294 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

Pekah, who by treason and murder ascended the throne,
was in his turn supplanted by the same means. Hoshea
seized the crown, and a comfortless crown he found
it. Shalmaneser, king of«Assyria, came up against
him, and subjected him to tribute. For some time this
lasted. But Hoshea, wearied of his servile state, ne-
glected to pay his yearly tax, and sent to beg assistance
from So, king of Egypt. When this came to the ears
of Shalmaneser he was enraged; he marched into the
land of Israel, and took the king prisoner. Samaria held
out against him for three years: at the end of that
time he took it, and carried into captivity all the in-
habitants of the land of Israel. From thenceforward
they ceased to be a nation.

Johnnie. Where did he take them ?

Grandfather. In the land of Assyria there is a city
and a province both named Halah ; another city and
province called Yozar. Between them flows the river
Haber or Chebar, as Ezekiel calls it. There the captive
Israelites were planted, and also in the cities of the
Medes. We are not told the names of those cities;
but historians say that the land of Media was peopled
by colonies from abroad.

George. Why did he take them away ?

Grandfather. He may have had many reasons, to shew
his power over them perhaps; or, as they had rebelled
once, it might be to prevent them rebelling again; or
to break their spirit, by keeping them as bondmen; or
to make room for his own people to settle in the land of