The history of The Old Testament In verse With One Hundred and Eighty sculptures: In Two Volumes. Vol. I. From the Creation to the Revolt of the Ten Tribes from the House of David. Vol. II. From that Revolt to the End of the Prophets. Written by Samuel Wesley ... The Cuts done by J. Sturt |
 | I, II. |
 | The history of The Old Testament In verse |  |
CCVIII. 2 Chron. Chap. XIII.
Abijah's Victory over Jeroboam.
Roboam
sleeps, Abijah next succeeds,
Short was his Reign, but fam'd for mighty Deeds:
Strongly he warr'd with Israel's Rival Crown,
And oft return'd with Conquest and Renown.
Four hundred thousand Combatants he led,
And Ephraim's Mount with firm Battalions spred;
But twice the Number Jeroboam brought,
When thus the brave Abijah e're they fought,
Who high on Zaaraim's Mount appear'd,
And thence with Ease by either Army heard.
—“Before the Sword already rais'd, descend
O Israel, with your faithless Prince attend!
Wilfully Ignorant, you ought to know
That God on David did the Crown bestow;
With him, and with his favour'd Royal Race,
A Compact made, which Time shall ne're efface:
Tho' this to Nebat's Offspring not unknown,
The Servant dar'd invade his Master's Throne:
A Band of sanguine Ruffians with him joyn'd,
Fit Instruments for Ills by him design'd.
My Father young, unable to withstand
His full-grown Treason and a factious Land,
He snatch'd the Reins from his unpractis'd Hand.
Not so from God, who David's Line will own,
And fix his Sons on his well-order'd Throne:
Short was his Reign, but fam'd for mighty Deeds:
Strongly he warr'd with Israel's Rival Crown,
And oft return'd with Conquest and Renown.
Four hundred thousand Combatants he led,
And Ephraim's Mount with firm Battalions spred;
But twice the Number Jeroboam brought,
When thus the brave Abijah e're they fought,
Who high on Zaaraim's Mount appear'd,
And thence with Ease by either Army heard.
—“Before the Sword already rais'd, descend
O Israel, with your faithless Prince attend!
Wilfully Ignorant, you ought to know
That God on David did the Crown bestow;
With him, and with his favour'd Royal Race,
A Compact made, which Time shall ne're efface:
480
The Servant dar'd invade his Master's Throne:
A Band of sanguine Ruffians with him joyn'd,
Fit Instruments for Ills by him design'd.
My Father young, unable to withstand
His full-grown Treason and a factious Land,
He snatch'd the Reins from his unpractis'd Hand.
Not so from God, who David's Line will own,
And fix his Sons on his well-order'd Throne:
A num'rous Army to the Field you bring,
Vain of your Idol-Gods and Idol-King:
The hallow'd Sons of Aaron you expel,
And Idol-Priests in their Possessions dwell:
For us, Jehovah for our God we take,
Him have not left, nor will he us forsake.
His Priests attend his Charge and Sacrifice,
With Clouds of grateful Incense fill the Skies:
See where they stand with holy Miters crown'd,
As Moses bids, the silver Trumps to sound,
To sound th'Alarm against you they prepare,
O do not fight, for God himself is there!
—Let him preach on, proud Jeroboam cry'd,
Whose Gods are strongest now will soon be try'd.
The wily Chief a num'rous Ambush laid,
Which Judah's Rear with dreadful Shouts invade:
Himself he charg'd their Front—they stood their Ground
To God they cry, his Priests the Trumpets sound;
—And God himself did in their Cause appear;
Blind Terror, wild Affright, disorder'd Fear
On Israel's Host he scatter'd, soon they fled:
Behold the Hills, behold the Vallies spread
With Swords and Shields, and with th'unnumber'd Dead!
Thus weaker Judah humbled Israel's Pride,
Nor vainly they upon their Fathers God rely'd.
Vain of your Idol-Gods and Idol-King:
The hallow'd Sons of Aaron you expel,
And Idol-Priests in their Possessions dwell:
For us, Jehovah for our God we take,
Him have not left, nor will he us forsake.
His Priests attend his Charge and Sacrifice,
With Clouds of grateful Incense fill the Skies:
See where they stand with holy Miters crown'd,
As Moses bids, the silver Trumps to sound,
To sound th'Alarm against you they prepare,
O do not fight, for God himself is there!
—Let him preach on, proud Jeroboam cry'd,
Whose Gods are strongest now will soon be try'd.
The wily Chief a num'rous Ambush laid,
Which Judah's Rear with dreadful Shouts invade:
Himself he charg'd their Front—they stood their Ground
To God they cry, his Priests the Trumpets sound;
481
Blind Terror, wild Affright, disorder'd Fear
On Israel's Host he scatter'd, soon they fled:
Behold the Hills, behold the Vallies spread
With Swords and Shields, and with th'unnumber'd Dead!
Thus weaker Judah humbled Israel's Pride,
Nor vainly they upon their Fathers God rely'd.
| The history of The Old Testament In verse | |