customs to the propagation of impiety； and to the ruin of the
customs of his own country。 And when the Edomites about that time
had revolted from him； and slain their former king； who was in
subjection to his father； and had set up one of their own
choosing； Jehoram fell upon the land of Edom； with the horsemen
that were about him； and the chariots； by night； and destroyed
those that lay near to his own kingdom； but did not proceed
further。 However； this expedition did him no service； for they
all revolted from him； with those that dwelt in the country of
Libnah。 He was indeed so mad as to compel the people to go up to
the high places of the mountains； and worship foreign gods。
2。 As he was doing this； and had entirely cast his own country
laws out of his mind； there was brought him an epistle from
Elijah the prophet （14） which declared that God would execute
great judgments upon him； because he had not imitated his own
fathers； but had followed the wicked courses of the kings of
Israel； and had compelled the tribe of Judah； and the citizens of
Jerusalem； to leave the holy worship of their own God； and to
worship idols； as Ahab had compelled the Israelites to do； and
because he had slain his brethren； and the men that were good and
righteous。 And the prophet gave him notice in this epistle what
punishment he should undergo for these crimes； namely； the
destruction of his people； with the corruption of the king's own
wives and children； and that he should himself die of a distemper
in his bowels； with long torments； those his bowels falling out
by the violence of the inward rottenness of the parts； insomuch
that； though he see his own misery； he shall not be able at all
to help himself； but shall die in that manner。 This it was which
Elijah denounced to him in that epistle。
3。 It was not long after this that an army of those Arabians that
lived near to Ethiopia； and of the Philistines； fell upon the
kingdom of Jehoram； and spoiled the country and the king's house。
Moreover； they slew his sons and his wives： one only of his sons
was left him； who escaped the enemy； his name was Ahaziah； after
which calamity； he himself fell into that disease which was
foretold by the prophet； and lasted a great while； （for God
inflicted this punishment upon him in his belly； out of his wrath
against him；） and so he died miserably； and saw his own bowels
fall out。 The people also abused his dead body； I suppose it was
because they thought that such his death came upon him by the
wrath of God； and that therefore he was not worthy to partake of
such a funeral as became kings。 Accordingly； they neither buried
him in the sepulchers of his fathers； nor vouchsafed him any
honors； but buried him like a private man； and this when he had
lived forty years； and reigned eight。 And the people of Jerusalem
delivered the government to his son Ahaziah。
CHAPTER 6。
How Jehu Was Anointed King； And Slew Both Joram And Ahaziah； As
Also What He Did For The Punishment Of The Wicked。
1。 Now Joram； the king of Israel； after the death of Benhadad；
hoped that he might now take Ramoth； a city of Gilead； from the
Syrians。 Accordingly he made an expedition against it； with a
great army； but as he was besieging it； an arrow was shot at him
by one of the Syrians； but the wound was not mortal。 So he
returned to have his wound healed in Jezreel； but left his whole
army in Ramorb； and Jehu； the son of Nimshi； for their general；
for he had already taken the city by force； and he proposed；
after he was healed；： to make war with the Syrians； but Elisha
the prophet sent one of his disciples to Ramoth； and gave him
holy oil to anoint Jehu； and to tell him that God had chosen him
to be their king。 He also sent him to say other things to him；
and bid him to take his journey as if he fled； that when he came
away he might escape the knowledge of all men。 So when he was
come to the city； he found Jehu sitting in the midst of the
captains of the army； as Elisha had foretold he should find him。
So he came up to him； and said that he desired to speak with him
about certain matters； and when he was arisen； and had followed
him into an inward chamber； the young man took the oil； and
poured it on his head； and said that God ordained him to be king；
in order to his destroying the house of Ahab； and that he might
revenge the blood of the prophets that were unjustly slain by
Jezebel； that so their house might utterly perish； as those of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat； and of Baasha； had perished for their
wickedness； and no seed might remain of Ahab's family。 So when he
had said this； he went away hastily out of the chamber； and
endeavored not to be seen by any of the army。
2。 But Jehu came out； and went to the place where he before sat
with the captains； and when they asked him； and desired him to
tell them； wherefore it was that this young man came to him； and
added withal that he was mad； he replied； … 〃You guess right； for
the words he spake were the words of a madman；〃 and when they
were eager about the matter； and desired he would tell them； he
answered； that God had said he had chosen him to be king over the
multitude。 When he had said this； every one of them put off his
garment； （15） and strewed it under him； and blew with trumpets；
and gave notice that Jehu was king。 So when he had gotten the
army together； he was preparing to set out immediately against
Joram； at the city Jezreel； in which city； as we said before； he
was healing of the wound which he had received in the siege of
Ramoth。 It happened also that Ahaziah； king of Jerusalem； was now
come to Joram； for he was his sister's son； as we have said
already； to see how he did after his wound； and this upon account
of their kindred； but as Jehu was desirous to fall upon Joram；
and those with him； on the sudden； he desired that none of the
soldiers might run away and tell to Joram what had happened； for
that this would be an evident demonstration of their kindness to
him； and would show that their real inclinations were to make him
king。
3。 So they were pleased with what he did； and guarded the roads；
lest somebody should privately tell the thing to those that were
at Jezreel。 Now Jehu took his choice horsemen； and sat upon his
chariot； and went on for Jezreel； and when he was come near； the
watchman whom Joram had set there to spy out such as came to the
city； saw Jehu marching on； and told Joram that he saw a troop of
horsemen marching on。 Upon which he immediately gave orders； that
one of his horsemen should be sent out to meet them； and to know
who it was that was coming。 So when the horseman came up to Jehu；
he asked him in what condition the army was； for that the king
wanted to know it； but Jehu bid him not at all to meddle with
such matters； but to follow him。 When the watchman saw this； he
told Joram that the horseman had mingled himself among the
company； and came along with them。 And when the king had sent a
second messenger； Jehu commanded him to do as the former did； and
as soon as the watchman told this also to Joram； he at last got
upon his chariot himself； together with Ahaziah； the king of
Jerusalem； for； as we said before； he was there to see how Joram
did； after he had been wounded； as being his relation。 So he went
out to meet Jehu； who marched slowly； （16） and in good order； and
when Joram met him in the field of Naboth； he asked him if all
things were well in the camp； but Jehu reproached him bitterly；
and ventured to call his mother a witch and a harlot。 Upon this
the king； fearing what he intended； and suspecting he had no good
meaning； turned his chariot about as soon as he could； and said
to Ahaziah； 〃We are fought against by deceit and treachery。〃 But
Jehu drew his bow； and smote him； the arrow going through his
heart： so Joram fell down immediately on his knee； and gave up
the ghost。 Jehu also gave orders to Bidkar； the captain of the
third part of his army； to cast the dead body of Joram into the
field of Naboth； putting him in mind of the prophecy which Elijah
prophesied to Ahab his father； when he had slain Naboth； that
both he and his family should perish in that place； for that as
they sat behind Ahab's chariot； they heard the prophet say so；
and that it was now come to pass according to his prophecy。 Upon
the fall of Joram； Ahaziah was afraid of his own life； and turned
his chariot into another road； supposing he should not be seen by
Jehu； but he followed after him； and overtook him at a certain
acclivity； and drew his bow； and wounded him； so he left his
chariot； and got upon his horse； and fled from Jehu to Megiddo；
and though he was under cure； in a little time he died of that
wound； and was carried to Jerusalem； and buried there； after he
had reigned one year； and had proved a wicked man； and worse than
his father。
4。 Now when Jehu was come to Jezreel； Jezebel adorned herself and
stood upon a tower； and said； he was a fine servant that had
killed his master！ And when he looked up to her； he asked who she
was； and commanded her to come down to him。 At last he ordered
the eunuchs to throw her down from the tower； and being thrown
down； she be…sprinkled the wall with her blood； and was trodden
upon by the horses； and so died。 When this was done； Jehu came to
the palace with his friends； and took some refreshment after his
journey； both with other things； and by eating a meal。 He also
bid his servants to take up Jezebel and bury her； because of the
nobility of her blood； for she was descended from kings； but
those that were appointed to bury her found nothing else
remaining but the extreme parts of her body； for all the rest
were eaten by dogs。 When Jehu heard this； he admired the prophecy
of Elijah； for he foretold that she should perish in this manner
at Jezreel。
5。 Now Ahab had seventy sons brought up in Samaria。 So Jehu sent
two epistles； the one to them that brought up the children； the
other to the rulers of Samaria； which said； that they should set
up the most valiant of Ahab's sons for king； for that they had
abundance of chariots； and horses； and armor； and a great army；
and fenced cities； and that by so doing they might avenge the
murd