How he effected this. (1) He demolished the groves and idolatrous places erected on the tops of mountains; and (2) sent commissioners through all the cities of Judah to "teach the people the book of God's law." next work. Jehoshaphat's He next appointed judges in every city, and established at Jerusalem an ecclesiastical court to settle religious disputes. What kind of ruler he was. He provided also for the security of his kingdom against invasions, and in the arts of governing surpassed all the kings of Judah and Israel. Jehoshaphat's unwise act. His only unwise act was allowing his son to marry a daughter of Ahab, the reigning king of Israel. The conse quence. In consequence of this alliance, Ahab asked him to join in an expedition to recover Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians. He consented to do so, and nearly lost his life in the battle. How Jehoshaphat closed his reign. His prosperous reign was closed by a signal deliverance from the combined army of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites. How Jehoshaphat effected this. When this army came against the kingdom of Judah, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout the land, and prayed to God for deliver ance. What followed. The Lord heard his prayer; the allied army turned against each other, and every" one helped to destroy another;" so when Jehoshaphat came up, "behold, they were all dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none had escaped." (B.c. 892.) when he died. Jehoshaphat's age Jehoshaphat, one of the five good kings of Judah, reigned 25 years, and died a natural death at the age of 60. (B.c. 885.) Of the 20 kings of Judah, the five good ones were Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jotham, Hezekiah, and Josiah. A.C. 904.] Israel at the time. АНАВ. B.C. 914-893. Who was king of Ahab, who succeeded his father Omri in the kingdom of Israel, reigned 22 years, and exceeded all his predecessors in wickedness. married. Whom he He married Jezebel,* a Sidōnian princess, who introduced into Israel the priests and worship of Baal and Ashtǎroth. What evils happened. Not content with this, she either banished from the kingdom or put to death all those who openly worshipped the true God. How the king was reproved. God sent the prophet Elijah to reprove Ahab for this wickedness, and to threaten the kingdom of Israel with a famine. What followed. The famine came and continued for three years; the country was parched for want of rain, and the cattle died. *This Jezebel was the aunt of Dido, who founded the famous city of Carthage. Y 3 How Ahab behaved. Ahab having met Elijah, reproached him as the cause of all the evils of the famine; but Elijah answered that God was punishing the land for idolatry. What proposal To prove the truth of his assertion, he told the king to summons the priests of Baal to mount Carmel to determine by sacrifice which was the true God, Jehovah or Baal. king said. What the The king accepted the challenge; and it was agreed that whichever sent down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice offered, should be acknowledged the true and only God. What followed. The trial was made; Elijah's sacrifice was consumed; and all the people shouted: "The Lord he is God! The Lord he is God!" What was done to the false priests. Elijah then commanded the people to fall upon the false priests, and put them to the sword; after which, he prayed for rain and the famine ceased. (B.c. 904.) It must be remembered that God was the king of the Jews, and those who set up other gods were guilty of high treason. These false prophets were not slain for being priests of Baal, but for being traitors in God's own kingdom, and inducing others to revolt against their divine Sovereign. How Jezebel was affected. Jezebel was so angry at this slaughter of her priests, that she resolved to kill Elijah, but he escaped into Arabia. What next occurred. Nothing is known about him for the next eight years; when he is sent again to Israel to reprove Ahab for an act of the grossest injustice. The act re ferred to. It appears that Ahab had set his mind on a certain vineyard belong. ing to one Naboth; he offered to purchase it; and when Naboth refused to sell it, turned sullen, and refused to eat. How Ahab ob- Jezebel having discovered the tained his point. cause of the king's ill-temper, sent men to murder Naboth, and then went to tell her husband he was at liberty to take possession of the vineyard. |