which had obtained possession of Egypt; this alliance resulted in the overthrow of Israel by Shalmaneser. Sennacherib conducted an expedition against Egypt, and, on the march, besieged Jerusalem, during the reign of Hezekiah; he was, however, compelled to return, not only in consequence of the tidings which were received that Tirhakah (Tarakus), the third king of the Ethiopian dynasty, was approaching with a powerful army, but also on account of a plague, which destroyed his own army. More serious collisions occurred between the Chaldean monarchy and the new Egyptian dynasty, founded by Psammetichus (Psametik), about 690 B.C. The enterprising son of the latter, named Necho, commenced a war with Nabopolassar, and, at Megiddo, slew Josiah, king of Judah, in the year 609; he was afterwards defeated by Nebuchadnezzar (in 606), near Carchemish (Circesium), and confined himself within the limits of Egypt. The succeeding kings of Judah repeatedly engaged in alliances with the powerless monarchy of Egypt, and by that course hastened the fall of their own kingdom. Egypt, however, remained independent, after the destruction of the Babylonian empire, until the year 525 B. C., when it was attached, by Cambyses, to the Persian empire.

V. The Medo-Persian empire is the last that is connected with the Sacred History of this period. The Medes were in subjection to the Assyrian monarchy at an early period; when the old Assyrian empire was overthrown, Arbaces was the first founder of Median independence, about the year 800. This kingdom was soon subdued by the new Assyrian empire, since it appears from 2 Kings 17 : 6, that some of the captive Israelites were assigned to the cities of the Medes in 721. Dejoces acquired a more permanent independence for Media, and his son Phraortes subjected the Persians to the Median authority. His successor, Cyaxares, in connection with Nabopolassar, his Chaldean ally, overthrew the Assyrian empire in 625; he was succeeded by Astyages. At this point, the Greek accounts begin to diverge. According to the (romancing) Cyropædia of Xenophon, Astyages was succeeded by his son Cyaxares II. Cyrus, the nephew and son-in-law of the latter, was the son of Cambyses (the king of Persia, and a vassal of Cyaxares), and of Mandane, the daughter of Astyages. After receiving the command of the Median army, Cyrus led it against the declining empire of the Chaldeans, defeated the Chaldean army, took Babylon, and destroyed the Babylonian empire in 539. After the death of Cyaxares II., who left no male heirs, Cyrus became the sole monarch, according to Xenophon, of the united Medo-Persian empire, in 536 B. c. Herodotus gives a

different account. According to his statements, Astyages was the last Median king, and Cyrus, who had been exposed in infancy by his grand-father, on account of an ill-boding dream, deprived him of his throne and his life. But the narrative of Herodotus also betrays legendary embellishments. The most reliable statements are those of Ctesias, who had access to the Persian annals. Cyrus, who was not related by blood to Astyages, defeated him in 558, took possession of his kingdom, and married his daughter Amytis.

The following list of the successive kings of Persia states the years in which they respectively died.-1. Cyrus, died in 529 B. C.; 2. Cambyses, 522; 3. Pseudo-Smerdes, 521; 4. Darius Hystaspis, 485; 5. Xerxes, 465; 6. Artaxerxes I. Longimanus, 424; 7. Xerxes II., 424; 8. Sogdianus, 424; 9. Darius Nothus, 404; 10. Artaxerxes II. Mnemon, 364; 11. Ochus, 338; 12. Arses, 335; 13. Darius Codomannus (under whom the Persian monarchy was overthrown by Alexander of Macedonia) died 330 years before Christ.

§ 90. Division of the Kingdom. -Jeroboam.- Rehoboam.

1. 1 Kings 12:1-24 (2 Chron. ch. 10-12). After the death of Solomon, 975 B. C., the ten tribes, which, influenced by the powerful tribe of Ephraim, had already, since the age of the Judges, regarded the ascendency of Judah with jealousy, assembled in Shechem; they demanded of Rehoboam a diminution of the taxes. He adopted the unwise counsel of the young men, and returned an answer expressed in the most arrogant and insulting terms. The ten tribes stoned Adoram, the king's collector, and made Jeroboam, who had returned from Egypt, the king of Israel. Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem and collected an army, but the prophet Shemaiah forbade him to commence a war between brethren. - Rehoboam retained the tribe of Judah, and a part of Benjamin; many Israelites also, who entertained theocratic sentiments, and were unwilling to break the ties which bound them to the service of the temple, as well as all the priests and Levites, established themselves in the kingdom of Judah. Rehoboam, who reigned 17 years, did evil in the sight of the Lord, for he too offered worship in high places; the Lord humbled him by permitting Shishak (Sesonchis), the king of Egypt, to enter Jerusalem and plunder the temple and the palace.

2. 1 Kings 12:25 ch. 14.- Jeroboam chose Shechem as his

place of residence. In conformity to the ungodly policy which he adopted for the purpose of perpetuating the division of the two kingdoms, a new and distinct character was given to the religion of the state. He accordingly placed golden calves in Dan and Beth-el, on the northern and southern boundaries of his kingdom, appointed the festivals to be held a month later than the period prescribed by the Law, chose priests who were not of the sons of Levi, officiated himself as the high-priest, and promoted worship in high places. On one occasion, as he stood by the altar to burn incense, a certain prophet announced to him, that, on a future day, a son of the house of David, named Josiah, would make that altar unclean, by burning men's bones upon it. The altar was rent, and the hand of the king, which he put forth, when he commanded the prophet to be seized, dried up, but was restored, when the prophet besought the Lord. The prophet himself was slain by a lion after he had departed from the king. He had allowed himself to be deceived by the lying words of an old prophet of Beth-el, and had eaten his bread, although God had commanded him to eat no bread and drink no water in that idolatrous land, as a witness against it. Jeroboam sent his wife to the blind prophet Ahijah, to ask for counsel respecting his son who had fallen sick; a divine revelation enabled the prophet to recognize her, and he announces the death of her child, and the destruction of the house of Jeroboam.

§ 91. Abijah and Asa in Judah. Jeroboam's Successors in Israel.

1. 1 Kings 15: 1–24 (2 Chron. ch. 13-16).—Rehoboam was succeeded by his son Abijah (Abijam), a young and bold prince, whom state policy at least counselled to assume a theocratical position. In his war with Jeroboam, he accordingly delivered a masterly address to the hostile army (2 Chron. 13), and gained a brilliant victory. Three years afterwards, he was succeeded by his son Asa, who did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord; he removed the altars of the strange gods, built fenced cities, and organized an efficient army. Through the power of prayer he prevailed against Zerah, king of Ethiopia (Cush), and

his immense army, consisting of one million of men. But when Baasha, king of Israel, had made an alliance with Ben-hadad I. of Syria, Asa made flesh his arm (Jerem. 17: 5), and bribed the latter to turn his arms against Israel. He became diseased in his feet, as a divine punishment; nevertheless, he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.

2. 1 Kings 15 : 25—ch. 16. —Jeroboam was succeeded by his son Nadab, who had scarcely reigned two years, when he was destroyed, together with his whole house, by the usurper Baasha. The new king chose Tirzah as his residence, and reigned nearly 24 years. His son Elah was murdered, in the second year of his reign, by Zimri, the captain of half his chariots. The latter reigned seven days only: after the army had chosen their general Omri as their king, Zimri set fire to the palace in Tirzah, and perished in the flames. Omri prevailed over Tibni his competitor, and built the city of Samaria, which afterwards continued to be the royal residence. He reigned 12 years. His son Ahab took to wife Jezebel, the daughter of king Ethbaal (Ithobalus) of Sidon (originally a priest of Astarte or Ashtoreth, afterwards the murderer of the king and the usurper of his throne - known also, as the great-grandfather of Dido). The worship of Baal and Ashtoreth was constituted the state-religion of Israel, through the power and influence of Jezebel.

§ 92. Elijah the Tishbite.

1. Elijah the Tishbite first appears on the occasion on which he pronounces a word of almighty power, when he informs Ahab that neither dew nor rain shall fall during a long period. "As the Lord God of Israel liveth," he says, "there shall not be dew nor rain, but according to my word." The ravens bring him food by the brook Cherith, and when the brook dries up, he goes to Zarephath (Sarepta), in Phenicia, and dwells with a widow, whose barrel of meal and cruse of oil are continually replenished in a miraculous manner, and whose son he restores to life. In the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, (6 Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth." Ahab, whom the devout Obadiah had informed of the

approach of the prophet, goes forth to meet him. All the people are gathered on mount Carmel. "How long halt ye between two opinions?" the prophet exclaimed, "if the Lord be God, follow him but if Baal, then follow him." In the presence of the king and the people, Elijah, standing alone in opposition to 450 priests of Baal, furnishes the evidence that Jehovah is God, and, by his command, the people slay all the priests of Baal at the brook Kishon. While the sky remains unclouded, he announces the approach of the rain. The word is spoken; he sends his servant six times to the summit of Carmel, but not a cloud is seen. At the seventh time, the servant sees a little cloud arise out of the sea, like a man's hand, and the heaven was soon black with clouds. Ahab hastens to his house, and the prophet runs before him.

2. 1 Kings ch. 19.-Elijah flees from Jezebel, who thirsts for revenge, and finds a place of refuge in the wilderness of Judah. An angel encourages him, and brings him food; in the strength of that meat he goes 40 days and 40 nights, until he reaches mount Horeb. Here his troubled soul utters mournful complaints. The Lord is not in the great and strong wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire. But after the fire came a still small voice, and then Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle, for he felt that the Lord was near. He learns, in answer to his complaints, that 7000 are left in Israel, whose knees had not bowed unto Baal, and whose mouths had not kissed him. The prophet also receives the commission to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, who shall punish the idolatry of Israel — to anoint Jehu to be king over Israel, who shall punish the house of Ahaband to anoint Elisha to be a prophet in his own place, who shall continue his great work. On departing thence, he finds Elisha behind the plough, and casts his mantle upon him; the latter kisses his father and mother, and then follows Elijah.

OBS.It was before Horeb, where Israel had made the covenant which was afterwards broken, that Elijah complained unto the Lord of his apostate people. Elijah was a second Moses-but Moses had not ceased to pray in Horeb for the unfaithful people, when the Lord's wrath was kindled (2 44. 1); in the present case, it is Elijah whose wrath is kindled, and it is the Lord who restrains his burning and consuming zeal.