Alfred Edersheim
Published: 2017-12-23
Total Pages: 216
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Excerpt from History of Judah and Israel: From the Birth of Solomon to the Reign of Ahab From the political we turn to the religious aspect of this history. It was indeed true, that the empire of the world was to be connected with the Davidic kingdom (ps. Ii.) - but not in the sense Of founding a great military monarchy, nor in that of attaining universal intel lectual supremacy, least of all, by conformity to the ways and practices of heathen worship, magic, and theurgy. The exaltation of Zion above the hills, and the flowing of all nations unto it, was to be brought about by the going forth Of the Law out of Zion, and of the Word of Jehovah from Jerusalem (15. Ii. 2, This - to confine ourselves to the present period of our history - had been distinctly implied in the great promise to David (2 Sam. Vii.) it was first typically realised in the choice of Jerusalem as the City of God (ps. Xlvi. Xlviii. And further presented in its aspect of peace, prosperity, and happiness in the reign of Solomon (ps. Lxxii.) to which the prophets ever afterwards pointed as the emblem of the higher blessings in the Kingdom of God (mic. Iv. 4; Zech. Iii. 10, comp. With I Kings iv. But the great work Of that reign, alike in its national and typical importance, was the building of the Temple at Jerusalem. This also has been fully described in the following pages. But already other elements were at work. The introduction of heathen worship commenced with the decline of Solomon's spirituallife. After his death, the apostasy from God attained fearful pro portions, partially and temporarily in Judah, but permanently in Israel. In the latter, from the commencement Of its separate national existence under Jeroboam, the God-chosen Sanctuary at Jerusalem, and the God-appointed priesthood were discarded; the worship of Jehovah transformed; and by its side spurious rites and heathen idolatry introduced, till, under the reign of Ahab, the religion of Baal became that of the State. This marks the high point Of apostasy in Israel. The evolving of principles of con trariety to the Divine Covenant slowly but surely led up to the final destruction of the Jewish Commonwealth. But, side by side with it, God in great mercy placed an agency, the origin, character, and Object of which have already been indicated in a previous Volume. The Prophetic Order may be regarded as an extraordinary agency, by the side of the ordinary economy of the Old Testament; and as intended, on the one hand, to com plement its provisions, and, on the other, to supplement them, either in times of religious declension, or when, as in Israel, the people were withdrawn from their influences. Hence the great ex tension Of the Prophetic Order. In such periods, and especially in the kingdom of the ten tribes. But when, during the reign Of Ahab, the religion Of Jehovah was, so to speak, repudiated, and the worship of Baal and Astarte substituted in its place, something more than even the ordinary exercise of the Prophetic Office was required. For the prophet was no longer acknowledged, and the authority of the God, Whose Messenger he was, disowned. Both these had therefore to be vindicated, before the prophetic agency could serve its purpose. This was achieved through What must be regarded, not so much as a new phase, but as a further development of the agency already at work. We mark this chiefly in the ministry of Elljah and Elisha, which was contemporary with the first Open manifestation of Israel's national apostasy. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
