of Joash. JOASH, KING OF ISRAEL. Reigned 14 years, from 835 to 819. Character Joash, of Israel, was a wicked king, like all his predecessors and all his posterity. (B.C. 835.) Chief events of his reign. The only incidents of his reign worth mentioning are his three victories over the Syrians, and his defeat of Amazi'ah, king of Judah. 66 When Amaziah challenged the king of Israel to battle, Joash sent back this answer: A thistle that grew in Lebanon sent to the cedar, saying, give thy daughter to my son to wife; but lo! there passed by a wild beast and trode down the thistle." up his victory. How he followed Having defeated the army of Judah, Joash broke down the wall of Jerusalem, plundered the temple of its treasures, and despoiled the royal palace of its gold and silver vessels. reigned. How long he He reigned 16 years altogether, two of which were in conjunction with his father. (B.C. 819.) The successor of Joash. He was succeeded by his son Jeroboam II., a very wicked man, but possessed of such energy and talent that he raised the kingdom of Israel to its highest state of prosperity. conquests. His chief He continued the Syrian war with success, and took Damascus, the capital. But after the death of Jeroboam, the Syrians re-established their monarchy. The kings of Damascus were called Ben-hadad, as the kings of Egypt were called Pharaoh, and the emperors of Rome, Cæsar or Augustus. CHAPTER VII. In Judah-UZZIAH (Azariah) reigned 52 years. Prophets. In Judah-ISAIAH, MICAH. In Israel-AMOS, HOSEA. COTEMPORARY EVENTS. 779. The race of kings ends at Corinth, and annual magistrates called Prytanes succeed. 776. The famous era of the Olympiads began. 769. Syracuse built by Archius, of Corinth. 762. The 24th dynasty of Egypt began, and Saïs is made the royal residence. 760. Ephors are established in Sparta. 759. Sardanapalus assassinated, and his empire formed into three kingdoms-viz., the kingdom of Babylon, of new Assyria, and of Medea. Pul, who founds the new Assyrian empire, receives tribute from the king of Israel. Amaziah's successor. Uzziah succeeded his father at the age of 16, and reigned 52 years. He was very prosperous for 42 How he reigned.. A.C. 806-754.] years, but a leper for the last six of his reign. Uzziah's character. Though skilful in the arts of war, he was particularly attached to the peaceful occupations of husbandry. He began his reign by repairing the fortifications of Jerusalem, and improving the army. His first concern. His next concern. He next reformed abuses in and the administration of justice, and erected watch-towers to protect his agricultural subjects. Uzziah's victories. He obtained many important victories over the Ammonites, Philistines, Edomites, and Arabians; whereby he rendered the name of Judah formidable to his enemies. The effect thereof. Elated by his prosperity, he resolved to be priest as well as king; and even presumed to offer incense in the temple, though strenuously resisted by the High-priest. God struck him for his pre sumption with leprosy; a disease which cleaved to him for six years, when he died. (B.c. 754.) His son Jotham succeeded, who reigned well for 16 years, and had been regent during the leprosy of his father. His reign was prosperous, but is passed over very slightly by the sacred historians. ZACHARIAH, SHALLUM, MENAHEM, and PEKAIAH, Kings of ISRAEL. From B.C. 778 to 754. Jeroboam's successor. Zachariah succeeded, after a struggle of eight years, in gaining the throne of Israel; but his reign was both short and evil. What became of Zachariah, Six months after his accession he was murdered by Shallum; and thus ended the dynasty of Jehu in the 4th generation. (2 Kings xv. 10.) successor. Zachariah's Shallum was the next to usurp the throne of Israel. He reigned one month, and was in turn assassinated by Men'ahem, a general in his own army. |