History of the Old Testament Volume 7, Part 18
THE FAMINE OF Samaria releeued.
NOt many good turnes are written in Marble: ſoone hauehave theſe Syrians forgotten the mercifull beneficence of Iſrael: After the forbearance of ſome hoſtile inrode, all the forces of Syria are muſtered againſt Iehoram: That very Samaria which had releeued the diſtreſſed Aramites, is by the Aramites beſieged, and is affamiſhed by thoſe, whom it had fed. The famine within the walls was more terrible than the ſword without; Their worſt enemy was ſhut within; and could not bee diſlodged of their owne bowels: Whither hath the Idolatrie of Iſrael brought them? Before, they had beene ſcourged with warre, with drought, with dearth; as with ſingle cords; they remaine incorrigible, and now God twiſts two of theſe bloudy laſhes together, and galls them euen to death: There needs no other executioners than their own mawes. Thoſe things which in their nature were not edible, (at leaſt, to an Iſraelite) were now both deare, and daintie; The Aſſe was (beſides the vntoothſomneſſe) an impure creature; that which the law of Ceremonies had made vncleane, the law of neceſſitie had made delicate, and precious; the bones of ſo carrion an head could not bee picked for leſſe than foure hundred peeces of Siluer; neither was this ſcarcitie of victuals onelyonly, but of all other neceſſaries for humane vſe; that the belly might not complaine alone, the whole man was equally pinched.
The King of Iſrael is neither exempted from the iudgement, nor yet yeelds vnderunder it; He walkes vponupon the walls of his Samaria, to ouerſee the Watches ſet, the Engines ready, the Guards changed, together with the poſture of the enemy; when a woman cries to him out of the Citie, Help my Lord O King; Next to God, what refuge hauehave we in all our neceſſities, but his Anointed? Earthly Soueraigntie can aid vsus in the caſe of the iniuſtice of men, but what can it doe againſt the iudgements of God? If the Lord doe not help thee, whence ſhall I help thee? out of the barne floore; or out of the winepreſſe? Euen the greateſt powers muſt ſtoop to afflictions in themſelues, how ſhould they be able to preuent them in others? To ſue for aid where is an vtter impotence of redreſſe, is but to vpbraid the weakneſſe, and aggrauate the miſery of thoſe whom we implore; Iehoram miſtakes the ſuit; The ſuppliant calls to him for a wofull peece of Iuſtice; Two mothers hauehave agreed to eat their ſonnes; The one hath yeelded hers to bee boiled, and eaten; the other, after ſhe hath taken her part of ſo prodigious a banquet, with-drawes her childe, and hides him from the knife; Hunger and enuy make the Plaintiffe importunate; and now ſhe craues the benefit of royall iuſtice; She that made the firſt motion, with-holds her part of the bargaine; and flies from that promiſe, whoſe truſt had made this mother childleſſe. Oh the direfull effects of famine, that turnes off all reſpects of nature, and giues no place to horror; cauſing the tender mother to lay her hands, yea her teeth vponupon the fruit of her owne body; and to receiue that into her ſtomacke, which ſhe hath brought forth of her wombe; What ſhould Iehoram doe? The match was monſtrous; The challenge was iuſt, yet vnnaturall; This complainant had purchaſed one halfe of the liuing childe, by the one halfe of hers, dead; The mother of the furuiuing Infant is preſſed by couenant, by hunger; reſtrained by nature; To force a mother to deliuer vp her childe to voluntarie ſlaughter, had beene cruell; To force a Debtor to pay a confeſſed arerage, ſeemed but equall: If the remaining childe be not dreſſed for food, this mother of the deuoured childe is both robbed, and affamiſhed; If he bee, innocent bloud is ſhed by authoritie.
It is no maruell if the queſtion aſtoniſhed the Iudge; not ſo much for the difficultie of the demand, as the horror of the occaſion; To what lamentable diſtreſſe did Iehoram finde his people driuen? Not without cauſe did the King of Iſrael rend his garments, and ſhew his ſack-cloth; well might he ſee his people branded with that ancient curſe which God had denounced againſt the rebellious; The Lord ſhall bring a Nation againſt thee, of a fierce countenance, which ſhall not regard the perſon of the old, nor ſhew fauour to the young; And he ſhall beſiege thee in all thy gates; And thou ſhalt eat the fruit of thine owne body, the fleſh of thy ſonnes, and of thy daughters; The tender and delicate woman, her eies ſhall be euill towards her young one that commeth out from betweene her feet, and towards the children which ſhe ſhall beare, for ſhe ſhall eat them for want of all things ſecretly in the ſiege and ſtraitneſſe. Hee mournes for the plague, hee mournes not for the cauſe of this plague, his ſin, and theirs; I finde his ſorrow, I finde not his repentance: The worſt man may grieue for his ſmart, onelyonly the good heart grieues for his offence: In ſtead of being penitent, Iehoram is furious, and turnes his rage from his ſins, againſt the Prophet; God doe ſo to me, and more alſo, if the head of Eliſha, the ſonne of Shaphat, ſhall ſtand on him this day: Alas, what hath the righteous done? Perhaps Eliſha (that wee may imagine ſome colours of this diſpleaſure) forethreatned this iudgement; but they deſerued it, perhaps he might hauehave auerted it by his prayers; their vnrepentance diſabled him; Perhaps hee perſwaded Iehoram to hold out the ſiege; though through much hardneſſe, he foreſaw the deliuerance; In all this how hath Eliſha forfeited his head? All Iſrael did not afford an head ſo guiltleſſe as this that was deſtin'd to ſlaughter: This is the faſhion of the world; the lewd blames the innocent, and will reuenge their owne ſinnes vponupon others vprightneſſe.
In the midſt of all this ſad eſtate of Samaria, and theſe ſtormes of Iehoram, the Prophet ſits quietly in his owne houſe, amongſt his holy Conſorts; bewailing no doubt both the ſinnes, and miſery of their people; and prophetically conferring of the iſſue; when ſuddenly God reueales to him the bloudy intent, and meſſage of Iehoram, and he at once reueales it to his fellowes. See yee how this ſonne of a murderer hath ſent to take away mine head. Oh the vnimitable libertie of a Prophet! The ſame God that ſhew'd him his danger, ſuggeſted his words; He may bee bold, where we muſt bee awfull; Still is Naboths bloud laid in Iehorams diſh; The foule fact of Ahab blemiſheth his poſteritie; and now when the ſonne threats violence to the innocent, murder is obiected to him as hereditary.
He that foreſaw his owne perill, prouides for his ſafetie; [Shut the doore and hold him fast at the doore.] No man is bound to tender his throat to an vniuſt ſtroke; This bloudie commiſſion was preuented by a propheticall fore-ſight: The ſame eye that ſaw the executioner comming to ſmite him, ſaw alſo the King haſting after him, to ſtay the blow; The Prophet had beene no other than guiltie of his owne bloud, if he had not reſerued himſelfe a while, for the reſcue of authoritie: Oh the inconſtancie of carnall hearts! It was not long ſince Iehoram could ſay to Eliſha, My father, ſhall I ſmite them? now he is readie to ſmite him as an enemie, whom hee honoured as a father; Yet againe, his lips had no ſooner giuen ſentence of death againſt the Prophet, than his feet ſtirre to recall it; It ſhould ſeeme that Eliſha, vponupon the challenges and expoſtulations of Iehorams meſſenger, had ſent a perſwaſiue meſſage to the King of Iſrael, yet a while to wait patiently vponupon God for his deliuerance; The diſcontented Prince flies off in an impotent anger, Behold, this euill is of the Lord, what ſhould I wait for the Lord any longer? Oh the deſperate reſolutions of impatient mindes! They hauehave ſtinted God both for his time and his meaſure; if he exceed either, they either turne their backs vponupon him, or flie in his face: The poſition was true, the inference deadly: All that euill was of the Lord; they deſerued it, he ſent it: What then? It ſhould hauehave beene therefore argued, Hee that ſent it, can remoue it: I will wait vponupon his merciemercy, vnderunder whoſe iuſtice I ſuffer: Impatience and diſtruſt ſhal but aggrauate my iudgement; It is the Lord, let him doe what he will; But now to deſpaire becauſe God is iuſt, to defie mercy becauſe it lingers, to reiect God for correction, it is a preſumptuous madneſſe, an impious pettiſhneſſe.
Yet in ſpight of all theſe prouocations both of King, and people, Eliſha hath good newes for Iehoram; Thus ſaith the Lord, To morrow about this time ſhall a meaſure of fine flowre bee ſold for a Shekell; and two meaſures of Barley for a Shekell in the gate of Samaria: Miſerable Iſrael now ſees an end of this hard triall; One daies patience ſhall free them both of ſiege, and famine. Gods deliuerances may ouer-ſtay our expectation, not the due period of his owne counſels. Oh infinite mercy, when man ſaies, No longer, God ſayes, To morrow; As if hee would condeſcend, where hee might iudge; and would pleaſe them who deſerued nothing but puniſhment. The word ſeemed not more comfortable, than incredible; A Lord, on whoſe hand the King leaned, anſwered the man of God, and ſaid, Behold, if the Lord would make windowes in heauen, might this thing be? Propheſies, before they be fulfilled, are riddles; no ſpirit can areed them, but that by which they are deliuered. It is a fooliſh and iniurious infidelity to queſtion a poſſibilitie, where wee know the meſſage is Gods: How eaſie is it for that omnipotent hand to effect thoſe things, which ſurpaſſe all the reach of humane conceit? Had God intended a miraculous multiplication, was it not as eaſie for him to increaſe the corne or meale of Samaria, as the widowes oyle? was it not as eaſie for him to giuegive plentie of victuals without opening the windowes of heauen, as to giuegive plentie of water without wind, or raine? The Almightie hates to be diſtruſted; This Peere of Iſrael ſhall rue his vnbeleefe; Behold, thou ſhalt ſee it with thine eies, but ſhalt not eat thereof; The ſight ſhall bee yeelded for conuiction, the fruition ſhall be denied for puniſhment; Well is that man worthy to want the benefit which he would not beleeue; Who can pittie to ſee Infidelitie excluded from the bleſſings of earth, from the glorie of heauen?
How ſtrange a choice doth God make of the Intelligencers of ſo happy a change: Foure Lepers ſit at the entring of the Gate; they ſee nothing but death before them, famine within the walls, the enemy, without: The election is wofull; at laſt they reſolue vponupon the leſſer euill; Famine is worſe than the Syrian; In the famine there is certaintie of periſhing; amongſt the Syrians, hazzard; Perhaps the enemy may hauehave ſome pittie, hunger hath none; and, were the death equally certaine, it were more eaſie to die by the ſword, than by famine; vponupon this deliberation they come downe into the Syrian camp, to finde either ſpeed of mercy, or diſpatch. Their hunger would not giuegive them reſpite till morning; By twi-light are they fallen vponupon the vttermoſt tents: Behold, there was no man; They maruell at the ſilence, and ſolitude; they looke, and liſten; the noiſe of their owne feet affrighted them; their guiltie hearts ſupplied the Syrians, and expected fearefully thoſe which were as fearefully fled: How eaſily can the Almightie confound the power of the ſtrong, the policie of the wiſe? God puts a Pannick terror into the hearts of the proud Syrians; hee makes them heare a noiſe of charets, and a noiſe of horſes, euen the noiſe of a great hoaſt; They ſay one to another, Loe the King of Iſrael hath hired against vsus the Kings of the Hittites, and the Kings of the Egyptians, to come vponupon vsus; they ariſe therefore in a confuſed rout, and leauing all their ſubstance behinde them, flee for their liues. Not long before, Eliſhaes ſeruant ſaw charets and horſes, but heard none; Now, theſe Syrians heare charets and horſes, but ſee none; That ſight comforted his heart; this ſound diſmaied theirs; The Iſraelites heard no noiſe within the walls, the Lepers heard no noiſe without the gates; OnelyOnly the Syrians heard this noiſe in their campe: What a ſcorne doth God put vponupon theſe preſumptuous Aramites? He will not vouchſafe to vſe any ſubſtantiall ſtratagem againſt them; nothing but an emptie ſound ſhall ſcatter them, and ſend them home emptie of ſubſtance, laded with ſhame, halfedead with feare; the very horſes that might hauehave haſtned their flight, are left tied in their Tents; their verie garments are a burden; all is left behinde, ſaue their very bodies, and thoſe breathleſſe for ſpeed.
Doubtleſſe theſe Syrians knew well to what miſerable exigents the incloſed Iſraelites were brought, by their ſiege; and now made full account to ſacke, and ranſacke their Samaria; already had they diuided, and ſwallowed the prey; when ſuddenly God puts them into a ridiculous confuſion; and ſends them to ſeeke ſafetie in their heeles; no bootie is now in price with them but their life; and happy is he that can run faſteſt.
Thus the Almightie laughes at the deſignes of inſolent men, and ſhuts vp their counſels in ſhame.
The feare of the foure Lepers began now to giuegive way to ſecuritie; they fill their bellies, and hide their treaſures, and paſſe from one Tent to another, in a faſtidious choice of the beſt commodities; they who ere-while would hauehave held it happineſſe enough to hauehave beene bleſſed with a cruſt, now wantonly roue for dainties; and from neceſſitie leape into exceſſe.
How farre ſelfe-louelove carries vsus in all our actions; euen to the neglect of the publique? Not till their owne bellies, and hands, and eies were filled, did theſe Lepers thinke of imparting this newes to Iſrael: at laſt, when themſelues are glutted, they begin to remember the hunger of their brethren; and now they finde roome for remorſe; We doe not well, this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace; Nature teaches vsus that it is an iniurie to ingroſſe bleſſings: and ſo to minde the priuate, as if wee had no relation to a communitie; we are worthy to bee ſhut out of the Citie-gates for Lepers, if the reſpects to the publique good doe not ouer-ſway with vsus in all our deſires, in all our demeanure; and well may we with theſe couetous Lepers feare a miſchiefe vponupon our ſelues, if wee ſhall wilfully conceale bleſſings from others.
The conſcience of this wrong and danger ſends backe the Lepers into the Citie; they call to the Porters; and ſoone tranſmit the newes to the Kings houſhold; The King of Iſrael complaines not to hauehave his ſleepe broken with ſuch intelligence; He ariſeth in the night, and not contemning good newes, though brought by Lepers, conſults with his ſeruants of the buſineſſe.
We cannot be too iealous of the intentions of an enemy; Iehoram wiſely ſuſpects this flight of the Syrians to be but ſimulatorie, and politicke; onelyonly to draw Iſrael out of their Citie, for the ſpoile of both; There may be more perill in the backe of an enemy, than in the face; the cruelleſt ſlaughters hauehave beene in retiring: Eaſily therefore is the King perſwaded to aduenture ſome few for-lorne Scouts for further aſſurance; The word of Eliſha is out of his head, out of his heart; elſe there had bin no place for this doubt: Timorous hearts neuer thinke themſelues ſure; thoſe that hauehave no ſaith, had need of much ſenſe.
Thoſe few horſes that remaine, are ſent forth for diſcouery; they finde nothing but Monuments of frightfulneſſe, pledges of ſecuritie: Now Iſrael dares iſſue forth to the prey; There (as if the Syrians had comne thither to inrich them) they finde granaries, wardrobes, treaſures, and what euer may ſerue either for vſe, or oſtentation: EueryEvery Iſraelite goes away filled, laden, wearied with the wealthy ſpoile.
As ſcarcitie breeds dearth, ſo plentie cheapneſſe: To day a meaſure of fine flower is lower rated, than yeſterday of dung.
The diſtruſtfull Peere of Iſrael ſees this abundance, according to the word of the Prophet, but enioyes it not: he ſees this plentie can come in at the gate, though the windowes of heauen be not open; The gate is his charge; The affamiſhed Iſraelites preſſe in vponupon him, and beare him downe in the throng; Extreme hunger hath no reſpect to greatneſſe: Not their rudeneſſe, but his owne vnbeleefe hath trampled him vnderunder feet. He that abaſed the power of God by his diſtruſt, is abaſed worthily to the heeles of the multitude; Faith exalts a man aboue his owne ſphere; Infidelitie depreſſes him into the Duſt, into Hell: He that beleeues not is condemned already.
FINIS.
End of the text · Joseph Hall, History of the Old Testament Volume 7 (1623)