excursions； and do mischief to the kingdom of Asa。
4。 Whereupon Asa was afraid of the attempts the enemy might make
upon him； and considering with himself how many mischiefs this
army that was left in Ramah might do to the country over which he
reigned； he sent ambassadors to the king of the Damascenes； with
gold and silver； desiring his assistance； and putting him in mind
that we have had a friendship together from the times of our
forefathers。 So he gladly received that sum of money； and made a
league with him； and broke the friendship he had with Baasha； and
sent the commanders of his own forces unto the cities that were
under Baasha's dominion； and ordered them to do them mischief。 So
they went and burnt some of them； and spoiled others； Ijon； and
Dan； and Abelmain （32） and many others。 Now when the king of
Israel heard this； he left off building and fortifying Ramah； and
returned presently to assist his own people under the distresses
they were in； but Asa made use of the materials that were
prepared for building that city； for building in the same place
two strong cities； the one of which was called Geba； and the
other Mizpah； so that after this Baasha had no leisure to make
expeditions against Asa； for he was prevented by death； and was
buried in the city Tirzah； and Elah his son took the kingdom；
who； when he had reigned two years； died； being treacherously
slain by Zimri； the captain of half his army； for when he was at
Arza； his steward's house； he persuaded some of the horsemen that
were under him to assault Elah； and by that means he slew him
when he was without his armed men and his captains； for they were
all busied in the siege of Gibbethon； a city of the Philistines。
5。 When Zimri； the captain of the army； had killed Elah； he took
the kingdom himself； and； according to Jehu's prophecy； slew all
the house of Baasha； for it came to pass that Baasha's house
utterly perished； on account of his impiety； in the same manner
as we have already described the destruction of the house of
Jeroboam。 But the army that was besieging。 Gibbethon； when they
heard what had befallen the king； and that when Zimri had killed
him； he had gained the kingdom； they made Omri their general
king； who drew off his army from Gibbethon； and came to Tirzah；
where the royal palace was； and assaulted the city； and took it
by force。 But when Zimri saw that the city had none to defend it；
he fled into the inmost part of the palace； and set it on fire；
and burnt himself with it； when he had reigned only seven days。
Upon which the people of Israel were presently divided； and part
of them would have Tibni to be king； and part Omri； but when
those that were for Omri's ruling had beaten Tibni； Omri reigned
over all the multitude。 Now it was in the thirtieth year of the
reign of Asa that Omri reigned for twelve years； six of these
years he reigned in the city Tirzah； and the rest in the city
called Semareon； but named by the Greeks Samaria； but he himself
called it Semareon； from Semer； who sold him the mountain whereon
he built it。 Now Omri was no way different from those kings that
reigned before him； but that he grew worse than they； for they
all sought how they might turn the people away from God by their
daily wicked practices； and oil that account it was that God made
one of them to be slain by another； and that no one person of
their families should remain。 This Omri also died in Samaria and
Ahab his son succeeded him。
6。 Now by these events we may learn what concern God hath for the
affairs of mankind； and how he loves good men； and hates the
wicked； and destroys them root and branch； for many of these
kings of Israel； they and their families； were miserably
destroyed； and taken away one by another； in a short time； for
their transgression and wickedness； but Asa； who was king of
Jerusalem； and of the two tribes； attained； by God's blessing； a
long and a blessed old age； for his piety and righteousness； and
died happily； when he had reigned forty and one years； and when
he was dead； his son Jehoshaphat succeeded him in the government。
He was born of Asa's wife Azubah。 And all men allowed that he
followed the works of David his forefather； and this both in
courage and piety； but we are not obliged now to speak any more
of the affairs of this king。
CHAPTER 13。
How Ahab WHen He Had Taken Jezebel To Wife Became More Wicked
Than All The Kings That Had Been Before Him； Of The Actions Of
The Prophet Elijah； And What Befell Naboth。
1。 Now Ahab the king of Israel dwelt in Samaria； and held the
government for twenty…two years； and made no alteration in the
conduct of the kings that were his predecessors； but only in such
things as were of his own invention for the worse； and in his
most gross wickedness。 He imitated them in their wicked courses；
and in their injurious behavior towards God； and more especially
he imitated the transgression of Jeroboam； for he worshipped the
heifers that he had made； and he contrived other absurd objects
of worship besides those heifers： he also took to wife the
daughter of Ethbaal； king of the Tyrians and Sidonians； whose
name was Jezebel； of whom he learned to worship her own gods。
This woman was active and bold； and fell into so great a degree
of impurity and madness； that she built a temple to the god of
the Tyrians； Which they call Belus； and planted a grove of all
sorts of trees； she also appointed priests and false prophets to
this god。 The king also himself had many such about him； and so
exceeded in madness and wickedness all ＇the kings＇ that went
before him。
2。 There was now a prophet of God Almighty； of Thesbon； a country
in Gilead； that came to Ahab； and said to him； that God foretold
he would not send rain nor dew in those years upon the country
but when he should appear。 And when he had confirmed this by an
oath； he departed into the southern parts； and made his abode by
a brook； out of which he had water to drink； for as for his food；
ravens brought it to him every day： but when that river was dried
up for want of rain； he came to Zarephath； a city not far from
Sidon and Tyre； for it lay between them； and this at the command
of God； for ＇God told him＇ that he should there find a woman who
was a widow that should give him sustenance。 So when he was not
far off the city； he saw a woman that labored with her own hands；
gathering of sticks： so God informed him that this was the woman
who was to give him sustenance。 So he came and saluted her； and
desired her to bring him some water to drink； but as she was
going so to do； he called to her； and would have her to bring him
a loaf of bread also； whereupon she affirmed upon oath that she
had at home nothing more than one handful of meal； and a little
oil； and that she was going to gather some sticks； that she might
knead it； and make bread for herself and her son； after which；
she said； they must perish； and be consumed by the famine； for
they had nothing for themselves any longer。 Hereupon he said； 〃Go
on with good courage； and hope for better things； and first of
all make me a little cake； and bring it to me； for I foretell to
thee that this vessel of meal and this cruse of oil shall not
fail until God send rain。〃 When the prophet had said this； she
came to him； and made him the before…named cake； of which she had
part for herself； and gave the rest to her son； and to the
prophet also； nor did any thing of this fall until the drought
ceased。 Now Menander mentions this drought in his account of the
acts of Ethbaal； king of the Tyrians； where he says thus： 〃Under
him there was a want of rain from the month Hyperberetmus till
the month Hyperberetmus of the year following； but when he made
supplications； there came great thunders。 This Ethbaal built the
city Botrys in Phoenicia； and the city Auza in Libya。〃 By these
words he designed the want of rain that was in the days of Ahab；
for at that time it was that Ethbaal also reigned over the
Tyrians； as Menander informs us。
3。 Now this woman； of whom we spake before； that sustained the
prophet； when her son was fallen into a distemper till he gave up
the ghost； and appeared to be dead； came to the prophet weeping；
and beating her breasts with her hands； and sending out such
expressions as her passions dictated to her； and complained to
him that he had come to her to reproach her for her sins； and
that on this account it was that her son was dead。 But he bid her
be of good cheer； and deliver her son to him； for that he would
deliver him again to her alive。 So when she had delivered her son
up to him； he carried him into an upper room； where he himself
lodged； and laid him down upon the bed； and cried unto God； and
said； that God had not done well； in rewarding the woman who had
entertained him and sustained him； by taking away her son； and he
prayed that he would send again the soul of the child into him；
and bring him to life again。 Accordingly God took pity on the
mother； and was willing to gratify the prophet； that he might not
seem to have come to her to do her a mischief； and the child；
beyond all expectation； came to life again。 So the mother
returned the prophet thanks； and said she was then clearly
satisfied that God did converse with him。
4。 After a little while Elijah came to king Ahab； according to
God's will； to inform him that rain was coming。 Now the famine
had seized upon the whole country； and there was a great want of
what was necessary for sustenance； insomuch that it was after the
recovery of the widow's son of Sarepta； God sent not only men
that wanted it； but the earth itself also； which did not produce
enough for the horse and the other beasts of what was useful for
them to feed on； by reason of the drought。 So the king called for
Obadiah； who was steward over his cattle； and said to him； that
he would have him go to the fountains of water； and to the
brooks； that if any herbs could be found for them； they might mow
it down； and reserve it for the beasts。 And when he had sent
persons all over the habitable earth （33） to discover the prophet
Elijah； and they could not find him； he bade Obadiah accompany
him。 So it was resolved they should