So when； upon his smiting Micaiah； no harm happened to him； Ahab
took courage； and readily led his army against the king of Syria；
for； as I suppose； fate was too hard for him； and made him
believe that the false prophets spake truer than the true one；
that it might take an occasion of bringing him to his end。
However； Zedekiah made horns of iron； and said to Ahab； that God
made those horns signals； that by them he should overthrow all
Syria。 But Micaiah replied； that Zedekiah； in a few days； should
go from one secret chamber to another to hide himself； that he
might escape the punishment of his lying。 Then did the king give
orders that they should take Micaiah away； and guard him to Amon；
the governor of the city； and to give him nothing but bread and
water。
5。 Then did Ahab； and Jehoshaphat the king of Jerusalem； take
their forces； and marched to Ramoth a city of Gilead； and when
the king of Syria heard of this expedition； he brought out his
army to oppose them； and pitched his camp not far from Ramoth。
Now Ahalx and Jehoshaphat had agreed that Ahab should lay aside
his royal robes； but that the king of Jerusalem should put on his
＇Ahab's＇ proper habit； and stand before the army； in order to
disprove； by this artifice； what Micaiah had foretold。 （43） But
Ahab's fate found him out without his robes； for Benhadad； the
king of Assyria； had charged his army； by the means of their
commanders； to kill nobody else but only the king of Israel。 So
when the Syrians； upon their joining battle with the Israelites；
saw Jehoshaphat stand before the army； and conjectured that he
was Ahab； they fell violently upon him； and encompassed him
round； but when they were near； and knew that it was not he； they
all returned back； and while the fight lasted from the morning
till late in the evening； and the Syrians were conquerors； they
killed nobody； as their king had commanded them。 And when they
sought to kill Ahab alone； but could not find him； there was a
young nobleman belonging to king Benhadad； whose name was Naaman；
he drew his bow against the enemy； and wounded the king through
his breastplate； in his lungs。 Upon this Ahab resolved not to
make his mischance known to his army； lest they should run away；
but he bid the driver of his chariot to turn it back； and carry
him out of the battle； because he was sorely and mortally
wounded。 However； he sat in his chariot and endured the pain till
sunset； and then he fainted away and died。
6。 And now the Syrian army； upon the coming on of the night；
retired to their camp； and when the herald belonging to the camp
gave notice that Ahab was dead； they returned home； and they took
the dead body of Ahab to Samaria； and buried it there； but when
they had washed his chariot in the fountain of Jezreel； which was
bloody with the dead body of the king； they acknowledged that the
prophecy of Elijah was true； for the dogs licked his blood； and
the harlots continued afterwards to wash themselves in that
fountain； but still he died at Ramoth； as Micaiah had foretold。
And as what things were foretold should happen to Ahab by the two
prophets came to pass； we ought thence to have high notions of
God； and every where to honor and worship him； and never to
suppose that what is pleasant and agreeable is worthy of belief
before what is true； and to esteem nothing more advantageous than
the gift of prophecy （44） and that foreknowledge of future events
which is derived from it； since God shows men thereby what we
ought to avoid。 We may also guess； from what happened to this
king； and have reason to consider the power of fate； that there
is no way of avoiding it； even when we know it。 It creeps upon
human souls； and flatters them with pleasing hopes； till it leads
them about to the place where it will be too hard for them。
Accordingly Ahab appears to have been deceived thereby； till he
disbelieved those that foretold his defeat； but； by giving credit
to such as foretold what was grateful to him； was slain； and his
son Ahaziah succeeded him。
BOOK 9。
Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Fifty…Seven Years。
From The Death Of Ahab To The Captivity Of The Ten Tribes。
CHAPTER 1。
Concerning Jehoshaphat Again； How He Constituted Judges And； By
God's Assistance Overcame His Enemies。
1。 When Jehoshaphat the king was come to Jerusalem； from the
assistance he had afforded Ahab； the king of Israel； when he
fought with Benhadad； king of Syria； the prophet Jehu met him；
and accused him for assisting Ahab； a man both impious and
wicked； and said to him； that God was displeased with him for so
doing； but that he delivered him from the enemy； notwithstanding
he had sinned； because of his own proper disposition； which was
good。 Whereupon the king betook himself to thanksgivings and
sacrifices to God； after which he presently went over all that
country which he ruled round about； and taught the people； as
well the laws which God gave them by Moses； as that religious
worship that was due to him。 He also constituted judges in every
one of the cities of his kingdom； and charged them to have regard
to nothing so much in judging the multitude as to do justice； and
not to be moved by bribes； nor by the dignity of men eminent for
either their riches or their high birth； but to distribute
justice equally to all； as knowing that God is conscious of every
secret action of theirs。 When he had himself instructed them
thus； and gone over every city of the two tribes； he returned to
Jerusalem。 He there also constituted judges out of the priests
and the Levites； and principal persons of the multitude； and
admonished them to pass all their sentences with care and justice
（1） And that if any of the people of his country had differences
of great consequence； they should send them out of the other
cities to these judges； who would be obliged to give righteous
sentences concerning such causes； and this with the greater care；
because it is proper that the sentences which are given in that
city wherein the temple of God is； and wherein the king dwells；
be given with great care and the utmost justice。 Now he set over
them Amariah the priest； and Zebadiah； ＇both＇ of the tribe of
Judah； and after this manner it was that the king ordered these
affairs。
2。 About the same time the Moabites and Ammonites made an
expedition against Jehoshaphat； ；and took with them a great body
of Arabians； and pitched their camp at Engedi； a city that is
situate at the lake Asphaltiris； and distant three hundred
furlongs from Jerusalem。 In that place grows the best kind of
palm trees； and the opobalsamum。 （2） Now Jehoshaphat heard that
the enemies had passed over the lake； and had made an irruption
into that country which belonged to his kingdom； at which news he
was aftrighted； and called the people of Jerusalem to a
congregation in the temple； and standing over against the temple
itself； he called upon God to afford him power and strength； so
as to inflict punishment on those that made this expedition
against them （for that those who built this his temple had
prayed； that he would protect that city； and take vengeance on
those that were so bold as to come against it）； for they are come
to take from us that land which thou hast given us for a
possession。 When he had prayed thus； he fell into tears； and the
whole multitude； together with their wives and children； made
their supplications also： upon which a certain prophet； Jahaziel
by name； came into the midst of the assembly； and cried out； and
spake both to the multitude and to the king； that God heard their
prayers； and promised to fight against their enemies。 He also
gave order that the king should draw his forces out the next day；
for that he should find them between Jerusalem and the ascent of
Engedi； at a place called The Eminence； and that he should not
fight against them； but only stand still； and see how God would
fight against them。 When the prophet had said this； both the king
and the multitude fell upon their faces； and gave thanks to God；
and worshipped him； and the Levites continued singing hymns to
God with their instruments of music。
3。 As soon as it was day； and the king was come into that
wilderness which is under the city of Tekoa； he said to the
multitude； 〃that they ought to give credit to what the prophet
had said； and not to set themselves in array for fighting； but to
set the priests with their trumpets； and the Levites with the
singers of hymns； to give thanks to God； as having already
delivered our country from our enemies。〃 This opinion of the king
pleased ＇the people＇； and they did what he advised them to do。 So
God caused a terror and a commotion to arise among the Ammonites；
who thought one another to be enemies； and slew one another；
insomuch that not one man out of so great an army escaped； and
when Jehoshaphat looked upon that valley wherein their enemies
had been encamped； and saw it full of dead men； he rejoiced at so
surprising an event； as was this assistance of God； while he
himself by his own power； and without their labor； had given them
the victory。 He also gave his army leave to take the prey of the
enemy's camp； and to spoil their dead bodies； and indeed so they
did for three days together； till they were weary； so great was
the number of the slain； and on the fourth day； all the people
were gathered together unto a certain hollow place or valley； and
blessed God for his power and assistance； from which the place
had this name given it； the Valley of ＇Berachah； or＇ Blessing。
4。 And when the king had brought his army back to Jerusalem； he
betook himself to celebrate festivals； and offer sacrifices； and
this for many days。 And indeed； after this destruction of their
enemies； and when it came to the ears of the foreign nations；
they were all greatly aftrighted； as supposing that God would
openly fight for him hereafter。 So Jehoshaphat from that time
lived in great glory and splendor； on account of his
righteousness and his piety towards God。 He was also in
friendship with Ahab's son； who was king of Israel； and he joined
with him in the building of ships that were to sail to Pontus；
and the traffic cities of Thrace （3） but