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of Judah. That under Jeroboam, consisting of the other ten tribes, was called the kingdom of Israel. The capital of the former was Jerusalem; of the latter at first Tirzah, and afterwards Samaria, the principal city of the tribe of Ephraim; and therefore the kingdom is sometimes called the kingdom of Samaria, and sometimes the kingdom of Ephraim. Jeroboam, fearing that the people by going to sacrifice at Jerusalem might return to their allegiance, set up idolatrous gods at Dan and Bethel, and because the regular priests deserted him, he made the lowest of the people priests. In consequence of the wickedness and idolatry of the Israelites, God permitted Arbaces, king of Assyria, to carry away many of the Israelites into captivity.

And afterwards, upon their continuing to

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B.C.

740

Salmaneser destroyed the kingdom of Israel, 721 by taking Samaria, in the reign of Hoshea, 250 years after its establishment as a separate kingdom. The people that remained were carried away captive to Assyria, 44 years after, by his grandson; but " a remnant still remained in the land." He (Esarhaddon) sent

colonists, principally from Cuthæa, to Samaria; they took the name of Samaritans, but were frequently called Cuthæans. Their religion was a mixture of heathenism and Judaism. In process of time, many Israelites being incorporated among them, they grew better, built a temple upon Mount Gerizim, and appear to have abandoned idolatry.

The kingdom of Judah was not so soon disobedient; they had many good kings amongst them, but the people soon grew wicked, and at last, in consequence of their sinfulness, by permission of God, Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem, in the reign of Jehoiachim, who was put in chains; but on promising to be tributary to Nebuchadnezzar, he was permitted to retain his kingdom: the royal family were, however, sent captives to Babylon. From this time is to be dated the Babylonish Captivity, which Jeremiah prophesied would last 70 years. Three years after, Jehoiachim rebelled, Judea was invaded, and he was slain.

B.C.

606

Jehoiachim succeeded, commonly called 599 Jeconias, and Nebuchadnezzar came to the siege of Jerusalem.

Jeconias and family were sent captives to

598

B.C.

Babylon, where he continued 37 years in prison. Mattaniah, his uncle, was made king by Nebuchadnezzar, and his name was changed to Zedekiah. Nine years afterwards he revolted, and Jerusalem was again besieged and taken, after eighteen months siege, in which 588 the inhabitants suffered severely, from famine and pestilence. Zedekiah was taken, his eyes were put out, and he was sent captive to Babylon. Two prophecies, apparently contradictory, were thus fulfilled: one, he should be carried to Babylon *;" the other, that he (Zedekiah) should not see Babylon †.

66

The whole city, with its temple, was reduced to ruins, and the people sent captives to Ba- 588 bylon. Only a few remained, over whom Gedaliah was set, who treated them kindly, but was slain by Ismael, at a feast; upon this the people fled in fear to Egypt, where they remained till that country was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, four years after; a few then returned to Judea, and as no colonists were sent, the land lay desolate for the allotted time. After that

Jer. xxxii. 5. xxxiv. 3.

+ Ezek. xii. 13.

D

Cyrus issued a decree, permitting all Jews to return to their own land, and rebuild their temple. This decree of the king of Persia and Babylon was foretold 100 years before*. 42,360 persons returned, and 7,337 servants, under Zerubbabel and Joshua: the former is sometimes understood under the appellation of Shashbazzar, in Scripture; he was grandson of Jeconias, and consequently descended from David: he was called the "Prince of Judah," was appointed their governor by Cyrus, and took back part of the treasures, which had been carried away by Nebuchadnezzar. The remaining treasures were afterwards carried back by Ezra.

B. C.

536

The Temple was begun to be rebuilt, in the 535 second year after their return, under Zerubbabel. The Jews refused the assistance of the Samaritans, who therefore threw obstructions in their way, and hence originated the enmity that ever after subsisted between them.

The Temple was finished in the seventh year 515 of Darius. The second temple was built upon the old foundations of the first, and therefore was equal to it in size, though not in magni

Isai. xliv. 28. xlv. 1.

ficence. The Ark of the Covenant, the Shechinah; the Holy Fire upon the altar; the Urim and Thummim *; and the Spirit of Prophecy, were all wanting to this temple of the remnant of the people.

Offerings were made for the twelve tribes, and therefore it is probable that some of all the tribes returned; but by far the greater number belonged to the tribe of Judah, and therefore from this period the Israelites were called Judæi, or Jews, and their country Judæa.

B. C.

Ezra was made governor of the Jews by Ar- 467 taxerxes Longimanus, called in Scripture Ahasuerus, and he held the office 13 years.

Nehemiah was then appointed (probably 445 through means of Esther,) and Ezra applied himself to correcting the canon of the Scriptures, and providing for the worship of God in its own original purity.

All affairs were settled properly; the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, &c. by Ezra and Nehemiah. But we find Malachi soon afterwards reproving the priests and people for their scandalous lives. At this period

For which see Part V.

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