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account of the wickedness of the forementioned kings。 He also
sent to the Israelites； and exhorted them to leave off their
present way of living； and return to their ancient practices； and
to worship God； for that he gave them leave to come to Jerusalem；
and to celebrate； all in one body； the feast of unleavened bread；
and this he said was by way of invitation only； and to be done of
their own good…will； and for their own advantage； and not out of
obedience to him； because it would make them happy。 But the
Israelites； upon the coming of the ambassadors； and upon their
laying before them what they had in charge from their own king；
were so far from complying therewith； that they laughed the
ambassadors to scorn； and mocked them as fools： as also they
affronted the prophets； which gave them the same exhortations；
and foretold what they would suffer if they did not return to the
worship of God； insomuch that at length they caught them； and
slew them； nor did this degree of transgressing suffice them； but
they had more wicked contrivances than what have been described：
nor did they leave off； before God； as a punishment for their
impiety； brought them under their enemies： but of that more
hereafter。 However； many there were of the tribe of Manasseh； and
of Zebulon； and of Issachar； who were obedient to what the
prophets exhorted them to do； and returned to the worship of God。
Now all these came running to Jerusalem； to Hezekiah； that they
might worship God ＇there＇。
3。 When these men were come； king Hezekiah went up into the
temple； with the rulers and all the people； and offered for
himself seven bulls； and as many rams； with seven lambs； and as
many kids of the goats。 The king also himself； and the rulers；
laid their hands on the heads of the sacrifices； and permitted
the priests to complete the sacred offices about them。 So they
both slew the sacrifices； and burnt the burnt…offerings； while
the Levites stood round about them； with their musical
instruments； and sang hymns to God； and played on their
psalteries； as they were instructed by David to do； and this
while the rest of the priests returned the music； and sounded the
trumpets which they had in their hands； and when this was done；
the king and the multitude threw themselves down upon their face；
and worshipped God。 He also sacrificed seventy bulls； one hundred
rams； and two hundred lambs。 He also granted the multitude
sacrifices to feast upon； six hundred oxen； and three thousand
other cattle； and the priests performed all things according to
the law。 Now the king was so pleased herewith； that he feasted
with the people； and returned thanks to God； but as the feast of
unleavened bread was now come； when they had offered that
sacrifice which is called the passover； they after that offered
other sacrifices for seven days。 When the king had bestowed on
the multitude； besides what they sanctified of themselves； two
thousand bulls； and seven thousand other cattle； the same thing
was done by the rulers； for they gave them a thousand bulls； and
a thousand and forty other cattle。 Nor had this festival been so
well observed from the days of king Solomon； as it was now first
observed with great splendor and magnificence； and when the
festival was ended； they went out into the country and purged it；
and cleansed the city of all the pollution of the idols。 The king
also gave order that the daily sacrifices should be offered； at
his own charges； and according to the law； and appointed that the
tithes and the first…fruits should be given by the multitude to
the priests and Levites； that they might constantly attend upon
Divine service； and never be taken off from the worship of God。
Accordingly； the multitude brought together all sorts of their
fruits to the priests and the Levites。 The king also made garners
and receptacles for these fruits； and distributed them to every
one of the priests and Levites； and to their children and wives；
and thus did they return to their old form of Divine worship。 Now
when the king had settled these matters after the manner already
described； he made war upon the Philistines； and beat them； and
possessed himself of all the enemy's cities； from Gaza to Gath；
but the king of Assyria sent to him； and threatened to overturn
all his dominions； unless he would pay him the tribute which his
father paid him formerly； but king Hezekiah was not concerned at
his threatenings； but depended on his piety towards God； and upon
Isaiah the prophet； by whom he inquired and accurately knew all
future events。 And thus much shall suffice for the present
concerning this king Hezekiah。
CHAPTER 14。
How Shalmaneser Took Samaria By Force And How He Transplanted The
Ten Tribes Into Media； And Brought The Nation Of The Cutheans
Into Their Country ＇In Their Room＇。
1。 When Shalmaneser； the king of Assyria； had it told him； that
＇Hoshea＇ the king of Israel had sent privately to So； the king of
Egypt； desiring his assistance against him； he was very angry；
and made an expedition against Samaria； in the seventh year of
the reign of Hoshea； but when he was not admitted ＇into the city＇
by the king； （24） he besieged Samaria three years； and took it by
force in the ninth year of the reign of Hoshea； and in the
seventh year of Hezekiah； king of Jerusalem； and quite demolished
the government of the Israelites； and transplanted all the people
into Media and Persia among whom he took king Hoshea alive； and
when he had removed these people out of this their land he
transplanted other nations out of Cuthah； a place so called； （for
there is ＇still＇ a river of that name in Persia；） into Samaria；
and into the country of the Israelites。 So the ten tribes of the
Israelites were removed out of Judea nine hundred and forty…seven
years after their forefathers were come out of the land of Egypt；
and possessed themselves of the country； but eight hundred years
after Joshua had been their leader； and； as I have already
observed； two hundred and forty years； seven months； and seven
days after they had revolted from Rehoboam； the grandson of
David； and had given the kingdom to Jeroboam。 And such a
conclusion overtook the Israelites； when they had transgressed
the laws； and would not hearken to the prophets； who foretold
that this calamity would come upon them； if they would not leave
off their evil doings。 What gave birth to these evil doings； was
that sedition which they raised against Rehoboam； the grandson of
David； when they set up Jeroboam his servant to be their king；
when； by sinning against God； and bringing them to imitate his
bad example； made God to be their enemy； while Jeroboam underwent
that punishment which he justly deserved。
2。 And now the king of Assyria invaded all Syria and Phoenicia in
a hostile manner。 The name of this king is also set down in the
archives of Tyre； for he made an expedition against Tyre in the
reign of Eluleus； and Menander attests to it； who； when he wrote
his Chronology； and translated the archives of Tyre into the
Greek language； gives us the following history： 〃One whose name
was Eluleus reigned thirty…six years； this king； upon the revolt
of the Citteans； sailed to them； and reduced them again to a
submission。 Against these did the king of Assyria send an army；
and in a hostile manner overrun all Phoenicia； but soon made
peace with them all； and returned back； but Sidon； and Ace； and
Palsetyrus revolted； and many other cities there were which
delivered themselves up to the king of Assyria。 Accordingly； when
the Tyrians would not submit to him； the king returned； and fell
upon them again； while the Phoenicians had furnished him with
threescore ships； and eight hundred men to row them； and when the
Tyrians had come upon them in twelve ships； and the enemy's ships
were dispersed； they took five hundred men prisoners； and the
reputation of all the citizens of Tyre was thereby increased； but
the king of Assyria returned； and placed guards at their rivers
and aqueducts； who should hinder the Tyrians from drawing water。
This continued for five years； and still the Tyrians bore the
siege； and drank of the water they had out of the wells they
dug。〃 And this is what is written in the Tyrian archives
concerning Shalmaneser； the king of Assyria。
3。 But now the Cutheans； who removed into Samaria； （for that is
the name they have been called by to this time； because they were
brought out of the country called Cuthah； which is a country of
Persia； and there is a river of the same name in it；） each of
them； according to their nations； which were in number five；
brought their own gods into Samaria； and by worshipping them； as
was the custom of their own countries； they provoked Almighty God
to be angry and displeased at them； for a plague seized upon
them； by which they were destroyed； and when they found no cure
for their miseries； they learned by the oracle that they ought to
worship Almighty God； as the method for their deliverance。 So
they sent ambassadors to the king of Assyria； and desired him to
send them some of those priests of the Israelites whom he had
taken captive。 And when he thereupon sent them； and the people
were by them t