the city； and did a thing that showed despair and the utmost
distress； for he took his eldest son； who was to reign after him；
and lifting him up upon the wall； that he might be visible to all
the enemies； he offered him as a whole burnt…offering to God；
whom； when the kings saw； they commiserated the distress that was
the occasion of it； and were so affected； in way of humanity and
pity； that they raised the siege； and every one returned to his
own house。 So Jehoshaphat came to Jerusalem； and continued in
peace there； and outlived this expedition but a little time； and
then died； having lived in all sixty years； and of them reigned
twenty…five。 He was buried in a magnificent manner in Jerusalem；
for he had imitated the actions of David。
CHAPTER 4。
Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat； How Joram； His Namesake； King Of
Israel； Fought With The Syrians；And What Wonders Were Done By The
Prophet Elisha。
1。 Jehoshapat had a good number of children； but he appointed his
eldest son Jehoram to be his successor； who had the same name
with his mother's brother； that was king of Israel； and the son
of Ahab。 Now when the king of Israel was come out of the land of
Moab to Samaria； he had with him Elisha the prophet； whose acts I
have a mind to go over particularly； for they were illustrious；
and worthy to be related； as we have them set down in the sacred
books。
2。 For they say that the widow of Obadiah （7） Ahab's steward；
came to him； and said； that he was not ignorant how her husband
had preserved the prophets that were to be slain by Jezebel； the
wife of Ahab； for she said that he hid a hundred of them； and had
borrowed money for their maintenance； and that； after her
husband's death； she and her children were carried away to be
made slaves by the creditors； and she desired of him to have
mercy upon her on account of what her husband did； and afford her
some assistance。 And when he asked her what she had in the house；
she said； 〃Nothing but a very small quantity of oil in a cruse。〃
So the prophet bid her go away； and borrow a great many empty
vessels of her neighbors； and when she had shut her chamber door；
to pour the oil into them all； for that God would fill them full。
And when the woman had done what she was commanded to do； and
bade her children bring every one of the vessels； and all were
filled； and not one left empty； she came to the prophet； and told
him that they were all full； upon which he advised her to go
away； and sell the oil； and pay the creditors what was owing
them； for that there would be some surplus of the price of the
oil； which she might make use of for the maintenance of her
children。 And thus did Elisha discharge the woman's debts； and
free her from the vexation of her creditors。
3。 Elisha also sent a hasty message to Joram； （8） and exhorted
him to take care of that place； for that therein were some
Syrians lying in ambush to kill him。 So the king did as the
prophet exhorted him； and avoided his going a hunting。 And when
Benhadad missed of the success of his lying in ambush； he was
wroth with his own servants； as if they had betrayed his
ambushment to Joram； and he sent for them； and said they were the
betrayers of his secret counsels； and he threatened that he would
put them to death； since such their practice was evident； because
he had intrusted this secret to none but them； and yet it was
made known to his enemy。 And one that was present said that he
should not mistake himself； nor suspect that they had discovered
to his enemy his sending men to kill him； but that he ought to
know that it was Elisha the prophet who discovered all to him；
and laid open all his counsels。 So he gave order that they should
send some to learn in what city Elisha dwelt。 Accordingly those
that were sent brought word that he was in Dothan； wherefore
Benhadad sent to that city a great army； with horses and
chariots； to take Elisha： so they encompassed the city round
about by night； and kept him therein confined； but when the
prophet's servant in the morning perceived this； and that his
enemies sought to take Elisha； he came running； and crying out
after a disordered manner to him； and told him of it； but he
encouraged him； and bid him not be afraid； and to despise the
enemy； and trust in the assistance of God； and was himself
without fear； and he besought God to make manifest to his servant
his power and presence； so far as was possible； in order to the
inspiring him with hope and courage。 Accordingly God heard the
prayer of the prophet； and made the servant see a multitude of
chariots and horses encompassing Elisha； till he laid aside his
fear； and his courage revived at the sight of what he supposed
was come to their assistance。 After this Elisha did further
entreat God； that he would dim the eyes of their enemies； and
cast a mist before them； whereby they might not discern him。 When
this was done； he went into the midst of his enemies； and asked
them who it was that they came to seek； and when they replied；
〃The prophet Elisha；〃 he promised he would deliver him to them；
if they would follow him to the city where he was。 So these men
were so darkened by God in their sight and in their mind； that
they followed him very diligently； and when Elisha had brought
them to Samaria； he ordered Joram the king to shut the gates； and
to place his own army round about them； and prayed to God to
clear the eyes of these their enemies； and take the mist from
before them。 Accordingly； when they were freed from the obscurity
they had been in； they saw themselves in the midst of their
enemies； and as the Syrians were strangely amazed and distressed；
as was but reasonable； at an action so Divine and surprising； and
as king Joram asked the prophet if he would give him leave to
shoot at them； Elisha forbade him so to do； and said； that 〃it is
just to kill those that are taken in battle； but that these men
had done the country no harm； but； without knowing it； were come
thither by the Divine Power：〃 … so that his counsel was to treat
them in a hospitable manner at his table； and then send them away
without hurting them。 （9） Wherefore Joram obeyed the prophet； and
when he had feasted the Syrians in a splendid and magnificent
manner； he let them go to Benhadad their king。
4。 Now when these men were come back； and had showed Benhadad how
strange an accident had befallen them； and what an appearance and
power they had experienced of the God of Israel； he wondered at
it； as also at that prophet with whom God was so evidently
present； so he determined to make no more secret attempts upon
the king of Israel； out of fear of Elisha； but resolved to make
open war with them； as supposing he could be too hard for his
enemies by the multitude of his army and power。 So he made an
expedition with a great army against Joram； who； not thinking
himself a match for him； shut himself up in Samaria； and depended
on the strength of its walls； but Benhadad supposed he should
take the city； if not by his engines of war； yet that he should
overcome the Samaritans by famine； and the want of necessaries；
and brought his army upon them； and besieged the city； and the
plenty of necessaries was brought so low with Joram； that from
the extremity of want an ass's head was sold in Samaria for
fourscore pieces of silver； and the Hebrews bought a sextary of
dore's dung； instead of salt； for five pieces of silver。 Now
Joram was in fear lest somebody should betray the city to the
enemy； by reason of the famine； and went every day round the
walls and the guards to see whether any such were concealed among
them； and by being thus seen； and taking such care； he deprived
them of the opportunity of contriving any such thing； and if they
had a mind to do it； he； by this means； prevented them： but upon
a certain woman's crying out； 〃Have pity on me； my lord；〃 while
he thought that she was about to ask for somewhat to eat； he
imprecated God's curse upon her； and said he had neither
thrashing…floor nor wine…press； whence he might give her any
thing at her petition。 Upon which she said she did not desire his
aid in any such thing； nor trouble him about food； but desired
that he would do her justice as to another woman。 And when be
bade her say on； and let him know what she desired； she said she
had made an agreement with the other woman who was her neighbor
and her friend； that because the famine and want was intolerable；
they should kill their children； each of them having a son of
their own； and we will live upon them ourselves for two days； the
one day upon one son； and the other day upon the other； and；〃
said she； I have killed my son the first day； and we lived upon
my son yesterday； but this other woman will not do the same
thing； but hath broken her agreement； and hath hid her son。〃 This
story mightily grieved Joram when he heard it； so he rent his
garment； and cried out with a loud voice； and conceived great
wrath against Elisha the prophet； and set himself eagerly to have
him slain； because he did not pray to God to provide them some
exit and way of escape out of the miseries with which they were
surrounded； and sent one away immediately to cut off his head；
who made haste to kill the prophet。 But Elisha was not
unacquainted with the wrath of the king against him； for as he
sat in his house by himself； with none but his disciples about
him； he told them that Joram； （10） who was the son of a murderer；
had sent one to take away his head； 〃but；〃 said he； 〃when he that
is commanded to do this comes； take care that you do not let him
come in； but press the door against him； and hold him fast there；
for the king himself will follow him； and come to me； having
altered his mind。〃 Accordingly； they did as they were bidden；
when he that was sent by the king to kill Elisha came。 But Joram
repented of his wrath against the prophet； and for fear he that
was commanded to kill him should have done it before he came； he
made haste to hinder his slaughter； and to save the prophet： and
when he came to him； he accused him that he did not pray to God
for their deliverance from the miseries they now lay under； but
saw them so sadly destroyed by them。 Hereupon Elis