PERIOD VI.] WICKEDNESS OF AHAB AND JEZEBEL. THEIR DOOM.

LESSON 85.

Ahab covets Naboth's Vineyard.

1 KINGS XXI.

Near Ahab's palace in Jezreel, a man named Naboth had a vineyard. Ahab wanted it for a garden of herbs, so he offered Naboth a better vineyard for it, or its worth in money. Naboth refused to sell it, because it was the inheritance of his fathers; so Ahab came to his house, and he laid him down upon his bed, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel, when she knew the cause of Ahab's grief, promised to procure him the vineyard. She wrote letters to the elders of the city, saying, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: and set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die." And the elders and the nobles did as Jezebel had sent unto them; they proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him, and they witnessed against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth did blaspheme God and the king." Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. The elders and nobles then sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth is stoned, and is dead." When Jezebel heard this she said unto Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard." Elijah was then commanded to meet Ahab in the vineyard, and to make known to him that dogs should lick his blood, as they had licked the blood of Naboth-that the dogs should eat Jezebel, by the wall of Jezreel-and that his whole family should perish. When Ahab saw Elijah he said, "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy ?" And he answered, "I have found thee; because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD." He then declared the sentence which the Lord od passed on him: "Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs

AHAB HUMBLES HIMSELF.

[975-606 B.C. shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat." When Ahab heard this sentence he rent his clothes, put on sackcloth, fasted, and went softly. Then God said unto Elijah, "Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house."

Jezreel a celebrated city in the valley of Jezreel in the tribe of Issachar. Ahab had a residence there which was near Naboth's vineyard. The valley of Jezreel was also called the plain of Esdraelon; a portion of it was called the valley of Megiddo.

LESSON 86.

2 CHRON. Xviii. 1 KINGS xxii. 5-40. Battle at Ramoth-gilead.

And the king of Israel said unto his servants, "Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is our's, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria ?" Now for three years there was no war between Syria and Israel. And in the third year, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, came down to the king of Israel. Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him. And Ahab said unto Jehoshaphat, "Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead?" And he answered him, "I am as thou art, and my people as thy people and we will be with thee in the war." The prophets were consulted, and they said, "Go up, for God will deliver it into the king's hand." Jehoshaphat then inquired for a prophet of the Lord; and Ahab answered that there was none but Micaiah, and he always prophesied evil of him. When he came he answered in the words of the prophets of Ahab. The king saw that Micaiah's answer was contrary to his knowledge, and adjured him to say

PERIOD VI.] THE FALSE PROPHETS AND THE TRUE ONE.

nothing but what was true. Micaiah then foretold Ahab's death, saying, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd;... let them return every man to his house in peace." And Ahab said unto Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil ?" And he said, "Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee." But Zedekiah, the son of Chenaanah, went near and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way went the spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?" And Micaiah said, "Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself." Ahab ordered Micaiah into prison, there to be fed with bread of affliction and water of affliction till his return in peace. Micaiah said, "If thou return at all in peace,

the LORD hath not spoken by me.'

The kings of Israel and Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. Ahab disguised himself, but Jehoshaphat was in his robes. During the battle a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote Ahab, who commanded the driver of his chariot to take him out from the battle. His blood flowed into his chariot, and he died. His chariot was washed in the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up his blood, and the prediction of Elijah was thus fulfilled.

JEHOSHAPHAT IS REPROVED.

HIS REFORMS. [975-606 b.c.

Ramoth-gilead-a celebrated city in the mountains of Gilead, belonging to the tribe of Gad, built near Galeed, and sometimes called Ramoth-mizpeh. During the reigns of the kings of Israel, it was the scene of several wars. It was one of the cities of refuge.

LESSON 87.

2 CHRON. XIX-xx; 1 KINGS xxii. 48-53. Jehoshaphat Reproved; he appoints Judges; his trust in God. And Jehoshaphat returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. Jehu, the prophet, went out to meet him, and said, "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God." Jehoshaphat again went through his kingdom from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim. And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, and said to them, "Take heed what ye do; for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts." Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel; and charged them, saying, "Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart; and what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, ⚫ ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren.... Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good."

...

Ahaziah began to reign in conjunction with his father Ahab, before his death. He served Baal, and provoked the Lord to anger, as his father had done.

PERIOD VI.] THE MOABITES AND AMMONITES ARE DESTROYED.

The Moabites and Ammonites invaded Judah; and Jehoshaphat and his people set themselves to seek the Lord. The king proclaimed a fast throughout his kingdom. The congregation assembled, and the king offered up a solemn prayer to God for help. Jahaziel then said to all Judah, by the spirit of the Lord, “ Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not your's but God's.... Ye shall not need to fight in this battle.... stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem." And Jehoshaphat bowed his head to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. In the morning they went forth to the Wilderness of Tekoah, and as they went Jehoshaphat said to them, "Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." He also appointed singers who should praise the beauty of holiness, and say, "Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever." When they began to sing, the children of Moab and Ammon rose up against those of Mount Seir; and they destroyed one another.

After this Jehoshaphat joined himself with Ahaziah to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-gaber. Then Eliezer prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works." And the ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish. Then said Ahaziah unto Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships :" but Jehoshaphat would not.

Wilderness of Tekoah-not far from the city of Tekoah. (Lesson 59.) The valley of Berachah, or of blessing, was in the tribe of Judah, and in this wilderness. At this place Jehoshaphat and his people assembled to praise God for their victory over the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites.