prophets and kings-第50章
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o the remnant of Joseph。〃 Amos 5：4； 5； 14； 15。
By far the greater number of those who heard these invitations refused to profit by them。 So contrary to the evil desires of the impenitent were the words of God's messengers； that the idolatrous priest at Bethel sent to the ruler in Israel； saying； 〃Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel： the land is not able to bear all his words。〃 Amos 7：10。
Through Hosea the Lord declared； 〃When I would have healed Israel； then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered； and the wickedness of Samaria。〃 〃The pride of Israel testifieth to his face： and they do not return to the Lord their God； nor seek Him for all this。 〃 Hosea 7：1； 10。
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From generation to generation the Lord had borne with His wayward children； and even now； in the face of defiant rebellion； He still longed to reveal Himself to them as willing to save。 〃O Ephraim；〃 He cried； 〃what shall I do unto thee？ O Judah； what shall I do unto thee？ for your goodness is as a morning cloud； and as the early dew it goeth away。〃 Hosea 6：4。
The evils that had overspread the land had become incurable； and upon Israel was pronounced the dread sentence： 〃Ephraim is joined to idols： let him alone。〃 〃The days of visitation are come； the days of recompense are come； Israel shall know it。〃 Hosea 4：17； 9：7。
The ten tribes of Israel were not to reap the fruitage of the apostasy that had taken form with the setting up of the strange altars at Bethel and at Dan。 God's message to them was： 〃Thy calf； O Samaria； hath cast thee off； Mine anger is kindled against them： how long will it be ere they attain to innocency？ For from Israel was it also： the workman made it； therefore it is not God： but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces。〃 〃The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth…aven： for the people thereof shall mourn over it； and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it。 。 。 。 It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to King Jareb〃 （Sennacherib）。 Hosea 8：5； 6； 10：5； 6。
〃Behold； the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom； and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth； saying that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob； saith the Lord。 For； lo； I will command； and I will sift the
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house of Israel among all nations； like as corn is sifted in a sieve； yet shall not the least gain fall upon the earth。 All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword； which say； The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us。〃
〃The houses of ivory shall perish； and the great houses shall have an end； saith the Lord。〃 〃The Lord God of hosts is He that toucheth the land； and it shall melt； and all that dwell therein shall mourn。〃 〃Thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword； and thy land shall be divided by line； and thou shalt die in a polluted land： and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land。〃 〃Because I will do this unto thee； prepare to meet thy God； O Israel。〃 Amos 9：8…10； 3：15； 9：5； 7：17； 4：12。
For a season these predicted judgments were stayed； and during the long reign of Jeroboam II the armies of Israel gained signal victories； but this time of apparent prosperity wrought no change in the hearts of the impenitent； and it was finally decreed； 〃Jeroboam shall die by the sword； and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land。〃 Amos 7：11。
The boldness of this utterance was lost on king and people； so far had they gone in impenitence。 Amaziah； a leader among the idolatrous priests at Bethel； stirred by the plain words spoken by the prophet against the nation and their king； said to Amos； 〃O thou seer； go； flee thee away into the land of Judah； and there eat bread； and prophesy there： but prophesy not again any more at Bethel： for it is the king's chapel； and it is the king's court。〃 Verses 12； 13。
To this the prophet firmly responded： 〃Thus saith the Lord； 。 。 。 Israel shall surely go into captivity。〃 Verse 17。
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The words spoken against the apostate tribes were literally fulfilled； yet the destruction of the kingdom came gradually。 In judgment the Lord remembered mercy； and at first； when 〃Pul the king of Assyria came against the land；〃 Menahem； then king of Israel； was not taken captive； but was permitted to remain on the throne as a vassal of the Assyrian realm。 〃Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver； that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand。 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel； even of all the mighty men of wealth； of each man fifty shekels of silver； to give to the king of Assyria。〃 2 Kings 15：19； 20。 The Assyrians； having humbled the ten tribes； returned for a season to their own land。
Menahem； far from repenting of the evil that had wrought ruin in his kingdom； continued in 〃the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat； who made Israel to sin。〃 Pekahiah and Pekah； his successors； also 〃did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord。〃 Verses 18； 24； 28。 〃In the days of Pekah；〃 who reigned twenty years； Tiglath…pileser； king of Assyria； invaded Israel and carried away with him a multitude of captives from among the tribes living in Galilee and east of the Jordan。 〃The Reubenites； and the Gadites； and the half tribe of Manasseh；〃 with others of the inhabitants of 〃Gilead； and Galilee； all the land of Naphtali〃 （1 Chronicles 5：26； 2 Kings 15：29）； were scattered among the heathen in lands far removed from Palestine。
From this terrible blow the northern kingdom never recovered。 The feeble remnant continued the forms of government； though no longer possessed of power。 Only one more ruler； Hoshea； was to follow Pekah。 Soon the kingdom
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was to be swept away forever。 But in that time of sorrow and distress God still remembered mercy； and gave the people another opportunity to turn from idolatry。 In the third year of Hoshea's reign； good King Hezekiah began to rule in Judah and as speedily as possible instituted important reforms in the temple service at Jerusalem。 A Passover celebration was arranged for； and to this feast were invited not only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin； over which Hezekiah had been anointed king； but all the northern tribes as well。 A proclamation was sounded 〃throughout all Israel； from Beersheba even to Dan； that they should come to keep the Passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem： for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written。
〃So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah；〃 with the pressing invitation； 〃Ye children of Israel； turn again unto the Lord of God of Abraham； Isaac； and Israel； and He will return to the remnant of you； that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria。 。 。 。 Be ye not stiff…necked； as your fathers were； but yield yourselves unto the Lord； and enter into His sanctuary； which He hath sanctified forever： and serve the Lord your God； that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you。 For if ye turn again unto the Lord； your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive； so that they shall come again into this land： for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful； and will not turn away His face from you； if ye return unto Him。〃 2 Chronicles 30：5…9。
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〃From city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun；〃 the couriers sent out by Hezekiah carried the message。 Israel should have recognized in this invitation an appeal to repent and turn to God。 But the remnant of the ten tribes still dwelling within the territory of the once…flourishing northern kingdom treated the royal messengers from Judah with indifference and even with contempt。 〃They laughed them to scorn； and mocked them。〃 There were a few； however； who gladly responded。 〃Divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves； and came to Jerusalem； 。 。 。 to keep the feast of unleavened bread。〃 Verses 10…13。
About two years later； Samaria was invested by the
