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The words spoken against the apostate tribes were literally fulfilled； yet the destruction of the kingdom came gradually。 In judgment the Lord remembered mercy； and at first； when 〃Pul the king of Assyria came against the land；〃 Menahem； then king of Israel； was not taken captive； but was permitted to remain on the throne as a vassal of the Assyrian realm。 〃Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver； that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand。 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel； even of all the mighty men of wealth； of each man fifty shekels of silver； to give to the king of Assyria。〃 2 Kings 15：19； 20。 The Assyrians； having humbled the ten tribes； returned for a season to their own land。
Menahem； far from repenting of the evil that had wrought ruin in his kingdom； continued in 〃the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat； who made Israel to sin。〃 Pekahiah and Pekah； his successors； also 〃did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord。〃 Verses 18； 24； 28。 〃In the days of Pekah；〃 who reigned twenty years； Tiglath…pileser； king of Assyria； invaded Israel and carried away with him a multitude of captives from among the tribes living in Galilee and east of the Jordan。 〃The Reubenites； and the Gadites； and the half tribe of Manasseh；〃 with others of the inhabitants of 〃Gilead； and Galilee； all the land of Naphtali〃 （1 Chronicles 5：26； 2 Kings 15：29）； were scattered among the heathen in lands far removed from Palestine。
From this terrible blow the northern kingdom never recovered。 The feeble remnant continued the forms of government； though no longer possessed of power。 Only one more ruler； Hoshea； was to follow Pekah。 Soon the kingdom
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was to be swept away forever。 But in that time of sorrow and distress God still remembered mercy； and gave the people another opportunity to turn from idolatry。 In the third year of Hoshea's reign； good King Hezekiah began to rule in Judah and as speedily as possible instituted important reforms in the temple service at Jerusalem。 A Passover celebration was arranged for； and to this feast were invited not only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin； over which Hezekiah had been anointed king； but all the northern tribes as well。 A proclamation was sounded 〃throughout all Israel； from Beersheba even to Dan； that they should come to keep the Passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem： for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written。
〃So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah；〃 with the pressing invitation； 〃Ye children of Israel； turn again unto the Lord of God of Abraham； Isaac； and Israel； and He will return to the remnant of you； that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria。 。 。 。 Be ye not stiff…necked； as your fathers were； but yield yourselves unto the Lord； and enter into His sanctuary； which He hath sanctified forever： and serve the Lord your God； that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you。 For if ye turn again unto the Lord； your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive； so that they shall come again into this land： for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful； and will not turn away His face from you； if ye return unto Him。〃 2 Chronicles 30：5…9。
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〃From city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun；〃 the couriers sent out by Hezekiah carried the message。 Israel should have recognized in this invitation an appeal to repent and turn to God。 But the remnant of the ten tribes still dwelling within the territory of the once…flourishing northern kingdom treated the royal messengers from Judah with indifference and even with contempt。 〃They laughed them to scorn； and mocked them。〃 There were a few； however； who gladly responded。 〃Divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves； and came to Jerusalem； 。 。 。 to keep the feast of unleavened bread。〃 Verses 10…13。
About two years later； Samaria was invested by the hosts of Assyria under Shalmaneser； and in the siege that followed； multitudes perished miserably of hunger and disease as well as by the sword。 The city and nation fell； and the broken remnant of the ten tribes were carried away captive and scattered in the provinces of the Assyrian realm。
The destruction that befell the northern kingdom was a direct judgment from Heaven。 The Assyrians were merely the instruments that God used to carry out His purpose。 Through Isaiah； who began to prophesy shortly before the fall of Samaria； the Lord referred to the Assyrian hosts as 〃the rod of Mine anger。〃 〃The staff in their hand；〃 He said； 〃is Mine indignation。〃 Isaiah 10：5。
Grievously had the children of Israel 〃sinned against the Lord their God； 。 。 。 and wrought wicked things。〃 〃They would not hear； but 。 。 。 rejected His statutes； and His covenant that He made with their fathers； and His
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testimonies which He testified against them。〃 It was because they had 〃left all the commandments of the Lord their God； and made them molten images； even two calves； and made a grove； and worshiped all the host of heaven； and served Baal；〃 and refused steadfastly to repent； that the Lord 〃afflicted them； and delivered them into the hand of spoilers； until He had cast them out of His sight；〃 in harmony with the plain warnings He had sent them 〃by all His servants the prophets。〃
〃So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria；〃 〃because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God； but transgressed His covenant； and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded。〃 2 Kings 17：7； 11；14…16； 20； 23； 18：12。
In the terrible judgments brought upon the ten tribes the Lord had a wise and merciful purpose。 That which He could no longer do through them in the land of their fathers He would seek to accomplish by scattering them among the heathen。 His plan for the salvation of all who should choose to avail themselves of pardon through the Saviour of the human race must yet be fulfilled； and in the afflictions brought upon Israel； He was preparing the way for His glory to be revealed to the nations of earth。 Not all who were carried captive were impenitent。 Among them were some who had remained true to God； and others who had humbled themselves before Him。 Through these； 〃the sons of the living God〃 （Hosea 1：10）； He would bring multitudes in the Assyrian realm to a knowledge of the attributes of His character and the beneficence of His law。
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Chapter 24
〃Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge〃
God's favor toward Israel had always been conditional on their obedience。 At the foot of Sinai they had entered into covenant relationship with Him as His 〃peculiar treasure。 。 。 above all people。〃 Solemnly they had promised to follow in the path of obedience。 〃All that the Lord hath spoken we will do；〃 they had said。 Exodus 19：5； 8。 And when； a few days afterward； God's law was spoken from Sinai； and additional instruction in the form of statutes and judgments was communicated through Moses； the Israelites with one voice had again promised； 〃All the words which the Lord hath said will we do。〃 At the ratification of the covenant； the people had once more united in declaring； 〃All that the Lord hath said will we do； and be obedient；〃 Exodus 24：3； 7。 God had chosen Israel as His people； and they had chosen Him as their King。
Near the close of the wilderness wandering the conditions of the covenant had been repeated。 At Baalpeor； on the
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very borders of the Promised Land； where many fell a prey to subtle temptation； those who remained faithful renewed their vows of allegiance。 Through Moses they were warned against the temptations that would assail them in the future； and they were earnestly exhorted to remain separate from the surrounding nations and to worship God alone。
〃Now therefore hearken；〃 Moses had instructed Israel； 〃unto the statutes and unto the judgments； which I teach you； for to do them； that ye may live； and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you。 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you； neither shall ye diminish aught from it； that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you。 。 。 。 Keep therefore and do them； for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations； which shall hear all these statutes； and say； Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people。〃 Deuteronomy 4：1…6。
The Israelites had been specially charged not to lose sight of the commandments of God； in obedience to which they would find strength and blessing。 〃Take heed to thyself； and keep thy soul diligently；〃 had been the word of the Lord to them through Moses； 〃lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen； and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life： but teach them thy sons； and thy sons' sons。〃 Verse 9。 The awe…inspiring scenes connected with the giv