been right for you to have forgiven a man that was young in age；
and not used to govern people； not only some disagreeable words；
but if his youth and unskilfulness in affairs had led him into
some unfortunate actions； and that for the sake of his father
Solomon； and the benefits you received from him； for men ought to
excuse the sins of posterity on account of the benefactions of
parent； but you considered nothing of all this then； neither do
you consider it now； but come with so great an army against us。
And what is it you depend upon for victory？ Is it upon these
golden heifers； and the altars that you have on high places；
which are demonstrations of your impiety； and not of religious
worship？ Or is it the exceeding multitude of your army which
gives you such good hopes？ Yet certainly there is no strength at
all in an army of many ten thousands； when the war is unjust； for
we ought to place our surest hopes of success against our enemies
in righteousness alone； and in piety towards God； which hope we
justly have； since we have kept the laws from the beginning； and
have worshipped our own God； who was not made by hands out of
corruptible matter； nor was he formed by a wicked king； in order
to deceive the multitude； but who is his own workmanship； （28）
and the beginning and end of all things。 I therefore give you
counsel even now to repent； and to take better advice； and to
leave off the prosecution of the war； to call to mind the laws of
your country； and to reflect what it hath been that hath advanced
you to so happy a state as you are now in。〃
3。 This was the speech which Abijah made to the multitude。 But
while he was still speaking Jeroboam sent some of his soldiers
privately to encompass Abijab round about； on certain parts of
the camp that were not taken notice of； and when he was thus
within the compass of the enemy； his army was affrighted； and
their courage failed them； but Abijah encouraged them； and
exhorted them to place their hopes on God； for that he was not
encompassed by the enemy。 So they all at once implored the Divine
assistance； while the priests sounded with the trumpet； and they
made a shout； and fell upon their enemies； and God brake the
courage and cast down the force of their enemies； and made
Ahijah's army superior to them； for God vouchsafed to grant them
a wonderful and very famous victory； and such a slaughter was now
made of Jeroboam's army （29） as is never recorded to have
happened in any other war； whether it were of the Greeks or of
the Barbarians； for they overthrew ＇and slew＇ five hundred
thousand of their enemies； and they took their strongest cities
by force； and spoiled them； and besides those； they did the same
to Bethel and her towns； and Jeshanah and her towns。 And after
this defeat Jeroboam never recovered himself during the life of
Abijah； who yet did not long survive； for he reigned but three
years； and was buried in Jerusalem in the sepulchers of his
forefathers。 He left behind him twenty…two sons； and sixteen
daughters； and he had also those children by fourteen wives； and
Asa his son succeeded in the kingdom； and the young man's mother
was Michaiah。 Under his reign the country of the Israelites
enjoyed peace for ten years。
4。 And so far concerning Abijah； the son of Rehoboam； the son of
Solomon； as his history hath come down to us。 But Jeroboam； the
king of the ten tribes； died when he had governed them two and
twenty years； whose son Nadab succeeded him； in the second year
of the reign of Asa。 Now Jeroboam's son governed two years； and
resembled his father in impiety and wickedness。 In these two
years he made an expedition against Gibbethon； a city of the
Philistines； and continued the siege in order to take it； but he
was conspired against while he was there by a friend of his；
whose name was Baasha； the son of Ahijah； and was slain； which
Baasha took the kingdom after the other's death； and destroyed
the whole house of Jeroboam。 It also came to pass； according as
God had foretold； that some of Jeroboam's kindred that died in
the city were torn to pieces and devoured by dogs； and that
others of them that died in the fields were torn and devoured by
the fowls。 So the house of Jeroboam suffered the just punishment
of his impiety； and of his wicked actions。
CHAPTER 12。
How Zerah； King Of The Ethiopians； Was Beaten By Asa； And How
Asa； Upon Baasha's Making War Against Him； Invited The King Of
The Damascens To Assist Him； And How； On The Destruction Of The
House Of Baasha Zimri Got The Kingdom As Did His Son Ahab After
Him。
1。 Now Asa； the king of Jerusalem； was of an excellent character；
and had a regard to God； and neither did nor designed any thing
but what had relation to the observation of the laws。 He made a
reformation of his kingdom； and cut off whatsoever was wicked
therein； and purified it from every impurity。 Now he had an army
of chosen men that were armed with targets and spears； out of the
tribe of Judah three hundred thousand； and out of the tribe of
Benjamin； that bore shields and drew bows； two hundred and fifty
thousand。 But when he had already reigned ten years； Zerah； king
of Ethiopia； （30） made an expedition against him； with a great
army； of nine hundred thousand footmen； and one hundred thousand
horsemen； and three hundred chariots； and came as far as
Mareshah； a city that belonged to the tribe of Judah。 Now when
Zerah had passed so far with his own army； Asa met him； and put
his army in array over against him； in a valley called Zephathah；
not far from the city； and when he saw the multitude of the
Ethiopians； he cried out； and besought God to give him the
victory； and that he might kill many ten thousands of the enemy：
〃For；〃 said he； （31） 〃I depend on nothing else but that
assistance which I expect from thee； which is able to make the
fewer superior to the more numerous； and the weaker to the
stronger； and thence it is alone that I venture to meet Zerah；
and fight him。〃
2。 While Asa was saying this； God gave him a signal of victory；
and joining battle cheerfully on account of what God had foretold
about it； he slew a great many of the Ethiopians； and when he had
put them to flight； he pursued them to the country of Gerar； and
when they left off killing their enemies； they betook themselves
to spoiling them； （for the city Gerar was already taken；） and to
spoiling their camp； so that they carried off much gold； and much
silver； and a great deal of ＇other＇ prey； and camels； and great
cattle； and flocks of sheep。 Accordingly； when Asa and his army
had obtained such a victory； and such wealth from God； they
returned to Jerusalem。 Now as they were coming； a prophet； whose
name was Azariah； met them on the road； and bade them stop their
journey a little； and began to say to them thus： That the reason
why they had obtained this victory from God was this； that they
had showed themselves righteous and religious men； and had done
every thing according to the will of God； that therefore； he
said； if they persevered therein； God would grant that they
should always overcome their enemies； and live happily； but that
if they left off his worship； all things shall fall out on the
contrary； and a time should come； wherein no true prophet shall
be left in your whole multitude； nor a priest who shall deliver
you a true ；answer from the oracle； but your cities shall be
overthrown； and your nation scattered over the whole earth； and
live the life of strangers and wanderers。 So he advised them；
while they had time； to be good； and not to deprive themselves of
the favor of God。 When the king and the people heard this； they
rejoiced； and all in common； and every one in particular； took
great care to behave themselves righteously。 The king also sent
some to take care that those in the country should observe the
laws also。
3。 And this was the state of Asa； king of the two tribes。 I now
return to Baasha； the king of the multitude of the Israelites；
who slew Nadab； the son of Jeroboam； and retained the government。
He dwelt in the city Tirzah； having made that his habitation； and
reigned twenty…four years。 He became more wicked and impious than
Jeroboam or his son。 He did a great deal of mischief to the
multitude； and was injurious to God； who sent the prophet Jehu；
and told him beforehand that his whole family should be
destroyed； and that he would bring the same miseries on his house
which had brought that of Jeroboam to ruin； because when he had
been made king by him； he had not requited his kindness； by
governing the multitude righteously and religiously； which
things； in the first place； tended to their own happiness； and；
in the next place； were pleasing to God： that he had imitated
this very wicked king Jeroboam； and although that man's soul had
perished； yet did he express to the life his wickedness； and he
said that he should therefore justly experience the like calamity
with him； since he had been guilty of the like wickedness。 But
Baasha； though he heard beforehand what miseries would befall him
and his whole family for their insolent behavior； yet did not he
leave off his wicked practices for the time to come； nor did he
care to appear other than worse and worse till he died； nor did
he then repent of his past actions； nor endeavor to obtain pardon
of God for them； but did as those do who have rewards proposed to
them； when they have once in earnest set about their work； they
do not leave off their labors； for thus did Baasha； when the
prophet foretold to him what would come to pass； grow worse； as
if what were threatened； the perdition of his family； and the
destruction of his house； （which are really among the greatest of
evils；） were good things； and； as if he were a combatant for
wickedness； he every day took more and more pains for it： and at
last he took his army and assaulted a certain considerable city
called Ramah； which was forty furlongs distant from Jerusalem；
and when he had taken it； he fortified it； having determined
beforehand to leave a garrison in it； that they might thence make
excursions； and do mischief to the kingdom of Asa。
4。 Whereupon Asa was afraid of the attempts the enemy might make
up