the antiquities of the jews-1-第97章

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time　the　air　was　all　obscured；　and　covered　with　clouds；　and　a
vehement　storm　of　wind　came　upon　the　earth；　and　with　it　a　great
deal　of　rain；　and　the　prophet　was　under　a　Divine　fury；　and　ran
along　with　the　king's　chariot　unto　Jezreel　a　city　of　Izar　（35）
＇Issaachar＇。

7。　When　Jezebel；　the　wife　of　Ahab；　understood　what　signs　Elijah
had　wrought；　and　how　he　had　slain　her　prophets；　she　was　angry；
and　sent　messengers　to　him；　and　by　them　threatened　to　kill　him；
as　he　had　destroyed　her　prophets。　At　this　Elijah　was　affrighted；
and　fled　to　the　city　called　Beersheba；　which　is　situate　at　the
utmost　limits　of　the　country　belonging　to　the　tribe　of　Judah；
towards　the　land　of　Edom；　and　there　he　left　his　servant；　and　went
away　into　the　desert。　He　prayed　also　that　he　might　die；　for　that
he　was　not　better　than　his　fathers；　nor　need　he　be　very　desirous
to　live；　when　they　were　dead；　and　he　lay　and　slept　under　a
certain　tree；　and　when　somebody　awakened　him；　and　he　was　risen
up；　he　found　food　set　by　him　and　water：　so　when　he　had　eaten；　and
recovered　his　strength　by　that　his　food；　he　came　to　that　mountain
which　is　called　Sinai；　where　it　is　related　that　Moses　received
his　laws　from　God；　and　finding　there　a　certain　hollow　cave；　he
entered　into　it；　and　continued　to　make　his　abode　in　it。　But　when
a　certain　voice　came　to　him；　but　from　whence　he　knew　not；　and
asked　him；　why　he　was　come　thither；　and　had　left　the　city？　he
said；　that　because　he　had　slain　the　prophets　of　the　foreign　gods；
and　had　persuaded　the　people　that　he　alone　whom　they　had
worshipped　from　the　beginning　was　God；　he　was　sought　for　by　the
king's　wife　to　be　punished　for　so　doing。　And　when　he　had　heard
another　voice；　telling　him　that　he　should　come　out　the　next　day
into　the　open　air；　and　should　thereby　know　what　he　was　to　do；　he
came　out　of　the　cave　the　next　day　accordingly；　When　he　both　heard
an　earthquake；　and　saw　the　bright　splendor　of　a　fire；　and　after　a
silence　made；　a　Divine　voice　exhorted　him　not　to　be　disturbed
with　the　circumstances　he　was　in；　for　that　none　of　his　enemies
should　have　power　over　him。　The　voice　also　commanded　him　to
return　home；　and　to　ordain　Jehu；　the　son　of　Nimshi；　to　be　king
over　their　own　multitude；　and　Hazael；　of　Damascus；　to　be　over　the
Syrians；　and　Elisha；　of　the　city　Abel；　to　be　a　prophet　in　his
stead；　and　that　of　the　impious　multitude；　some　should　be　slain　by
Hazael；　and　others　by　Jehu。　So　Elijah；　upon　hearing　this　charge；
returned　into　the　land　of　the　Hebrews。　And　when　he　found　Elisha；
the　son　of　Shaphat；　ploughing；　and　certain　others　with　him；
driving　twelve　yoke　of　oxen；　he　came　to　him；　and　cast　his　own
garment　upon　him；　upon　which　Elisha　began　to　prophesy　presently；
and　leaving　his　oxen；　he　followed　Elijah。　And　when　he　desired
leave　to　salute　his　parents；　Elijah　gave　him　leave　so　to　do；　and
when　he　had　taken　his　leave　of　them；　he　followed　him；　and　became
the　disciple　and　the　servant　of　Elijah　all　the　days　of　his　life。
And　thus　have　I　despatched　the　affairs　in　which　this　prophet　was
concerned。

8。　Now　there　was　one　Naboth；　of　the　city　Izar；　＇Jezreel；＇　who　had
a　field　adjoining　to　that　of　the　king：　the　king　would　have
persuaded　him　to　sell　him　that　his　field；　which　lay　so　near　to
his　own　lands；　at　what　price　he　pleased；　that　he　might　join　them
together；　and　make　them　one　farm；　and　if　he　would　not　accept　of
money　for　it；　he　gave　him　leave　to　choose　any　of　his　other　fields
in　its　stead。　But　Naboth　said　he　would　not　do　so；　but　would　keep
the　possession　of　that　land　of　his　own；　which　he　had　by
inheritance　from　his　father。　Upon　this　the　king　was　grieved；　as
if　he　had　received　an　injury；　when　he　could　not　get　another　man's
possession；　and　he　would　neither　wash　himself；　nor　take　any　food：
and　when　Jezebel　asked　him　what　it　was　that　troubled　him；　and　why
he　would　neither　wash　himself；　nor　eat　either　dinner　or　supper；
he　related　to　her　the　perverseness　of　Naboth；　and　how；　when　he
had　made　use　of　gentle　words　to　him；　and　such　as　were　beneath　the
royal　authority；　he　had　been　affronted；　and　had　not　obtained　what
he　desired。　However；　she　persuaded　him　not　to　be　cast　down　at
this　accident；　but　to　leave　off　his　grief；　and　return　to　the
usual　care　of　his　body；　for　that　she　would　take　care　to　have
Naboth　punished；　and　she　immediately　sent　letters　to　the　rulers
of　the　Israelites　＇Jezreelites＇　in　Ahab's　name；　and　commanded
them　to　fast　and　to　assemble　a　congregation；　and　to　set　Naboth　at
the　head　of　them；　because　he　was　of　an　illustrious　family；　and　to
have　three　bold　men　ready　to　bear　witness　that　he　had　blasphemed
God　and　the　king；　and　then　to　stone　him；　and　slay　him　in　that
manner。　Accordingly；　when　Naboth　had　been　thus　testified　against；
as　the　queen　had　written　to　them；　that　he　had　blasphemed　against
God　and　Ahab　the　king；　she　desired　him　to　take　possession　of
Naboth's　vineyard　on　free　cost。　So　Ahab　was　glad　at　what　had　been
done；　and　rose　up　immediately　from　the　bed　whereon　he　lay　to　go
to　see　Naboth's　vineyard；　but　God　had　great　indignation　at　it；
and　sent　Elijah　the　prophet　to　the　field　of　Naboth；　to　speak　to
Ahab；　and　to　say　to　him；　that　he　had　slain　the　true　owner　of　that
field　unjustly。　And　as　soon　as　he　came　to　him；　and　the　king　had
said　that　he　might　do　with　him　what　he　pleased；　（for　he　thought
it　a　reproach　to　him　to　be　thus　caught　in　his　sin；）　Elijah　said；
that　in　that　very　place　in　which　the　dead　body　of　Naboth　was
eaten　by　dogs　both　his　own　blood　and　that　of　his　wife's　should　be
shed；　and　that　all　his　family　should　perish；　because　he　had　been
so　insolently　wicked；　and　had　slain　a　citizen　unjustly；　and
contrary　to　the　laws　of　his　country。　Hereupon　Ahab　began　to　be
sorry　for　the　things　he　had　done；　and　to　repent　of　them；　and　he
put　on　sackcloth；　and　went　barefoot　（36）　and　would　not　touch　any
food；　he　also　confessed　his　sins；　and　endeavored　thus　to　appease
God。　But　God　said　to　the　prophet；　that　while　Ahab　was　living　he
would　put　off　the　punishment　of　his　family；　because　he　repented
of　those　insolent　crimes　he　had　been　guilty　of；　but　that　still　he
would　fulfill　his　threatening　under　Ahab's　son；　which　message　the
prophet　delivered　to　the　king。
CHAPTER　14。

How　Hadad　King　Of　Damascus　And　Of　Syria；　Made　Two　Expeditions
Against　Ahab　And　Was　Beaten。

1。　When　the　affairs　of　Ahab　were　thus；　at　that　very　time　the　son
of　Hadad；　＇Benhadad；＇　who　was　king　of　the　Syrians　and　of
Damascus；　got　together　an　army　out　of　all　his　country；　and
procured　thirty…two　kings　beyond　Euphrates　to　be　his　auxiliaries：
so　he　made　an　expedition　against　Ahab；　but　because　Ahab's　army
was　not　like　that　of　Benhadad；　he　did　not　set　it　in　array　to
fight　him；　but　having　shut　up　every　thing　that　was　in　the　country
in　the　strongest　cities　he　had；　he　abode　in　Samaria　himself；　for
the　walls　about　it　were　very　strong；　and　it　appeared　to　be　not
easily　to　be　taken　in　other　respects　also。　So　the　king　of　Syria
took　his　army　with　him；　and　came　to　Samaria；　and　placed　his　army
round　about　the　city；　and　besieged　it。　He　also　sent　a　herald　to
Ahab；　and　desired　he　would　admit　the　ambassadors　he　would　send
him；　by　whom　he　would　let　him　know　his　pleasure。　So；　upon　the
king　of　Israel's　permission　for　him　to　send；　those　ambassador's
came；　and　by　their　king's　command　spake　thus：　That　Ahab's　riches；
and　his　children；　and　his　wives　were　Benhadad's；　and　if　he　would
make　an　agreement；　and　give　him　leave　to　take　as　much　of　what　he
had　as　he　pleased；　he　would　withdraw　his　army；　and　leave　off　the
siege。　Upon　this　Ahab　bade　the　ambassadors　to　go　back；　and　tell
their　king；　that　both　he　himself　and　all　that　he　hath　are　his
possessions。　And　when　these　ambassadors　had　told　this　to
Berthadad；　he　sent　to　him　again；　and　desired；　since　he　confessed
that　all　he　had　was　his；　that　he　would　admit　those　servants　of
his　which　he　should　send　the　next　day；　and　he　commanded　him　to
deliver　to　those　whom　he　should　send　whatsoever；　upon　their
searching　his　palace；　and　the　houses　of　his　friends　and　kindred；
they　should　find　to　be　excellent　in　its　kind；　but　that　what　did
not　please　them　they　should　leave　to　him。　At　this　second
embassage　of　the　king　of　Syria；　Ahab　was　surprised；　and　gathered
together　the　multitude　to　a　congregation；　and　told　them　that；　for
himself；　he　was　ready；　for　their　safety　and　peace；　to　give　up　his
own　wives　and　children　to　the　enemy；　and　to　yield　to　him　all　his
own　possessions；　for　that　was　what　the　Syrian　king　required　at
his　first　embassage；　but　that　now　he　desires　to　send　his　servants
to　search　all　their　houses；　and　in　them　to　leave　nothing　that　is
excellent　in　its　kind；　seeking　an　occasion　of　fighting　against
him；　〃as　knowing　that　I　would　not　spare　what　is　mine　own　for　your
sakes；　but　taking　a　handle　from　the　disagreeable　terms　he　offers
concerning　you　to　bring　a　war　upon　us；　however；　I　will　do　what
you　shall　resolve　is　fit　to　be　done。〃　But　the　multitude　advised
him　to　hearken　to　none　of　his　proposals；　but　to　despise　him；　and
be　in　readiness　to　fight　him。　Accordingly；　when　he　had　given　the
ambassadors　this　answer　to　be　reported；　that　he　still　continued
in　the　mind　to　comply　with　what　terms　he　at　first　desired；　for
the　safety　of　the　citizens；　but　as　for　his　second　desires；　he
cannot　submit　to　them；　…　he　dismissed　them。

2。　Now　when　Benhadad　heard　this；　he　had　indignation；　and　sent
ambassadors　to　Ahab　the　third　time；　and　threatened　that　his　army
would　raise　a　bank　higher　than　those　walls；　in　confidence　of
whose　strength　he　despised　him；　and　that　by　only　each　man　of　his
army　taking　a　handful　of　earth；　hereby　making　a　show　of　the　great
number　of　his　army；　and　aiming　to　affright　him。　Ahab　answered；
that　he　ought　not　to　vaunt　himself　when　he　had　only　put　on　his
armor；　but　when　he　should　have　conquered　his　enemies　in　the
battle。　So　the　ambassadors　came　back；　and　found　the　king　at
supper　with　his　thirty…two　kings；　and　informed　him　of　Ahab's
answer；　who　then　immediately　gave　order　for　proceeding　thus：　To
make　lines　round　the　city；　and　raise　a　bulwark；　and　to　prosecute
the　siege　all　manner　of　ways。　Now；　as　this　was　doing；　Ahab　was　in
a　great　agony；　and　all　his　people　with　him；　but　he　took　courage；
and　was　freed　from　his　fears；　upon　a　certain　prophet　coming　to
him；　and　saying　to　him；　that　God　had　promised　to　subdue　so　many
ten　thousands　of　his　enemies　under　him。　And　when　he　inquired　by
whose　means　the　victory　was　to　be　obtained；　be　said；〃　By　the　sons
of　the　princes；　but　under　thy　conduct　as　their　leader；　by　reason
of　their　unskilfulness　＇in　war＇。〃　Upon　which　he　called　for　the
sons　of　the　princes；　and　found　them　to　be　two　hundred　and
thirty…two　persons。　So　when　he　was　informed　that　the　king　of
Syria　had　betaken　himself　to　feasting　and　repose；　he　opened　the
gates；　and　sent　out　the　princes'　sons。　Now　when　the　sentinels
told　Benhadad　of　it；　he　sent　some　to　meet　them；　and　commanded
them；　that　if　these　men　were　come　out　for　fighting；　they　should
bind　them；　and　bring　them　to　him；　and　that　if　they　came　out
peaceably；　they　should　do　the　same。　Now　Ahab　had　another　army
ready　within　the　walls；　but　the　sons　of　the　princes　fell　upon　the
out…guard；　and　slew　many　of　them；　and　pursued　the　rest　of　them　to
the　camp；　and　when　the　king　of　Israel　saw　that　these　had　the
upper　hand；　he　sent　out　all　the