under； which was very sore； and by reason of the surprising
nature of what was told him； so he desired that Isaiah would give
him some sign or wonder； that he might believe him in what he had
said； and be sensible that he came from God； for things that are
beyond expectation； and greater than our hopes； are made credible
by actions of the like nature。 And when Isaiah had asked him what
sign he desired to be exhibited； he desired that he would make
the shadow of the sun； which he had already made to go down ten
steps ＇or degrees＇ in his house； to return again to the same
place； （5） and to make it as it was before。 And when the prophet
prayed to God to exhibit this sign to the king； he saw what he
desired to see； and was freed from his distemper； and went up to
the temple； where he worshipped God； and made vows to him。
2。 At this time it was that the dominion of the Assyrians was
overthrown by the Medes； （6） but of these things I shall treat
elsewhere。 But the king of Babylon； whose name was Baladan； sent
ambassadors to Hezekiah； with presents； and desired he would be
his ally and his friend。 So he received the ambassadors gladly；
and made them a feast； and showed them his treasures； and his
armory； and the other wealth he was possessed of； in precious
stones and in gold； and gave them presents to be carried to
Baladan； and sent them back to him。 Upon which the prophet Isaiah
came to him； and inquired of him whence those ambassadors came；
to which he replied； that they came from Babylon； from the king；
and that he had showed them all he had； that by the sight of his
riches and forces he might thereby guess at ＇the plenty he was
in＇； and be able to inform the king of it。 But the prophet
rejoined； and said； 〃Know thou； that； after a little while； these
riches of thine shall be carried away to Babylon； and thy
posterity shall be made eunuchs there； and lose their manhood；
and be servants to the king of Babylon； for that God foretold
such things would come to pass。〃 Upon which words Hezekiah was
troubled； and said that he was himself unwilling that his nation
should fall into such calamities； yet since it is not possible to
alter what God had determined； he prayed that there might be
peace while he lived。 Berosus also makes mention of this Baladan；
king of Babylon。 Now as to this prophet ＇Isaiah＇； he was by the
confession of all； a divine and wonderful man in speaking truth；
and out of the assurance that he had never written what was
false； he wrote down all his prophecies； and left them behind him
in books； that their accomplishment might be judged of from the
events by posterity： nor did this prophet do so alone； but the
others； which were twelve in number； did the same。 And whatsoever
is done among us； Whether it be good； or whether it be bad； comes
to pass according to their prophecies； but of every one of these
we shall speak hereafter。
CHAPTER 3。
How Manasseh Reigned After Hezekiah； And How When He Was In
Captivity He Returned To God And Was Restored To His Kingdom And
Left It To ＇His Son＇ Amon。
1。 When king Hezekiah had survived the interval of time already
mentioned； and had dwelt all that time in peace； he died； having
completed fifty…four years of his life； and reigned twenty…nine。
But when his son Manasseh； whose mother's name was Hephzibah； of
Jerusalem； had taken the kingdom； he departed from the conduct of
his father； and fell into a course of life quite contrary
thereto； and showed himself in his manners most wicked in all
respects； and omitted no sort of impiety； but imitated those
transgressions of the Israelites； by the commission of which
against God they had been destroyed； for he was so hardy as to
defile the temple of God； and the city； and the whole country；
for； by setting out from a contempt of God； he barbarously slew
all the righteous men that were among the Hebrews； nor would he
spare the prophets； for he every day slew some of them； till
Jerusalem was overflown with blood。 So God was angry at these
proceedings； and sent prophets to the king； and to the multitude；
by whom he threatened the very same calamities to them which
their brethren the Israelites； upon the like affronts offered to
God； were now under。 But these men would not believe their words；
by which belief they might have reaped the advantage of escaping
all those miseries； yet did they in earnest learn that what the
prophets had told them was true。
2。 And when they persevered in the same course of life； God
raised up war against them from the king of Babylon and Chaldea；
who sent an army against Judea； and laid waste the country； and
caught king Manasseh by treachery； and ordered him to be brought
to him； and had him under his power to inflict what punishment he
pleased upon him。 But then it was that Manasseh perceived what a
miserable condition he was in； and esteeming himself the cause of
all； he besought God to render his enemy humane and merciful to
him。 Accordingly； God heard his prayer； and granted him what he
prayed for。 So Manasseh was released by the king of Babylon； and
escaped the danger he was in； and when he was come to Jerusalem；
he endeavored； if it were possible； to cast out of his memory
those his former sins against God； of which he now repented； and
to apply himself to a very religious life。 He sanctified the
temple； and purged the city； and for the remainder of his days he
was intent on nothing but to return his thanks to God for his
deliverance； and to preserve him propitious to him all his life
long。 He also instructed the multitude to do the same； as having
very nearly experienced what a calamity he was fallen into by a
contrary conduct。 He also rebuilt the altar； and offered the
legal sacrifices； as Moses commanded。 And when he had
re…established what concerned the Divine worship； as it ought to
be； he took care of the security of Jerusalem： he did not only
repair the old walls with great diligence； but added another wall
to the former。 He also built very lofty towers； and the
garrisoned places before the city he strengthened； not only in
other respects； but with provisions of all sorts that they
wanted。 And indeed； when he had changed his former course； he so
led his life for the time to come； that from the time of his
return to piety towards God he was deemed a happy man； and a
pattern for imitation。 When therefore he had lived sixty…seven
years； he departed this life； having reigned fifty…five years；
and was buried in his own garden； and the kingdom came to his son
Amon； whose mother's name was Meshulemeth； of the city of
Jotbath。
CHAPTER 4。
How Amon Reigned Instead Of Manasseh； And After Amon Reigned
Josiah； He Was Both Righteous And Religious。 As Also Concerning
Huldah The Prophetess。
1。 This Amon imitated those works of his father which he
insolently did when he was young： so he had a conspiracy made
against him by his own servants； and was slain in his own house；
when he had lived twenty…four years； and of them had reigned two。
But the multitude punished those that slew Amon； and buried him
with his father； and gave the kingdom to his son Josiah； who was
eight years old。 His mother was of the city of Boscath； and her
name was Jedidah。 He was of a most excellent disposition； and
naturally virtuous； and followed the actions of king David； as a
pattern and a rule to him in the whole conduct of his life。 And
when he was twelve years old； he gave demonstrations of his
religious and righteous behavior； for he brought the people to a
sober way of living； and exhorted them to leave off the opinion
they had of their idols； because they were not gods； but to
worship their own God。 And by repeating on the actions of his
progenitors； he prudently corrected what they did wrong； like a
very elderly man； and like one abundantly able to understand what
was fit to be done； and what he found they had well done； he
observed all the country over； and imitated the same。 And thus he
acted in following the wisdom and sagacity of his own nature； and
in compliance with the advice and instruction of the elders； for
by following the laws it was that he succeeded so well in the
order of his government； and in piety with regard to the Divine
worship。 And this happened because the transgressions of the
former kings were seen no more； but quite vanished away； for the
king went about the city； and the whole country； and cut down the
groves which were devoted to strange gods； and overthrew their
altars； and if there were any gifts dedicated to them by his
forefathers； he made them ignominious； and plucked them down； and
by this means he brought the people back from their opinion about
them to the worship of God。 He also offered his accustomed
sacrifices and burnt…offerings upon the altar。 Moreover； he
ordained certain judges and overseers； that they might order the
matters to them severally belonging； and have regard to justice
above all things； and distribute it with the same concern they
would have about their own soul。 He also sent over all the
country； and desired such as pleased to bring gold and silver for
the repairs of the temple； according to every one's inclinations
and abilities。 And when the money was brought in； he made one
Maaseiah the governor of the city； and Shaphan the scribe； and
Joab the recorder； and Eliakim the high priest； curators of the
temple； and of the charges contributed thereto； who made no
delay； nor put the work off at all； but prepared architects； and
whatsoever was proper for those repairs； and set closely about
the work。 So the temple was repaired by this means； and became a
public demonstration of the king's piety。
2。 But when he was now in the eighteenth year of his reign； he
sent to Eliakim the high priest； and gave order； that out of what
money was overplus； he should cast cups； and dishes； and vials；
for ministration ＇in the temple＇； and besides； that they should
bring all the gold or silver which was among the treasures； and
expend that also in making cups and the like vessels。 But as the
high priest was bringing out the gold； he lighted upon the holy
books of Moses that were laid up in the temple； and when he had
brought them out； he gave