with him in the building of ships that were to sail to Pontus；
and the traffic cities of Thrace （3） but he failed of his gains；
for the ships were destroyed by being so great ＇and unwieldy＇； on
which account he was no longer concerned about shipping。 And this
is the history of Jehoshaphat； the king of Jerusalem。
CHAPTER 2。
Concerning Ahaziah； The King Of Israel； And Again Concerning The
Prophet Elijah。
1。 And now Ahaziah； the son of Ahab； reigned over Israel； and
made his abode in Samaria。 He was a wicked man； and in all
respects like to both his parents and to Jeroboam； who first of
all transgressed； and began to deceive the people。 In the second
year of his reign； the king of Moab fell off from his obedience；
and left off paying those tributes which he before paid to his
father Ahab。 Now it happened that Ahaziah； as he was coming down
from the top of his house； fell down from it； and in his sickness
sent to the Fly； which was the god of Ekron； for that was this
god's name； to inquire about his recovery （4） but the God of the
Hebrews appeared to Elijah the prophet； and commanded him to go
and meet the messengers that were sent； and to ask them； whether
the people of Israel had pot a God of their own； that the king
sent to a foreign god to inquire about his recovery？ and to bid
them return and tell the king that he would not escape this
disease。 And when Elijah had performed what God had commanded
him； and the messengers had heard what he said； they returned to
the king immediately； and when the king wondered how they could
return so soon； and asked them the reason of it； they said that a
certain man met them； and forbade them to go on any farther； but
to return and tell thee； from the command of the God of Israel；
that this disease will have a bad end。 And when the king bid them
describe the man that said this to them； they replied that he was
a hairy man； and was girt about with a girdle of leather。 So the
king understood by this that the man who was described by the
messengers was Elijah； whereupon he sent a captain to him； with
fifty soldiers； and commanded them to bring Elijah to him； and
when the captain that was sent found Elijah sitting upon the top
of a hill； he commanded him to come down； and to come to the
king； for so had he enjoined； but that in case he refused； they
would carry him by force。 Elijah said to him； 〃That you may have
a trial whether I be a true prophet； I will pray that fire may
fall from heaven； and destroy both the soldiers and yourself。〃
（5） So he prayed； and a whirlwind of fire fell ＇from heaven＇； and
destroyed the captain； and those that were with him。 And when the
king was informed of the destruction of these men； he was very
angry； and sent another captain with the like number of armed men
that were sent before。 And when this captain also threatened the
prophet； that unless he came down of his own accord； he would
take him and carry him away； upon his prayer against him； the
fire ＇from heaven＇ slew this captain as well the other。 And when；
upon inquiry； the king was informed of what happened to him； he
sent out a third captain。 But when this captain； who was a wise
man； and of a mild disposition； came to the place where Elijah
happened to be； and spake civilly to him； and said that he knew
that it was without his own consent； and only in submission to
the king's command that he came to him； and that those that came
before did not come willingly； but on the same account； … he
therefore desired him to have pity on those armed men that were
with him； and that he would come down and follow him to the king。
So Elijah accepted of his discreet words and courteous behavior；
and came down and followed him。 And when he came to the king； he
prophesied to him and told him that God said； 〃Since thou hast
despised him as not being God； and so unable to foretell the
truth about thy distemper； but hast sent to the god of Ekron to
inquire of him what will be the end of this thy distemper； know
this； that thou shalt die。〃
2。 Accordingly the king in a very little time died； as Elijah had
foretold； but Jehoram his brother succeeded him in the kingdom；
for he died without children： but for this Jehoram； he was like
his father Ahab in wickedness； and reigned twelve years；
indulging himself in all sorts of wickedness and impiety towards
God； for； leaving off his worship； he worshipped foreign gods；
but in other respects he was an active man。 Now at this time it
was that Elijah disappeared from among men； and no one knows of
his death to this very day； but he left behind him his disciple
Elisha； as we have formerly declared。 And indeed； as to Elijah；
and as to Enoch； who was before the deluge； it is written in the
sacred books that they disappeared； but so that nobody knew that
they died。
CHAPTER 3。
How Joram And Jehoshaphat Made An Expedition Against The
Moabites； As Also Concerning The Wonders Of Elisha； And The Death
Of Jehoshaphat。
1。 When Joram had taken upon him the kingdom； he determined to
make an expedition against the king of Moab； whose name was
Mesha； for； as we told you before； he was departed from his
obedience to his brother ＇Ahaziah＇； while he paid to his father
Ahab two hundred thousand sheep； with their fleeces of wool。 When
therefore he had gathered his own army together； he sent also to
Jehoshaphat； and entreated him； that since he had from the
beginning been a friend to his father； he would assist him in the
war that he was entering into against the Moabites； who had
departed from their obedience； who not only himself promised to
assist him； but would also oblige the king of Edom； who was under
his authority； to make the same expedition also。 When Joram had
received these assurances of assistance from Jehoshaphat； he took
his army with him； and came to Jerusalem； and when he had been
sumptuously entertained by the king of Jerusalem； it was resolved
upon by them to take their march against their enemies through
the wilderness of Edom。 And when they had taken a compass of
seven days' journey； they were in distress for want of water for
the cattle； and for the army； from the mistake of their roads by
the guides that conducted them； insomuch that they were all in an
agony； especially Joram； and cried to God； by reason of their
sorrow； and ＇desired to know＇ what wickedness had been committed
by them that induced him to deliver three kings together； without
fighting； unto the king of Moab。 But Jehoshaphat； who was a
righteous man； encouraged him； and bade him send to the camp； and
know whether any prophet of God was come along with them； that we
might by him learn from God what we should do。 And when one of
the servants of Joram said that he had seen there Elisha； the son
of Shaphat； the disciple of Elijah； the three kings went to him；
at the entreaty of Jehoshaphat； and when they were come at the
prophet's tent； which tent was pitched out of the camp； they
asked him what would become of the army？ and Joram was
particularly very pressing with him about it。 And when he replied
to him； that he should not trouble him； but go to his father's
and mother's prophets； for they ＇to be sure＇ were true prophets；
he still desired him to prophesy； and to save them。 So he swore
by God that he would not answer him； unless it were on account of
Jehoshaphat； who was a holy and righteous man； and when； at his
desire； they brought him a man that could play on the psaltery；
the Divine Spirit came upon him as the music played； and he
commanded them to dig many trenches in the valley； for； said he；
〃though there appear neither cloud； nor wind； nor storm of rain；
ye shall see this river full of water； till the army and the
cattle be saved for you by drinking of it。 Nor will this be all
the favor that you shall receive from God； but you shall also
overcome your enemies； and take the best and strongest cities of
the Moabites； and you shall cut down their fruit trees； （6） and
lay waste their country； and stop up their fountains and rivers。〃
2。 When the prophet had said this； the next day； before the
sun…rising； a great torrent ran strongly； for God had caused it
to rain very plentifully at the distance of three days' journey
into Edom； so that the army and the cattle found water to drink
in abundance。 But when the Moabites heard that the three kings
were coming upon them； and made their approach through the
wilderness； the king of Moab gathered his army together
presently； and commanded them to pitch their camp upon the
mountains； that when the enemies should attempt to enter their
country； they might not be concealed from them。 But when at the
rising of the sun they saw the water in the torrent； for it was
not far from the land of Moab； and that it was of the color of
blood； for at such a time the water especially looks red； by the
shining of the sun upon it； they formed a false notion of the
state of their enemies； as if they had slain one another for
thirst； and that the river ran with their blood。 However；
supposing that this was the case； they desired their king would
send them out to spoil their enemies； whereupon they all went in
haste； as to an advantage already gained； and came to the enemy's
camp； as supposing them destroyed already。 But their hope
deceived them； for as their enemies stood round about them； some
of them were cut to pieces； and others of them were dispersed；
and fled to their own country。 And when the kings fell into the
land of Moab； they overthrew the cities that were in it； and
spoiled their fields； and marred them； filling them with stones
out of the brooks； and cut down the best of their trees； and
stopped up their fountains of water； and overthrew their walls to
their foundations。 But the king of Moab； when he was pursued；
endured a siege； and seeing his city in danger of being
overthrown by force； made a sally； and went out with seven
hundred men； in order to break through the enemy's camp with his
horsemen； on that side where the watch seemed to be kept most
negligently； and when； upon trial； he could not get away； for he
lighted upon a place that was carefully watched； he returned into
the city； and did a thing that showed despair a