[Berachah, or] Blessing.

4. And when the king had brought his army back to Jerusalem, he betook
himself to celebrate festivals, and offer sacrifices, and this for many
days. And indeed, after this destruction of their enemies, and when
it came to the ears of the foreign nations, they were all greatly
aftrighted, as supposing that God would openly fight for him hereafter.
So Jehoshaphat from that time lived in great glory and splendor, on
account of his righteousness and his piety towards God. He was also in
friendship with Ahab's son, who was king of Israel; and he joined
with him in the building of ships that were to sail to Pontus, and the
traffic cities of Thrace [3] but he failed of his gains, for the ships
were destroyed by being so great [and unwieldy]; on which account he
was no longer concerned about shipping. And this is the history of
Jehoshaphat, the king of Jerusalem.

CHAPTER 2. Concerning Ahaziah; The King Of Israel; And Again Concerning
The Prophet Elijah.

1. And now Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, reigned over Israel, and made his
abode in Samaria. He was a wicked man, and in all respects like to both
his parents and to Jeroboam, who first of all transgressed, and began
to deceive the people. In the second year of his reign, the king of Moab
fell off from his obedience, and left off paying those tributes which he
before paid to his father Ahab. Now it happened that Ahaziah, as he was
coming down from the top of his house, fell down from it, and in his
sickness sent to the Fly, which was the god of Ekron, for that was this
god's name, to inquire about his recovery [4] but the God of the Hebrews
appeared to Elijah the prophet, and commanded him to go and meet the
messengers that were sent, and to ask them, whether the people of Israel
had pot a God of their own, that the king sent to a foreign god to
inquire about his recovery? and to bid them return and tell the king
that he would not escape this disease. And when Elijah had performed
what God had commanded him, and the messengers had heard what he said,
they returned to the king immediately; and when the king wondered how
they could return so soon, and asked them the reason of it, they said
that a certain man met them, and forbade them to go on any farther; but
to return and tell thee, from the command of the God of Israel, that
this disease will have a bad end. And when the king bid them describe
the man that said this to them, they replied that h