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peace； and threatened to punish him if he meddled with his
conduct。 So he replied； that he should indeed hold his peace； but
foretold withal； that God would not overlook his attempts for
innovation。 But Amaziah was not able to contain himself under
that prosperity which God had given him； although he had
affronted God thereupon； but in a vein of insolence he wrote to
Joash； the king of Israel； and commanded that he and all his
people should be obedient to him； as they had formerly been
obedient to his progenitors； David and Solomon； and he let him
know； that if he would not be so wise as to do what he commanded
him； he must fight for his dominion。 To which message Joash
returned this answer in writing： 〃King Joash to king Amaziah。
There was a vastly tall cypress tree in Mount Lebanon； as also a
thistle； this thistle sent to the cypress tree to give the
cypress tree's daughter in marriage to the thistle's son； but as
the thistle was saying this； there came a wild beast； and trod
down the thistle： and this may be a lesson to thee； not to be so
ambitious； and to have a care； lest upon thy good success in the
fight against the Amalekites thou growest so proud； as to bring
dangers upon thyself and upon thy kingdom。〃
3。 When Amaziah had read this letter； he was more eager upon this
expedition； which； I suppose； was by the impulse of God； that he
might be punished for his offense against him。 But as soon as he
led out his army against Joash； and they were going to join
battle with him； there came such a fear and consternation upon
the army of Amaziah； as God； when he is displeased； sends upon
men； and discomfited them； even before they came to a close
fight。 Now it happened； that as they were scattered about by the
terror that was upon them； Amaziah was left alone； and was taken
prisoner by the enemy； whereupon Joash threatened to kill him；
unless he would persuade the people of Jerusalem to open their
gates to him； and receive him and his army into the city。
Accordingly Amaziah was so distressed； and in such fear of his
life； that he made his enemy to be received into the city。 So
Joash over threw a part of the wall； of the length of four
hundred cubits； and drove his chariot through the breach into
Jerusalem； and led Amaziah captive along with him； by which means
he became master of Jerusalem； and took away the treasures of
God； and carried off all the gold and silver that was in the
king's palace； and then freed the king from captivity； and
returned to Samaria。 Now these things happened to the people of
Jerusalem in the fourteenth year of the reign of Amaziah； who
after this had a conspiracy made against him by his friends； and
fled to the city Lachish； and was there slain by the
conspirators； who sent men thither to kill him。 So they took up
his dead body； and carried it to Jerusalem； and made a royal
funeral for him。 This was the end of the life of Amaziah； because
of his innovations in religion； and his contempt of God； when he
had lived fifty…four years； and had reigned twenty…nine。 He was
succeeded by his son； whose name was Uzziah。
CHAPTER 10。
Concerning Jeroboam King Of Israel And Jonah The Prophet； And How
After The Death Of Jeroboam His Son Zachariah Took The
Government。 How Uzziah； King Of Jerusalem； Subdued The Nations
That Were Round About Him； And What Befell Him When He Attempted
To Offer Incense To God。
1。 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Amaziah； Jeroboam the
son of Joash reigned over Israel in Samaria forty years。 This
king was guilty of contumely against God； （18） and became very
wicked in worshipping of idols； and in many undertakings that
were absurd and foreign。 He was also the cause of ten thousand
misfortunes to the people of Israel。 Now one Jonah； a prophet；
foretold to him that he should make war with the Syrians； and
conquer their army； and enlarge the bounds of his kingdom on the
northern parts to the city Hamath； and on the southern to the
lake Asphaltitis； for the bounds of the Canaanites originally
were these； as Joshua their general had determined them。 So
Jeroboam made an expedition against the Syrians； and overran all
their country； as Jonah had foretold。
2。 Now I cannot but think it necessary for me； who have promised
to give an accurate account of our affairs； to describe the
actions of this prophet； so far as I have found them written down
in the Hebrew books。 Jonah had been commanded by God to go to the
kingdom of Nineveh； and when he was there； to publish it in that
city； how it should lose the dominion it had over the nations。
But he went not； out of fear； nay； he ran away from God to the
city of Joppa； and finding a ship there； he went into it； and
sailed to Tarsus； in Cilicia （19） and upon the rise of a most
terrible storm； which was so great that the ship was in danger of
sinking； the mariners； the master； and the pilot himself； made
prayers and vows； in case they escaped the sea： but Jonah lay
still and covered ＇in the ship；＇ without imitating any thing that
the others did； but as the waves grew greater； and the sea became
more violent by the winds； they suspected； as is usual in such
cases； that some one of the persons that sailed with them was the
occasion of this storm； and agreed to discover by lot which of
them it was。 When they had cast lots； （21） the lot fell upon the
prophet； and when they asked him whence he came； and what he had
done？ he replied； that he was a Hebrew by nation； and a prophet
of Almighty God； and he persuaded them to cast him into the sea；
if they would escape the danger they were in； for that he was the
occasion of the storm which was upon them。 Now at the first they
durst not do so； as esteeming it a wicked thing to cast a man who
was a stranger； and who had committed his life to them； into such
manifest perdition； but at last； when their misfortune overbore
them； and the ship was just going to be drowned； and when they
were animated to do it by the prophet himself； and by the fear
concerning their own safety； they cast him into the sea； upon
which the sea became calm。 It is also reported that Jonah was
swallowed down by a whale； and that when he had been there three
days； and as many nights； he was vomited out upon the Euxine Sea；
and this alive； and without any hurt upon his body； and there； on
his prayer to God； he obtained pardon for his sins； and went to
the city Nineveh； where he stood so as to be heard； and preached；
that in a very little time they should lose the dominion of Asia。
And when he had published this； he returned。 Now I have given
this account about him as I found it written ＇in our books。＇
3。 When Jeroboam the king had passed his life in great happiness；
and had ruled forty years； he died； and was buried in Samaria；
and his son Zachariah took the kingdom。 After the same manner did
Uzziah； the son of Amaziah； begin to reign over the two tribes in
Jerusalem； in the fourteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam。 He
was born of Jecoliah； his mother； who was a citizen of Jerusalem。
He was a good man； and by nature righteous and magnanimous； and
very laborious in taking care of the affairs of his kingdom。 He
made an expedition