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him； yet did he not at all hurt the ass； but sat by him； and kept
him； as also the prophet's body。 This continued till some
travelers that saw it came and told it in the city to the false
prophet； who sent his sons； and brought the body unto the city；
and made a funeral for him at great expense。 He also charged his
sons to bury himself with him and said that all which he had
foretold against that city； and the altar； and priests； and false
prophets； would prove true； and that if he were buried with him；
he should receive no injurious treatment after his death； the
bones not being then to be distinguished asunder。 But now； when
he had performed those funeral rites to the prophet； and had
given that charge to his sons； as he was a wicked and an impious
man； he goes to Jeroboam； and says to him； 〃And wherefore is it
now that thou art disturbed at the words of this silly fellow？〃
And when the king had related to him what had happened about the
altar； and about his own hand； and gave him the names of divine
man； and an excellent prophet； he endeavored by a wicked trick to
weaken that his opinion； and by using plausible words concerning
what had happened； he aimed to injure the truth that was in them；
for he attempted to persuade him that his hand was enfeebled by
the labor it had undergone in supporting the sacrifices； and that
upon its resting awhile it returned to its former nature again；
and that as to the altar； it was but new； and had borne abundance
of sacrifices； and those large ones too； and was accordingly
broken to pieces； and fallen down by the weight of what had been
laid upon it。 He also informed him of the death of him that had
foretold those things； and how he perished； ＇whence he concluded
that＇ he had not any thing in him of a prophet； nor spake any
thing like one。 When he had thus spoken； he persuaded the king；
and entirely alienated his mind from God； and from doing works
that were righteous and holy； and encouraged him to go on in his
impious practices （25） and accordingly he was to that degree
injurious to God； and so great a transgressor； that he sought for
nothing else every day but how he might be guilty of some new
instances of wickedness； and such as should be more detestable
than what he had been so insolent as to do before。 And so much
shall at present suffice to have said concerning Jeroboam。
CHAPTER 10。
Concerning Rehoboam； And How God Inflicted Punishment Upon Him
For His Impiety By Shishak ＇King Of Egypt＇。
1。 Now Rehoboam； the son of Solomon； who； as we said before； was
king of the two tribes； built strong and large cities； Bethlehem；
and Etare； and Tekoa； and Bethzur； and Shoco； and Adullam； and
Ipan； and Maresha； and Ziph； and Adorlam； and Lachlsh； and
Azekah； and Zorah； and Aijalon； and Hebron； these he built first
of all in the tribe of Judah。 He also built other large cities in
the tribe of Benjamin； and walled them about； and put garrisons
in them all； and captains； and a great deal of corn； and wine；
and oil； and he furnished every one of them plentifully with
other provisions that were necessary for sustenance； moreover； he
put therein shields and spears for many ten thousand men。 The
priests also that were in all Israel； and the Levites； and if
there were any of the multitude that were good and righteous men；
they gathered themselves together to him； having left their own
cities； that they might worship God in Jerusalem； for they were
not willing to be forced to worship the heifers which Jeroboam
had made； and they augmented the kingdom of Rehoboam for three
years。 And after he had married a woman of his own kindred； and
had by her three children born to him； he married also another of
his own kindred； who was daughter of Absalom by Tamar； whose name
was Maachah； and by her he had a son； whom he named Abijah。 He
had moreover many other children by other wives； but he loved
Maachah above them all。 Now he had eighteen legitimate wives； and
thirty concubines； and he had born to him twenty…eight sons and
threescore daughters； but he appointed Abijah； whom he had by
Maachah； to be his successor in the kingdom； and intrusted him
already with the treasures and the strongest cities。
2。 Now I cannot but think that the greatness of a kingdom； and
its change into prosperity； often become the occasion of mischief
and of transgression to men； for when Rehoboam saw that his
kingdom was so much increased； he went out of the right way unto
unrighteous and irreligious practices； and he despised the
worship of God； till the people themselves imitated his wicked
actions： for so it usually happens； that the manners of subjects
are corrupted at the same time with those of their governors；
which subjects then lay aside their own sober way of living； as a
reproof of their governors' intemperate courses； and follow their
wickedness as if it were virtue； for it is not possible to show
that men approve of the actions of their kings； unless they do
the same actions with them。 Agreeable whereto it now happened to
the subjects of Rehoboam； for when he was grown impious； and a
transgressor himself； they endeavored not to offend him by
resolving still to be righteous。 But God sent Shishak； king of
Egypt； to punish them for their unjust behavior towards him；
concerning whom Herodotus was mistaken； and applied his actions
to Sesostris； for this Shishak； （26） in the fifth year of the
reign of Rehoboam； made an expedition ＇into Judea＇ with many ten
thousand men； for he had one thousand two hundred chariots in
number that followed him； and threescore thousand horsemen； and
four hundred thousand footmen。 These he brought with him； and
they were the greatest part of them Libyans and Ethiopians。 Now
therefore when he fell upon the country of the Hebrews； he took
the strongest cities of Rehoboam's kingdom without fighting； and
when he had put garrisons in them； he came last of all to
Jerusalem。
3。 Now when Rehoboam； and the multitude with him； were shut up in
Jerusalem by the means of the army of Shishak； and when they
besought God to give them victory and deliverance； they could not
persuade God to be on their side。 But Shemaiah the prophet told
them； that God threatened to forsake them； as they had themselves
forsaken his worship。 When they heard this； they were immediately
in a consternation of mind； and seeing no way of deliverance；
they all earnestly set themselves to confess that God might
justly overlook them； since they had been guilty of impiety
towards him； and had let his laws lie in confusion。 So when God
saw them in that disposition； and that they acknowledge their
sins； he told the prophet that he would not destroy them； but
that he would； however； make them servants to the Egyptians； that
they may learn whether they will suffer less by serving men or
God。 So when Shishak had taken the city without fighting； because
Rehoboam was afraid； and received him into it； yet did not
Shishak stand to the covenants he had made； but he spoiled the
temple； and emptied the treasures of God； and those of the king；
and carried off innumerable ten thousands of gold and silver； and
left nothing at all behind him。 He