| CHAPTER I |
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| AHAZIAH BEN-AHAB OF ISRAEL (B.C. 855-854) | [3] |
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A weak, shadowy, and faithless king—1. Relations betweenJudah and Israel—2. Alliance with Jehoshaphat—3. Revoltof Moab—Mesha and the Moabite Stone—4. The fall from thelattice—Baal-Zebub—Elijah calling down fire from heaven—Howare we to judge respecting the Elijah-spirit?—Variationsof moral standard.
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| CHAPTER II |
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| THE ASCENSION OF ELIJAH | [19] |
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Uncertain date—The journey to Gilgal; to Bethel; toJericho; to the Jordan—The double portion—Chariot andhorses of fire—Elisha recrosses the Jordan—The youngprophets and their search—Grandeur of Elijah.
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| CHAPTER III |
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| ELISHA | [25] |
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Cycle of supernatural stories—Elisha and Elijah—The cureof the unwholesome fountain—"Go up, thou bald-head"—Thechildren and the bears.
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| CHAPTER IV |
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| THE INVASION OF MOAB | [29] |
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Death of Ahaziah—Jehoram Ben-Ahab of Israel—Goodbeginnings—Attempts to recover Moab—Alliance with Judahand Edom—The invasion—An army perishing of thirst—Elisha—Music—Trenchesin the wâdy—Error of the Moabites—Theirdisastrous rout—Devastation of the country—Meshapropitiates Chemosh—"Great wrath against Israel"—Theinvading army retreats.
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| CHAPTER V |
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| ELISHA'S MIRACLES | [40] |
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Their chronological vagueness—Difference between Elishaand Elijah—Contrasts and resemblances—Social life in Israel—1.The widow and the oil—2. The lady of Shunem—Herhospitality—Her reward—3. The boy's death—Her distress—Theresuscitation—4. Death in the pot—5. The multipliedfirst-fruits.
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| CHAPTER VI |
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| THE STORY OF NAAMAN | [50] |
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The little maid—The leper—Letter of Benhadad to Jehoram—Hisindignation—Elisha's message—Naaman's disappointmentand anger—His servants—His healing—His gratitude—Bowingin the house of Rimmon—Mean cupidity of Gehazi—Strickenwith leprosy—The axe-head.
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| CHAPTER VII |
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| ELISHA AND THE SYRIANS | [66] |
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Syrian marauders—They are baffled—Anger of Benhadad—Thevision at Dothan—Meaning of the promises—How fulfilledto God's saints on earth—Some are delivered, some arenot—Elisha misleads the Syrians—His generosity to them—Itseffects—A fresh Syrian invasion.
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| CHAPTER VIII |
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| THE FAMINE AND THE SIEGE | [76] |
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Horrible straits of the besieged Samaritans—Stress offamine—The King of Israel—The miserable women—Sackclothunder the purple—The king's fury and despair—Hethreatens Elisha—The messenger—The king upbraids him—Prophecyof sudden plenty—The disbelieving lord—The extramurallepers—The Syrian camp—The king's misgivings—Thelord killed in the rush of the people.
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| CHAPTER IX |
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| THE SHUNAMMITE AND HAZAEL | [87] |
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The lady of Shunem leaves her estate—Her return—Gehazitalks with the king—Entrance of the Shunammite—Her estatesrestored—Elisha visits Damascus—A royal present—Benhadad'sillness—Hazael—The dark prophecy—Unexplaineddeath of Benhadad—Hazael's usurpation—Real meaning ofElisha's words to Hazael.
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| CHAPTER X |
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| TWO SONS OF JEHOSHAPHAT | [99] |
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Jehoram (b.c. 851-843)—Ahaziah (b.c. 843-842)—Jehoramben-Jehoshaphat of Judah—Perplexing uncertainty of minutechronological details—The blight of the Jezebel-alliance—Thehusband of Athaliah—His apostasies—Revolt of Edom—Narrowescape of Jehoram—Revolt of Libnah—Jehoram'smurder by his brethren—Philistine invasion—Incurable disease—Ahaziahben-Jehoram—Joins his uncle (Jehoram ben-Ahab)in the campaign against Ramoth-Gilead—Visits him at Jezreel—Shotdown by Jehu.
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| CHAPTER XI |
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| THE REVOLT OF JEHU (B.C. 842) | [106] |
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Misery of Jehoram's reign—Thwarted invasion of Moab—Aggressionof Benhadad—At Ramoth-Gilead—The youngprophet—The two kings absent from the camp—Thedangerous commission—The assembled captains—Jehusecretly anointed—His accession enthusiastically welcomed bythe army—His sudden enthronement—His swift resolution—Thewatchman at Jezreel—The two horsemen—The two kings—Theirmurder—Ferocity of Jehu—Elijah's prophecy—Jezebel—Sheis hurled down—Jehu drives over her body—The cursefulfilled.
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| CHAPTER XII |
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| JEHU ESTABLISHED ON THE THRONE (B.C. 842-814) | [125] |
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His politic subtlety—The murder of the seventy princes—Theghastly heaps—Hypocritic ferocity.
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| CHAPTER XIII |
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| FRESH MURDERS—THE EXTIRPATION OF BAAL-WORSHIP (B.C. 842) | [131] |
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Wading through blood to a throne—The ride to Samaria—Thebrethren of Ahaziah of Judah—The corpse-choked tankof the shepherds—The Bedawy ascetic—The scene of slaughterin the temple of Baal—Did Elisha approve of these atrocities?—Propheticjudgment on Jehu—Ravages of Hazael—Jehu'sanguish—He pays tribute to Assyria.
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| CHAPTER XIV |
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| ATHALIAH (B.C. 842-836)—JOASH OF JUDAH (B.C. 836-796) | [146] |
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The murderess-daughter of Jezebel—Fierce ambition—Jehosheba—Therescued child—Reared in the Temple—Thehigh priest's plot—The coronation of the boy-king—Athaliahenters the Temple—Her murder—The fate of Baal's highpriest—Proposed restoration of the Temple—Joash calls totask the defaulting priests—Death of Jehoiada—Defection ofJoash—Murder of Zechariah—Bad record of the line of Jewishpriests—Hazael attacks Judah—Defeat of Joash and plunderof Jerusalem—Murder of Joash—Names of the murderers.
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| CHAPTER XV |
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| AMAZIAH OF JUDAH (B.C. 796-783[?]) | [167] |
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The House of David—Amaziah brings to justice themurderers of his father, but spares their children—Groundsfor this—Different views taken of him by the historian and thechronicler—Splendid victory of Amaziah in the Valley of Salt—Expansionof the story in the Chronicles—His defiance ofJoash—His defeat and murder.
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| CHAPTER XVI |
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| THE DYNASTY OF JEHU—JEHOAHAZ (B.C. 814-797)—JOASH(B.C. 797-781) | [175] |
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Israel at its nadir—Calf-worship—Oppression of Hazael—Disappearanceof Elisha—Repentance of Jehoahaz—Joashof Israel visits the death-bed of Elisha—"The arrow of theLord's deliverance"—Three victories over the Syrians—Deathof Elisha, and posthumous marvels—Joash and Amaziah—Contemptuousanswer to the King of Judah—Crushing defeatof Judah.
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| CHAPTER XVII |
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| THE DYNASTY OF JEHU (CONTINUED)—JEROBOAM II. (B.C. 781-740) | [187] |
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Jeroboam II. the greatest of the kings of Israel—His conquestsand wide dominion—A dying gleam of prosperity—Causeof his success—Relations with Assyria—Dawn ofwritten prophecy—Jonah.
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| CHAPTER XVIII |
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| AMOS AND HOSEA—ZACHARIAH BEN-JEROBOAM (B.C. 740) | [193] |
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Amos describes the condition of Israel—Growth of usuryand vice—Humble origin of Amos—His burdens—Degenerationsof the "calf-worship"—Uncompromising denunciation—Collisionof Amos with Amaziah the high priest at Bethel—Hisexpulsion from Bethel—The curse denounced—His justificationof his mission—Hosea the saddest of the prophets—Hispictures of Ephraim—Jeroboam II.—His death—Hisson Zachariah—His desertion and shameful end.
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| CHAPTER XIX |
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| UZZIAH OF JUDAH (B.C. 783[?]-737)—JOTHAM (B.C. 737-735) | [209] |
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Wane of Assyria—Uzziah a wise and good king—His othername Azariah—Expansion of the story of his conquests inthe Chronicles—Training of his army—Defeated by the Assyrians(?)—Stricken with leprosy—The story—Jotham actsas his public representative—Diminished power of Judahunder Jotham—Beginning of Isaiah's prophecies—Death ofJotham.
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| CHAPTER XX |
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| THE AGONY OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM—SHALLUM, MENAHEM, PEKAHIAH,PEKAH (B.C. 740-734) | [217] |
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Shallum, an usurping murderer—Rapid disappearance ofkings—Distracted epoch—The prophet Zechariah and thethree shepherds—Zechariah's prophecies—The cruel shepherd,Menahem—His savage deeds—Portentous appearance of theAssyrians in Israel—Menahem pays tribute—Tiglath-Pileser—Fulfilmentof Hosea's prophecy—Pekahiah—His murder—Pekah—Hisalliance with Rezin against Judah—Ahaz appealsto Assyria—Defeat and death of Rezin—Fulfilment of prophecyof Amos—Beginning of the captivity of the Ten Tribes—Tiglath-Pileser'ssuccessors—Murder of Pekah by Hoshea—Horriblestate of Israel as described by Isaiah.
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| CHAPTER XXI |
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| KING HOSHEA AND THE FALL OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM (B.C.734-725) | [235] |
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The name Hoshea—The king and the prophet—Occasionalgleams of hope and promise—A humiliating reign—Death ofTiglath-Pileser—Hoshea revolts to Sabaco of Egypt—Seizedby Shalmaneser—Samaria besieged—Terrible state of thecity—Sabaco renders no help—Usurpation of Sargon—Captureof the city—Greatness of Sargon—Fall of the Northern Kingdom—Blighteddestiny—God's mercy—"God, and not man"—Despoliationof the tribes—Moral of the story—Assyria andEgypt—The strength and weakness of a nation—Machiavelli—Mixtureof alien emigrants—Their worship—The lions—Strangesyncretism—The Jews and the Samaritans.
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| CHAPTER XXII |
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| THE REIGN OF AHAZ (B.C. 735-715) | [260] |
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The chronology—A distracted kingdom—Dark picturesfrom Isaiah—No sign of repentance—Grapes and wild grapes.
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| CHAPTER XXIII |
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| ISAIAH AND AHAZ | [265] |
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Isaiah—Rezin and Pekah—Ahaz meets Isaiah—He receivesa promise of deliverance—He refuses a sign—The sign givenhim—Immanuel—Birth of Messianic prophecy—Maher-shalal-hash-baz—Thepromised Deliverer.
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| CHAPTER XXIV |
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| THE APOSTASIES OF AHAZ | [273] |
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Moloch-worship—Sacrifice of children—Ahaz appeals toAssyria for help—Ruin of Damascus and death of Rezin—Ahazdoes homage to Tiglath-Pileser at Damascus—Recordsof Tiglath-Pileser—The new altar—Complaisance of the priestUrijah—Unpopularity of Ahaz—Further misgivings—Hisdeath.
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| CHAPTER XXV |
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| HEZEKIAH (B.C. 715-686) | [287] |
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Dates—Importance of the reign—Hezekiah's age—His character—Hisreformation—Partial suppression of the bamoth—Removalof the matstseboth and Asherim—Destruction of thebrazen serpent—Trust in Jehovah—Psalm xlvi.—Chastisementof the Philistines—Three parties in Jerusalem—1. TheAssyrian party—2. The Egyptian party—3. The nationalparty—Its attitude to the others—Micah—Mockery of Egypt—Angerand insults of the priests against Isaiah—Confidenceof Isaiah—Waverings of Hezekiah.
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| CHAPTER XXVI |
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| HEZEKIAH'S SICKNESS—THE BABYLONIAN EMBASSY | [305] |
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The story of Hezekiah's illness misplaced—At the point ofdeath—Isaiah's message—The king's agony of mind—Theprayer—The reprieve—The sun-dial of Ahaz—The king'sgratitude and thanksgiving—Merodach-Baladan—Risingpower of Babylon—Object of the embassy—The king's action—Theprophet's reproof—The king's humble submission.
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| CHAPTER XXVII |
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| HEZEKIAH AND ASSYRIA (B.C. 701) | [319] |
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Greatness of Sargon—His campaigns—Defeat of Egypt atthe battle of Raphia—Ashdod—Defeat of Merodach-Baladan—Grandeurof Sennacherib—His invasion of Judæa—Earliercollisions—His campaigns—1. Against Babylon—2. AgainstElam—3. Against the Hittites and Philistines—Defeat of theEthiopian Tirhakah at Altaqu—Heavy mulct imposed onHezekiah—Siege of Lachish—Sennacherib breaks his compact—Distressof Jerusalem.
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| CHAPTER XXVIII |
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| THE GREAT DELIVERANCE (B.C. 701) | [331] |
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Embassy of the Turtan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh—Miseryand licence in the city—The conference—Oration ofthe Rabshakeh—Its effect on the king's ministers and on thepeople—Taunting insults of the Rabshakeh—Faithfulnessand self-control of the people—Heroic faith of Isaiah—Failureof the embassy—Sennacherib's threatening letter—Hezekiah'sprayer—Isaiah promises deliverance in the name of Jehovah—Thesign—The angel of death—Scene of the catastrophe—TheEgyptian tradition of Sethos and the mice—Death andburial of Hezekiah—The campaign as recorded on the Assyrianmonuments—The triumph of indomitable faith—Grandeur ofIsaiah—Wane of Assyria—Beautiful tolerance of Isaiah.
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| CHAPTER XXIX |
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| MANASSEH (B.C. 686-641) | [351] |
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The name Manasseh—His tender age—Influence of evilcounsellors—Heathenising party—Their dislike of Hezekiah'sreformation and of the exclusive worship of Jehovah—Tendencyto trust in sacrifices and asceticism—Sanctificationof licence—Arguments of the heathenisers—Disparagementof the work of Isaiah—Doubts and disbelief—Influence ofthe bamoth-priests—Reliance on Assyria—The immoral andidolatrous reaction—1. Restoration of the bamoth, and argumentsin their favour—2. Adoption of Phœnician nature-worship—3.Assyrian Sabaism and star-worship—Connivanceof the priests—4. Canaanite Moloch-worship—5. MesopotamianShamanism—6. The Asherah—Denunciation of theprophets—Persecution and the shedding of innocent blood—Assertedcaptivity, repentance, and reforming energy ofManasseh—Difficulties of the story—Reign of Amon (b.c.641-639)—Wretchedness of his reign—Zephaniah and Jeremiah—Murderof Amon.
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| CHAPTER XXX |
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| JOSIAH (B.C. 639-608) | [374] |
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Three vast movements—Jeremiah's earlier prophecies—Thestate of society—The Scythians—Prophecies of Ezekiel—Herodotus—Thefate of Nineveh—Rise of the Chaldæans—Habakkuk.
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| CHAPTER XXXI |
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| JOSIAH'S REFORMATION | [385] |
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Growth of Josiah's character—Repairs of the Temple—Hilkiahfinds the Book of the Law—Intense effect produced onmind of the king—His message to the prophetess Huldah—Greatassembly—Renewal of a solemn league and covenantwith Jehovah—The bamoth-priests degraded—Defiling ofTophet—He carries the reformation into Samaria—Its stringencyand severity—The Passover—Suppression of heathencorruptions—Jeremiah's share in the reformation—Its dangersand disappointing results—Jeremiah's warnings against alltrust in externals—The prophecy of a new covenant—Noteto Chapter XXXI.: The Book found in the Temple.
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| CHAPTER XXXII |
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| THE DEATH OF JOSIAH (B.C. 608) | [402] |
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Prosperity and happiness of Josiah—Accession of the greatPharaoh Necho II.—His excursion against Carchemish—Josiahdetermines to bar his path—Warnings of Pharaoh Necho—Disasterat Megiddo and death of Josiah—Mistaken hopes—God'sdealings with men and nations—Distress amongJosiah's subjects—The king's burial—Misgivings respectingthe future—Sorrow of Jeremiah—Ultimate fulfilments.
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| CHAPTER XXXIII |
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| JEHOAHAZ (B.C. 608) | [411] |
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Four sons of Josiah—Shallum chosen by the people of theland—Elegy of Ezekiel—Change of name from Shallum toJehoahaz—Conquests of Pharaoh Necho II.—Jehoahaz summonedto Riblah—Carried captive by Pharaoh to Egypt—Tributeimposed on Judæa.
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| CHAPTER XXXIV |
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| JEHOIAKIM (B.C. 608-597) | [416] |
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Eliakim—His change of name—Ignored by Ezekiel—Evilinfluences—Æsthetic selfishness and oppressive greed—Denunciationby Habakkuk—Denunciation by Jeremiah—Murderof Urijah—Threatened murder of Jeremiah avertedby Ahikam—Fall of Nineveh—Utterances of the prophets—Riseof the Chaldæans—Nabopolassar—Defeat of PharaohNecho by Nebuchadrezzar—His return to Babylon—His invasionof Judæa—Beginning of the Babylonian captivity—Jehoiakimrevolts to Egypt in spite of Jeremiah's warnings—Imprisonmentof Jeremiah—Baruch—The menacing roll—Alarmof the princes—Rage of the king—He cuts the scrollto pieces and burns it—Wretchedness of the times—A greatdrought—Captives of Jerusalem—Miserable death of Jehoiakim—"Thatwhich was found in him."
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| CHAPTER XXXV |
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| JEHOIACHIN (B.C. 597) | [431] |
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Bad influence over him—His brief reign—Allusions to himby Jeremiah at Jerusalem—Second captivity—Regret felt forJehoiachin—Did he die childless?
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| CHAPTER XXXVI |
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| ZEDEKIAH, THE LAST KING OF JUDAH (B.C. 597-586) | [437] |
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His oath to the King of Assyria—Ezekiel's prophecies—Theexiles and the remnant—Weakness of Zedekiah—Continuanceof idolatry as described by Ezekiel—The king breaks hisoath with Assyria—Indignation and warnings of Jeremiah—Thefalse prophet Hananiah—The wooden and iron yokes—Deathof Hananiah—False prophets—The broken covenant—Advanceof Nebuchadrezzar—Belomancy and Babyloniandivinations—Siege of Jerusalem—Gloom of Jeremiah's prophecies.
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| CHAPTER XXXVII |
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| JEREMIAH AND HIS PROPHECIES | [449] |
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Pathos of Jeremiah's lot—The sad epoch in which he lived—Religiouschanges—Arrest of Jeremiah—Progress of the siege—Zedekiahsends for the prophet—His hardships alleviated—Horrorsof famine—Wicked defiance—A sudden death—Angerof the priests and nobles against Jeremiah—He is thrustinto a miry pit—Compassion of Ebed-Melech—Purchase of afield at Anathoth—Secret interview with Zedekiah—Itbecomes known—Distress of Zedekiah.
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| CHAPTER XXXVIII |
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| THE FALL OF JERUSALEM (B.C. 586) | [457] |
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Nebuzaradan and the Babylonians—The final captivity—Dreadfulfate of Zedekiah—Prophecies of Ezekiel and Jeremiah—Sackof the city—Massacre of the chief inhabitants—Burningof the city and Temple—Desolation—Respect shown by theBabylonian general to Jeremiah—He decides to remain withthe remnant in Judæa.
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| CHAPTER XXXIX |
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| GEDALIAH (B.C. 586) | [465] |
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Sad parting from the exiles—The wail at Ramah—Gedaliah's appointment as satrapperhaps due to Jeremiah—Desolation of Jerusalem—The seat of governmentremoved to Mizpah—A respite and a gleam of hope—Guerilla bands—Johanan warnsGedaliah against Ishmael—Unsuspecting generosity of the governor—He receivesIshmael and his confederates with hospitality—He is brutally murdered—Massacre ofthe pilgrims from Shiloh—The horrible well—Johanan pursues Ishmael—His escape—Proposal to migrate to Egypt—Jeremiah consulted—His advice refused—Prophecy of Jeremiah at the khan of Chimham—Kindness shown by Evil-Merodach to Jehoiachin.
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| EPILOGUE | [477] |
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The interest of the preceding history and the great morallessons which it involves—The central conceptions of Hebrewprophecy—The end of the whole matter.
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| APPENDIX I |
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| THE KINGS OF ASSYRIA, AND SOME OF THEIR INSCRIPTIONS | [487] |
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| APPENDIX II |
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| INSCRIPTION IN THE TUNNEL OF THE POOL OF SILOAM | [493] |
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| APPENDIX III |
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| WAS THERE A GOLDEN CALF AT DAN? | [494] |
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| APPENDIX IV |
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| DATES OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH, AS GIVEN BY KITTEL ANDOTHER MODERN CRITICS | [495] |
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