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political events. And the more clearly to mark the agency of God in what might seem the
natural course of events, the connection between these successes and the original promise
in 2 Kings 13:4, 5, is indicated in 2 Kings 14:26, as well as the higher meaning of all (in
ver. 27).
It still remains to point out the strict accuracy of the Biblical account, alike as regards the
prosperous internal condition of the land at that period (2 Kings 13:5), and the moral and
religious decay of the people (2 Kings 13:6). If the victories of Jeroboam had, as on
grounds of contemporary history seems likely, been gained in the early part of his reign,
the rest of that long period was one of almost unprecedented wealth and prosperity, but
also of deepest moral corruption. To both facts the contemporary prophets, Amos and
Hosea, bear frequent witness - to the prosperity in such passages as Hosea 2:8; 12:9 [A.V.
ver. 8]; Amos 3:15; 6:4-6; to the corruption, in many passages and in varied particulars.*
- An analysis would occupy too much space; but we may select from the opening chapter
the following charges: Idolatry: Hosea 2:8, 13, 17; 3:1, 4; 4:12, 13, 17; Amos 4:4, 5:
Lasciviousness: Hosea 2:4; 4:10, 11, 18; Wickedness and violence of every kind: Hosea
4:1, 2, 14; 6:8-10; Amos 2:6-8; 3:10; 4:1; 5:7, 11.
A more terrible picture of religious degeneracy and public and private wickedness could
scarcely be imagined than that painted by the prophets in this the most prosperous period
of Israelitish history. Thus the goodness of God, misunderstood by an apostate people,
which attributed all to its own prowess (see Amos 6:13), was only abused to further sin
(Hosea 13:6). A people which could not be humbled by judgments, and to which every
mercy became only the occasion for deeper guilt, was ripe for that final doom which the
prophets predicted.
On some other points of interest scattered notices may here be put together. Firstly,
Jeroboam II. was certainly the most warlike king and the most successful administrator of
all who occupied the throne of Israel. Of this even the new registration in the re-
conquered trans-Jordanic provinces affords evidence (1 Chronicles 5:11-17). Secondly,
this history is another proof of how little real success could attend such a re-action
against the foreign rites of the house of Ahab as that which had been initiated by Jehu.
The worship of the golden calves speedily led to that on high places, and even to the
restoration of the service of Baal (Hosea 2:13, 17; Amos 2:8; 4:4; 5:5; 8:14). Nay,
Jeroboam and his priest at Bethel proceeded to actual persecution of the prophets of the
Lord (Amos 7:10-17). Lastly, we may derive from a study of the prophetic writings much
insight into the political relations of Israel and Judah at the time, more especially as
regards Syria and Assyria.*
- This must be left to the study of the reader, since our limited space renders it impossible
to analyze the contents of these prophetic books. They will be found to cast considerable
(^)