voycd through Hadomm. If this we.s the son of David's tribute officer (2 Sam. xx. 24), he must he.ve been at this time e.n old man about eighty. Hence he was probably the Adonimm, son of Abdo., who was over the levy (1 Kings iv. 6). Though not likely that he advanced towards the people with a small force as if to enforce submission (Bertheau, Ewe.Id), but rather that he approached them a.lone (Josephus), a more unfortunate selection of one to a.et as ambassador could scarcely have been made. Most likely one of the older counsellors who recommended moderation, Hadoram was yet the man who we.s "over the tribute," i.e. was the tax-collector of Rehoboam, and as such could hardly fail to be obnoxious to the angry multitude. Regarding him as an enemy, they sprang upon him with murderous fury: "they stoned him with stones till he died," thus inflicting on him e. death usually reserved for traitors and blasphemers. This was the one dark spot which marked what would otherwise have been a bloodless revolution. 4. With final decision. The murder of his plenipotentiary convinced Rehoboam that the opportunity for parley was over, that fair speeches would no longer suffice to quell the insurrection, and that the revolt of Israel was an accomplished, most likely a permanent, fact. Mounting his chariot in haste, and with alarm for his safety, the king who had come to Shechem to obtain a crown returned to Jerusalem, having lost a kingdom. LESSONS, 1. The danger of oppression (Eccles. vii. 7). 2. "In the multitude of counsellors is safety" (Prov. xi. 14), only when all are wise (Prov. xii. 5), and he who is counselled is not a fool (Prov. :xii. 15). 3. He that hesitates is losi.-xemplified in the case of Rehoboam. 4. The rashness of youth-shown in the second company of the -king's advisers. 5. Quem deus vult perdere prius dementat. 6. "Better is a wise child than a foolish king" (EcclP-s. iv. 13). 7. Good men often suffer for the sins of others, and even lose their lives when workin~ for the good of others-illustrated in Hadoram. 8. Wicked men would often like to flee from the sight, and much more from the consequences, of their own wickedness.-W.
EXPOSITION. house.'' Rehoboam, of coUl'Se, does this verv CHAPTER XL thing. For the first time,formally, Benjami",. The first four verses of this chapter would is now introduced e.s throwing in its lot with have been better placed as the conclusion of Judah, and the acted prophecy of Ahija.h is seen fulfilled ; the chiefest of the tribes, and the previous chapter. They corrospond with the tribe that co.me of the youngest and most I Kings xii. 21-24; and they tell how petted of old Ja.cob's sons, a.re now wedded Rehoboam was restrained from me.king bad to the end. The tribe of Benjamin lay hemmed worse, in e. hopeless attempt to recover the in between Ephraim, to which it had once seceding ten tribes, by war that would have muoh leaned, and to which (as Benjamin was the blood-uncle of Ephraim) it was more been as bloody as foredoomed to failure. closely related, and Judah, with which it "The word of the Lord" to this intent co.me hnd once been at variance (2 Sam. ii. 12- to the Prophet Sheme.iah, and through him 32; iii. 1-27; xx. 1). But exactly on the to Rehoboe.m. The remaining verses of the border-line of Judah and Benjamin rose the chapter a.re new matter, and belong to city Jerusalem and the temple (Josh. xv. S; Chronicles alone. They tell how Rehoboe.m xviii. 16; Jer. xx. 2); and, beyond doubt, this fact had helped to bring a.bout the much set to work to fortify his towns, or rather more friendly feeling, if not absolutely close many of them (vers. 5-12); how he re- union, that now for some time had existed ceived priests and others from the kingdom between these two tribes in their contiguous of the ten tribes (vers. 13-17); and, last and allotments. A hundred and four-score thou- sand ohosen men, which were warriors. worst, of the wives and concubines he took According to Joe.b, in David's time the men (vers. 18-23). able to benr arms of Judl\h a.lone were tive Ver. 1.-He gathered of the house of Judah hundred thoUS11nd (2 Sam. xxiv. 9). Com- and :Benjamin. The parollel (1 Kings xii. pare the numbers in the next reign ( eh. :xiii 21) says more distinotly, "The house of 3), and, later on still, in Jehoshaphat's (eh. Judah with the tribe of Benjamin.'' They xvii. 14--18). Doth of these show that of Jeroboam (oh. x. 16) had flung it at Abijah and Jehoshaphat respectively had Jud11)1: •1 Now, Duvid, e11e to thine own improved the time given tu training much 132 THE SECOND BOOK OP THE OHRONICLES. [tm. xr. 1-23,