water." (1) The reed is a figure of frailty. Rabshakeh, in describing the inability of the Egyptians to support Hezekiah against the Assyria.ns, compares them to a bruised reed (2 Kings xviii. 21; lea. xxxvi. 6; eee also Ezek. xxxix. 6). Contrariwise, our Lord, asserting the sta.bility and vigour of John Baptist, so.id that he was no "reed aha.ken with the wind" (Matt. xi.1). In derision of the royalty of Jesus the soldiers put a. reed in His hand for a. sceptre (Matt. xxvii. 29). Subsequent history bore emphatic testimony to the instability and feebleness of Ephraim. (2) The reed ie "shaken in the water." This element is at once a symbol of trouble and of people (see Psa. lxix. 17; Rev. xvii. 15). So disquiet, arising from popula.r tumults and civil war, ie suggested. And did not this become fact? The freriuent changes of dynasty kept the nation in perpetual broils. These evils were aggra- vated by wars with their brethren of Judah. 2. As a reed shaken by the wind. (1) This is not asserted, but implied, since reeds shake in water when moved by winds. And foreign influences had much to do with the troubles of Israel. (2) Foreign idolatries introduced by Solomon's wives were at the root of the troubles. (3) The wars between Israel and Judah brought foreign armies upon the scene- Egyptians, Syrians, and Assyrians. By these rough winds the troubles were aggravated. II. THEN TO BE SCATTERED IN THE LANDS OF STRANGERS. 1 . .A captivity of Israel is foretold. (1) The settlement of the people in Canaan is frequently described in Scripture under the figw-e of the planting of a vine there (see Psa. lxiv. 2 ; lxxx. 8 ; J er. ii. 21 ; xi. 17). (2) This is now to be reversed. " He shall root up Israel out of thie good land which he gave to their fathers." Suppose the vine had feeling; what a painful process I 2. Also the region of their dispersion. (1) "I will scatter them beyond the river," i.e., the Enphra.tes, for thus, by emphasis, this river is ever distinguished in Scripture (see Gen. xv. 18; compare Deut. xi. 24 with 1 Kings iv. 21 and Paa. lxx.ii 8). (2) This river also stands for the Assyrians, through whose territory it flowed. Their armies invading Israel are likened to the Euphrates rising and overflowing its western bank (see Isa.. viii. 7). (3) How literally was all this accomplished (see 2 Kings xv. 29 ; xvii 6, 18). III. THESE VISITATIONS WERE TO EXPRESS THE ANGER OF GOD. 1. First pro- tJoked by their Oanaanitish idolatries. (1) These are represented here by " their groves.'' The word Asherah (ilil::'~, ili11::'N) occw-s thirty-nine times, and is every- where translated groves, yet it may well be doubted whether this is its meaning. For take the next occurrence after that in our text, viz., ver. 23 of this chapter: How could a grove be built under a green tree ? How could a grove be macle in the house of the Lord? (See 2 Kings xxi. 7; xxiii. 6.) (2) These Asheroth, or Asherim, appear to have been images made of wood, cased in metal, perhaps fashioned like goats, which were worshipped with abominable rites. They were popular Ca.naanitish divinities, and for this reason to be execrated by Israelites (see Exod. xxxiv. 13; Deut. xvi. 21). (8) But for all this they fell into the sn:.i.re of worshipping together with the Baalim, or Bulls, ana other Cana.anitish itlols (Judg. iii. 7 ; vi. 25; 1 Kings xviii. 19). 2, Then by their complicity in the sin of Jeroboam. (1) This addition to their earlier idolatries filled up the measure of their iniquity. For it completely alienated them from the worship of J ehova.h in His temple. (2) They forsook the Lord, so He threatens to "give up Israel for the sin of Jeroboam," as He had also given up the house of Jeroboam tojudgment.- J. A. M. Vera. 17-18.- Death and MO'IJ,ffling. With a heavy heart the queen of Jeroboam moved along the road from Shiloh to Tirzah, and received the salute of death at the threshold of the palace. This sad event was soon followed by a state funeral and by a public mourning. In all this note how- l. SORROW TARNISHES HUMM! SPLENDOUR. 1. Survey this palacll of Tirzah. (1) This is not the only pa.lace of Jeroboam. Soon after his promotion to the crown of fara.el we find him building a. palace a.t Shechem. That colllDlemorated the event of his elevation ; for there those_ circumstances occurred which gave rise to it (see eh. xii.) (2) But this palace did not long satisfy the royal ambition. Wo 826 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS_- [oa. XIV. 1-1!0.
find the king presently engaged in building a second at Penuel, in the tribe of Gad, e1tstward of Jordan (ob. xii. 25). Those who come suddenly to fortune commonly u'.fect great splendour. (3) Now we find him occupying a third. This probably was the most magnificent. It is situated in a place famoua for its beauty in the days of Solomon (see Song vi. 4). From this it had its name (1"1 ~in), which signifies 71/.casantness. Doubtless the palace was in keeping with the place, for it was pre- ferred as the royal residence until its destruction by :fire (eh. xvi 18). 2. Behold in this paradise a corpse I (1) Death bas smitten Abijo.h, the best and most promising of the royal family. What a scene of grief when the mother, arrived from Shiloh, entered that chamber I What a dense gloom would rest on the household I In that solemn moment how vain must earthly splendour hav.e appeared I (2) And does not sorrow still mingle with all earthly scenes I Why, then, should we not rather set our affections upon things above? (3) Wealth c[;:nnot bribe death. The King of Terrors enters the palace of royalty as cer- taml:, as he enters the cottage of poverty. To the great this enemy is even more formidable than to the bumble, for they have more to leave. The acquisitions of the world.ling, therefore, are only giving point and venom to the sting of death. n. IT HAS RELIEFS AND AGGRAVATIONS. 1. The reliefs are the fruits of virtue. (1) The public mourning would be a solace to the royal family. A king might provide a pompous funeral for bis son, but be could not command the heart of the nation to mourn (2) This public mourning was a tribute to the virtues of the prince (see yer. 13). (3) There was pure comfort in the reflection that the spirit of the pious youth is away from a world of sin, in the companionship of saints and holy angels. 2. The aggravations are the fruits of sin. (1) How the grief of Jeroboam must have been embittered by the fact that this bereavement came not as a mes- senger of mercy to him, but as a visitation of judgment I (2) How it must have al=ed him to know that it was but the first of a series of judgments destined to issue in the extermination of his house ! (3) The very virtues of the prince first taken, in this view, became an aggravation, for he is removed as too good a prince for so wicked a people, and to make way for the succession of a wicked prinoe to punish them.-J. A. M.