CHAPTER XIl. 453 told him by the prophet Isaiah, that all these treasures should be carried into Babylon ; but because Hezekiah humbled him- self, God deferred the execution of it till after his death; 2 Chron. xxxii. 25, 26. . 51. Q. What was the character and the government of his son Manasseh ? A. He forsook the good ways of his father Hezekiah, he brought in idolatry of many kinds ; he worship- ped the sun, moon, and stars ; he made his son pass wrough the fire; he used enchantments; and shed mach innocent.blood ; 2 Kings xxi. 2-26.-2 Chron. xxxiii. 52. Q. Howwere his transgressions punished ? A. The captains of the host of Assyria came up against Manasseh, took him among the thorns, bound him with fetters, and carried him toBabylon ; 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11. 53. Q. How did Manasseh behave in his afflictions ? A. He humbled himself greatly before God in prayer, whereupon God restored him to his kingdom, where he wrought a great reformation ; Verses 12-16. 54. Q. What is written concerning Amon the son of Ma- nasseh ? A. Amon restored the idolatry whichManasseh had once set up, but he never repented, or returned to God, as his father had done, and he was slain by his own servants ; 2 Chron. xxxiii. 20-25. 55. Q. What is worthy of notice in the reign of Josiah the son of Amon ? A. At eight years old he began his reign, at sixteen he sought after God, and at twenty he destroyed the altar and idols which his father Amon,, the son ofManasseh, $et up; 2 Kings xxiii. 3-14.-2 Chron. xxxiv. 1 -7. 56. Q. Flow did he carry on this work of reformation? A. He repaired the temple, and restored the worship of God ; and finding a book of the law of the Lord by Moses, he rent his clothes, and mourned to think how little this law had been ob- served ; Verses 18, 19. 57. Q. What further use did hé make of this book ? A. He read the words of it in the ears of all the elders of Judah, and the people, the priests, and the prophets, and made a cove- nant with the people of Judah, to perform what was written in thisbook ; 2 Kings xxiii. 2, 3. 58. Q. Did he make also any reformation in Israel? A. The kingdom of Israel being now destroyed by the king of As. syria, Josiah spread his influence over those who remained in the land, and many of Israel, as well as of Judah, came to keep the passover; 2 Chron. xxv. 17. 59. Q. Were not many of Israel present also at Heze. kiah's passover ? Wherein then did this passover of Josiah exceed that in the (lays of Hezekiah ? A. In the exact conl'or- mity of it to all the rules appointed by Moses, so that no such passover had been kept since the days of Samuel the prophet; Chron. xxxv. 18.
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