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when the king had settled these matters after the manner already
described； he made war upon the Philistines； and beat them； and
possessed himself of all the enemy's cities； from Gaza to Gath；
but the king of Assyria sent to him； and threatened to overturn
all his dominions； unless he would pay him the tribute which his
father paid him formerly； but king Hezekiah was not concerned at
his threatenings； but depended on his piety towards God； and upon
Isaiah the prophet； by whom he inquired and accurately knew all
future events。 And thus much shall suffice for the present
concerning this king Hezekiah。
CHAPTER 14。
How Shalmaneser Took Samaria By Force And How He Transplanted The
Ten Tribes Into Media； And Brought The Nation Of The Cutheans
Into Their Country ＇In Their Room＇。
1。 When Shalmaneser； the king of Assyria； had it told him； that
＇Hoshea＇ the king of Israel had sent privately to So； the king of
Egypt； desiring his assistance against him； he was very angry；
and made an expedition against Samaria； in the seventh year of
the reign of Hoshea； but when he was not admitted ＇into the city＇
by the king； （24） he besieged Samaria three years； and took it by
force in the ninth year of the reign of Hoshea； and in the
seventh year of Hezekiah； king of Jerusalem； and quite demolished
the government of the Israelites； and transplanted all the people
into Media and Persia among whom he took king Hoshea alive； and
when he had removed these people out of this their land he
transplanted other nations out of Cuthah； a place so called； （for
there is ＇still＇ a river of that name in Persia；） into Samaria；
and into the country of the Israelites。 So the ten tribes of the
Israelites were removed out of Judea nine hundred and forty…seven
years after their forefathers were come out of the land of Egypt；
and possessed themselves of the country； but eight hundred years
after Joshua had been their leader； and； as I have already
observed； two hundred and forty years； seven months； and seven
days after they had revolted from Rehoboam； the grandson of
David； and had given the kingdom to Jeroboam。 And such a
conclusion overtook the Israelites； when they had transgressed
the laws； and would not hearken to the prophets； who foretold
that this calamity would come upon them； if they would not leave
off their evil doings。 What gave birth to these evil doings； was
that sedition which they raised against Rehoboam； the grandson of
David； when they set up Jeroboam his servant to be their king；
when； by sinning against God； and bringing them to imitate his
bad example； made God to be their enemy； while Jeroboam underwent
that punishment which he justly deserved。
2。 And now the king of Assyria invaded all Syria and Phoenicia in
a hostile manner。 The name of this king is also set down in the
archives of Tyre； for he made an expedition against Tyre in the
reign of Eluleus； and Menander attests to it； who； when he wrote
his Chronology； and translated the archives of Tyre into the
Greek language； gives us the following history： 〃One whose name
was Eluleus reigned thirty…six years； this king； upon the revolt
of the Citteans； sailed to them； and reduced them again to a
submission。 Against these did the king of Assyria send an army；
and in a hostile manner overrun all Phoenicia； but soon made
peace with them all； and returned back； but Sidon； and Ace； and
Palsetyrus revolted； and many other cities there were which
delivered themselves up to the king of Assyria。 Accordingly； when
the Tyrians would not submit to him； the king returned； and fell
upon them again； while the Phoenicians had furnished him with
threescore ships； and eight hundred men to row them； and when the
Tyrians had come upon them in twelve ships； and the enemy's ships
were dispersed； they took five hundred men prisoners； and the
reputation of all the citizens of Tyre was thereby increased； but
the king of Assyria returned； and placed guards at their rivers
and aqueducts； who should hinder the Tyrians from drawing water。
This continued for five years； and still the Tyrians bore the
siege； and drank of the water they had out of the wells they
dug。〃 And this is what is written in the Tyrian archives
concerning Shalmaneser； the king of Assyria。
3。 But now the Cutheans； who removed into Samaria； （for that is
the name they have been called by to this time； because they were
brought out of the country called Cuthah； which is a country of
Persia； and there is a river of the same name in it；） each of
them； according to their nations； which were in number five；
brought their own gods into Samaria； and by worshipping them； as
was the custom of their own countries； they provoked Almighty God
to be angry and displeased at them； for a plague seized upon
them； by which they were destroyed； and when they found no cure
for their miseries； they learned by the oracle that they ought to
worship Almighty God； as the method for their deliverance。 So
they sent ambassadors to the king of Assyria； and desired him to
send them some of those priests of the Israelites whom he had
taken captive。 And when he thereupon sent them； and the people
were by them taught the laws； and the holy worship of God； they
worshipped him in a respectful manner； and the plague ceased
immediately； and indeed they continue to make use of the very
same customs to this very time； and are called in the Hebrew
tongue Cutlans； but in the Greek tongue Samaritans。 And when they
see the Jews in prosperity； they pretend that they are changed；
and allied to them； and call them kinsmen； as though they were
derived from Joseph； and had by that means an original alliance
with them； but when they see them falling into a low condition；
they say they are no way related to them； and that the Jews have
no right to expect any kindness or marks of kindred from them；
but they declare that they are sojourners； that come from other
countries。 But of these we shall have a more seasonable
opportunity to discourse hereafter。
BOOK X。
Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Eighty…Two Years And A
Half。
From The Captivity Of The Ten Tribes To The First Year Of Cyrus。
CHAPTER 1。
How Sennacherib Made An Expedition Against Hezekiah； What
Threatenings Rabshakeh Made To Hezekiah When Sennacherib Was Gone
Against The Egyptians； How Isaiah The Prophet Encouraged Him； How
Sennacherib Having Failed Of Success In Egypt； Returned Thence To
Jerusalem； And How Upon His Finding His Army Destroyed； He
Returned Home； And What Befell Him A Little Afterward。
1。 It was now the fourteenth year of the government of Hezekiah；
king of the two tribes； when the king of Assyria； whose name was
Sennacherib； made an expedition against him with a great army；
and took all the cities of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin by
force； and when he was ready to bring his army against Jerusalem；
Hezekiah sent ambassadors to him beforehand； and promised to
submit； and pay what tribute he should appoint。 Hereupon
Sennacherib； when he heard of what offers the ambassadors made；
resolved not to proceed in the war； but to accept of the
proposals that were made him； and if he might receive three