
 returned to Jerusalem rejoicing, and ascended 
 to the temple with psalteries, and harps, and 
 trumpets. 
 
 When the kingdoms around heard all that 
 
 God had done for Judah, His fear fell upon 
 
 , them, and the realm of Jehoshaphat was in peace. 
 
 There is very little more to relate of the life 
 of this good king. Eagerness to bring treasure 
 to his people by extending his commerce, led him 
 into one error in the latter years of his life, when 
 his judgment became dim. He sent ships to 
 Tarshish ; and after refusing the king of Israel's 
 request to let him join in this trade, at length 
 was over persuaded to admit him to a share. He 
 was, however, soon reproved for this by Eliezer, 
 a prophet, who foretold the ships would be 
 destroyed " because he joined himself with 
 Ahasiah, wicked king of Israel !" The prophe-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 241 
 
 cy was true the ships were wrecked in the 
 Red Sea. 
 
 Jehoshaphat died at the age of sixty. His 
 mother's name was Azuba. When he ascended 
 the throne he had attained the age of thirty -five, 
 and consequently reigned twenty-five years. 
 He had seven sons, whose names are given as : 
 Jehoram, Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah 
 again, Michael, Shephatiah. To Jehoram the 
 first born, was left the throne ; but the others 
 were enriched with silver and gold, and made 
 governors over the cities of Judah. 
 
 Jehoshaphat was buried in state with his fath- 
 ers, in the tombs of the kings in the city oi 
 David. 
 
 Sljjali, tlje tnirtefo, Jting of %mi\. 
 
 ALTHOUGH to many kings of Israel might the 
 
 sobriquet of wicked belong, yet to Ahab it is 
 
 given for pre-eminence in evil. The sin of 
 
 Jeroboam in making golden calves is great, but 
 
 21
 
 242 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Ahab threw off even this semblance of Jehovah's 
 worship. His wife, perhaps, may have first led 
 him into sin, for he married Jezebel, daughter 
 of the idolatrous king of Sidon. Groves were 
 planted over the land, statues raised to Baal, or 
 the sun, and altars raised to Astarte, the goddess 
 of the moon. Ahab was son of Omri, and we 
 are told, " did more to provoke the Lord God 
 of Israel, than all the kings of Israel that were 
 before him." 
 
 In mercy to his subjects, and to check this 
 bad man in his career of wickedness, the illus- 
 trious prophet Elijah was divinely commis- 
 sioned to deal with him. His words were un- 
 heeded, so Elijah departed with this thrilling 
 prophecy ; " As the Lord of Israel liveth, and is 
 not formed of wood, there shall not be rain nor 
 dew these three years upon the land, unless 
 thou repentest and prayest to Jehovah for help !" 
 
 Elijah then fled from the wrath of Ahab, to 
 the brook Cherith, where he, by God's command, 
 remained in prayer for the people, that this ter- 
 ble drought and consequent famine might bring 
 them to consider their ways and repent. He 
 was furnished with bread miraculously. Soon
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 243 
 
 a lament arose from Samaria the waters in 
 that city and the land of king Ahab gradually 
 dried up, and a famine was threatened. Even 
 the brook Cherith was dry, and Elijah was told 
 to seek refreshment from a poor widow of 
 Zarephath. 
 
 This poor woman, living in the idolatrous 
 country of Zidon, was selected of all the land to 
 minister to the prophet. She had rejected Baal, 
 and was a worshipper of Jehovah, and there 
 received the holy man with joy. She was gath- 
 ering sticks outside the city to cook her last 
 portion of meal with her last drop of oil, for 
 Zidon, being the country of Jezebel, queen to 
 Ahab, the curse had extended over it 
 
 " Fetch me, I pray thee," said Elijah, " a little 
 water in a vessel, and with it a morsel of bread." 
 " As the Lord, thy God, liveth," she replied, 
 sorrowfully, " I have no bread, but only a hand- 
 ful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse, 
 and behold I am gathering sticks that I may 
 cook it for me and my son, that we may eat our 
 last meal." The prophet, willing to try her 
 faith, said, " Fear not ; go and do as thou hast 
 said, but make a little cake for me first, and
 
 244 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 afterwards one for thyself and son. Foi thus 
 saith the Lord God of Israel, 'The barrel of 
 meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of 
 oil fail until the day that the Lord sendeth rain 
 upon the earth.' " And she went and did all the 
 prophet asked of her, not doubting his divine 
 commission. According to her faith, it was 
 done to her, and she and all her household, and 
 the prophet, had food enough, and "the barrel 
 of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil : 
 fail," according to the word of the Lord which 
 he spake by Elijah. 
 
 Soon after, their peace was broken by a dread- 
 ful event the widow's son, after a short illness, 
 died! For one moment she feared it was a 
 judgment upon her by Elijah, for her former 
 sin of idolatry, and cried out, " Art thou come 
 here, O man of God, to remind me of my sin ? 
 and for it to slay my son ?" But she was soon 
 reassured, for the prophet said," Give me thy 
 son and I will restore him." Elijah was much 
 troubled in heart at this sad event, and with 
 the young lad in his arms ascended to his own 
 apartment, and laid him on his bed. He then 
 cried unto the Lord, saying, " Lord, my God I
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 245 
 
 hast thou returned this widow's goodness to mo 
 by slaying her son ? O Lord, my God I I pray 
 thee let this child's soul come into him again !" 
 lie then, after prayer, took what means he 
 deemed proper to restore circulation, and soon 
 the lad revived. Doubting and trembling, 
 awaited below the sorrowing widow, what sees 
 she ? her son smiling in life, brought down by 
 the prophet, who placed him in her willing arms, 
 saying, with joy, "See, thy son livethl" And 
 the woman with a burst of rejoicing faith cried, 
 " Now, by this I know, that thou art a man of 
 God, and that the word of the Lord in thy 
 mouth is truth !" 
 
 In the meanwhile much consternation pre- 
 vailed in the court of Ahab. In this extremity, 
 he found his own priests were useless, and sought 
 out Obadiah, the only prophet of the Lord re- 
 maining when Jezebel cut off the prophets. 
 There were others alive, hid in a cave, and fed 
 by Obadiah. A great drought had prevailed, 
 all grass and corn were dead, and Ahab sent 
 Obadiah forth saying, " Go out over the land, 
 seek for fountains, and bring water and grass to 
 save the horses and mules alive that we lose not
 
 246 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 all the beasts as well as the people. And seek 
 also Elijah, that he may give us rain." I, myself, 
 will go also. Elijah had been told to go to 
 Samaria, and rain should again fall at his bid- 
 ding. 
 
 The two prophets met. Obadiah, overjoyed to 
 behold agaiu the great Elijah, prostrated himself 
 before him, exclaiming, "Do I indeed see my 
 lord, Elijah I" " Yes, I am here," replied the 
 prophet, "go and tell Ahab Elijah has return- 
 ed." " Alas, Ahab hath sent into every city in 
 search of thee, and visited with his anger every 
 ruler who could not find thee. It may come to 
 pass that when I am gone the spirit of the Lord 
 shall carry thee away, so that when Ahab comes, 
 and thou art not here, he will slay me/' " As 
 the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand," 
 replied Elijah, "I will surely show myself unto 
 him this day!" 
 
 With this assurance, Obadiah departed, and 
 finding Ahab near brought hita into the pres- 
 ence of the prophet. The two contending powers 
 were together face to face ; the one wielding an 
 earthly sceptre, and the other possessing power 
 given him from on high.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 247 
 
 "With a haughty frown, king Ahab began, 
 " Art thou he that troubleth Israel !" " I have 
 not troubled Israel," the prophet said, "but 
 thou and thy father's house in that ye have for- 
 saken the commandments of God, and worship- 
 ped Baal. Know you not how powerless he is, 
 and how great ia our God!" Ahab seemed 
 struck dumb and answered not. 
 
 "Bring forth your priests, and I will meet 
 them, I alone, not eren Obadiah with me, and 
 send out all the prophets of Baal whom the 
 queen doth pamper at her table, and it will soon 
 be seen who is the true God !" To this propo- 
 sal Ahab assented, and Mount Carmel, in the 
 lot of Asher, in the north, was arranged as the 
 place of meeting. 
 
 At the appointed day, two altars were seen 
 upon the summit of the mount; around one 
 were assembled the four hundred and fifty 
 priests of Baal, clad in their robes of black. At 
 the other side stood the prophet Elijah, in a 
 flowing white robe: the altar beside him was 
 once dedicated to Jehovah, and was repaired by 
 Elijah, with twelve stones, one for each tribe of 
 Israel. Ahab and his court were seated in the
 
 248 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 midst, while around the mount, its sides, and its 
 foot, were collected dense masses of the people. 
 
 Elijah came forward, "How long will ye 
 halt between two opinions ?" he asked in a loud 
 tone. " If the Lord be God, follow him ; if Baal, 
 then follow him. This question will soon be 
 tried, for here. I stand alone in the name of 
 Jehovah, to prove Him the true God, opposed 
 to the four hundred and fifty priests of Baal." 
 
 No one answered him a word, but watched, 
 doubtingly, what he would next do. 
 
 The prophet then caused two bullocks to be 
 brought, and gave the choice to the priests of 
 Baal. Each party then cut the bullocks into 
 pieces and piled them upon sticks of wood laid 
 upon the altars. Jehovah and Baal were to be 
 supplicated, and the first whose sacrifices should 
 be burnt, should be called the true God. The 
 prophets of Baal piled up their pieces of slain 
 bullock. Then they called aloud upon Baal 
 but he heard not again they called, and went 
 through all the services of their peculiar wor- 
 ship : hours passed, and still Baal gave no answer. 
 " Cry aloud," said Elijah, with derision, " your 
 god is on a journey or sleeping, and must be
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 249 
 
 awakened." Rendered furious by this ridicule 
 in .which the people joined, the priests of Baal 
 jumped on the altar, stamping, cutting them- 
 selves, until they presented a miserable figure, 
 covered with blood and yelling like maniacs, 
 " Baal, hear us ! O Baal, help us !" 
 
 The time allotted them had passed ; no voice 
 answered them, no fire illumined their altar, and 
 with shame they were obliged to desist. 
 
 Elijah then called to the people " Come near, 
 O people and behold the token of God's presence !" 
 The people sent some of their number to assist 
 him, and then stood eagerly watching him. The 
 wood was piled upon the altar, and the sacrifice 
 placed upon it. Four barrels of water were then 
 poured upon it until the whole was thorough- 
 ly drenched that the miracle of burning might be 
 undisputed. Three times was the water poured 
 over, and running down filled a trench which 
 had been dug to hold it. 
 
 It was the hour of evening sacrifice at Jeru 
 salem, when all was finished, and Elijah knelt 
 before the altar, and addressed this prayer to 
 Jehovah. " Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, 
 and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou
 
 250 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 alone art God in Israel, and that I am thy ser- 
 vant, and that I have done all these things at 
 thy command ! Hear me, O Lord, hear me ! that 
 this people may know that thou art the Lord 
 God, that their hearts may be turned back again 
 to theel" He ceased awful expectations sat 
 upon each upraised brow, when with a sudden 
 flash, flames from heaven descended upon the 
 altar the sacrifice was consumed, and with it 
 the wood, the stones, and even the water in the 
 trench ! Then all the people fell prostrate crying 
 out, The Lord, he is the true God ; the Lord he 
 is the God ! 
 
 " Seize the false prophets ! " cried Elijah with 
 a terrible voice ; and they were all suddenly 
 surrounded, carried struggling away, and slain. 
 Elijah then turned to Ahab, who was crouching 
 in fear at the prophet's feet. " Get thee up," he 
 said, " eat and drink, for there is a sound of 
 abundance of rain." Elijah again prostrated 
 himself in prayer for rain, and looking up asked 
 his servant if any came. None was seen how- 
 ever, and the prayer of the prophet was not an- 
 swered so quickly as before, probably lest the pro- 
 phet should be a prey to pride, if too successful.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 251 
 
 Seven times was the servant sent to look out 
 from Carmel, and not until the seventh was there 
 any hope given. Then at last the servant report- 
 ed, " Behold there ariseth a little cloud out of 
 the Mediterranean sea, like a man's hand." Elijah 
 arose and said to Ahab " Go down and get 
 thee quickly into thy chariot and drive home, 
 lest the rain stop thee." Black clouds rapidly 
 covered the skies, a strong wind blew Ahab 
 and the people hastened towards Jezreel, and 
 Elijah, to prove his loyalty and humility, ran as 
 a footman before the king. As they entered 
 the city a heavy rain fell, rejoicing the people 
 and the thirsty land. 
 
 Could it be believed that after such decided 
 proofs of a living deity, and such awful demon- 
 strations of his power, that any unbeliever could 
 be found ! There however was one, and she the 
 highest in the land, and who should stand as a 
 light to direct the rest ! Jezebel the Queen, 
 plunged in the darkness of idolatry, believed or 
 feigned to believe, the whole a scene got up by 
 witchcraft, and that Elijah had deceived the 
 people. 
 x In vain had Ahab told her of all the prophet
 
 252 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 had done ; she only knew that her priests were 
 slain. " Tell him," she exclaimed in rage, " so 
 let the Lord do to me, and more, if I make not 
 his life as the life of one of them before to-mor- 
 row!" 
 
 Elijah was told of this, and privately left the 
 city. He walked a day's journey, and then, 
 fatigued and desponding that all he had done 
 seemed in vain while Jezebel ruled, he laid him- 
 self down and wished for death, saying, " I have 
 done all I could, now, O Lord, take away my life. 
 I am no better than my fathers." He slept 
 under a juniper tree, and when he awakened be- 
 held food provided by angels for him ; and a 
 voice said : " Arise and eat, for a long journey 
 is before thee ! " Thus divinely assisted he jour- 
 neyed to mount Horeb and took up his abode in a 
 cave, thus hastily leaving the court and people, 
 where so much remained for him to do. The 
 voice of the Lord came to the prophet while alone 
 in his vast solitude on the sides of Mount Horeb, 
 " What doest thou here, Elijah ?" it asked. The 
 prophet answered by justifying himself: " I have 
 been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts ; 
 for the children of Israel have forsaken thy
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 253 
 
 covenant, thrown down thy altars and slain and 
 dispersed thy prophets, and I only am left, and 
 ray life they seek to take it away." " Go forth," 
 said the voice, " stand upon the summit of the 
 mount of the Lord, and the Lord will pass by 
 and tell thee what will come to Israel." 
 
 Elijah stood alone on the crest of Sinai. A 
 terrible wind came, rending the mountain and 
 crushing the tumbling rocks around. The 
 prophet wrapped his face in his mantle and 
 listened, but the Lord was not in the tempest. 
 After the wind was an earthquake, and the hills 
 shook, and the dreadful sound went roaring from 
 mount to mount, and echoed and was lost away 
 in the wide stretching deserts : but the Lord 
 was not in the earthquake. After the earth- 
 quake a fire, which wildly flashed in the air 
 around, but the Lord was not in the fire : for the 
 Lord speaks only to his enemies in tempest and 
 thunder ; after the fire came a stitt small voice, 
 and then the prophet knew the Lord was 
 speaking. The voice said to him again, " What 
 doest thou here, Elijah ?" Again he answered 
 and told of his efforts to uphold his name 
 in Israel, and was forced to fly for his life. Elijah.
 
 254 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLtf. 
 
 was then told of the fearful punishment coming 
 upon Ahab. and Jezebel, and all disbelieving 
 Israel, by Jehu and Hazael who were to be 
 anointed as kings. The heart of the prophet was 
 however comforted by the assurance that there 
 were seven thousand in Israel whose knees had 
 never bowed to Baal and who should be saved. 
 Elijah departed from the mount, and first sought 
 Elisha, whom he believed a proper person to as- 
 sist him in executing the commissions given him 
 from on high. 
 
 Elisha was a husbandman, and with his oxen 
 was at work when summoned by Elijah to fol- 
 low him. " Let me but kiss my mother, and 
 my father, and I will follow thee." These du- 
 ties fulfilled, he slew his oxen, made a fire of 
 their yokes and ploughs, cooked them, gave to 
 Elijah, and the rest was given to his family and 
 neighbors as a farewell feast, and the two pro- 
 phets set out on their mission. 
 
 The next event in the life of Ahab is the 
 invasion of his land by the Syrians. 
 
 Ben-hadad, king of Syria, by a sudden inroad 
 reduced the country to submission as far as the 
 city of Samaria : seated before which he sent a
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 255 
 
 proud demand to Ahab, for "his silver and 
 gold, his wives, and his children." The weak 
 Ahab was dismayed at the power of Ben-hadad, 
 who came with a large army ; thirty-two allied 
 kings and their power, and numerous chariots 
 and horses. He submitted at once, and returned 
 answer ; " My lord and king, according to thy 
 demand, I am thine and all that I have." Elated 
 by this ready compliance with what was only 
 meant as a threat, Ben-hadad grew bolder and 
 sent another messenger to tell Ahab that, " to- 
 morrow, about this time, I will send my servants 
 to search thy house, and that of the citizens, and 
 take away all of thine that is the most pleasant, 
 and the goodliest 1" 
 
 At this insolent message, the poor king of 
 Israel was so disturbed that he sent for his 
 eiders, and in full council demanded their ad- 
 vice. " Mark, I pray you," said Ahab, " how 
 bent upon our destruction is this man ! When 
 he sent, as a proof of my submission, to say he 
 had power over all I possessed, I denied him 
 not, thinking he would take my submission, 
 *br tribute and depart: and now he comes to 
 rifle all our houses for all our treasures, even
 
 256 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 perhaps, for our maidens." The elders were 
 indignant at these insults, and with the people 
 around cried out ; " Hearken not unto him 1 
 consent not to his impudent demands !" 
 
 Acting upon this advice, Ahab sent to Ben- 
 hadad to refuse his last insulting demand. The 
 scornful reply to Ahab was, " The gods so do 
 unto me, and more also, if I do not so destroy 
 Samaria that its dust will not suffice for a hand- 
 full for each of my soldiers !" The king of 
 Israel answered the messenger by the pertinent 
 saying; "Let not him that girdeth on his har- 
 ness boast as he that putteth it off." When he 
 heard this message, the wrath of Ben-hadad was 
 great ; he arose from the table where he and his 
 allied kings were carousing, and cried out with a 
 loud voice, " Set yourselves in array ! Advance 
 to the city !" and soon the armed masses were 
 in motion, covering the hills around Samaria. 
 While the weak Ahab sat hopelessly expecting 
 the approach of his enemy, a prophet, some 
 think Obadiah, stood before him. " I have a 
 message to thee, O Ahab, from the Lord," he 
 said. " Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou seen all 
 this great multitude that approacheth ? Behold
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 257 
 
 I will deliver it unto thy hand this day, and 
 thou shalt know that I am the only God." 
 
 " Whom shall I send to gain this great victo- 
 ry," asked Ahab. " Even by the sons and ser- 
 vants of the princes who rule the provinces; 
 not the rulers themselves." " Who shall order 
 the battle ?" The prophet answered, " Thou, O 
 king." 
 
 Ahab believed the prophet. He arose, and 
 issued orders, and in a short time a little band 
 was gathered, consisting of seven thousand ser- 
 vants, and one hundred sons of the princes of the 
 provinces. The young noblemen acting as 
 captains, and king Ahab as general over them. 
 
 The king of Syria at his noonday meal was 
 holding revel with his kings, and "drinking 
 himself drunk ;" when he was told that troops 
 were coming out from Samaria. His drunken 
 orders were " whether they come out in peaceful 
 submission, or whether they come out for war, 
 take them alive !" 
 
 He soon found that he was fighting a more 
 powerful king than Ahab, for the sounds of war 
 and terror were heard approaching, his soldiers 
 
 were seen pressed back, as >y a victorious band. 
 22* 

 
 258 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 and he at last was called to flee for his life. 
 Trembling now with fear, Ben-hadad mounted 
 his horse and fled. Ahab., the conqueror, came 
 rushing on, urged by the -words of a prophet who 
 had told him to be sure and destroy Ben-hadad, 
 or he would return by the end of the year. 
 
 Ben-hadad, however, did escape, and Ahab 
 returned crowned with victory and possessed of 
 rich booty. 
 
 The words of the prophet were fulfilled, and 
 the king of Syria came out of his country again, 
 for he had been foolishly counselled. 
 
 "The Gods of the Israelites," said his ad- 
 visers, " are Gods of the hills alone, and there- 
 fore they prevailed against us ; let us then fight 
 them in the plain, and our gods will then be 
 strongest." And as they probably thought he 
 and his kings spent too much time feasting, he 
 was advised to leave them behind and put cap- 
 tains in their place. 
 
 An army of horses and chariots, and men 
 well commanded, were gathered, and the Syrians 
 encamped on a plain near the city of Aphek. 
 Ahab was encouraged again by the prophet, 
 '\yho gave him this message by divine command ;
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 259 
 
 " The Syrians have said, the Lord is God of the 
 hills, and not God of the valleys, therefore will 
 I deliver all this great multitude and their king 
 into thy hand, and all shall know that I am the 
 Lord!" 
 
 Accordingly, Ahab again went forth with two 
 slender bands which looked upon the plain like 
 two flocks of goats. The Syrians rushed forth 
 expecting soon to slay them, but. found they 
 fought against a rock ; and after being slaughter- 
 ed in great numbers fled into the city of Aphek. 
 There, also, Divine vengeance pursued them, 
 and the city wall fell upon and destroyed the 
 remaining twenty-seven thousand. 
 
 Ben-hadad, and a few personal followers were 
 alone saved, and were concealed in a chamber. 
 Here, plunged in grief and terror, they sat, not 
 knowing which way to fly. At last one of the 
 men said to the king ; " We have heard that 
 the kings of the Israelites are merciful kings ; 
 let us then, I pray thee, put sackcloth upon our 
 loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to 
 the king of Israel, and peradventure he will save 
 thy life." To this, as his only resource, the 
 humbled king assented.
 
 260 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 King Ahab was surrounded by his people 
 congratulating him, and rejoicing in his victory. 
 It was in this happy mood that he saw the fol- 
 lowers of the conquered king approach and 
 kneel clothed in sackcloth. 
 
 " Thy servant Ben-hadad sayeth," they said, 
 in abject manner, " I pray thee, let me live 1" 
 Ahab forgot the command of the prophet to 
 slay Ben-hadad. He only remembered his for- 
 mer position and his present strait, and was 
 Btruck with pity. He is a brother king, he 
 thought I may some day be as low as he is. 
 "Is he yet alive?" he asked of the men; and 
 then murmured to himself, " he is my brother." 
 The Syrians, who were watching him eagerly, 
 caught at the word, and said, "Ay, thy brother 
 Ben-hadad is alive." Ahab weakly relented. 
 "Go and bring him," he said. The once haugh- 
 ty Ben-hadad, king of Syria, now came humbly 
 forth, and was assisted up into the chariot be- 
 side Ahab, where a conference took place. An 
 agreement was entered into : the life of the Syri- 
 an was granted him, and he gave up to Ahab, 
 the cities which had been taken from Israel by 
 his father; also he promised to allot certain
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 261 
 
 streets, in his royal city of Damascus, where the 
 Israelites might carry on their trade. 
 
 While the two kings were thus in friendly 
 treaty, a prophet was commissioned to tell Ahab 
 of the error he had committed by not killing 
 Ben-hadad, and to pronounce his punishment. 
 
 This the prophet commenced to do, by the 
 mysterious manner often used by them. He 
 turned to a son of the prophet near him, and 
 said, " Smite me, I pray thee." The man refused, 
 noth withstanding it was a prophet that asked. 
 " Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the 
 Lord," said the prophet, "behold, as soon as 
 thou hast departed from me, a lion shall slay 
 thee by the way." (This punishment did happen 
 to the man afterwards). He then asked another, 
 who believed it was from the Lord, and struck 
 him with some instrument and wounded him. 
 Thus, wounded and bleeding, with his head 
 bound up as one just come from battle, he sought 
 the king, as he was on his way to Samaria. He 
 approached, and the king stopped to hear his 
 petition. " Thy servant went out to the battle," 
 he said, " and a man brought me a prisoner of 
 rank and said, 'Guard this man; if by any
 
 262 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 means he is missing, then shall thy life go for 
 his life, or else thou shalt pay me a talent of 
 silver.' As thy servant was busily occupied, 
 the man escaped must I then pay the silver ?" 
 "Yea," said the king, "thou hast erred and 
 must pay." He then threw off his bandages, 
 and the king knew the prophet, and trembled 
 with fear. "Thus saith the Lord, O Ahab," 
 cried the holy man, "because thou hast let go 
 out of thy hand, a man whom I appointed to ut- 
 ter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his 
 life, and thy people for his people." 
 
 King Ahab rode on, and entered his house 
 gloomy and displeased. 
 
 Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, has been mentioned 
 above, and, from thence, a glimpse of her cruel 
 character may be gained. Daughter of an idola- 
 ter, she looked upon the Israelite people aa 
 heretics, and only fit to be trodden under foot. 
 These traits of her character are vividly shown 
 in the story of Naboth. This unfortunate man 
 possessed a vineyard which adjoined the grounds 
 of Ahab's palace, in the city of Jezreel. This 
 vineyard, Ahab offered to purchase, that he 
 might make it a garden ; but Naboth refused to
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 263 
 
 sell. Ahab persisted ; Naboth continued firm, 
 " for it is the inheritance of my fathers," he 
 said. 
 
 Ahab was not used to disappointments, and 
 this preyed upon his weak mind until he became 
 ill. His wife Jezebel sought him while lying 
 in this mood upon his bed. "Why is thy spirit 
 so sad, Ahab," she said, " why eatest thou not ?" 
 " I am sore vexed," he answered, sullenly : " I 
 have asked Naboth for his vineyard, and he re- 
 fuses to sell it me." Jezebel gazed upon him 
 with the utmost scorn. " What ! art thou the 
 ruler of Israel, or is Naboth !" she said. " Arise 1 
 eat bread, and be merry. I will give thee the 
 vineyard of this insolent man !" and Jezebel 
 swept haughtily out of the apartment, to send 
 out her cruel orders. She wrote letters to the 
 elders and nobles in the king's name, and sealed 
 with his signet, accusing Naboth of a great crime; 
 and desiring a public fast to be proclaimed about 
 the city, that divine vengeance might be averted. 
 After the fast, Naboth was brought forth before 
 the assembled people, accused by two hired 
 witnesses, of certain crimes ; convicted by the 
 fearful judges who dared not refuse Jezebel'*
 
 264: SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 commands. Then this poor victim of absolute 
 power was carried out of the city, and with his 
 sons stoned to death. Ahab hastened and took 
 possession of his blood-bought garden. 
 
 Such high-handed wickedness could not go 
 unreproved by the Lord who watched over his 
 chosen people. King Ahab was walking in the 
 vineyard, pleasantly occupied with new arrange- 
 ments, when lifting his head he saw the prophet 
 Elijah standing with folded arms, gazing sternly 
 at him. "So! thou hast killed and taken pos- 
 session !" he said. " But the Lord saith to thee, 
 thus : In the place where the dogs licked the 
 blood of Naboth, shall dogs lick thy blood 
 ay, even thine, O king !" " Hast thou found 
 me, O mine enemy," said the dejected Ahab. 
 "I have found thee, and I tell thee, because 
 thou hast worked this evil in the sight of the 
 Lord, he will bring evil upon thee, and will take 
 away thy posterity, and will cut off all bearing 
 relation to thee. Thy house shall share the fate 
 of the house of Jeroboam, and the house of 
 Baasha, who caused Israel to sin, of whom not 
 one remaineth. The abominations of Jezebel 
 thy wife shall also be visited on her head ; the
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 265 
 
 dogs shall tear her body by the wall of Jezreel !" 
 These dreadful words affected Ahab. He knew 
 the power of the living God, and trembled 
 before him. He rent his clothes, wore only a 
 dress of coarse sackcloth, and humbled himself 
 before the Lord. This conduct averted the evil 
 to his house until after his death. 
 
 It was during the reign of this wicked king, 
 that a prophecy was fulfilled which had been 
 upon the Jewish records for four hundred and 
 forty years. No reader of this wondrous book 
 from which these memoirs are collected, can 
 have forgotten the fall of Jericho, that awful 
 demonstration of the power of a present deity 1 
 Against the devoted city of idolaters, no arm 
 was raised, no human force used seven days 
 the numerous hosts of warriors, and solemn 
 train of priests with the holy ark, marched 
 around the doomed city, in silence, unbroken 
 save by the trumpet's warning note! Seven 
 days continued this funeral march ; on the 
 seventh, one mighty shout went up from all the 
 hosts, and with a sounding crash the walls of 
 Jericho laid low ! Over the ruins of the city, 
 
 Joshua pronounced a curse " upon the man that 
 23
 
 266 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE; 
 
 raiseth up and buildeth this city Jericho; he 
 shall lay the foundation thereof on his first- 
 born, and on his youngest son shall he set up 
 the gates of it." So plunged in wickedness was 
 the Israelite nation, that this warning was un- 
 heeded, and a man by the name of Hiel, of the 
 city of Bethel, dared to rebuild Jericho. When 
 the foundation was laid, his eldest son Abiram 
 died still he went on then his other sons 
 died; but being an idolater he scorned to cease ; 
 it was finished and the gates set up, and then 
 perished his youngest child Segah, and the 
 curse of Joshua had fallen ! 
 
 We come now to the closing scenes in the 
 life of king Ahab. The king of Judah will 
 also appear in events alluded to, while narrating 
 his life, Jehoshaphat, as we have seen, commit- 
 ted the very great error of allying himself with 
 Ahab. At this time, he came down in state, 
 with his son and successor, Jehoram : who was 
 then married to Athaliah, daughter of Ahab. 
 The remembrance of our fallen nature is con- 
 stantly needed, while reading the story of this 
 unhappy nation of Hebrews. With God's pro- 
 phets constantly around them to warn and to re*
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 267 
 
 prove, they commit the most unexpected errors. 
 Who could imagine that the pious Jehoshaphat 
 would marry his son to the daughter of the wick- 
 ed and idolatrous Ahab and Jezebel ? yet such 
 was the fact. His punishment we have seen 
 above ; but the disastrous consequences to his 
 descendants have yet to appear. 
 
 Ahab took advantage of the visit of the king 
 of Judah, to persuade him to join him in his 
 meditated attack upon Syria. Having leagued 
 himself with Ahab, Jehoshaphat's yielding na- 
 ture induced him to consent; first stipulating 
 that some prophets hould enquire the will of God 
 concerning the matter. 
 
 Oxen and sheep were slaughtered, a great 
 feast was held in the ivory palace of Ahab, and 
 then the two kings went to the place of council 
 and public assembly ; the gate of Samaria. 
 Seated each upon his throne the people around 
 them, they received the four hundred priests of 
 Ahab. The king of Israel then demanded; 
 "Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I 
 forbear ?" 
 
 " vjo up! " said the priests, for the Lord of 
 Israel shall deliver it into the hand of the Lord
 
 268 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 the king. Jehoshaphat cared not to risk his fate 
 upon the word of these priests, and asked ; "Is 
 there not a prophet of Jehovah here that we may 
 inquire of him ?" " There is Micaiah, who is in 
 prison," replied Ahab, " but him I hate, for he 
 always prophesies evil regarding me." " Let 
 not the king hate a prophet," said Jehoshaphat, 
 "if he is truly inspired he is from God." To 
 oblige his guest, Ahab sent an officer for Micaiah. 
 On the way from prison the officer, who was an 
 idolater and did not believe in Jehovah, said 
 to the prophet, " I advise you to prophecy good 
 to the king, for all the others have and it will be 
 better for you, if you do so." " As the Lord 
 liveth!" "said Micaiah, "what Jehovah saith 
 unto me, that will I speak I" 
 
 In the mean while the other prophets had been 
 flattering the king by saying, " Go up to Eamoth 
 Gilead and prosper." The Lord shall deliver 
 the city to the king. Zedekiah the head-priest 
 put two horns of iron upon his head ; meaning 
 to represent Ahab and Jehoshaphat, and said, 
 " Thus saith the Lord, with these shalt thou 
 push the Syrians until they be destroyed !" 
 
 Thus encouraged Ahab was little inclined to
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 269 
 
 be guided by Micaiah, who now appeared before 
 him; still he put to him the same questions: 
 " Shall I go up to Ramoth Gilead to battle ; or 
 shall we forbear ?" 
 
 Micaiah, knowing he should not be believed if 
 he said otherwise, answered ironically, and mock- 
 ing the tone of the others ; "0 yes go up and 
 prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the 
 hands of the king!" Ahab knew he spoke in 
 jest, and said impatiently, " How many times 
 shall I adjure thee^ to say only what thou be- 
 lievest true ?" 
 
 Then the manner of the prophet changed, and 
 spreading out his arms he said solemnly, "I 
 saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep, 
 that have no shepherd : and the Lord said, these 
 have no master ; let them return every man to 
 his home in peace !" The king of Israel turned 
 to Jehoshaphat and said ; " Did I not tell thee 
 he would only prophecy evil concerning me?" 
 
 "Hear thou the word of the Lord!" said 
 Micaiah. " I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, 
 and all the host of heaven standing by him on 
 his right hand and on his left : and the Lord 
 
 said. Who shall persuade Ahab that he may go 
 23*
 
 270 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 up and tall at Kamoth Gilead ? and there came 
 forth a spirit and stood before the Lord and said, 
 I will persuade him. And the Lord said, Where- 
 with? and the spirit said, I will go forth, 
 and 1 will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all 
 his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt 
 persuade him, and prevail, that his life may be 
 for the life of the king of Syria whom he spared. 
 Now therefore, O Ahab ! there is a lying spirit 
 in the mouth of all these thy prophets." 
 
 This accusation aroused the rage of the false 
 prophets, and Zedekiah struck Micaiah on "the 
 cheek saying ; " Which way went the spirit of 
 Lord from me to speak unto thee?" "Behold, 
 thou shalt know, in that day when thou fleest 
 to hide thyself in an inner chamber 1" said the 
 prophet. 
 
 "Take Micaiah!" cried out Ahab, "carry 
 him to prison and feed him with the bread of 
 affliction, and the water of affliction, until I come 
 in peace," 
 
 "If thou return at all, in peace," said the 
 prophet, "then the Lord hath not spoken by 
 by me." Turning to the assembly as he depart-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 271 
 
 ed, the prophet, said, " Remember these words, 
 O people I" 
 
 Jehoshaphat, unwilling to desert his ally and 
 brother king, resolved to accompany him : de- 
 termined also by the reflection that he was not 
 spoken of by the prophet, for Micaiah had ad- 
 dressed-Ahab alone. 
 
 The words of this prophet had disturbed Ahab, 
 in spite of his treatment of him, and to avert the 
 prophecy, and probably save his life, he disguised 
 himself as a private soldier, leaving Jehoshaphat 
 alone in his chariot on high. He might also 
 have had a wicked hope of seizing the throne 
 of Judah if its king perished. 
 
 The Syrians came forth in a great host to 
 meet the armies of Israel and Judah. Ben-hadad, 
 eager to slay Ahab, had enjoined upon his thirty- 
 two captains, and commanders of the chariots, 
 to "fight neither with great nor small, save 
 only the king of Israel !" 
 
 Jehoshaphat, in his royal robes seated in his 
 gilded chariot, and drawn by spirited war horses 
 splendidly adorned, caught the eye at once of 
 the Syrian captains, and they surrounded him. 
 In this strait the king cried out to his God to
 
 272 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 save him, and the Lord heard the prayer of this, 
 his erring son. Tne Syrians became aware it 
 was not Ahab, and remembering the words of 
 their king, left him, to seek the king of Israel. 
 
 In vain had Ahab sought to conceal himself 
 from God and avert his doom. His disguise 
 baffled the Syrian captains, but a soldjgf^drew 
 his bow at venture the arrow, Divinely direct- 
 ed, sped to its mark the breast-plate of Ahab 
 yielded, and the arrow entered his breast ! 
 
 His strong will kept Ahab from publishing 
 his fall. He directed one of his followers to 
 carry him to his chariot, which stood afar from 
 the battle ; and there he had the courage to. 
 remain all day watching the battle while his life 
 blood filled the chariot. The Syrians conquer- 
 ed the allied armies fled then died king Ahab, 
 and his man carried him to his home in Samaria. 
 
 All the prophecy was fulfilled the dogs lap- 
 ped the blood of Ahab as the chariot was being 
 washed in the pool of Samaria ; and king Ahab 
 was buried in the city of Samaria. 
 
 Jehoshaphat returned to Judah.
 
 iajr, JHng nf 
 
 IT was a singular and unhappy thing that 
 both Israel and Judah were ruled by women, 
 both possessed of lawless passions and haughty 
 spirit; and withal idolatrous worshippers of 
 Baal and Astaroth. 
 
 Jezebel ruled her son Ahaziah in Samaria; 
 and her daughter, the wicked Athaliah, governed 
 Jerusalem. woe to the land left to the guid- 
 
 ance of two fierce, cruel, and reckless women. 
 
 
 
 During Ahaziah's reign, every idol and grove 
 was restored, and the worship of false gods was 
 still more universal than when Ahab lived ; for 
 then Elijah had been there to warn the people, 
 and frighten the weak king. 
 
 The land of Moab was lost to Israel while 
 Ahaziah reigned, for the people revolted, and 
 the Israelites were not sufficiently recovered ftom
 
 274 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 the war with Syria to attack Moab. Soon after- 
 terwards Ahaziah fell through the lattice of an 
 upper room, and injured himself severely. He 
 became alarmed, and sought to know if he should 
 recover or not. Messengers were sent to Ekron, 
 to the idol Baal-zebub, to know whether the 
 king of Israel would recover. 
 
 The God of mercy, who had watched over 
 Ahab, now sent Elijah the prophet to arouse the 
 conscience of his son. Elijah met the messen- 
 gers and said, " Is there no God in Israel that 
 you go to Ekron? Go, tell your master the 
 words of th Lord : Thou shalt not come down 
 from the bed on which thou art, but shalt surely^ 
 die!" The messengers -feared the prophet, re- 
 turned to Ahaziah, and delivered the message ; 
 but did not know who the prophet was.. Aha- 
 ziah inquired, " What manner of man was he 
 who met you and told you these words ?" They 
 answered him, " He was clad in a goat's hair 
 garment, and girt with a leather girdle." 
 
 " It is Elijah, the Tishbite !" exclaimed the 
 king, angrily. Bent upon his destruction, he 
 sent a captain and fifty men to slay him. The 
 soldiers found him seated on a rock upon the
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 275 
 
 side of Mount Carmel. " man of God I" they 
 cried, contemptuously, "come down, for the 
 king hath sent for thee." " If I be a man of 
 God," said Elijah, "let fire come down from 
 heaven and consume thee and thy fifty men." 
 
 And lo, the fire descended at the word, and 
 the men were burned and the prophet saved ! 
 
 The king sent another band of men who also 
 mocked the prophet, and met with the same 
 fate. Ahaziah, blinded by fury at the loss of 
 his men, sent a third detachment, thinking the 
 ammunition of Elijah must be consumed ; (for 
 he knew not its heavenly source.) But these 
 messengers were alarmed at the fate of the 
 others, and they resolved to supplicate for 
 mercy. "O man of God!" the third captain 
 cried, falling upon his knees, " I pray thee let 
 my life, and the life of these thy servants, be 
 precious in thy sight !" 
 
 Their prayer was heard the prophet de- 
 scended, and fearlessly went with them to the 
 .king. He was taken to the bed-side of Ahaziah, 
 who, now a little daunted by the preceding 
 events, asked him to cure him of the fevtr that 
 had attacked him.
 
 276 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE, 
 
 "The word of the Lord has been spoken," 
 replied Elijah. " Because thou sent messengers 
 to inquire of the idol Baal-zebub, and not to the 
 God of Israel, thon shalt never come down from 
 that couch, but shalt die there 1" 
 : The words of the prophet were fulfilled. 
 Ahaziah died after a short reign of two years. 
 
 , ling of 
 
 AHAZIAH died young, and left no children ; 
 therefore the throne descended to his brother 
 Jehoram. This king was apparently possessed 
 of a stronger mind than his brother or father. 
 He had seen and acknowledged the power of 
 Elijah, and scorned his mother's useless idols. 
 She had not the same hold over him that she 
 had over her husband, and in defiance of her % 
 anger he destroyed the idols that she worship- 
 ped. He was not, however, sufficiently free 
 from error as to believe in the God of his land,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 277 
 
 but continued the garbled cherubim worship 
 which Jeroboam had instituted the apostate 
 church of Israel. 
 
 The course of the prophet Elijah was now 
 finished his race was run, and the crown was 
 ready for his reward. He knew he was to be 
 taken up to heaven as Enoch had been, and 
 fearing to try the faith of Elisha, or for some 
 other reason, wished to depart alone : but Elisha 
 clung to him. They arrived at Gilgal, and 
 Elijah said, "Tarry here, I pray thee, for the 
 Lord hath sent me to Beth-el." But Elisha, 
 determined to be with his beloved friend and 
 master, replied, "As the Lord liveth, and as 
 thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." They 
 went to Beth-el to the college of the sons of the 
 prophets, then to Jericho, where the prophets 
 there beheld the great miracle of the division of 
 the waters of the Jordan. Elijah smote the 
 river with his mantle, and the waves receded, 
 leaving a path through which the two prophets 
 passed ; and this was the last they saw of Elijah. 
 Upon the Jordan bank, after they had crossed, 
 Elijah said to Elisha, " Ask what I can do for 
 thee before I be taken away from thee."
 
 278 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 "I pray thee let a double portion of thy 
 spirit be upon me/' was all that Elisha asked ; 
 no earthly pomp was coveted, but the portion 
 of poverty and scorn, so that a holy spirit might 
 come with it. 
 
 "Thou hast asked a hard thing," replied 
 Elijah. "If thou seest me, when I am taken 
 up, it will be a sign that thy prayer is granted." 
 
 As they spoke, behold a chariot of fire and 
 horses as of fire, suddenly rushed past, and 
 Elijah was carried toward heaven. " My father ! 
 my father !" cried Elisha, in great agitation, 
 tearing his garment, " the chariots of Israel, and 
 the horsemen thereof wert thou !" The mantle 
 which fell from Elijah, his friend took up ; and 
 to try if Elijah's power had fallen upon him, 
 smote the waters of the Jordan, crying, " Where 
 is the Lord God of Elijah ?" The water parted 
 and Elisha walked through, greatly to the 
 amazement of the prophets who had remained 
 on the other bank. 
 
 " The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha !" 
 they said; and then bowed themselves before 
 him, acknowledging him as their head. The 
 prophets knew Elijah had departed, and said to
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 279 
 
 Elisha, " Behold there be with thy servants fifty 
 strong men : let them go, I pray thee, and seek 
 our master, lest peradventure the spirit of the 
 Lord hath taken him up and cast him upon some 
 mountain, or into some valley." Elisha knew 
 better and forbade them to send ; but as they 
 urgently insisted, he said, "Send, if ye will." 
 They therefore searched the surrounding coun- 
 try but found him not. Elijah was never again 
 seen on earth. 
 
 These prophets resided in Jericho, which was in 
 the midst of a beautiful plain, once covered with 
 fruit and flowers ; but now, in consequence of 
 some taint, the water killed all it touched or 
 whoever drank of it. " Behold," they said to 
 Elisha, wishing to profit by his power, " the 
 situation of this city is pleasant, as my Lord 
 seeth ; but the water is naught, and the ground 
 barren." 
 
 " Bring me a new cruse with some salt there- 
 in," said Elisha, " and I will cure the water." 
 Elisha went to the source of the streams which 
 watered the plain, and throwing the salt in, said, 
 " Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these wa-
 
 280 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 ters ; there shall not be from thence any more 
 death or barren laud 1" 
 
 The waters were healed, and were the calirroe 
 of Pliny ; and the beautiful stream which other 
 travellers since have found flowing in the plain 
 near Jericho. From thence he sat out to go to 
 Samaria, where his services were needed to com- 
 fort the saints and admonish sinners. While on 
 this journey several children were sent out to 
 mock him, and called out after him with insult- 
 ing words. To stop such symptoms of derision 
 of his holy calling, and to strike the people 
 with fear of his divinely legated power, he 
 thought some great punishment proper. Ac- 
 cordingly, at his word, several wild bears rushed 
 from the adjoining woods and killed the wicked 
 children. 
 
 Elisha found Israel in arms, and joined to 
 Judah, were about attacking Moab, to reduce it 
 to submission. Jehoram, king of Israel, had in- 
 duced Jehoshaphat to assist him in this war by 
 the plea of mutual interest. The two kings sat 
 out ; and, to increase their power, went to Edom, 
 and persuaded that king to join them. Thence, 
 the three kings and their hosts wound their
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 281 
 
 weary way through the wilderness, and at 
 length were startled by the astounding certainty 
 that all water had failed, and if some were not 
 soon discovered, all must perish. The thoughts 
 of Jehoshaphat turned to his God, and he in- 
 quired if there were not some prophet near who 
 might entreat the Lord for them. To the joy of 
 all, it was found that Elisha was with the army. 
 
 The three kings alighted from their chariots, 
 and together sought the tent of the prophet. 
 ." What have I to do with thee?" said Elisha to 
 the king of Israel. " Get thee to the prophets 
 of thy father and mother." " Nay, reject not my 
 prayer," said Jehoram. " Here thou seest three 
 kings and their armies who must be destroyed 
 by Moab, or perish in this desert, if thou dost 
 not supplicate thy God for us." 
 
 " As the Lord of hosts liveth before whom I 
 stand," said the prophet, " were it not that I re- 
 gard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 
 I would not even look toward, or hear thee. 
 But send me a minstrel." 
 
 A harper came, and the prophecy of Elisha 
 was delivered in strains of music. " Thus saith 
 
 the Lord," he began, " Make this valley full of 
 24*
 
 282 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 ditches. Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye 
 see rain ; yet this valley shall be filled with wa- 
 ter, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, 
 and your beasts. But this is a light thing for 
 the power of the Lord. He will also deliver the 
 Moabites into your hands. And ye shall smite 
 every fenced city, and destroy all that is in 
 the land!" He ceased. The people watched 
 eagerly the fulfilment of his word. A rushing 
 sound was at length heard, and from the hills of 
 Edom, water poured down and filled all the 
 ditches they had dug ! The shouts of the armies 
 rent the air, and reached the walls of Moab. The 
 Moabite people looked out afar, and beheld a 
 shining fluid filling the ravines of the valley. 
 "This is blood," they cried.. "The kings are 
 surely slain. They have smitten each other. 
 Now Moab to the spoil !" 
 
 Tumultuously rushed forth the Moabites, .to 
 seize the treaures they thought awaiting them ; 
 but instead, they met a powerful army which 
 drove them back, destroying all before it The 
 king of Moab soon saw he had no hope except 
 in escape ; so taking with him seven hundred of 
 his best swordsmen, he hoped to cut his way
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 283 
 
 through. But his efforts were vain. Shut up 
 in the city, he saw nothing but death for all. 
 The last hope of this deluded man was to seek 
 to propitiate the Gods of Moab, by sacrificing 
 his eldest son and successor. This awful event 
 took place upon the walls of the city ; and such 
 horror and compassion possessed the allied kings 
 at the dreadful sight, that they abandoned the 
 siege and left the hapless Moabites and their 
 ruined city. 
 
 Elisha did not accompany the army, but went 
 on his way doing good to all that required it. 
 
 The first one recorded who applied to him, 
 was a widow, supposed to be the widow of 
 Obadiah, who had supported the prophets in a 
 cave, and thus embarrassed his family. The 
 widow was unable to pay her husband's debts ; 
 and her sons were claimed by the creditors as 
 bondmen. In this strait she sought the prophet, 
 and he furnished her with means of gaining 
 money by miraculously filling many vessels 
 with oil. This she sold, paid her debts, and 
 redeemed her sons. 
 
 Many other miracles were performed by this 
 inspired man, but we will only dwell upon those
 
 284 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 that relate to royal matters. Of these was the 
 leprosy of Naaman. 
 
 This man was a nobleman of the court of 
 Syria, much cherished by Ben-hadad. The odious 
 disease respected not rank, and the family of 
 Naaman grieved much for its master. 
 
 Among the attendants on the wife of Naaman 
 was a Hebrew girl taken captive in war. One 
 day taking heart, she said to her mistress, " "Would 
 God my Lord were with the prophet, that is in 
 Samaria, for he would recover him 1" The words 
 of the maid of Israel were reported to her mas- 
 ter, who in turn mentioned them to the king of 
 Syria. 
 
 " Go to Samaria," said Ben-hadad at once, " and 
 I will write by thee a letter to the king suppli- 
 cating him to permit thee to be cured of thy 
 evil in Samaria." Naaman with a great train 
 arrived at the city and sent in the letter accom- 
 panied by the present for Jehoram of ten talents 
 of silver, six thousand pieces of gold and ten 
 changes of raiment. 
 
 Jehoram read the letter, and was angry he 
 imagined it a snare by which the king of Syria 
 meant to make war upon him. " Am I a God
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 285 
 
 to kill and make alive !" he cried, tearing his 
 garment, " that this man sends me a man to re- 
 cover him of leprosy ? Behold how he seeketh 
 to quarrel with me !" 
 
 Elisha was then in Samaria, and heard of the 
 request of Naaman. 
 
 He sent to the king, saying ; " Wherefore 
 hast thou rent thy clothes ? Let Naaman come 
 to me and he shall know there is a prophet in 
 Israel !" Accordingly Naaman, in his shining 
 chariot, and numerous train, stood before the 
 humble abode of Elisha. The prophet was not 
 daunted by his grandeur, and did not go out to 
 him, but sent this message. " Go, and wash in 
 Jordan seven times and thy flesh shall come 
 again to thee and thou shalt be clean." 
 
 This simple message threw the Syrian into a 
 rage. He expected some mummery to have 
 been done. " Behold, I thought," he said, " he 
 could come out to me, and call on the name of 
 the Lord his God. Are not Abana and Pharphar, 
 rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters 
 of the Jordan ?" 
 
 He turned to depart but was stopped by his 
 servant, who said, " My father, if the prophet
 
 286 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou 
 not have done it ? Why not then do as he says, 
 and wash and be clean ?" 
 
 Naaman, finding Elisha refused to give any 
 other advice, went to the Jordan and dipped 
 himself seven times, and his disease departed. 
 "With great rejoicing Naaman returned to Elisha, 
 who came out to him. " Now I know, there is 
 no God so powerful as the God of Israel !" he 
 cried. " Take then this rich reward for thy ser- 
 vices to me." Elisha declined his presents. 
 Naaman urged it upon him, but Elisha said, 
 " As the Lord liveth before whom I stand, I will 
 receive none." 
 
 Naaman, determined to worship as the Israel- 
 ites in future, for he was a convert to their faith 
 now, asked of Elisha, some earth from before 
 his hut, which he considered as holy ground, 
 that he might erect an altar; "for there thy 
 servant," he said, " will henceforth offer neither 
 burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other Gods but 
 unto the God of Israel." He also asked Elisha 
 if he should be wrong, to go to the idol-temple 
 with his master the king, as was his custom, if 
 he did not worship in his heart. Elisha knowing
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 287 
 
 him to be a true convert allowed this for peace' 
 sake. So that the little Hebrew maiden had 
 been a missionary to point her master to the 
 waters of life, and made him a believer in the 
 truth. 
 
 Naaman departed, but had not gone far when 
 he was told that Gehazi was running after them ; 
 for the servant did not partake of his master's 
 high gifts of the spirit, and cared not to see 
 Naaman take his rich presents back again. 
 Naaman descended from his chariot and went 
 to meet the prophet's servant. "Is all well?" he 
 asked. " All is well," replied the deceitful Gehazi, 
 " but my master having received two sons of the 
 prophets, sends to ask of thee a talent of silver 
 and two changes of garment for them." 
 
 Well pleased was Naaman to serve the prophet, 
 and he bade two servants take to Elisha, two 
 talents of silver and two changes of raiment. 
 The deluded man fancied his master would not 
 know this, and, after dismissing the men, and 
 hiding his treasures, he sought Elisha. " Whence 
 earnest thou, Gehazi ?" he asked. " Thy servant 
 went no where," he answered. 
 
 " Didst thou think my spirit went not with
 
 288 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 thee," said his master severely, " when the man 
 turned from his chariot and came to meet theo ? 
 For thy sin, may the leprosy of Naaman cleave 
 to thee !" He went from his deceived master's 
 presence a leper as white as snow. 
 
 Such restless spirits as the kings of Israel and 
 of Syria could not long remain at peace with 
 each other, and we find they were soon at war 
 again. Some very remarkable scenes occurred 
 during the war, in which the prophet Elisha was 
 allowed to perform several astonishing miracles, 
 for the purpose of awakening these benighted 
 people to the power of the living God. 
 
 Jehoram the king set out to meet Ben-hadad, 
 intending to pitch his camp in a certain place, 
 but was warned in time by Elisha that the Sy- 
 rians were in ambush near that spot. Twice 
 was Jehoram thus saved by Elisha. 
 
 Ben-hadad was very wroth at thus losing his 
 prey, and suspected some of his people had be- 
 trayed him. He turned to his officers assembled 
 around him and asked angrily, " Which of you 
 is in league with the king of Israel and reveals 
 all my plots to him ?" " None, my Lord," said 
 one supposed to be Naaman, " but Elisha, their
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 289 
 
 prophet, knows and can tell Jehoram, the words 
 thou speakest in thy bed chamber. Naaman, al- 
 though he had thought it his duty to reveal the 
 probable source of these mysterious warnings 
 given to Jehoram, yet knew so well his power 
 that he feared not for him. Ben-hadad inquired, 
 and learnt that Elisha was now in Dothan, and 
 thither he sent a strong band of horsemen and 
 chariots. 
 
 The servant of Elisha, when he arose in the 
 morning, beheld the Syrians surrounding the 
 town, and feared for his master. He ran to his 
 chamber crying out, "Alas my master! what 
 shall we do; the Syrians are upon us!" "Fear 
 not," replied the prophet, " for they that be 
 with us, are more than they that be with them." 
 
 The prophet then kneeled in prayer, and 
 the servant was astonished to behold the air 
 filled with horses and chariots of fire, apparently 
 sent to protect Elisha. Through the means 
 delegated to the prophet, the Syrians were 
 struck with blindness, and groping about, fol- 
 lowed Elisha into the city of Samaria. Great 
 was their dismay, when their eyes were allowed 
 25 "
 
 290 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 to open, and they beheld themselves in the 
 presence of the king of Israel in Samaria ! 
 
 Jehoram was well pleased with Elisha. " My 
 father, shall I smite them ?" he asked. " Thou 
 shalt not smite them," said Elisha. " Wouldst 
 thou slay thy captives ? rather give them provi 
 sion and let them go to their master." 
 
 The Syrians were feasted and sent away to 
 relate the wondrous tale of Elisha's power, 
 which affected all who heard it, except the king 
 alone. Like all who refuse the truth, he plunged 
 still deeper into error; and now marched up 
 and besieged Samaria, hoping to destroy both 
 king and prophet. Shut up in their city, the Sa- 
 maritans suffered from famine. The people were 
 reduced to the greatest extremity, and prayed 
 Elisha to perform some miracle for their help. 
 But the time had not yet come for him to act, as 
 the Lord deemed the Samaritans not sufficiently 
 humbled. 
 
 One day, when Jehoram was passing along to 
 his daily station on the summit of the wall, 
 where he went to watch the enemy, a woman 
 tlirew herself before him and cried, " Help, my
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 291 
 
 lord, O king!" He thought she sought for 
 food, and replied, " If the Lord do not help thee, 
 whence shall I find thee food ? out of the barn- 
 floor, or out of the empty wine-press ?" 
 
 " Nay, my lord, I ask only justice of a wo- 
 man. Pressed by hunger, we each agreed to eat 
 our sons. I boiled my son and we eat him, and 
 now she refuseth to give up hers." These dread- 
 ful words filled the king with horror, and as he 
 tore his robe in a passion of despair, the people 
 around saw he wore sack-cloth next his skin, 
 in token of mourning. Anger at Elisha for not 
 terminating these evils possessed him, and he 
 sent some men to bring him before him. 
 
 The prophet was sitting with the elders of the 
 city around him, who came to him for counsel. 
 By the spirit, he knew that the king had sent 
 men to seize and kill him; and said to the 
 elders, " See ye how this son of a murderer hath 
 sent to take away my head. When the messen- 
 ger comes do not his bidding, for his repentant 
 master will soon follow him. Accordingly it 
 happened thus. Jehoram was well pleased to 
 find Elisha alive ; but said sullenly, " This evil
 
 292 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 is from the Lord, and I will not await his will 
 longer, but make a sally from the city." 
 
 " Hear ye the word of the Lord I" said Elisha, 
 solemnly ; "to-morrow about this time shall pro- 
 visions be so plenty, that a measure of fine-flour 
 will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of 
 barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria." 
 One of the lords of the court, upon whose arm 
 the king leaned, laughed derisively, and said, 
 "This might be if the Lord made windows in 
 heaven and rained it down." To which the 
 prophet replied, " Behold thou shalt see it with 
 thy eyes, but shalt not eat thereof." 
 
 That night four lepers sat in a famishing state 
 at the gate of the city. One, at last, arose and 
 said, " Why sit we here to die? Let us enter 
 the Syrian camp, and if they kill us, it is only 
 the fate which must be ours here, and if they 
 refrain, we shall have saved our lives." This 
 counsel was followed, and they ran rapidly 
 down the stony hill. The miracles of the 
 prophet Elisha, although unheeded by the king, 
 had made a powerful effect upon the spirits of 
 the people, and every day they expected some 
 terrible destruction to come upon them suddenly
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 293 
 
 sent by the prophet. Thus, as they sat around 
 their watch-fires, they listened to every noise 
 from the city, or looked in the air to see if 
 legions of horsemen were not coming upon them. 
 A noise was at last heard a rushing of men or 
 horses towards them they arose and ran scream- 
 ing about the camp that the Israelites were upon 
 them. A panic tooic place and the army fled. 
 The lepers were, at first, astounded by the noise, 
 but silence succeeding, they crept softly up to 
 the camp ; they entered and saw the tents filled 
 with gold, and silver, and armor, and meat, and 
 drink, but no man was there. Astonished, they 
 grew bolder, and after eating and drinking, they 
 hid away a goodly share of treasure, and then 
 turned homewards. The warders were pacing 
 the walls when voices were heard calling upon 
 them, and soon the news brought by the lepers 
 had been heard by them, and sent at once to the 
 king. Jehoram arose ; but believed not the 
 Syrians had fled. " They have only gone a lit- 
 tle way from their camp," he said, " to lure us 
 from our strong hold, and when we are out, they 
 will fall upon us." One of the servants an- 
 swered, "Let some one take, I pray thee, one of
 
 291 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 the few horses that famine has spared to us, and 
 go out and see if this news be true." The ad- 
 vice was followed, and two horsemen rode out 
 and pursued the retreating Syrians, whose course 
 was traced to the Jordan, by the garments and 
 vessels which they had cast away in their haste. 
 
 The next day the words of the prophet were 
 fulfilled, and fine flour and barley were sold 
 for a trifle in the gates of Samaria. Moreover, 
 the scoffing lord beheld the plenty, but could not 
 partake, for he had charge of the gate, and the 
 people rushing tumultuously out to the Syrian 
 tents, trod upon him in the gate, and he died as 
 Elisha had foretold. 
 
 It will be remembered, that when Elijah fled 
 to the wilderness from the wrath of Ahab and 
 Jezebel, he was told by the Lord to anoint 
 Hazael king of Syria, in place of Ben-hadad, and 
 Jehu son of Nimshi, king of Israel. This duty 
 had been delegated to Elisha, who now stood 
 upon a hill-side in Syria, gazing sadly upon the 
 beautiful city of Damascus, which lay in the cen- 
 tre of a verdant plain, across which flowed the 
 streams Abana and Parphar. The good man 
 sighed when he remembered his mission; for
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 295 
 
 the fierce Hazael was to be anointed king that 
 he might fulfill the punishment of Israel, which 
 the weak Ben-hadad was unable to do. As he 
 gazed, a train of camels and men crossed the 
 plain and approached him, and when they had 
 reached the hut where was his abode, a man, 
 richly clothed, alighted and came to him. It 
 was Hazael, one of the principal Lords of Ben- 
 hadad, who said, " Thy son Ben-hadad, king of 
 Syria, hath sent me to thee, O holy prophet, to 
 inquire if he shall die of this disease or no." 
 " Go, say unto thy master," said the prophet, 
 "thou shalt certainly recover of this illness; 
 and yet I foresee he will soon die, but by a more 
 cruel death." He then fixed his eyes steadily 
 upon Hazael, the future destroyer, and the man 
 of God wept. " Why weepest thou, my Lord ?" 
 asked Hazael. " Alas ! Hazael, it is because I 
 foresee all the evil which thou wilt do to the 
 children of Israel. Thou wilt burn their strong- 
 holds, and slay men, women, and children with 
 untiring cruelty." 
 
 " What ! is thy servant a dog that he should 
 do this thing?" asked Hazael, aghast. 
 
 "Yea, Hazael. The Lord hath showed mm
 
 296 
 
 that thou shalt soon be king of Syria." As 
 Hazael rode back over the plain he mused upon 
 the prophet's words: He should be king of 
 Syria ! How his ambitious heart swelled at the 
 thought ! And conqueror of Israel ! but a mer- 
 ciful conqueror, and Elisha should find he was 
 not so wicked as he imagined. 
 
 We know not what spirit we are of until we 
 are tried; and truly said Solomon, "He that 
 trusteth in his own heart is a fool." 
 
 Ben-hadad revived from his illness, but Ha- 
 zael, eager to ascend the throne, resolved to 
 murder him. As he always had access to his 
 room, he sought an opportunity when no human 
 eye saw him, and dipping a cloth in water press- 
 ed it upon the face of his king and master until 
 he died. He had the command of the army, 
 and soon caused himself to be declared king of 
 Syria. 
 
 After being well settled upon his throne, 
 Hazael set out with a great army to attack Je- 
 horam. In a battle the king of Israel was 
 wounded, and returned to the city of Jezreel 
 to be cured. Here he was visited by his rela- 
 tive, the king of Judah.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 297 
 
 The time had come for the destruction of the 
 house of Ahab ; which had been foretold to that 
 king as a punishment for his sins. Jehu, one 
 of his captains, a fierce, bold, and unsparing 
 man, was the chosen agent of God ; and Elisha 
 hastened to send down to the camp one of the 
 sons of the prophets for the purpose of anointing 
 him. Jehu, the commander of the army, was 
 feasting in the guard room with some of his 
 captains when the prophet entered. " I have an 
 errand to thee, O captain 1" he said. " Unto 
 which of us?" asked Jehu. "Even unto thee, 
 Jehu, son of Nimshi." Jehu arose and followed 
 the prophet into an inner room ; where he opened 
 a horn of perfumed oil, and poured it upon the 
 head of Jehu, saying, " Thus saith the Lord 
 God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over 
 Israel. Thou shalt be my avenger, to smite the 
 house of Ahab. And thou shalt avenge me of 
 Jezebel, who hath shed the blood of my ser- 
 vants the prophets. The dogs shall eat her in 
 the portion of Jezreel I" 
 
 His mission over, the prophet opened the 
 door and disappeared, and Jehu returned 
 thoughtfully to the feast.
 
 298 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 "Is all well?" asked one of the captains. 
 " What said this mad fellow to thee?" " Surely 
 ye know him, and his communication. Ye have 
 sent him." "It is false. Tell us what he said." 
 " He hath anointed me king over Israel, in place 
 of Jehoram my master!" 
 
 Jehu was a favorite with the soldiers, and the 
 son of Jezebel was hated ; so that they joyfully 
 received the news. Their garments were spread 
 upon the stairs that ran outside, and on this as 
 a throne they placed Jehu, and with trumpets 
 sounding proclaimed him king of Israel. 
 
 The warder upon the watch-tower of Jezreel 
 reported to Jehoram the approach of a large 
 body of horse and chariots. The king knew 
 not what it could be, and said, - il Let a horse- 
 man go out to meet them, and ask the leader if 
 he come in peace." The horseman approached 
 Jehu, who was standing in his chariot, and said, 
 " Thus asks the king, Is it peace ?" 
 
 "What hast thou to do with peace?" said 
 Jehu, " get thee behind me." The warder on 
 the tower sent word below that the messenger 
 had joined the approaching party of men. An-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 299 
 
 other messenger was sent with the same de- 
 mand, and he also turned behind the soldiers. 
 
 The city became alarmed, and gathered upon 
 the walls to watch the troop. Jehoram sent 
 again to the warder. " I know not who they 
 be/' he said. " But their driving is like that of 
 Jehu the captain, for he ever driveth furiously." 
 " It is Jehu with news from the army," said the 
 king. " Make ready my chariot, and I will ride 
 forth to meet them." 
 
 Jehoram and Ahaziah, king of Judah, rode 
 out each in his chariot, and came up to Jehu 
 where he awaited them on the vineyard of Na- 
 both, the Jezreelite. "Is it in peace thou 
 ccmest, Jehu ?" asked the king. " What .peace 
 is there for any," said Jehu, " when the wicked- 
 ness of thee and thy mother Jezebel is so great " 
 "Treachery! Treason! O Ahaziah !" cried out 
 Jehoram, and turned to flee; but an arrow from 
 Jehu, the Avenger, brought him low, and he 
 sank down dead in his chariot. 
 
 "Throw him upon the field of Naboth !" 
 cried Jehu to his captain Bidkar. " Now have 
 the words of the Lord come to pass which thou 
 and I heard as we rode behind Ahab : ' I have
 
 300 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 seen the blood of Naboth,' said the prophet, 
 'and I will revenge me here in this very field,' 
 saith the Lord." 
 
 Jezebel inhabited the ivory palace built for 
 her by her husband Ahab. She heard of 
 the death of her son, and the approach of. the 
 .conqueror. To avert her fate, and ingratiate 
 herself with Jehu, she painted her face, and 
 decked her head and person with golden nets, 
 and chains, and silk of Damascus. But vain 
 were all these mufflers and jewels her career of 
 wickedness was run. Jehu approached ; Jezebel 
 looked out, and, in hopes to stir his conscience, 
 cried, "Had Zimri peace who slew his mas- 
 ter?" Jehu looked up at the windows which 
 were crowded with attendants and courtiers. 
 " Who is on my side? Who !" cried he. Many 
 eager voices proclaimed their allegiance to him. 
 
 " Throw out, then, that wicked woman ! Let 
 the dogs eat her, according to the words of the 
 prophet!" In spite of her struggles they threw 
 her down, Jehu rode over her, and men left her 
 to the dogs. 
 
 When Jehu afterwards said, "Go and bury 
 this woman, for she was a king's daughter, al-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 301 
 
 though accursed ;" they found only a few of her 
 bones left by the dogs. 
 
 However long deferred, the doom pronounced 
 by the Lord was fulfilled. 
 
 , Bittg nf Sarael. 
 
 THERE were few men more fitted than Jehu 
 to become the exterminator of the house of 
 Ahab. He was proud of his commission, and 
 being a man of blood by profession, sternly set 
 himself to his terrible task. His first step was 
 to write to the noblemen in whose care were the 
 seventy sons and grandsons of Ahab. To try 
 them, and discover their designs, he told them to 
 look out the best and meetest of them, and place 
 him upon the throne. They saw the snare, and 
 knowing they could offer no resistance to the 
 conqueror of Jehoram, sent to Jehu their com- 
 plete submission, in these words : " We are thy 
 26
 
 302 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 servants and will do all thou shalt bid us ; we 
 will not make a king ; do thou that which is 
 right in thy eyes." 
 
 To this Jehu answered : "If ye be mine, and 
 if ye will hearken unto me, take ye the heads of 
 your masters' sons and come to me in Jezreel, 
 to-morrow. The cruel mandate was obeyed ; 
 and by Jehu's orders, the heads were laid in 
 two heaps, one on each side of the gate of the 
 palace. In the morning he went out of his 
 palace and stood between the two heaps, of 
 which he pretended no knowledge. The peo- 
 ple assembled around, to whom Jehu said, " I 
 acknowledge I conspired against and slew my 
 master, but who slew these ? It was done by 
 the nobles of Ahab. Now know that there shall 
 fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the 
 Lord, which the Lord spake concerning the 
 house of Ahab ; for the Lord will do that which 
 he spoke by his servant Elijah." 
 
 This address, and the bloody sight, aroused 
 the people, and the commands of Jehu to slay 
 the nobles, counsellors, and friends of Ahab were 
 swiftly obeyed. So abhorred was the idolatrous 
 Ahab and his family, that all rejoiced to see
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 303 
 
 them destroyed. Jelionadab the son of Rechab, 
 a great and good man, came out when Jehu 
 passed to greet him. Many might have shud- 
 dered at seeing the bloody king Jehu, but 
 Jehonadab knew the land would be well rid of 
 that wretched race, and resolved to countenance 
 Jehu. "Is thy heart with my heart?" asked the 
 king. " It is," was the reply of Jehonadab. 
 " Then give me thy hand." This request was 
 granted, and their hands were grasped in token 
 of amity. " Now ride with me and see my zeal 
 for the Lord," said Jehu, making room in his 
 chariot for Jehonadab, who rode beside the 
 king. In Samaria, more relatives of the house 
 of Ahab were slain, being the last of that wicked 
 race. 
 
 Jehu, never tired of slaying, next resolved to 
 exterminate the priests of Baal and Astaroth ; 
 with which the land swarmed, under the au- 
 spices of Ahab and Jezabel. 
 
 "Proclaim a solemn assembly," he said, to 
 hide his intentions. " Ahab served Baal much, 
 but I will serve him more. Call hither all the 
 priests and prophets of Baal, and let his worship- 
 pers come, for I have a great sacrifice to make,"
 
 804 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 The temple of Baal was crowded with worship- 
 pers, the priests by hundreds thronged in, clad 
 in. their vestments of ceremony ; and the great 
 sacrifices commenced. Jehu had stationed a body 
 of soldiers around the temple. He then entered 
 with Jehonadab, and cried with a loud voice, 
 " Is there here any worshipper of the Hebrew's 
 God ? If so let him depart, for we would see here 
 only the people of Baal." There were none to 
 answer ; and then Jehu gave his commands to 
 the captain : " Go in and slay them ; let none 
 come forth 1" 
 
 Dreadful must have been the massacre ! Af 
 ter all were destroyed, the temple and idols 
 were also demolished. 
 
 For these services, Jehu received the divine 
 promise that the kingdom should remain in his 
 family for four generations. He reigned twenty- 
 eight years ; many of which were spent in repel- 
 irig the incursions of Hazael, king of Syria, who 
 did Israel much harm. But to so fierce a man 
 as Jehu, an active, war-like life must have been 
 more to his mind than a peaceful one. 
 
 Jehu died, and was buried in Samaria.
 
 JEHORAM, the son of Jehoshaphat, was very 
 unlike his great father. He had not his strength 
 of mind, and thus easily fell under the influence 
 of his wife, Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and 
 Jezebel. 
 
 The inhabitants of Jerusalem sighed to see 
 their temple shut up, and only visited by a few 
 faithful priests ; while altars were every where 
 erected to Baal and other idols. All this arose 
 from the great error of Jehoshaphat, in allying 
 his son with the house of Ahab. 
 
 Those who expressed any disapprobation of 
 Jehoram's conduct, were slain. His brothers 
 were first murdered, and he took possession of 
 the rich inheritance which their father had 
 left them. Many of the princes and great men 
 of Judah were also slain ; and to sum up his 
 26*
 
 306 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 sins, lie walked in the ways of the kings of 
 Israel . 
 
 To stop him in his career of evil, Elijah wrote 
 him the following epistle : 
 
 ." Thus saith the Lord God of David thy an- 
 cestor : Because thou hast not walked in the 
 ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways 
 of Asa king of Judah, but hast walked in the 
 ways of Ahab, and forced thy people to worship 
 idols, and hast slain thy brethren which were 
 better than thyself, behold the Lord will 
 smite thy people, thy wives, thy children, and 
 all thy goods ; and thou shalt die of a grievous 
 disease of thy bowels." 
 
 This letter from the prophet was unheeded. 
 Then the surrounding nations were stirred up 
 against him. Jehoram went out to fight the 
 Edomites, and completely routed them; but 
 other nations still attacked him. At last he was 
 conquered by the combined forces of the Philis- 
 tines and Arabians, and driven into Jerusalem ; 
 and his palace in the neighborhood, with his 
 treasures, wives, and children, were all destroyed,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 307 
 
 save his wife Athaliah, and son Ahaziah, or 
 Jehoahaz, who were probably in Jerusalem. 
 
 The remainder of his punishment then came 
 upon him. He passed two years in dreadful 
 torture in his bowels, and then died unlamented. 
 He was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the 
 sepulchre of kings. Neither was there burning 
 of spices nor any other royal ceremonial at his 
 tomb. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when 
 he began to reign, and sat on the throne eight 
 years. 
 
 Eing nf 
 
 THIS only remaining son of Jehoram was 
 twenty-two years old when he ascended the 
 throne. His i*eign was only one year. 
 
 In all things, he followed his father's footsteps 
 and clung to the errors of the house of Ahab 
 co which he belonged. Through his attachment 
 to this race he met his death. Jehoram king of 
 [srael had returned to Jezreel severely wounded
 
 308 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 in a battle with the Syrians ; and Ahaziah went 
 to pay him a visit of sympathy ; probably sent 
 by his mother Athaliah, sister of Jehoram. 
 
 When the king of Israel rode forth to meet 
 Jehu, who came in arms against him as has 
 been related above, Ahaziah accompanied him 
 riding in a chariot by his side. Jehoram was 
 slain, and Ahaziah fled. He was pursued and 
 killed at Megiddo. Jehu ordered his people to 
 carry him home to be buried, "because of the 
 sake of the good king Jehoshaphat, who sought 
 the Lord with his whole heart." 
 
 He was carried to his mother, and buried in the 
 sepulchre of the kings of Judah. 
 
 <EUwti nf 
 
 EAGER for sovereign power and devoid of nat- 
 ural feeling, Athaliah, when she heard of the 
 death of her son Ahaziah, seized upon the throne. 
 The heirs of the late king stood in her way, and 
 these, although her own grand- children, she
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 309 
 
 doomed to death. All perished except one son 
 Joash, who was saved by Jehosheba his aunt, 
 sister of Jehoram, and wife of the high priest 
 Jehoiada. . . 
 
 Jehosheba resided with her husband in the 
 temple and thus preserved her life. Here, in the 
 solitude of the courts of the Lord, now aban- 
 doned for Baal, Jehosheba and the high priest 
 concealed the young prince for six years. 
 
 Athaliah during this time reigned in Jerusa- 
 lem, and filled the land with sin and confusion. 
 The people sighed for freedom, but her power 
 was too strong yet to break. At length the 
 measure of her iniquity was filled, and her 
 career was at its close. 
 
 Jehoiada the high priest, seeing the time ripe 
 for the fulfilment of his measures, now resolved 
 to place the rightful heir upon the throne. 
 
 He let some of the faithful Levites into the 
 secret, and sent them abroad, to the nobles who 
 had fled from the tyranny of Athaliah ; also to 
 soldiers, officers, and faithful people; and de- 
 manded their presence in the temple, on such a 
 day as a great ceremony was to take place. The 
 day arrived. Jehoiada divided the soldiers into
 
 310 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 three bands, one to guard the principal gate, one 
 the upper one, and the third to stand before the 
 young king's apartments and surround him when 
 he came forth. 
 
 The courts were filled with people ; and the 
 soldiers, armed by the high priest from the ar- 
 mory of the temple, stood at their posts. The 
 king's guards came forth and stood around the 
 upper court, each with a sword drawn, in his 
 hand ; then Jehoiada the high priest came for- 
 ward, leading a youth of seven years, clothed in 
 royal garments. Great was the joy of all, and 
 astonishment of those who were not in the secret, 
 when they heard Jehoiada say : 
 
 " Behold, your rightful sovereign, the son of 
 Ahaziah, who for six years has been concealed in 
 the temple ! His aunt, whom you here see, 
 saved him from the cruelty of Athaliah." He 
 then led Joash to the king's seat by the marble 
 column, and, after anointing him, crowned him 
 king of Judah. Then the air was rent by shouts 
 of, God save the king ! Down with Athaliah ! 
 and the silver trumpets sounded, mixed with the 
 strains of sweet singers and musical instruments. 
 
 The Queen Athaliah had been told of the
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 311 
 
 crowds rushing to the temple, and, like all ty- 
 rants, being suspicious, she hastened over the 
 private way from the palace to the temple, and 
 there beheld a crowned king and kneeling sub- 
 jects 1 She stamped with rage, tore her clothes, 
 and cried out, " Treason ! treason I" 
 
 " Slay the wicked woman I" cried Jehoiada, 
 " but let her not die here in the Lord's house." 
 They dragged her out and killed her. The peo- 
 ple then ran and destroyed all ftie temples and 
 idols and priests of Baal ; and rejoicing every 
 where prevailed that the wicked queen was slain. 
 
 Sing nf Suitajr. 
 
 JEHOIADA the priest made a covenant between 
 the Lord, and the king with his people, that they 
 should be the Lord's people. Then, after these 
 ceremonies, he took the young king, and, with a 
 numerous train of nobles and captains and peo- 
 ple. entered his father's palace, and placed him 
 upon his throne.
 
 312 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Many years did the heart of God's people re- 
 joice to behold the peace that reigned in Judah, 
 and to see the worship of the temple renewed. 
 Joash took great interest in the house of God 
 where he had spent so many happy years under 
 the teaching of the good Jehoiada. He seemed 
 impatient that the repairs went on so slowly. 
 There was not much treasure to devote to this 
 purpose, and there was much to be done ; for in 
 the days of Athaliah, it had been left to go to 
 decay. The king commanded a chest to be made 
 with a hole in the top, and placed it near the 
 entrance into the temple ; and published to all, 
 the wants of the holy house, and requested every 
 one to bring an offering towards its repair. 
 
 By this means a considerable sum was gath- 
 ered, and masons, carpenters, and workmen of 
 all sorts were employed there daily. "While 
 Jehoiada lived all went well ; but alas, this good 
 old man waxed old ; he died at the age of one 
 hundred and thirty years. 
 
 Not long after his death a change came. 
 There were many princes of Judah, living at a 
 distance frpm Jerusalem, who had been brought 
 up in sin and idolatry, and who had been only
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 313 
 
 pretenders to reformation while Jehoiada lived. 
 No longer awed by this just old man, they came 
 to court, and boldly proclaimed their old senti- 
 ments. They told the young king it was a 
 grievous thing for them to come up so far to 
 worship, and begged they might not come so 
 often to the religious ceremonials at Jerusalem. 
 Joash, not having the fear of God so deeply 
 implanted in his heart as he ought to have, and 
 willing to do the nobles a service, told them 
 they might omit some holy days. News came 
 soon after to Jerusalem, that these bad men 
 had taken advantage of this leniency, and had 
 actually set up altars in high places, among the 
 groves planted by Athaliah. 
 
 Zechariah, son of the old Jehoiada, had been 
 made high priest in his place. He sent messen- 
 gers to the rebellious princes, to reprove them 
 for their wicked doings. It was in vain, for 
 they were only derided, and returned to Jeru- 
 salem without having effected any good. Zecha- 
 
 
 
 riah then rebuked them, saying : " Why trans- 
 gress ye the commandments of the Lord? Ye 
 cannot prosper. Because ye have forsaken the 
 Lord, he will forsake you." The princes were 
 27
 
 314: SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 angry with Zechariah, and bade him confine his 
 lectures to the people of Jerusalem. They even 
 came to the king and complained ; they having 
 only, they said, acted by the consent of the king 
 Joash was misled by these wicked men ; he was, 
 perhaps, weary of always being guided l?y ano- 
 ther. He had long submitted to the govern- 
 ment of Jehoiada, but Zechariah he would not 
 brook. Forgetting the services of his good old 
 friend and protector, Jehoiada, he would not 
 support the cause of his son. High quarrels 
 took place between the worshippers in the 
 temple, and the adherents of the idolatrous 
 princes, which ended at last in the death of the 
 prophet Zechariah, who was slain in the house 
 of the Lord ! 
 
 The horror of Joash and of his people was 
 great ; but the king's eyes were open too late. 
 His punishment soon came. Hazael and his 
 Syrians were poured do vn upon him ; and it 
 cost him all the treasure of the city and temple 
 before he was rid of this dangerous man. He 
 was, after that, stricken with many disorders, 
 and in illness and grief passed his days. 
 
 His reign continued forty years, long and
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 315 
 
 fall of evil : and at last he was cut off by con- 
 spirators, who slew him while ill in bed. 
 
 Joash was not deemed fit to lie in the sepul- 
 chre of the kings of Judah ; but was buried in a 
 tomb in the citj of Jerusalem. A sad end to sc 
 excellent a beginning. With a high priest for 
 his counsellor, a people willing to serve him 
 and his God, what a glorious reign might have 
 been his 1 But he swerved from his faith, and 
 fell! 
 
 , Bing of 
 
 THE reign of this son of Jehu was seventeen 
 years chiefly passed in wars with Hazael, king 
 of Syria. So reduced was his oice powerful 
 army, that it now contained only fifty horsemen, 
 ten chariots, and ten thousand foot-soldiers. 
 The land was humbled, and the idols aban- 
 doned. They, however, could not attain the 
 pure religion of the people of Judah, but con-
 
 316 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 tinued the cherubims' service instituted by Jero- 
 boam the apostate. 
 
 Jehoahaz prayed to the Lord, intreating help 
 for the people, and his prayer was heard ; and 
 Hazael returned to Damascus, with great trea- 
 sure, and much of the Israelites' land, and many 
 cities added to the Syrian country. Jehoahaa 
 was buried in Samaria, with its former kings. 
 
 nf 
 
 DURIXG this reign died Elisha the prophet. 
 In his illness Jehoash went down to visit him. 
 He respected the character of Elisba, and re- 
 membered all he had done to serve his country. 
 He had also anointed his grandfather Jehu, and 
 to him he was indebted for the crown. When 
 he saw this benefactor of his race passing away, 
 King Jehoash wept and said: "O my father! 
 my father ! Better art thou than chariots and 
 horsemen to Israel 1" 
 
 Elisha comforted him and said: "Take a
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 317 
 
 bow and arrows." The king took them. " Open 
 the window eastward." It was opened. " Now 
 shoot the arrows of the Lord's deliverance from 
 the Syrians. Thou shalt destroy them in 
 Aphek." Again was the king commanded to 
 take the arrows, and to smite the ground with 
 them. Believing that Elisha was truly a pro- 
 phet, and all would come to pass that he foretold, 
 king Jehoash complied, and smote the ground 
 three times. 
 
 " Thou shouldst have smitten five or six 
 times," said Elisha, " and then hadst thou smit- 
 ten Syria until thou hadst consumed it ; where- 
 as, now shalt thou smite Syria but thrice." 
 
 Elisha the prophet died. Sixty years had he 
 taught and reproved, and revealed the Lord's 
 will in Israel. He was buried in Elijah's cave, 
 in Mount Carmel. 
 
 Jehoash soon found work for his soldiers ; for 
 the Moabites and Syrians fell upon his borders. 
 He repelled the former ; fought with and con- 
 quered the king of Judah; and, as Elisha had 
 foretold, was victorious over the Syrians in three 
 great battles. This nation, by its great losses, 
 
 was thoroughly humbled; and restored to the 
 07*
 
 318 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE;. 
 
 king of Israel many cities that had been taken 
 in preceding reigns. 
 
 Jehoash died after a reign of sixteen years, 
 and was buried with the kings in Samaria. 
 
 Serotonin, tlje rannfr ling nf 
 
 JEROBOAM was the son of Jehoash. He reigned 
 forty years, many of which were harassed by 
 incursions of the old enemy of Israel, the Syri- 
 ans. Hazael was dead, and his successor, an- 
 other Ben-hadad, was anxious to retrieve the 
 losses of his people, and fell upon the borders of 
 Israel with fire and sword. Jeroboam was not 
 an idolator, but followed the religion of his pre- 
 decessor of the same name. He severely felt the 
 loss of Elisha, as a directer and powerful help to 
 his people. 
 
 Then the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel 
 was bitter, and not wishing to blot them out 
 yet, sent the prophet Jonah to comfort and ad-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 319 
 
 vise them. Amos was also raised up to testify 
 against Syria. " Thus saith the Lord!" he said, 
 " for three transgressions of Damascus, and for 
 four, I will not turn away the punishment there- 
 of, because they have threshed Gilead with 
 threshing instruments of iron." " I will send a 
 fire that shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad." 
 
 Accordingly Israel prevailed against the Syri 
 ans, and recovered its whole eastern border from 
 Hamath to the sea of Galilee. 
 
 With peace, however, came the usual corrup- 
 tion and idolatry of the Israelite* people, and 
 Amos was again called to warn them of the 
 punishment which was to be theirs if they re- 
 formed not. 
 
 " O children of Israel," said their Lord, 
 through his prophet, "I have smitten you with 
 blasting and mildew, in your gardens and your 
 orchards, and ye have not returned to me! I 
 have withholden the rain from you, and ye have 
 not returned to me I Your young men I have 
 slain with the sword, and taken away your 
 horses, and yet ye have not returned unto me ! 
 But seek not Bethel, nor the calves of Gilgal j 
 seek the Lord ; he it is that formetl. the moun
 
 320 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 tains, aid createth the winds, and declaj^ch unto 
 man his thoughts. Seek him that made the 
 seven stars of Orion, and calleth for the waters 
 of the sea and poureth them out upon the sur- 
 face of the earth !" 
 
 Thus Amos continued to testify against the 
 people, but was unheeded. He then lifted his 
 voice against the king and priests : " The high 
 places of Isaac and sanctuaries of Israel shall 
 be laid waste ; and I will rise against the house 
 of Jeroboam with the sword!" 
 
 This aroused the anger'of Amaziah, the priest 
 of the golden calves of Bethel, and, hoping to 
 put him to silence, he went to the king and said, 
 " Amos hath conspired against thee. He saith 
 Jeroboam shall perish, and Israel shall surely be 
 led away captive out of their own land." Jero- 
 boam, however, respected Amos, and took no 
 heed of the accusations of Amaziah. The priest, 
 who saw Amos affected the people, and that his 
 worship was neglected, said to him, " Amos, 
 flee thee away into the land of Judah, but 
 prophecy no more in Bethel, for it is the king's 
 chapel." " What I say is from the Lord," re 
 plied Amos. " I was no prophet^ neither was I
 
 SOVEREIGNS .OP THE BIBLE. 321 
 
 a prophet's son; but I was a herdsman, and 
 gatherer of dates, and the Lord said to me : Go 
 prophecy unto my people Israel. Now, there- 
 fore, hear his word against thee, Amaziah ! 
 thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the 
 sword, and thou shalt die in a polluted land, for 
 Israel shall go into captivity." 
 
 Amos was unharmed, and continued to pro- 
 phecy during the life of Jeroboam. 
 
 The king was buried in Samaria. 
 
 iajj, Btttg nf 
 
 THE days of Israel were numbered. All that 
 was foretold by the prophets was about to come 
 to pass. 
 
 Zachariah was the fourth son of Jehu, and the 
 last that was to reign of that race, as it had been 
 told him by Elislia. He was an idolater ; and 
 made himself so disagreeable to his people, that
 
 322 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 a conspiracy was made against him, and he was 
 murdered by one of his courtiers, .by the name 
 of Shallum, son of Jabesh. He reigned but six 
 months. 
 
 Ring nf"3firfltL 
 
 MENAHEM was a general over the troops of 
 Zachariah. And as soon as he heard of the 
 death of his master, turned towards Samaria, 
 and defeated and killed Shallum, after a short 
 reign of thirty days. 
 
 ling nf 3*rad. 
 
 WHEN Shallum died, Menahem, tmnidng he 
 had as good right to the throne as any one, 
 seized upon the sovereign power. The people
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 323 
 
 of the cities of Israel did not sit easy under this 
 usurpation, and shut their gates against him. 
 Menahem was a man prompt in action, and, 
 leaving his palace, he headed his troops himself 
 and attacked the rebel cities. They were sub- 
 dued, and the people, old and young, were mas- 
 sacred with much cruelty. 
 
 Pul, the king of Assyria, now thought the 
 situation of Israel was so low that he might, with 
 hope of success, march towards it. He was met 
 by the agents of Menahem, who offered one 
 thousand talents of silver, if he would refrain 
 from war with him. Pul consented to accept 
 the treasure, and return ; intending only to put 
 off awhile his descent upon Israel. To gathei 
 the great sum promised, the king of Israel taxed 
 th<. men of wealth fifty shekels each. Ten years 
 the Israelites bore the yoke of this king, when 
 he died, leaving the throne to his son.
 
 afj, Jung of 
 
 THIS son of Menahem was, like his father, a 
 follower of the impure religion instituted by 
 Jeroboam the first. He reigned only two years. 
 While at a banquet in his ivory palace, he was 
 set upon by Pekah, one of his captains, and a 
 band of Gileadites, and slain at his own table. 
 
 THE throne of Israel was brought low indeed ! 
 Kings passed in quick succession, nearly every one 
 receiving the crown by murder of his predeces- 
 sor. During the reign of Pekah, the doom that
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 325 
 
 had been foreshown to Israel began to throw 
 its shadow over the land. 
 
 Amos, in a vision, saw the Lord showing him 
 a basket of ripe fruit; and he said, "Amos, 
 what seest thou?" Amos replied, "A basket 
 of summer fruit." Then said the Lord, " The 
 end is come upon my people Israel ; I will not 
 pass by them any more ! Wailing shall be in 
 their streets, and in all their vineyards wailing. 
 Ye have borne the tabernacle of Moloch : there- 
 fore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond 
 Damascus, saith the Lord, whose name is The 
 God of hosts !" 
 
 Assyria was the nation by whose agency the 
 final ruin of unhappy Israel was to be accom- 
 plished. During the reign of Pekah, Tiglath- 
 Pileser, king of Assyria, came down with a 
 powerful army, and in spite of all resistance 
 overran half the land, conquered many cities, 
 and returned with immense spoil. He carried 
 away with him as captives half the people of 
 Israel. 
 
 Pekah reigned twenty years. He was also 
 murdered by Hoshea the son of Elah.
 
 nf 
 
 HOSHEA ascended the throne of the murdered 
 Pekah. He was the last king of Israel. Hoping 
 to avert the doom coming upon his nation, he 
 sent a present to So, king of Egypt, and invited 
 him to come and protect him against Assyria. 
 Shalmeneser, king of Assyria, heard of this, and, 
 like a lion roaring for his prey, he rushed upon 
 Israel. Three years Hoshea resisted his fate, 
 while besieged by the king of Assyria in Samaria. 
 
 In the ninth year of the reign of Hoshea the 
 city fell into the hands of the Assyrians. The 
 whole land was then in the power of that na- 
 tion ; and to be sure of victory over Israel, the 
 rest of the nation and its king, Hoshea, were 
 carried away into captivity. Their doom was 
 fulfilled. They hearkened not to the Lord, and 
 were destroyed. What remained were sent to
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 327 
 
 the cities of Media and Assyria, and never since 
 that time has the fate of the lost ten tribes of 
 Israel been known I 
 
 They shall, however, not be lost forever. God 
 hath said : " I will bring again the captivity of 
 my people Israel, and they shall build the waste 
 cities and inhabit them. I will plant them upon 
 their land, and they shall no more be pulled up 
 out of their land which I have given them, saith 
 the Lord." 
 
 The forsaken cities of Israel were peopled by 
 the inhabitants of Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and 
 Sepharvaim. 
 
 of SttiaJF 
 
 DID the fate of Israel affect the people of 
 Judah? Did they fear the punishments of an 
 offended God ? Did they reform their way and 
 seek to avert those dread prophecies which they 
 had seen fulfilled in their erring brethren ? Did
 
 328 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 they walk in a straight path with trembling 
 hearts ? 
 
 Alas ! they took no heed ! When did they 
 ever remember ? When they were taken from 
 slavery in Egypt, and carried through many 
 dangers with a powerful hand ; and when led by 
 a living present Deity ; they made themselves 
 idols and worshipped them before His face! 
 When, after terrible punishments and tender 
 mercies, they beheld themselves seated in the 
 promised land, where, they were told by Moses, 
 if they obeyed not the Lord, they should be 
 smitten and carried away captive into a nation 
 they and their fathers had not known ; there, 
 in the midst of all their God-given enjoyments, 
 their wise and favored king, even Solomon, 
 bowed down to other gods ! Did his fall and 
 punishment affect another king ? Alas, no ! for 
 in a few years after, we see Jeroboam set up an 
 apostate church, and the worship of images! 
 What amazement seizes us when we read these 
 things; and when we remember that prophets 
 were continually raised up to warn and teach 
 them I 
 
 And now how do such lessons of the past
 
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 329 
 
 affect us? "Thou that abhorrest idcls, dost 
 thou commit sacrilege ?" We have also teachers 
 do we fear the judgments of the Lord and 
 praise his mercies? Do we as we read these 
 scenes take them to heart? Alas! how the 
 angels look down astonished when they see 
 some of us even refuse to read the pages of these 
 histories, and turn from them as "old- world 
 fables of nations long past away !" 
 
 jtulj, Jting nf 
 
 THIS king was son of Joash and Jehoaddan ; 
 and was twenty-five years old when called to 
 the throne. He possessed some fine qualities, 
 and was so just that when his father's murderers 
 were punished he forgave their children, who 
 always had perished with their parents. 
 
 He was of a warlike disposition, and soon set 
 on foot an expedition against Edom. All of hia 
 male subjects above twenty were bidden to come 
 28*
 
 330 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 to Jerusalem, and soon an army of three hun- 
 dred thousand men were encamped before the 
 city. Not content with this, the king sent one 
 hundred talents of silver to Samaria, and hired 
 one hundred thousand Israelites to join him. 
 Against this last step a prophet who lived at 
 court objected. He said, " O king, let not the 
 army of Israel go with thee ! The fear of the 
 Lord is not with Israel." " Wouldst thou then 
 lose the hundred talents with which I have 
 hired them ?" asked the king. " Oh, go if thou 
 wilt," said the prophet ; " but God shall make 
 thee fall before the enemy ; and he can give thee 
 much more than this money." Amaziah listened 
 to the prophet, and sent away the soldiers of 
 Israel. Their anger was loud ; and they returned 
 home uttering complaints, and fell upon and 
 destroyed several cities of Judah. 
 
 Amaziah departed. His inroad was unfore- 
 seen, and he destroyed all before Kim to Petra, 
 the city in the Rocks, which he conquered. The 
 king of Judah then returned triumphant, bring 
 ing home great treasure and many captives. 
 
 It can scarcely be credited, that this king, 
 who had been so obedient to the prophet, had
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 331 
 
 brought with him the idols of EJorn, and more- 
 over, had set them up in Jerusalem to worship 
 them I This did Amaziah, and was burning 
 incense when the prophet stood before him: 
 "Powerful gods are these!" he said, "who 
 could not save their own people from thy hand ! 
 What doest thou with them ?" 
 
 " Art thou one of the king's council ?" asked 
 Amaziah angrily. " Forbear, or thou shalt be 
 smitten." "I will forbear," said the prophet, 
 " for I know that God hath determined to de- 
 stroy thee I" 
 
 In the pride of his heart, at his success against 
 Edom, the king of Judah determined to attack 
 Israel, and sent a defiance to Joash the king. 
 Joash sent this contemptuous reply : 
 
 " The thistle of Lebanon said to the cedar of 
 Lebanon, Give thy daughter to my son to wife : 
 and there passed by a wild beast and trode down 
 the thistle. Lo, thy heart is lifted up because 
 thou hast smitten Edom ; but abide at home : 
 meddle not, lest thou shouldst fall, and Judah 
 with thee." 
 
 Amaziah, furious with rage, rushed to battle. 
 He met the forces of Israel at Bethshemesh,
 
 S32 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 was conquered, and taken prisoner by Joash. 
 The king of Israel, with his royal prisoner, went 
 to Jerusalem. He caused a great breach to be 
 made in the walls, and entered in triumph. 
 Satisfied with this, the king of Israel released 
 Amaziah ; and after seizing all the treasures of 
 the temple, and of the royal palace, he departed 
 with his spoil, and many hostages, to Samaria. 
 
 Did Amaziah throw away his useless idols? 
 He returned to them, like the dog in the Pro- 
 verbs, with greater zest, and lived many years 
 in wickedness. His conduct displeased many 
 of his people. A conspiracy was formed to 
 slay him, of which he obtained knowledge in 
 time. He fled to Lachish ; but here the avenger 
 pursued him, and he was slain. The king of 
 Judah was brought back in a chariot and horses, 
 and buried in Jerusalem. 
 
 He reigned twenty-nine years.
 
 , nr 
 
 KING OP JUDAH 
 
 UZZIAH, the son of Amaziah and his wife 
 Jecoliah, was only sixteen years old when placed 
 upon the throne. He must have possessed good 
 counsellors, for he grew up to be a man of great 
 qualities, and was a wise and good ruler. He 
 sought the Lord, and listened to the prophets, 
 and while he did this he prospered. The tem- 
 ple worship was restored, and the building 
 beautified. He also rebuilt the broken walls of 
 Jerusalem, and erected towers at the corners, 
 strongly fortified. Uzziah also encouraged agri- 
 culture. Husbandmen and vine-dressers, green 
 fields and flocks of cattle, were seen over the 
 land of Judah. Wells were dug in deserts;
 
 33-4 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 towers built for the protection of his borders ; 
 and once more peace and plenty comforted the 
 hearts of the sons of Judah. 
 
 His army was in excellent discipline, and 
 numbered three hundred and seven thousand 
 five hundred men. Over these were set two 
 thousand six hundred captains. They were all 
 armed with shields, spears, helmets, habergeons, 
 bows, and slings. With this army, the king of 
 Judah set out to attack the old enemies of his 
 people, the Philistines. The cities of Gatb, 
 Jabneh, and Ashdod were destroyed, and the 
 people thoroughly humbled. Cities were built 
 to keep them in submission. 
 
 TJzziah also defeated the Arabians, and re- 
 covered the port of Elah on the Ked Sea. His 
 kingdom was now in the most flourishing con- 
 dition. The Ammonites, fearing him, brought 
 in great gifts. 
 
 The power and wisdom of Uzziah spread 
 abroad as far as Egypt, and he was feared and 
 held in reverence by his people, and the nations 
 around. Isaiah, the great prophet, was then in 
 Jerusalem, and said to the people, " Come ye,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 335 
 
 and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to 
 the house of the God of Jacob ; for out of Zion 
 shall go forth the law." 
 
 Great was the rise of Uzziah, and sudden was 
 his fall. 
 
 His successes, and the reverence in which he 
 was held, so elevated his heart, that he forgot 
 from whom he received all these blessings, and 
 with a haughty spirit sought to seize the high 
 priesthood of the temple. But Isaiah had said, 
 " The lofty looks of man shall be humbled ;" 
 and Uzziah was punished. 
 
 A great sacrifice was to be held at the temple. 
 The people were gathered, the Levites stood 
 around ; the high priest Azariah and all the 
 other priests were in their places, waiting the 
 king's arrival. King Uzziah came in royal 
 state ; over his garment of fine white wool were 
 flowing robes of blue and scarlet, richly em- 
 broidered ; and his girdle and diadem glittered 
 with jewels. 
 
 To the astonishment of all, he took a censer 
 from a table, and entered the temple. Azariah 
 and the other priests rushed after him, and, to 
 their horror, he had penetrated the holy of
 
 836 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 holies ; a place where the high priest alone en- 
 tered, and where neither priest, king, nor Levite 
 durst venture. " Stay thy hand, Uzziah!" cried 
 the high priest: "it appertaineth not to thee 
 to burn incense unto the Lord ; but to the sons 
 of Aaron, who are consecrated to the service." 
 But Uzziah's heart was lifted up by his prosper- 
 ity, and he thought a king could do no wrong. 
 
 The priests gathered about him, crying, "Go 
 out of the sanctuary ! Thou hast transgressed, 
 and art dishonored before the Lord !" 
 
 Uzziah still haughtily refused, when, lo ! he 
 was struck with leprosy, and his forehead was 
 white with the dreadful stain. 
 
 The priests then thrust him out without cere- 
 mony, for a leper cannot remain in even a 
 house with others by their law. The unhappy 
 king stayed not for them, but fled from the tem- 
 ple and hid himself in despair. 
 
 This attempt ot Uzziah to rule the church as 
 well as the state ended in a most disastrous 
 manner. He was incapable of business, and his 
 son Jotham was made a ruler over the people ; 
 and he passed the remainder of his miserable life 
 in a house outside the city walls. Being unclean,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 337 
 
 he could mix no more with human kind, noi 
 even enter the house of God. " How are the 
 mighty fallen !" He reigned fifty -two years. At 
 his death he was laid in the burial ground of 
 royal and noble families, but not suffered to be 
 entombed with the former kings of Judah. 
 
 AT his father's death, Jotham was crowned 
 king ; having only acted as governor before. He 
 was twenty-five years old when he ascended the 
 throne. Few kings of Judah before him had 
 possessed his piety, judgment, and honor. To 
 forbid idolatry entirely among the people was 
 impossible, but the temple worship was carried 
 on in all its ceremonies. Perhaps as a sort of 
 reparation for his father's offence towards the 
 priests, he beautified and adorned the temple ; 
 built the eastern gate, and repaired the cloisters 
 and walls. He built many cities, castles, and 
 
 towers in the lonely places among mountains 
 29
 
 338 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 
 
 and foiests, for the protection of his people 
 while travelling, or watching their flocks. 
 
 We have no account of wars in his reign, 
 except against the Ammonites. They had re- 
 fused to pay their tribute during the last years 
 of Uzziah. Jotham marched into their terri- 
 tories, and compelled them to pay silver, wheat, 
 and barley. After a happy reign of sixteen 
 years, he died and was buried in the city of David. 
 
 j, King nf 
 
 ALAS for the peace and happiness of Judah, 
 when this wicked man ascended the throne ! He 
 was the son of Jotham, but the opposite to his 
 father in everything. 
 
 Images were cast at his command, and erected 
 to Baal, on every high place, where the king 
 might be seen burning incense. The people 
 were soon brought over to join him, and the 
 temple was deserted. Not content with this, he 
 even made an altar to Moloch, that dread god,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 839 
 
 and caused his own sons to pass through fire 
 before it, in the valley of Hinnom. Horror pos- 
 sessed the few good that remained in Jerusalem, 
 but they were unable to stop the downward 
 progress of this most wicked king. 
 
 There was one, however, who could make 
 Ahaz fear. The Lord of Judah, willing to pun- 
 ish him and the idolatrous people, caused Pekah, 
 the king of Israel, and Rezin, king of Syria, to 
 join together and attack Judah. They hoped to 
 take Jerusalem, and place upon its throne a 
 creature of their own. Ahaz boldly went out 
 to battle, with a large army. He met the allies, 
 was totally defeated, and escaped to Jerusalem, 
 with the loss of one, hundred and twenty thou- 
 sand men ; his son Maaseiah ; Azrikam, gover- 
 nor of his household ; and his prime minister 
 Elkanah. 
 
 In this strait, Ahaz turned to the God of 
 his fathers. He sent for Isaiah to comfort him 
 and save the city. But the time for the destruc- 
 tion of Jerusalem had not come ; and the pro- 
 phet was told to reassure Ahaz. 
 
 " Fear not for the fierce anger of Rezin, nor 
 for the king of Israel," said Isaiah. "Thussaith
 
 340 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 the Lord, It shall not stand, neither shall it 
 come to pass." Still disbelieving, Ahaz was 
 told to ask a sign of the Lord ; "either in the 
 depth, or in the height above." 
 
 The fearful Ahaz said, " I will not ask ; nei- 
 ther will I tempt the Lord." The sign, however, 
 was given in those mysterious and awful words, 
 significant of the virgin-born Immanuel. Of 
 what import, then, could it be to Ahaz, if Judah 
 should be destroyed, when a promised Saviour 
 should arise some future day, to heal their 
 wounds and restore their city ? 
 
 "With a great number of captives, and much 
 spoil, the Israelites retreated towards Samaria. 
 But this unnatural war with Judah was dis- 
 pleasing to the princes and people of Israel. 
 Headed by the prophet Oded, they stood before 
 the gate of Samaria and forbade the soldiers to 
 enter. " Behold," said Oded, " because the 
 Lord is wroth with Judah, and delivered them 
 into your hand, you purpose to keep the chil- 
 dren of Judah as bondmen and bondwomen 
 unto you. But are there no sins among you 
 also against the Lord your God ? Now, then, 
 deliver your captive brethren, or the fierce
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 841 
 
 wrath of God will be upon you !" The princes 
 seconded the prophet, and said, " Ye shall not 
 bring in the captives hither : our trespasses are 
 great against the Lord already, and ye come to 
 add to them." 
 
 Extraordinary as it may seem, the victorious 
 army, struck by fear of the Lord, set free their 
 captives before the princes and congregation ! 
 And still more curious was it, to see the head 
 men clothing and feeding the captives, and then, 
 setting the wounded upon asses, accompanying 
 them to Jericho, where they were left with their 
 countrymen ! So bad and so good was this 
 people 1 
 
 To relieve him from Pekah and Eezin, Ahaz 
 had sent to the king of Assyria, to make war 
 upon Syria, and prevent the king from march- 
 ing to Jerusalem. To gain this assistance he 
 robbed the temple and city treasury of quanti- 
 ties of silver and gold, and sent it to the As- 
 syrian king. 
 
 Tiglath-Pileser accepted the treasure, attacked 
 Damascus, slew Kezin, and carried away the 
 people of the city as captives. 
 
 All his enemies were now departed or dead, 
 28*
 
 342 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 and Ahaz recovered his spirits. To avoid the 
 prophet and priests whom he had called around 
 him in his day of fear, he resolved to visit his 
 ally, the king of Assyria, who was in Damascus. 
 With his fear had fled the piety of Ahaz. He 
 publicly worshipped idols with Tiglath-Pileser ; 
 and admired so much one of the idol-altars, that 
 he sent to Jerusalem for Urijah, one of his false 
 priests, to take the pattern of it. His past par- 
 tial resort to the prophet of the Lord filled his 
 bad soul with rage ; and when he returned to 
 Jerusalem, as if in revenge for, what he called, 
 his pusillanimous submission, he cut up and 
 destroyed the valuable articles of gold and 
 bronze which stood in the temple, and shut up 
 the temple itself. 
 
 In all places of Jerusalem, and other cities of 
 Judah, were idols set up, and incense arose to 
 other gods. 
 
 Ahaz placed the Damascus altar in the great 
 court of the temple, and beside it arranged what 
 was left of the temple utensils, according to his 
 pleasure, and not as the Lord had commanded. 
 Even the magnificent sea of brass, made by 
 Solomou, did his unhallowed hands take down
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 343 
 
 from the backs of the twelve brazen oxen, and 
 placed it before his altar. The beautiful orna- 
 ments, the four-faced creature, having the face 
 of the ox, lion, eagle and man, significant of the 
 greatest power in man, beast, cattle and bird, 
 and called cherubim, he also broke up. 
 
 Then this great infidel assumed the priest- 
 hood, and offered his polluted sacrifices and 
 libations to Baal and the water deities of Syria. 
 Well might Isaiah cry, "Woe, upon a land "full 
 of idols, where they worship the work of their 
 own hands !" Well might he exclaim, " Who 
 hath required this of your hands, that you tread 
 my courts ? Incense is an abomination unto me, 
 your appointed feasts my soul hateth 1" "How 
 is the faithful city become a harlot I" Punish- 
 ments again came. The Edomites made inroads 
 and carried away many captives. The Philis- 
 tines fell upon and took many cities, and " the 
 Lord brought Judah low." Again Ahaz sent to 
 Assyria for help. The king wrung more trea- 
 sure from the unhappy Ahaz, but was of very 
 little service. 
 
 Sixteen years the land groaned under the rule 
 of Ahaz. He then died, at the age of thirty -six.
 
 344 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 No royal burial was granted him, nor was lie 
 laid in the sepulchre of kings ; but the burial 
 ground in the city received his worthless, pol- 
 luted body. 
 
 tjrt 
 
 KING OF JUDAH. 
 
 LIKE a star between the clouds is this pious 
 man, standing between such men as Ahaz and 
 Manasseh. He was twenty -five years old when 
 he commenced to reign. His pious disposition, 
 which was soon seen, probably was derived from 
 his mother, Abi, the daughter of Zechariah. 
 
 Not content, like the former kings, to estab- 
 lish religion in Jerusalem alone, he created a 
 thorough reformation. Old altars, and fanes, 
 and groves that none of his predecessors could 
 root up, he, with his strong will and horror of 
 idolatry, caused to be entirely destroyed. The 
 temple was thoroughly cleaned and repaired.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 345 
 
 He called together the dispersed priests and 
 Levites, and commanded them to assist him. 
 " Sanctify yourselves," he said to the assembled 
 Levites, " sanctify the house of God, and carry 
 forth all the filthiness out of this holy place. 
 Our fathers have trespassed against the Lord ; 
 they have shut up the temple door, put out the 
 lamps, and have offered no incense nor sacrifice. 
 Wherefore the wrath of the Lord was great 
 upon Judah, our fathers have fallen by the 
 sword, our sons and our daughters and wives 
 are in captivity. I have, therefore, in my heart 
 resolved to make a, covenant with God, that his 
 fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, 
 be not negligent ; for the Lord hath chosen you 
 to stand before him, to minister and burn incense 
 unto him." This address of Hezekiah aroused 
 the Levites, and they cleaned out all the devices 
 of Ahaz. 
 
 His altars were cast out, and the pictures of 
 his idols painted on the walls were erased. All 
 the vessels belonging to the temple which Ahaz 
 had thrown aside or broken, were repaired, 
 sanctified, and placed upon the tables.
 
 346 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Ahaz had torn the golden plating from the 
 pillars, and this his pious son replaced. 
 
 When the temple was restored, Hezekiah 
 opened it with great ceremony, and sacrificed 
 seven rams, seven lambs, seven bullocks, and 
 seven he-goats, for the sin of the king, his fami- 
 ly, and court. Many burnt and thank offerings 
 were offered, and the temple was once more 
 purified. It is sad to think how soon it was to 
 be again desecrated, as it had been in the former 
 reign. Strange people ! mixed of good and 
 bad. And strange they were not all good as 
 prosperity went with such, and trouble with the 
 bad! 
 
 The heart of Hezekiah was so large he wished 
 all his brethren to partake of his religious joys. 
 He therefore resolved to hold the feast of the 
 passover, in regal state ; and sent messengers to 
 invite all Judah, and the remnant of Israel left 
 by the Assyrians, to partake with them this 
 sacred feast. 
 
 Part only of the Israelites had been taken 
 into captivity ; but their fate subdued not the 
 pride of the rest. Hezekiah sent to their chief 
 men, the following letter :
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 847 
 
 " Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the 
 Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he 
 will return to the remnant of you that are es- 
 caped out of the hands of the kings of Assyria. 
 Be not like your brethren which trespassed 
 against the God of their fathers, who, therefore, 
 gave them up to desolation, as ye see. Now be 
 not stiff-necked, but enter into the sanctuary, 
 and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness 
 of his wrath may be turned away from you. 
 For if ye turn again unto your God, the people 
 who have taken your brethren captive will gira 
 them compassion and bring them back again. 
 
 " Your God is gracious and merciful, and \vHl 
 not turn away his face if ye will turn to him 
 again." 
 . 
 
 Precious epistle ! comforting invitation to the 
 
 stray sheep, to enter again the fold of safety. 
 But it was laughed to scorn, and its writer 
 mocked by the doomed of Israel. 
 
 However, there were many who accepted the 
 call, and came in numbers to Jerusalem, from 
 Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulon. The feast of the 
 passover was held with a magnificence which
 
 348 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 had not been seen since the days of Solomon. 
 Priests and Levites were there, and the burnt- 
 offerings were many. Those who had not been 
 sufficiently sanctified, were sprinkled with the 
 blood of the sacrifices by the Levites. For this 
 occasion, king Hezekiah had given one thousand 
 bullocks, and seven thousand sheep ; and the 
 princes gave one thousand bullocks, and ten 
 thousand sheep ; both for offerings, and to feast 
 the people. The Levites played on cymbals, 
 psalteries, and harps, and the priests sounded 
 the silver trumpets. When the burnt-offering 
 began, they sang the songs of the Lord, accom- 
 panied by the instruments, and the sound there- 
 of, doubtless, gladdened many a pious heart in 
 the city. 
 
 Seven days was the feast of unleavened bread 
 kept with much unction; and then another 
 seven days' feast; so rejoiced were they, appar- 
 ently, to return to their old ways. Hezekiah was 
 always in the temple teaching, and exhorting, 
 and comforting the Levitee and people. He 
 directed them how to arrange the courses of the 
 services of the priests, how to offer the sacrifices, 
 and keep the feasts; for years of idolatry had
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 349 
 
 almost effaced these things from their minds. 
 Tithes were also instituted to feed the great 
 number of priests and their families. Corn, oil, 
 cattle, and other produce of the land were brought 
 in cheerfully, by the people, and lay in heaps 
 about the courts of the temple. That there 
 might be no waste, Hezekiah appointed certain 
 men to see it distributed faithfully. Cononiah, 
 the Levite, and Shimei his brother, with ten 
 men under them, delivered the portions to the 
 priests ; Kore, the son of a Levite, distributed 
 the oblations ; and Eden, with five others, at- 
 tended to the share of those priests and Levites 
 who dwelt in other cities, when not serving in 
 the temple. What was left was laid up in the 
 chambers of the temple. 
 
 All these good laws and regulations made 
 Hezekiah the king; and, "in every work that 
 he began in the service of the house of God, and 
 of the law, he did it with all his heart and pros- 
 pered. 
 
 In the meantime, the lion that was to devour 
 Judah, was hovering near. The Assyrians hav- 
 ing carried away Israel captive, now turned 
 
 their attention towards Jerusalem. 
 29
 
 350 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Isaiah, the great prophet, had, for some time, 
 prophesied of their approach, to warn the peo- 
 ple and keep them in the right path. To the 
 invasion and overthrow of Sennacherib, Isaiah 
 alludes, when he tells them of " a multitude of 
 people which make a noise like the noise of the 
 seas ; and of the rushing of nations that make a 
 rushing like the rushing of mighty waters ! But 
 God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far 
 off, and shall be chased like the chaff of the 
 mountains before the wind." Many other pro- 
 phecies had prepared the people for war. 
 
 In the fourteenth year of the reign of Heze- 
 kiah, news came that Sennacherib, king of As- 
 syria, was marching against Judah. Hezekiah 
 held a council with his principal officers, and 
 with their assent, he sent out men to stop all 
 source of water in the vicinity of Jerusalem, so 
 that if the army arrived before the city it could 
 not remain long without water. Fountains were 
 covered over, wells filled up, and brooks stopped 
 with earth. And to supply the city, cisterns 
 and wells were dug in the hard rock. The As- 
 syrian came rushing down like a beast upon its 
 prey; and many cities fell before him. Heze-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 351 
 
 kiah -became alarmed, and thought it best to 
 buy the king off. Accordingly he collected all 
 the treasure he could command ; even taking off 
 the gold he had plated the pillars of the temple 
 with. The walls were repaired ; towers built ; 
 darts and shields distributed. Every where was 
 the king seen encouraging his captains. " Be 
 strong and courageous," he said to them. " Be 
 not afraid of the king of Assyria, nor the multi- 
 tude with him, for we are the strongest. With 
 him is an arm of flesh alone ; but with us is the 
 Lord our God to fight our battles." With such 
 words, the people were much comforted ; and it 
 was hoped the king of Assyria would accept the 
 present and depart. But Sennacherib was not 
 thus to be turned aside. Samaria had fallen 
 into the hands of his nation, and he hoped to 
 take Jerusalem also. 
 
 Where all had been rejoicing, now was alarm 
 spread over the city. The scouts came in telling 
 of the approach of the dreaded Assyrians. 
 Soon they were seen, a great multitude, pouring 
 in from every avenue and covering the ground 
 in front of Jerusalem. The king was still be- 
 sieging Lachish. His army now was commanded
 
 352 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 by three fierce warriors, Tartan, Rabsaris, and 
 Rabshakeh. Probably the want of water forced 
 them to halt, for they encamped themselves, 
 and then sent a messenger to the wall to demand 
 speech of king Hezekiah. Three great officers, 
 Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah, were sent out to 
 them. 
 
 Then stood forth Rabshakeh and said, " Thus 
 saith the great king of Assyria to Hezekiah : 
 'On whom dost thou trust that thou rebellest 
 against me? If thou trust in Pharoah king of 
 Egypt, he is a broken reed and will pierce the 
 hand that leans on him. If you say you trust 
 in your God, Hezekiah has taken away his high 
 places and set up an altar of his own for Judah 
 and Jerusalem to worship before. You have no 
 cavalry, and if we gave you two thousand horses 
 ye have not men enough to ride them. How 
 then will you fight us? Think not I am come 
 up without the help of the Lord to destroy 
 Jerusalem. The Lord said to me, Go up against 
 this land and destroy it.' " The three officers of 
 Hezekiah had listened thus far, and saw this 
 bold language was having its effect upon the 
 people on the walls, who heard it all; indeed they
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 353 
 
 also were almost convinced of their hopeless 
 state. Eliakim said to Babshakeh, "Speak, I 
 pray thee, in the Syrian language, for we under- 
 stand it, but speak not in Hebrew lest the peo- 
 ple on the walls hear thee." 
 
 This acted only as a stimulus to Rabshakeh, 
 and he approached nearer, crying out to the 
 people in Hebrew : " Thus saith the great king 
 of Assyria to you: 'Let not Hezekiah deceive 
 you ; for he shall not be able to deliver you. 
 Neither let Hezekiah make you hope the Lord 
 will deliver you. Where are the gods of Sama- 
 ria which was conquered by us ? Come out to 
 me ; and I will take you to a land as good as 
 this, where every man shall eat under his own 
 vine, and fig tree, and drink the waters of his 
 own cistern.' " 
 
 The people answered not. Eliakim and his 
 fellow officers were completely disheartened by 
 the words of Kabshakeh and by the sight of his 
 numerous army, and went into king Hezekiah's 
 presence with their garments torn in token of 
 despair, and related all they had heard and 
 seen. 
 
 Hezekiah knew there was nc earthly hope to 
 30*
 
 354: SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 
 
 rely on ; he ordered no more defences, but send- 
 ing the officers to Isaiah for counsel, went into 
 the Temple. There, tearing his dress, as was 
 the custom in distress, he covered himself with 
 sackcloth and prostrated himself before the Lord. 
 
 When his sorrowing heart was relieved from 
 some of its load by prayer, he lifted his head 
 and saw beside him the three officers who came 
 to him with a comforting message from the pro- 
 phet. 
 
 ; They had said to Isaiah, " Thus saith Heze- 
 kiah ; this is a day of trouble, of rebuke, and 
 blasphemy. It may be the Lord will hear all 
 these words of Rabshakeh against the living 
 God, wherefore lift up thy prayer for us." 
 
 They now delivered Isaiah's answer ; "Thus 
 saith the Lord : Be not afraid of the words of 
 blasphemy which the servants of the king of 
 Assyria have uttered. Behold I will send a 
 pestilential blast upon him, he shall hear a 
 rumor and return to his own land, and I will 
 cause him to fall by a sword there." 
 
 Hezekiah arose much strengthened and re- 
 solved to trust in the Lord his God. 
 
 The rumor, that Isaiah prophesied the Assy-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 355 
 
 rian should soon hear, came to him while before 
 Lachish ; where he learnt that the king of Egypt 
 was coming out in great force against him. 
 Once in the possession of Jerusalem he feared 
 nothing from Egypt, and sent the following let- 
 ter to Hezekiah to frighten him into submission : 
 " Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive 
 thee, saying Jerusalem shall not be given into 
 the hand of the king of Assyria. Thou hast 
 heard how the kings of Assyria have destroyed 
 other cities. Have the gods of Gozan, Haran, 
 Rezeph, and Eden heard their people ? Where 
 is the king of Samaria? of Hamath? of Arpad? 
 where, the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and 
 Ivah? If these are destroy ed, hope not thou 
 shalt be delivered." 
 
 Hezekiah received this insulting letter from 
 the messengers ; read it; and without a word to 
 any one around him, he went out with a burst- 
 ing heart, entered the temple, and spread the 
 letter before his God. 
 
 " O Lord of Hosts !" he cried. " God of Ju- 
 dah! Thou that dwellest between the cheru- 
 bim ! Thou alone art God of all the kingdoms 
 of the earth I Thou hast made heaven and
 
 356 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE, 
 
 earth. Incline thine ear, and hear all the words 
 of Sennacherib open thine eyes and see his 
 reproach to the living God. Of a truth, Lord, 
 the kings of Assyria have laid waste all these 
 nations now, therefore, O Lord, our God, save 
 us from his hand, that all earth's nations may 
 know that thou alone art the Lord." 
 
 The Lord heard his servant, and sent this 
 message by his prophet Isaiah to comfort him 
 again. 
 
 "Thus saith the Lord thy God: Thou hast 
 prayed to me against Sennacherib, king of As- 
 syria, and this is the word spoken against him : 
 1 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed ? 
 Thou hast exalted thy voice against the Holy 
 one of Israel, but the daughter of Zion laughs 
 thee to scorn. I know thy rage against me ; 
 and because thy rage and tumult have come up 
 into my ears, therefore will I put a hook in thy 
 nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn 
 thee back by the way by which thou earnest.' " 
 
 The prophet then confronted the people, who, 
 with the king, having heard former prophecies 
 of the downfall of Jerusalem, feared it was com- 
 ing now. Isaieth gave them this promise : "Ye
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 357 
 
 shall eat this year such as groweth by itself 
 the second year, that which springeth of the 
 same, and in the third year ye shall sow, reap, 
 and plant vineyards and eat the fruit thereof. 
 As for the king of Assyria, he shall not come 
 into this city, nor shoot an arrow here, nor come 
 before it with shields, nor cast up entrench- 
 ments here. By the way he came shall he re- 
 turn; I will defend this city for my servant 
 David's sake." 
 
 The king and people of Jerusalem believed 
 the words of the prophet, and reposed in 
 peace that night. When daylight returned the 
 watchers upon the towers beheld an awful sight 
 they called the soldiers and they the citizens. 
 The king Hezekiah, Isaiah, and all the great 
 men came upon the wall to see, and lo ! all the 
 plain covered with the dead! The boasting cap- 
 tains the noisy soldiers the prancing chargers, 
 where were they? Behold, smitten by a 
 pestilential blast ; as the prophet had foretold, 
 they in one night perished ! The people of 
 Jerusalem could have shouted for joy that their 
 foenren were crushed, but compassion held them 
 silent.
 
 358 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 In great fear Sennacherib, when he had heard 
 the terrible story, returned in haste, the way he 
 had come. When in his own land, he perished 
 by the sword, in the temple of his idol, Nisrock, 
 smitten by the hands of his own sons, Adram- 
 melech and Sharezer. 
 
 Thus, as the prophets Hosea and Isaiah had 
 prophesied long before, was prostrated an army 
 of one hundred and fourscore five thousand men, 
 " not by the bow ; nor by the sword ; nor by 
 the battle ; by no horses nor horsemen, but by 
 the breath of the Lord." 
 
 And so Judah was delivered for the present.* 
 
 The nearer came the time of the fall of Judah, 
 the more eagerly their Almighty Father pleaded 
 with them. He did all that a parent could, 
 short of force, to keep them from the edge of the 
 abyss. Prophets of more power were sent. 
 Isaiah and Jeremiah were called to admonish 
 
 * It is very great comfort to the devout believer in Holy 
 Writ, that vouchers for the truth of these histories, have 
 been lately discovered, engraven on the ruins of the 
 Chaldean cities. There may be seen Samaria carried 
 awaj' captive there Shalmanezer, Sennacherib, and even 
 Hezekiah portrayed.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 359 
 
 ami instruct the rebellious children. Great 
 iniracU's were performed, to assure them of the 
 presence of their living God. The awe produced 
 by the destruction of Assyria's army was passing 
 away, and another miracle was permitted, to 
 gain their attention. 
 
 Hezekiah, the king, being very ill, sent to 
 Isaiah to know if he should recover or no. The 
 answer of the prophet was, " Set thine house 
 in order, for thou shalt surely die !" This was 
 a dreadful shock to the king. He was not ready 
 to die ; and he turned his face to the wall when 
 he heard the message, to conceal the grief it 
 gave him, and wept sore. He prayed also to 
 the Lord for life. Short-sighted man how 
 much better were it for him to have died then ! 
 But he prayed to the Lord and said : 
 
 "I beseech thee, O Lord, remember how I 
 have walked before thee in truth, and have done 
 that which is good in thy sight ; and spare me 
 yet a little while." The weeping king was 
 aroused by the voice of Isaiah, who came with 
 a message from the Lord. "Turn again and tell 
 Hezekiah, the captain of my people," was the 
 word from on high, " I have heard thy prayer,
 
 860 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 
 
 I have seen thy tears, and behold I will heal 
 thee. On the third day thou shalt go up unto 
 the house of the Lord. I will add to thy days 
 fifteen years. I will defend thee and this city 
 for my own sake, and for my servant David's 
 sake." 
 
 Isaiah ordered dried figs to be placed upon 
 the inflamed part, where was a great boil. 
 
 Hezekiah was almost incredulous. " Give me 
 a sign that I shall go unto the house of the Lord 
 in three days." He said, " This sign shalt thou 
 have, that the Lord will do the thing he hath 
 spoken ; the shadow on the dial of Ahaz shall 
 go either back or forwards as thou wilt." " It 
 is a light thing for a shadow to go forward ;" 
 said the king, " let it then go backwards ten 
 degrees." 
 
 Isaiah, to the astonishment of all beholders, 
 had power given him over the shadow on the 
 dial ; and it went backwards ten degrees ! 
 
 Hezekiah arose, and in three days went and 
 returned thanks unto the Lord. 
 
 The song which he composed upon his illness 
 and recovery may be seen in the writings of 
 Isaiah.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 861 
 
 The kingdom of Judah was in a very flourish- 
 ing condition during the reign of Hezekiah. 
 Jerusalem and other cities were added to, and 
 embellished ; flocks and harvests covered the 
 land ; store-houses were filled with corn, oil and 
 wine ; and gold, silver, precious stones, and 
 arms so increased, that the king built large trea- 
 sure houses to hold them. This prosperity, as 
 is often the case, was a snare to Hezekiah, and 
 filled him with pride ; an exhibition of this to 
 the ambassadors of Babylon caused Isaiah to 
 reprove him. 
 
 Merodach-baladan, king of Babylon, heard of 
 the illness of Hezekiah, and sent messengers 
 with letters of congratulation on hia recovery. 
 This was, probably, only a pretence, so that they 
 might spy out the resources and defences of the 
 king of Judah. Hezekiah was much flattered 
 by this attention from the king of Babylon. 
 As the ambassadors looked around upon the 
 splendor of his palace and city, they lavished 
 praises upon the king, to whose great qualities 
 was the flourishing situation of his kingdom 
 owing. Led on by their oily words, the king's 
 
 heart " was lifted up," and he told them of the 
 31
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 862 
 
 treasures laid up in different places showed 
 them his armory took them about the city 
 walls; and with pride, told of his silver, and 
 gold, and jewels, spices, and other precious 
 things. 
 
 The ambassadors, doubtless, took careful note 
 of all these things, to relate them to their master 
 to whose successors all were soon to appertain. 
 
 Isaiah, when the men had gone, sought Heze- 
 kiah, and reproved him for this injudicious 
 exhibition of his treasure. He reproved him for 
 his pride also, which had offended God : " Hear 
 the word of the Lord," he said : " Behold, the 
 days come, that all the store that thy fathers 
 have laid up in thy palace shall be carried to 
 Babylon. Moreover, thy own sons and descend- 
 ants shall they take away, and make them 
 eunuchs in the palace of the kings of Babylon !" 
 Hezekiah bowed his head, and said, "Good is 
 the word of the Lord, which thou hast spoken. 
 At least I thank him that peace shall reign 
 during my days." 
 
 The land of Judah enjoyed twenty-nine years 
 of peace and prosperity during the reign of 
 Hezekiah; alas, only a lull before a storm 1
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 863 
 
 lie died at the age of fifty-four. His funeral 
 ceremonies were such as befitted so great a man, 
 and lasted many days. Amid a crowd of his 
 sorrowing people, whocarne up in numbers from 
 the country ; through an air filled with the 
 incense of sweet spices ; and accompanied by 
 the wail of the mourners, was the royal Hezekiah 
 carried to the sepulchre of the kings of Judah. 
 And well might they wail ! Rapidly their days 
 of peace were passing away ! The noble and 
 good were lessening in number I The line oi 
 kings was drawing to a close ! And the " cup 
 of trembling," was soon to be drunk to the 
 dregs ! 
 
 c) 
 
 , Jung nf Suftajj. 
 
 WE mourn for the daughter of Zion, when we 
 record the life of this bad man. How could, 
 may be asked, a son of the good Hezekiah be 
 so wicked ? His mother, Hepzibah, was said to 
 nave been the daughter of Isaiah, and from her
 
 864: SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 could come no evil influence. It is true he was 
 a boy of twelve when he was crowned a king j 
 but he had Isaiah as a counsellor and reprover, 
 to have kept him from idolatry. Some think 
 that Shebna, against whom Isaiah prophesied, 
 was not a real convert from idolatry, and led the 
 boy-king astray. He seemed to have inherited 
 the nature of his grandfather Ahaz, rather than 
 that of his pious father. To relate all he did, is 
 only to string together all evil that fallen man 
 could do. In sackcloth and ashes must the 
 priests have left the temple, when they saw 
 their king bowing down to altars erected in the 
 courts to "all the host of heaven!" To sun, 
 moon, planets ; to the abominations of the Ca- 
 naanites ; to any and everything but the God who 
 made him. His sons were forced to pass through 
 fire to the god Moloch ; wizards and raisers of 
 familiar spirits were seen in consultation with 
 him ; and he set up graven images every where 
 in Jesusalem. Every one that opposed him was 
 slain, and Jerusalem was filled with blood. The 
 Jews have a tradition, that he even committed 
 the dreadful enormity of causing the prophet 
 Isaiah to be sawn asunder.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 365 
 
 His death, however, did not terrify the other 
 prophets; and we find Joel, Nahum, and Habak- 
 kuk uttering denunciations against Manasseh. 
 and the wicked people who upheld him. " Be- 
 cause Manasseh hath done these abominable 
 things," they said, "the Lord of Judah will 
 bring such evil upon Jerusalem, that it will 
 make the ears of the hearers tingle 1" 
 
 Again they repeated the words of the Lord : 
 " I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Sa- 
 maria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab 1 
 I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish ! 
 turning it upside down!" Forcible words, but 
 soon fulfilled. 
 
 " Woe to Ariel ! the city where David dwelt! 
 Woe to the rebellious children I" The Lord's 
 hand was to be stayed no longer. The prophets 
 had spoken, and now were their words to be 
 fulfilled. It was in no haste that God destroyed 
 Jerusalem, and carried away its kings captive. 
 Moses had forewarned them, every king had a 
 prophet to deliver to him words from on high. 
 They went not blindly to their doom ; a living God 
 abode in the shechinah of the temple, and reve- 
 lation from Him was continually given them by
 
 366 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 the prophets. As oft as they fell they were for- 
 given when repentant, for their tender father 
 was reluctant to punish. He even deigned to 
 argue and defend his measures to them. " Hear 
 O heavens, and give ear, O earth I" he said, "I 
 have nourished and brought up children, and 
 they have rebelled against me." "Come now 
 and let us reason together !" " O inhabitants of 
 Jerusalem, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and 
 my vineyard." " I have spread out my hands all 
 day to a rebellious people, that have burned in- 
 cense under every green tree." " Shall I not visit 
 for these things ? shall not my soul be avenged 
 on such a nation as this ?" " I will recompense ; 
 even recompense into their bosom !" 
 
 In the twenty-second year of the reign of 
 Manasseh, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, be- 
 thought himself it was time to revenge upon 
 Jerusalem the defeat of his father Sennacherib. 
 The Assyrian set out in his own power and 
 might, as he imagined ; not knowing he was the 
 scourge with which Judah was to be punished. 
 Then was heard, " The rushing of nations, like 
 the rushing of mighty waters !" Consternation 
 eat upon every brow when the approach of the
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 867 
 
 Assyrians was known. King Manasseh betook 
 him to his idols. Prostrate before the altars 
 of Baal, he asked for his protection. His lying 
 priests promised him another victory ; and Baal 
 would destroy this army as had befallen that of 
 Sennacherib. Thus deluded, Manasseh left the 
 city when the army approached ; and soon learnt 
 he had trusted to a false divinity. His small 
 band was dispersed, and the king, after vainly 
 seeking to hide himself in a thicket, was taken 
 prisoner and carried to the camp. The city was 
 taken Judea laid waste ; and Manaaseh, the 
 proud, the scoffing king, was carried in chains 
 to Babylon ! 
 
 A hapless captive, Manasseh had time for re- 
 flection. Of what avail had been Baal, and 
 Ashtaroth, and all the hosts of heaven ? They 
 had b.een deaf to his call, and he now rejected 
 them. Jehovah he saw was the true God, and 
 to him he poured out his heart in humble peni- 
 tence and prayer. He acknowledges his. iniqui- 
 ties, in a prayer preserved in the Apocrypha; 
 and declares his " sins are more in number than 
 the sands of the sea." His prayer was heard, 
 and Esarhaddon made sensible he could not re-
 
 868 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 tain Judah ; so that Manasseh, after agreeing to 
 pay tribute, and hold the kingdom only as in 
 subjection to the king of Babylon, was suffered 
 to return to Jerusalem. 
 
 Broken in spirit, and sad at heart, Manasseh 
 was a different man from him who had gone out 
 in the pride of his heart to see the fall of his ene- 
 mies. Affliction had changed and purified him. 
 He repaired the temple, took away his idol 
 altars, and the smoke of peace-offerings and 
 thank-offerings arose where once had ascended 
 the incense of Baal. He also fortified the city ; 
 repaired the wall of the valley ; built towers, 
 and garrisoned many cities of Judah. 
 
 In the thirty-first year of his reign, died 
 Esarhaddon. He was called Nabuchodonozor, 
 in the history of Judith. Shebna, the secretary 
 of state at this time, was removed from his place, 
 as had been predicted by Isaiah ; and to Eliakim 
 was given the office. 
 
 After a reign of fifty-five years, and in the 
 sixty-seventh year of his age, king Manasseh 
 closed his weary eyes in death. In spite of his 
 repentance, he was not suffered to lie in the 
 
 royal sepulchre, but was buried in his garden. 
 27*
 
 Bittg nf Suiujr/ 
 
 SON of Manasseh and Hesbullemeth, he 
 
 m 
 
 walked worthy of such a father ; of such as was 
 Manasseh in the first years of his reign. Two 
 years did the officers and servants of his house- 
 hold endure his idolatry, his tyranny, and bloody 
 measures ; and then a conspiracy was formed 
 against him, and he was slain by his servants. 
 
 Such high-handed doings, however, were ab- 
 horrent to the people, who would not in silence 
 behold the murder of even a bad king. The 
 conspirators were attacked and slain in their 
 turn ; and Amon's body was interred in the gar- 
 den beside his father. He had seen but twenty- 
 four years.
 
 Sing nf 
 
 AT the untimely death of his father, Josiah 
 was taken from the care of his mother Jedidah ; 
 and, although but eight years of age, was made 
 king. Their kings had been so good or so bad, 
 that the people must have awaited tremblingly, 
 to see if God or Baal were to be worshipped. 
 It is a comfort to say he declared himself on the 
 Lord's side. In his twelfth year was fulfilled a 
 prophecy which had been delivered three hun- 
 dred and fifty years before. The reader may 
 remember the false Gods of Jeroboam, and the 
 words. of the prophet Jadon : "O altar, altar, 
 thus saith the Lord ! Behold a child shall be 
 born unto the house of David, Josiah by name * 
 upon thee shall be burnt the bones of the priests 
 that burn incense 1" 
 
 Josiah experienced the greatest horror against 
 idolatry, and when old enough to give directions,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 371 
 
 commanded the universal destruction of idols 
 and their altars, groves or temples. Then were 
 the images, carved or molten, broken in pieces 
 before him, and the dust sprinkled upon the 
 graves of false priests. The bones of many 
 priests in Jerusalem and all Judah were dug up 
 and burnt upon their altars. As Judah and 
 Israel were both belonging to the crown of Baby- 
 lon, he had access to the cities of Israel ; and 
 upon the very altar which Jadon had addressed 
 so long before, did Josiah burn all that remained 
 of the priests that sacrificed there. 
 
 As in the days of Hezekiah, workmen were busy 
 in the temple, repairing the damage of the last 
 reign. Spirits of good and evil seemed always 
 to hold battle over this celebrated building ; and 
 when one had ruined it, the other repaired it. 
 Money was taken in at the door, and given to 
 Hilkiah the high-priest, who, with it, paid the 
 carpenters, builders, and masons. 
 
 Among some rubbish that was turned over, 
 Hilkiah found a book which to his surprise he 
 saw was one of the books of the law written by 
 Moses, which had been lost in the idolatrous days 
 of Manasseh, or perhaps Ahaz. "I have found
 
 372 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 a book of the Law, read it," he said to Shaphan 
 the scribe. He looked it over with interest; 
 and being about to take his accounts to the king, 
 carried it with him. After his accounts were 
 given in he said ; "I have here a book which 
 Hilkiah the priest found and gave to me." 
 " Head it to me," said the young king. Shaphan 
 read the words of the law and at the hearing, 
 Josiah rent his clothes ! And well he might, 
 while he heard the terrible words of the Lord, 
 and the denunciations of Moses against a people 
 who had done such things as he knew his fathers 
 and his countrymen had done. The wonder is 
 that every king had not rent his clothes ; and 
 that every stone had not cried out against them. 
 Each injunction had been disobeyed. The three 
 things which were forbidden to a king ; viz. to 
 multiply horses, to have many wives, or to lay 
 up hoards of gold and silver ; those very things 
 they possessed in abundance. Solomon had one 
 thousand wives, and horses and treasure in great 
 quantities ; as had many of his successors. 
 
 And now must be looked for, j udgment and 
 execution ! 
 
 Josiah sent in haste for the high priest and
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 373 
 
 some of his principal officers to consult with 
 them ; for something must be done immediately 
 to avert the evil. " Go to some prophet," said 
 the young king, "inquire for me and Judah 
 and the remnant of Israel, concerning the words 
 of this book. For great wrath is to be poured 
 out upon us from the Lord, because our fathers 
 have not kept these laws." 
 
 Jeremiah was away, and the king's messenger 
 sought out Huldah, to whom had been given 
 the knowledge of the Lord's will. She was wife 
 to Shallum, who kept the king's wardrobe, but 
 dwelt in the college of the prophets. She heard 
 all they had to say, and answered : " Tell the 
 man who sent ye to me, all the destruction 
 upon Judah foretold in that book, and all the 
 curses uttered there shall truly fall ! Thus saith 
 the Lord ; because the people have forsaken me, 
 and burnt incense to other Gods, my wrath shall 
 be poured out upon this land. But for thee, 
 king of Judah, who wept and prayed before 
 me, I will gather thee to thy fathers, before all 
 this evil take place. Thou shalt not go into 
 captivity, but be buried in the sepulchre of 
 kings."
 
 374 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 After this we see king Josiah again at work 
 destroying idols, and reviving religion in the 
 hearts of the people. The people were all call- 
 ed to the temple to hear read to them that book 
 which they had so long neglected. Josiah stood 
 in front of the royal seat ; and after reading the 
 book entered into a solemn covenant with the 
 Lord, for himself and people, that they would 
 walk in his commandments all their days. 
 After their religious ceremonies, the people 
 sought out every vestige of former idols, among 
 which were discovered some altars that Ahaz 
 had erected on the roof of the temple. These 
 and other things were broken to pieces, ground 
 to powder, and thrown down into the brook 
 Kedron .that flowed beneath the city. Every 
 place that had been considered sacred by the 
 idolaters was made unclean, especially Tophet, 
 in the valley of Hinnom, where fires to Moloch 
 were kindled. The horses and chariots of the 
 Sun, which carried their images in grand pro- 
 cessions, were destroyed ; the horses killed and 
 chariots burned. 
 
 Having thoroughly cleansed Jerusalem, the 
 pious king again set out to perform the same
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 375 
 
 office more closely, over the whole kiugdom. 
 During this visit to Samaria he again went to 
 Bethel, where he had before burned the bones 
 of the false priests on the altar. The altar it- 
 self was now destroyed ; (the cherubim, or gold- 
 en calves, had been taken away by the Assy- 
 rian king.) While looking at the sepulchres in 
 the rock, one especially attracted his attention. 
 
 " What are the names and titles written above 
 that tomb ?" he asked of the people who stood 
 around. They answered, " It is the sepulchre 
 of Jadon, a man of God, who came here from 
 Judah, and foretold all these things that thou 
 hast done against the altar of Bethel." "Let 
 no man move his bones," said the king. Thus, 
 the old prophet of Samaria, in whose tomb was 
 Jadon laid, escaped the destruction that came 
 upon the priests and false prophets of his land. 
 He was the only one of that day who believed 
 the words of Jadon would come true. The 
 pious king was satisfied with the chastisement 
 he had inflicted on the idolaters ; and as he had 
 slain the priests, hoped the altars would never 
 be rebuilt. He then returned in triumph to 
 Jerusalem.
 
 376 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Active in the service of the Lord, Josiah de- 
 termined to keep the feast of the Passover in a 
 sumptuous manner. The Passover of Hezekiah 
 is said to have been kept better than any since 
 the days of Solomon ; but Josiah's exceeded his, 
 for we are told, " there was not the like seen since 
 the days of the judges." 
 
 Possibly this interesting and religious young 
 king hoped to avert the doom he knew, by the 
 prophets, was suspended over Jerusalem. But 
 in vain. The hand of the Lord was stayed in 
 his reign, it is true, and his tender spirit was 
 saved the pain of all those woes ; but, " for all 
 that, His arm was stretched out still !" 
 
 A comfortable sight was it to the good king 
 to see the people coming up in troops through 
 every gate, and, passing along the streets, ascend 
 to the courts of the Lord. King, and princes, 
 and priests, and Levites, stood around the 
 brazen altars; and the smoke of the sacrifice 
 arose, accompanied by strains of solemn music. 
 Seven days was kept the Passover and the feast : 
 the last that was held by a king of the house of 
 David I 
 
 But Josiah must leave his pious studies and
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. S77 
 
 labors, and put on his armor; for Pharoah- 
 Necho, king of Egypt, was approaching with a 
 large army. He was on his way to attack the 
 king of Assyria ; and Josiah, being a tributary 
 to the king, had in his oath of homage sworn to 
 defend his land against all enemies. Ambassa- 
 dors came to Necho, commanding his departure 
 from Judea. But Necho was not to be turned 
 away. He was on his way to revenge the de- 
 struction of Nineveh ; for that great city of sixty 
 miles in circuit had fallen, according to the 
 prophecies of Jonah, Nahum, and Zephaniah. 
 Assyria then appertained to tne king of Baby- 
 lon, who was also the liege lord of Jerusalem, 
 for Judea was but a province of Assyria. 
 
 To the demands of Josiah, the Egyptian king 
 replied, " What have I to do with thee, thou 
 king of Judah ? Forbear to meddle with me, 
 for my God is with me, and he will destroy 
 thee." The fate of Jerusalem was fast coming 
 upon her; and Josiah, as had been promised, 
 must first be taken away. In the valley of 
 Megiddo he arranged his men in battle before 
 the Egyptian army. Gallantly he rode in his 
 
 chariot to order the advance ; himself in front, 
 32*
 
 378 SOVEREIGN'S OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 a mark for the archers. An arrow sped ; and 
 he fell back on his seat. . " Have me away, for 
 I am sore wounded," he said. His servants 
 took him from his splendid war-chariot into, one 
 more commodious, and he was carried to Jeru- 
 salem, followed by his mourning servants. The 
 death of Josiah was peaceful. He was buried, 
 with great state, among crowds of mourners, and 
 dirges of music, and smoke of burnt spices, in 
 the sepulchres of his fathers, the kings of Judah. 
 The mourning for the last good king was 
 great and universal in the city and over the 
 land. The great prophet Jeremiah, who had 
 foretold of woes to come, sat down and wept for 
 Josiah, and for Jerusalem. "Behold, Lord, 
 I am in distress ; my bowels are troubled, my 
 heart is turned within me ; my sighs are many 
 and my heart is faiiit 1"
 
 9*JFflEJraj, nr 
 
 KING OF JUDAH. 
 
 JEHOAHAZ was the son of Josiah by his wife 
 Hamutal, and, at the age of twenty- three, he 
 succeeded his father. Eager to avenge his death, 
 he sought the Egyptian army ; but was defeated 
 and taken prisoner. Necho marched to Jerusa- 
 lem, placed Eliakim, the brother of Jehoahaz, 
 upon the throne, and demanded of him a tribute 
 of one hundred talents of silver, and a talent of 
 gold. Thus, from being under Assyrian sway, 
 the land of Judah belonged to Egypt ; so low 
 was she fallen! Jehoahaz reigned but three 
 months ; and was then sent into Egypt, where 
 he ended his life in misery. A remarkable pro- 
 phecy of Jeremiah was here fulfilled. " Weep 
 ye not for the dead," he said ; " but weep sore 
 for him that goeth away, for he shall return no 
 more, nor see his native country." In explana-
 
 880 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 tion of this lie went on, " For thus saith the 
 Lord, touching Shallum, the son of Josiah, He 
 shall not return thither any more! He shall 
 die in the place whither they have led him cap- 
 tive, and shall see this land no more." 
 
 takint, King nf Huh jr.- 
 
 NECHO changed the name of Eliakim to Je- 
 hoiakim, as was the custom when a superior 
 gave a place to another. He was an idolater, 
 and a cruel, wicked man. He harried the land 
 to pay the tribute to Necho, but denied himself 
 no luxury. Jeremiah reproved him, and spoke 
 of his houses, " ceiled with cedar, and painted 
 vermilion," and adds : " Shalt thou reign because 
 thou closest thyself with cedar ?" He also went 
 into the temple and boldly warned the people 
 that if they did not repent, the destruction hov- 
 ering over the city should come in their day. 
 He tells of the approach of Nebuchadnezzar 
 under the name of "the Lion, who was come up
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 381 
 
 from his thicket against them." " Blow ye the 
 trumpet 1" he cried; "gird yourselves with 
 sackcloth, lament and howl, behold the de- 
 stroyer comes up as clouds his chariots shall 
 be as whirlwinds ; his horses are swifter than 
 eagles. O my soul, the sound of trumpets ! Lo, 
 I will bring a nation against you, saith the 
 Lord, a mighty nation ! prepare to war against 
 her. The snorting of his horses is heard 'from 
 Dan. I will make this city desolate, and all 
 its precious things shall be taken away by the 
 king of Babylon." 
 
 Jeremiah also foretold the manner of king 
 Jehoiakim's death. He should be carried away 
 from Jerusalem, and buried as an ass is buried. 
 There should be no ceremonials no funeral 
 lamentations, as, '' Ah, my brother! ah, my lord !" 
 as was usual at a king's death. Jeremiah was 
 seized by the people, for uttering seditious 
 speeches against the king and nation. Pashur, 
 a man in office, put him in the stocks ; but he 
 was afterwards liberated by some of the chief 
 men of the city. Urijah, another prophet, did 
 not fare so well, for Jehoiakim was determined 
 to have revenge for their words. He fled from
 
 382 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 the king into Egypt; but was there seized, 
 brought back and slain. The prophet Ilabakkuk 
 also foretold the coming of the Chaldeans, " a 
 bitter and hasty nation ! who should come up 
 and possess all the land." Zephaniah also cried, 
 " The great day of the Lord is near ! a day of 
 wrath, of desolation, of darkness !" 
 
 In the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, 
 the king of Babylon sent his son, the renowned 
 Nebuchadnezzar, to regain Syria and Palestine 
 from Necho, king of Egypt. At his approach, 
 Jeremiah made one more effort to arouse the 
 king and people from their sinful ways. The 
 Kechabites had lately taken refuge in the city, 
 from the Chaldeans, who were ravaging the 
 country. In obedience to the commands of their 
 ancestors, they had dwelt in tents, and abstained 
 from wine upwards of three hundred years. He 
 brought them into the temple, and, to give the 
 people a lesson, set before them cups of wine, 
 saying, " Drink ye wine." They answered, 
 " We will drink no wine, for Jonadab, the son 
 of Rechab, our ancestor, forbade us to drink wine, 
 or build houses , therefore we have abstained 
 from drink, and dwelt in tents to this day." "O
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 383 
 
 men of Judah," cried the prophet, "listen to 
 these words: these men were commanded to 
 drink no wine by their father Jonadab, and they 
 have obeyed him to this day. But you have 
 not hearkened to the words of your God, nor 
 obeyed him ; upon you shall come woe ; but 
 Jonadab, the son of Rechab, shall not want a 
 man to stand before the Lord forever." * 
 
 As this produced no very powerful effect, 
 Jeremiah next wrote down, in a long scroll, all 
 the prophecies he had uttered against this and 
 other nations since the thirteenth year of Josiah, 
 all of which had been from the Lord. These he 
 told Baruch to write off, and read to the people 
 in the temple. "It may be," he said, "that the 
 people will repent and supplicate the Lord, and 
 their iniquities may be forgiven." Alas, "the 
 sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and 
 with the point of a diamond," and nothing was 
 of avail now. 
 
 It was the day of a public fast, still kept by- 
 some of the people, that Baruch read the roll. 
 
 * When Wolff, the Eastern traveller, told Edward Irving 
 that he had discovered the Rechabites, he fell upon his kneea 
 and praised God that his word was proved to be true.
 
 384: SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 No one seems to have been disturbed by these 
 threatenings, except one Michaiah, a person of 
 power. He thought these things should be 
 known to the council of state, who had not cared 
 to attend the fast. He repaired to the office of 
 the scribe, or secretary of state, and found an 
 assemblage of principal officers and princes ; to 
 whom he related all he had heard of the denun- 
 ciations from the Lord against^ them, written 
 down by the prophet Jeremiah. The princes 
 sent for Baruch, who came with the important 
 roll in his hand. "Sit down and read it to us," 
 they said. Baruch read the terrible words, and 
 told of the near destruction of the city, and scat- 
 tering of its people ; and, while he read, great 
 fear took possession of them. They asked 
 Baruch about the prophecies. " He pronounced 
 all these words to me with his mouth, and I 
 wrote them with ink in this book," was his 
 reply. It was thought proper that the king 
 should know of these coming woes, that he 
 might guard against them ; but, as he had once 
 been angry at such prophecies, they cautioned 
 Baruch to conceal himself and Jeremiah awhile. 
 The scroll was left with the scribj, and a depu-
 
 SOVEREIGN'S OF THE BIBLE. 385 
 
 tation of the princes waited upon the king, and 
 related the history of the fatal roll. Jehoiakim 
 ordered the scroll to be read to him. He was 
 seated in a winter room, beside a fire, and the 
 princes stood around, while Jehudi read it aloud. 
 The king stretched out his hand for the roll, and, 
 to the consternation of all, cut it into pieces with 
 a knife, and burnt it in the fire ! At this daring 
 deed of the hardened king ; this contemptuous 
 treatment of the words of God through his in- 
 spired servant ; Jeremiah remarks, " they were 
 not afraid, nor rent their garments !" Three of 
 them did step forward, as if to save the roll, but 
 the king sternly commanded them to forbear. 
 He then sent to take Jeremiah and Baruch, but 
 they had escaped. The Jews have ever kept an 
 annual fast for the burning of the roll. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Nebuchadnezzar had fought 
 and conquered the Egyptian king ; had retaken 
 his Syrian and Judean cities, and then was march- 
 ing upon Jerusalem. After the siege of a month 
 the city was taken, and the king made prisoner 
 and bound with chains. When about to be sent 
 to Babylon, Jehoiakim begged so humbly to re- 
 main, and promised such rich tribute ai d feuity to 
 33
 
 386 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar, that the king of Babylon took 
 off his chains and allowed him to retain his 
 throne, but as viceroy alone. Many nobles, 
 however, were sent to Babylon ; and the sacred 
 vessels of the temple sent to the temple of Bel, 
 at Babylon. Among the captives taken away 
 now, was one of the most interesting characters 
 mentioned in the Bible. This was Daniel, 
 "beloved of the Lord." Nebuchadnezzar or- 
 dered Ashpenaz, the master of the eunuchs, to 
 select a number of children of the royal and 
 noble families, of the finest countenances, and 
 quickest parts, to be brought up in the court of 
 Babylon. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah. 
 Mishael, and Azariah. When in Babylon, their 
 names were changed to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, 
 Meshach and Abednego. Although captives, 
 and away from their holy city and temple, yet 
 these young men held fast their faith even in 
 the fiery furnace, and in the den of beasts. In 
 all, there were three thousand and twenty-three 
 carried captive. 
 
 This was the commencement of the seventy 
 years' captivity predicted by Jeremiah. 
 
 Jehoiakim's reverses did not improve hia
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 387 
 
 character. He led the same wicked life as 
 before. At the end of three years, he entered 
 into a confederacy with the king of Egypt, to 
 rebel against the king of Babylon. Having 
 turned a deaf ear to Jeremiah, the only one who 
 could have warned him of the ruin he was 
 bringing upon himself, he entered blindly into 
 destruction. Nebuchadnezzar, being engaged 
 with the Medes, sent his tributary troops to 
 reduce Jehoiakim again to obedience. The 
 lieutenants of the Babylonish king came up to 
 Jerusalem, with bands of Ammonites, Moabites, 
 Syrians, and Arabians, all willing to give their 
 help to the destruction of their formidable 
 enemy. Three years Jehoiakim kept them at 
 bay, while they overran the country; but, at 
 last, they all joined and besieged him in Jeru- 
 salem. Jehoiakim made a sally against them ; 
 but was taken, slain, and thrown in a ditch near 
 the gate of Jerusalem, where he died, according 
 to the prediction of Jeremiah, who said that he 
 should be cast forth from the gates, and buried 
 with the burial of an ass. He had reigned 
 eleven years.
 
 , nr 
 
 KING OF JUDAH . 
 
 NOTHING could arouse the doomed race more ; 
 and the conduct of this king was as bad as his 
 father Jehoiakim, although Jeremiah was sent 
 to him with these terrible words: "As I 
 live, saith the Lord, though Coniah were the 
 signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck 
 thee thence. I will give thee unto the hand of 
 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and will 
 cast out thee and the mother that bare thee 
 unto another country, and there shall ye die 1" 
 
 His reign lasted but three months. Nebu- 
 chadnezzar came up with his royal troops, and 
 Jehoiachin was forced to surrender. He came 
 out of the city, with his mother, his chiMren, 
 wives, nobles, and servants, and submitted to the 
 Babylonian. He was sent to Babylon, laden
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 389 
 
 with chains of brass, and lingered in prison 
 thirty-seven years. At tke death of Nebuchad- 
 nezzar, his son Evil-merodach took pity upon 
 the captive king, released him, and gave him a 
 seat at his table and a suitable allowance. Two 
 years after, the king of Babylon was slain by 
 conspirators, and it is supposed Jechoiachin per- 
 ished with him. 
 
 , nr 3&ii1i8tijr 9 
 
 LAST KING OF JUDAH. 
 
 THE king of Babylon made Mattaniah, the 
 brother of king Josiah, king of Jerusalem ; and, 
 according to the custom at that time, his name 
 was changed to Zedekiah. He was twenty-one 
 years of age. 
 
 Jerusalem was thoroughly sacked. ^.11 the 
 treasure of the royal house, and the city, and 
 temple, and many of the rare and beautiful 
 
 vessels made by Solomon for religious worshipu 
 33*
 
 890 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 were sent away.. Besides king Jehoiachin, h's 
 mother and officers, ten thousand men were 
 sent away captives. The warriors were sent to 
 the army, and the craftsmen and artificers to 
 Babylon. Among those taken to Chaldea was 
 the prophet Ezekiel. He had told the people 
 of the "sword" that was to slay them; and 
 that they should be an instruction and astonish- 
 ment to all nations ! Thus, as Isaiah had proph- 
 esied so long before, the " stay and staff' was 
 taken from Jerusalem ; " the mighty man, the 
 man of war, the prophet, the prudent, the ancient, 
 the captain, the honorable man, the counsellor, 
 the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator." 
 " For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen." 
 These remarkable prophecies were delivered two 
 hundred years before their fulfillment. The 
 heart of Zedekiah was not softened by these 
 things. His life was one round of evil and idol- 
 atry. His old enemies, the Moabites and others, 
 sent ambassadors to him, and asked him to join 
 with them in a league against Babylon. But 
 Zedekiah had so lately seen the power of that 
 nation that he refused. Jeremiah sent by the 
 ambassadors a yoke to each king, with a message
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 391 
 
 that they should be subjects of the king of 
 Babylon, and even to his son's son. 
 
 Among the captives in Chaldea were many 
 cunning men, who set themselves up for proph- 
 ets, and so elevated the people by false hopes 
 of return to Judah, that they were very uneasy, 
 and plotted how to revolt. Jeremiah knew these 
 hopes were vain ; and, to quiet the people and 
 reprove the false prophets, he wrote to them the 
 following epistle : 
 
 " Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of 
 Israel : Unto all that I have caused to be carried 
 away captive to Babylon. Build ye houses, 
 and plant gardens ; take wives, and raise up 
 families, that your numbers may be increased. 
 Seek to live in peace and quietness, and do not 
 disturb the peace of the city where you dwell ; for 
 your captivity shall last seventy years, because 
 ye have neglected to give the land her sabbaths 
 for all this time. Listen not therefore to false 
 prophets and diviners, that say you shall return, 
 for they divine falsehoods. Thus saith the Lord 
 of Ahab, and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who 
 have prophesied a lie in my name, and have 
 committed adultery with their neighbor's wife:
 
 392 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 Behold I will deliver them into the hand of 
 Nebuchadnezzar, and he shall slay them. Ye are 
 much happier than your brethren here, who 
 have to suffer by the judgment of the Lord. I 
 will send upon them the sword and famine and 
 pestilence ; and they shall be removed to all 
 the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, an as- 
 tonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among 
 all the nations whither I have driven them. 
 If ye call upon me, and search for me, with 
 all your heart, I will turn away your captivity, 
 and gather you from all the nations whither I 
 have driven you ; and will bring you again unto 
 the place whence I caused you to be carried 
 away captive, saith the Lord." 
 
 This letter was read to tne people at Babylon, 
 and caused great displeasure, of course, to the 
 false prophets. One of them, Semaiah, sent back 
 a letter to Zephaniah, and all other priests at Je- 
 rusalem, complaining of Jeremiah for grieving 
 the people with news of so long a captivity. 
 This letter was read to Jeremiah, who contented 
 himself with denouncing severe punishment 
 against Semaiah. This punishment no doubt fell 
 upon him, as it did on Ahab and Zedekiah.
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 393 
 
 They rendered the people so unsettled and 
 troublesome by their prophecies, that Nebuchad- 
 nezzar caused them to be roasted alive. The 
 Jews have a tradition that these two bad men 
 were the same that entered the garden of Su- 
 sannah. 
 
 In the seventh year of his reign, Zedekiah, hop- 
 ing to free his country, resolved to accept the of- 
 fers of Pharaoh-Hophia, king of Egypt, and join 
 him in a rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar. To 
 save him from this ruinous course, Jeremiah was 
 sent by the Lord to tell Zedekiah that his efforts 
 were in vain ; and that the king of Babylon 
 should certainly come : " Behold, saith the Lord, 
 I will give this city into the hands of the king 
 of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire. And 
 thou shalt not escape ; thou shalt go to Baby- 
 lon, and thine eyes shall see the king, and thou 
 shalt speak to him face to face." 
 
 The king was also told that his death would 
 be peaceful, with the odors and mournings as 
 usual. 
 
 Zedekiah was angry at these prophecies, and 
 caused Jeremiah to be shut up in prison. 
 
 Ezekiel was then commissioned to prophesy.
 
 894 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 He marked out the siege of Jerusalem on a tile ; 
 represented the wall which was afterwards 
 thrown up, also the camp and the battering 
 ram. lie also predicted a famine ; and told of 
 the manner of Zedekiah's flight. " Dig through 
 the wall."" Cover thj face."" Carry forth the 
 stuff." Ezekiel then delivered this remarkable 
 prophecy of the king: "I will bring him to 
 Babylon, yet shall he not see it, though he die 
 there." 
 
 Zedekiah would not listen to either prophet, 
 for they contradicted each other, he said. Jere- 
 miah told him he should see the king of Babylor. 
 and be carried thither. Ezekiel said he should 
 not see Babylon. Jeremiah said he should die 
 in peace and be buried with honor; while 
 Ezekiel said he should die in Babylon. Too 
 late the king found that both were true. 
 
 Events hasten on. The king of Babylon set 
 out to chastise his rebellious servants, the Syri- 
 ans, Ammonites, and the Jews. Not being de- 
 cided which to attack first, he, according to the 
 custom of his diviners, wrote the names of the 
 cities on several arrows, put them together, and 
 the first drawn out was Judah. He then be-
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 395 
 
 sieged and took many cities of the Jews. Zede- 
 kiah and his people were much frightened, and 
 he sent for Jeremiah to prophesy something to 
 rai.^e their hopes. Faithful to the truth, Jere- 
 miah said, " Thus saith the Lord : I will fight 
 against the inhabitants of this city, and I will 
 give up Zedekiah and his people to the Chal- 
 deans ; to the sword, and pestilence, and 
 famine." The king was again incensed, and im- 
 prisoned Jeremiah. Still he delivered the de- 
 nunciations of the Lord ; and prayed to him in 
 favor of his people. " Behold the mounts," he 
 said ; "they are come to the city to take it !" 
 
 The Chaldeans took every city that opposed 
 them, and then encamped before Jerusalem. The 
 Egyptians marched thither also to assist their 
 allies; but were met by Nebuchadnezzar, who 
 had sent away eight hundred and thirty-two 
 captives to Babylon, and now attacked the 
 Egyptians and defeated them. Zedekiah was 
 elated at the departure of the enemy, and sent 
 to Jeremiah to ask what he had to say now. 
 Still he said, " The Chaldeans shall come again 
 shall take this city and burn it with fire ! 
 And all thy wives and children shall they tako
 
 396 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 captive." Being liberated, Jeremiah set out to 
 visit his friends in Anatoth, and to avoid the 
 horrors of the siege of Jerusalem. But while 
 passing out of the gate he was seized and ac- 
 cused of deserting to the Chaldeans. In vain 
 were all his protestations, and Jeremiah was im- 
 prisoned in the house of Jonathan the scribe. 
 The Chaldeans returned and commenced the 
 siege anew ; threw up new towers, and put in 
 force their battering-rams. Again was Zede- 
 kiah overcome with fear, and sent in haste for 
 Jeremiah. " Is there any vford from the Lord?" 
 he asked. " There is," said the prophet. -" Thou 
 shalt be delivered into the hands of the king of 
 Babylon." Zedekiah was oppressed with grief, 
 which emboldened Jeremiah to ask for better 
 quarters. The king sent him to a more com- 
 fortable place, and had him supplied with bread. 
 The horrors of a siege now began. The towers 
 approached the walls, and the soldiers on them 
 were continually slain ; the dreadful noise of the 
 battering-ram was heard, and the people crowded 
 before the prison of Jeremiah, as if he could ask 
 for thehelpof God, andreceiveit. But he flinched 
 not for king, prince, nor people, and told them,
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 397 
 
 " The city should suffer from famine and pesti- 
 lence, and their only hope was to surrender." 
 These words made the princes angry, and they 
 repaired to the king, saying, " We beseech thee, 
 let this man be put to death ; for he weakens 
 the hands of the soldiers and people, by speak- 
 ing such words to them." Zedekiah replied, 
 " He is in your hands, do as you please." Thus 
 delivered up to his enemies by his weak sove- 
 reign, Jeremiah was thrown down into a dun- 
 geon half filled with mire, and left to perish. 
 He had, however, a friend, an Ethiopian, one of 
 the king's eunuchs. He represented to the king 
 the heinousness of such conduct to a prophet ; 
 and Zedekiah gave him permission to save his 
 life. Jeremiah was drawn lip, and placed again 
 in his former prison, where he remained until 
 the Chaldeans liberated him. 
 
 The siege continued, and the citizens stoutly 
 defended themselves. But an insidious enemy 
 was in the city, against whom they could do 
 nothing. Provisions became scarce, and, after a 
 time, many of the people perished under the 
 dread pangs of famine. To this was added a 
 pestilence which carried off hundreds. For a 
 34
 
 898 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 year the wretched people held out against hun- 
 ger, thirst, and illness, that raged within, and a 
 fierce enemy without. In the eleventh year ol 
 Zedekiah's reign, the crushing battering-ran* 
 made a breach in the north wall of Jerusalem, 
 and the generals of Nebuchadnezzar entered and 
 took possession of the city. In terror, fled king 
 Zedekiah, through a hole made by enlarging 
 the mouth of a ditch or drain, which ran near 
 the south gate. His wives, children, servants, 
 and a large body of soldiers, followed him, and 
 the whole took their way through the valley 
 towards Jericho. He could not shun his doom. 
 He might, perhaps, have averted or softened it, 
 if he had submitted to his God ; but his haughty 
 heart was sufficient unto itself, and he fell. 
 
 The Chaldean troops pursued, overtook, and 
 captured the king. He, with his wives, children, 
 servants, and household officers, were sent to 
 Nebuchadnezzar, who was at Riblah; but his 
 soldiers escaped. The king of Babylon, like his 
 predecessors, was unwilling to destroy Jerusa- 
 lem ; but he found its kings loved their freedom 
 too well to remain his faithful tributaries. He 
 therefore gave the command to dismantle the
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 399 
 
 city. He was very wroth with Zedekiah for 
 breaking his oath of fealty, and bringing the 
 Egyptians upon the land ; his sentence was 
 therefore severe. The wretched king saw his 
 beloved sons slain before his face, and his inti- 
 mate friends, the princes of Judah ! Refinement 
 of cruelty I The eyes of Zedekiah were then 
 put out, he was bound with chains of brass, and 
 sent captive to Babylon. Thus were the appar- 
 ently contradictory prophecies of Jeremiah and 
 Ezekiel fulfilled: he went to Babylon, but he 
 saw it not ! The two other prophecies, that he 
 should die in peace and be buried wi th honor ; 
 and that he should end his days a captive in 
 Babylon, were also true. He was carried to 
 Babylon, and imprisoned until his death, when 
 his people were permitted to give him a mag- 
 nificent funeral. With the king were carried 
 captive all the principal men and priests, leav- 
 ing only a few of the poorer sort. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the destruction of Jeru- 
 salem was going on. The walls were first laid 
 low, next the royal palace : the houses of the 
 nobles, and every tower and strong-hold, were 
 crumbled to the dust. The magnificent temple
 
 400 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 of Solomon was filled with refugees ; but they 
 were slain, and the temple first robbed of its 
 treasure, and then destroyed. The words of 
 Isaiah were now seen to be true, " Our holy and 
 our beautiful house, where our fathers praised 
 thee, is burned up with fire, and all our pleasanl 
 things are laid waste 1" The treasure in gold 
 and brass, from the temple alone, was immense. 
 The gold plating was stripped off; gold vessels, 
 and brazen pillars, and basins, and altars made 
 in the reign of Solomon, four hundred and six- 
 teen years before, were broken up and sent 
 to Babylon, where the gold was melted to 
 make idols. The divine glory of the Shechi- 
 nah departed, never to return! The holy 
 fire upon the altar was put out, and never 
 relighted again I The golden cherubim, the 
 tables of rare wood, the ark with the pot of 
 manna, Aaron's rod, and the tables of the law, 
 were all destroyed, or put in idol temples. An- 
 tiquities of priceless value ! The Ark with its 
 contents had then been in existence thirty-nine 
 hundred years. 
 
 There is a hope that the ark may be found ; 
 for the Jews have a tradition that it was con
 
 SOVEREIGNS OP THE BIBLE. 401 
 
 cealed in those mysterious vaults, which are said 
 to have been formed in the foundation of the 
 temple, and which must still remain there. 
 Travellers are said to have penetrated to the 
 mouth of one of them, but the "abomination of 
 desolation," which is built "upon the site of the 
 temple, is guarded so sacredly, that their destruc- 
 tion alone could reveal the truth. 
 
 And now the word of God, given by his 
 prophets, was fulfilled I " Zion is a wilderness, 
 Jerusalem a desolation I" " Remove the dia- 
 dem 1 Take off the crown !" Fire and sword 
 have done their worst ; its people are scattered 
 or dead, and Jeremiah, lamenting over its ruins, 
 exclaims, " Oh, that my head were waters, and 
 mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep 
 day and night for the slain of the daughter of 
 my people I How doth the city sit solitary 
 that was full of people ; how is she become as a 
 widow ! She that was great among the nations, 
 a princess among the provinces ; how is she 
 become tributary ? The ways of Zion do mourn, 
 because none come to her solemn feasts. Her 
 gates are sunk in the ground, her king and her 
 princes are among the gentiles, her elders sit 
 34*
 
 402 SOVEREIGNS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 upon the ground. The punishment of thy ini- 
 quity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion. For 
 these things I weep, mine eye runneth down 
 with water, because my children are desolate !" 
 Is this the end of the city of David, and the 
 house of God ? No 1 We have the sure word 
 of promise, that Zion shall awake and return. 
 A remnant returned, but all will again come up 
 from captivity, when they have repented of their 
 sins. "I will say to the north, give up ; and to 
 $ie south, keep not back. Bring my sons from 
 far, and my daughters from the ends of the 
 earth." And a call will be heard, "Awake, 
 awake ; stand up, O Jerusalem ! which has 
 drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his 
 fury ! Behold, I have taken out of thine hand 
 the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of 
 my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again!" 
 Then shall cease the voice of wailing now heard 
 upon stated days, under the temple walls, by 
 the wretched remnant of Judah and Israel, that 
 are suffered to dwell in the city of their ances- 
 tors. Eestored and repentant, the daughter of 
 Zion shall smile again 1
 
 / O O .;
 
 A 000 785 073 8