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and that he made an expedition against all Asia and Egypt； and
says thus：
5。 〃Now when Sennacherib was returning from his Egyptian war to
Jerusalem； he found his army under Rabshakeh his general in
danger ＇by a plague＇； for God had sent a pestilential distemper
upon his army； and on the very first night of the siege； a
hundred fourscore and five thousand； with their captains and
generals； were destroyed。 So the king was in a great dread and in
a terrible agony at this calamity； and being in great fear for
his whole army； he fled with the rest of his forces to his own
kingdom； and to his city Nineveh； and when he had abode there a
little while； he was treacherously assaulted； and died by the
hands of his elder sons； （3） Adrammelech and Seraser； and was
slain in his own temple； which was called Araske。 Now these sons
of his were driven away on account of the murder of their father
by the citizens； and went into Armenia； while Assarachoddas took
the kingdom of Sennacherib。〃 And this proved to be the conclusion
of this Assyrian expedition against the people of Jerusalem。
CHAPTER 2。
How Hezekiah Was Sick； And Ready To Die； And How God Bestowed
Upon Him Fifteen Years Longer Life； ＇And Secured That Promise＇ By
The Going Back Of The Shadow Ten Degrees。
1。 Now king Hezekiah being thus delivered； after a surprising
manner； from the dread he was in； offered thank…offerings to God；
with all his people； because nothing else had destroyed some of
their enemies； and made the rest so fearful of undergoing the
same fate that they departed from Jerusalem； but that Divine
assistance。 Yet； while he was very zealous and diligent about the
worship of God； did he soon afterwards fall into a severe
distemper； insomuch that the physicians despaired of him； and
expected no good issue of his sickness； as neither did his
friends： and besides the distemper （4） itself； there was a very
melancholy circumstance that disordered the king； which was the
consideration that he was childless； and was going to die； and
leave his house and his government without a successor of his own
body； so he was troubled at the thoughts of this his condition；
and lamented himself； and entreated of God that he would prolong
his life for a little while till he had some children； and not
suffer him to depart this life before he was become a father。
Hereupon God had mercy upon him； and accepted of his
supplication； because the trouble he was under at his supposed
death was not because he was soon to leave the advantages he
enjoyed in the kingdom； nor did he on that account pray that he
might have a longer life afforded him； but in order to have sons；
that might receive the government after him。 And God sent Isaiah
the prophet； and commanded him to inform Hezekiah； that within
three days' time he should get clear of his distemper； and should
survive it fifteen years； and that he should have children also。
Now； upon the prophet's saying this； as God had commanded him； he
could hardly believe it； both on account of the distemper he was
under； which was very sore； and by reason of the surprising
nature of what was told him； so he desired that Isaiah would give
him some sign or wonder； that he might believe him in what he had
said； and be sensible that he came from God； for things that are
beyond expectation； and greater than our hopes； are made credible
by actions of the like nature。 And when Isaiah had asked him what
sign he desired to be exhibited； he desired that he would make
the shadow of the sun； which he had already made to go down ten
steps ＇or degrees＇ in his house； to return again to the same
place； （5） and to make it as it was before。 And when the prophet
prayed to God to exhibit this sign to the king； he saw what he
desired to see； and was freed from his distemper； and went up to
the temple； where he worshipped God； and made vows to him。
2。 At this time it was that the dominion of the Assyrians was
overthrown by the Medes； （6） but of these things I shall treat
elsewhere。 But the king of Babylon； whose name was Baladan； sent
ambassadors to Hezekiah； with presents； and desired he would be
his ally and his friend。 So he received the ambassadors gladly；
and made them a feast； and showed them his treasures； and his
armory； and the other wealth he was possessed of； in precious
stones and in gold； and gave them presents to be carried to
Baladan； and sent them back to him。 Upon which the prophet Isaiah
came to him； and inquired of him whence those ambassadors came；
to which he replied； that they came from Babylon； from the king；
and that he had showed them all he had； that by the sight of his
riches and forces he might thereby guess at ＇the plenty he was
in＇； and be able to inform the king of it。 But the prophet
rejoined； and said； 〃Know thou； that； after a little while； these
riches of thine shall be carried away to Babylon； and thy
posterity shall be made eunuchs there； and lose their manhood；
and be servants to the king of Babylon； for that God foretold
such things would come to pass。〃 Upon which words Hezekiah was
troubled； and said that he was himself unwilling that his nation
should fall into such calamities； yet since it is not possible to
alter what God had determined； he prayed that there might be
peace while he lived。 Berosus also makes mention of this Baladan；
king of Babylon。 Now as to this prophet ＇Isaiah＇； he was by the
confession of all； a divine and wonderful man in speaking truth；
and out of the assurance that he had never written what was
false； he wrote down all his prophecies； and left them behind him
in books； that their accomplishment might be judged of from the
events by posterity： nor did this prophet do so alone； but the
others； which were twelve in number； did the same。 And whatsoever
is done among us； Whether it be good； or whether it be bad； comes
to pass according to their prophecies； but of every one of these
we shall speak hereafter。
CHAPTER 3。
How Manasseh Reigned After Hezekiah； And How When He Was In
Captivity He Returned To God And Was Restored To His Kingdom And
Left It To ＇His Son＇ Amon。
1。 When king Hezekiah had survived the interval of time already
mentioned； and had dwelt all that time in peace； he died； having
completed fifty…four years of his life； and reigned twenty…nine。
But when his son Manasseh； whose mother's name was Hephzibah； of
Jerusalem； had taken the kingdom； he departed from the conduct of
his father； and fell into a course of life quite contrary
thereto； and showed himself in his manners most wicked in all
respects； and omitted no sort of impiety； but imitated those
transgressions of the Israelites； by the commission of which
against God they had been destroyed； for he was so hardy as to
defile the temple of God； and the city； and the whole country；
for； by setting out from a contempt of God； he barbarously slew
all the righteous men that were among the Hebrews； nor would he
spare the prophets； for he every day slew some of them； till
Jerusalem was overflown with blood。 So God was angry at these
proceedings； and sent prophets to the king； and to the multitude；
by whom he threatened the very same calamities to them which
their brethren the Israelites； upon the like affronts offered to
God； were now under。 But these men would not believe their words；
by which belief they might have reaped the advantage of escaping
all those miseries； yet did they in earnest learn that what the
prophets had told them was true。
2。 And when they persevered in the same course of life； God
raised up war against them from the king of Babylon and Chaldea；
who sent an army against Judea； and laid waste the country； and
caught king Manasseh by treachery； and ordered him to be brought
to him； and had him under his power to inflict what punishment he
pleased upon him。 But then it was that Manasseh perceived what a
miserable condition he was in； and esteeming himself the cause of
all； he besought God to render his enemy humane and merciful to
him。 Accordingly； God heard his prayer； and granted him what he
prayed for。 So Manasseh was released by the king of Babylon； and
escaped the danger he was in； and when he was come to Jerusalem；
he endeavored； if it were possible； to cast out of his memory
those his former sins against God； of which he now repented； and
to apply himself to a very religious life。 He sanctified the
temple； and purged the city； and for the remainder of his days he
was intent on nothing but to return his thanks to God for his
deliverance； and to preserve him propitious to him all his life
long。 He also instructed the multitude to do the same； as having
very nearly experienced what a calamity he was fallen into by a
contrary conduct。 He also rebuilt the altar； and offered the
legal sacrifices； as Moses commanded。 And when he had
re…established what concerned the Divine worship； as it ought to
be； he took care of the security of Jerusalem： he did not only
repair the old walls with great diligence； but added another wall
to the former。 He also built very lofty towers； and the
garrisoned places before the city he strengthened； not only in
other respects； but with provisions of all sorts that t