mainder of his life, his son Jotham governing in his name.

*

The prophets Amos and Hosea began to prophesy in this reign; also Jonah was sent to bring the inhabitants of Nineveh to repentance. Towards its close, the greatest of the prophets, Isaiah, began his long series of threatenings and prophesies, and continued to warn his countrymen and foretel their approaching captivity, under this and several successive kings, occupying a space of more than sixty years. Not to interrupt the history, a short account of all the prophets will hereafter be given, when their threatenings were accomplished, in the captivity of both the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

B. C.

JOTHAM governed many years in the 757. life-time of his father Uzziah, and after his death reigned sixteen years. He took warning by the fearful example of his father, and made no attempt to encroach upon the priestly office, but governed in conformity with the Law,

* The Earthquake is not recorded in either Kings or Chronicles, but is mentioned by Josephus, and the prophet Zachariah refers to an earthquake some time in this reign, which joined to the evidence of the Jewish historian, and to the fact that under the Mosaic dispensation, earthquakes did frequently happen in attestation of the Divine power, when signal judgments fell upon the nation, seems sufficient proof that the earthquake happened on this occasion, as Josephus states: there is however a difference of about four years in the dates assigned, which causes this idea to be rejected by some authorities. See Bishop Gray's Key to the Old Testament.

and enjoyed peace. He built several fortresses, and imposed a yearly tribute on the Ammonites, and "became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God." But idolatry appears to have been now too widely spread to be eradicated by his authority, for we read that "the people did yet corruptly," and the warnings of the prophets show how great was the moral depravity of the nation. His reign presents not events to record; he died honoured, and was interred with funeral rites in the sepulchres of the kings.

CHAPTER XV.

AHAZ; HIS IDOLATRY; WAR WITH ISRAEL; ALLIANCE WITH TILGATH-PILESER, KING OF ASSYRIA, WHO OPPRESSES HIM. HEZEKIAH'S REIGN. DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB. HEZEKIAH'S SICKNESS AND RECOVERY; HIS LIFE PROLONGED FIFTEEN YEARS.

B. C.

II. Chronicles xxviii.-xxxii. II. Kings xviii.—xx.

AHAZ, the son of Jotham, succeeded 741. his father on the throne at the early age of twenty. His reign was a continued tissue of wickedness and weakness. He began by sanctioning idolatry, worshipping in particular the gods of Damascus, to which he reared altars

S

even in Jerusalem, and burnt his own children in the fire, in the performance of their horrid rites. But soon the king of Syria and Damascus joined Pekah, the king of Israel, and made war upon him, and forced him to shut himself up in Jerusalem. Making but slow progress in the siege, the king of Damascus left his ally before the city, and passing through Edom, attacked and took Elath, a town on the north of the eastern arm of the Red Sea, and important as commanding its trade.* He peopled it with a Syrian colony, and then returned to Damascus, laying waste the country of Judah in his march. When Ahaz heard that the king of Syria had returned home, he thought himself strong enough to attack his remaining enemy, the king of Israel, and accordingly marched out of Jerusalem and offered him battle. A severe conflict ensued, in which Ahaz was completely routed, and a great number of his chief princes and officers were made prisoners. The victorious Israelites returned in triumph to Samaria, carrying their captives with them. But ere they entered the city, Oded the prophet met them, and forbade their holding their brethren in bonds. The people of Judah had, he said, been conquered as a punishment for their sins, because the LORD was wrath with them, and they had slain them "in a rage, that reacheth unto heaven," and now they purposed to keep them

* See Josephus' Antiquities, Vol. II.

page 268.

as bondsmen, and bondswomen; but "are there not," he added, "even with you sins against the LORD your God?" He then commanded them to release all their captives, lest the auger of the LORD should be turned upon them. The princes of Israel joined the prophet in his stern remonstrance, and the prisoners were released. Food was given them, and they were safely reconducted to the frontiers of Judah.

The disastrous issue of the war did not deter Ahaz from still seeking deliverance from his Syrian idols: he set up more altars, he profaned the Temple, and sacrificed to the "very gods which smote him." His kingdom was again invaded the Edomites and Philistines entered. it towards the south, and now Ahaz completed his own ruin, by sending to implore succour of Tilgath-pileser, king of Assyria. As it suited the views of this monarch to have Judah friendly to him while he was engaged in the conquest of Edom and Syria, he readily promised him aid; but after receiving the king of Judah's presents, and exacting such heavy contributions that Ahaz was forced to take all the silver out of the Temple, and add to it all the treasure which yet remained to him, the king of Assyria did him no effectual good, but proved a dangerous ally, whose forbearance he was but too glad to purchase at any price. During his negociation with this king, Ahaz went to meet him at Damascus, and there seeing an altar of a fashion which pleased him, he ordered one to be made of

the same pattern, and put it up in the Temple, besides introducing other changes: the sun-dial mentioned in the next reign, was also put up by him.

His weak career soon after this came to a close he died and was buried at Jerusalem, but not in the sepulchres of the kings, after an inglorious reign of twenty-five years.

B. C.

HEZEKIAH succeeded Ahaz upon the 726. throne of Judah. He was twenty-five years old, and of a character in every respect the opposite of his father: he was prudent, and firm of purpose; an enemy to idolatry, and zealous for the worship of Jehovah. His first act was to re-open the Temple: he commanded the Priests and Levites to purify it from the innovations introduced by Ahaz, and to sanctify themselves, and set all things in order for the due performance of the sacred rites. When they had done this, Hezekiah went up with all the princes and nobles, and offered sacrifices before the LORD as David and Solomon had done. He formed again the ancient bands of singers, and commanded the attendance of the Levites in their courses, and then proclaimed a solemn celebration of the Feast of the Passover, to which he invited the faithful followers of the true God yet remaining in the kingdom of Israel: the only instance recorded of the Israelites of the rival tribes being publicly exhorted to return to their ancient ritual, and come together to wor