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overcome the Samaritans by famine； and the want of necessaries；
and brought his army upon them； and besieged the city； and the
plenty of necessaries was brought so low with Joram； that from
the extremity of want an ass's head was sold in Samaria for
fourscore pieces of silver； and the Hebrews bought a sextary of
dore's dung； instead of salt； for five pieces of silver。 Now
Joram was in fear lest somebody should betray the city to the
enemy； by reason of the famine； and went every day round the
walls and the guards to see whether any such were concealed among
them； and by being thus seen； and taking such care； he deprived
them of the opportunity of contriving any such thing； and if they
had a mind to do it； he； by this means； prevented them： but upon
a certain woman's crying out； 〃Have pity on me； my lord；〃 while
he thought that she was about to ask for somewhat to eat； he
imprecated God's curse upon her； and said he had neither
thrashing…floor nor wine…press； whence he might give her any
thing at her petition。 Upon which she said she did not desire his
aid in any such thing； nor trouble him about food； but desired
that he would do her justice as to another woman。 And when be
bade her say on； and let him know what she desired； she said she
had made an agreement with the other woman who was her neighbor
and her friend； that because the famine and want was intolerable；
they should kill their children； each of them having a son of
their own； and we will live upon them ourselves for two days； the
one day upon one son； and the other day upon the other； and；〃
said she； I have killed my son the first day； and we lived upon
my son yesterday； but this other woman will not do the same
thing； but hath broken her agreement； and hath hid her son。〃 This
story mightily grieved Joram when he heard it； so he rent his
garment； and cried out with a loud voice； and conceived great
wrath against Elisha the prophet； and set himself eagerly to have
him slain； because he did not pray to God to provide them some
exit and way of escape out of the miseries with which they were
surrounded； and sent one away immediately to cut off his head；
who made haste to kill the prophet。 But Elisha was not
unacquainted with the wrath of the king against him； for as he
sat in his house by himself； with none but his disciples about
him； he told them that Joram； （10） who was the son of a murderer；
had sent one to take away his head； 〃but；〃 said he； 〃when he that
is commanded to do this comes； take care that you do not let him
come in； but press the door against him； and hold him fast there；
for the king himself will follow him； and come to me； having
altered his mind。〃 Accordingly； they did as they were bidden；
when he that was sent by the king to kill Elisha came。 But Joram
repented of his wrath against the prophet； and for fear he that
was commanded to kill him should have done it before he came； he
made haste to hinder his slaughter； and to save the prophet： and
when he came to him； he accused him that he did not pray to God
for their deliverance from the miseries they now lay under； but
saw them so sadly destroyed by them。 Hereupon Elisha promised；
that the very next day； at the very same hour in which the king
came to him； they should have great plenty of food； and that two
seahs of barley should be sold in the market for a shekel； and a
seah of fine flour should be sold for a shekel。 This prediction
made Joram； and those that were present； very joyful； for they
did not scruple believing what the prophet said； on account of
the experience they had of the truth of his former predictions；
and the expectation of plenty made the want they were in that
day； with the uneasiness that accompanied it； appear a light
thing to them： but the captain of the third band； who was a
friend of the king； and on whose hand the king leaned； said；
〃Thou talkest of incredible things； O prophet！ for as it is
impossible for God to pour down torrents of barley； or fine
flour； out of heaven； so is it impossible that what thou sayest
should come to pass。〃 To which the prophet made this reply；〃 Thou
shalt see these things come to pass； but thou shalt not be in the
least a partaker of them。〃
5。 Now what Elisha had thus foretold came to pass in the manner
following： There was a law at Samaria （11） that those that had
the leprosy； and whose bodies were not cleansed from it； should
abide without the city： and there were four men that on this
account abode before the gates； while nobody gave them any food；
by reason of the extremity of the famine； and as they were
prohibited from entering into the city by the law； and they
considered that if they were permitted to enter； they should
miserably perish by the famine； as also； that if they staid where
they were； they should suffer in the same manner； … they resolved
to deliver themselves up to the enemy； that in case they should
spare them； they should live； but if they should be killed； that
would be an easy death。 So when they had confirmed this their
resolution； they came by night to the enemy's camp。 Now God had
begun to affright and disturb the Syrians； and to bring the noise
of chariots and armor to their ears； as though an army were
coming upon them； and had made them suspect that it was coming
nearer and nearer to them In short； they were in such a dread of
this army； that they left their tents； and ran together to
Benhadad； and said that Joram the king of Israel had hired for
auxiliaries both the king of Egypt and the king of the Islands；
and led them against them for they heard the noise of them as
they were coming。 And Benhadad believed what they said （for there
came the same noise to his ears as well as it did to theirs）； so
they fell into a mighty disorder and tumult； and left their
horses and beasts in their camp； with immense riches also； and
betook themselves to flight。 And those lepers who had departed
from Samaria； and were gone to the camp of the Syrians； of whom
we made mention a little before； when they were in the camp； saw
nothing but great quietness and silence： accordingly they entered
into it； and went hastily into one of their tents； and when they
saw nobody there； they eat and drank； and carried garments； and a
great quantity of gold； and hid it out of the camp； after which
they went into another tent； and carried off what was in it； as
they did at the former； and this did they for several times；
without the least interruption from any body。 So they gathered
thereby that the enemies were departed； whereupon they reproached
themselves that they did not inform Joram and the citizens of it。
So they came to the walls of Samaria； and called aloud to the
watchmen； and told them in what state the enemies were； as did
these tell the king's guards； by whose means Joram came to know
of it； who then sent for his friends； and the captains of his
host； and said to them； that he suspected that this departure of
the king of Syria was by way of ambush and treachery； and that
out of despair of ruining you by famine； when you imagine them to
be fled away； you may come out of the city to spoil their camp；
and he may then fall upon you on a sudden； and may both kill you；
and take the city without fighting； whence it is that I exhort
you to guard the city carefully； and by no means to go out of it；
or proudly to despise your enemies； as though they were really
gone away。〃 And when a certain person said that he did very well
and wisely to admit such a suspicion； but that he still advised
him to send a couple of horsemen to search all the country as far
as Jordan； that 〃if they were seized by an ambush of the enemy；
they might be a security to your army； that they may not go out
as if they suspected nothing； nor undergo the like misfortune；
and；〃 said he； 〃those horsemen may be numbered among those that
have died by the famine； supposing they be caught and destroyed
by the enemy。〃 So the king was pleased with this opinion； and
sent such as might search out the truth； who performed their
journey over a road that was without any enemies； but found it
full of provisions； and of weapons； that they had therefore
thrown away； and left behind them； in order to their being light
and expeditious in their flight。 When the king heard this； he
sent out the multitude to take the spoils of the camp； which
gains of theirs were not of things of small value； but they took
a great quantity of gold； and a great quantity of silver； and
flocks of all kinds of cattle。 They also possessed themselves of
＇so many＇ ten thousand measures of wheat and barley； as they
never in the least dreamed of； and were not only freed from their
former miseries； but had such plenty； that two seahs of barley
were bought for a shekel； and a seah of fine flour for a shekel；
according to the prophecy of Elisha。 Now a seah is equal to an
Italian modius and a half。 The captain of the third band was the
only man that received no benefit by this plenty； for as he was
appointed by the king to oversee the gate； that lm might prevent
the too great crowd of the multitude； and they might not endanger
one another to perish； by treading on one another in the press；
he suff