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wherein he was hid； and brought him to Ahab as he sat in his
chariot。 So Benhadad worshipped him； and Ahab gave him his hand；
and made him come up to him into his chariot； and kissed him； and
bid him be of good cheer； and not to expect that any mischief
should be done to him。 So Berthadad returned him thanks； and
professed that he would remember his kindness to him all the days
of his life； and promised he would restore those cities of the
Israelites which the former kings had taken from them； and grant
that he should have leave to come to Damascus； as his forefathers
had to come to Samaria。 So they confirmed their covenant by
oaths； and Ahab made him many presents； and sent him back to his
own kingdom。 And this was the conclusion of the war that Benhadad
made against Ahab and the Israelites。
5。 But a certain prophet； whose name was Micaiah； （40） came to
one of the Israelites； and bid him smite him on the head； for by
so doing he would please God； but when he would not do so； he
foretold to him； that since he disobeyed the commands of God； he
should meet with a lion； and be destroyed by him。 When that sad
accident had befallen the man； the prophet came again to another；
and gave him the same injunction； so he smote him； and wounded
his skull； upon which he bound up his head； and came to the king；
and told him that he had been a soldier of his； and had the
custody of one of the prisoners committed to him by an officer；
and that the prisoner being run away； he was in danger of losing
his own life by the means of that officer； who had threatened
him； that if the prisoner escaped he would kill him。 And when
Ahab had said that he would justly die； he took off the binding
about his head； and was known by the king to be Micaiah the
prophet； who made use of this artifice as a prelude to his
following words； for he said that God would punish him who had
suffered Benhadad； a blasphemer against him； to escape
punishment； and that he would so bring it about； that he should
die by the other's means （41） and his people by the other's army。
Upon which Ahab was very angry at the prophet； and gave
commandment that he should be put in prison； and there kept； but
for himself； he was in confusion at the words of Micaiah； and
returned to his own house。
CHAPTER 15。
Concerning Jehoshaphat The King Of Jerusalem And How Ahab Made An
Expedition Against The Syrians And Was Assisted Therein By
Jehoshaphat； But Was Himself Overcome In Battle And Perished
Therein。
1。 And these were the circumstances in which Ahab was。 But I now
return to Jehoshaphat； the king of Jerusalem； who； when he had
augmented his kingdom； had set garrisons in the cities of the
countries belonging to his subjects； and had put such garrisons
no less into those cities which were taken out of the tribe of
Ephraim by his grandfather Abijah； when Jeroboam reigned over the
ten tribes ＇than he did into the other＇。 But then he had God
favorable and assisting to him； as being both righteous and
religious； and seeking to do somewhat every day that should be
agreeable and acceptable to God。 The kings also that were round
about him honored him with the presents they made him； till the
riches that he had acquired were immensely great； and the glory
he had gained was of a most exalted nature。
2。 Now； in the third year of this reign； he called together the
rulers of the country； and the priests； and commanded them to go
round the land； and teach all the people that were under him；
city by city； the laws of Moses； and to keep them； and to be
diligent in the worship of God。 With this the whole multitude was
so pleased； that they were not so eagerly set upon or affected
with any thing so much as the observation of the laws。 The
neighboring nations also continued to love Jehoshaphat； and to be
at peace with him。 The Philistines paid their appointed tribute；
and the Arabians supplied him every year with three hundred and
sixty lambs； and as many kids of the goats。 He also fortified the
great cities； which were many in number； and of great
consequence。 He prepared also a mighty army of soldiers and
weapons against their enemies。 Now the army of men that wore
their armor； was three hundred thousand of the tribe of Judah； of
whom Adnah was the chief； but John was chief of two hundred
thousand。 The same man was chief of the tribe of Benjamin； and
had two hundred thousand archers under him。 There was another
chief； whose name was Jehozabad； who had a hundred and fourscore
thousand armed men。 This multitude was distributed to he ready
for the king's service； besides those whom he sent to the best
fortified cities。
3。 Jehoshaphat took for his son Jehoram to wife the daughter of
Ahab； the king of the ten tribes； whose name was Athaliah。 And
when； after some time； he went to Samaria； Ahab received him
courteously； and treated the army that followed him in a splendid
manner； with great plenty of corn and wine； and of slain beasts；
and desired that he would join with him in his war against the
king of Syria； that he might recover from him the city Ramoth； in
Gilead； for though it had belonged to his father； yet had the
king of Syria's father taken it away from him； and upon
Jehoshaphat's promise to afford him his assistance； （for indeed
his army was not inferior to the other；） and his sending for his
army from Jerusalem to Samaria； the two kings went out of the
city； and each of them sat on his own throne； and each gave their
orders to their several armies。 Now Jehoshaphat bid them call
some of the prophets； if there were any there； and inquire of
them concerning this expedition against the king of Syria；
whether they would give them counsel to make that expedition at
this time； for there was peace at that time between Ahab and the
king of Syria； which had lasted three years； from the time he had
taken him captive till that day。
4。 So Ahab called his own prophets； being in number about four
hundred； and bid them inquire of God whether he would grant him
the victory； if he made an expedition against Benhadad； and
enable him to overthrow that city； for whose sake it was that he
was going to war。 Now these prophets gave their counsel for
making this expedition； and said that he would beat the king of
Syria； and； as formerly； would reduce him under his power。 But
Jehoshaphat； understanding by their words that they were false
prophets； asked Ahab whether there were not some other prophet；
and he belonging to the true God； that we may have surer
information concerning futurities。 Hereupon Ahab said there was
indeed such a one； but that he hated him； as having prophesied
evil to him； and having foretold that he should be overcome and
slain by the king of Syria； and that for this cause he had him
now in prison； and that his name was Micaiah； the son of Imlah。
But upon Jehoshaphat's desire that he might be produced； Ahab
sent a eunuch； who brought Micaiah to him。 Now the eunuch had
informed him by the way； that all the other prophets had foretold
that the king should gain the victory； but he said； that it was
not lawful for him to lie against God； but that he must speak
what he should say to him about the king； whatsoever it were。
When he came to Ahab； and he had adjured him upon oath to speak
the truth to him； he said that God had shown to him the
Israelites running away； and pursued by the Syrians； and
dispersed upon the mountains by them； as flocks of sheep are
dispersed when their shepherd is slain。 He said further； that God
signified to him； that those Israelites should return ：in peace
to their own home； and that he only should fall in the battle。
When Micalab had thus spoken； Ahab said to Jehoshaphat； 〃I told
thee a little while ago the disposition of the man with regard to
me； and that he uses to prophesy evil to me。〃 Upon which Micaiah
replied； that he ought to hear all； whatsoever it be； that God
foretells； and that in particular； they were false prophets that
encouraged him to make this war in hope of victory； whereas he
must fight and be killed。 Whereupon the king was in suspense with
himself： but Zedekiah； one of those false prophets； came near；
and exhorted him not to hearken to Micaiah； for he did not at all
speak truth； as a demonstration of which he instanced in what
Elijah had said； who was a better prophet in foretelling
futurities than Micaiah （42） for he foretold that the dogs should
lick his blood in the city of Jezreel； in the field of Naboth； as
they licked the blood of Naboth； who by his means was there
stoned to death by the multitude； that therefore it was plain
that this Micalab was a liar； as contradicting a greater prophet
than himself； and saying that he should be slain at three days'
journey distance： 〃and ＇said he＇ you shall soon know whether he
be a true prophet； and hath the power of the Divine Spirit； for I
will smite him； and let him then hurt my hand； as Jadon caused
the hand of Jeroboam the king to wither when he would have caught
him； for I suppose thou hast certainly heard of that accident。〃
So when； upon his smiting Micaiah； no harm happened to him； Ahab
took courage； and readily led his army against the king of Syria；
for； as I supp