for their deliverance from the miseries they now lay under； but
saw them so sadly destroyed by them。 Hereupon Elisha promised；
that the very next day； at the very same hour in which the king
came to him； they should have great plenty of food； and that two
seahs of barley should be sold in the market for a shekel； and a
seah of fine flour should be sold for a shekel。 This prediction
made Joram； and those that were present； very joyful； for they
did not scruple believing what the prophet said； on account of
the experience they had of the truth of his former predictions；
and the expectation of plenty made the want they were in that
day； with the uneasiness that accompanied it； appear a light
thing to them： but the captain of the third band； who was a
friend of the king； and on whose hand the king leaned； said；
〃Thou talkest of incredible things； O prophet！ for as it is
impossible for God to pour down torrents of barley； or fine
flour； out of heaven； so is it impossible that what thou sayest
should come to pass。〃 To which the prophet made this reply；〃 Thou
shalt see these things come to pass； but thou shalt not be in the
least a partaker of them。〃
5。 Now what Elisha had thus foretold came to pass in the manner
following： There was a law at Samaria （11） that those that had
the leprosy； and whose bodies were not cleansed from it； should
abide without the city： and there were four men that on this
account abode before the gates； while nobody gave them any food；
by reason of the extremity of the famine； and as they were
prohibited from entering into the city by the law； and they
considered that if they were permitted to enter； they should
miserably perish by the famine； as also； that if they staid where
they were； they should suffer in the same manner； … they resolved
to deliver themselves up to the enemy； that in case they should
spare them； they should live； but if they should be killed； that
would be an easy death。 So when they had confirmed this their
resolution； they came by night to the enemy's camp。 Now God had
begun to affright and disturb the Syrians； and to bring the noise
of chariots and armor to their ears； as though an army were
coming upon them； and had made them suspect that it was coming
nearer and nearer to them In short； they were in such a dread of
this army； that they left their tents； and ran together to
Benhadad； and said that Joram the king of Israel had hired for
auxiliaries both the king of Egypt and the king of the Islands；
and led them against them for they heard the noise of them as
they were coming。 And Benhadad believed what they said （for there
came the same noise to his ears as well as it did to theirs）； so
they fell into a mighty disorder and tumult； and left their
horses and beasts in their camp； with immense riches also； and
betook themselves to flight。 And those lepers who had departed
from Samaria； and were gone to the camp of the Syrians； of whom
we made mention a little before； when they were in the camp； saw
nothing but great quietness and silence： accordingly they entered
into it； and went hastily into one of their tents； and when they
saw nobody there； they eat and drank； and carried garments； and a
great quantity of gold； and hid it out of the camp； after which
they went into another tent； and carried off what was in it； as
they did at the former； and this did they for several times；
without the least interruption from any body。 So they gathered
thereby that the enemies were departed； whereupon they reproached
themselves that they did not inform Joram and the citizens of it。
So they came to the walls of Samaria； and called aloud to the
watchmen； and told them in what state the enemies were； as did
these tell the king's guards； by whose means Joram came to know
of it； who then sent for his friends； and the captains of his
host； and said to them； that he suspected that this departure of
the king of Syria was by way of ambush and treachery； and that
out of despair of ruining you by famine； when you imagine them to
be fled away； you may come out of the city to spoil their camp；
and he may then fall upon you on a sudden； and may both kill you；
and take the city without fighting； whence it is that I exhort
you to guard the city carefully； and by no means to go out of it；
or proudly to despise your enemies； as though they were really
gone away。〃 And when a certain person said that he did very well
and wisely to admit such a suspicion； but that he still advised
him to send a couple of horsemen to search all the country as far
as Jordan； that 〃if they were seized by an ambush of the enemy；
they might be a security to your army； that they may not go out
as if they suspected nothing； nor undergo the like misfortune；
and；〃 said he； 〃those horsemen may be numbered among those that
have died by the famine； supposing they be caught and destroyed
by the enemy。〃 So the king was pleased with this opinion； and
sent such as might search out the truth； who performed their
journey over a road that was without any enemies； but found it
full of provisions； and of weapons； that they had therefore
thrown away； and left behind them； in order to their being light
and expeditious in their flight。 When the king heard this； he
sent out the multitude to take the spoils of the camp； which
gains of theirs were not of things of small value； but they took
a great quantity of gold； and a great quantity of silver； and
flocks of all kinds of cattle。 They also possessed themselves of
＇so many＇ ten thousand measures of wheat and barley； as they
never in the least dreamed of； and were not only freed from their
former miseries； but had such plenty； that two seahs of barley
were bought for a shekel； and a seah of fine flour for a shekel；
according to the prophecy of Elisha。 Now a seah is equal to an
Italian modius and a half。 The captain of the third band was the
only man that received no benefit by this plenty； for as he was
appointed by the king to oversee the gate； that lm might prevent
the too great crowd of the multitude； and they might not endanger
one another to perish； by treading on one another in the press；
he suffered himself in that very way； and died in that very
manner； as Elisha had foretold such his death； when he alone of
them all disbelieved what he said concerning that plenty of
provisions which they should soon have。
6。 Hereupon； when Benhadad； the king of Syria； had escaped to
Damascus； and understood that it was God himself that cast all
his army into this fear and disorder； and that it did not arise
from the invasion of enemies； he was mightily cast down at his
having God so greatly for his enemy； and fell into a distemper。
Now it happened that Elisha the prophet； at that time； was gone
out of his own country to Damascus； of which Berthadad was
informed： he sent Hazael； the most faithful of all his servants；
to meet him； and to carry him presents； and bade him inquire of
him about his distemper； and whether he should escape the danger
that it threatened。 So Hazael came to Elisha with forty camels；
that carried the best and most precious fruits that the country
of Damascus afforded； as well as those which the king's palace
supplied。 He saluted him kindly； and said that he was sent to him
by king Berthadad； and brought presents with him； in order to
inquire concerning his distemper； whether he should recover from
it or not。 Whereupon the prophet bid him tell the king no
melancholy news； but still he said he would die。 So the king's
servant was troubled to hear it； and Elisha wept also； and his
tears ran down plenteously at his foresight of what miseries his
people would undergo after the death of Berthadad。 And when
Hazael asked him what was the occasion of this confusion he was
in； he said that he wept out of his commiseration for the
multitude of the Israelites； and what terrible miseries they will
suffer by thee； 〃for thou wilt slay the strongest of them； and
wilt burn their strongest cities； and wilt destroy their
children； and dash them against the stones； and wilt rip up their
women with child。〃 And when Hazael said； 〃How can it be that I
should have power enough to do such things ？〃 the prophet
replied； that God had informed him that he should be king of
Syria。 So when Hazael was come to Benhadad； he told him good news
concerning his distemper （12） but on the next day he spread a wet
cloth； in the nature of a net； over him； and strangled him； and
took his dominion。 He was an active man； and had the good…will of
the Syrians； and of the people of Damascus； to a great degree； by
whom both Benhadad himself； and Hazael； who ruled after him； are
honored to this day as gods； by reason of their benefactions； and
their building them temples by which they adorned the city of the
Damascenes。 They also every day do with great pomp pay their
worship to these kings； （13） and value themselves upon their
antiquity； nor do they know that these kings are much later than
they imagine； and that they are not yet eleven hundred years old。
Now when Joram； the king of Israel； heard that Berthadad was
dead； he recovered out of the terror and dread he had been in on
his account； and was very glad to live in peace。
CHAPTER 5。
Concerning The Wickedness Of Jehoram King O Jerusalem； His Defeat
And Death。
1。 Now Jehoram the king of Jerusalem； for we have said before
that he had the same name with the king of Israel； as soon as he
had taken the government upon him； betook himself to the
slaughter of his brethren； and his father's friends； who were
governors under him； and thence made a beginning and a
demonstration of his wickedness； nor was he at all better than
those kings of Israel who at first transgressed against the laws
of their country； and of the Hebrews； and against God's worship。
And it was Athaliah； the daughter of Ahab； whom he had married；
who taught him to be a bad man in other respects； and also to
worship foreign gods。 Now God would not quite root out this
family； because of the promise he had made to David。 However；
Jehoram did not leave off the introduction of new sorts of
customs to the propagation of impiety； and to the ruin of the
customs of his own country。 And w