people； and made them to revolt from the worship of their
forefathers； and to transgress their laws。 This was the beginning
of miseries to the Hebrews； and the cause why they were overcome
in war by foreigners； and so fell into captivity。 But we shall
relate those things in their proper places hereafter。
5。 When the feast ＇of tabernacles＇ was just approaching； Jeroboam
was desirous to celebrate it himself in Bethel； as did the two
tribes celebrate it in Jerusalem。 Accordingly he built an altar
before the heifer； and undertook to be high priest himself。 So he
went up to the altar； with his own priests about him； but when he
was going to offer the sacrifices and the burnt…offerings； in the
sight of all the people； a prophet； whose name was Jadon； was
sent by God； and came to him from Jerusalem； who stood in the
midst of the multitude； and in the 'hearing of' the king； and
directing his discourse to the altar； said thus： God foretells
that there shall be a certain man of the family of David； Josiah
by name； who shall slay upon thee those false priests that shall
live at that time； and upon thee shall burn the bones of those
deceivers of the people； those impostors' and wicked wretches。
However； that this people may believe that these things shall so
come to pass； I foretell a sign to them that shall also come to
pass。 This altar shall be broken to pieces immediately； and all
the fat of the sacrifices that is upon it shall be poured upon
the ground。〃 When the prophet had said this； Jeroboam fell into a
passion； and stretched out his hand； and bid them lay hold of
him； but that hand which he stretched out was enfeebled； and he
was not able to pull it in again to him； for it was become
withered； and hung down； as if it were a dead hand。 The altar
also was broken to pieces； and all that was upon it was poured
out； as the prophet had foretold should come to pass。 So the king
understood that he was a man of veracity； and had a Divine
foreknowledge； and entreated him to pray to God that he would
restore his right hand。 Accordingly the prophet did pray to God
to grant him that request。 So the king； having his hand recovered
to its natural state； rejoiced at it； and invited the prophet to
sup with him； but Jadon said that he could not endure to come
into his house； nor to taste of bread or water in this city； for
that was a thing God had forbidden him to do； as also to go back
by the same way which he came； but he said he was to return by
another way。 So the king wondered at the abstinence of the man；
but was himself in fear； as suspecting a change of his affairs
for the worse； from what had been said to him。
CHAPTER 9。
How Jadon The Prophet Was Persuaded By Another Lying Prophet And
Returned ＇To Bethel；＇ And Was Afterwards Slain By A Lion。 As Also
What Words The Wicked Prophet Made Use Of To Persuade The King；
And Thereby Alienated His Mind From God。
1。 Now there was a certain wicked man in that city； who was a
false prophet； whom Jeroboam had in great esteem； but was
deceived by him and his flattering words。 This man was bedrid； by
reason or the infirmities of old age： however； he was informed by
his sons concerning the prophet that was come from Jerusalem； and
concerning the signs done by him； and how； when Jeroboam's right
hand had been enfeebled； at the prophet's prayer he had it
revived again。 Whereupon he was afraid that this stranger and
prophet should be in better esteem with the king than himself；
and obtain greater honor from him： and he gave orders to his sons
to saddle his ass presently； and make all ready that he might go
out。 Accordingly they made haste to do what they were commanded；
and he got upon the ass and followed after the prophet。； and when
he had overtaken him； as he was resting himself under a very
large oak tree that was thick and shady； he at first saluted him；
but presently he complained of him； because he had not come into
his house； and partaken of his hospitality。 And when the other
said that God had forbidden him to taste of any one's provision
in that city； he replied； that 〃for certain God had not forbidden
that I should set food before thee； for I am a prophet as thou
art； and worship God in the same manner that thou dost； and I am
now come as sent by him； in order to bring thee into my house；
and make thee my guest。〃 Now Jadon gave credit to this lying
prophet； and returned back with him。 But when they were at
dinner； and merry together； God appeared to Jadon； and said that
he should suffer punishment for transgressing his commands； … and
he told him what that punishment should be for he said that he
should meet with a lion as he was going on his way； by which lion
he should be torn in pieces； and be deprived of burial in the
sepulchers of his fathers； which things came to pass； as I
suppose； according to the will of God； that so Jeroboam might not
give heed to the words of Jadon as of one that had been convicted
of lying。 However； as Jadon was again going to Jerusalem； a lion
assaulted him； and pulled him off the beast he rode on； and slew
him； yet did he not at all hurt the ass； but sat by him； and kept
him； as also the prophet's body。 This continued till some
travelers that saw it came and told it in the city to the false
prophet； who sent his sons； and brought the body unto the city；
and made a funeral for him at great expense。 He also charged his
sons to bury himself with him and said that all which he had
foretold against that city； and the altar； and priests； and false
prophets； would prove true； and that if he were buried with him；
he should receive no injurious treatment after his death； the
bones not being then to be distinguished asunder。 But now； when
he had performed those funeral rites to the prophet； and had
given that charge to his sons； as he was a wicked and an impious
man； he goes to Jeroboam； and says to him； 〃And wherefore is it
now that thou art disturbed at the words of this silly fellow？〃
And when the king had related to him what had happened about the
altar； and about his own hand； and gave him the names of divine
man； and an excellent prophet； he endeavored by a wicked trick to
weaken that his opinion； and by using plausible words concerning
what had happened； he aimed to injure the truth that was in them；
for he attempted to persuade him that his hand was enfeebled by
the labor it had undergone in supporting the sacrifices； and that
upon its resting awhile it returned to its former nature again；
and that as to the altar； it was but new； and had borne abundance
of sacrifices； and those large ones too； and was accordingly
broken to pieces； and fallen down by the weight of what had been
laid upon it。 He also informed him of the death of him that had
foretold those things； and how he perished； ＇whence he concluded
that＇ he had not any thing in him of a prophet； nor spake any
thing like one。 When he had thus spoken； he persuaded the king；
and entirely alienated his mind from God； and from doing works
that were righteous and holy； and encouraged him to go on in his
impious practices （25） and accordingly he was to that degree
injurious to God； and so great a transgressor； that he sought for
nothing else every day but how he might be guilty of some new
instances of wickedness； and such as should be more detestable
than what he had been so insolent as to do before。 And so much
shall at present suffice to have said concerning Jeroboam。
CHAPTER 10。
Concerning Rehoboam； And How God Inflicted Punishment Upon Him
For His Impiety By Shishak ＇King Of Egypt＇。
1。 Now Rehoboam； the son of Solomon； who； as we said before； was
king of the two tribes； built strong and large cities； Bethlehem；
and Etare； and Tekoa； and Bethzur； and Shoco； and Adullam； and
Ipan； and Maresha； and Ziph； and Adorlam； and Lachlsh； and
Azekah； and Zorah； and Aijalon； and Hebron； these he built first
of all in the tribe of Judah。 He also built other large cities in
the tribe of Benjamin； and walled them about； and put garrisons
in them all； and captains； and a great deal of corn； and wine；
and oil； and he furnished every one of them plentifully with
other provisions that were necessary for sustenance； moreover； he
put therein shields and spears for many ten thousand men。 The
priests also that were in all Israel； and the Levites； and if
there were any of the multitude that were good and righteous men；
they gathered themselves together to him； having left their own
cities； that they might worship God in Jerusalem； for they were
not willing to be forced to worship the heifers which Jeroboam
had made； and they augmented the kingdom of Rehoboam for three
years。 And after he had married a woman of his own kindred； and
had by her three children born to him； he married also another of
his own kindred； who was daughter of Absalom by Tamar； whose name
was Maachah； and by her he had a son； whom he named Abijah。 He
had moreover many other children by other wives； but he loved
Maachah above them all。 Now he had eighteen legitimate wives； and
thirty concubines； and he had born to him twenty…eight sons and
threescore daughters； but he appointed Abijah； whom he had by
Maachah； to be his successor in the kingdom； and intrusted him
already with the treasures and the strongest cities。
2。 Now I cannot but think that the greatness of a kingdom； and
its change into prosperity； often become the occasion of mischief
and of transgression to men； for when Rehoboam saw that his
kingdom was so much increased； he went out of the right way unto
unrighteous and irreligious practices； and he despised the
worship of God； till the people themselves imitated his wicked
actions： for so it usually happens； that the manners of subjects
are corrupted at the same time with those of their governors；
which subjects then lay aside their own sober way of living； as a
reproof of their governors' intemperate courses； and follow their
wickedness as if it were virtue； for it is not possible to show
that men approve of the actions of their kings； unless they do
the same actions with them。 Agreeable whereto it now happened to
the subjects of Rehoboam； for when he was grown impious； and a
transgressor himself； th