The kingdom of Judah remained about an hundred and thirty years after “Ephraim was broken that he was not a people.”  Those, who adhered to the house of David did not revolt so early as those who seceded at the division of the kingdom.  Divine worship according to the law of Moses, was kept up among them; and several pious princes reigned over them.  But though the progress of impiety was less rapid than in the other kingdom, there was a departure from the living God, and idolatry and immorality prevailed, till they also filled up the measure of their sins.  Then, impartial heaven “stretched over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab.” *

* 2 Kings xxi. 13.

The generation on which those judgments were executed was greatly depraved, and like the men of Sodom, sinners exceedingly; but their sins alone would not have occasioned those desolations; they were added to the national account, and filled up the measure of national guilt.  One of their kings did much to swell that account.  Mention is made, more than once, of his sins, particularly of the innocent blood which he shed, as fixing the doom of the nation, rendering prayer for it unavailing and its ruin inevitable.  “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be towards this people:  Cast them out of my sight; I will cause them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manassah, the king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.” * Wantonly shedding the blood of his subjects, was one of the sins charged upon him.  This sin is, in a sense, unpardonable.  “Blood defileth the land; and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him that shed it.” + Manasseh’s blood was not shed.  Therefore was the land destined to suffer, Josiah, who reigned after Manasseh, was pious; but after he had done every thing in his power to atone for the sins of his fathers, and reclaim the nation, and not wholly without effect, it is expressly noted that “the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.”  And after the judgments had been executed, it is again remarked that they were sent to punish the sins of that wicked ruler—­“Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; and also for the innocent blood that he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon.” ++

* Jeremiah xv. 1-4. + Numbers xxxv. 33. ++ 2 Kings xxiii. 26, xxiv. 3, 4.

Manasseh was gone off the stage; so were all who had shared in his guilt; that prince had, moreover, repented and obtained personal forgiveness; but his crimes had filled up the measure of national wickedness, and judgment must follow.  There was no remedy.

These are conclusive evidence that the sins of a people, and especially of the rulers of a people, which are not punished by the civil arm, are charged to the people, and eventually punished upon them.