298 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

father how many years the ten tribes of Israel were
governed by kings of their own.

Grandfather. For two hundred and fifty-four years.
In the year of the world 3029 they revolted from the
house of David, and chose Jeroboam for their king. In
the year 8283 Shalmaneser carried them into captivity.
He does not seem to have supplied the land with in-
habitants in their place, at least it was thinly peopled
until the time of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, who sent
colonies there from different parts of his dominions.
These colonists were idolatrous people. Some of them
worshipped the sun, some worshipped the lower animals,
or images in the shape of them; some had gods in the
form of a pillar, and some in human likeness; others
kept fire continually burning on their altars, to which
they did homage. Vile deities these were, and vilely
were they served. The poor ignorant people took
their own children and burned them in the fire, and
things even more abominable still they did in honour of
their gods. Because of their wicked idolatrous prac-
tices, the Lord sent lions into Samaria, who killed
some of them.

Marianne. Why did lions come among them? They
did not know any better. The Israelites did know
better, and no lions annoyed them, though they worship-
ped idols.

Grandfather. True, they did, but not like these
people. They professed to regard the God of their
fathers, though they did not worship Him as they ought.