and bury him; for he is the only one of Jeroboam's family who shall be buried in a grave." Then Jeroboam's wife rose up and went out from the prophet's house to her own home; and as she came near to it, the little child died. And they buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, as the prophet had bade them do.

For twenty-two years Jeroboam reigned; then he died, and Nadab, his son, was made king in his place. And although this son knew well his father's sin, and all the prophet said, still, after he was made king, he did not serve God, but worshipped the same golden calves which his father had set up. When he had been king two years, he went with his army against the Philistines and besieged one of their cities. While he was there before the city, a man, named Baasha, rebelled against

him and slew him; and Baasha was made king over the ten tribes of Israel. Then Baasha put every one of Jeroboam's family to death. So the words of the prophet, which he told Jeroboam's wife, came true, that the Lord would bring evil on Jeroboam and his family, until not one of them should be left alive.

But Baasha was a wicked king also, and he too worshipped the golden calves. For twenty-four years he reigned; and when he died Elah, his son was made king in his place. Now, Elah lived in the city of Tirzah, where his father had lived. He reigned for only two years; then, as he was drinking in the house of his chief servant, Zimri, the captain of half of his chariots, came into the house and killed him. Then Zimri made himself king.

The men of Israel were away fighting against the Philistines at this time; but as

soon as they heard what Zimri had done, they vowed he should not rule over them. They chose, instead, Omri, their captain, for their king. Then Omri and the men of Israel came to Tirzah, where Zimri was, and besieged it; and when Zimri saw they were about sure to gain the victory over him and take the city, he went into the king's palace, set it on fire, and perished in the burning building. And so Zimri was king for only seven days.

Omri, when he became king, bought a hill called the hill of Samaria, for two talents of silver. He built a city upon it, which he called the city of Samaria; and in this city Omri lived. The kings of Israel who reigned after him also lived there as long as the kingdom lasted, which was for nearly two hundred years, But Omri, too, was sinful; for he worshipped the golden calves, and encouraged

them. He was

the people also to worship them.

king for twelve years. Then he died and was buried in Samaria, the city which he had built; and Ahab, his son, was made king in his stead. And so, up to this time, six kings had ruled over the ten tribes of Israel, and every one of them were idolators. But Ahab, Omri's son, was more wicked than all who had ruled before him. He took for his wife the daughter of a heathen king. Her name was Jezebel, and she worshipped the idol Baal. Ahab built a house, or temple, for the idol, in Samaria; and chose wicked men to

and offer up sacrifices to the idol.

the city of

stay there,

He set up

an altar and made a grove, and commanded the people of Israel to worship Baal, as the heathen nations did.

Then the Lord sent the prophet Elijah to tell Ahab that for years there should come no

more rain in the land of Israel; not until Elijah should ask for it. This made Ahab most angry with Elijah; and so the Lord bade the prophet, after he had spoken these words, to flee away where Ahab could not find him.

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'Go," the Lord said, “and hide by a brook that is in the wilderness. Thou shalt drink of the water of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." So Elijah

He drank of the

went and hid by the brook. sweet water, and the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening.

But after a while the brook dried up, for the famine had come in the land. Then the Lord said to Elijah, " Arise, and go to the city of Zarephath, for I have commanded a widow woman there to feed thee." Elijah arose and went; and when he came to the gate of the