按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
which the sea became calm。 It is also reported that Jonah was
swallowed down by a whale； and that when he had been there three
days； and as many nights； he was vomited out upon the Euxine Sea；
and this alive； and without any hurt upon his body； and there； on
his prayer to God； he obtained pardon for his sins； and went to
the city Nineveh； where he stood so as to be heard； and preached；
that in a very little time they should lose the dominion of Asia。
And when he had published this； he returned。 Now I have given
this account about him as I found it written ＇in our books。＇
3。 When Jeroboam the king had passed his life in great happiness；
and had ruled forty years； he died； and was buried in Samaria；
and his son Zachariah took the kingdom。 After the same manner did
Uzziah； the son of Amaziah； begin to reign over the two tribes in
Jerusalem； in the fourteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam。 He
was born of Jecoliah； his mother； who was a citizen of Jerusalem。
He was a good man； and by nature righteous and magnanimous； and
very laborious in taking care of the affairs of his kingdom。 He
made an expedition also against the Philistines； and overcame
them in battle； and took the cities of Gath and Jabneh； and brake
down their walls； after which expedition he assaulted those Arabs
that adjoined to Egypt。 He also built a city upon the Red Sea；
and put a garrison into it。 He； after this； overthrew the
Ammonites； and appointed that they should pay tribute。 He also
overcame all the countries as far as the bounds of Egypt； and
then began to take care of Jerusalem itself for the rest of his
life； for he rebuilt and repaired all those parts of the wall
which had either fallen down by length of time； or by the
carelessness of the kings； his predecessors； as well as all that
part which had been thrown down by the king of Israel； when he
took his father Amaziah prisoner； and entered with him into the
city。 Moreover； he built a great many towers； of one hundred and
fifty cubits high； and built walled towns in desert places； and
put garrisons into them； and dug many channels for conveyance of
water。 He had also many beasts for labor； and an immense number
of cattle； for his country was fit for pasturage。 He was also
given to husbandry； and took care to cultivate the ground； and
planted it with all sorts of plants； and sowed it with all sorts
of seeds。 He had also about him an army composed of chosen men；
in number three hundred and seventy thousand； who were governed
by general officers and captains of thousands； who were men of
valor； and of unconquerable strength； in number two thousand。 He
also divided his whole army into bands； and armed them； giving
every one a sword； with brazen bucklers and breastplates； with
bows and slings； and besides these； he made for them many engines
of war for besieging of cities； such as cast stones and darts；
with grapplers； and other instruments of that sort。
4。 While Uzziah was in this state； and making preparation ＇for
futurity＇； he was corrupted in his mind by pride； and became
insolent； and this on account of that abundance which he had of
things that will soon perish； and despised that power which is of
eternal duration （which consisted in piety towards God； and in
the observation of the laws）； so he fell by occasion of the good
success of his affairs； and was carried headlong into those sins
of his father； which the splendor of that prosperity he enjoyed；
and the glorious actions he had done； led him into； while he was
not able to govern himself well about them。 Accordingly； when a
remarkable day was come； and a general festival was to be
celebrated； he put on the holy garment； and went into the temple
to offer incense to God upon the golden altar； which he was
prohibited to do by Azariah the high priest； who had fourscore
priests with him； and who told him that it was not lawful for him
to offer sacrifice； and that 〃none besides the posterity of Aaron
were permitted so to do。〃 And when they cried out that he must go
out of the temple； and not transgress against God； he was wroth
at them； and threatened to kill them； unless they would hold
their peace。 In the mean time a great earthquake shook the ground
（26） and a rent was made in the temple； and the bright rays of
the sun shone through it； and fell upon the king's face； insomuch
that the leprosy seized upon him immediately。 And before the
city； at a place called Eroge； half the mountain broke off from
the rest on the west； and rolled itself four furlongs； and stood
still at the east mountain； till the roads； as well as the king's
gardens； were spoiled by the obstruction。 Now； as soon as the
priests saw that the king's face was infected with the leprosy；
they told him of the calamity he was under； and commanded that he
should go out of the city as a polluted person。 Hereupon he was
so confounded at the sad distemper； and sensible that he was not
at liberty to contradict； that he did as he was commanded； and
underwent this miserable and terrible punishment for an intention
beyond what befitted a man to have； and for that impiety against
God which was implied therein。 So he abode out of the city for
some time； and lived a private life； while his son Jotham took
the government； after which he died with grief and anxiety at
what had happened to him； when he had lived sixty…eight years；
and reigned of them fifty…two； and was buried by himself in his
own gardens。
CHAPTER 11。
How Zachariah Shallum； Menahem Pekahiah And Pekah Took The
Government Over The Israelites ； And How Pul And Tiglath…Pileser
Made An Expedition Against The Israelites。 How Jotham； The Son Of
Uzziah Reigned Over The Tribe Of Judah； And What Things Nahum
Prophesied Against The Assyrians。
1。 Now when Zachariah； the son of Jeroboam； had reigned six
months over Israel； he was slain by the treachery of a certain
friend of his； whose name was Shallum； the son of Jabesh； who
took the kingdom afterward； but kept it no longer than thirty
days； for Menahem； the general of his army； who was at that time
in the city Tirzah； and heard of what had befallen Zachariah；
removed thereupon with all his forces to Samaria； and joining
battle with Shallum； slew him； and when he had made himself king；
he went thence； and came to the city Tiphsah； but the citizens
that were in it shut their gates； and barred them against the
king； and would not admit him： but in order to be avenged on
them； he burnt the country round about it； and took the city by
force； upon a siege； and being very much displeased at what the
inhabitants of Tiphsah had done； he slew them all； and spared not
so much as the infants； without omitting the utmost instances of
cruelty and barbarity； for he used such severity upon his own
countrymen； as would not be pardonable with regard to strangers
who had been conquered by him。 And after this manner it was that
this Menahem continued to reign with cruelty and barbarity for
ten years。 But when Pul； king of Assyria； had made an expedition
against him； he did not think meet to fight or engage in battle
with the Assyrians； but he persuaded him to accept of a thousand
talents of silver； and to go away； and so put an end to the war。
This sum the multitude collected for Menahem； by exacting fifty
drachme as poll…money for every head； （23） after which he died；
and was buried in Samaria； and left his son Pekahiah his
successor in the kingdom； who followed the barbarity of his
father； and so ruled but two years only； after which he was slain
with his friends at a feast； by the treachery of one Pekah； the
general of his horse； and the son of Remaliah； who laid snares
for him。 Now this Pekah held the government twenty years； and
proved a wicked man and a transgressor。 But the king of Assyria；
whose name was Tiglath…Pileser； when he had made an expedition
against the Israelites； and had overrun all the land of Gilead；
and the region beyond Jordan； and the adjoining country； which is
called Galilee； and Kadesh； and Hazor； he made the inhabitants
prisoners； and transplanted them into his own kingdom。 And so
much shall suffice to have related here concerning the king of
Assyria。
2。 Now Jotham the son of Uzziah reigned over the tribe of Judah
in Jerusalem； being a citizen thereof by his mother； whose name
was Jerusha。 This king was not defective in any virtue； but was
religious towards God； and righteous towards men； and careful of
the good of the city （for what part soever wanted to be repaired
or adorned he magnificently repaired and adorned them）。 He also
took care of the foundations of the cloisters in the temple； and
repaired the walls that were fallen down； and built very great
towers； and such as were almost impregnable； and if any thing
else in his kingdom had been neglected； he took great care of it。
He also made an expedition against the Ammonites； and overcame
them in battle； and ordered them to pay tribute； a hundred
talents； and ten thousand cori of wheat； and as many of barley；
every year； and so augmented his kingdom； that his enemies could
not despise it； and his own people lived happily。
3。 Now there was at that time a prophet； whose name was Nahum；
who spake