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Kings 13：11） that 〃he did evil in the sight of the Lord； and that
he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam； the son of Nebat；
who made Israel to sin： he walked therein。〃 Which copies are here
the truest it is hard positively to determine。 If Josephus's be
true； this Joash is the single instance of a good king over the
ten tribes； if the other be true； we have not one such example。
The account that follows； in all copies； of Elisha the prophet's
concern for him； and his concern for Elisha； greatly favors
Josephus's copies； and supposes this king to have been then a
good man； and no idolater； with whom God's prophets used not to
be so familiar。 Upon the whole； since it appears； even by
Josephus's own account； that Amaziah； the good king of Judah；
while he was a good king； was forbidden to make use of the
hundred thousand auxiliaries he had hired of this Joash； the king
of Israel； as if he and they were then idolaters； 2 Chronicles
25：6…9； it is most likely that these different characters of
Joash suited the different parts of his reign； and that；
according to our common copies； he was at first a wicked king；
and afterwards was reclaimed； and became a good one； according to
Josephus。
（18） What I have above noted concerning Jehoash； seems to me to
have been true also concerning his son Jeroboam II。； viz。 that
although he began wickedly； as Josephus agrees with our other
copies； and； as he adds； 〃was the cause of a vast number of
misfortunes to the Israelites〃 in those his first years； （the
particulars of which are unhappily wanting both in Josephus and
in all our copies；） so does it seem to me that he was afterwards
reclaimed； and became a good king； and so was encouraged by the
prophet Jonah； and had great successes afterward； when 〃God had
saved the Israelites by the hand of Jeroboam； the son of Joash；〃
2 Kings 14：27； which encouragement by Jonah； and great successes；
are equally observable in Josephus； and in the other copies。
（19） When Jonah is said in our Bibles to have gone to Tarshish；
Jonah 1：3； Josephus understood it that he went to Tarsus in
Cilicia； or to the Mediterranean Sea； upon which Tarsus lay； so
that he does not appear to have read the text； 1 Kings 22：48； as
our copies do； that ships of Tarshish could lie at Ezion…geber；
upon the Red Sea。 But as to Josephus's assertion； that Jonah's
fish was carried by the strength of the current； upon a nean； it
is by no means an improbable determination in Josephus。
（20） This ancient piece of religion； of supposing there was great
sin where there was great misery； and of casting lots to discover
great sinners； not only among the Israelites； but among these
heathen mariners； seems a remarkable remains of the ancient
tradition which prevailed of old over all mankind； that I
Providence used to interpose visibly in all human affairs； and
storm； as far as the Euxine Sea； it is no way impossible； and
since the storm might have driven the ship； while Jonah was in it
never to bring； or at least not long to continue； notorious
judge； near to that Euxine Sea； and since in three more days；
while but for notorious sins； which the most ancient Book of he
was in the fish's belly； that current might bring him to the Job
shows to have been the state of mankind for about the Assyrian
coast； and since withal that coast could bring him former three
thousand years of the world； till the days of Job nearer to
Nineveh than could any coast of the Mediterranian and Moses。
（21） This account of an earthquake at Jerusalem at the very same
time when Uzziah usurped the priest's office； and went into the
sanctuary to burn incense； and of the consequences of the
earthquake； is entirely wanting in our other copies； though it be
exceeding like to a prophecy of Jeremiah； now in Zechariah 14：4；
5； in which prophecy mention is made of 〃fleeing from that
earthquake； as they fled from this earthquake in the days of
Uzziah king of Judah；〃 so that there seems to have been some
considerable resemblance between these historical and prophetical
earthquakes。
（22） Dr。 Wall； in his critical notes on 2 Kings 15：20； observes；
〃that when this Menahem is said to have exacted the money of
Israel of all the mighty men of wealth； of each man fifty shekels
of silver； to give Pul； the king of Assyria； a thousand talents；
this is the first public money raised by any ＇Israelite＇ king by
tax on the people； that they used before to raise it out of the
treasures of the house of the Lord； or of their own house； that
it was a poll…money on the rich men； ＇and them only；＇ to raise
？353；000； or； as others count a talent； ？400；000； at the rate of
？6 or ？7 per head； and that God commanded； by Ezekiel； ch。 45：8；
46：18； that no such thing should be done ＇at the Jews'
restoration＇； but the king should have land of his own。〃
（23） This passage is taken out of the prophet Nahum； ch。 2：8…13；
and is the principal； or rather the only； one that is given us
almost verbatim； but a little abridged； in all Josephus's known
writings： by which quotation we learn what he himself always
asserts； viz。 that he made use of the Hebrew original and not of
the Greek version＇； as also we learn； that his Hebrew copy
considerably differed from ours。 See all three texts particularly
set down and compared together in the Essay on the Old Testament；
page 187。
（24） This siege of Samaria； though not given a particular account
of； either in our Hebrew or Greek Bibles； or in Josephus； was so
very long； no less than three years； that it was no way
improbable but that parents； and particularly mothers； might
therein be reduced to eat their own children； as the law of Moses
had threatened upon their disobedience； Leviticus 26；29；
Deuteronomy 28：53…57； and as was accomplished in the other
shorter sieges of both the capital cities； Jerusalem and Samaria；
the former mentioned Jeremiah 19：9； Antiq。 B。 IX。 ch。 4。 sect。 4；
and the latter； 2 Kings 6：26…29。
BOOK 10 FOOTNOTES
（1） This title of great king； both in our Bibles； 2 Kings 18：19；
Isaiah 36：4； and here in Josephus； is the very same that
Herodotus gives this Sennacherib； as Spanheim takes notice on
this place。
（2） What Josephus says here； how Isaiah the prophet assured
Hezekiah that 〃at this time he should not be besieged by the king
of Assyria； that for the future he might be secure of being not
at all disturbed by him； and that ＇afterward＇ the people might go
on peaceably； and without fear； with their husbandry and other
affairs；〃 is more distinct in our other copies； both of the Kings
and of Isaiah； and deserves very great consideration。 The words
are these： 〃This shall be a sign unto thee； Ye shall eat this
year such as groweth of itself； and the second year that which
springeth of the same； and in the third year sow ye； and reap；
and plant vineyards； and eat the fruit thereof；〃 2 Kings 19：29；
Isaiah 37：30； which seem to me plainly to design a Sabbatic year；
a year of jubilee next after it； and the succeeding usual labors
and fruits of them on the third and following years。
（3） That this terrible calamity of the slaughter of the 185；000
Assyrians is here delivered in the words of Berosus