“Samuel had founded schools of the prophets, and we read of Nathan, the prophet, in the history of David. But it is to the period which follows the reign of Solomon, that they more appropriately belong. This period begins with the separation of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Even in the last years of his reign, his splendour may have been a source of oppression to his people, who called upon Rehoboam his successor for alleviation of their burthens. Young, and following the advice of youthful counsellors, he threatened, instead of granting their request. On this Jeroboam, who had come out of Egypt, where he had premeditated his destructive plans against the house of David, was chosen king by ten tribes, while Judah, Benjamin and Levi, adhered to Rehoboam, and formed the kingdom of Judah; Jeroboam, now become the king of Israel, erected his throne at Sichem, and fearing that by going up to the temple at Jerusalem, the people might be tempted to reunite with the kingdom of Judah, he set up the worship of the golden calves, at Bethel and at Dan. He was the exact opposite of David, and the scripture designates him as ‘the man that caused Israel to sin.’[[43]] This fearful degeneracy could not pass unpunished. Ahia, the prophet, predicted the extermination of his house. His son Nadab, who walked in the way of his father, was killed by Baasa, who succeeded him as king, and took up his abode in Thirza, and who, walking in the way of Jeroboam, received from the prophet Jehu, the son of Hanani, a fearful denunciation of divine vengeance.[[44]] His son Elah fell, when in a state of intoxication, by the sword of Zimri; and thus the prophetic word was a second time fulfilled. Zimri, besieged in Thirza by Omri, whom the people in the camp had chosen king, set fire to the palace and perished in the flames. Omri built Samaria, and was succeeded by his son Ahab. Ahab was king of Israel, at the same time as Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Though they were allied by the marriage of their children, they were directly opposite in their characters. Ahab, wicked and devoted to idolatry, added the worship of Baal to those which were already practised in Israel, and thus brought upon himself the most awful threatenings of Jehovah. Jehoshaphat, weak, but faithful to the law, sent Levites through the country to teach and judge,[[45]] and obtained the mercy of Jehovah.
“In the days of these two kings, Elijah made his appearance; he may be called by eminence the prophet. His native place was Thisbah, but he traversed the whole country from side to side, clad in a skin, with a leathern girdle about his loin, denouncing, in the boldest and most glowing terms, the worship of Baal—a fearful and sublime phenomenon. Now he appears boldly before the throne—now he wanders a fugitive in the wilderness: at one time he denounces the wrath of Jehovah on backsliding Israel; at another he slaughters, on Carmel, the idolatrous priests of Baal: to-day he is the messenger of Jehovah to bring comfort to the widow of Zarephath, to-morrow he appears before Ahab and his queen, and predicts their dreadful fate. His name carries terror with it to the hearts of the guilty, and inspires the righteous with courage.
“His disciple, Elisha, anointed Jehu, and predicted that the kingdom should continue in his family to the fifth generation. These kings, though not acceptable to God as David was, yet opposed the progress of idolatry. Jehu put to death the worshippers of Baal, and made a pool of his temple. In consequence this dynasty continued on the throne and flourished till the fifth generation; and under the fourth, Jeroboam, the son of Joash, the ancient limits were regained, and Israel extended from Hamath to the sea of the plain, as Jonah, the son of Amittai, had foretold to him.[[46]] Still, however, the calves remained in Dan and Bethel, the relics of that idolatry which the people had learned in Egypt. As a punishment for this, a terrible interregnum ensued, at the close of which, Zechariah, the fifth from Jehu, came to the throne, but was murdered by Shallum. This is the third fulfilment of the prophecy of Jehovah respecting the royal houses of Israel.
“This is the time in which Jonah, Amos, Hosea, and the great Isaiah, prophesied. Jonah was sent to Nineveh, the largest city then existing, to preach the judgments of Jehovah. Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoah, prophesied to all the surrounding nations, and last of all to Judah and Israel, the punishment of their sins, beginning with these terrific words:
The Lord will thunder from Zion,
And utter his voice from Jerusalem.
The habitations of the shepherds shall mourn,
And the top of Carmel shall wither.
“And as he successively denounces to Damascus, to Gaza, to Tyre, and the other neighbouring states, the punishments that awaited them, he begins each prophecy with the alarming words,
Thus saith Jehovah;