The high places formerly used by the Israelites stood temptingly ready to receive the new idols. Whatever may bave been the character of the priest's instructions, they h<id no influence in checking the multiplication of strange gods. In the mixture of peoples, each nationality adhered t.o its own deity. The Babylonians made Succoth- benoth, the Cuthites made Nergal, the men of IIamath made Ashima, eto. The result was a chaotic confusion of religions, such as perhaps has never before or since been equalled. The new worships needed priests, and these were made from the lowest of the people. The whole is a sad but instructive picture of heathenism in its want of internal unity, its Babel-like confusion, its destitution of moral character, and its degrading and cruel practices, e.g. the burning of the children in the fire to Adrammelech, etc. Only monotheism can give true unity to life, religion, and worship. 2. Jehovah and strange god$. Meanwhile Jehovah was not overlooked, but bud bis place given him among the rest. The people "feared the Lord, and served their own gods." This showed, of course, that the first principles of the religion of Jehovah were not under- stood by them. But is it so uncommon a thing for men-not heathen, but professedly Christian-thus to attempt to combine incompatibilities? Is there not such a thing AS attempting to combine the service of the Lord with the friendship of the world, which yet is declared to be "enmity with God" (Jas. iv. 4)? Is there no such thing &s professing to serve God, yet giving the chief place in the heart to money, pleasure, fashion, or some other spiritual idol, which is duly worshipped upon its own high place 't The less glaring idolatries are not always the least sinful. Ere condemning the irrational practices of these heathen, let us sit strictly in judgment on ourselves. 3. The absence qf tro.e religion. The cause of all this religious confusion was that the true God WAS not rightly known. Men may possess theoretically correct notions of God, and not act upon them; but it is impossible to base a right moral or religious life on conceptions of God which e.re fundamentally erroneous. '.l.'hese colonists did not know J ehovah's real character; they bad not been properly instructed in his statutes; there- fore they thought they were serving him when they were doing him the highest dishonour. III. .A PAST MEMORY. 1. God's ancient covenant. The sight of this indescribable chaos recalls to the historian the memory of that original covenant of God with Israel, by the terms of which the people were pledged not to serve strange gods, but to adhere to Jehovah, their Redeemer from Egypt, and to keep his holy statutes. Had they been faithful to that covenant, how different would have been the result I Instead of being in exile, the nation would have been safe, happy, and prosperous under Jebovah's care. 2. The melancholy contrast. As it was, the people had been driven from their land, and this motley crowd of heathen held possession of it. Their obedience was not better than that of the rejected Israelites, and, so far as experience had gone, they showed no sim of improvement. It is due, however, to the Samaritans to say that, when better instructed, they did improve, and, in Christ's time, they were as strict monotheists as the Jews, and more willing to receive the gospel.-J, 0,
EXPOSITION. Oh. :r:riii.-:u:v.-TBE HIITOBY OF THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH AFTER THE FALL OP SAMARIA.
(vers. 3-6); (2) his revolt from Assyria CH.APTER xvm. (ver. 7); and (S) his war with the Philis- Ver. 1-cb. xiL 37.-THE AOOESSION OF tines (ver. 8). The narrative is still exceed- HllZEJl. l.AIL H.Js SUOOESBE& Hl8 WAB WITH ingly brief, and has to be filled out from the SENNAOHEBIB. Second Book of Chronicles, where the re- Vera. 1-8.-THE EARLY YEABB OF HEzll- ligious reformation of Hezekiah is treated KIAH. From his narrative of the destruction with great fulness (eh. xxix.-xxxi.). of the kingdom of Samaria, the writer tum.s, Ver. 1.-l!fow it came to pase in the third wi tl1 evidcnt relief, to the e.ccession of the year of Hoshea son of Elah King of Israel, good kiug Hezekiah in Judah, and to a that Hezekiah the 10n of Ahaz King of brief accouut of (1) hi.a religious reformation 1udah began to rei.Jn. There can scarcely CB, xvm.1-87.] 'rillll SECOND BOO:tr OF THE KINGS. 367