"Peace to the house of Israel!"

Like the rumble of a mighty wave rolling toward the shore came the
response from the sea of worshiping people:

"To the house of Israel, peace!"

For one whole week after Jeroboam's triumphant entry into the capital,
Samaria was a place of feasting and rejoicing. When, by command of the
king, the celebration came to an end and the people began to return to
their homes, each one, on leaving the city's gates, repeated to
himself the now answered prayer of over a century:

"Peace to the house of Israel!
To the house of Israel, peace!"




CHAPTER II.

_In the Days of Prosperity._


It was market day in Samaria.

Great throngs of people crowded all the streets. They jostled each
other good naturedly, traded, bargained, renewed acquaintanceship,
spoke of their home towns and expressed the hope of meeting again.