she persuaded
him not to be cast down at this accident, but to leave off his grief,
and return to the usual care of his body, for that she would take care
to have Naboth punished; and she immediately sent letters to the rulers
of the Israelites [Jezreelites] in Ahab's name, and commanded them to
fast and to assemble a congregation, and to set Naboth at the head of
them, because he was of an illustrious family, and to have three bold
men ready to bear witness that he had blasphemed God and the king, and
then to stone him, and slay him in that manner. Accordingly, when Naboth
had been thus testified against, as the queen had written to them, that
he had blasphemed against God and Ahab the king, she desired him to take
possession of Naboth's vineyard on free cost. So Ahab was glad at what
had been done, and rose up immediately from the bed whereon he lay to go
to see Naboth's vineyard; but God had great indignation at it, and sent
Elijah the prophet to the field of Naboth, to speak to Ahab, and to say
to him, that he had slain the true owner of that field unjustly. And as
soon as he came to him, and the king had said that he might do with him
what he pleased, [for he thought it a reproach to him to be thus caught
in his sin,] Elijah said, that in that very place in which the dead body
of Naboth was eaten by dogs both his own blood and that of his wife's
should be shed, and that all his family should perish, because he
had been so insolently wicked, and had slain a citizen unjustly, and
contrary to the laws of his country. Hereupon Ahab began to be sorry for
the things he had done, and to repent of them; and he put on sackcloth,
and went barefoot [36] and would not touch any food; he also confessed
his sins, and endeavored thus to appease God. But God said to the
prophet, that while Ahab was living he would put off the punishment of
his family, because he repented of those insolent crimes he had been
guilty of, but that still he would fulfill his threatening under Ahab's
son; which message the prophet delivered to the king.

CHAPTER 14. How Hadad King Of Damascus And Of Syria, Made Two
Expeditions Against Ahab And Was Beaten.

1. When the affairs of Ahab were thus, at that very time the son of
Hadad, [Benhadad,] who was king of the Syrians and of Damascus, got
together an army out of all his country, and procured thirty-two kings
beyond Euphrates to be his auxiliaries: so he made an expedition against
Ahab; but be