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！
not lawful for him to lie against God； but that he must speak
what he should say to him about the king； whatsoever it were。
When he came to Ahab； and he had adjured him upon oath to speak
the truth to him； he said that God had shown to him the
Israelites running away； and pursued by the Syrians； and
dispersed upon the mountains by them； as flocks of sheep are
dispersed when their shepherd is slain。 He said further； that God
signified to him； that those Israelites should return ：in peace
to their own home； and that he only should fall in the battle。
When Micalab had thus spoken； Ahab said to Jehoshaphat； 〃I told
thee a little while ago the disposition of the man with regard to
me； and that he uses to prophesy evil to me。〃 Upon which Micaiah
replied； that he ought to hear all； whatsoever it be； that God
foretells； and that in particular； they were false prophets that
encouraged him to make this war in hope of victory； whereas he
must fight and be killed。 Whereupon the king was in suspense with
himself： but Zedekiah； one of those false prophets； came near；
and exhorted him not to hearken to Micaiah； for he did not at all
speak truth； as a demonstration of which he instanced in what
Elijah had said； who was a better prophet in foretelling
futurities than Micaiah （42） for he foretold that the dogs should
lick his blood in the city of Jezreel； in the field of Naboth； as
they licked the blood of Naboth； who by his means was there
stoned to death by the multitude； that therefore it was plain
that this Micalab was a liar； as contradicting a greater prophet
than himself； and saying that he should be slain at three days'
journey distance： 〃and ＇said he＇ you shall soon know whether he
be a true prophet； and hath the power of the Divine Spirit； for I
will smite him； and let him then hurt my hand； as Jadon caused
the hand of Jeroboam the king to wither when he would have caught
him； for I suppose thou hast certainly heard of that accident。〃
So when； upon his smiting Micaiah； no harm happened to him； Ahab
took courage； and readily led his army against the king of Syria；
for； as I suppose； fate was too hard for him； and made him
believe that the false prophets spake truer than the true one；
that it might take an occasion of bringing him to his end。
However； Zedekiah made horns of iron； and said to Ahab； that God
made those horns signals； that by them he should overthrow all
Syria。 But Micaiah replied； that Zedekiah； in a few days； should
go from one secret chamber to another to hide himself； that he
might escape the punishment of his lying。 Then did the king give
orders that they should take Micaiah away； and guard him to Amon；
the governor of the city； and to give him nothing but bread and
water。
5。 Then did Ahab； and Jehoshaphat the king of Jerusalem； take
their forces； and marched to Ramoth a city of Gilead； and when
the king of Syria heard of this expedition； he brought out his
army to oppose them； and pitched his camp not far from Ramoth。
Now Ahalx and Jehoshaphat had agreed that Ahab should lay aside
his royal robes； but that the king of Jerusalem should put on his
＇Ahab's＇ proper habit； and stand before the army； in order to
disprove； by this artifice； what Micaiah had foretold。 （43） But
Ahab's fate found him out without his robes； for Benhadad； the
king of Assyria； had charged his army； by the means of their
commanders； to kill nobody else but only the king of Israel。 So
when the Syrians； upon their joining battle with the Israelites；
saw Jehoshaphat stand before the army； and conjectured that he
was Ahab； they fell violently upon him； and encompassed him
round； but when they were near； and knew that it was not he； they
all returned back； and while the fight lasted from the morning
till late in the evening； and the Syrians were conquerors； they
killed nobody； as their king had commanded them。 And when they
sought to kill Ahab alone； but could not find him； there was a
young nobleman belonging to king Benhadad； whose name was Naaman；
he drew his bow against the enemy； and wounded the king through
his breastplate； in his lungs。 Upon this Ahab resolved not to
make his mischance known to his army； lest they should run away；
but he bid the driver of his chariot to turn it back； and carry
him out of the battle； because he was sorely and mortally
wounded。 However； he sat in his chariot and endured the pain till
sunset； and then he fainted away and died。
6。 And now the Syrian army； upon the coming on of the night；
retired to their camp； and when the herald belonging to the camp
gave notice that Ahab was dead； they returned home； and they took
the dead body of Ahab to Samaria； and buried it there； but when
they had washed his chariot in the fountain of Jezreel； which was
bloody with the dead body of the king； they acknowledged that the
prophecy of Elijah was true； for the dogs licked his blood； and
the harlots continued afterwards to wash themselves in that
fountain； but still he died at Ramoth； as Micaiah had foretold。
And as what things were foretold should happen to Ahab by the two
prophets came to pass； we ought thence to have high notions of
God； and every where to honor and worship him； and never to
suppose that what is pleasant and agreeable is worthy of belief
before what is true； and to esteem nothing more advantageous than
the gift of prophecy （44） and that foreknowledge of future events
which is derived from it； since God shows men thereby what we
ought to avoid。 We may also guess； from what happened to this
king； and have reason to consider the power of fate； that there
is no way of avoiding it； even when we know it。 It creeps upon
human souls； and flatters them with pleasing hopes； till it leads
them about to the place where it will be too hard for them。
Accordingly Ahab appears to have been deceived thereby； till he
disbelieved those that foretold his defeat； but； by giving credit
to such as foretold what was grateful to him； was slain； and his
son Ahaziah succeeded him。
BOOK 9。
Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Fifty…Seven Years。
From The Death Of Ahab To The Captivity Of The Ten Tribes。
CHAPTER 1。
Concerning Jehoshaphat Again； How He Constituted Judges And； By
God's Assistance Overcame His Enemies。
1。 When Jehoshaphat the king was come to Jerusalem； from the
assistance he had afforded Ahab； the king of Israel； when he
fought with Benhadad； king of Syria； the prophet Jehu met him；
and accused him for assisting Ahab； a man both impious and
wicked； and said to him； that God was displeased with him for so
doing； but that he delivered him from the enemy； notwithstanding
he had sinned； because of his own proper disposition； which was
good。 Whereupon the king betook himself to thanksgivings and
sacrifices to God； after which he presently went over all that
country which he ruled round about； and taught the people； as
well the laws which God gave them by Moses； as that religious
worship that was due to him。 He also constituted judges in every
one of the cities of his kingdom； and charged them to have regard
to nothing so much in judging the multitude as to do justice； and
not to be moved by bribes； n