#71.# Under #Jeroboam the Second# the Northern Kingdom attained much outward prosperity, but its spiritual life did not improve at all. Men became greedy of gain, and worldliness and sin of gross description gained the upper hand. It was possibly during this reign that God sent the prophet Amos to bear witness against the sins of the rulers and people. At this point read the prophecy of Amos, and try to realize how earnestly he pleaded with the men of Israel to return to the worship of the God of their fathers. But it was all in vain. Israel was joined to his idols. #72. Hosea#, too, comes at about this same time, and he did his best to win Israel back from their apostasy. He has well been called the "pleading prophet," for his tenderness is most touching. Yet all in vain were his pleas. Israel would have none of them. #73. Hoshea, Last of the Kings.#--At last the Divine patience seems to have been exhausted, and God gave the Northern Kingdom over into the hands of its enemies, and they were marched off into captivity. Hoshea is the last of the kings of Israel, and during his rule the King of Assyria captured Samaria, and led the people off into a strange land. Here let the student carefully read 2 Kings 17:1-41 to see the résumé that the sacred writer gives of the reasons for the final catastrophe that befell Israel. It was on account of their sins that they were suffered to experience these dire disasters. #74.# In the place of the deported people, the Assyrians, in accordance with the customs of those days, placed peoples from alien lands in their stead. In this manner the population of Samaria became much mixed, and the false worship of these idolatrous peoples became the religion of the land of the Patriarchs in its northern portion. This will account for the hostility between Jew and Samaritan which we find in the days of Nehemiah, and even as late as the times of our Lord. Test Questions What led to the disruption of the United Kingdom? Who was chosen king over Israel, or the Northern Kingdom? Of what was Jeroboam afraid at this time? What did he do to hold his people from possible allegiance with Judah? Where were the golden calves set up? Whom did Ahab marry? What innovation in matters religious did Jezebel introduce? How did she treat those who desired to worship Jehovah? What two great prophets did God send to Israel at this time? Was the mission of Elijah and his successor permanently effective? How did the kingdom fare under Jeroboam II? Was religion any better off for this prosperity? Name two prophets whom God sent at this time to try to win his people back to himself. Were these two prophets successful? Under what king was Israel at last carried into captivity? Who were placed in the land of Israel to take the place of the deported captives? What was the result of this mingling of races and religions? Lesson 9 Abijam to Zedekiah Old Testament Division--Fourth Period (Continued) LEADING PERSONS