upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him (g) that is shut up, and left in Israel, 22. And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam, (b) the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the (i) son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin." 23. And Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat (k) Jezebel by the vall of Jezreel. 24. Him that dieth of Ahab in the city, the dogs shall eat: nd him that dieth in the field, shall the owls of the air eat." 25. But there none like unto Ahab, which did sell self to work wickedness in the sight of LORD, whom Jezebel (1) his wife stirred

26. And he did very abominably in wing idols, according to all things as the Amorites, whom the LORD cast before the children of Israel. 27. And ame to pass when Ahab heard those ds, that he rent his clothes, and put cloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and in sackcloth, and went softly. 28. And

). 21. "Him that is shut up, and left." ommon expression to denote entire destrucwithout letting one escape: the first exsion in the text including every one that hout of his house, and this every one that at home. See Kings xiv. 10.—2 Kings See also 2 Kings xiv. 26. "The Lord w the affliction of Israel, that it was very tter: for there was not any shut up, nor y left, nor any keeper in Israel."

v. 22. "Jeroboam." See ante, 1 Kings

v. 22. "Baasha," who had conspired 1st Jeroboam's son, and obtained the kinga wicked king, against whom God proced this denunciation: "Behold I will ke away the posterity of Baasha, and the sterity of his house; and will make thy use like the house of Jeroboam, the son of ebat. 1 Kings xvi. 3." And about a year this prophecy Zimri conspired against him, slew him, and all his house. 1 Kings xvi.

12.

:)

v. 23. "Eat Jezebel." Accomplished rdingly about 15 years afterwards. By 's command she was thrown out of her low at Jezreel; and when he sent shortly wards to have her taken up and buried,

the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29. "Seest thou how "Ahab humbleth himself before me? "because he humbleth himself before me, "I will not (m) bring the evil in his days: "but in his sons days will I bring the evil 66 upon his house."

CHAP. XXII.

out (7) war beween Syria and Israel. ND they continued three years with

2. And it came to pass in the third (0) year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3. (And the king of Israel said unto his servants, "Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is our's, "and we be still, and take it not out of "the hand of the king of Syria ?") 4. And he said unto Jehoshaphat, "Wilt thou go "with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as thou art, my people as thy "people, my horses as thy horses." 5. And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "Enquire (p), I pray thee, at the word of "the LORD to-day." 6. Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets (q) together,

"they found no more of her than the skull, "and the feet, and the palms of her hands. 66 2 Kings ix. 30 to 35." (1) v. 25: "Jezebel." She was a stranger, daughter of Ethbaal, King of the Zidonians. 1 Kings xvi. 32.

(m) v. 29. "Not bring." So that an act of humility towards God, even in a most wicked king, suspended God's vengeance !!

(n) v. 1. "Without war." Benhadad, king of Syria, had invaded Samaria two successive years; and in each year God assisted Ahab, and enabled him to slay the Syrians with a great slaughter. The second year 127,000 were slain, and Ahab had Benhadad in his power; but he made a covenant with him, and sent him away. This displeased God, and he denounced against Ahab, "because thou hast let go out of thy "hand, a man whom I appointed to utter de"struction, therefore thy life shall go for his "life, and thy people for his people. 1 Kings " xx."

(0) v. 2. "Third year," of this peace. Before Christ 897.

(p) v. 5. "Enquire, &c." Enquire, &c." See ante, note on 2 Sam. xxi. 1.

about four hundred men, and said unto them, "Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead "to battle, or shall I forbear?" And they said, "Go up; for the LORD shall deliver "it into the hand of the king." 7. And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here a "prophet of the LORD besides, that we "might enquire of him ?" 8. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man (Micaiah the son " of Imlah) by whom we may enquire of "the LORD; but I hate him, for he doth "not prophesy good concerning me, but "evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not "the king say so." 9. Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, "Hasten "hither Micaiah the son of Imlah." 10. And the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, sat each on his throne, having put on their robes in a void place, in the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them. 11. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, "Thus saith the LORD, "With "these shalt thou push the Syrians, until "thou have consumed them." 12. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go "up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper for "the LORD shall deliver it into the king's "hand." 13. And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah, spake unto him, saying, "Behold now, the words of the "prophets declare good unto the king with "one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, "be like the word of one of them, and "speak that which is good." 14. And Micaiah said, "As the LORD liveth, what "the LORD saith unto me, that will I "speak." 15. So he came to the king, and the king said unto him, "Micaiah, "shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to "battle, or shall we forbear?" and he answered him, "Go and prosper: for the "LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the

them. I King's xviii. They amounted in number to 450. 1 Kings xviii. 22. And though it is stated, 1 Kings xviii. 40. that Elijah afterwards brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there, there can be little doubt but that they were replaced. In 1 Kings xix.10. 14. Elijah complains to God, "the children of "Israel have slain thy prophets with the sword,

"king." 16. And the king said unto him, "How many times shall I adjure thee, "that thou tell me nothing but that which "is true in the name of the LORD?" 17. And he said, "I saw all Israel scat "tered upon the hills, as sheep that have "not a shepherd: and the LORD said, "These have no master, let them retur 66 every man to his house in peace." 18. And the king of Israel said unto Jeho shaphat, "Did I not tell thee, that he "would prophesy no good concerning "but evil?" 19. And he (r) said, "Ha "thou therefore the word of the Lo "I saw the LORD sitting on his thro "and all the host of heaven standing "him, on his right hand, and on his left. "20. And the LORD said, "Who sha "persuade Ahab, that he may go up and "fall at Ramoth-gilead ?" And one s

on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21. And there came forth a "spirit, and stood before the LORD, "said, "I will persuade him." 22. And de "LORD said unto him, "Wherevi "And he said, "I will go forth, andl "be a lying spirit in the mouth of all "prophets." And he said, "Thou sta "persuade him, and prevail also: go fort, "and do so." 23. Now therefore, behol "the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the "mouth of all these thy prophets, and the "LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee." 24. But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way went the "Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto "thee?" 25. And Micaiah said, “ Be"hold, thou shalt see in that day, whea "thou shalt go into an inner chamber "hide thyself." 26. And the king of Israel said," Take Micaiah, and carry "back unto Ammon the governor of the "city, and to Joash the king's s "27. and say, "Thus saith the king, "Pu

" and I, even I only am left." In 2 King iii. 13. when Elisha refused to inquire of the Lord forJehoram king of Israel, he said to him. "What have I to do with thee; get thee t "the prophets of thy father, and the prophets "of thy mother;" as if there were such pre phets still in being. (r) v. 19.

"He," i. e. "Micaiah."

this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace." 3. And Micaiah said, "If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me." And he said, "Hearken, O people, every one of you." 29. So the ng of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of dah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30. And e king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle, but put thou on thy robes." And e king of Israel disguised himself, and ent into the battle. 31. But the king of ria commanded his thirty and two capins that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel." 32. And came to pass, when the captains of the ariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel." And ey turned aside to fight against him: and hoshaphat cried out. 33. And it came pass, when the captains of the chariots erceived that it was not the king of Israel, at they turned back from pursuing him. 4. And a certain man drew a bow at a enture, and smote the king of Israel beveen the joints of the harness: wherefore said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded." 35. And e battle increased that day: and the king as stayed up in his chariot against the yrians, and died at even: and the blood in out of the wound into the midst of the hariot. 36. And there went a proclaation throughout the host about the oing down of the sun, saying, "Every Iman to his city, and every man to his own country." 37. So the king died, nd was brought to Samaria; and they uried the king in Samaria. 38. And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they

washed his armour, according unto the word of the LORD which he (s) spake. 39. Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 40. So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead. 41. And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa, began to reign over Judah in the fourth year (1) of Ahab king of Israel? 42. Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43. And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father, he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places (u). 44. And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. 45. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 46. And the (x) remnant of the sodomites which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land. 47. There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king. 48. Jehoshaphat made ships of (y) Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold; but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. 49. Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants

king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. 52. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of

Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 53. For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

CHAP. II.

AND it came (c) to pass when the LORD

And

would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee: for the "LORD hath sent me to Beth-el." Elisha said unto him, "As the LORD liveth, "and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave "thee." So they went down to Beth-el. 3. And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el, came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, "Knowest thou that the LORD "will take away thy master from thy "head to-day?" And he said, "Yea, I "know it, hold you your peace." 4. And Elijah said unto him, "Elisha, Tarry here, "I pray thee: for the LORD hath sent "me to Jericho." And he said, "As the "LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I "will not leave thee." So they came to Jericho. 5. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, "Knowest thou that the "LORD will take away thy master from "thy head to-day ?" And he answered, "Yea, I know it, hold you your peace." 6. And Elijah said unto him, "Tarry, I " pray thee, here for the LORD hath sent

:

me to Jordan." And he said, "As the "LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I "will not leave thee." And they two went on. 7. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off and they two stood by Jordan.

(c). v. 1. "Came to pass." Before Christ 896.

(d) v.8. "Divided." A similar miracle to that in Josh. iii. between 500 and 600 years before.

8. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrap it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided (d) hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9. And it came to pass when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for thee, before "I be taken away from thee." And Elisha said, "I pray thee, let a double (e) portion "of thy spirit be upon me." 10. And he said, "Thou hast asked a hard thing "nevertheless, if thou see me when I "taken from thee, it shall be so unto the "but if not, it shall not be so." 11. And it came to pass as they still went on, talked, that behold, there appeared a chart of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my "father, the chariot of Israel, and the "horsemen thereof." And he saw him no more and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan.

and

14. And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said. "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" and when he also had smitten the waters. they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 15. And when the sons of the prophets which (f) were to view at Jericho, saw him, they said, "The spirit "of Elijah doth rest on Elisha." And

they came to meet him, and bowed them. selves to the ground before him: 16. And hey said unto him, "Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men, let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley." And he said, "Ye shall not send." 17. And when they urged him, 1 he was ashamed, he said, "Send." hey sent therefore fifty men, and they ught three days, but found him not. 1. And when they came again to him, or he tarried at Jericho) he said unto em, “Did I not say unto you, Go not?" . And the men of the city said unto isha, "Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth : but the water is naught, and the ground barren." 20. And he said, "Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein." And ey brought it to him. 21. And he went th unto the spring of the waters, and st the salt in there, and said, "Thus saith the LORD, "I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death, or barren land." 22. So e waters were healed unto this day, cording to the saying of Elisha which he ake. 23. And he went up from thence to Beth-el: and as he was going up by e way, there came forth little children t of the city, and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up thou bald-head, go up thou bald-head." 24. And he turned ck, and looked on them, and cursed m in the name of the LORD: and there ne forth two she bears out of the wood, 1 tare forty and two children of them. . And he went from thence to mount rmel, and from thence he returned to maria.

CHAP. V.

[OW (g) Naaman captain of the host

of the king (b) of Syria, was a great in with his master, and honourable, cause by him the LORD had given deli'rance unto Syria: he was also a mighty

(g) v. 1. Before Christ 894.

(b) v. 1. "King of Syria." Benhadad.

man in valour, but he was a leper. 2. And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid, and she waited on Naaman's wife. 3. And she said unto her mistress," Would God my lord were "with the prophet that is in Samaria: for "he would recover him of his leprosy." 4. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, "Thus and thus said the maid "that is of the land of Israel." 5. And the king of Syria said, "Go to, go, and "I will send a letter unto the king of "Israel." And he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. 6. And he brought the letter to the king (i) of Israel, saying, "Now when "this letter is come unto thee, behold, "I have therewith sent Naaman my servant "to thee, that thou mayest recover him "of his leprosy." 7. And it came to pass when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, “Am I "God, to kill and to make alive, that this 66 man doth send unto me to recover a "man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, "I pray you, and see how he seeketh a " quarrel against me." 8. And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Where"fore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him "come now to me, and he shall know "that there is a prophet in Israel." 9. So Naaman came with his horses, and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, "Go and "wash in Jordan seven times, and thy "flesh shall come again unto thee, and "thou shalt be clean.' II. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, "Behold, I thought, He will surely come "out to me, and stand, and call on the "name of the LORD his God, and strike "his hand over the place, and recover "the leper. 12. Are not Abana and "Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than "all the waters of Israel? may I not wash

(i) v. 6. "King of Israel," i. e. "Jehoram, "the son of Ahab."