ABIA. A.M. 3026.

Who succeeded Roboam?

His son Abia, who reigned only three years. In the beginning of his reign, being about to fight Jeroboam, who brought against him an army twice the number of his, he invoked the assistance of God, who gave him a signal victory; nevertheless, after that he sinned, for which he was cut off by God, who yet for David's sake permitted his son Asa to succeed him. (2 Par. xiii., 3. Kings xv.)

ASA. A.M. 3029.

What was the character of Asa?

He was an excellent and pious king. He destroyed all the remains of idolatry, and re-established the splendour of divine worship, for which God rewarded him by a long and prosperous reign of forty-one years, during which He gave him victory over all his enemies, the chief of whom was Zara, king of the Ethiopians, who brought an army of more than a million of men against him. (2 Par. xiv.) Of what faults was Asa guilty towards the close of his reign?

Being invaded by Baasa, King of Israel, he, through want of confidence in God, called on the King of Syria for assistance, for which the prophet Hanani reproached him, reminding him of the victory God had given him over the more numerous army of the Ethiopians. In his last sickness also he placed more reliance on the skill of physicians than in the power of God. (2 Par. xvi.)

Lesson Forty-ninth.

A.M. 3009 to 3070.]

[A.C. 991 to 930.

CONTEMPORARY KINGS OF ISRAEL.

What kings reigned in Israel from the time of its separation until the close of Asa's reign, a period of sixty-one years?

Jeroboam,* Nadab,† Baasa,‡ Ela,§ Zamri,|| and Amri.¶ How did Jeroboam act when in possession of the kingdom of Israel?

He presently forsook God who had exalted him, banished the Levites, and set up idols, for which he made priests, sometimes officiated himself, and, by the force of his example, led the greater part of the nation into idolatry which ultimately caused their ruin, and is the reason that his name is always reprobated when mentioned in Holy Scripture. (1 Par. xi.)

What induced Jeroboam to act so impiously?

An ambitious, political motive. Fearing that the people would resume their allegiance to Roboam if suffered to go to sacrifice in Jerusalem, he set up two golden calves, one in Dan, the other in Bethel, to which he offered sacrifice with solemnities similar to those used in Jerusalem, and told the people-"Go no more to Jerusalem, behold thy gods, O Israel, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt." (3 Kings xii.)

What occurred the first time that Jeroboam sacrificed to the calf at Bethel ?

A prophet of Juda, expressly sent by God, cried out to the altar, "Behold a child shall be born to the house of David, Josias by name, and he shall immolate upon thee the priests of the high places, who now burn incense upon thee, and he shall burn men's bones upon thee, and this shall be the sign that the Lord hath spoken, the altar

shall be rent and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out;"* which immediately happened.

What did Jeroboam on that occasion?

Stretching forth his hand against the prophet, he ordered him to be seized; but his hand immediately withering, he was unable to draw it back, and it was only at the prophet's prayer that he again received the use of it.

Was Jeroboam converted by the miracle?

No; he persevered in idolatry for which Ahias the prophet, who had foretold his exaltation to the throne, prophesied that his entire family should be exterminated, which was fulfilled about a year after his death, in the reign of his son Nadab. Jeroboam reigned twenty-two years. (3 Kings xiv. and xv.)

Who succeeded Jeroboam?

His son Nadab, who reigned little more than a year, when he was killed by Baasa, who usurped the throne and exterminated the family of Jeroboam, as predicted by the prophet Ahias. Baasa reigned twenty-four years. Who succeeded Baasa?

His son Ela, who reigned about two years, when he and all the family of Baasa were killed by Zamri, captain of the horse, who committed suicide after a reign of only seven days, fearing to fall into the power of Amri, general of the army, whom the Israelites elected king.

How long did Amri reign?

Twelve years, four of which were contested by a competitor named Thebni. Amri built the city of Samaria.

A.M. 3070 to 3150.] Lesson Fiftieth. [A.C. 930 to 850.

KINGS OF JUDA, JOSOPHAT, JORAM, OCHOZIAS, AND JOAS. JOSOPHAT. A.M. 3070.

Who succeeded Asa in the kingdom of Juda?

His son Josophat, who, like his father, was a pious good king. God rewarded him with a twenty-five years'

* This prophecy was fulfilled in upwards of three centuries after by Josias king of Juda.

reign of great glory and magnificence, and enabled him to overcome all his enemies. On one occasion when the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites combined against him, he and all the people prostrated themselves before God, who told them by the mouth of a prophet to go out confidently on the morrow and they should see that He would fight for them. Accordingly the next day, the enemies rising from their several ambuscades attacked and slew each other, on which Josophat and his people carried off the spoils and returned with joy and thanksgiving to Jerusalem.

JORAM. A.M. 3095.

Who succeeded the good king Josophat in the kingdom of Juda?

His eldest son Joram,* at the age of thirty-two; he was a wicked, idolatrous king, and married Athalia, daughter to Achab, the impious king of Israel, who inherited her father's impiety. Joram slew all his brethren and introduced idolatry, for which God commissioned Elias to foretell him the punishment decreed for him, a painful, lingering distemper, of which he died, after a troubled reign of eight years. He was buried in the city of David, but without honour, and not in the sepulchres of the kings. (2 Par. xxi.)

OCHOZIAS. A.M. 3103.

Who succeeded the impious Joram in the kingdom of Juda? His youngest and only surviving son Ochozias, at the age of twenty-two; all the rest being killed in an incursion of the Arabians. (4 Kings viii. 26; 2 Par. xxii.) How long did Ochozias reign?

Only one year; when going to visit his kinsman, Joram, son of Achab, King of Israel, he and all who attended him were slain by Jehu, who was at that time extirpating the house of Achab. (2 Par. xxii.)

What was the character of Ochozias?

He was idolatrous and wicked like the house of Achab, being urged on by his mother Athalia.

* Joram was associated in the kingdom two years before his father's death, deduced from 4 Kings i. 17, 4 Kings iii. 1, and 4 Kings viii. 16-25.

How did Athalia act when Ochozias was slain?

Having killed all the royal family except Joas, the infant son of Ochozias, whom Josabeth, sister to Ochozias and wife to Joida, the High Priest, hid in the Temple, she made herself queen and reigned with uncontrolled sway nearly seven years, when Joida assembled the princes and people, presented Joas to them as their king, and had Athalia put to death. (2 Par. xxii. and xxiii.)

JOAS.-A.M. 3110.

What was the character of Joas?

As long as Joida lived he was pious and zealous in the service of God, but on the death of the venerable High Priest, he chose evil counsellors and with them fell into idolatry. (2 Par. xxiv.)

How old was Joida the High Priest when he died?

One hundred and thirty years, and on account of the great services he had rendered the kingdom he was buried in the sepulchres of the kings.

What ungrateful and wicked act was Joas guilty of soon after the death of Joida?

He caused Zacharias, the son of Joida, to be stoned in the court of the Temple, because he had admonished him of his sin in forsaking the service of God for that of idols. (2 Par. xxiv.)

How did Joas end his life?

He was murdered by two of his servants after a reign of forty years, the latter part of which was troubled; for God permitted him to be harassed by the Assyrians from the time he forsook His service. Joas, like his grandfather, Joram, was not buried in the sepulchres of the kings.