2 CHRONICLES 28

14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation [sarim and kol HaKahal].

15 And the men which were expressed by name [shemot] rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them [put balm on them], and carried all the feeble of them upon asses [donkeys], and brought them to [Yericho], the city of palm trees [ Ir Temarim], to their brethren [achim]: then they returned to Samaria [Shomron].

When those thus addressed realised that their victory over Judah was God's dispensation of bitterness to Judah because of their sins, it modified their feelings greatly, and led to one of the most extraordinary incidents in the history of war.

Thus excellent are the dispositions of men when swayed by reason and the fear of God. The time will come when all men shall thus be animated. How pleasant a place will the earth then be to live in, and how interesting and delightful the race of mankind everywhere!

The song of the angels will yet become the true description of affairs on earth. The enchanting performance in the still air of night on Bethlehem's plains, will not for ever be mocked by the triumph of folly in all earth's valleys and mountains.

When the babe, whose birth they celebrated, reigns omnipotent head of all the kingdoms of the world, the glory of Yahweh will be in the ascendant, and peace and goodwill prevail to the utmost bounds.

Ways of Providence Ch 21.