A.C. 778-754.] How long he reigned. Menahem reigned 10 years, and treated with brutal cruelty all those who refused to acknowledge his authority. (B.c. 767.) To whom he applied. He applied to Pul, king of Nineveh, for support; and consented to pay him an annual tribute. Pul assisted him. Pul consented to this arrangement; and thus began the connection between Assyria and Israel, which brought about the ruin of the latter kingdom. (B.C. 767.) successor. Menahem's Pekaiah succeeded his father Men'ahem in Israel, and having reigned two years, was murdered by Pekah, one of his own generals. (B.c. 754.) Section I. AMOS THE PROPHET, From 810 B.C. to 785. Who was Amos, one of the 12 minor prophets, was a herdsman of Teko'ah, in Judah, called by the Lord from the plough to "go and prophesy to the people of Israel." How he was received. He met with the greatest opposition, and died (it is thought) of illusage; beaten about the head till all his teeth were knocked out. How he offended. He offended especially by his severe invectives against the idolatry, avarice, oppressions, and effeminacy of the people of Israel. Subject of his prophecies. His prophecies refer chiefly to the invasions of the kings of Assyria and Babylon; the captivity of the 10 tribes, and their future restoration. The style of Amos. There is nothing sublime in the style of Amos; his illustrations are taken for the most part from rustic life; but his diction is pure and beautiful. When he He was both called to the prophetic office and died while Uzzi'ah was king of Judah (about B.c. 810 to 785.) lived. Hosea and Isaiah began to prophesy in the reign of Uzziah, but died in the reign of Hezekiah. 1.-SUPPLEMENT FOR SENIOR PUPILS. NINEVEH. Nineveh. NINEVEH, the capital of Assyria, stood on the banks of the Tigris. It was founded by Ashur, son of Shem, about the same time that Nimrod founded Babylon. (B.C. 2680.) Assyria was so called from Ashur, who founded the empire. Its extent. It soon became the most extensive, as well as the most potent and famous city in the world. Its circuit was three days' journey or 60 miles. How walled. It was fortified by a wall 50 feet high, and sufficiently thick for three chariots to drive abreast upon its coping. In this wall were 1500 towers, each 200 feet high. Its early Nothing is known of the early history history. of this kingdom, and even tradition is almost silent respecting it till the reign of Belus or Bel. (B.c. 1993.) Who Belus was. This Belus was king of Babylon, who drove the Arabs out of Assyria and united the two kingdoms into one, under the name of the Assyrian Empire. How he improved it. He greatly enriched the empire with temples and other public buildings, so that after death he was deified under the name of Bel or Baal. His successor. He was succeeded by Ninus, his son, who greatly enlarged and beautified the capital, which was probably then first called Nineveh, in his honour. What else He also conquered all Armenia and Medea, which he added to his empire. Ninus reigned 52 years, and was succeeded by Semiramis, his widow. Her merits. Semir'amis extended the empire still further, greatly adorned the capital, and made it one of the most superb cities in the world. (1916-1874.) Her successor. This noble queen was succeeded by her son Nin'yas, a degenerate youth, from whom began the downfal of the empire. when Jonah was sent to Nineveh. King of Assyria It is generally thought that Pul, the father of Sardanapa'lus, was king of Assyria when Jonah was sent to Nineveh by God. (2 Kings xv. 19.) inhabitants at the time. Number of It contained at the time about 600,000 inhabitants, of which 120,000 were infants, who "knew not their right hand from their left." (B.O. 771.) Its condition. The inhabitants were so luxurious, so grossly depraved, and sunk into such base idolatry, that God resolved to punish them unless they repented. A.C. 822.] Religion of the Their religion was the worship of the sun, moon, and stars. Human victims were sacrificed, and many of their religious rites were most disgustingly obscene. Section II. JONAH. Flourished B.C. 771. Jonah. Jonah, one of the 12 minor prophets, was a Galilean; but nothing is known of him except what relates to his mission to Nineveh. His mission. He was ordered by God to go to Nineveh, and announce its utter destruction, in consequence of its greatwickedness. (B.C. 771.) How he obeyed. He was very unwilling to obey, and tried to avoid doing so by embarking in a vessel bound for Tarshish, in Spain. What happened. A severe storm, however, arose which the sailors felt persuaded |
