The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 484

advance, possibly during the retreat, of that unwieldy and rapacious host, certainly during the occupation of the country 'l "Before them the garden of Eden, behind them a desolate wilderness" (Joel ii. 3). Fire, rapine, famine, these three fell sisters marched in their train. The invasions, then, though repelled, would entail prodigious loss and suffering on the people. It would not compensate the J e-wish farmer for the loss of his corn and oil and wine, still less the Jewish father for the dishonour of his daughters, to know that the siege was raised, that the king had fled to an inner chamber, that thousands of their enemies lay buried under the walls of Aphek. No, each invasion was nothing short of a national calamity, and we do well to ask what it was had provoked this chastisement. It was- 1. The sin of the people at l,arge. The sin of Israel o.t this epoch was idolatry, The_ sin_ of J ~rob?am had 9:lready rece~ved, in part at least, its recompense. A Synan mvas10n m a precedmg generation (eh. xv. 20) had wasted the te1Titory of Dan. But the calf-worship was continued, and vile idolatry was now associated with it. It is true this had been fostered, if not introduced, by Jezebel, but it is im- possible to acquit the people of blame. The pleasant vices of the Phoenician rituo.l were sweet to their taste. They loved to have it so. Justice demanded, conse- quently, that they should share in the punishment. Idolatry had already procured the investment and spoliation of Jerusalem ; it now accounts for the march of the Syrians and the siege of Samaria., the centre of the Baal-worship. 'l'his is the third time that a foreign army has appeared before a polluted shrine. "How can they expect peace from the earth who do wilfully fight against heaven? " 2. The sin of its rulers. We have just seen that Ahab and J6zebel were primarily responsible for this last great apostasy. It was Jezebel really who "reared up an altar for Baal," &c. (eh. xvi 32), though Ahab was a facile instrument in her hands. We find, consequently, that king and queen were t.he first to suffer, and suffered most. It is easy to picture the abject wretchedness and despair to which Ahab was reduced by the insolent messages of the northern barbarian. Those were indeed days of trouble and rebuke and blasphemy. The iron must have entered into his soul as he found himself utterly witliout resources, at the mercy of one who showed PO mercy, but absolutely gloated over his misery. Nor did J ezebcl escape her share of torture. She had to face the prospect of being handed over, with the other ladies of the harem, to the will of the brutal, sensual, drunken despot who was thnndE:ring at their gates. Had her hair turned white, like that of another queen, in one night, we could not have wondered at it. Strong-willed, desperate woman that she was (2 Kings ix. 31), she must have known too well how cruel are the tender mercies of the wicked not to have trembled. It is clear, therefore, that that prince and princess reaped some fruit of their doings in this life. But it may be said that thia reign of terror did not last long, and tho.t despair was speedily succeeded ..iy the joy and triumph of victory. But the victory was not one which could afford unmixed satisfaction, either to king or people. It was not won by their prowess. It was of such a kind that all boasting was excluded. In tho first place, they owed it to a prophet of the Lord-one of the order whom Jezebel had persecuted. It would therefore heap coals of fire upon Ahab's head. Sec?ndly, it was achieved by a handful of boys. His trained veterans had to follow then· lead and enter into their labours. It was therefore more of a humiliation than a glory for his arms. It left hlm, in the presence of his people, a helpless debtor to that God whose altars he had overthrown; to that prophet whose companions he had slain. Such were the immediate caus£s of the invasion. Two others, which were more remote, must be briefly indicated. . . a. The unwisdom and unbelief of Asa. He 1t was who fi:rst taught the Syna1;1-s that the way to Samaria lay open to them, and that the spoils of the country repaul the cost and trouble of invasion (eh. xv. 18, 19). . . 4. The impiety of Solomon. The horses and chariots furmshed by that great prince to the '' kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria" (eh. x. 29) now over- run the great plain and stream into the ·valleys of Samaria. The Syrians owed the CB, XX, 1-48.) THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 495