CHAPTER XX

THE AGONY OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM--SHALLUM, MENAHEM, PEKAHIAH, PEKAH (B.C. 740-734) 217

Shallum, an usurping murderer--Rapid disappearance of kings--Distracted epoch--The prophet Zechariah and the three shepherds--Zechariah's prophecies--The cruel shepherd, Menahem--His savage deeds--Portentous appearance of the Assyrians in Israel--Menahem pays tribute--Tiglath-Pileser--Fulfilment of Hosea's prophecy--Pekahiah--His murder--Pekah--His alliance with Rezin against Judah--Ahaz appeals to Assyria--Defeat and death of Rezin--Fulfilment of prophecy of Amos--Beginning of the captivity of the Ten Tribes--Tiglath-Pileser's successors--Murder of Pekah by Hoshea--Horrible state of Israel as described by Isaiah.