Page:Essays ethnological and linguistic.djvu/191

Rh conclude even the larger portion of them. For the narrative proceeds to state, "So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even unto Dan, that they should come to keep the passover at Jerusalem. So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah; and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria." This address then to those escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria, issued throughout all Israel from Beersheba to Dan, proves incontestably that all Israel had not been swept away by the Assyrians after the taking of Samaria, but that a considerable remnant had been able to escape from the captivity and remain in their own land. This is still more evident from what follows. The exact year of Hezekiah's reign in which this solemn passover was kept is not stated; but it was probably before the fourteenth year, inasmuch as it was then that Sennacherib came up against all the fenced cities of Judah and took them (2 Kings, xviii. ver. 13), which event is narrated after the particulars of this solemn assembly. Of this we are further informed: "So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulon, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Nevertheless divers of Asher, and of Manasseh, and of Zebulon humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation" (2 Chron. xxx. vv. 10-13). In the eighteenth verse we read still further, "A multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulon, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, and the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah and healed the people."

From these passages it is undubitable that even immediately after Israel is said to have been carried away captive by the Assyrians, there was still a large remnant of them left in their own land, among whom we have particularly specified six out of the ten tribes, namely Dan, Ephraim, Manasseh, Asher, Issachar, and Zebulon, which tribes at least may therefore be presumed to have been mainly left to become amalgamated with those of Judah and Benjamin.

The beneficial attempts of Hezekiah to reclaim the revolted tribes from the worship of idols were resumed by his