Chapter 4
#53.# The only other case to which attention is called here that of the longest of all the periods of oppression,--the second under the Philistines, which lasted forty years. Here it was Samson who was to deliver the people from the iron hand of the Philistines, and it took the iron hand of a Samson to do the work.
#54. Not a Time of National Unity.#--During all these many years, the government of the people was largely that of the tribal leaders. There was not the national unity that we saw in the days of their two great leaders, Moses and Joshua. Nor was there the same unity of action that came later on under the kings. But none the less, the great need of the people during these years was not so much political as religious. Had they only obeyed the commands of God as given to Moses, and as reiterated by the angel of the Lord to Joshua, God would not have permitted them to be ground under the heel of their oppressors as they were. We fail to read the story aright unless we seize the truth that righteousness exalts a people, while sin is a reproach to any nation. This truth has its modern as well as its ancient application.
Test Questions
Where was Israel at the time of the death of Moses?
Whom did God appoint to be Moses' successor?
What peculiarity was there in God's directions to Joshua?
In what order were the different parts of the land conquered?
Tell of the great assembly at Shechem.
What was the general trend of the history of Israel during the times of the Judges?
What was the cause of each period of "oppression"?
What was the cause of each "deliverance"?
Give the proportion of the years of "oppression" and those of "rest."
Give the first two leaders named as deliverers.
Who brought relief from the oppression of Midian?
Who delivered the people from the first Philistine bondage?
Who did the same thing in the case of the second Philistine bondage?
What was the condition of the people politically during the period of the rule of the Judges?
Lesson 7
Saul to Solomon
Old Testament Division--Fourth Period
LEADING PERSONS
#Samuel.#--The connecting link between the times of the Judges and of the kings (1 Sam. 1-8).
#Saul.#--First king, who made a good beginning (1 Sam. 10:1-27). He united the people, breaking down factions. Spurned Samuel's advice (1 Sam. 15:1-35). He became jealous of David, and angered at his own son, Jonathan (1 Sam. 18:8 to 19:11). Rejected by God as king (1 Sam. 15). Killed in battle at Gilboa (1 Sam. 31:1-13).
#David.#--A shepherd boy, noted for bravery (1 Sam. 16-31). Chosen king and ruled over Judah seven years (2 Sam. 2). Then became king over all Israel, and greatly enlarged the nation's borders. Made Jerusalem the capital (2 Sam. 5:6-9). A great religious leader and composer of Psalms. Sinned against Uriah (2 Sam. 11:1 to 12:14). His son Absalom rebelled (2 Sam. 15 to 18).
#Solomon.#--Son of David. Began his reign with a wise choice (1 Kings 3). Built the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 5). Sinned in his marriages (1 Kings 11). He was noted for his great wisdom and riches. He lived in luxury, the people were heavily taxed, and the outward prosperity was accompanied by inward spiritual decay. See Samuel's warning in 1 Samuel 8:1-18.
#Other Persons.#--Goliath, the Philistine giant, whom David slew.--Jonathan, Saul's son, a great friend of David.
#PLACES.#--Mizpeh, Socoh, Gilboa, Jerusalem.
#TIME.#--1121 B. C. to 983 B. C.
#SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS.#--David's reign as king brought the people to the place of their greatest national success, and David's reign and that of Solomon were politically the best in all Israel's history. David was signally honored in becoming an ancestor of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The United Kingdom. Saul, David, Solomon
#55. Israel Asks for a King.#--Ostensibly because Samuel's sons were worthless men, but also and largely because they wished to be "like the nations around them," Israel asked the prophet Samuel to appoint a king over them. This Samuel was reluctant to do. But commanded by God to acquiesce, he anointed Saul, the son of Kish, to be king over Israel. That God did not consider the change from government by judges to government by kings to be an improvement, is apparent from his saying, "they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them" (1 Sam. 8:7).
#56. The First King, Saul.#--Saul found the nation somewhat disorganized, and split into many factions. His task was to unite the people, so that they could show a bold and successful front against their foes. Prominent among these foes were the Philistines, who lived on the southwest of Israel, and who were a courageous and persistent folk. In all this work Saul was somewhat successful. He began well, but before very long, owing to self-will, he swerved aside from the advice of the aged Samuel. During his reign the great war with the Philistines took place in which Goliath and David figured so dramatically (1 Sam. 17).
#57.# Saul's evil disposition grew worse and worse, showing itself in his twice-repeated effort to kill David and his one effort to kill his own son Jonathan for his friendship for David (see 1 Sam. 18:10, 11; 19:10; 20:32, 33). On account of his distinct disobedience to God's command, and his hypocrisy, God rejected him from being king (1 Sam. 15). Still Saul continued to rule for some years. Then came the end when, in battle with his old foes, the Philistines, Saul and his sons fell, near Mount Gilboa (1 Sam. 31). He ruled about forty years, and was a sad instance of a man who began well, who had a superb counselor in Samuel, but who, through self-will and disobedience, perished at last most miserably.
#58. David Becomes King.#--After the death of Saul, Judah turned to David as its rightful leader and king. He was therefore anointed at Hebron as king of Judah. Seven years later the remainder of the tribes came to him and asked him to rule over them. This he did, and in this way he was king over _all_ Israel for thirty-three years. His remarkable character and executive ability soon showed itself. His reign was most successful, and he enlarged the bounds of the kingdom to their utmost extent. It extended from the Red Sea and Egypt to the Euphrates, as promised by God (Gen. 15:18 and Josh. 1:4). He captured Jerusalem and made it the political and the religious capital of the nation (2 Sam. 5:6-9). Thither he brought up the Ark of the Covenant, and here he established the worship of Jehovah. He organized the whole of the ritual of worship, and formed choirs of singers to make a glad noise unto the Lord. Everywhere he brought order out of chaos, and made the name of Israel one to be feared by the surrounding nations. Thus to the Israelite both of his day and of subsequent centuries he became their ideal king.
#59.# His later life was saddened by his own sin in the matter of Uriah and Bathsheba, where he erred most grievously. In recalling this sin, and in condemning the king for it, we must also bear in mind his true repentance, and also recognize that in his time there was no king who would have thought it worth while to give a second thought to the whole matter (see 2 Sam. 11:1-12:14).
#60. The Rebellion of Absalom.#--The end of David's life was further embittered by the rebellion of his favorite son, Absalom. This nearly brought David to a violent death. Only the indomitable spirit that the king possessed, together with the ability of his chief general Joab, saved the day (2 Sam. 15-18). David was Israel's sweet singer. He composed many Psalms, which have come down to us as specimens of his poetic ability. (The writer is, of course, aware that some modern critics deny that any of the Psalms are by David, but he has never seen any conclusive proof of this.)
#61.# In general, until his later years, when too much prosperity had dulled his spiritual life, David's character was singularly pure and unselfish. His dealings with Saul while the latter was seeking his life show a most chivalrous spirit, in that twice he spared his enemy's life when he had him in his power (1 Sam. 24:1-22; 26:1-25). In his friendship for Jonathan he shows an affection which, reciprocated by Jonathan, constitutes one of the classic friendships of history. Taken all in all, and remembering the times in which he lived, David was perhaps the finest king that the world ever saw.
#62. Solomon.#--On David's death his son Solomon ascended the throne. Bathsheba was his mother. He began his reign well. When God gave him his choice between riches and wisdom, he chose the latter (1 Kings 3:5-15). He it was who carried out David's plan for a "magnifical" temple in Jerusalem, where he built the most splendid temple that the world had so far seen. His prayer at the dedication of the temple is a most remarkable one (1 Kings 8). His fame spread through the world, and on one occasion the Queen of Sheba, in Arabia, journeyed over one thousand miles to make him a visit. Her astonishment at what she saw and heard in Jerusalem is told in 1 Kings 10. In amazement she cries out, "Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me; thy wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard."
#63.# But alas! Solomon did not continue as well as he began. To enhance his glory and extend his political power, he made alliances with idolatrous sovereigns. He married the daughter of Pharaoh, and besides this had multitudes of wives, who led his heart astray (1 Kings 11:1-8). God's warning, given in the same chapter, seems to have been disregarded.
#64. Samuel's Warnings come True.#--In Solomon all the warnings of Samuel as to what would come on the nation if they persisted in their choice of a king were fulfilled (1 Sam. 8:1-18). He also disregarded what God had said through the mouth of Moses, as recorded in Deuteronomy 17:14-20. He multiplied taxes to such a degree that the people were not able to bear them. His court life was most luxurious and enervating, and the demands of his wives for all manner of indulgences were continuous. In this way, though there was much outward prosperity, the seeds of decay were sown with prodigal hands. Of course the end of such a policy could be only disaster, though the king in his mad search after power and luxury failed to see the approaching storm. However wise he may have been, as shown in his proverbs, he lacked that practical wisdom which begins in the fear of God. He went steadily down hill, and only his fame, and his reputation as being the son of David, saved him from overthrow. But immediately on his death the consequences of his misrule showed themselves in a most pronounced way, in the disruption of the kingdom. Like Saul and David, he also ruled over Israel for forty years.
Test Questions
What ostensible reason did the Israelites give for asking for a king?
What other and truer reason did they urge?
What had God to say about this request of the people?
What good did Saul accomplish?
Why was Saul rejected by God from being king?
How did Saul come to his end?
Over what tribe did David rule alone for seven years?
Give the boundaries of David's kingdom at its largest.
What did David do for the establishment of religion, and in what city?
Into what bitter sin did David fall?
What great sorrow came to David toward the close of his life?
In general, what may we say of David's religious life at the beginning and the close of his career?
How did Solomon begin his reign?
What noted building did he erect in Jerusalem?
In what way did Solomon sin in his alliances with other kings?
Where had God given directions as to what course of action any king of his people should pursue?
Lesson 8
Rehoboam to Hoshea
Old Testament Division--Fourth Period (Continued)
LEADING PERSONS
#Rehoboam.#--Ascended the throne on death of Solomon, his father. Rejected wise counsel and angered his subjects (1 Kings 12:1-20).
Israel, the Northern Kingdom.
#Jeroboam I.#--Set up as king by the ten tribes in revolt (Israel, or the Northern Kingdom), erected two golden calves for worship (1 Kings 12:25-33).
#Ahab.#--Followed Omri as ruler of Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 16:28). Married Jezebel, who established a heathen worship (1 Kings 16:31).
#Elijah and Elisha.#--Prophets of God, sent to stay the wickedness of the Northern Kingdom. Elijah enters remarkable contest with Ahab (1 Kings 17:1 to 18:46. See also 1 Kings 21). For elaboration of this story see Lesson 10.
#Jehu.#--Ruler of the nation; tried to abolish Baal worship (2 Kings 9, 10). His reforms partially successful. His son Jehoahaz continued in gross idolatry (2 Kings 13:2-9).
#Jeroboam II.#--Ruler of the Northern Kingdom. His reign marked by great outward prosperity, but continued inward decay (2 Kings 14:24). The time of the prophecy of Amos (read the whole book) and of Hosea.
#Hoshea.#--Last of the kings. Samaria captured by the King of Assyria, and Israel taken captive. Read 2 Kings 17:1-41.
#Shalmaneser.#--The Assyrian king.
#TIME.#--982 B. C. to 718 B. C.
#PLACES.#--Shechem, Bethel, Dan, Mt. Carmel, Jezreel, Horeb, Samaria, Cherith, Zarephath.
#SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS.#--God's unceasing efforts to save his people from their sins are marked by the sending of prophets, like Elijah and Elisha, at a time when wicked kings had led the people into abominable idolatry.
The Divided Kingdom. Israel, or the Northern Kingdom
#65. Rehoboam Becomes King.#--After the death of Solomon his son Rehoboam ascended the throne. At once there came to him a delegation headed by Jeroboam, asking for relief from the intolerable taxation that Solomon had levied. Rehoboam, guided by the foolish counsel of his hot-headed young men, replied roughly, saying, "my little finger is thicker than my father's loins" (1 Kings 12:1-20). At once the men of Israel revolted, and set up Jeroboam to be their king. From that time on, to the end, the kingdom was divided, and many times the one part was antagonistic to the other.
#66. The Northern Kingdom.#--Jeroboam as its first king, fearing that if the religion of the two peoples remained substantially the same, and if his people went regularly to Jerusalem, the capital of the Southern Kingdom, to worship, they would be alienated from him, devised a system of calf worship, and set up two golden calves, the one at Bethel, just over the border of Judah, and the other at Dan, in the extreme north of his domain. To these two centers of worship he invited his people to resort, in order to keep them from assembling with the men of Judah in Jerusalem. "It is too much for you," he said, "to go so far as to Jerusalem; behold your gods right in your midst" (1 Kings 12:25-33). All this he did in utter defiance of God's command, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image," and in spite of the bitter experience of Israel in the wilderness in the matter of the golden calf that Aaron made.
#67.# This action on the part of Jeroboam "set the pace" for the Northern Kingdom, and from that day to the end of their history the land was full of gross idolatry. Not that all the men of the Northern Kingdom refused to follow Jehovah, for this was not the case, but the rulers were leaders in one form or another of idolatry.
#68. Ahab and Jezebel.#--In 925 B. C. Ahab ascended the throne of the Northern Kingdom. He married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, a most masterful and wicked woman. She led her husband to establish the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth, nature divinities, whose worship was connected with most abhorrent practises. Not only so, but between them they did their best to root out all those who persisted in the worship of the God of Abraham. They persecuted the sons of the prophets, and put them to the sword. It was now no longer safe to try, even in secret, to worship the God of truth.
#69. Elijah and Elisha.#--It was just at this time that God in his mercy sent two very great prophets to Israel to try to win them back to their allegiance to the God of Moses and the Patriarchs. This, the student will remember, was one of those periods which was mentioned in the introduction, in which the narrative is amplified and the miracle multiplied, as betokening that the period was of great importance. Elijah and his successor, Elisha, did their best to stay the downward tendency of their people, but quite largely in vain. For a while it seemed as though there was to be some real reformation. But it did not last long, and soon the people, led astray by their rulers, lapsed into idolatry once more.
#70. Jehu.#--The one bright spot in all this sad story of the decline of the Northern Kingdom is found in the story of Jehu, 891 B. C. (2 Kings 9, 10.) He dealt drastically with the worshipers of Baal, and tried his best to put a final stop to all Baal worship. He ruled about twenty-eight years. His son Jehoahaz continued the sin of calf worship, and led his people once more into the downward path.
#71.# Under #Jeroboam the Second# the Northern Kingdom attained much outward prosperity, but its spiritual life did not improve at all. Men became greedy of gain, and worldliness and sin of gross description gained the upper hand. It was possibly during this reign that God sent the prophet Amos to bear witness against the sins of the rulers and people. At this point read the prophecy of Amos, and try to realize how earnestly he pleaded with the men of Israel to return to the worship of the God of their fathers. But it was all in vain. Israel was joined to his idols.
#72. Hosea#, too, comes at about this same time, and he did his best to win Israel back from their apostasy. He has well been called the "pleading prophet," for his tenderness is most touching. Yet all in vain were his pleas. Israel would have none of them.
#73. Hoshea, Last of the Kings.#--At last the Divine patience seems to have been exhausted, and God gave the Northern Kingdom over into the hands of its enemies, and they were marched off into captivity. Hoshea is the last of the kings of Israel, and during his rule the King of Assyria captured Samaria, and led the people off into a strange land. Here let the student carefully read 2 Kings 17:1-41 to see the resume that the sacred writer gives of the reasons for the final catastrophe that befell Israel. It was on account of their sins that they were suffered to experience these dire disasters.
#74.# In the place of the deported people, the Assyrians, in accordance with the customs of those days, placed peoples from alien lands in their stead. In this manner the population of Samaria became much mixed, and the false worship of these idolatrous peoples became the religion of the land of the Patriarchs in its northern portion. This will account for the hostility between Jew and Samaritan which we find in the days of Nehemiah, and even as late as the times of our Lord.
Test Questions
What led to the disruption of the United Kingdom?
Who was chosen king over Israel, or the Northern Kingdom?
Of what was Jeroboam afraid at this time?
What did he do to hold his people from possible allegiance with Judah?
Where were the golden calves set up?
Whom did Ahab marry?
What innovation in matters religious did Jezebel introduce?
How did she treat those who desired to worship Jehovah?
What two great prophets did God send to Israel at this time?
Was the mission of Elijah and his successor permanently effective?
How did the kingdom fare under Jeroboam II?
Was religion any better off for this prosperity?
Name two prophets whom God sent at this time to try to win his people back to himself.
Were these two prophets successful?
Under what king was Israel at last carried into captivity?
Who were placed in the land of Israel to take the place of the deported captives?
What was the result of this mingling of races and religions?
Lesson 9
Abijam to Zedekiah
Old Testament Division--Fourth Period (Continued)
LEADING PERSONS
#Abijam.#--Son of Rehoboam. Reigned three years (1 Kings 15:1-8).
#Asa.#--Son of Abijam. Reigned forty-one years (1 Kings 15:9-24). Made some effort as a reformer.
#Jehoshaphat.#--Son of Asa. Brought Judah great success (2 Chron. 17:1 to 20:37).
#Jehoram.#--Did evil like unto Ahab (2 Chron. 21:6). Ahaziah followed (2 Chron. 22:4) and was succeeded by Queen Athaliah, worse than her predecessors (2 Chron. 22:10 to 23:15).
#Joash# was a very good ruler; he began his reign at seven years of age. Repaired the Temple (2 Chron. 24:1-27).
#Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham.#--Not remarkable in any way (2 Chron. 25:1 to 27:9).
#Ahaz.#--An evil king; caused his children to pass through the fire to idols (2 Chron. 28:3).
#Hezekiah# was the best king so far (2 Chron. 29:1 to 32:33). Isaiah was influential and the Passover was restored.
#Manasseh# was the worst king in many ways, putting an idol in the Holy of Holies (2 Chron. 33:1-20; 2 Kings 21:1-18).
#Josiah# was a good ruler, beginning at eight years of age. The Temple was repaired, the Law was read, and reform was established (2 Kings 22:1 to 23:30).
#Zedekiah.#--After Josiah's reign matters grew worse until under Zedekiah captivity came (2 Kings 25:1-21).
#Outside Nations# that played their part in this catastrophe were Assyria, Babylon, Syria, Egypt.
#TIME.#--966 B. C. to 588 B. C.
#PLACES.#--Judah, Jerusalem, Babylonia.
#SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS.#--The influence of leadership is shown in a marked degree in the history of Judah; "like king, like people." It was many times demonstrated that one good man could turn the whole nation God-ward. At last, as in the case of Israel, Judah is given into captivity.
The Divided Kingdom. Judah, the Southern Kingdom
#75. The Kingdom of Judah# lasted one hundred and thirty years longer than that of Israel. This was largely owing to the greater loyalty of Judah to the law of God. Nevertheless even under the rule of Rehoboam, their first king, Judah showed an evil tendency to depart from the law of God (1 Kings 14:21-24). There is no record, however, that Rehoboam officially tried to influence the people toward idolatry, as did Jeroboam. Probably the very fact that the temple was in the capital of Judah held him and the people, in some measure at least, to the right manner of worship. Abijam, Rehoboam's son, followed in the footsteps of his father. But his son, Asa, was a much better man, and he made efforts at reform. Though he was not sufficiently radical in his work, he was a great improvement on his predecessors.
#76.# Under #Jehoshaphat# Judah reached the height of her power. "He walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baalim" (2 Chron. 17 to 20:37. Also 1 Kings 22:41-50).
#77.# Once more, under #Joash#, Judah enjoyed a sovereign who had in him much of godliness. He repaired the temple and did much to restore the true worship of God.
#78.# After a period of varying vicissitudes we find Ahaz on the throne of Judah. He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and caused his son to pass through the fire, i. e., he sacrificed him to heathen idols. He introduced calf worship, and set up "high places," for false worship on every hill and under every green tree (2 Kings 16:1-4). Had it not been that his son Hezekiah was more godly than he, the doom of Judah might have been much hastened. During his reign Israel was carried captive.