Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHAPTER II.

The Women of the Hebrews under the Monarchy - The Egyptian Princesses-The Women of Strange Gods in Israel.

ALL the earth (says the scripture) now sought Solomon, to hear the wisdom which "God had put into his heart;" "for he had wisdom, and understanding, and largeness of heart, even as the sands on the sea-shore, excelling all the children of the East country, and all the wisdom of Egypt." He composed a thousand and five hymns, or songs, and spoke three thousand proverbs; and those who came " to hear the wisdom of Solomon from all parts of the earth," purchased the privilege by "bringing every man his presents, vessels of gold, and garments, and spice, horses and mules, a rate year by year." Yet this more than human wisdom and mortal power, this high supremacy in all things, this mastery over the minds, the opinions, the lives, the fortunes and the liberty of millions, this highest monopoly of human prosperity and glory, ever cited in the records of six thousand years, suddenly passed away like the dream of a vision! Faith abandoned the most zealous worshipper of Jehovah, even while his votive hecatombs yet flooded the streets of Jerusalem with blood, and while the air was filled with the odours of his incense, "which smelt to Heaven." Power melted from the hands of the mightiest, wisdom from the mind of the wisest, and the world's consideration was suddenly turned into its pity and contempt. Another Samuel had already raised another David * to fill the throne of Solomon, while he yet lived; and his own servant was " to reign according to all that his soul desired, and to be king over Israel in his stead;" for "the Lord said unto Solomon, I will surely rend thy kingdom from thee, and give it to thy servant."

Accordingly, the divine denunciation against his race by the mouth of the priesthood, constituted the

* Elijah, the prophet, met the young and brave Jeroboam as he went out of Jerusalem, and when "they two were alone in the field," prophecied to him, "Behold I rend the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon, and will give it to thee." This recalls a similar incident in the lives of Saul and David.-Kings, Chap. xi., v. 1.

"to

last sounds that blasted the ear of the dying king, ere he slept "with his fathers." The priesthood had abandoned him, and the requiem raised over "the tomb of David," ere it closed upon his gorgeous son, was that war-cry of an emancipated nation, your tents, oh Israel!" "The people abhorred him." Ten of the tribes simultaneously abandoned his house, two only remaining faithful; " and that not for his sake, but for David his father's sake!"

The kingdom of Israel, torn by civil wars, was thus rent in twain; a sanguinary prelude to successive captivities, and to the utter dispersion of its people. But what was it that effected all this? Who caused this mightiest revolution in the life and character of any human being on record? What unholy alliance of jealous kings perpetrated the fall of him, greater than all kings? What conspiracy of mighty men within his own dominions hurled this wisest of all men from his acmé of intellectual supremacy? The inspired author who wrote the chronicles of those times, and the lay historian who preserved the traditions of his own nation, have alike declared that Solomon, the greatest and wisest of men, fell-not by the physical or moral force of man, but by woman: it was the servant who overthrew the master, it was the slave who dethroned the sovereign!-it was the idolatress who prostrated the royal pontiff, the most zealous votarist of Jehovah, before "the altar of Ashtaroth, the goddess of the Zidonians."

CHAPTER III.

The Women of the Hebrews on the separation of Israel and JudahJezebel-Athaliah.

WHEN Moses in his prophetic spirit foretold that the restless tribes (which he found it so arduous to lead, so difficult to control) would eventually change the form of their spiritual government into one purely temporal, he drew for them that model of a constitutional monarchy, which, whether borrowed from the wisdom of Egypt, or originated in his own, represented in its principle the chief magistracy of a commonwealth, rather than the irresponsible power of absolutism. He commanded the Hebrews never to admit of a foreign power over them, but to " choose one from their own brethren," one who "should not lift up his heart above his own brethren," ." "nor multiply to himself wives, nor silver, nor gold.* He cau• Deuteronomy, xvii, 14, 20.

« PreviousContinue »