Stories of the Prophets (Before the Exile)

nd t

us has

s has f

had started with this precious news on the day of victory, covered more than o

lew over fertile plains and through busy cities,

us has

k up the wonderful news from the front and carried it on, until

of Israel; how attack followed attack upon the fortified Syrian capital; how the first breach was made in the oute

there in Samaria that l

inst King Solomon's weak son, Rehoboam, and established the independent kingdom of

ion in our mind's eye; we c

ar now laughed happily through their tea

walls of the doomed city, now sang songs of joy in the mi

given their lives for their country, but no

menced by Ben-hadad I, of Syria, against Israel, long before Jeroboam's g

yrian oppression, and, perhaps, a period of peace t

re were feasts of rejoici

allen! Long liv

en! Long life to t

Samaria swarmed with p

g men and women who h

Jezreel on the north

he south, to help cele

e sanctuaries of Israel-in Bethel

thank-offerings, and, tog

light and m

hall I

strength

hall I be

defeated. He was showing favor to the Northern Kingdom, and was pleased with I

I, defeated Amaziah, king of Judah, took him captive, partially de

fine sarcasm with which Joash treated

anon, saying, 'Give thy daughter to my son to wife,' and there pas

that compared Israel to a cedar in its strength and to a wild beast in i

h humbled Judah, Israel's enemy on the south; Je

boam pushed right ahead and captured Lodebar and Karna

made with Assur-dan. It was agreed between the two that the Assyrian

am undertook to capture these two cities and turn th

us march further north, and never stopped until he had laid low

he Kingdom of Israel to the proportions of the empire of David and Solomon,

to Samaria. More people had come to the city to join in the welcoming demonstration than h

hite and led by the high priest, Amaziah, himself, awaited Jeroboam and his generals just outside of the city and preceded them

s met by hundreds of maidens and children, clothed in linen and gold, w

een built a great triumphal arch of ivory and gold, beyo

e king faced the people the singing and the shouting ceased. With due ceremony, and according to the rites, the king brought a thanks-offer

heaven, and the multitude of people, like

raised his right hand, and, from the

the house

ling toward the shore came the respo

use of Isr

joicing. When, by command of the king, the celebration came to an end and the people began to return to their

the house

se of Isra