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impious practices （25） and accordingly he was to that degree
injurious to God； and so great a transgressor； that he sought for
nothing else every day but how he might be guilty of some new
instances of wickedness； and such as should be more detestable
than what he had been so insolent as to do before。 And so much
shall at present suffice to have said concerning Jeroboam。
CHAPTER 10。
Concerning Rehoboam； And How God Inflicted Punishment Upon Him
For His Impiety By Shishak ＇King Of Egypt＇。
1。 Now Rehoboam； the son of Solomon； who； as we said before； was
king of the two tribes； built strong and large cities； Bethlehem；
and Etare； and Tekoa； and Bethzur； and Shoco； and Adullam； and
Ipan； and Maresha； and Ziph； and Adorlam； and Lachlsh； and
Azekah； and Zorah； and Aijalon； and Hebron； these he built first
of all in the tribe of Judah。 He also built other large cities in
the tribe of Benjamin； and walled them about； and put garrisons
in them all； and captains； and a great deal of corn； and wine；
and oil； and he furnished every one of them plentifully with
other provisions that were necessary for sustenance； moreover； he
put therein shields and spears for many ten thousand men。 The
priests also that were in all Israel； and the Levites； and if
there were any of the multitude that were good and righteous men；
they gathered themselves together to him； having left their own
cities； that they might worship God in Jerusalem； for they were
not willing to be forced to worship the heifers which Jeroboam
had made； and they augmented the kingdom of Rehoboam for three
years。 And after he had married a woman of his own kindred； and
had by her three children born to him； he married also another of
his own kindred； who was daughter of Absalom by Tamar； whose name
was Maachah； and by her he had a son； whom he named Abijah。 He
had moreover many other children by other wives； but he loved
Maachah above them all。 Now he had eighteen legitimate wives； and
thirty concubines； and he had born to him twenty…eight sons and
threescore daughters； but he appointed Abijah； whom he had by
Maachah； to be his successor in the kingdom； and intrusted him
already with the treasures and the strongest cities。
2。 Now I cannot but think that the greatness of a kingdom； and
its change into prosperity； often become the occasion of mischief
and of transgression to men； for when Rehoboam saw that his
kingdom was so much increased； he went out of the right way unto
unrighteous and irreligious practices； and he despised the
worship of God； till the people themselves imitated his wicked
actions： for so it usually happens； that the manners of subjects
are corrupted at the same time with those of their governors；
which subjects then lay aside their own sober way of living； as a
reproof of their governors' intemperate courses； and follow their
wickedness as if it were virtue； for it is not possible to show
that men approve of the actions of their kings； unless they do
the same actions with them。 Agreeable whereto it now happened to
the subjects of Rehoboam； for when he was grown impious； and a
transgressor himself； they endeavored not to offend him by
resolving still to be righteous。 But God sent Shishak； king of
Egypt； to punish them for their unjust behavior towards him；
concerning whom Herodotus was mistaken； and applied his actions
to Sesostris； for this Shishak； （26） in the fifth year of the
reign of Rehoboam； made an expedition ＇into Judea＇ with many ten
thousand men； for he had one thousand two hundred chariots in
number that followed him； and threescore thousand horsemen； and
four hundred thousand footmen。 These he brought with him； and
they were the greatest part of them Libyans and Ethiopians。 Now
therefore when he fell upon the country of the Hebrews； he took
the strongest cities of Rehoboam's kingdom without fighting； and
when he had put garrisons in them； he came last of all to
Jerusalem。
3。 Now when Rehoboam； and the multitude with him； were shut up in
Jerusalem by the means of the army of Shishak； and when they
besought God to give them victory and deliverance； they could not
persuade God to be on their side。 But Shemaiah the prophet told
them； that God threatened to forsake them； as they had themselves
forsaken his worship。 When they heard this； they were immediately
in a consternation of mind； and seeing no way of deliverance；
they all earnestly set themselves to confess that God might
justly overlook them； since they had been guilty of impiety
towards him； and had let his laws lie in confusion。 So when God
saw them in that disposition； and that they acknowledge their
sins； he told the prophet that he would not destroy them； but
that he would； however； make them servants to the Egyptians； that
they may learn whether they will suffer less by serving men or
God。 So when Shishak had taken the city without fighting； because
Rehoboam was afraid； and received him into it； yet did not
Shishak stand to the covenants he had made； but he spoiled the
temple； and emptied the treasures of God； and those of the king；
and carried off innumerable ten thousands of gold and silver； and
left nothing at all behind him。 He also took away the bucklers of
gold； and the shields； which Solomon the king had made； nay； he
did not leave the golden quivers which David had taken from the
king of Zobah； and had dedicated to God； and when he had thus
done； he returned to his own kingdom。 Now Herodotus of
Halicarnassus mentions this expedition； having only mistaken the
king's name； and ＇in saying that＇ he made war upon many other
nations also； and brought Syria of Palestine into subjection； and
took the men that were therein prisoners without fighting。 Now it
is manifest that he intended to declare that our nation was
subdued by him； for he saith that he left behind him pillars in
the land of those that delivered themselves up to him without
fighting； and engraved upon them the secret parts of women。 Now
our king Rehoboam delivered up our city without fighting。 He says
withal （27） that the Ethiopians learned to circumcise their privy
parts from the Egyptians； with this addition； that the
Phoenicians and Syrians that live in Palestine confess that they
learned it of the Egyptians。 Yet it is evident that no other of
the Syrians that live in Palestine； besides us alone； are
circumcised。 But as to such matters； let every one speak what is
agreeable to his own opinion。
4。 When Shishak was gone away； king Rehoboam made bucklers and
shields of brass； instead of those of gold； and delivered the
same number of them to the keepers of the king's palace。 So；
instead of warlike expeditions； and that glory which results from
those public actions； he reigned in great quietness； though not
without fear； as being always an enemy to Jeroboam； and he died
when he had lived fifty…seven years； and reigned seventeen。 He
was in his disposition a proud and a foolish man； and lost ＇part
of his＇ dominions by not hearkening to his father's friends。 He
was buried in Jerusalem； in the sepulchers of the kings； and his
son Abijah succeeded him in the kingdom； and this in the
eighteenth year of Jeroboam's reign over the ten tribes； and this
was the conclusion of these affairs。 It must be now our business
to relate the affairs of Jeroboam； and how he ended his life； for
he ceased not nor rested to be injurious to God； but every day
raised up altars upon high mountains； and went on making priests
out of the multitude。
CHAPTER 11。
Concerning The Death Of A Son Of Jeroboam。 How Jeroboam Was
Beaten By Abijah Who Died A Little Afterward And Was Succeeded In
His Kingdom By Asa。 And Also How； After The Death Of Jeroboam
Baasha Destroyed His Son Nadab And All The House Of Jeroboam。
1。 However； God was in no long time ready to return Jeroboam's
wicked actions； and the punishment they deserved； upon his own
head； and upon the heads of all his house。 And whereas a soil of
his lay sick at that time； who was called Abijah； he enjoined his
wife to lay aside her robes； and to take the garments belonging
to a private person； and to go to Ahijah the prophet； for that he
was a wonderful man in foretelling futurities； it having been he
who told me that I should be king。 He also enjoined her； when she
came to him； to inquire concerning the child； as if she were a
stranger； whether he should escape this distemper。 So she did as
her husband bade her； and changed her habit； and came to the city
Shiloh； for there did Ahijah live。 And as she was going into his
house； his eyes being then dim with age； God appeared to him； and
informed him of two things； that the wife of Jeroboam was come to
him； and what answer he should make to her inquiry。 Accordingly；
as the woman was coming into the house like a private person and
a stranger； he cried out； 〃Come in； O thou wife of Jeroboam！ Why
concealest thou thyself？ Thou art not concealed from God； who
hath appeared to me； and informed me that thou wast coming； and
hath given me in command what I shall say to thee。〃 So he said
that she should go away to her husband； and speak to him thus：
〃Since I made thee a great man when thou wast little； or rather
wast nothing；