Evening star., 1924-05-03

There WAS no visible sign of Israers
coming doom when Amos made his
predictions in the reign of Jeroboam
II. Within two decades following
the death of IsraeTs powerful king
the prophecies Of the patriotic proph-
cts had become matter Of history.
After Jereboam's departure in peace,
king followed king in rapid success
sion in a period marked by murder
unrest and anarchy. The military
despotism" that had shaped the ma
tion's policy to a large extent from
the days of Saul, now held unbridled
control BY their rule they hastened
the catastrophe, which the prophets
had labored earnestly to avert.
IsraePs downfall did not come sud
tton's decline the northern kingdom
was threatened by Assyrian rulers
with at least four invasions. The
work OF the explorers spade has
brought forth from the Assyrian
ruins royal records that not only con-
flood of light upon the last days of
Israel. Shalamneser forced Jehu to
pay tribute according 10 the monu-
mental records. Menahem averted
rum from MS mouse oy paying a
thousand talents of silver to Tiglath-,
Pileser ". THE lord of the Tigris"
invaded Gilead, Galilee and Napthali,
ravaged the country and deported a
large number OF their inhabitants be-
cause Pekah, King of Israel, had con-
spired with Re8in, King of Syria.
against Judah, whose king, Ahaz, had
sought assistance of the ASSyrians
Hoshea, who was the last ruler of
Israel. owed his throne to the in
nuence OF Assyria. Pull, or Ttglath-
Pileser, was so successful in his mil
itary campaigns that he recorded
that "Pekah, their king, put to
death. and l appointed Hoshea to the
sovereignty over them" The in
scrptions that have been buried for
forced TO a success the issues of the
revolution. The Bible record merely
mentions Hoshea as the conspirator,
murderer and successor of Pehah. He
was loyal to Assyria during the days
brought about the crash of Israel by
attempting TO double cross" Shall
amaneser v. When the new king
threatened Israel. resistance was in
vain, Hoshea agreed to pay him trib-
tion. Inspired by the promises of
So, or Shabaka, to assist both Judah
and Israel against Assyria, Hoshea
made fatal secret treaty with
Palestine Egypt failed to keep her
word and the downfall of Israel fol-
lowed. 1t precipitated conflict, in
which Hoshea was made prisoner, the
land devastated and Samaria suffered
the perils. privations and pestilence
of a thTee-year siege.
Samaria's impregnable position
made it difficult to capture it by
storm. Although they were without
the inspiration of king, the leaders
held out for three years, expecting
relief from Egypt, until starvation
had done its ghastly work. When the
hour came for the starving and ex-
hausted people of Samaria to sur
render the Assyrian king, who had
commenced and virtually completed
their conquest, had passed on to
eternity and Sargon, his successor,
accepting their capitulation. He inn
posed heavy penalties upon the in
habitants and deported 10000 of their
princes and nobility. Within a short
time the whole of Israel had come
completely under the iron rule of As
istence as political power.
From the days of Jereboam. Israers
first king, up to the hour when the
last chapter in it's national history
had been written the northern king
dom had been ruled by nineteen
kings, who belonged to nine different
dyna sites. The underlying reason
for Israel's downfall and exile after
about ESQ years of history ap-
pears to have been due to spiritual
and moral causes rather than politi-
cal and diplomatic blunders. 1t came
as the fruits of the moral degeneracy
of the people, which commenced with
idolatry.
IsraeFs IdOlatry.
Israefs initial sin is pointed out in
the portion of the lesson, assigned
to be printed, to have been a rl.oraI
transgression. In what DR.. McLa. n