ing in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha; and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood upon his feet. But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast He them from His presence as yet. So Hazael king of Syria died, and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead. And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, cities of Israel.

and recovered the

So the word of God was fulfilled as to Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel. Both perished miserably and were food for dogs. What wonderful virtue must have been given by God to the body of Elisha, when even the touch of his dead bones brought life to a man who was about to be buried!

called so often, The man of God.

Truly was Elisha

Who was king of Israel when Elisha anointed Jehu?
Who was king of Judah at the same time?

For what purpose was Jehu raised up as king?

What was his first act?

How did Jezebel die?

Did Jehu serve God faithfully?

What miracle was wrought by the dead bones of Elisha?

Esrael and Judah are taken Captive.

T last could God endure no more
Israel's revolt and sins,

Now is their day of mercy o'er,

And punishment begins.

Assyria's king comes down in power,
Shuts Hoshea up in chains;
And Israel, carried off that hour,
Captive and sad remains.

But Judah still a while is spared,
For Hezekiah's sake;

To keep God's holy law he cared,
And all the idols brake.

The Children of Israel are taken Captive by the Assyrians. Hezekiah's and Josiah's Good Reigns. God punishes Judah also. The Destruction of Jerusalem.

OW after the death of Jehu, his sons, even to the fourth generation, reigned over Israel, according to the promise of the Lord. But they did evil in the sight of the Lord, they and the kings of Judah. And in the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. Then came up the king of Assyria and took Samaria, and shut Hoshea up in prison and carried Israel away captive into Assyria. For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made, until the

Lord removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria.

Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the Lord God of Israel: so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah. And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. But in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. And he sent a great army up against Jerusalem, and threatened Hezekiah, saying to the people, Thus saith the king, Hearken not to Hezekiah when he persuadeth you, saying, The Lord will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? Who are they, among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand? But

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the people held their peace, and answered him not a word for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and came into the house of the Lord. And he sent to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, saying, It may be the Lord thy God will hear all the words of Rab-shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; wherefore, lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left. And Isaiah said, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land, and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord our God, I beseech Thee save us out of the hand of Sennacherib, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou art the Lord God, even Thou only. Then Isaiah the prophet sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib, king of Assyria, I have heard; the remnant of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downwards and bear fruit upwards. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of Mount Zion. Therefore, thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with