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not being suffered to accompany him to the war. They
fell upon the cities of Judah, destroyed many of them,
and took much spoil, to make up for what they had ex-
pected to get if they had gone against Edom.

George. The king would punish them for that when
he came back ?

Grandfather. He was not able to punish any one, for
he had brought punishment on himself' He was so
foolish as to take the gods of the Edomites home and
worship them. The Lord was angry, and sent a prophet
to rebuke him. The king was angry with the prophet
for daring to do so, and threatened him. The prophet
warned him of the evil that would come upon him. It
soon came. The king entered into a sinful, because an
unnecessary war. He sent a challenge to Jehoash, king
of Israel. Jehoash returned an answer, comparing him-
self to a cedar, and Amaziah to a thistle. “ Abide now
at home,” he said to the king of Judah; “ why shouldst
thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldst fall, even
thou and Judah with thee °”

George. How did he know who would win ?

Grandfather. He knew who was to blame for the
war; and his words teach us that if we are the beginners
or promoters of strife, we meddle to our hurt. Amaziah
persisted ; the armies met. Josephus tells us that before
the commencement of the battle the armies of Judah
were seized with such terror that they were unable to
strike a blow. As they were driven hither and thither
by their fears, Amaziah was left alone, and was taken

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