(5.) The spirit of prophecy. Zerubbabel's temple was plundered and profaned by Anti'ochus Epiph'anès B.C. 170, when its worship was wholly suspended for 3 years. It was restored by Judas Maccabæus, and very greatly enlarged by Herod the king, B.C. 17. Our divine Saviour visited this temple, which was destroyed by fire when Jerusalem was besieged by Titus the Roman emperor, A.D. 70. the tabernacle. What became of On the dedication of the temple, the old Mosaic tabernacle was taken down, and stowed away amongst the treasures of the sacred place. mon built. What else Solo- Besides the temple, Solomon built most costly palaces for himself and for his queens; fortified several cities; and even founded one or two of great splendour. cities. His chief The most important cities built by Solomon were Baalbec and Tadmor (called by the Greeks Palmy'ra), in the desert of Syria. This latter was 10 miles in circumference, and the present ruins indicate its original magnificence. Whence arose The enormous wealth of king Solomon arose from several sources: his wealth. (1.) He reaped the fruit of David's labours; (2.) He extended on all sides commerce and navigation; and (3.) He increased the riches of his kingdom by wise alliances. ally. His chief His chief ally was Hiram, king of Phoenicia; in union with whom he sent ships to Arabia for merchandise, and who furnished builders for the temple. How many wives he had. His harem consisted of 1000 women, among whom were women of Egypt, Moab, Sidon, and Idumæa, who led him into idolatry. (1 Kings xi. 3.) Some of his idola trous acts named. He was induced by them to build idolatrous temples to Ashtǎroth, Moloch, and Chemosh; so that God said to him: "Since you have not kept my covenant, I will rend thy kingdom and give it to one of thy servants.' How this vengeance began. This vengeance began by the rebellion of Hadad, a prince of Edom, A.C. 971.] who wrested Syria, Damascus, and a part of Edom, from the kingdom. What followed this rebellion. boam was. This rebellion was soon followed by the revolt of Jeroboam. Who Jero- Jeroboam was a man of Ephraim, employed as a government tax-gatherer. When Solomon was warned of this revolt, Jeroboam fled to Egypt, where he continued till the death of the king. When Solo mon died. Solomon died at the age of 58, having reigned over Israel 40 years. He had but one son, to whom he left his kingdom. Solomon's character. The prominent feature in his character was sensuality, which manifested itself in a love of display, and gross carnal indulgence. Evil effects of This led him into unbounded this propensity. extravagance, and the pressure of taxation consequent thereon, alienated the people from him. His end happy. It is generally thought that he repented of his sins, and was restored to divine favour before his death; an inference drawn from the Book of Ecclesiastes, written in his old age. Solomon had imported into Judæa an immense number of horses, a thing forbidden by God. Deut. xvii. 16. Their trappings (according to Josephus) were of purple cloth; and their hides were powdered with gold dust, to glitter in the sun. Of his regal state, some idea may be formed from the daily supply of the palace alone, which was 280 bushels of fine flour, 560 bushels of meal, 30 oxen, 100 sheep, and smaller animals too numerous to be counted. This provision was enough for about 50,000 persons. CHAPTER III. Kings of Judah-REHOBOAM and ABIJAM, his son. The former reigned 17 years, and the latter 3 years. 1 KINGS XI., XII., XIV.; 2 CHRON. XII. Cotemporary King of Israel-JEROBOAM. Reigned 22 years. B.C. 971 to 950. 1 KINGS XII. XIII. COTEMPORARY EVENTS. 970. The 22nd dynasty of Egypt began. Scheschouk I., or Shishak, who headed this dynasty, took Jerusalem in the reign of Rehoboam. Rehoboam's age when crowned. Rehoboam was 41 years old when he succeeded to his father's throne; and he reigned over the tribes of Benjamin and Judah 17 years. (B.C. 971-954.) By whom he was succeeded. He was succeeded by his son Abijah, or Abi'jam, who reigned three |