George. And what became of Jehoash, the king of Israel? Was he killed by his servants too, for that seemed to be a common thing among these kings?

Grandfather. He died, and was succeeded by his son. He was called Jeroboam the Second. Like the first Jeroboam he was an idolater, yet it pleased the Lord to crown his arms with success. The God of Israel had looked in pity on His suffering people: He saw their affliction that it was very bitter. They were so much oppressed by the Syrians that they had nothing which they could call their own. They dared not go into the open country, and even in walled towns they were unsafe. So God delivered them out of the hand of their enemies by their king Jeroboam. He effectually subdued the Syrians, and took from that people all the cities which they had taken from the Israelites. We may learn from this that often when our distress is deepest, we are most sensible of the helpful hand of the Lord.

George. Was there any war going on in the kingdom of Judah at this time?

Grandfather. Uzziah or Azariah, who succeeded his father Amaziah, was a very active prince. He fought against the Philistines, broke down the walls of their chief cities, and built cities in their country for himself. Against the Arabians also he fought successfully. The Ammonites sought his favour by bringing him gifts, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he was a very powerful king. No particulars are given of any of his wars,

but the reason of his success is told: "As long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. This teaches us that if we would win the favour of men, we must begin by seeking the favour of God. It would have been interesting to have known more of the reign of Uzziah. He kept his soldiers in good order-well disciplined and well armed. He built towers of defence in Jerusalem, and towers also he built in the wilderness to defend his herdsmen and vine-dressers from their enemies; he increased the number of his cattle, and employed many husbandmen, for he took much interest in the labours of the field. Mention is made in his reign of the making of engines to throw darts and stones from a besieged city upon its besiegers, and this is the first mention we have of such machines.

George. Did Uzziah invent them himself? He had had been a very clever man.

Grandfather. The Bible does not tell us that the king invented them, but that he made in Jerusalem engines invented by cunning men. But on account of them his fame spread far; so perhaps we may impute the honour of the invention to Uzziah himself.

Marianne. Uzziah had been a very good king, I

think.

Grandfather. He was so in the first part of his reign, but when he grew famous he became proud, and transgressed against the Lord. He wished to burn incense in the temple, which is permitted to no one but the priests. They forbade him to do it, and while he was

quarrelling with them, he was smitten with leprosy. He continued a leper till the day of his death, confined to his house, and seen only by the priests. His subjects were fortunate in his son and successor, Jotham by name. He followed the example of his father so far as it was good: he avoided the evil that his father had done. He improved the state of the kingdom, and extended his power abroad. He fought against the children of Ammon, prevailed, and subjected them to tribute. They paid him yearly a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand measures of wheat, and the same of barley. In a very different state was the kingdom of Israel at this time; its brightest days had come to an end. The family of Jehu had many faults, yet they were the best kings that Israel had the country was far from prosperous in their time, yet it was in the highest state of prosperity to which it ever attained. The Lord had promised to Jehu that his sons should sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it was. Zechariah, the fourth from Jehu, ascended the throne of Israel in the thirty-first year of Uzziah. For six months only he reigned, and he was the last of his race. A conspiracy was formed against him by Shallum, who publicly murdered him, and reigned in his stead. One full month the usurper reigned, when he was in his turn slain by Menahem, the general of the army. He laid waste the country round, marched to Tiphsah; the citizens shut their gates, he took

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the city by storm, and barbarously slew all the people -men, women, and children.

Marianne. What a dreadfully cruel man he must have been; the Israelites were very ill off for a king.

Grandfather. While these things were going on within it, the kingdom of Israel made a poor figure to the neighbouring nations. Pul, the king of Assyria, thought this a good opportunity to invade it. He went thither accordingly. Menahem durst not venture to meet him in the field. Cruelty is not seldom united with cowardice; he was glad to buy peace. One thousand talents of silver was the sum he paid. He raised the money by laying a tax on the rich-fifty shekels of silver each. Here he shewed some consideration in sparing the poor, and taxing those only who were able to afford it.

George. How much would it be that they each paid in our money

?

Grandfather. About six or seven pounds each; four hundred thousand pounds in all. The Assyrians left on receiving this valuable present; but getting so much wealth with so little trouble, tempted them to return soon; so he who should have protected his country betrayed it. In the fiftieth year of Uzziah, Pekahiah succeeded his father Menahem. Two years only was he suffered to enjoy the throne. Pekah, one of his captains, with fifty men of the Gileadites, conspired against him, and slew him in his palace. Pekah then

wore the crown. There was much war in his reign. Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, went into the land of Israel, and committed great havock there. He took possession of all the land of Gilead, which lay east of the Jordan, inhabited by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half of Manasseh. He also subdued the land of Galilee, which is the north part of Canaan, inhabited by Naphtali and Zebulon. The cowardly people seem to have made no resistance, but suffered him to take their cities, and to carry themselves captive into Assyria.

George. Why did they not try to prevent him? Grandfather. Because their defence was departed from them-the Lord was not on their side. So vast a

multitude of people did he carry into captivity, that great part of that once flourishing country was waste, and without inhabitant. Instead of revenging these attacks, Pekah carried his arms into the land of Judah. Marianne. He might have saved himself that trouble; surely so bad a king would be unsuccessful there?

Grandfather. Bad as he was, he was victorious there. In one day he slew a hundred and twenty thousand valiant men of Judah.

Marianne. Was the wise king Jotham not reigning? Grandfather. No. He was dead, and his son Ahaz, a wicked and idolatrous prince, was on the throne. Judah had forsaken her God, therefore she was spoiled. Besides the number that fell by the sword, the army of Israel took captive two hundred thousand women and