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and joining battle cheerfully on account of what God had foretold
about it； he slew a great many of the Ethiopians； and when he had
put them to flight； he pursued them to the country of Gerar； and
when they left off killing their enemies； they betook themselves
to spoiling them； （for the city Gerar was already taken；） and to
spoiling their camp； so that they carried off much gold； and much
silver； and a great deal of ＇other＇ prey； and camels； and great
cattle； and flocks of sheep。 Accordingly； when Asa and his army
had obtained such a victory； and such wealth from God； they
returned to Jerusalem。 Now as they were coming； a prophet； whose
name was Azariah； met them on the road； and bade them stop their
journey a little； and began to say to them thus： That the reason
why they had obtained this victory from God was this； that they
had showed themselves righteous and religious men； and had done
every thing according to the will of God； that therefore； he
said； if they persevered therein； God would grant that they
should always overcome their enemies； and live happily； but that
if they left off his worship； all things shall fall out on the
contrary； and a time should come； wherein no true prophet shall
be left in your whole multitude； nor a priest who shall deliver
you a true ；answer from the oracle； but your cities shall be
overthrown； and your nation scattered over the whole earth； and
live the life of strangers and wanderers。 So he advised them；
while they had time； to be good； and not to deprive themselves of
the favor of God。 When the king and the people heard this； they
rejoiced； and all in common； and every one in particular； took
great care to behave themselves righteously。 The king also sent
some to take care that those in the country should observe the
laws also。
3。 And this was the state of Asa； king of the two tribes。 I now
return to Baasha； the king of the multitude of the Israelites；
who slew Nadab； the son of Jeroboam； and retained the government。
He dwelt in the city Tirzah； having made that his habitation； and
reigned twenty…four years。 He became more wicked and impious than
Jeroboam or his son。 He did a great deal of mischief to the
multitude； and was injurious to God； who sent the prophet Jehu；
and told him beforehand that his whole family should be
destroyed； and that he would bring the same miseries on his house
which had brought that of Jeroboam to ruin； because when he had
been made king by him； he had not requited his kindness； by
governing the multitude righteously and religiously； which
things； in the first place； tended to their own happiness； and；
in the next place； were pleasing to God： that he had imitated
this very wicked king Jeroboam； and although that man's soul had
perished； yet did he express to the life his wickedness； and he
said that he should therefore justly experience the like calamity
with him； since he had been guilty of the like wickedness。 But
Baasha； though he heard beforehand what miseries would befall him
and his whole family for their insolent behavior； yet did not he
leave off his wicked practices for the time to come； nor did he
care to appear other than worse and worse till he died； nor did
he then repent of his past actions； nor endeavor to obtain pardon
of God for them； but did as those do who have rewards proposed to
them； when they have once in earnest set about their work； they
do not leave off their labors； for thus did Baasha； when the
prophet foretold to him what would come to pass； grow worse； as
if what were threatened； the perdition of his family； and the
destruction of his house； （which are really among the greatest of
evils；） were good things； and； as if he were a combatant for
wickedness； he every day took more and more pains for it： and at
last he took his army and assaulted a certain considerable city
called Ramah； which was forty furlongs distant from Jerusalem；
and when he had taken it； he fortified it； having determined
beforehand to leave a garrison in it； that they might thence make
excursions； and do mischief to the kingdom of Asa。
4。 Whereupon Asa was afraid of the attempts the enemy might make
upon him； and considering with himself how many mischiefs this
army that was left in Ramah might do to the country over which he
reigned； he sent ambassadors to the king of the Damascenes； with
gold and silver； desiring his assistance； and putting him in mind
that we have had a friendship together from the times of our
forefathers。 So he gladly received that sum of money； and made a
league with him； and broke the friendship he had with Baasha； and
sent the commanders of his own forces unto the cities that were
under Baasha's dominion； and ordered them to do them mischief。 So
they went and burnt some of them； and spoiled others； Ijon； and
Dan； and Abelmain （32） and many others。 Now when the king of
Israel heard this； he left off building and fortifying Ramah； and
returned presently to assist his own people under the distresses
they were in； but Asa made use of the materials that were
prepared for building that city； for building in the same place
two strong cities； the one of which was called Geba； and the
other Mizpah； so that after this Baasha had no leisure to make
expeditions against Asa； for he was prevented by death； and was
buried in the city Tirzah； and Elah his son took the kingdom；
who； when he had reigned two years； died； being treacherously
slain by Zimri； the captain of half his army； for when he was at
Arza； his steward's house； he persuaded some of the horsemen that
were under him to assault Elah； and by that means he slew him
when he was without his armed men and his captains； for they were
all busied in the siege of Gibbethon； a city of the Philistines。
5。 When Zimri； the captain of the army； had killed Elah； he took
the kingdom himself； and； according to Jehu's prophecy； slew all
the house of Baasha； for it came to pass that Baasha's house
utterly perished； on account of his impiety； in the same manner
as we have already described the destruction of the house of
Jeroboam。 But the army that was besieging。 Gibbethon； when they
heard what had befallen the king； and that when Zimri had killed
him； he had gained the kingdom； they made Omri their general
king； who drew off his army from Gibbethon； and came to Tirzah；
where the royal palace was； and assaulted the city； and took it
by force。 But when Zimri saw that the city had none to defend it；
he fled into the inmost part of the palace； and set it on fire；
and burnt himself with it； when he had reigned only seven days。
Upon which the people of Israel were presently divided； and part
of them would have Tibni to be king； and part Omri； but when
those that were for Omri's ruling had beaten Tibni； Omri reigned
over all the multitude。 Now it was in the thirtieth year of the
reign of Asa that Omri reigned for twelve years； six of these
years he reigned in the city Tirzah； and the rest in the city
called Semareon； but named by the Greeks Samaria； but he himself
called it Semareon； from Semer； who sold him the mountain whereon
he built it。 Now Omri was no way different from those kings that
reigned b