p. 9 | Our Bible Band

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 20, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 34, No. 21.

Our Bible Band.

Schedule for Week Ending May 30, 1908.

Sun.	May 24	2 Kings 13, 14	Psalm 141
Mon.	" 25	" 15, 16	" 142
Tues.	" 26	" 17, 18	" 143
Wed.	" 27	" 19, 20	" 144
Thurs.	" 28	" 21, 22	" 145
Fri.	" 29	" 23, 24	" 146
Sab.	" 30	" 25; 1 Chron. 1-3	" 147

Suggestive Notes.

The sad story of transgression, war, strife, defeat, captivity, conspiracy, continues with the kingdom of the ten tribes and the reigns of the following kings: Jehu (28 years); Jehoahaz (17 years); Jehoash (16 years); Jeroboam II (41 years); Zechariah (6 months); Shallum (1 month); Menahem (10 years); Pekahiah (2 years); Pekah (20 years); Hoshea (9 years). During this time the ten tribes were subject to Assyria, in the reign of Jehu; devastated and laid under tribute to Hazael, king of Syria, in the reigns of Jehoahaz and Jehoash; made tributary to Assyria by Tiglath-Pileser III, in Menahem's reign. The complete subversion of the kingdom of the ten tribes occurred in the reign of Hoshea, by Shalmaneser IV and Sargon, kings of Assyria, bringing the kingdom to an end in B.C. 721-722. Many of the people were carried into captivity, but a remnant was left in the land. At times during this period, Elisha, Hosea, Jonah, and Amos prophesied. God had His faithful little remnant during all this time of blackness, most of whom doubtless connected with the kingdom of Judah. The mixed races placed in the land by Sargon formed the Samaritans. Chapter 17.

There reigned in Judah during this same period the following: Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel (7 years); Joash (40 years); Amaziah (29 years); Azariah, or Uzziah (52 years); Jotham (16 years); Ahaz (16 years); Hezekiah (29 years), in whose sixth year the conquest of Israel was completed. Joel, Isaiah, Micah, were prominent prophets in Judah. After the overthrow of Israel the following kings reigned in Judah: Hezekiah; Manasseh (55 years); Amon (2 years); Josiah (31 years); Jehoahaz (3 months); Jehoiakim (11 years); Jehoiachin (3 months); Zedekiah (11 years). Unlike the kings of Israel, all of whom were idolaters, some of the kings of Judah were godly men, and wrought great, tho not lasting, reforms. Noted among these were Hezekiah and Josiah. During the last of Judah's existence the kings were at times conquered and made tributary to Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, and finally to Babylon. After B.C. 722 Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Obadiah prophesied.

What a sad, sad record is that of Israel and Judah, all because of lack of faith in God, leading to disobedience and the grossest idolatry.

The books of Chronicles cover more ground than the books of Kings, and deal more exclusively with the kingdom of Judah. The name in the Septuagint means "Things Omitted in the Hebrew," "Words [or "Acts"] of Days," or "Minutes of Events." The book was written and compiled by Ezra, under the guidance of God. In the dry lists of names in our lesson this week, besides the gems of information or instruction which occasionally crop out, we are shown how carefully the records of God's people, especially those channels thru which the Promised Seed was to come, were kept.