is made still further evident by, “in his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho” (v. 34). Awful effrontery was this, for of old it had been recorded “Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, cursed be the man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation in his firstborn” (Joshua 6:26). The rebuilding of the accursed Jericho was open defiance of God. Now it was in the midst of this spiritual darkness and degradation there appeared on the stage of