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and Damcenes。 But when Jehoahaz was under such unavoidable
miseries； he had recourse to prayer and supplication to God； and
besought him to deliver him out of the hands of Hazael； and not
overlook him； and give him up into his hands。 Accordingly God
accepted of his repentance instead of virtue； and being desirous
rather to admonish those that might repent； and not to determine
that they should be utterly destroyed； he granted him deliverance
from war and dangers。 So the country having obtained peace；
returned again to its former condition； and flourished as before。
6。 Now after the death of Jehoahaz； his son Joash took the
kingdom； in the thirty…seventh year of Jehoash； the king of the
tribe of Judah。 This Joash then took the kingdom of Israel in
Samaria； for he had the same name with the king of Jerusalem； and
he retained the kingdom sixteen years。 He was a good man； （17）
and in his disposition was not at all like his father。 Now at
this time it was that when Elisha the prophet； who was already
very old； and was now fallen into a disease； the king of Israel
came to visit him； and when he found him very near death； he
began to weep in his sight； and lament； to call him his father；
and his weapons； because it was by his means that he never made
use of his weapons against his enemies； but that he overcame his
own adversaries by his prophecies； without fighting； and that he
was now departing this life； and leaving him to the Syrians； that
were already armed； and to other enemies of his that were under
their power； so he said it was not safe for him to live any
longer； but that it would be well for him to hasten to his end；
and depart out of this life with him。 As the king was thus
bemoaning himself； Elisha comforted him； and bid the king bend a
bow that was brought him； and when the king had fitted the bow
for shooting； Elisha took hold of his hands and bid him shoot；
and when he had shot three arrows； and then left off； Elisha
said； 〃If thou hadst shot more arrows； thou hadst cut the kingdom
of Syria up by the roots； but since thou hast been satisfied with
shooting three times only； thou shalt fight and beat the Syrians
no more times than three； that thou mayst recover that country
which they cut off from thy kingdom in the reign of thy father。〃
So when the king had heard that； he departed； and a little while
after the prophet died。 He was a man celebrated for
righteousness； and in eminent favor with God。 He also performed
wonderful and surprising works by prophecy； and such as were
gloriously preserved in memory by the Hebrews。 He also obtained a
magnificent funeral； such a one indeed as it was fit a person so
beloved of God should have。 It also happened； that at that time
certain robbers cast a man whom they had slain into Elisha's
grave； and upon his dead body coming close to Elisha's body； it
revived again。 And thus far have we enlarged about the actions of
Elisha the prophet； both such as he did while he was alive； and
how he had a Divine power after his death also。
7。 Now； upon the death of Hazael； the king of Syria； that kingdom
came to Adad his son； with whom Joash； king of Israel； made war；
and when he had beaten him in three battles； he took from him all
that country； and all those cities and villages； which his father
Hazael had taken from the kingdom of Israel； which came to pass；
however； according to the prophecy of Elisha。 But when Joash
happened to die； he was buried in Samaria； and the government
devolved on his son Jeroboam。
CHAPTER 9。
How Amaziah Made An Expedition Against The Edomites And
Amalekites And Conquered Them； But When He Afterwards Made War
Against Joash； He Was Beaten And Not Long After Was Slain； And
Uzziah Succeeded In The Government。
1。 Now； in the second year of the reign of Joash over Israel；
Amaziah reigned over the tribe of Judah in Jerusalem。 His
mother's name was Jehoaddan； who was born at Jerusalem。 He was
exceeding careful of doing what was right； and this when he was
very young； but when he came to the management of affairs； and to
the government； he resolved that he ought first of all to avenge
his father Je…hoash； and to punish those his friends that had
laid violent hands upon him： so he seized upon them all； and put
them to death； yet did he execute no severity on their children；
but acted therein according to the laws of Moses； who did not
think it just to punish children for the sins of their fathers。
After this he chose him an army out of the tribe of Judah and
Benjamin； of such as were in the flower of their age； and about
twenty years old； and when he had collected about three hundred
thousand of them together； he set captains of hundreds over them。
He also sent to the king of Israel； and hired a hundred thousand
of his soldiers for a hundred talents of silver； for he had
resolved to make an expedition against the nations of the
Amatekites； and Edomites； and Gebalites： but as he was preparing
for his expedition； and ready to go out to the war； a prophet
gave him counsel to dismiss the army of the Israelites； because
they were bad men； and because God foretold that he should be
beaten； if he made use of them as auxiliaries； but that he should
overcome his enemies； though he had but a few soldiers； when it
so pleased God。 And when the king grudged at his having already
paid the hire of the Israelites； the prophet exhorted him to do
what God would have him； because he should thereby obtain much
wealth from God。 So he dismissed them； and said that he still
freely gave them their pay； and went himself with his own army；
and made war with the nations before mentioned； and when he had
beaten them in battle； he slew of them ten thousand； and took as
many prisoners alive； whom he brought to the great rock which is
in Arabia； and threw them down from it headlong。 He also brought
away a great deal of prey and vast riches from those nations。 But
while Amaziah was engaged in this expedition； those Israelites
whom he had hired； and then dismissed； were very uneasy at it；
and taking their dismission for an affront； （as supposing that
this would not have been done to them but out of contempt；） they
fell upon his kingdom； and proceeded to spoil the country as far
as Beth…horon； and took much cattle； and slew three thousand men。
2。 Now upon the victory which Amaziah had gotten； and the great
acts he had done； he was puffed up； and began to overlook God；
who had given him the victory； and proceeded to worship the gods
he had brought out of the country of the Amalekites。 So a prophet
came to him； and said； that he wondered how he could esteem these
to be gods； who had been of no advantage to their own people who
paid them honors； nor had delivered them from his hands； but had
overlooked the destruction of many of them； and had suffered
themselves to be carried captive； for that they had been carried
to Jerusalem in the same manner as any one might have taken some
of the enemy alive； and led them thither。 This reproof provoked
the king to anger； and he commanded the prophet to hold his
peace； and threatened to punish him if he meddled with his
conduct。 So he replied； that he sho