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that were sent to her by the king； she bid them go back to the
king； and say that 〃God had already given sentence against them；
to destroy the people； and cast them out of their country； and
deprive them of all the happiness they enjoyed； which sentence
none could set aside by any prayers of theirs； since it was
passed on account of their transgressions of the laws； and of
their not having repented in so long a time； while the prophets
had exhorted them to amend； and had foretold the punishment that
would ensue on their impious practices； which threatening God
would certainly execute upon them； that they might be persuaded
that he is God； and had not deceived them in any respect as to
what he had denounced by his prophets； that yet； because Josiah
was a righteous man； he would at present delay those calamities；
but that after his death he would send on the multitude what
miseries he had determined for them。
3。 So these messengers； upon this prophecy of the woman； came and
told it to the king； whereupon he sent to the people every where；
and ordered that the priests and the Levites should come together
to Jerusalem； and commanded that those of every age should be
present also。 And when they had gathered together； he first read
to them the holy books； after which he stood upon a pulpit； in
the midst of the multitude； and obliged them to make a covenant；
with an oath； that they would worship God； and keep the laws of
Moses。 Accordingly； they gave their assent willingly； and
undertook to do what the king had recommended to them。 So they
immediately offered sacrifices； and that after an acceptable
manner； and besought God to be gracious and merciful to them。 He
also enjoined the high priest； that if there remained in the
temple any vessel that was dedicated to idols； or to foreign
gods； they should cast it out。 So when a great number of such
vessels were got together； he burnt them； and scattered their
ashes abroad； and slew the priests of the idols that were not of
the family of Aaron。
4。 And when he had done thus in Jerusalem； he came into the
country； and utterly destroyed what buildings had been made
therein by king Jeroboam； in honor of strange gods； and he burnt
the bones of the false prophets upon that altar which Jeroboam
first built； and； as the prophet ＇Jadon＇； who came to Jeroboam
when he was offering sacrifice； and when all the people heard
him； foretold what would come to pass； viz。 that a certain man of
the house of David； Josiah by name； should do what is here
mentioned。 And it happened that those predictions took effect
after three hundred and sixty…one years。
5。 After these things； Josiah went also to such other Israelites
as had escaped captivity and slavery under the Assyrians； and
persuaded them to desist from their impious practices； and to
leave off the honors they paid to strange gods； but to worship
rightly their own Almighty God； and adhere to him。 He also
searched the houses； and the villages； and the cities； out of a
suspicion that somebody might have one idol or other in private；
nay； indeed； he took away the chariots ＇of the sun＇ that were set
up in his royal palace； （7） which his predecessors had framed；
and what thing soever there was besides which they worshipped as
a god。 And when he had thus purged all the country； he called the
people to Jerusalem； and there celebrated the feast of unleavened
bread； and that called the passover。 He also gave the people for
paschal sacrifices； young kids of the goats； and lambs； thirty
thousand； and three thousand oxen for burnt…offerings。 The
principal of the priests also gave to the priests against the
passover two thousand and six hundred lambs； the principal of the
Levites also gave to the Levites five thousand lambs； and five
hundred oxen； by which means there was great plenty of
sacrifices； and they offered those sacrifices according to the
laws of Moses； while every priest explained the matter； and
ministered to the multitude。 And indeed there had been no other
festival thus celebrated by the Hebrews from the times of Samuel
the prophet； and the plenty of sacrifices now was the occasion
that all things were performed according to the laws； and
according to the custom of their forefathers。 So when Josiah had
after this lived in peace； nay； in riches and reputation also；
among all men； he ended his life in the manner following。
CHAPTER 5。
How Josiah Fought With Neco ＇King Of Egypt。＇ And Was Wounded And
Died In A Little Time Afterward； As Also How Neco Carried
Jehoahaz； Who Had Been Made King Into Egypt And Delivered The
Kingdom To Jehoiakim； And ＇Lastly＇ Concerning Jeremiah And
Ezekiel。
1。 Now Neco； king of Egypt； raised an army； and marched to the
river Euphrates； in order to fight with the Medes and
Babylonians； who had overthrown the dominion of the Assyrians；
（8） for he had a desire to reign over Asia。 Now when he was come
to the city Mendes； which belonged to the kingdom of Josiah； he
brought an army to hinder him from passing through his own
country； in his expedition against the Medes。 Now Neco sent a
herald to Josiah； and told him that he did not make this
expedition against him； but was making haste to Euphrates； and
desired that he would not provoke him to fight against him；
because he obstructed his march to the place whither he had
resolved to go。 But Josiah did not admit of this advice of Neco；
but put himself into a posture to hinder him from his intended
march。 I suppose it was fate that pushed him on this conduct；
that it might take an occasion against him； for as he was setting
his army in array； （9） and rode about in his chariot； from one
wing of his army to another； one of the Egyptians shot an arrow
at him； and put an end to his eagerness of fighting； for being
sorely wounded； he command a retreat to be sounded for his army；
and returned to Jerusalem； and died of that wound； and was
magnificently buried in the sepulcher of his fathers； when he had
lived thirty…nine years； and of them had reigned thirty…one。 But
all the people mourned greatly for him； lamenting and grieving on
his account many days； and Jeremiah the prophet composed an elegy
to lament him； （10） which is extant till tills time also。
Moreover； this prophet denounced beforehand the sad calamities
that were coming upon the city。 He also left behind him in
writing a description of that destruction of our nation which has
lately happened in our days； and the taking of Babylon； nor was
he the only prophet who delivered such predictions beforehand to
the multitude； but so did Ezekiel also； who was the first person
that wrote； and left behind him in writing two books concerning
these events。 Now these two prophets were priests by birth； but
of them Jeremiah dwelt in Jerusalem； from the thirteenth year of
the reign of Josiah； until the city and temple were utterly
destroyed。 However； as to what befell this prophet； we will
relate it in its proper place。
2。 Upon the death of Josiah； which we have already mentioned； his
son； Jehoahaz by name； took the kingdom； being about twenty…three
years old。 He reigned in Jerusalem； and his mother was Hamutal；
of the city Li