SYRIA OPpresses ISRAEL.

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to cut Israel short; and Hazael smote them on all the border of Israel eastward of the Jordan, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan. And Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz (Jah Holdeth) his son reigned in his stead. And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

And Jehoahaz son of Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria seventeen years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of the king of Syria; and Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. And Hazael left to Jehoahaz of his army no more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing. And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria; and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

And Joash son of Jehoahaz reigned over Israel in Samaria sixteen years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin; but he walked therein.

And Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead. And Jehovah was gracious unto his people Israel, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them,

neither cast he them from his presence as yet. And Jehovah gave Israel a saviour (the Assyrians), and they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their houses, as beforetime. And Joash son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash smite him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

But

Then Amaziah king of Judah sent messengers to Joash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying: Come, let us look one another in the face. Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying: The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife; but the wild beasts that were in Lebanon passed over the thistle and trode it down. Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up. Glory thereof, and abide at home; for why shouldest thou meddle with misfortune, that thou shouldest fall, thou, and Judah with thee? But Amaziah would not hear. So Joash king of Israel went up; and they looked one another in the face, he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh (House of the Sun), which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his home. And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh; and he brought him to Jerusalem. And he brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Jehovah, and in the

JERUSALEM CAPTURED.

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treasures of the king's house, and hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

Then Joash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.

CHAPTER V.

II. KINGS, xiv. HOSEA, i.-iii. Amos, i.-ix.

JEROBOAM II.

Amos the Herdman-Threshing Gilead-Kidnapping Slaves-Merciless Blood Feud-Inhumanity of Ammon-Desecrating the Grave-Scorning Jehovah-Israel's Crimes-Fall of Samaria-Denunciation of Bethel-Religious Formalism-Moral Rottenness— Visitations of Jehovah-The Day of Jehovah-Kine of BashanIdle Nobles-Fall of Jeroboam's House-The Priest of BethelThe End is Come-Tabernacle of David-Hosea the Prophet― Fall of Israel-Future Hope-Jeroboam's Conquests.

Now Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel reigned in Samaria forty-one years. And he did evil in the sight of Jehovah; he turned not from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

And in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, two years before the earthquake, came Amos, a herdman from Tekoa of Judah, and prophesied in Beth-el.

Jehovah roareth from Zion,

From Jerusalem He uttereth His voice;
The pastures of the shepherds languish,
Dried up is Carmel's summit.

Thus saith Jehovah : for three crimes of Damascus,
And for four I revoke it not;

For threshing Gilead with sharp iron:

I send fire on Hazael's house,

It devoureth Ben-hadad's palaces;

KIDNAPPING SLAVES.

I break the bars of Damascus,

I cut off inhabitants from Aven's plain,
And sceptre-bearers from Eden's house,
And Aram's folk go captive unto Kir:
Saith Jehovah.

Thus saith Jehovah : for three crimes of Gaza,

And for four I revoke it not;

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For making captives in time of peace to deliver unto

Edom:

I send fire on Gaza's wall,

It devoureth her palaces;

I cut off inhabitants from Ashdod,
Sceptre-bearers from Ashkelon;

Against Ekron I turn mine hand,

The remnant of the Philistines perisheth :
Saith the Lord Jehovah.

Thus saith Jehovah : for three crimes of Tyre,

And for four I revoke it not;

For delivering captives of peace to Edom;

Neither remembered they the brotherly covenant :
I send fire on the wall of Tyre,

It devoureth her palaces.

Thus saith Jehovah for three crimes of Edom,

And for four I revoke it not;

For hunting his brother with the sword,

And stifling his compassion;

Because he guardeth his wrath for aye,

And his fury keepeth he for ever:

I send fire on Teman,

It devoureth Bozrah's palaces.