Prophets. In Judah-ISAIAH, MICAH. COTEMPORARY EVENTS. 753. Rome founded by Romulus. 752. Royalty abolished at Athens. 743. The first Messenian war 741. In Egypt the 25th dynasty began, the first of whom was Sabacon or Sua, called in scripture So. Archilocus, the Greek poet, lived in this period. AHAZ OF JUDAH, AND PEKAH OF ISRAEL. 2 KINGS XV., XVI. 2 CHRON. XXVII., XXVIII. ISAIAH VII.-IX. Who succeeded Ahaz succeeded Jotham his Jotham. father; and a darker cloud came over the land. (B.C. 738.) Character of Ahaz. He was an idolater, worse than any of the kings of Judah; and even sacrificed his children by fire to the idol Moloch. How he was punished. lowed. God punished him by sending Pe'kah, king of Israel, and Re'zin, king of Syria, to invade his kingdom. What fol These two kings committed great depredations; burnt several cities; took many captives; and left Jerusalem "as a cottage in a vineyard, as a shed in a garden of cucumbers." Bought for aid. Whence Ahaz Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for aid, and promised to pay him an annual tribute if he would assist him to repel the invaders. (B.c. 736.) terfered. How God in- God then commanded Isaiah the prophet to go and rebuke the king for seeking aid from the Assyrians; but at the same time assured him that the invaders should be turned back. Who was king Tiglath-pile'ser was at the time king of Assyria, a monarch of great military renown, and founder of the new empire. of Assyria. ceeded. How he pro- He at once accepted the conditions, and made a diversion in favour of the Jews by marching against Da mascus. succeeded. How this Re'zin, king of Damascus, was accordingly obliged to leave Judæa to defend his own kingdom; and, in the battle which ensued, was both conquered and slain. What became of Syria. From this time forth Syria became, by conquest, a part of the great Assyrian empire. (B.c. 736.) What became of Israel. When Tiglath-pile'ser had gained possession of Syria, he next directed his arms against Pe'kah, king of Israel. His success. He utterly subdued him, made Israel tributary, and took to Assyria as captives, all the people dwelling beyond Jordan. (B.C. 735.) of Pekah. What became As for Pekah, he was left in Israel as viceroy; but was soon afterwards assassinated by Hoshe'a, a de scendant of Baasha, the third king of Israel. of Pekah. Successor On the death of Pe'kah the utmost confusion reigned in Israel for eight or nine years, when Hoshe'a contrived to usurp the kingdom. (B.c. 727.) Tiglath-pileser, or Tiglath-pul-assur, is called Arbacés by the Greeks. During the reign of Sardinapa'lus he was governor of Media, but on the death of that effeminate monarch joined As syria to Media, and thus laid the foundation of the new Assyrian or (as it is sometimes called) Median empire. B.c. 748. Tiglath-pileser was succeeded by Shalmaneser, or rather Shalmanassur, in 724. CHAPTER IX. HOSHEA, THE LAST KING OF ISRAEL. Reigned 9 years, B.C. 727-717. 2 KINGS XVII. 1 CHRON. V, Who was Hoshea was the last of the kings of Israel. Having promised submission to the king of Assyria, he was A.C. 735-717.] allowed to retain the kingdom which he had usurped. (B.c. 727.) faithful. How long He remained faithful to Assyria for about six years, and then concerted a revolt with So, king of Egypt. (B.C. 721.) How he was punished. Shalmane'ser, king of Assyria, having intelligence thereof, marched at once into Israel; besieged Samaria, the capital; and in three years made it a heap of ruins. (B.c. 717.) How he treats Hoshea and most of his subthe people. jects were sent into captivity beyond the Euphratés, whence they never afterwards returned. (2 Kings xvii. 3—6.) Number of the Assyrian invasions. 50 years: The Assyrian kings invaded First in the reign of Men'ahem; when Pul, king of Assyria, invaded the country, and was bribed to retire by the payment of 1000 silver talents (£350,000.) (B.C. 767.) |
