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The second invasion was in the reign of Pe'kah; when Tiglath-pile'ser, the tiger of Assyria, overran country of Israel beyond Jordan; seized the land; and carried three of the tribes captive into Medea. (B.c. 736.)

The third was in the reign of Hoshe'a; when Shalmane'ser entered the kingdom, and destroyed Sama'ria, the capital. (B.c. 720 to 717.)

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER IX.

TOBIT THE EPHRAIMITE.
From the Apocrypha.

Amongst the Israelitish captives was one of great celebrity, called TOBIT, whose history is contained in what is termed the Apocrypha. He remained faithful to God amongst his faithless countrymen; and acquired the confidence of Shalmanéser, king of Israel, who made him his purveyor. When Sennach'erib succeeded, and his army was destroyed before Jerusalem, he was greatly enraged against the Jews, and took occasion at the kind offices of Tobit to his unhappy countrymen to accuse him of treason, and order

him to be put to death. Tobit saved his life by flight, and on the death of Sennach'erib was restored to his former post, but had the misfortune to lose his sight. Four years after this, when he thought he was about to die, he called his son, Tobi'as, to his bed-side, and after giving him most excellent advice, told him of a loan made to one Gab'ael, of Ragés, in Me'dia, several years previous, which he told him to go and demand back. Tobias asked his way to Ragés of a stranger on the road, who happened to be an angel, and became his companion. They walked on together as far as the river Tigris, when Tobi'as was terrified at the appearance of a monstrous fish, which he afterwards succeeded in catching. He roasted part and salted the rest, but the gall he carefully preserved at the suggestion of his angel-friend. At Ragés they both lodged in the house of one Ragu'el, who had an only daughter, named Sara, whom Tobias married. Gab'ael was one of the guests invited to the wedding, who expressed himself greatly pleased to see the son of his old friend, and cheerfully paid him back the loan. On his return home, he anointed his father's eyes with the gall of the fish, and restored his sight. Tobit lived, after this, 42 years, and died at the patriarchal age of 158. His son, who was the model of a perfect son, died at the age of 99.

This interesting narrative of domestic manners was probably composed in the time of Daniel, but it was not received into the early canons of scripture, and was not even known to Josephus and Philo. Jerome is the first to mention it, and he pronounces it decidedly apocryphal.

Section I.

THE SAMARITANS.

Why Israel was destroyed.

The kingdom of Israel was destroyed because: "they had sinned against the Lord their God which had brought them out of Egypt; and had walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before them."

Their special 66

sins.

They built them high places in all their cities, and set up images and groves in every high hill and under every green tree; and there they burnt incense as did the heathen, and served idols."

warned.

How Israel was God first tried to win them back by his prophets, but they "would not hear; and therefore the Lord was very angry, and removed them out of his sight.

What became of Esar-haddon, the grandson

the remnant.

of Shalmane'ser, about 44 years after

the destruction of Samaria, took away captive" the remnant that remained in Israel." (2 Chron. xxx. 6.)

Proof of the desolation.

So complete was the desolation, that the country was over-run with wild beasts, till Esar-haddon sent a colony of Cuthites to inhabit it.

What they

were called.

This colony first occupied Samaria and the parts adjacent, whence they took the name of Samaritans, by which they are called in the New Testament.

Their religion. They were heathens when they arrived in Israel, but being taught the Jewish religion by the men of Judah, received the five books of Moses as the basis of their faith.

Israel.

Duration of The kingdom of the ten tribes lasted altogether 250 years, dating from the revolt under Rehoboam to the destruction of Samaria by Shalmane'ser. (B.c. 971 to 717.)

Asahel Grant says the ten tribes were sent captive to what is now called Kurdistan, where

[A.M. 3283.

they still remain, and are called Nazarenes, or more frequently Nestorians, from Nestorius, a bishop of Constantinople, who converted them from idolatry, A.D. 431.

The modern ASSYRIAN EMPIRE should be carefully distinguished from the ancient, which ended with Sardanapalus, son of Pul, B.C. 748. After a short interregnum, two parts of the ancient kingdom, viz, Medea and Assyria proper, united to form what is called the new Assyria empire, so intimately connected with Jewish history. It had but one dynasty of five kings, all of whom were great warriors.

TIGLATH-PILESER (Tiglath-pul-assur,

Arbācés)

Judah.

Israel.

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Hoshéa.

Hezekiah.

Manasseh.

SHALMANESER (Shalman-assur Enemassar) Ahaz.
SENNACHERIB (San-her'ib)

ESAR-HADDON (Assur-haddon, Sargon)

NABUCHODONOSOR (Saosduchi'nus, Sar

dochœus)

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When Holofernés, the general of Saosduchi'nus, was slain by Judith, Nabopolassar, the Chaldean, father of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, invaded Nineveh with success, and annexed Assyria to his own kingdom, making Chaldéa the dominant power of the world.

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