(7) Favorable Reaction. In fact, it may seem that this success assisted the reaction, favorable to the power of Judah, which was already begun. in consequence of a change in the policy of Damas cus.
Whether Abijah had been in league with the father of Benhadad I ( as is generally inferred from Kings xv :19) may bc doubted; for the address cannot be rendered, 'Lct there be a league between me and thee, as :here was between my father and thine;' and it possibly is only a hyperbolical phrase of friendship for, 'Let us be in close alliance; let us count our fathers to have been allies.' However this may be, Asa bought, by a costly sacrifice, the serviceable aid of the Damascene king. Israel was soon distressed, and Judah became once more formidable to her south ern neighbors.
(8) Edomites Made Tributary. Jehoshaphat appears to have reasserted the Jewish authority over the Edomites without war, and to have set his own viceroy over them (1 Kings xxii:47)• Intending to resume the distant commerce which had been so profitable to Sokmon, he built ships suitable for long voyages ('ships of Tarshish,' as they are rightly called in t Kings xxii:48—aphrase which the Chronicler has misunderstood and translated into 'ships to go to Tarshish' (2 Chron. xx :36) ; but not having the advantage of Tyrian sailors, as Solomon had, he lost the vessels by violent weather before they had sailed. Upon this, Ahaziah, king of Judah, offered the service of his own mariners, probably from the tribe of Asher and others accustomed to the Mediterra nean ; but Jehoshaphat was too discouraged to ac cept his offer, and the experiment was never re newed by any Hebrew king.
(9) Revolt of Edomites. The Edomites, who paid only a forced aHegiance, soon after revolted from Jehoram, and elected their own king (2 Kings viii :2o, 22). At a later time they were severely defeated by Amaziah (2 Kings xiv :7), whose son, Uzziah, fortified the town of Elath, intending, probably, to resume marititne enter prise; but it remained a barren possession, and was finally taken from them by Rezin, in the reign of Ahaz (2 Kings xvi :6). The Philistines. in these times, seem to have fallen from their former greatness, their league having been so long dissolved.
(10) Jerusalem Plundered. The most re markable event in which the Philistines are con cerned is the assault on Jerusalem, in the reign of Jehoram (2 Chron. xxi:16, 17).
It is strikingly indicative of the stormy scenes through which the line of David passed that the treasures of the king and of the Temple were so often plundered or bargained away. First, under Rehoboam, all the hoards of Solomon, consecrated and common alike, were carried off by Shishak (t Kings xiv :26). Two generations later, Asa
emptied out to Benhadad all that had since accu mutated 'in the house of Jehovah or in the king's house.' A third time, when Hazael had taken Gath, and was preparing to march on Jerusalem, Jehoash, king of Judah, turned him away by sending to him all 'that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah and Jehoash himself had dedicated, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of Jehovah and in the king's house (2 Kings xii:x8). In the very next reign Jehoash, king of Isracl, defeated and captured Amaziah, took Jerusalem. broke down the walls, carried off hostages, and plundered.the gold and silver depos ited in the temple and in the royal palace (2 Kings xiv:It-t4). A fifth sacrifice of the sacred and of the royal treasure was made by Ahaz to Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings xvi :8). The act was repeated by his son Hezekiah to Sennacherib, who had demanded '3oo talents of silver and 3o talents of gold.' It is the more extraordinary, therefore, to find expressions used when Nebuchadnezzar took the city, which at first sight imply that Solo mon's far-famed stores were still untouched (2 Kings xxiv:t3).
The severest shock which the house of David received was the double massacre which it endured from Jehu and from Athaliah (2 Kings x, xi).
(11) Rule of Jehoiada. After a long minority, a youthful king, the sole surviving male descend ant of his great-grandfather, and reared under the paternal rule of the priest Jehoiada, to whom he was indebted not only for his throne but even for his recognition as a son of Ahaziah, was not in a situation to uphold the royal authority,. That Jehoash conceived the priests to have abused the power which they had gained sufficiently appears 10 2 Kings xii, where he complains that they had for twenty-three years appropriated the money, which they ought to have spent on the repairs of the temple. Jehoiada gave way; but we see here the beginning of a feud (hitherto unknown in the house of David) between the crown and the priestly order ; which, after Jehoiada's death, led to the murder of his son Zechariah. The execu tion of the priest of Baal, and of Athaliah (2 Kings xi:13-18), granddaughter of a king of Si don. must also have destroyed cordiality between the Phcenicians and the kingdom of Judah ; and when the victorious Hazael had subjugated all Israel and showed himself near Jerusalem, Jeho ash could look for no help from without, and had neither the faith of Hezekiah nor a prophet like Isaiah to support him.