they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the

recorder.

Esther i, 13, 14. Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment: And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom?

Nehem. ix, 4. Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Shereblah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

NOBILITY AND GOVERNORS.

Judges v, 9, 13. My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly

Neh. vi, 17, 18. Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah: and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

LOYALTY.

1 Sam. xxiv, 4-7, 9, 12, 13. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. And it came to pass alterward, that Esther ix, 3. And all the rulers David's heart smote him, because of the provinces, and the lieuten-e had cut off Saul's skirt. And ants, and the deputies, and officers he said unto his men, The LORD of the king, helped the Jews; beforbid that I should do this thing unto cause the fear of Mordecai fell my master, the LORD'S upon them. anointed, to stretch orth mine anointed of the LORD. So David hand against him, secing he is the stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee; but

P3. lxviii, 27. There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

Isa. xiii, 2. Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

Isa. xxxiv, 12. They shall call

among the people. Bless ye the the nobles thereof to the kingdom mine hand shall not be upon thee.

LORD. Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.

1 Kings xv, 13. And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.

but none shall be there, and all
her princes shall be nothing.

Jer. xiii, 18. Say unto the king,
and to the queen, Humble your-

selves, sit down; for your princi-
palities shall come down, even the
crown of your glory.

Jer. xxx. 21. And their nobles
shall be of themselves, and their
governor shall proceed from the
midst of them; and I will cause
him to draw near, and he shall
approach unto me: for who is this
that engaged his heart to approach
unto me? saith the LORD.

1 Kings xxi, 7, 8, 11. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelito. So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabit-of ants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.

1 Kings xxii, 47. There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.

2 Kings xxv, 22. And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar

spirit lifted me up, and brought
Ezek. xi, 1, 2. Moreover, the
me unto the cast gate of the
LORD's house, which looketh east-
ward: and behold at the door of
the gate five and twenty men;
among whom I saw Jaazaniah the
son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son

Benaiah, princes of the people
Then said he unto me, Son of
man, these are the men that de.
vise mischief, and give wicked
counsel in this city.

VI.

TREASONS AND REVOLU-
TIONS.

REBELLION FORBIDDEN.

King of Babylon had left, even 1 Sam. xv, 23. For rebellion is over them he made Gedaliah the as the sin of witchcraft, and stubson of Alaikam, the son of Shap-bornness is as iniquity and idolhan, ruler.

Ezra viii, 36. And they deliverel the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river; and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

atry: because thou hast rejected
the word of the LORD, he hath
also rejected thee from being king.

Prov. xvii, 11. An evil man
seeketh only rebellion; therefore
a cruel messenger shall be sent
against him.

As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

1 Sam. xxvi, 9-11, 23. And David

said to Abishai, Destroy him not:

for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and peri-h, The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray cruse of water, and let us go. The theo, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness:

for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to-day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed.

2 Sam. xix, 7-12, 14-17, 41-43Now therefore arlse, go tortli, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night; and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king; for Israel had fled, every man to his tent. And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fed

Saul said unto all his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields captains of thousands, and capand vineyards, and make you all tains of hundreds; That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse; and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? Then the king sent to call Abimelech the priest, the son of Abitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. And Saul said, Ilear now, thou Here I am, my lord. son of Ahitub. And he answered, said unto him, Why have ye conAnd Saul spired against me, thou and the son of Jesse.

lech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son-in-law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. And the king said, Thou shalt all thy father's house. surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and

2 Chron. xxiii, 12, 13. Now, when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD: And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets; also the singers with instruments musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, treason!

Ezra iv, 12-19. Be it known which came up from thee to us unto the king, that the Jews are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. Be it known now unto the and the walls set up again, then king, that if this city be builded, will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now, because we have tenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the That search may be made

373

and the LORD 18 among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

went

over

Judges ix, 26, 28, 29. And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech,and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; for why should we serve him? And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

2 Sam. xv, 9, 10, 12-15. And the king said unto him. Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Gilob, while he offered sacrifices: and the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with

Absalom. And there came

messenger to David, saying, The

against the king, even against
David; deliver him only, and I will
depart from the city. And the
woman said unto Joab, Behold, his
head shall be thrown to thee over
the wall. Then the woman went
unto all the people in her wisdom:
and they cut off the head of Sheba
the son of Bichri, and cast it out
to Joab. And he blew a trumpet,
and they retired from the city,
every man to his tent. And Joab
returned to Jerusalem unto the
king.

1 Kings xvi, 7. And also by the
hand of the prophet Jehu the son
of Hanani came the word of the
LORD against Baasha, and against
his house, even for all the evil
that he did in the sight of the
LORD, in provoking him to anger
with the work of his hands, in
being like the house of Jeroboam;
and because he killed him.

2 Kings xiv, 5. And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he [Amaziah] slew his servants which had slain the king his father.

Esther ii, 21-23. In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberfains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on king a Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the Chronicles before the king.

with thee: for thon hast rejected
the word of the LORD, and the
LORD hath rejected thee from
being king over Israel. And as.
Samuel turned about to go away,
he laid hold upon the skirt of his
mantle, and it rent. And Samuel
said unto him, The LORD hath
rent the kingdom of Israel from
thee this day, and hath given it to
a neighbour of thine, that is better
than thou.

1 Kings xi, 26, 31. And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, (whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman,) even he lifted up his hand against the king. And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces; for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solonron, and will give

ten tribes to thee.

1 Kings xil, 15, 16, 19, 20. Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse; to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. And it came to pass, when all 18rael heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, rael: there was none that followed and made him king over all Isthe house of David but the tribe

hearts of the men of Israel are
after Absalom. And David said
unto all his servants that were
with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and
let us flee; for we shall not else
escape from Absalom: make speed
to depart, lest he overtake us
suddenly, and bring evil upon
us. and smite the city with the
Esther vi, 2.3. And it was found
edge of the sword. And the
king's servarts said unto the written, that Mordecai had told of
king, Behold, thy servants are Bigthana and Teresh, two of the of Judah only.

ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

2 Sam. xx, 1, 2. And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we Inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

2 Chron. xxiv, 26. And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.

PUNISHMENT.

2 Sam. xx, 21, 22. The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, (Sheba the son of Bichri by name,) hath lifted up his hand

of the door, who sought to lay
king's chamberlains, the keepers
hand on the king Ahasuerus. And
the king said, What honour and
dignity hath been done to Mor-
decai for this? Then said the
king's servants that ministered
unto him, There is nothing done
for him.

REVOLUTIONS.

1 Sam xiii, 13, 14. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee; for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded

thee.

1 Sam. xv, 26-28 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return

2 Chron. x, 16, 17. And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

2 Chron. xiii, 6, 7. Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord. And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them.

Jer. xxii, 29, 30. O earth, earth, éarth, hear the word of the LORD: Thus saith the LORD, Write ye

this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

he rebelled against the king of who? And there looked out to Assyria, and served him not.

REGICIDE.

Judges ill, 17, 18, 21. And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it his belly.

Ezek. xxi, 25-27. And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end; Thus saith the Lord GOD, Remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, over-into turn it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.

REVOLTS.

Gen. xiv, 4. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

2 Kings i, 1. Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

2 Kings ill, 5. But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

2 Kings vill, 20-22. In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. So Joram went over to Zair and all the chariots with him; and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents. Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same

time.

2 Chron. xxi, 8-10. In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king. Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots. So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had

him two or three eunuchs. And he said. Throw her down. So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode

her under foot.

2 Kings xi, 16, 20. And they laid hands on her, and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house.

2 Kings xii, 20. And his servants arose and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.

2 Sam. iv, 8,9. And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the 2 Kings xiv, 19. Now they made king this day of Saul, and of his a conspiracy against him in Jeruseed. And David answered Re-salem: and he fled to Lachish; but chab and Baanah his brother, the they sent after him to Lachish, and sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, slew him there. and said unto them, As the LORD liveth who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity.

1. Kings xv, 27, 28. And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him: and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; (for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon;) Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.

1 Kings xvi, 2, 3, 9. Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, spired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah.

2 Kings xv, 10, 30. And Shallum

the son of Jabesh conspired

against him and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

2 Kings xxi, 23. And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.

Jehoiada the priest brought out 2 Chron. xxiii, 14, 15, 21. Then the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges; and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD. So they laid hands on her: and when she was come to the entering of the con-horse-gate by the king's house, they slew her there. And all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

2 Kings ix, 7--9, 31-33. And thou

forsaken the LORD God of his fa- shalt smite the house of Ahab thy

thers.

2 Kings xvii, 3, 4. Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents. And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

2 Kings xvili, 7. And the LORD was with him, and he prospered whithersoever he went forth; and

2 Chron. XXV, 27, 28. Now after

the time that Amaziah did turn master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, away from following the LORD, and the blood of all the servants they made a conspiracy against of the LORD, at the hand of Jeze-him in Jerusalem; and he fled to bel. For the whole house of Ahab Lachish: but they sent to Lachish shall perish: and I will cut off from after him, and slew him there. Ahab him that pisseth against the And they brought him upon wall, and him that is shut up and horses, and buried him with his left in Israel. And I will make fathers in the city of Judah. the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side?

2 Chron. xxxiil, 24. And his serslew him [Amon] in his own house. vants conspired against him, and

EXTIRPATION OF ROYAL
FAMILIES.

1 Kings xvi, 11. And it came to