The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-02

INTRoDUCTIoN.-Th dismembernent
of the Hebrew monarchy p. G. 915, one
hundred and twenty years after It's
foundation. was not the result of any
sudden outburst of passion. What an-
pears In today's lesson as the cause was
in reality but the occasion. The tribe of
Judah and the double one of Joseph
(Ephriam and Manasseh) whose pre-
genitors were specially favored in the
blessing (Gen. Xix, SIP. 22-25) were most
numerous and therefore most powerful
of all the twelve tribes. Judah numbered
seventy six thousand and Joseph eighty
i've thousand. In the conquest of Ca
naan Judah headed the column Il Chron.
" ~, but Joseph's sors claimed larger
possessions in the land. Besides, there
was a marked difference in character.
Hence, there was the germ of dualism in
the nation. After Saul's death the two
tribes formally separated under two
kings III Sam. ii i-lD. but after seven
years the revcted tribes returned TO
judah. And this was a proof that the
kingly prerosative could be obtained only
by the suffrages of the sovereign people.
1t may he that the splendor of David's
rule aroused local prejudices and
strengthened the spirit of opposition.
REPELLION.-Cpon the death of his
father, Rehoboam repaired to Schechem,
where Israel assembled to make him
king Werse u. That ancient city, about
which clustered many memories, was a
favorable place for this purpose. Sit
uated in the tribe of Ephrian. thirty-four
miles north of Jerusalem. it had been
from the days of the conquest Josh.
xiv. l. 25). the center of union. Doubt
less it was hoped there to conciliate the
northern tribes who were restless under
the burdens of Solomon's reign, and who
now determined to secure a promise of
relief before Installing the son. Jero-
boam appeared as their leader and advo
cate. He had been in the service of Sol
onion; and the prophet had predicted his
elevation to the throne q Kings ri, 2f-3D.
Compelled to flee for safety to Egypt he
had received many favors and his return
was most opportune at that critical time.
Rehoboam's answer showed ther was no
hope for reform under the new adninis-
tration andtration, and with one voice
the ten tribes refused to accept him-re-
fused the allegiance which eighty years
before their fathers had gladly presented
to his illustrious grandfather GI Sam. V
u. They declared that they had no in
heritsnce in David. The call went forth
TO the people to return TO their homes
and the son of David was told to look
to his own affairs versc 16).
BOUNDARlES.-Thu in a single day a
new nation was established. to be known
afterward as Israel 1t embraced the
people and territory of Asher Naphtah
Zebulon, Issacher. Ephram, Mannaseh
east and west, Dan. Cad and Reuben. It
lay on both sides of the Jordan from the
Mediterran>a on the west to an irrc-
gular line dividing it from Syria on the
east while at the north it reached within
few miles of Damascus. What re-
mained of the empire of David and Solo
mon lay to the south, a territory not
more than half the area Of the other,
bounded on the east by the Dead Sea. and
on the west by the Mediterranean. but
more poulace and wealthy. This kingdom
was called Judah. Its outhern limits
were lost in the sands of Arabia hard on
toward Egypt. The kingdom of Judah
was composed of three tribes, or rather
two, Judah and Simeon. inasmuch as Lit
tie Benjamin, after Sauls death, was
gradually merged in Judah losing all
tribal government. Two nations, de-