After the death of Amaziah, Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah experienced still greater misfortunes. The princes of Judah, who had dethroned and killed the king, do not appear to have resigned the reins of government which they had seized. Amaziah's only surviving son, Azariah (called also Uzziah), was a child of four or five years of age, and the land was surrounded by enemies. Advantage was taken of this helpless condition of the country by the Idumæans, who had been beaten and disgraced by Amaziah. They commenced an attack on the kingdom of Judah, and Egypt again espoused their cause, as it had done in the times of Rehoboam. Sanguinary battles ensued, and the Idumæans took many prisoners. They pressed on to Jerusalem, where the breaches in the walls had not yet been repaired, and carried off numbers of captives. There are no further particulars known of the attack of the Idumæans. Some domains seem to have been separated from Judah, and annexed to Edom and Egypt respectively. The rude warriors exchanged Judæan boys and girls for wine and prostitutes, and their new masters, chiefly Philistines, in turn sold them to the Ionians, who at that time vied with the Phœnicians in the pursuit of slave-trading. The Tyrians, forgetful of their long-standing alliance with the house of David, behaved in no friendlier manner. This was the first dispersion of Judæans to distant lands, whither the Ionians had sold them as slaves. It was probably these Jewish slaves who brought the first germs of higher morals and culture to the Western nations. Amongst the prisoners were many noble youths and beautiful maidens of Jerusalem, who, owing to their home influences, and their knowledge of the eventful history of their nation, carried with them a store of ideas, which they came to appreciate more now than they ever had done at home. CHAPTER XII. END OF THE HOUSE OF JEHU AND THE TIME OF UZZIAH. Condition of Judah--The Earthquake and the Famine--Uzziah's Rule--Overthrow of Neighbouring Powers--Fortification of Jerusalem--Navigation of the Red Sea--Jeroboam's Prosperity--The Sons of the Prophets--Amos--Prophetic Eloquence--Joel's Prophecies--Hosea foretells Ultimate Peace--Denunciation of Uzziah--Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem--Last Years of Uzziah--Contest between the King and the High Priest--Uzziah usurps the Priestly Functions--Uzziah's Illness. 805-758 B. C. E.