him from Jerusalem. Yet the Lord saved David from his rebellious son; Absalom was defeated and slain; and David returned to Jerusa

lem and to his palace. David lived to a good old age, and ruled the people of the Lord with righteousness, and according to the laws of Jehovah. He collected together in abundance, gold, silver, ivory, precious stones, and curious wood, to build a temple to Jehovah, and for his service. But this, the prophet Nathan, forbade, by the command of Jehovah, because David had been a man of war, and a sinful man. Yet the promise was given of the continuance of the the crown in his family; and that Solomon his son should erect the temple of the Lord. And David died in peace. And the kingly power

was confirmed to Solomon his son, who went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, that being the most renowned high place; and there did the king offer sacrifices unto the Lord. And at Gibeon God spake unto Solomon in a dream, saying, "Ask, what shall I give thee?" And Solomon replied, "O Lord my God, as thou hast made thy servant king in the place of my father David, I am very young and know not how to conduct myself. in the midst of thy chosen people, give, therefore, to thy servant a discerning mind to do justice to thy people, that I may discern between right and wrong; for how else shall I do justice to this thy great people?" And the request of Solomon was pleasing unto the Lord. And God said unto him, "Because thou hast not asked for thyself length of days, nor riches, nor F 3

the lives of thine enemies, but discernment to administer justice; behold, I grant thee wisdom, and also riches and glory." The wisdom of Solomon was great and renowned, and his power and dominion were extensive; and under him the people prospered, and traded unto distant lands, and the glory of Israel was greatly exalted. According to the promise of the Lord unto David, Solomon builded a magnificent temple unto Jehovah, at Jerusalem; and Hiram, king of Tyre, assisted Solomon with cedar-wood, and skilful workmen. And peace was in the days of Solomon. But Solomon took unto him, for wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt; and in his old age he went astray from the Lord his God, and his glory departed from him; and a prophet of Jehovah predicted to him that the crown of Israel should not continue in his family. Solomon reigned at Jerusalem, over all Israel, forty years; and he slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David, and his son Rehoboam reigned in his stead. The reigns of David and Solomon constitute the golden age of the Israelitish history.

The first and second books of Kings cannot be positively assigned to any particular author, though some have ascribed them to Jeremiah, and others to Ezra. They appear to contain a selection from the Hebrew records. The first book of kings comprizes a period of one hundred and twenty-six years, from the decease of David A. C. 1015, to that of Jehoshaphat A. C. 889.

QUESTIONS.

To whom are the first and second books of Samuel attributed, and what portion of the Israelitish history do they contain? What was the noble address of Samuel to the Israelites, when he laid down the judicial authority? What were the chief actions, and the fate of Saul? What was the conduct of Jonathan, the son of Saul? What was the state of David's prosperity ? Who was David's friend? What was Saul's conduct towards David? How did Saul punish Ahimelech and the Levites for having received David? What was the end of Saul and Jonathan? Who succeeded Saul? Of what part of Israel was David king, at first? What city did David make his royal residence? What were the actions and character of David? How long did David reign? Did Samuel die before, or after Saul? What great calamity afflicted David? Why was not David permitted to build a temple to Jehovah at Jerusalem? Who succeeded David in the throne of Israel? What excellent choice did Solomon make, when God in a dream, directed him to ask for what he wished; and what was the reward of his moderation? Was the reign of Solomon prosperous? How did he disgrace his old age? What prediction was made to him in consequence of his folly? What constitutes the golden age of the Israelitish history? To whom are the first and second books attributed, and of what events do they contain the history?

CHAP. XIII.

AFTER the death of Solomon, all Israel assembled at Sichem, to consecrate the new king. And Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, ascended the throne of his father. He possessed not the wisdom of Solomon, his father; for he

followed not the counsel of the elders, who, under Solomon, had ruled the kingdom; but listening to the words of his young and rash companions, he rejected with severity and contempt the prayer of the people, that he would lighten the weight of that yoke which was laid upon them. And Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, rebelled against him, and ten of the tribes fell away from the royal house of David, and made Jeroboam king. But the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained faithful unto the family of David. This separation of the ten tribes terminates the sixth period of the Israelitish history. Jeroboam established his royal seat in Sichem, and he feared lest, if the people went up to Jerusalem to worship, the kingdom should return unto the house of David. Jeroboam made, therefore, two golden calves, the one of which he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan, and he said unto the people, "Journey not with pain unto Jerusalem, for behold, O Israel, thy gods which brought thee out of the land of Egypt!" Thus Jeroboam caused Israel to sin, in turning away from the living God.

Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign; and in the fifth year of his reign Shishak, king of Egypt, besieged Jerusalem, and carried away the treasures of the house of the Lord, those of the royal house, and the bucklers of gold which Solomon had caused to be made, for which Rehoboam substituted bucklers of brass.

Seventeen years did Rehoboam reign over Judah and Benjamin; and he warred against

Jeroboam, and prevailed not; for the men of Judah did that which was displeasing in the eyes of the Eternal. They consecrated high places and groves and images. Rehoboam died, and Abijam, his son, succeeded. He was prosperous in war against Jeroboam, the son of Nebat; but he also departed from the Lord his God; and he reigned three years in Jerusalem, and was gathered to his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. Asa, his son, began to reign over Judah, in the twentieth year of Jeroboam, king of Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. He was wise, valiant, and good, for he purified the people from idolatry; and he was prosperous in his doings. He died, and Jehoshaphat, his son, reigned in his stead. He trod in the steps of his father; he avoided the idolatry of the kings of Israel, and therefore God was with him, and he prospered in his deeds. Twenty and five years did he reign, and he died in peace, and was buried with his fathers. Jehoram, his son, when he began to reign, put his brethren to death, and many of the princes of Judah. He forsook the only true God, the God of his fathers, and having reigned eight years doing evil, he died, and was buried in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings. To him succeeded Ahaziah, his son, who also sinned against the Lord, and, together with Joram, the wicked king of Israel, was slain by Jehu, the usurper of the Israelitish throne. Athaliah, his wicked and idolatrous mother, put to death all the royal family of Judah, excepting Joash, whom the Lord saved