Who came to prove his wisdom? Relate the story of Jeroboam. How did he dedicate the temple? How long did the feast last? Where did Solomon build a navy? Who helped to sail his ships? How did Solomon sin in his old age? What was the result? How long did he reign? At what date did he die ?

CHAPTER XXIII.

Rehoboam. Now when Solomon was dead, the people who had been grievously taxed by him assembled at Shechem, and desired that Rehoboam would lessen the burden of their taxes.

Then Rehoboam sought counsel from the old men of his father's court, and they said, "Listen to the people, and speak good words to them;" but the young men advised him to be stern and harsh in his reply, and he was so. For he said, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke."

So the ten tribes revolted, and made Jeroboam their king, who had returned from Egypt at the death of Solomon, and Rehoboam was king of the tribe of Judah only. Nevertheless, he sent Adoram to collect the revenue as usual, but the people stoned him to death, and Rehoboam fled.

and

Sin of Judah.-Rehoboam was forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Naamah, an Ammonitess. And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord; for they built high places, and set up images, and groves, practised the vilest abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out of Canaan. So the Lord sent Shishak, king of Egypt, against Jerusalem, and he took it, and the glorious temple which Solomon had built, and carried away all the treasures and the golden shields which Solomon had made, and Rehoboam

could only replace them with imitations in brass or copper.

We learn elsewhere that he humbled himself, so that he was not cut off altogether, but ended his reign after being king of Judah seventeen years.

Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Then Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Shechem, for the Lord had forbidden Judah to make war against Jeroboam, because it was His will that the kingdom should depart from the house of Solomon. And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: if this people go up to Jerusalem to do sacrifice." So he took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and he set up one at Dan, in the north, and the other at Bethel, in the south. And he sacrificed to these idols, and made priests for them of the lowest of the people; he also ordained a feast in the eighth month, and he himself offered sacrifice, and burnt incense.

Prediction respecting Josiah.-There came a prophet out of Judah, and said that a child should be born of the house of David, Josiah by name, who should burn the bones of men upon that altar; and Jeroboam cried out to lay hold of the prophet, and when he stretched out his hand to seize him, his hand withered, and became useless. Then Jeroboam entreated the prophet to seek pardon for him that his hand might be restored, and he did so. And the altar was rent, and the ashes poured out according to the saying of the prophet, as a token that he was sent of God.

Death of the prophet.-Then Jeroboam invited the prophet to go home and take food with him, and receive a gift; but he said, "No: for so it was charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn back again by the same way that thou camest."

Nevertheless, an old prophet of Bethel followed him, and when he found him, he induced him to return, saying that an angel of God had commissioned him. Then the prophet returned with him; but because he thus disobeyed the direct command of the Lord, a lion met him on his return, and slew him. Then the old prophet sent for his body and buried it at Bethel, and commanded that his own body should be buried in the same tomb.

Yet Jeroboam departed not from his evil ways, but followed those evil ways by which he had caused Israel to sin.

Death of Abijah.-And after this, Abijah, the son of Jeroboam, fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, "Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, and go to Ahijah, the prophet, that is in Shiloh." So she went; and when she came to the dwelling of Ahijah, warned by God of her coming, the prophet said, "Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings. Go tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over Israel, but thou hast done evil above all that were before thee; for thou hast made other gods and molten images to provoke me to anger:

"Therefore, behold I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam.

"Arise thou, therefore, get thee to thine house, and when thy feet enter the city, the child shall die. He only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel.'"

So she arose, and departed to Tirzah, and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died. And all Israel mourned for him, according to the saying of the prophet Ahijah.

Death of Jeroboam, B.C. 954.-But Jeroboam continued his evil courses; and when he had reigned twenty-two years, he died, and Nadab, his son, reigned in his stead. Nadab reigned two years, and did evil in the sight of the Lord. And Baasha, the son of Ahijah, conspired against him and slew him, and slew all the family of Jeroboam, as the Lord had said: "Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city, shall the dogs eat, and him that dieth in the field, shall the fowls of the air eat; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."

The successors of Jeroboam to Ahaziah.-Baasha having slain Nadab by a conspiracy, while they were besieging Gibbethon, a Philistine city, and slain every one of the house of Jeroboam, did evil in the sight of the Lord, by walking in the ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, "who made Israel to sin." Therefore the Lord sent Jehu, the son of Hanani, to say to Baasha, as he had said to Jeroboam, that " because he had followed the ways of Jeroboam, he would destroy his house."

Elah.-Then Baasha died, and Elah, his son, reigned in his stead, and he reigned two years in Tirzah. And Zimri, one of his captains, conspired against Elah, and fell upon him and slew him, while he was drinking himself drunk, in the house of his steward at Tirzah. And Zimri reigned in his stead.

Zimri.-Now when Zimri had slain Elah, he caused every one of the family and friends of Baasha to be slain. But the army of Israel, which was besieging Gibbethon, heard what he had done; and when he had reigned only seven days in Tirzah, they set up Omri as king, and they went up and laid siege to Tirzah, and took it. And Zimri, seeing that the city was taken, went into the royal palace, and set fire to it, and burnt it over him with fire, and so he died.

Omri.—Then Omri was opposed by Tibni, and the people of Israel were divided, but Omri prevailed and smote Tibni, and he died. And Omri reigned twelve years; six years in Tirzah, and six years in Samaria, which he built, having bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer, for two talents of silver.

But Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, even worse than Jeroboam and Baasha, and he died, and Ahab, his son, reigned in his stead.

Ahab.-Ahab reigned twenty-two years over Israel in Samaria, and did evil, for not only did he follow the sin of Jeroboam, but he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and built an altar and grove to Baal, and publicly worshipped him. In his reign appeared the wonderful prophet Elijah the Tishbite.

EXERCISES ON CHAPTER XXIII.

Who succeeded Solomon? Whose counsel did he prefer? What was the result? Where did Jeroboam live while king? What was Jeroboam's great fear? Where did he set up golden calves? Who was sent to warn Jeroboam ?

What was his conduct, and what happened?

What king was prophesied of by name?

What was the fate of the disobedient prophet? What was the great sin of Jeroboam? Who was Abijah?

Who visited Ahijah? Why was Jeroboam's race accursed?
Who was the only exception?

Who conspired against king Nadab? How long did Baasha reign?
What character is given of him? Who succeeded Baasha?
What was his fate? What became of Zimri?

Whom did Israel make king? Who built Samaria ?

What is said of Omri's character ?

How long did Omri reign? Name the kings from Jeroboam to
Ahab.

Who succeeded Omri? Whom did Ahab marry?
In what way did Ahab sin against God?

peared in his reign?

What prophet ap