THE NIGHT OF ISRAEL. 295

Israel. Whatever the motive of Shalmaneser was, the
Lord used him as an instrument to punish the ten
tribes for rebelling against him, and worshipping strange
gods. Let us be warned by their fate. Within us is
the same evil heart, apt to wander astray. Let us seek
the assistance of the Spirit, that we may walk uprightly.
Israel would not serve their God in the good land he
had given them; justly were they made to serve his
enemies in a strange land. If we prefer the service of
sin to the service of God, he is just in giving us up
to its power.

Johnnie. Did they ever get back again ?

Grandfather. In the time of Ezra, a few returned
with the tribes of Judah and Benjamin ; but from the
day that they were carried away by Shalmaneser until
now, the great bulk of them have been scattered among
the nations, as the prophets had foretold.

Marianne. Where are they now?

Grandfather. That is not very well known. We hear
of them in the time of the apostles. St Luke tells us of
Parthians and Medes and Elamites, dwellers in Meso-
potamia, Cappadocia, Pontus, Phrygia, Pamphylia, in
Egypt, and the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, Cretes
and Arabians. These he calls Jews and proselytes.
That means the descendants of Jacob, and those they
had converted to their faith, James addresses his
epistle to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, without
naming the countries of their residence. Peter ‘ad-
dresses his brethren as strangers scattered throughout