CXCVII. 2 Kings, Chap. XVII.
Israel carry'd Captive by Shalmanezer:
Strange Nations sent in their rooms, &c.
Hoshea
, who Israel's Crown by Murther gain'd,
Now on the Hill of ancient Shemir reign'd:
By Shalmanezer conquer'd, Tribute paid,
Awhile his new Assyrian Lord obey'd:
Weary at length he lays a deep Design
To break his Yoke, and does with Egypt joyn;
Which by Assyria's Partizans disclos'd,
To his Resentments he's agen expos'd:
What crowding Nations with him take the Field,
To whom the Royal Towns compell'd to yield;
Their King in Chains th'Assyrian with him bore,
Nor wou'd he trust the pardon'd Rebel more:
From their dear Native Country far away,
Degenerate Israel's Sons he did convey,
Whence never, never more they must return,
But their lost Seats in endless Exile mourn:
In Halah and in Habor these were plac'd,
These in the Median Towns by Gozan's Stream embrac'd,
What Crimes cou'd Israel's God so far provoke,
That with his own lov'd People thus he broke
His ancient Leagues, and left 'em to their Foe,
For whom so oft he Wonders wont to show?
—'Twas they who on themselves his Wrath pull'd down,
And sold to Ruin their forsaken Town:
Incorrigibly wicked and profane,
His Prophets call'd, himself he call'd in vain:
On ev'ry Hill an Idol-Grove they made,
Beneath each verdant Trees inviting Shade,
Themselves defiling they their Shame ador'd,
The Heathen follow'd, and provok'd the Lord.
But Jeroboam's Calves the casting weight,
Which their swift Ruin brought, and seal'd their Fate:
For this the Nation long of God belov'd,
From their bless'd Land, and from his Sight remov'd;
While to Samaria's Regions in their room,
Large Colonies of barb'rous People come:
From Babel these, and these from Cusha went,
From Hamath others, and from Ava sent,
Or conquer'd Sepharvaim's wasted Land,
Whose Gods too weak th'Assyrian to withstand;
Like those they follow'd, impious and profane,
For this by rav'nous Lions justly slain;
Till their entire Destruction to prevent,
The King an ancient Priest of Bethel sent:
He taught 'em what he cou'd, tho' little more
Than what the Heathens knew themselves before.
How richly now is their Pantheon stor'd!
The Calves, their Gods, and Israel's God ador'd:
A diff'rent Pow'r each diff'rent Sept maintain,
And of divided Faith to After-Days remain.
