Yet the tribe of Levi also belonged more to the kingdom of Jerusalem, where was the temple of God whom it served.On the division of the people, therefore, Rehoboam, son of Solomon, reigned in Jerusalem as the first king of Judah, and Jeroboam, servant of Solomon, in Samaria as king of Israel.And when Rehoboam wished as a tyrant to pursue that separated part with war, the people were prohibited from fighting with their brethren by God, who told them through a prophet that He had done this;whence it appeared that in this matter there had been no sin either of the king or people of Israel, but the accomplished will of God the avenger.When this was known, both parts settled down peaceably, for the division made was not religious but political.
CHAP.22.--OF JEROBOAM, WHO PROFANED THE PEOPLE PUT UNDER HIM BY THEIMPIETY OF
IDOLATRY, AMID WHICH, HOWEVER, GOD DID NOT CEASE TO INSPIRE THE PROPHETS, AND TOGUARD MANY FROM THE CRIME OF IDOLATRY.
But Jeroboam king of Israel, with perverse mind, not believing in God, whom he had proved true in promising and giving him the kingdom, was afraid lest, by coming to the temple of God which was in Jerusalem, where, according to the divine law, that whole nation was to come in order to sacrifice, the people should be seduced from him, and return to David's line as the seed royal; and set up idolatry in his kingdom, and with horrible impiety beguiled the people, ensnaring them to the worship of idols with himself.Yet God did not altogether cease to reprove by the prophets, not only that king, but also his successors and imitators in his impiety, and the people too.For there the great and illustrious prophet Elijah and Elisha his disciple arose, who also did many wonderful works.Even there, when Elijah said, "O Lord, they have slain Thy prophets, they have digged down Thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life," it was answered that seven thousand men were there who had not bowed the knee to Baal.(1)CHAP.23.--OF THE VARYING CONDITION OF BOTH THE HEBREW KINGDOMS, UNTILTHE PEOPLE
OF BOTH WERE AT DIFFERENT TIMES LED INTO CAPTIVITY, JUDAH BEING AFTERWARDSRECALLED INTO HIS KINGDOM, WHICH FINALLY PASSED INTO THE POWER OF THEROMANS.
So also in the kingdom of Judah pertaining to Jerusalem prophets were not lacking even in the times of succeeding kings, just as it pleased God to send them, either for the prediction of what was needful, or for correction of sin and instruction in righteousness;(2) for there, too, although far less than in Israel, kings arose who grievously offended God by their impieties, and, along with their people, who were like them, were smitten with moderate scourges.The no small merits of the pious kings there are praised indeed.But we read that in Israel the kings were, some more, others less, yet all wicked.Each part, therefore, as the divine providence either ordered or permitted, was both lifted up by prosperity and weighed down by adversity of various kinds; and it was afflicted not Only by foreign, but also by civil wars with each other, in order that by certain existing causes the mercy or anger of God might be manifested;until, by His growing indignation, that whole nation was by the conquering Chaldeans not only overthrown in its abode, but also for the most part transported to the lands of the Assyrians,--first, that part of the thirteen tribes called Israel, but afterwards Judah also, when Jerusalem and that most noble temple was cast down,--in which lands it rested seventy years in captivity.
Being after that time sent forth thence, they rebuilt the overthrown temple.And although very many stayed in the lands of the strangers, yet the kingdom no longer had two separate parts, with different kings over each, but in Jerusalem there was one prince over them; and at certain times, from every direction wherever they were, and from whatever place they could, they all came to the temple of God which was there.
Yet not even then were they without foreign enemies and conquerors;yea, Christ found them tributaries of the Romans.
CHAP.24.--OF THE PROPHETS, WHO EITHER WERE THE LAST AMONG THE JEWS, OR WHOM THEGOSPEL HISTORY REPORTS ABOUT THE TIME OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY.
But in that whole time after they returned from Babylon, after Malachi, Haggai, and Zechariah, who then prophesied, and Ezra, they had no prophets down to the time of the Saviour's advent except another Zechariah, the father of John, and Elisabeth his wife, when the nativity of Christ was already close at hand; and when He was already born, Simeon the aged, and Anna a widow, and now very old; and, last of all, John himself, who, being a young man, did not predict that Christ, now a young man, was to come, but by prophetic knowledge pointed Him out though unknown; for which reason the Lord Himself says, "The law and the prophets were until John."(1) But the prophesying of these five is made known to us in the gospel, where the virgin mother of our Lord herself is also found to have prophesied before John.But this prophecy of theirs the wicked Jews do not receive;but those innumerable persons received it who from them believed the gospel.For then truly Israel was divided in two, by that division which was foretold by Samuel the prophet to king Saul as immutable.But even the reprobate Jews hold Malachi, Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra as the last received into canonical authority.For there are also writings of these, as of others, who being but a very few in the great multitude of prophets, have written those books which have obtained canonical authority, of whose predictions it seems good to me to put in this work some which pertain to Christ and His Church; and this, by the Lord's help, shall be done more conveniently in the following book, that we may not further burden this one, which is already too long.
