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！
you yourselves are not unacquainted with； but I cannot but wonder
how you should forsake my father； and join yourselves to his
servant Jeroboam； and are now here with him to fight against
those who； by God's own determination； are to reign； and to
deprive them of that dominion which they have still retained； for
as to the greater part of it； Jeroboam is unjustly in possession
of it。 However； I do not suppose he will enjoy it any longer； but
when he hath suffered that punishment which God thinks due to him
for what is past； he will leave off the transgressions he hath
been guilty of； and the injuries he hath offered to him； and
which he hath still continued to offer and hath persuaded you to
do the same： yet when you were not any further unjustly treated
by my father； than that he did not speak to you so as to please
you； and this only in compliance with the advice of wicked men；
you in anger forsook him； as you pretended； but； in reality； you
withdrew yourselves from God； and from his laws； although it had
been right for you to have forgiven a man that was young in age；
and not used to govern people； not only some disagreeable words；
but if his youth and unskilfulness in affairs had led him into
some unfortunate actions； and that for the sake of his father
Solomon； and the benefits you received from him； for men ought to
excuse the sins of posterity on account of the benefactions of
parent； but you considered nothing of all this then； neither do
you consider it now； but come with so great an army against us。
And what is it you depend upon for victory？ Is it upon these
golden heifers； and the altars that you have on high places；
which are demonstrations of your impiety； and not of religious
worship？ Or is it the exceeding multitude of your army which
gives you such good hopes？ Yet certainly there is no strength at
all in an army of many ten thousands； when the war is unjust； for
we ought to place our surest hopes of success against our enemies
in righteousness alone； and in piety towards God； which hope we
justly have； since we have kept the laws from the beginning； and
have worshipped our own God； who was not made by hands out of
corruptible matter； nor was he formed by a wicked king； in order
to deceive the multitude； but who is his own workmanship； （28）
and the beginning and end of all things。 I therefore give you
counsel even now to repent； and to take better advice； and to
leave off the prosecution of the war； to call to mind the laws of
your country； and to reflect what it hath been that hath advanced
you to so happy a state as you are now in。〃
3。 This was the speech which Abijah made to the multitude。 But
while he was still speaking Jeroboam sent some of his soldiers
privately to encompass Abijab round about； on certain parts of
the camp that were not taken notice of； and when he was thus
within the compass of the enemy； his army was affrighted； and
their courage failed them； but Abijah encouraged them； and
exhorted them to place their hopes on God； for that he was not
encompassed by the enemy。 So they all at once implored the Divine
assistance； while the priests sounded with the trumpet； and they
made a shout； and fell upon their enemies； and God brake the
courage and cast down the force of their enemies； and made
Ahijah's army superior to them； for God vouchsafed to grant them
a wonderful and very famous victory； and such a slaughter was now
made of Jeroboam's army （29） as is never recorded to have
happened in any other war； whether it were of the Greeks or of
the Barbarians； for they overthrew ＇and slew＇ five hundred
thousand of their enemies； and they took their strongest cities
by force； and spoiled them； and besides those； they did the same
to Bethel and her towns； and Jeshanah and her towns。 And after
this defeat Jeroboam never recovered himself during the life of
Abijah； who yet did not long survive； for he reigned but three
years； and was buried in Jerusalem in the sepulchers of his
forefathers。 He left behind him twenty…two sons； and sixteen
daughters； and he had also those children by fourteen wives； and
Asa his son succeeded in the kingdom； and the young man's mother
was Michaiah。 Under his reign the country of the Israelites
enjoyed peace for ten years。
4。 And so far concerning Abijah； the son of Rehoboam； the son of
Solomon； as his history hath come down to us。 But Jeroboam； the
king of the ten tribes； died when he had governed them two and
twenty years； whose son Nadab succeeded him； in the second year
of the reign of Asa。 Now Jeroboam's son governed two years； and
resembled his father in impiety and wickedness。 In these two
years he made an expedition against Gibbethon； a city of the
Philistines； and continued the siege in order to take it； but he
was conspired against while he was there by a friend of his；
whose name was Baasha； the son of Ahijah； and was slain； which
Baasha took the kingdom after the other's death； and destroyed
the whole house of Jeroboam。 It also came to pass； according as
God had foretold； that some of Jeroboam's kindred that died in
the city were torn to pieces and devoured by dogs； and that
others of them that died in the fields were torn and devoured by
the fowls。 So the house of Jeroboam suffered the just punishment
of his impiety； and of his wicked actions。
CHAPTER 12。
How Zerah； King Of The Ethiopians； Was Beaten By Asa； And How
Asa； Upon Baasha's Making War Against Him； Invited The King Of
The Damascens To Assist Him； And How； On The Destruction Of The
House Of Baasha Zimri Got The Kingdom As Did His Son Ahab After
Him。
1。 Now Asa； the king of Jerusalem； was of an excellent character；
and had a regard to God； and neither did nor designed any thing
but what had relation to the observation of the laws。 He made a
reformation of his kingdom； and cut off whatsoever was wicked
therein； and purified it from every impurity。 Now he had an army
of chosen men that were armed with targets and spears； out of the
tribe of Judah three hundred thousand； and out of the tribe of
Benjamin； that bore shields and drew bows； two hundred and fifty
thousand。 But when he had already reigned ten years； Zerah； king
of Ethiopia； （30） made an expedition against him； with a great
army； of nine hundred thousand footmen； and one hundred thousand
horsemen； and three hundred chariots； and came as far as
Mareshah； a city that belonged to the tribe of Judah。 Now when
Zerah had passed so far with his own army； Asa met him； and put
his army in array over against him； in a valley called Zephathah；
not far from the city； and when he saw the multitude of the
Ethiopians； he cried out； and besought God to give him the
victory； and that he might kill many ten thousands of the enemy：
〃For；〃 said he； （31） 〃I depend on nothing else but that
assistance which I expect from thee； which is able to make the
fewer superior to the more numerous； and the weaker to the
stronger； and thence it is alone that I venture to meet Zerah；
and fight him。〃
2。 While Asa was saying this； God gave him a signal of victory；
and joining battle cheerfully on account of what God had foretold
about it； he slew a great many of th