of the Baals.
Elijah was not only a champion of Jehovah; he was a champion of the
poor against their oppressors, a champion of the common people against
the despotism of kings, as is so vividly and thrillingly illustrated
in the story of Naboth's vineyard.

=Elisha.=--Elijah's work was carried on after his death by another
prophet named Elisha. He also seems to have been a friend of the
common people. Many traditions of his helpfulness to them are recorded
in the second book of Kings. But his chief aim was to overthrow the
dynasty of Ahab. It was Elisha who, with the help of the Rechabites,
launched the revolution of Jehu.

=A disappointing outcome.=--Jehu was really no better than Ahab. He
was willing to drive out the priests of the Phoenician Baal, and he
offered many sacrifices to Jehovah. But his chief ambition was for
himself. Instead of bringing peace and justice to the poor, suffering,
war-scourged people, his reign was horrible for its bloody killings.
No one was safe from his murderous jealousy.

There was needed something more than a mere revival of the "old time
religion" of Moses. There had to be purer and nobler ideas of Jehovah,
a better knowledge of the real nature of Jehovah and of what Jehovah
demanded of men, and of the kind of worship which would please him.
Till then there was little hope of happiness for men and women and
little children.

STUDY TOPICS

1. Read 2 Kings 6. 24-30 for a vivid picture of the sufferings of the
common people of Israel, as a result of constant wars.

2. Read 1 Kings 20. 1-34 for some light on Ahab as an able king. What
qualities are displayed by him, in the narrative of this chapter?

3. Look up Rechabites in the Bible dictionary for a more complete
narrative about them.

4. Is war more of a curse to the common people to-day than in ancient
times, or less? Why? What classes still suffer most from war, the rich
and powerful or the common people?

CHAPTER XV

A NEW KIND OF RELIGION

Among all ancient peoples, including the Hebrews, a large part of
religion was the burning of animal sacrifices on altars. Whenever a
sheep or lamb or kid was slaughtered for food the blood was poured out
on the sacred rock, or altar, in which the god was supposed to dwell.
Afterward the fat was burned on the same rock. It was believed that
the god in the rock drank the blood and smelled the fragrant odor of
the burning fat.

=Whole burnt offerings.=--On special occasio