按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and carried off innumerable ten thousands of gold and silver； and
left nothing at all behind him。 He also took away the bucklers of
gold； and the shields； which Solomon the king had made； nay； he
did not leave the golden quivers which David had taken from the
king of Zobah； and had dedicated to God； and when he had thus
done； he returned to his own kingdom。 Now Herodotus of
Halicarnassus mentions this expedition； having only mistaken the
king's name； and ＇in saying that＇ he made war upon many other
nations also； and brought Syria of Palestine into subjection； and
took the men that were therein prisoners without fighting。 Now it
is manifest that he intended to declare that our nation was
subdued by him； for he saith that he left behind him pillars in
the land of those that delivered themselves up to him without
fighting； and engraved upon them the secret parts of women。 Now
our king Rehoboam delivered up our city without fighting。 He says
withal （27） that the Ethiopians learned to circumcise their privy
parts from the Egyptians； with this addition； that the
Phoenicians and Syrians that live in Palestine confess that they
learned it of the Egyptians。 Yet it is evident that no other of
the Syrians that live in Palestine； besides us alone； are
circumcised。 But as to such matters； let every one speak what is
agreeable to his own opinion。
4。 When Shishak was gone away； king Rehoboam made bucklers and
shields of brass； instead of those of gold； and delivered the
same number of them to the keepers of the king's palace。 So；
instead of warlike expeditions； and that glory which results from
those public actions； he reigned in great quietness； though not
without fear； as being always an enemy to Jeroboam； and he died
when he had lived fifty…seven years； and reigned seventeen。 He
was in his disposition a proud and a foolish man； and lost ＇part
of his＇ dominions by not hearkening to his father's friends。 He
was buried in Jerusalem； in the sepulchers of the kings； and his
son Abijah succeeded him in the kingdom； and this in the
eighteenth year of Jeroboam's reign over the ten tribes； and this
was the conclusion of these affairs。 It must be now our business
to relate the affairs of Jeroboam； and how he ended his life； for
he ceased not nor rested to be injurious to God； but every day
raised up altars upon high mountains； and went on making priests
out of the multitude。
CHAPTER 11。
Concerning The Death Of A Son Of Jeroboam。 How Jeroboam Was
Beaten By Abijah Who Died A Little Afterward And Was Succeeded In
His Kingdom By Asa。 And Also How； After The Death Of Jeroboam
Baasha Destroyed His Son Nadab And All The House Of Jeroboam。
1。 However； God was in no long time ready to return Jeroboam's
wicked actions； and the punishment they deserved； upon his own
head； and upon the heads of all his house。 And whereas a soil of
his lay sick at that time； who was called Abijah； he enjoined his
wife to lay aside her robes； and to take the garments belonging
to a private person； and to go to Ahijah the prophet； for that he
was a wonderful man in foretelling futurities； it having been he
who told me that I should be king。 He also enjoined her； when she
came to him； to inquire concerning the child； as if she were a
stranger； whether he should escape this distemper。 So she did as
her husband bade her； and changed her habit； and came to the city
Shiloh； for there did Ahijah live。 And as she was going into his
house； his eyes being then dim with age； God appeared to him； and
informed him of two things； that the wife of Jeroboam was come to
him； and what answer he should make to her inquiry。 Accordingly；
as the woman was coming into the house like a private person and
a stranger； he cried out； 〃Come in； O thou wife of Jeroboam！ Why
concealest thou thyself？ Thou art not concealed from God； who
hath appeared to me； and informed me that thou wast coming； and
hath given me in command what I shall say to thee。〃 So he said
that she should go away to her husband； and speak to him thus：
〃Since I made thee a great man when thou wast little； or rather
wast nothing； and rent the kingdom from the house of David； and
gave it to thee； and thou hast been unmindful of these benefits；
hast left off my worship； hast made thee molten gods and honored
them； I will in like manner cast thee down again； and will
destroy all thy house； and make them food for the dogs and the
fowls； for a certain king is rising up； by appointment； over all
this people； who shall leave none of the family of Jeroboam
remaining。 The multitude also shall themselves partake of the
same punishment； and shall be cast out of this good land； and
shall be scattered into the places beyond Euphrates； because they
have followed the wicked practices of their king； and have
worshipped the gods that he made； and forsaken my sacrifices。 But
do thou； O woman； make haste back to thy husband； and tell him
this message； but thou shalt then find thy son dead； for as thou
enterest the city he shall depart this life； yet shall he be
buried with the lamentation of all the multitude； and honored
with a general mourning； for he was the only person of goodness
of Jeroboam's family。〃 When the prophet had foretold these
events； the woman went hastily away with a disordered mind； and
greatly grieved at the death of the forenamed child。 So she was
in lamentation as she went along the road； and mourned for the
death of her son； that was just at hand。 She was indeed in a
miserable condition at the unavoidable misery of his death； and
went apace； but in circumstances very unfortunate； because of her
son： for the greater haste she made； she would the sooner see her
son dead； yet was she forced to make such haste on account of her
husband。 Accordingly； when she was come back； she found that the
child had given up the ghost； as the prophet had said； and she
related all the circumstances to the king。
2。 Yet did not Jeroboam lay any of these things to heart； but he
brought together a very numerous army； and made a warlike
expedition against Abijah； the son of Rehoboam； who had succeeded
his father in the kingdom of the two tribes； for he despised him
because of his age。 But when he heard of the expedition of
Jeroboam； he was not affrighted at it； but proved of a courageous
temper of mind； superior both to his youth and to the hopes of
his enemy； so he chose him an army out of the two tribes； and met
Jeroboam at a place called Mount Zemaraim； and pitched his camp
near the other； and prepared everything necessary for the fight。
His army consisted of four hundred thousand； but the army of
Jeroboam was double to it。 Now as the armies stood in array；
ready for action and dangers； and were just going to fight；
Abijah stood upon an elevated place； and beckoning with his hand；
he desired the multitude and Jeroboam himself to hear first with
silence what he had to say。 And when silence was made； he began
to speak； and told them； … 〃God had consented that David and his
posterity should be their rulers for all time to come； and this
you yourselves are not unacquainted with； but I cannot but wonder
how you should forsake my father； and join