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very young； but when he came to the management of affairs； and to
the government； he resolved that he ought first of all to avenge
his father Je…hoash； and to punish those his friends that had
laid violent hands upon him： so he seized upon them all； and put
them to death； yet did he execute no severity on their children；
but acted therein according to the laws of Moses； who did not
think it just to punish children for the sins of their fathers。
After this he chose him an army out of the tribe of Judah and
Benjamin； of such as were in the flower of their age； and about
twenty years old； and when he had collected about three hundred
thousand of them together； he set captains of hundreds over them。
He also sent to the king of Israel； and hired a hundred thousand
of his soldiers for a hundred talents of silver； for he had
resolved to make an expedition against the nations of the
Amatekites； and Edomites； and Gebalites： but as he was preparing
for his expedition； and ready to go out to the war； a prophet
gave him counsel to dismiss the army of the Israelites； because
they were bad men； and because God foretold that he should be
beaten； if he made use of them as auxiliaries； but that he should
overcome his enemies； though he had but a few soldiers； when it
so pleased God。 And when the king grudged at his having already
paid the hire of the Israelites； the prophet exhorted him to do
what God would have him； because he should thereby obtain much
wealth from God。 So he dismissed them； and said that he still
freely gave them their pay； and went himself with his own army；
and made war with the nations before mentioned； and when he had
beaten them in battle； he slew of them ten thousand； and took as
many prisoners alive； whom he brought to the great rock which is
in Arabia； and threw them down from it headlong。 He also brought
away a great deal of prey and vast riches from those nations。 But
while Amaziah was engaged in this expedition； those Israelites
whom he had hired； and then dismissed； were very uneasy at it；
and taking their dismission for an affront； （as supposing that
this would not have been done to them but out of contempt；） they
fell upon his kingdom； and proceeded to spoil the country as far
as Beth…horon； and took much cattle； and slew three thousand men。
2。 Now upon the victory which Amaziah had gotten； and the great
acts he had done； he was puffed up； and began to overlook God；
who had given him the victory； and proceeded to worship the gods
he had brought out of the country of the Amalekites。 So a prophet
came to him； and said； that he wondered how he could esteem these
to be gods； who had been of no advantage to their own people who
paid them honors； nor had delivered them from his hands； but had
overlooked the destruction of many of them； and had suffered
themselves to be carried captive； for that they had been carried
to Jerusalem in the same manner as any one might have taken some
of the enemy alive； and led them thither。 This reproof provoked
the king to anger； and he commanded the prophet to hold his
peace； and threatened to punish him if he meddled with his
conduct。 So he replied； that he should indeed hold his peace； but
foretold withal； that God would not overlook his attempts for
innovation。 But Amaziah was not able to contain himself under
that prosperity which God had given him； although he had
affronted God thereupon； but in a vein of insolence he wrote to
Joash； the king of Israel； and commanded that he and all his
people should be obedient to him； as they had formerly been
obedient to his progenitors； David and Solomon； and he let him
know； that if he would not be so wise as to do what he commanded
him； he must fight for his dominion。 To which message Joash
returned this answer in writing： 〃King Joash to king Amaziah。
There was a vastly tall cypress tree in Mount Lebanon； as also a
thistle； this thistle sent to the cypress tree to give the
cypress tree's daughter in marriage to the thistle's son； but as
the thistle was saying this； there came a wild beast； and trod
down the thistle： and this may be a lesson to thee； not to be so
ambitious； and to have a care； lest upon thy good success in the
fight against the Amalekites thou growest so proud； as to bring
dangers upon thyself and upon thy kingdom。〃
3。 When Amaziah had read this letter； he was more eager upon this
expedition； which； I suppose； was by the impulse of God； that he
might be punished for his offense against him。 But as soon as he
led out his army against Joash； and they were going to join
battle with him； there came such a fear and consternation upon
the army of Amaziah； as God； when he is displeased； sends upon
men； and discomfited them； even before they came to a close
fight。 Now it happened； that as they were scattered about by the
terror that was upon them； Amaziah was left alone； and was taken
prisoner by the enemy； whereupon Joash threatened to kill him；
unless he would persuade the people of Jerusalem to open their
gates to him； and receive him and his army into the city。
Accordingly Amaziah was so distressed； and in such fear of his
life； that he made his enemy to be received into the city。 So
Joash over threw a part of the wall； of the length of four
hundred cubits； and drove his chariot through the breach into
Jerusalem； and led Amaziah captive along with him； by which means
he became master of Jerusalem； and took away the treasures of
God； and carried off all the gold and silver that was in the
king's palace； and then freed the king from captivity； and
returned to Samaria。 Now these things happened to the people of
Jerusalem in the fourteenth year of the reign of Amaziah； who
after this had a conspiracy made against him by his friends； and
fled to the city Lachish； and was there slain by the
conspirators； who sent men thither to kill him。 So they took up
his dead body； and carried it to Jerusalem； and made a royal
funeral for him。 This was the end of the life of Amaziah； because
of his innovations in religion； and his contempt of God； when he
had lived fifty…four years； and had reigned twenty…nine。 He was
succeeded by his son； whose name was Uzziah。
CHAPTER 10。
Concerning Jeroboam King Of Israel And Jonah The Prophet； And How
After The Death Of Jeroboam His Son Zachariah Took The
Government。 How Uzziah； King Of Jerusalem； Subdued The Nations
That Were Round About Him； And What Befell Him When He Attempted
To Offer Incense To God。
1。 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Amaziah； Jeroboam the
son of Joash reigned over Israel in Samaria forty years。 This
king was guilty of contumely against God； （18） and became very
wicked in worshipping of idols； and in many undertakings that
were absurd and foreign。 He was also the cause of ten thousand
misfortunes to the people of Israel。 Now one Jonah； a prophet；
foretold to him that he should make war with the Syrians； and
conquer their army； and enlarge the bounds of his kingdom on the
northern parts to the city Hamath； and on the southern to the
lake Asphaltitis； for the bounds of the Canaanites originally
were these； as Joshua their general had determined them。 So
Jeroboam made an expedition against the Syrians； and overran all
their country； as Jonah had foretold。
2。 Now I cannot but think it necessary for me； who have promised
to give an accurate account of our affairs； to describe the
actions of this prophet； so far as I have found them written down
in the Hebrew books。 Jonah had been commanded by God to go to the
kingdom of Nineveh； and when he was there； to publish it in that
city； how it should lose the dominion it had over the nations。
But he went not； out of fear； nay； he ran away from God to the
city of Joppa； and finding a ship there； he went into it； and
sailed to Tarsus； in Cilicia （19） and upon the rise of a most
terrible storm； which was so great that the ship was in danger of
sinking； the mariners； the master； and the pilot himself； made
prayers and vows； in case they escaped the sea： but Jonah lay
still and covered ＇in the ship；＇ without imitating any thing that
the others did； but as the waves grew greater； and the sea became
more violent by the winds； they suspected； as is usual in such
cases； that some one of the persons that sailed with them was the
occasion of this storm； and agreed to discover by lot which of
them it was。 When they had cast lots； （21） the lot fell upon the
prophet； and when they asked him whence he came； and what he had
done？ he replied； that he was a Hebrew by nation； and a prophet
of Almighty God； and he persuaded them to cast him into the sea；
if they would escape the danger they were in； for that he was the
occasion of the storm which was upon them。 Now at the first they
durst not do so； as esteeming it a wicked thing to cast a man who
was a stranger； and who had committed his life to them； into such
manifest perdition； but at last； when their misfortune overbore
them； and the ship was just going to be drowned； and when they
were animated to do it by the prophet himself； and by the fear
concerning their own safety； they cast him into the sea； upon
which the sea became calm。 It is also reported that Jonah was
s