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onnected with the king of Israel； and in his reign he followed after Baal； 〃like as did the house of Ahab。〃 〃Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah； and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to
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commit fornication； and compelled Judah thereto。〃 2 Chronicles 21：6； 11。
The king of Judah was not permitted to continue his terrible apostasy unreproved。 The prophet Elijah had not yet been translated； and he could not remain silent while the kingdom of Judah was pursuing the same course that had brought the northern kingdom to the verge of ruin。 The prophet sent to Jehoram of Judah a written communication； in which the wicked king read the awful words：
〃Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father； Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father； nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah； but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel； and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring； like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab； and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house； which were better than thyself： behold； with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people； and thy children； and thy wives； and all thy goods： and thou shalt have great sickness。〃
In fulfillment of this prophecy 〃the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines； and of the Arabians； that were near the Ethiopians： and they came up into Judah； and brake into it； and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house； and his sons also； and his wives； so that there was never a son left him； save Jehoahaz ＇Ahaziah； Azariah＇； the youngest of his sons。
〃And after all this the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease。 And it came to pass； that in process of time； after the end of two years； 。 。 。 he died of sore
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diseases。〃 〃And Ahaziah ＇Jehoahaz＇ his son reigned in his stead。〃 Verses 12：19； 2 Kings 8：24。
Jehoram the son of Ahab was still reigning in the kingdom of Israel when his nephew； Ahaziah； came to the throne of Judah。 Ahaziah ruled only one year； and during this time； influenced by his mother； Athaliah； 〃his counselor to do wickedly；〃 〃he walked in the way of the house of Ahab； and did evil in the sight of the Lord。〃 2 Chronicles 22：3； 4； 2 Kings 8：27。 Jezebel； his grandmother； was still living； and he allied himself boldly with Jehoram of Israel； his uncle。
Ahaziah of Judah soon met a tragic end。 The surviving members of the house of Ahab were indeed 〃his counselors after the death of his father to his destruction。〃 2 Chronicles 22：3； 4。 While Ahaziah was visiting his uncle at Jezreel； the prophet Elisha was divinely directed to send one of the sons of the prophets to Ramothgilead to anoint Jehu king of Israel。 The combined forces of Judah and Israel were at that time engaged in a military campaign against the Syrians of Ramothgilead。 Jehoram had been wounded in battle； and had returned to Jezreel； leaving Jehu in charge of the royal armies。
In anointing Jehu； the messenger of Elisha declared； 〃I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord； even over Israel。〃 And then he solemnly charged Jehu with a special commission from heaven。 〃Thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master；〃 the Lord declared through His messenger； 〃that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets； and the blood of all the servants of the Lord； at the
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hand of Jezebel。 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish。〃 2 Kings 9：6…8。
After he had been proclaimed king by the army； Jehu hastened to Jezreel； where he began his work of execution on those who had deliberately chosen to continue in sin and to lead others into sin。 Jehoram of Israel； Ahaziah of Judah； and Jezebel the queen mother； with 〃all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel； and all his great men； and his kinsfolks； and his priests；〃 were slain。 〃All the prophets of Baal； all his servants； and all his priests〃 dwelling at the center of Baal worship near Samaria； were put to the sword。 The idolatrous images were broken down and burned； and the temple of Baal was laid in ruins。 〃Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel。〃 2 Kings 10：11； 19；28。
Tidings of this general execution reached Athaliah； Jezebel's daughter； who still occupied a commanding position in the kingdom of Judah。 When she saw that her son； the king of Judah； was dead； 〃she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah。〃 In this massacre all the descendants of David who were eligible to the throne were destroyed； save one； a babe named Joash； whom the wife of Jehoiada the high priest hid within the precincts of the temple。 For six years the child remained hidden； while 〃Athaliah reigned over the land。〃 2 Chronicles 22：10； 12。
At the end of this time； 〃the Levites and all Judah〃 （2 Chronicles 23：8） united with Jehoiada the high priest in crowning and anointing the child Joash and acclaiming him their king。 〃And they clapped their hands； and said； God save the king。〃 2 Kings 11：12。
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〃Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king； she came to the people into the house of the Lord。〃 2 Chronicles 23：12。 〃And when she looked； behold； the king stood by a pillar； as the manner was； and the princes and the trumpeters by the king； and all the people of the land rejoiced； and blew with trumpets。〃
〃Athaliah rent her clothes； and cried； Treason； Treason。〃 2 Kings 11：14。 But Jehoiada commanded the officers to lay hold of Athaliah and all her followers and lead them out of the temple to a place of execution； where they were to be slain。
Thus perished the last member of the house of Ahab。 The terrible evil that had been wrought through his alliance with Jezebel； continued till the last of his descendants was destroyed。 Even in the land of Judah； where the worship of the true God had never been formally set aside； Athaliah had succeeded in seducing many。 Immediately after the execution of the impenitent queen 〃all the people of the land went into the house of Baal； and brake it down； his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly； and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars。〃 Verse 18。
A reformation followed。 Those who took part in acclaiming Joash king； had solemnly covenanted 〃that they should be the Lord's people。〃 And now that the evil influence of the daughter of Jezebel had been removed from the kingdom of Judah； and the priests of Baal had been slain and their temple destroyed； 〃all the people of the land rejoiced： and the city was quiet。〃 2 Chronicles 23：16； 21。
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Chapter 17
The Call of Elisha
God had bidden Elijah anoint another to be prophet in his stead。 〃Elisha the son of Shaphat 。 。 。 shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room〃 （1 Kings 19：16）； He had said； and in obedience to the command； Elijah went to find Elisha。 As he journeyed northward； how changed was the scene from what it had been only a short while before！ Then the ground was parched； the farming districts unworked； for neither dew nor rain had fallen for three and a half years。 Now on every hand vegetation was springing up as if to redeem the time of drought and famine。
Elisha's father was a wealthy farmer； a man whose household were among the number that in a time of almost universal apostasy had not bowed the knee to Baal。 Theirs was a home where God was honored and where allegiance to the faith of ancient Israel was the rule of daily life。 In such surroundings the early years of Elisha were passed。 In the quietude of country life； under the teaching of God and
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nature and the discipline of useful work； he received the training in habits of simplicity and of obedience to his parents and to God that helped to fit him for the high position he was afterward to occupy。
The prophetic call came to Elisha while； with his father's servants； he was plowing in the field。 He had taken up the work that lay nearest。 He possessed both the capabilities of a leader among men and the meekness of one who is ready to serve。 Of a quiet and gentle spirit； he was nevertheless energetic and steadfast。 Integrity； fidelity； and the love and fear of God were his； and in the humble round of daily toil he gained strength of purpose and nobleness of character； constantly increasing in grace and knowledge。 While co…operating with his father in the home…life duties； he was learning to co…operate with God。
By faithfulness in little things； Elisha was preparing for weightier trusts。 Day by day； through practical experience； he gained a fitness for a broader； higher work。 He learned to serve； and in learning this； he learned also how to instruct and lead。 The lesson is for all。 None can know what may be God's purpose in His discipline； but all may be certain that faithfulness in little things is the evidence of fitness for greater responsibilities。 Every act of life is a revelation of character； and he only who in small duties proves himself 〃a workman that needeth not to be ashamed〃 ca