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 rest of his army； which； falling
suddenly upon the Syrians； beat them； for they did not think they
would have come out； on which account it was that they assaulted
them when they were naked （37） and drunk； insomuch that they left
all their armor behind them when they fled out of the camp； and
the king himself escaped with difficulty； by fleeing away on
horseback。 But Ahab went a great way in pursuit of the Syrians；
and when he had spoiled their camp； which contained a great deal
of wealth； and moreover a large quantity of gold and silver； he
took Benhadad's chariots and horses； and returned to the city；
but as the prophet told him he ought to have his army ready；
because the Syrian king would make another expedition against him
the next year； Ahab was busy in making provision for it
accordingly。
3。 Now Benhadad； when he had saved himself； and as much of his
army as he could； out of the battle； he consulted with his
friends how he might make another expedition against the
Israelites。 Now those friends advised him not to fight with them
on the hills； because their God was potent in such places； and
thence it had come to pass that they had very lately been beaten；
but they said； that if they joined battle with them in the plain；
they should beat them。 They also gave him this further advice； to
send home those kings whom he had brought as his auxiliaries； but
to retain their army； and to set captains over it instead of the
kings； and to raise an army out of their country； and let them be
in the place of the former who perished in the battle； together
with horses and chariots。 So he judged their counsel to be good；
and acted according to it in the management of the army。
4。 At the beginning of the spring； Benhadad took his army with
him； and led it against the Hebrews； and when he was come to a
certain city which was called Aphek； he pitched his camp in the
great plain。 Ahab also went to meet him with his army； and
pitched his camp over against him； although his army was a very
small one； if it were compared with the enemy's； but the prophet
came again to him； and told him； that God would give him the
victory； that he might demonstrate his own power to be； not only
on the mountains； but on the plains also； which it seems was
contrary to the opinion of the Syrians。 So they lay quiet in
their camp seven days； but on the last of those days； when the
enemies came out of their camp； and put themselves in array in
order to fight； Ahab also brought out his own army； and when the
battle was joined； and they fought valiantly； he put the enemy to
flight； and pursued them； and pressed upon them； and slew them；
nay； they were destroyed by their own chariots； and by one
another； nor could any more than a few of them escape to their
own city Aphek； who were also killed by the walls falling upon
them； being in number twenty…seven thousand。 （38） Now there were
slain in this battle a hundred thousand more； but Benhadad； the
king of