sickness."

But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up
to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, 'Is
it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of
Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou
shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt
surely die.'"

And Elijah departed. And the messengers returned unto him, and he said
unto them, "Why is it that ye are returned?"

{383}{384}

[Illustration]
SAMARIA FROM THE SOUTH.

From a photograph of the Palestine Exploration Fund and used
by special permission.

The revolt of the people of the north made necessary a new capital.
It was first at Shechem, which was not, however, a strong situation
from the military standpoint; then at Tirzah, but Omri chose finally
a beautiful location at the head of a valley running down to the
sea. Here on a hill rising 360 feet above the surrounding country
was built one of the famous cities of the east--Samaria, meaning
"watch-tower." It was the sacred city of the north, the rival of
Jerusalem. The city was almost impregnable, and the sieges against
it were always very long. The broad vale is visible for eight miles,
then a low range of hills, and over them the sea.

"To-day amid the peaceful beauty of the scene--the secluded vale
covered with cornfields through which the winding streams flash and
glisten into the hazy distance, and the gentle hill rises to the
olives waving over its summit--it is possible to appreciate Isaiah's
name for Samaria, the crown of the pride of Ephraim, the flower of
his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley. There
by the entrance of the gate Ahab drew his sentence of death from the
prophet of Jehovah; and there they washed his blood from his chariot,
when they had brought him back to his burial. There Jezebel slew the
prophets of Jehovah and Jehu the priests of Baal."
[End illustration]

{385}

And they said unto him, "There came up a man to meet us, and said unto
us, 'Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him,
Thus saith the Lord, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that
thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou
shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt
surely die.'"

And he said unto them, "What manner of man was he which came up to
meet you? and