DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE.

Solomon built for himself a sumptuous palace, and the fame of his riches, power, and wisdom was spread among the most distant nations.

Among the illustrious strangers who were drawn to Jerusalem, the Queen of Sheba was the most distinguished. This princess governed the country now called Abyssinia. She came to Jerusalem with a magnificent retinue, bringing costly presents of gold, precious stones, and the rich perfumes for which her country was famed.

The close of the reign of Solomon was as melancholy and disgraceful as its opening had been bright and glorious. The law of Moses permitted a plurality of wives, but Solomon had no fewer than a thousand, of whom seven hundred held the rank of queen. Many of these women were Egyptians and Moabites; and Solomon not only erected temples to their different idols, but partook himself in their impious worship.

God warned the guilty king of the judgments reserved for his race. He told him by the mouth of the prophet Ahias, that after his death his kingdom would be divided; and the greater part would be given, not to his son, but to his servant Jeroboam.

Whether this warning made any impression on the heart of Solomon we do not know. He died after a reign of forty years, leaving the world in doubt whether he ended his life the friend or the enemy of his Creator.

Who was the queen of Sheba? Into what sins did Solomon fall? What warning did he receive?

FIFTH PERIOD.

FROM THE SEPARATION OF THE TEN TRIBES (B. C. 971; TO THE DEATH OF THE MACHABEES.

ROBOAM.

CHAPTER XLI.

-SEPARATION OF THE TEN TRIBES (B. C. 971).—

IDOLATRY OF JEROBOAM.

HE vast wealth amassed by Solomon proved insufficient to maintain the sinful luxury and splendor in which he indulged during his latter years. He had burdened the people with heavy taxes, and they now sent an humble petition to Roboam praying that some of these might be remitted. The old counsellors of the late king advised Roboam to grant this reasonable request. His young companions, on the other hand, assured him that severity was the best means of establishing his power. The rash prince followed their advice and dismissed the deputies with threats, telling them that his father had beaten them with whips, but that he would scourge them with scorpions.

When the people learned the result of their pet

How did Roboam offend his subjects?

tion, they broke out in open revolt. It was in vain that Roboam endeavored to calm their minds; Jeroboam profited by the occasion, and put himself at the head of the malcontents. He was joined by ten tribes, all of whom renounced their allegiance to the house of David, and chose Jeroboam for their king.

There remained with Roboam the tribes of Benjamin and Juda, the latter being very numerous and powerful. Roboam raised a large army, but as he was about to set out, a prophet was sent by God to forbid the war.

Jeroboam was now master of ten tribes of Israel, and might have been the founder of a glorious dynasty, had he trusted to the promises of God. On the contrary, he followed only the counsels of human prudence. He feared that if the Israelites continued to worship at Jerusalem, they might little by little return to their old allegiance. To prevent this, he was not afraid to plunge the entire nation into the guilt of idolatry. Scripture says: "And finding out a device, he made two golden calves, and said unto them: Go ye up no more to Jerusalem: Behold thy gods, O Israel, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt; and he set the one in Bethel and the other in Dan.

Roboam, meanwhile, had to suffer the punishment of his sins. Juda was invaded by Sesac, king of Egypt, who took Jerusalem, and carried off a vast booty from the city and Temple.

What was the result? Into what crime did Jeroboam lead the en tribes?

ON

CHAPTER XLI.

KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDA.

one occasion, as Jeroboam was offering in cense before the altar of the golden calf, a prophet appeared before him, and declared the judgments which God was about to send upon his race. As a confirmation of his words, at the command of the prophet, the altar was split asunder, and when Jeroboam raised his hand in anger against the man of God, it was withered so that he could not draw it back again. The guilty king changed his threats into prayers for mercy, and the prophet restored his hand.

This

Jeroboam does not seem to have profited by this warning: he died after a stormy reign of twenty-two years, and was succeeded by his son Nadab. prince was dethroned by Baasa, who, in order to assure his power, massacred every member of the family and kindred of Jeroboam, and cast their bodies to be devoured by wild beasts. Baasa was succeeded by his son Ela, who was assassinated by one of his officers named Zambri. The latter did not reap the fruit of his crime, being deposed by Amri, general of the army.

Amri, being in peaceable possession of the king. dom, bought the Mount of Somar, and built there a

What warning did Jeroboam receive? What is related f Baar? Fla? Zambri? Amri?