Anti-Semitism Ism

9.

Jeroboam and Uzziah.—The defeat of Syria by Joash (of Israel) was not final. The decisive victories were gained by Jeroboam II. He saved Israel from being blotted out, and "the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as of old" (2 Ki. xiii. 5, xiv. 26 seq.). Syria must have resumed warfare with redoubled energy, and a state of affairs is presupposed which can be pictured with the help of narratives that deal with similar historical situa tions. In particular, the overthrow of Israel as foreshadowed in I Ki. xxii. implies an Aramaean invasion (cf. vv. 17, 25), after a treaty (xx. 34 sqq.), although this can scarcely be justified by the events which followed the death of Ahab, in whose time they are now placed. Under Jeroboam II. (c. 785) the borders of Israel were restored, and the disastrous Aramaean wars avenged. a time the kingdom of Van (Urartu, Ararat) was the most important factor in the north, and the Hebrews may well have come into close touch with peoples who were the descendants of the Hittite, Mitannian and other non-Semitic stock of old. Moab was probably tributary; the position of Judah and Edom is in volved with the chronological problems. According to the Ju daean annals the "people of Judah" set Azariah (Uzziah) upon his father's throne; and to his long reign of 52 years are as cribed conquests over Philistia and Edom, the fortification of Jerusalem and the reorganization of the army. The two great kings Uzziah and Jeroboam were contemporary, but upon the relations between them we have no information; yet had Amaziah suffered at the hands of Israel, and when, at the death of Jero boam, Israel hastened to its end amid anarchy and dissension, it is unlikely that the southern kingdom was unmoved. All that can be recognized from the biblical records, however, is the period of internal prosperity which Israel and Judah enjoyed under Jeroboam and Uzziah (qq.v.) respectively.

The events which inaugurated the dynasty of Jehu, the ter rible Aramaean wars, Yahweh's "arrow of victory," and at length the rise of Jeroboam, make the century (c. 850-75o B.c.) one of the most conspicuous epochs in Hebrew history. The traditions relating to it are, not improbably, older, relatively speaking, than those that tell of the original founding of the monarchy, cen turies earlier. The descriptions of the older periods are, in their present form, at least, later than the Jehu dynasty, and this dynasty culminates in the rise of the great Hebrew prophets (Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, etc.). That these had predecessors in the stirring days before them is to be expected—for there is much in prophecy that makes it far from unique or necessarily elevated. But they strike so distinctive a note, their teaching is so fundamental, and its effects so evident, that the question arises whether the religious conditions they condemn are those as set forth in the literature referring to earlier periods. In fact, the modern historical and religious study of the Old Testament turns upon the interpretation of the great prophets, and the re lation between them, on the one hand, and the Pentateuch and historical recensions (see sec. 2, P. 43) on the other. (See fur

ther HEBREW RELIGION, PROPHET, and the articles on the several prophets.) io. The Fall of the Israelite Monarchy.—Israel's pros perity under Jeroboam II. proved her undoing. The disorders that hastened the end find analogy in the events of the more obscure period after the death of the earlier Jeroboam. Only the briefest details are given. Zechariah was slain after six months by Shallum ben Jabesh in Ibleam ; but the usurper fell a month later to Menahem (q.v.), who only after much bloodshed estab lished his position. Assyria again appeared upon the scene, under Tiglath-pileser III.; on his approach a coalition was soon formed which was overthrown in 738. Among those who paid tribute were Rasun (the biblical Rezin) of Damascus, Menahem of Samaria, the kings of Tyre, Byblos and Hamath and the queen of Aribi (the Syrian desert). Israel was once more in league with Damascus and Phoenicia, and the biblical records must be read in the light of political history. Judah was probably holding aloof. Its king, Uzziah, was a leper in his latter days, and his son and regent, Jotham, claims notice for a circum stantial reference to his subjugation of Ammon—the natural allies of Damascus—for three years (2 Chron. xxvii., cf. xxvi. 8). Scarcely had Assyria withdrawn before Menahem lost his life in a conspiracy, and Pekah, with the help of Gilead, made himself king. The new movement was evidently anti-Assyrian, and strenuous endeavours were made to present a united front. Judah was the centre of attack. Rasun and Pekah directed their blows from the north, Philistia threatened the west flank, and the Edomites, who drove out the Judaeans from Elath (on the Gulf of 'Akaba), were no doubt only taking their part in the concerted action. A more critical situation could scarcely be imagined. The throne of David was then occupied by a youth—Ahaz, the son of Jotham. In this crisis we meet with Isaiah (q.v.), perhaps the grandest of Hebrew prophets. The disorganized state of Egypt and the uncertain allegiance of the desert tribes left Judah without direct aid; on the other hand, opposition to Assyria among the conflicting interests of Palestine and Syria was rarely unanimous. Either in the natural course of events—to preserve the unity of his empire—or influenced by the rich presents of gold and silver with which Ahaz accompanied his appeal for help, Tiglathpileser intervened with campaigns against Philistia (734 B.c.) and Damascus (733-732). Israel was punished by the ravaging of the northern districts, and the king claims to have carried away the people of "the house of Omri." Pekah was _lain, and one Hoshea (q.v.) was recognized as his successor. Assyrian officers were placed in the land and Judah thus gained its deliverance at the expense of Israel. But the proud Israelites did not remain submissive for long; Damascus had indeed fallen, but neither Philistia nor Edom had yet been crushed.