In reality both kingdoms gained under the appearance of total loss. "Every people called to high destinies," says Renan, "ought to be a small complete world, enclosing opposed poles within its bosom. Greece had at a few leagues from each other, Sparta and Athens, two antipodes to a superficial observer, but in reality rival sisters, necessary the one to the other. It was the same in Palestine." The high merit of the historian of the two kingdoms appears in this, that, without entangling himself in details, and while he contents himself with sweeping and summary judgments, he established a moral view of history which has been ratified by the experience of the world. He shows us how the tottering and insignificant kingdom of Judah, secured by God's promise, and rising through many backslidings into higher spirituality and faithfulness, not only out-lasted for a century the overthrow of its far more powerful rival, but kept alive the torch of faith, and handed it on to the nations of many centuries across the dust and darkness of intervening generations. And in drawing this picture he helped to secure the fulfilment of his own ideal, for he inspired into many a patriot and many a reformer the indomitable faith in God which has enabled men, in age after age, to defy obloquy and opposition, to face the prison and the sword, secure in the ultimate victory of God's truth and God's righteousness amidst the most seemingly absolute failure, and against the most apparently overwhelming odds. FOOTNOTES: [456] In 1 Kings xix. 3 it is reckoned as belonging to Judah (comp. Josh. xv. 28), being really a town of Simeon (Josh. xix. 2); but from Amos v. 5, viii. 14, we should infer that it was at any rate largely frequented by Israelites. [457] 1 Kings xvi. 34; 2 Kings ii. 4. [458] See Stanley, _Lectures on the Jewish Church_, ii. 269-71. [459] Amos v. 11, vi. 4-6. [460] 2 Kings iv. 18, 22, viii. 1-6; Stanley, ii. 271. [461] See Ewald, iv. 9 (E. T.). [462] 2 Chron. xx. 37. [463] Zech. xi. 4-17, xiii. 7-9. [464] If we may regard Kobolam as a real person (2 Kings xv. 10, LXX.). Thus, in the Northern Kingdom twenty kings belong to _nine_ different dynasties in two hundred and forty-five years; and in the Southern only nineteen kings of _one_ dynasty rule for three hundred and forty-five years. [465] Jeroboam lived for a time at Penuel, on the east of the Jordan, perhaps to escape all danger from Shishak's invasion. For Penuel, on the eastern side of the Jabbok, see Gen. xxxii. 22, 30; Judg. viii. 8, 17. It was important as commanding the caravan route from Damascus to Shechem. [466] Zech. x. 4 (R.V., "exactors"). [467] _Hist. of Isr._, iv. 12. CHAPTER XXVI. "_JEROBOAM THE SON OF NEBAT, WHO MADE ISRAEL TO SIN._" 1 KINGS xii. 21-23.