sins and sincere repentance of David, are propounded, says Augustine, in order that, at the falls of such great men, others may tremble, and know what to avoid; and that, at their rising again, those who have fallen may know what to imitate."

"Among the conspicuous beauties of this book are the feeling lamentations of David over Saul and Jonathan, the expressive parable of Nathan, and the triumphant hymn of David.

"This book, as well as the former, contains intrinsic proofs of its verity. Besides the prophecies, some of which were fulfilled within a short period of their announcement; the sacred writer describes without disguise, the misconduct of those characters who were most reverenced by the people, and by appealing to monuments, then existing, for the truth of what he wrote, brought forward indisputable evidence of his faithful adherence to truth. The books of Samuel, read in connection with the book of Psalms, will be found to illustrate, in a remarkable manner, many of those sublime and devotional compositions."-(C. B. Vol. II. p. 325.)

THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS.

This book comprises a period of 126 years from the anointing of Solomon, A. M. 2989, to the death of Jehosaphat, A. M. 3115. It relates the latter part of David's life, his death, and the accession of Solomon, whose reign comprehended the most prosperous and glorious period of the Israelitish history, and prefigured the peaceful reign of the Messiah, as did his erection and consecration of the

temple at Jerusalem, the beauty and perfection of the church of God. The history of the undivided kingdom includes the latter days of David—the rebellion of Adonijah, and the inauguration of SolomonDavid's charge to Solomon a little before his death -Solomon's reign from the time of his father's death to the dedication of the temple-transactions during the latter part of his reign-his commerce, popularity, riches, apostacy, punishment and death. The history of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah comprises the accession of Rehoboam, and the division of the tribes-the reigns of the different kings of Judah and Israel-part of the life of Elijah and the calling of Elisha-the remaining part of Ahab's reign, and the accession and reign of Jehosaphat.

THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS.

"This book continues the cotemporary history of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, during a period of 300 years, from the death of Jehosaphat, A. M. 3115, to the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, A. M. 3416. The connection, and occasional quarrels which subsisted between the two nations during part of this time, till the conquest of Samaria by Shalmanezer, appears to have induced the sacred writer to blend the two histories, as in some measure treating of the same people. Both nations appear to have departed with almost equal steps from the service of the true God; and in the history of each we are presented with a succession of wicked and idolatrous

kings, till each kingdom had completed the measure of its iniquity. The whole period seems to have been dark and guilty; the glory of the people of Israel being eclipsed by the calamities of the division of the tribes, and by the increasing miseries of idolatry and ambition. Successive tyrannies, treasons, seditions, and usurpations, and the almost instant punishment which they produced, serve at once to illustrate the evil character of the times, and the vigilant equity of the divine government.

"Sixteen sovereigns filled the throne of Judah, from the time of Jehoram, son of Jehosaphat to the time of Zedekiah, in whose reign the kingdom of Judah was totally subverted; and the people carried captive to Babylon, according to the word of the Lord' which he spake by his servant Isaiah. (Chap. 39.) During this period, numerous prophets flourished, both in Israel and Judah, as Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Joel, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Daniel, Ezekiel, &c. This book may be divided into two parts; part the first containing the history of the two kingdoms to the end of the kingdom of the ten tribes-part the second the history of the decline and fall of the kingdom of Judah."-(Grey's Key.)

"It is evident that two descriptions of writers were concerned in the composition of the books of Kings. 1. Those original, primitive, and cotemporary authors who wrote the annals, journals, and memoirs of their own times; from which the substance of our sacred history has been formed. These ancient memoirs have not descended to us, but were certainly in the hands of those sacred pen

men whose writings are in our possession, since they cite them and refer to them. (See 2 Chron. xx. 34; xxvi. 22; xxxii. 32.)-2. Those writers who compiled and arranged the present books from those ancient and authentic documents. Some ascribe this work to Isaiah, others to Jeremiah; but the best supported opinion appears to be that which ascribes it to Ezra the scribe.' The proofs of which are these, 1. The editor lived after the Babylonish captivity. At the end of the second book of Kings, (chap. xxv. 22, 23,) he speaks of the return from that captivity. 2. He describes the ten tribes as still captive in Assyria, (chap. xvii. 3,) and introduces reflections on the calamities of Israel and Judah, which demonstrates that he wrote after these events. 3. He almost every where refers to ancient memoirs which he had before him, and abridged. 4. There is every reason to believe that the editor was a priest, or a prophet. He studies less to describe acts of heroism, successful battles, conquests, political addresses, &c., than what regards the temple, religion, religious ceremonies, festivals, the worship of God, the piety of princes, the fidelity of the prophets, the punishment of crimes, the manifestation of God's anger against the wicked, and his kindness to the righteous. He appears every where attached to the house of David; he treats of the kings of Israel only incidentally; his principal object seems to be the kingdom of Judah, and the matters which concern it.

"All this agrees well with the supposition that EZRA was the compiler of these books, who is universally allowed, by the Jews, to have been the col

lector and compiler of the different books which constitute the Old Testament. The apparent contradictions to this hypothesis may be easily reconciled by admitting that he copied word for word the documents in his possession, and then added (as is generally the case with all historians) such illustrations and reflections as arose out of his subject. This shows that he was master of the matter that he was discussing; and being inspired, he was not afraid of intermixing his own words with those of the prophets, whose writings lay before him."

The authenticity and inspiration of these books are attested by the prophecies they contain, and which were subsequently fulfilled; by the citations of our Saviour and his apostles; by their universal reception by the Jewish and Christian churches, and by the corresponding testimonies of ancient profane writers. The following is remarkable, and worthy of regard, as it affords an indubitable proof of the truth of a part of Scripture history. The part is this,-" In the 14th chapter of the first book of Kings, and in 2 Chron. 12th chapter, it is recorded that 'In the fifth year of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and the shields of gold which Solomon had made.' Of this event we have no mention made in profane history, and consequently nothing to corroborate the testimony of the sacred historian; but a confirmation of this fact has recently been brought to light, after the long period of 2800 years. From the researches of M. Champollion, it appears that Shishak was the builder