of bis share in tba.t sin (eh. xvi. 31, 32). The idolatry which had desolated the church was avenged by a horde of idolaters ravaging the land and slaying the arch-idolater in bat.tie. There is a rough lex talionis here. (Cf. J er. v. 19.) If they would have idolatry they should taste the tender mercies of idolaters. On that field were the predictions of Moses (Deut. xxviii 25), Samuel (1 Sam. xii. 25), and Solomon (1 Kings viii. 33) fulfilled. (3) But a recompense still more exact and conspicuous attended the impurities which Ahab bad practised under the name of religion. He had filled the land with prostitutes. What a proof of the just judgment of God it was that these infamous persons added dishonour to his death I He bad maintained them through life : he should be as8ociated with them in his end. The harlots bathed in the pool that was reddened -w-ith his blood (vers. 38, Heb.) (4) Nor was the connexion of Ahab's death with the sin ofrelensing Ben-hadad any less conspicuous. What meant that strange malignant command, " Fight . . . only with the king of Israel ? " Was it not thnt the Syrian king, on whom Ahab would not execute vengeance, had become, in the counsels of God, an instrument of vengeance, a minister to execute wrath, against the anointed of the Lord? "Thy life shall go for his life "-it was thus that evP,ry religious mind would interpret so singular and, considering the circumst:1Ilces (chap. xx.), so otherwiRe inexplicable a word of command. It was as if Ben-hadad had proclaimed that his mission primarily was to settle the long arrearages of justice with that wicked Ahab. (5) Howtbe murder of Nabotb was avenged that shamefuld:i.y, it is hardly neces- sary to point out. There was a strict retaliation-wound for wound, stripe for stripe, blood for blood, dishonour for dishonolll'. There were many, besides Jehu and Bidkar, who would recall the fierce threatening of the Tishbite (eh. xxi. 19); many, besides priests and prophets, would remember the axiom of their law," blood defiletb the land,'' &c. (Num. xxxv. 33), or would think on that day of the BO· called" precept of Noah," "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed" (Gen. ix. 6). The elders of J ezreel, yes, and.Jezebel Lerself, understood that Naboth's blood bad cried from the ground, and that the cry had come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaotb. It was His foot that was dipped in the blood of His enemies (Pea. lxviii. 23). And this ignominions death-in what sharp contrast it stands with the indolent, luxurious, sensual life I " The ivory house that he made,'' what an irony we may see in those words I '' Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar•..• He shall be buried with the burial of an ass," &c. (Jer. xxii. 15, 19). The cities he built, the victories be won, bow poor and empty do these exploits seem as we stand by the pool of Samaria, and see the livid, blood-stained corpse dragged from the chariot I The Latin poet asks what all his pleaslll'es, travels, knowledge, can avail a man who has to die after all; but the question presents itself with tenfold force when life's fitful fever is followed by such a sleep, by sncb a dream, as Ahab's. "It bad been good for that man if he had not been bom " (Matt. xxvi. 24). And the death of Ahab was followed by the dispersion of his army. When the proclamation rang throngh the host," Every man to hie country,'' and wh~n ~be serried ranks precipitate\y broke up, and horseman and footman fled for hi~ life, then the share of Israel in the sins of Ahab and Jezebel was in part expiated. There was not a man but knew why " the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies." '' There is an acclll'sed thing in the midst of .thee, 0 Israel" (Josh. vii. 12, 13). Baal had troubled them, had made of the heights of Ro.moth a very valley of Achor.
HOMILIES BY VAltIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-8.-Bad Company. According to the order of the chapters in the LXX., which is probably the original or true order, chapter xx. should immedintelr procede this. Then, after the history of the war between Aha~ and Ben-hadad, thJB o~apter opens naturally: "And they continued three years without war between Syria an4 on. xxu. 1-63,l THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 547