e was a hairy man,
and was girt about with a girdle of leather. So the king understood
by this that the man who was described by the messengers was Elijah;
whereupon he sent a captain to him, with fifty soldiers, and commanded
them to bring Elijah to him; and when the captain that was sent found
Elijah sitting upon the top of a hill, he commanded him to come down,
and to come to the king, for so had he enjoined; but that in case he
refused, they would carry him by force. Elijah said to him, "That you
may have a trial whether I be a true prophet, I will pray that fire may
fall from heaven, and destroy both the soldiers and yourself." [5] So
he prayed, and a whirlwind of fire fell [from heaven], and destroyed the
captain, and those that were with him. And when the king was informed
of the destruction of these men, he was very angry, and sent another
captain with the like number of armed men that were sent before. And
when this captain also threatened the prophet, that unless he came down
of his own accord, he would take him and carry him away, upon his prayer
against him, the fire [from heaven] slew this captain as well the other.
And when, upon inquiry, the king was informed of what happened to him,
he sent out a third captain. But when this captain, who was a wise man,
and of a mild disposition, came to the place where Elijah happened to
be, and spake civilly to him; and said that he knew that it was without
his own consent, and only in submission to the king's command that he
came to him; and that those that came before did not come willingly,
but on the same account;--he therefore desired him to have pity on those
armed men that were with him, and that he would come down and follow
him to the king. So Elijah accepted of his discreet words and courteous
behavior, and came down and followed him. And when he came to the
king, he prophesied to him and told him that God said, "Since thou hast
despised him as not being God, and so unable to foretell the truth about
thy distemper, but hast sent to the god of Ekron to inquire of him what
will be the end of this thy distemper, know this, that thou shalt die."

2. Accordingly the king in a very little time died, as Elijah had
foretold; but Jehoram his brother succeeded him in the kingdom, for he
died without children: but for this Jehoram, he was like his father Ahab
in wickedness, and reigned twelve years, indulging himself in all sorts
of wickedness and impiety towards God, fo