A. By divine direction, he returned to the land of Israel, and meeting Ahab, proposed to determine the question, whether the gods Ahab worshipped, or the God he worshipped, was the true God.-1 Kings, xviii. Q. In what way was this to be determined? A. By a sacrifice offered on the part of each, and the God which should answer by fire, and consume the sacrifice, should be the God of Israel. Q. Did Ahab consent? A. Yes; and assembled 850 idolatrous prophets and priests, on Mount Carmel, the place appointed, where a sacrifice was offered by them and Elijah. Q. What was the result? A. Elijah was answered by fire from God, which consumed his sacrifice, and the water poured upon it-while the prophets of Baal cried unto their god in vain. Q. What did Elijah do upon this? A. As a prophet of God, clothed with power, he ordered all the idolatrous priests to be put to death. Q. How was Elijah treated after this? A. Jezebel, Ahab's wife, threatened to take his life; but he escaped and went to Beersheba, and thence to Horeb, being fed by an angel on the way. At Horeb, God appeared to him in a vision-told him that he had seven hundred faithful servants still in Israel, and directed him to go to Damascus, and on his way to anoint Hazael to be king of Syria-Jehu to be king of Israel, and Elisha to be his successor in the prophetic office.-1 Kings, xix. LESSON XXXVI. Q. Were there any wars in Ahab's time? A. Yes; Benhadad, king of Syria, made war upon him, but in the first invasion was defeated, and narrowly escaped with his life.-1 Kinge, xx. 1-21. Q. What was the result of the second invasion? A. Benhadad was again defeated, and obliged to sue for peace.-1 Kings, xx. 22—34. Q. Did Ahab make peace with him? A. Yes; but God was highly displeased on account of it, and sent a prophet to inform him, that he should one day die by the hands of the Syrians.-1 Kings, xx. 42. Q. How did Ahab and Jehoshaphat agree? A. They maintained a good understanding; so that Jehoshaphat married Ahab's daughter, and was permitted to accompany him in an expedition against Ramoth Gilead, which place the king of Syria unlawfully held in his power. -1 Kings, xxii. 1, 4. Q. Of whom did Ahab inquire about his success? A. Of four hundred idolatrous prophets, who prophesied success; but Micaiah a prophet of the Lord, informed him to the contrary.--1 Kings, xxii. 5-28. Q. What became of Ahab? A. He was killed as had been predicted.-1 Kings, xxii. 34, 35. Q. What became of Jehoshaphat? A. He narrowly escaped to Jerusalem, where God, by his prophet, reproved him for his alliance with Ahab.-2 Chron. xix. 2. Q. What did Jehoshaphat do by way of atonement ? his people, whom he reclaimed to the worship of the true God.--2 Chron. xix. and xx. Q. Who succeeded Ahab to the throne of Israel? A. His wicked son Ahaziah, in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat; but he soon after died of a wound, received by a fall.-1 Kings, xxii. 51. 2 Kings, i. 2, 16. Q. Who succeeded him? A. His brother Jehoram.-2 Kings, i. 17. iii. 1. Q. In what wars was he engaged? A. In a war against the Moabites, who had long been tributary to Israel, but had revolted. —2 Kings, iii. 4, 5, 7. Q. During his expedition, what circumstance nearly destroyed his army? A. The want of water; but Elisha, who had now succeeded Elijah, directed them to make ditches in the valley, where they were encamped, which by the goodness of God, were miraculously filled.-2 Kings, iii. 16, 17, &c. Q. What had become of Elijah ? A. He had been translated to heaven, and had as he was taken up, bestowed his mantle upon 'Elisha.-2 Kings, ii. 1-12. Q. What was the issue of the war with the Moabites? A. They were entirely defeated.—2 Kings, iii. 21-26. LESSON XXXVII. Q. What became of the prophet Elisha after this? A. He retired to Samaria, where he wrought several miracles, among which was one, whereby he cured Naaman, general to Benhadad king of Syria, of the leprosy.-2 Kings, iv. and v. and vi. 1-7. Q. Did Benhadad invade Israel again? A. He did; and in the siege of Samaria, reduced it to so great distress, that mothers, through famine, killed, and eat their own children; but God at length appeared, and so inspired the enemy with terror, that he fled.1 Kings, vi. 21-33 and vii. Q. Who was now reigning in Judah? A. Jehoshaphat, was still alive; but he had taken his son Johoram, (or Joram,) into a share of the kingdom with him. Q. What was the character of Jehoram? A. He was a very degenerate son of a pious father.-2 Chron. xxi. 12-20. Q. Who succeeded him in Judah ? A. Jehoahaz, who was also called Ahaziah, as wicked as his wicked father.-2 Kings, viii. 25-27. Q. What became of Elisha? A. In consequence of a famine, he had gone to Shunem, (a city of Judea, in the tribe of Issachar, five miles south of Mount Tabor ;) but the next we hear of him, is at Damascus, whither he went, to anoint Hazael, king of Syria.2 Kings, viii. 1-7. Q. Did Benhadad know of his being in Damascus ? A. He did; and sent Hazael to enquire of him, whether he should recover: to whom the prophet replied, that he might recover, but that God had shewn him that he would not.--2 Kings, viii. 7--10. Q. What answer did Hazael return to the king? A. That he prophet said, that he should recover; but the next day Hazael smothered him to death, and seized the government.-2 Kings viii. 14, 15. Q. Did not the king of Israel (Joram) take advantage of this revolution in Syria? A. He endeavoured to do so; and invited Ahaziah, king of Judah, to accompany him to Ramoth-Gilead, where a battle ensued, in which the king of Israel was wounded; upon which, he went to Jezreel, to be healed of his wounds, and where he was visited by his ally, Ahaziah.-2 Kings, viii. 28, 29. Q. What happened to these king's there? A. They were both killed, by Jehu, who had been anointed by divine direction, as king of Israel.-2 Kings, ix. 24, 27. CHAPTER XVII. Reign of Jehu, Athaliah, Joash, &c. LESSON XXXVIII. Q. What was the great work for which God raised up Jehu to the kingdom? A. To destroy the worship of Baal, and to bring the threatened judgments of God, on the house of Ahab, for their wickedness.-2 Kings, X. 28, 30. |