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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 make a progress； and divide
the ways between them； and Obadiah took one road； and the king
another。 Now it happened that the same time when queen Jezebel
slew the prophets； that this Obadiah had hidden a hundred
prophets； and had fed them with nothing but bread and water。 But
when Obadiah was alone； and absent from the king； the prophet
Elijah met him； and Obadiah asked him who he was； and when he had
learned it from him； he worshipped him。 Elijah then bid him go to
the king； and tell him that I am here ready to wait on him。 But
Obadiah replied； 〃What evil have I done to thee； that thou
sendest me to one who seeketh to kill thee； and hath sought over
all the earth for thee？ Or was he so ignorant as not to know that
the king had left no place untouched unto which he had not sent
persons to bring him back； in order； if they could take him； to
have him put to death？〃 For he told him he was afraid lest God
should appear to him again； and he should go away into another
place； and that when the king should send him for Elijah； and he
should miss of him； and not be able to find him any where upon
earth； he should be put to death。 He desired him therefore to
take care of his preservation； and told him how diligently he had
provided for those of his own profession； and had saved a hundred
prophets； when Jezebel slew the rest of them； and had kept them
concealed； and that they had been sustained by him。 But Elijah
bade him fear nothing； but go to the king； and he assured him
upon oath that he would certainly show himself to Ahab that very
day。
5。 So when Obadiah had informed the king that Elijah was there；
Ahab met him； and asked him； in anger； if he were the man that
afflicted the people of the Hebrews； and was the occasion of the
drought they lay under？ But Elijah； without any flattery； said
that he was himself the man； he and his house； which brought such
sad afflictions upon them； and that by introducing strange gods
into their country； and worshipping them； and by leaving their
own； who was the only true God； and having no manner of regard to
him。 However； he bade him go his way； and gather together all the
people to him to Mount Carmel； with his own prophets； and those
of his wife； telling him how many there were of them； as also the
prophets of the groves； about four hundred in number。 And as all
the men whom Ahab sent for ran away to the forenamed mountain；
the prophet Elijah stood in the midst of them； and said； 〃How
long will you live thus in uncertainty of mind and opinion？〃 He
also exhorted them； that in case they esteemed their own country
God to be the true and the only God； they would follow him and
his commandments； but in case they esteemed him to be nothing；
but had an opinion of the strange gods； and that they ought to
worship them； his counsel was； that they should follow them。 And
when the multitude made no answer to what he said； Elijah desired
that； for a trial of the power of the strange gods； and of their
own God； he； who was his only prophet； while they