Levites with the instruments of music of the 2 He built the cities which Hiram had given Lord, which king David made to praise the Lord; to Solomon, and caused the children of Israel to because his mercy endureth for ever, singing the dwell there. hymns of David by their ministry: and the priests sounded with trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. 7 Solomon also sanctified the middle of the court before the temple of the Lord: for he offered there the holocausts, and the fat of the peaceofferings: because the brazen altar, which he had made, could not hold the holocausts and the sacrifices and the fat: 8 And Solomon kept the solemnity at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entrance of Emath to the torrent of Egypt. 9 And he made on the eighth day a solemn assembly, because he had kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and had celebrated the solemnity seven days. 10 So on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent away the people to their dwellings, joyful and glad for the good that the Lord had done to David, and to Solomon, and to all Israel his people. 11 And Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all that he had designed in his heart to do, in the house of the Lord, and in his own house; and he prospered. 12 And the Lord appeared to him by night, and said: I have heard thy prayer; and I have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven, and there fall no rain, or if I give orders, and command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people: 14 And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land. 15 My eyes also shall be open, and my ears attentive to the prayer of him that shall pray in this place. 16 For I have chosen, and have sanctified this place, that my name may be there for ever, and my eyes and my heart may remain there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, if thou walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and keep my justice and my judgments: 18 I will raise up the throne of thy kingdom, as I promised to David thy father, saying: There shall not fail thee a man of thy stock to be ruler in Israel. 19 But if you turn away, and forsake my justices, and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve strange gods,| and adore them, 20 I will pluck you up by the root out of my land which I have given you: and this house which I have sanctified to my name, I will cast away from before my face, and will make it a by-word and an example among all nations. 21 And this house shall be for a proverb to all that pass by: and they shall be astonished, and say: Why hath the Lord done thus to this land, and to this house? 22 And they shall answer: Because they forsook the Lord the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on strange gods, and adored them, and worshipped them: therefore all these evils are come upon them. CHAP VIII. Solomon's buildings and other acts. AND at the end of twenty years after Solis mon had built the house of the Lord and his own house; 3 He went also into Emath Suba, and possessed it. 4 And he built Palmira in the desert: and he built other strong cities in Emath. 5 And he built Bethoron the upper, and Bethoron the nether, walled cities with gates and bars and locks; 6 Balaath also and all the strong cities that were Solomon's, and all the cities of the chariots, and the cities of the horsemen. All that Solomon had a mind, and designed, he built in Jerusalem and in Libanus, and in all the land of his dominion. 7 All the people that were left of the Hethites, and the Amorrhites, and the Pherezites, and the Hevites, and the Jebusites, that were not of the stock of Israel: 8 Of their children, and of the posterity, whom the children of Israel had not slain, Solomon made to be tributaries until this day. 9 But of the children of Israel he set none to serve in the king's works: for they were men of war, and chief captains, and rulers of his chariots and horsemen. 10 And all the chief captains of king Solomon's army were two hundred and fifty, who taught the people. 11 And he removed the daughter of Pharao from the city of David, to the house which he had built for her. For the king said: My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel; for it is sanctified; because the ark of the Lord came into it. 12 Then Solomon offered holocausts to the Lord upon the altar of the Lord, which he had built before the porch, 13 That every day an offering might be made on it according to the ordinance of Moses, in the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the festival days three times a year; that is to say, in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. 14 And he appointed according to the order of David his father the offices of the priests in their ministries; and the Levites in their order to give praise, and minister before the priests according to the duty of every day; and the porters in their divisions by gate and gate: for so David the man of God had commanded. 15 And the priests and Levites departed not from the king's commandments, as to any thing that he had commanded, and as to the keeping of the treasures. 16 Solomon had all charges prepared, from the day that he founded the house of the Lord, until the day wherein he finished it. 17 Then Solomon went to Asiongaber, and to Ailath on the coast of the Red Sea, which is in the land of Edom. 18 And Hiram sent him ships by the hands of his servants, and skilful mariners: and they went with Solomon's servants to Ophir: and they took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought it to king Solomon. CHAP. IX. The queen of Saba admireth the wisdom of Solomon. His riches and glory. His death. ND when the queen of Saba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to try him with hard questions at Jerusalem, with great riches, and camels, which carried spices, and abundance of gold, and precious stones. And when she was come to Solomon, she proposed to him all that was in her heart. 2 And Solomon explained to her all that she proposed: and there was not any thing that he did not make clear unto her. 3 And when she had seen these things, to wit, vessels of silver and of gold, and garments, and the wisdom of Solomon, and the house which he armour, and spices, and horses, and mules. had built, 25 And Solomon had forty thousand horses in 4 And the meats of his table, and the dwelling the stables, and twelve thousand chariots, and places of his servants, and the attendance of his horsemen: and he placed them in the cities of officers, and their apparel, his cup-bearers also, the chariots, and where the king was in Jeruand their garments, and the victims which he of-salem. fered in the house of the Lord; there was no more 26 And he exercised authority over all the spirit in her, she was so astonished. kings from the river Euphrates to the land of the 5 And she said to the king: The word is true Philistines, and to the borders of Egypt. which I heard in my country of thy virtues and wisdom. 6 I did not believe them that told it, until I came, and my eyes had seen, and I had proved that scarce one half of thy wisdom had been told me: thou hast exceeded thy fame with thy vir toes. 7 Happy are thy men, and happy are thy servants, who stand always before thee, and hear thy wisdom. 27 And he made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones; and cedars as common as the sycamores, which grow in the plains. 28 And horses were brought to him out of Egypt, and out of all countries. 29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon first and last are written in the words of Nathan the prophet, and in the books of Ahias the Silonite, and in the vision of Addo the seer, against Jeroboam the son of Nabat. 30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 8 Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath been pleased to set thee on his throne, king of the Lord thy God. Because God loveth Israel, and will 31 And he slept with his fathers: and they preserve them for ever; therefore hath he made buried him in the city of David: and Roboam thee king over them, to do judgment and jus- his son reigned in his stead. tice. СНАР. Х. which ten tribes revolt. 9 And she gave to the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abun- Roboam answereth the people roughly: upon dance, and most precious stones: there were no such spices as these which the queen of Saba gave to king Solomon. 10 And the servants also of Hiram, with the servants of Solomon, brought gold from Ophir, and thyine-trees, and most precious stones: 11 And the king made of the thyine-trees stairs in the house of the Lord, and in the king's house, and harps and psalteries for the singing men: never were there seen such trees in the land of Juda. 12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Saba all that she desired, and that she asked, and many more things than she brought to him: so she returned, and went to her own country with her servants. 13 And the weight of the gold, that was brought to Solomon every year, was six hundred and sixty six talents of gold: 14 Beside the sum which the deputies of divers nations, and the merchants were accustomed to bring, and all the kings of Arabia, and the lords of the lands, who brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 And king Solomon made two hundred golden spears, of the sum of six hundred pieces of gold which went to every spear: 16 And three hundred golden shields of three hundred pieces of gold, which went to the covering of every shield: and the king put them in the armoury, which was compassed with a wood. 17 The king also made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold; 18 And six steps to go up to the throne, and a footstool of gold, and two arms one on either side, and two lions standing by the arms: 19 Moreover twelve other little lions standing upon the steps on both sides: there was not such a throne in any kingdom. 20 And all the vessels of the king's table were of gold; and the vessels of the house of the forest of Libanus were of the purest gold. For no account was made of silver in those days. 21 For the king's ships went to Tharsis with the servants of Hiram, once in three years: and they brought thence gold and silver, and ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 22 And Solomon was magnified above all the kings of the earth for riches and glory. 23 And all the kings of the earth desired to see the face of Solomon, that they might hear the wisdom which God had given in his heart. 24 And every year they brought him presents, AND Roboam went to Sichem: for thither king. all Israel were assembled, to make him 2 And when Jeroboam the son of Nabat, Israel; and they spoke to Roboam, saying: 4 Thy father oppressed us with a most grievous yoke: do thou govern us with a lighter hand than thy father, who laid upon us a heavy servitude, and ease something of the burden, that we may serve thee. 5 And he said to them: Come to me again gone, after three days. And when the people were 6 He took counsel with the ancients, who had stood before his father Solomon, while he yet lived, saying: What counsel give you to me, that I may answer the people? 7 And they said to him: If thou please this people, and soothe them with kind words, they will be thy servants for ever. 8 But he forsook the counsel of the ancients, and began to treat with the young men, that had been brought up with him, and were in his train. to you? or what shall I answer this people, who 9 And he said to them: What seemeth good have said to me: Ease the yoke which thy father laid upon us? 10 But they answered as young men, and shalt thou speak to the people, that said to thee: brought up with him in pleasures, and said: Thus Thy father made our yoke heavy; do thou ease is thicker than the loins of my father. it: thus shalt thou answer them: My little finger 11 My father laid upon you a heavy yoke; you with scourges; but I will beat you with scorand I will add more weight to it: my father beat pions. 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Roboam the third day, as he commanded them. the counsel of the ancients. 13 And the king answered roughly, leaving 14 And he spoke according to the advice of yoke, which I will make heavier: my father beat the young men: My father laid upon you a heavy scorpions. you with scourges; but I will beat you with 15 And he condescended not to the people's requests: for it was the will of God, that his word might be fulfilled which he had spoken by the hand of Ahias the Silonite to Jeroboam the son of Nabat. 16 And all the people upon the king's speaking roughly, said thus unto him: We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of 1sai. Return to thy dwellings, O Israel: and do thou, O David, feed thy own house. And Israel went away to their dwellings. 17 But Roboam reigned over the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Juda. 18 And king Roboam sent Aduram, who was over the tributes, and the children of Israel stoned him, and he died: and king Roboam made haste to get up into his chariot, and fled into Je rusalem. 19 And Israel revolted from the house of David unto this day. CHAP. XI. score concubines: and he begot eight and twenty sons, and threescore daughters. 22 But he put at the head of them Abia the son of Maacha to be the chief ruler over all his brethren: for he meant to make him king, 23 Because he was wiser and mightier than all his sons, and in all the countries of Juda, and of Benjamin, and in all the walled cities: and he gave them provisions in abundance: and he sought many wives. CHAP. XII. Roboam for his sins is delivered up into the hands of the king of Egypt: who carrieth away all the treasures of the temple. ND when the kingdom of Roboam was Astrengthenedeki tied, he foam law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. Roboam's reign. His kingdom is strengthened. 2 And in the fifth year of the reign of RoboND Roboam came to Jerusalem, and called am, Sesac king of Egypt came up against JeA together all the house of Juda and of Ben-rusalem (because they had sinned against the jamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men and warriors, to fight against Israel, and to bring back his kingdom to him. 2 And the word of the Lord came to Semeias the man of God, saying: 3 Speak to Roboam the son of Solomon the king of Juda, and to all Israel, in Juda and Benjamin: 4 Thus saith the Lord: You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: let every man return to his own house; for by my will this thing has been done. And when they heard the word of the Lord, they returned, and did not go against Jeroboam. 5 And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built walled cities in Juda. 6 And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Thecue, 7 And Bethsur, and Socho, and Odollam, 8 And Geth, and Maresa, and Ziph, 9 And Aduram, and Lachis, and Azecha, 10 Saraa also, and Aialon, and Hebron, which are in Juda and Benjamin, well fenced cities. 11 And when he had enclosed them with walls, he put in them governors and store-houses of provisions, that is, of oil and of wine. Lord) 3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt, to wit, Lybians, and Troglodites, and Ethiopians. 4 And he took the strongest cities in Juda, and came to Jerusalem. 5 And Semeias the prophet came to Roboam, and to the princes of Juda, that were gathered together in Jerusalem, fleeing from Sesac, and he said to them: Thus saith the Lord: You have left me; and I have left you in the hand of Se sac. 6 And the princes of Israel, and the king, being in a consternation, said: The Lord is just. 7 And when the Lord saw that they were humbled, the word of the Lord came to Semeias, saying: Because they are humbled, I will not destroy them; and I will give them a little help; and my wrath shall not fall upon Jerusalem by the hand of Sesac. 8 But yet they shall serve him, that they may know the difference between my service, and the service of a kingdom of the earth. 9 So Sesac king of Egypt departed from Jeru12 Moreover in every city he made an ar-salem, taking away the treasures of the house of moury of shields and spears; and he fortified them with great diligence; and he reigned over Juda and Benjamin. 13 And the priests and Levites, that were in all Israel, came to him out of all their seats, 14 Leaving their suburbs, and their possessions, and passing over to Juda, and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off, from executing the priestly office to the Lord. 15 And he made to himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. 16 Moreover out of all the tribes of Israel, whosoever gave their heart to seek the Lord the God of Israel, came into Jerusalem to sacrifice their victims before the Lord the God of their fathers. 17 And they strengthened the kingdom of Juda, and established Roboam the son of Solomon for three years: for they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, only three years. 18 And Roboam took to wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David: and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Isai. 19 And they bore him sons Jehus, and Somorías, and Zoom. 20 And after her he married Maacha the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abia, and Ethai, and Ziza, and Salomith. the Lord, and of the king's house: and he took all with him, and the golden shields that Solomon had made; 10 Instead of which the king made brazen ones, and, delivered them to the captains of the shield-bearers, who guarded the entrance of the palace. 11 And when the king entered into the house of the Lord, the shield-bearers came, and took them, and brought them back again to their armoury. 12 But yet because they were humbled, the wrath of the Lord turned away from them, and they were not utterly destroyed: for even in Juda there were found good works. 13 King Roboam therefore was strengthened in Jerusalem, and reigned: he was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord chose out of all the tribes of Israel, to esta blish his name there: and the name of his mother was Naama an Ammonitess. 14 But he did evil, and did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. 15 Now the acts of Roboam first and last are written in the books of Semeias the prophet, and of Addo the seer, and diligently recorded: and there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam all their days. 21 And Roboam loved Maacha the daughter 16 And Roboam slept with his fathers, and of Absalom above all his wives, and concubines: was buried in the city of David. And Abia his for he had married eighteen wives, and three-lison reigned in his stead. CHAP. XIII. Abia's reign: his victory over Jeroboam. TN the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abia reigned over Juda. 2 Three years he reigned in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Michaia,* the daughter of Uriel of Gabaa: and there was war between Abia and Jeroboam. 3 And when Abia had begun battle, and had with him four hundred thousand most valiant and chosen men; Jeroboam put his army in array against him, eight hundred thousand men, who were also chosen and most valiant for war. 18 And the children of Israel were brought down at that time: and the children of Juda were exceedingly strengthened, because they had trusted in the Lord the God of their fathers. 19 And Abia pursued after Jeroboain, and took cities from him, Bethel and her daughters, and Jesana with her daughters, Ephron also and her daughters. 20 And Jeroboam was not able to resist any more, in the days of Abia: and the Lord struck him; and he died. 21 But Abia, being strengthened in his kingdom, took fourteen wives; and begot two and twenty sons and sixteen daughters. 4 And Abia stood upon mount Semeron, which 22 And the rest of the acts of Abia, and of his was in Ephraim, and said: Hear me, O Jerobo-ways and works, are written diligently in the am, and all Israel: book of Addo the prophet. 5 Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave to David the kingdom over Israel for ever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt.f 6 And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up: and rebelled against his lord. 7 And there were gathered to him, vain men, and children of Belial: and they prevailed against Roboam the son of Solomon: for Roboam was unexperienced, and of a fearful heart, and could not resist them. 8 And now you say that you are able to withstand the kingdom of the Lord, which he possesseth by the sons of David: and you have a great multitude of people, and golden calves, which Jeroboam hath made you for gods. 9 And you have cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites: and you have made you priests, like all the nations of the earth: whosoever cometh and consecrateth his hand with a bullock of the herd, and with seven rams, is made a priest of those who are no gods. 10 But the Lord is our God, whom we forsake not: and the priests who minister to the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites are in their order. 11 And they offer holocausts to the Lord, every day morning and evening, and incense made according to the ordinance of the law: and the loaves are set forth on a most clean table: and there is with us the golden candlestick, and the lamps thereof, to be lighted always in the evening: for we keep the precepts of the Lord our God, whom you have forsaken. 12 Therefore God is the leader in our army, and his priests who sound with trumpets, and resound against you: O children of Israel, fight not against the Lord the God of your fathers, for it is not good for you. 13 While he spoke these things, Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind him. And while he stood facing the enemies, he encompassed Juda, who perceived it not, with his army. 14 And when Juda looked back, they saw the battle coming upon them both before and behind, and they cried to the Lord: and the priests began to sound with the trumpets. 15 And all the men of Juda shouted: and behold, when they shouted, God terrified Jeroboam, and all Israel that stood against Abia and Juda. 16 And the children of Israel fled before Juda: and the Lord delivered them into their hand. 17 And Abia and his people slew them with a great slaughter: and there fell wounded of Israel five hundred thousand valiant men. Michaia, alias Maacha. Her father had also two names, viz. Absalom, or Abessalom, and Uriel. A covenant of salt. That is, a firm and perpetual covenant. See Numb. xviii. 19. CHAP. XIV. The reign of Asa: his victory over the Ethiopians. ND Abia slept with his fathers: and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead: in his days the land was quiet ten years. 2 And Asa did that which was good and pleasing in the sight of his God: and he destroyed the altars of foreign worship, and the high places, 3 And broke the statues, and cut down the groves. 4 And he commanded Juda to seek the Lord the God of their fathers, and to do the law, and all the commandments. 5 And he took away out of all the cities of Juda, the altars, and temples, and reigned in peace. 6 He built also strong cities in Juda, for he was quiet, and there had no wars risen in his time, the Lord giving peace. 7 And he said to Juda: Let us build these cities, and compass them with walls, and fortify them with towers, and gates, and bars, while all is quiet from wars; because we have sought the Lord the God of our fathers, and he hath given us peace round about. So they built, and there was no hindrance in building. 8 And Asa had in his army of men that bore shields and spears, of Juda three hundred thousand, and of Benjamin that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand: all these were most valiant men. 9 And Zara the Ethiopian came out against them with his army of ten hundred thousand men, and with three hundred chariots: and he came as far as Maresa. 10 And Asa went out to meet him, and set his army in array for battle in the vale of Sephata, which is near Maresa: 11 And he called upon the Lord God, and said: Lord, there is no difference with thee, whether thou help with few, or with many: help us, O Lord our God: for with confidence in thee, and in thy name, we are come against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. 12 And the Lord terrified the Ethiopians before Asa and Juda: and the Ethiopians fled. 13 And Asa and the people that were with him, pursued them to Gerara: and the Ethiopians fell even to utter destruction; for the Lord slew them; and his army fought against them; and they were destroyed. And they took abundance of spoils. 14 And they took all the cities round about Gerara: for a great fear was come upon all men: and they pillaged the cities, and carried off much booty. 15 And they destroyed the sheep-cotes, and took an infinite multitude of cattle and of camels: and returned to Jerusalem. CHAP. XV. The prophecy of Azarias. Asa's covenant with God. He deposeth his mother. AND the Spirit of God came upon Azarias the son of 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: Hear ye me, Asa, and all Juda and Benjamin: The Lord is with you; because you have been with him. If you seek him, you shall find: but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 And many days shall pass in Israel without the true God, and without a priest a teacher, and without the law. 4 And when in their distress they shall return to the Lord the God of Israel, and shall seek him, they shall find him. 5 At that time there shall be no peace to him that goeth out and cometh in, but terrors on every side, among all the inhabitants of the earth. 6 For nation shall fight against nation, and city against city; for the Lord will trouble them with all distress. 7 Do you therefore take courage, and let not your hands be weakened: for there shall be a reward for your work. 8 And when Asa had heard the words and the prophecy of Azarias the son of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and took away the idols out of all the land of Juda, and out of Benjamin, and out of the cities of mount Ephraim, which he had taken: and he dedicated the altar of the Lord, which was before the porch of the Lord. 9 And he gathered together all Juda and Benjamin, and the strangers with them of Ephraim, and Manasses, and Simeon: for many were come over to him out of Israel, seeing that the Lord his God was with him. 10 And when they were come to Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa, 11 They sacrificed to the Lord in that day of the spoils, and of the prey, that they had brought, seven hundred oxen, and seven thousand rams. 12 And he went in to confirm as usual the covenant, that they should seek the Lord the God of their fathers with all their heart, and with all their soul. 13 And if any one, said he, seek not the Lord the God of Israel, let him die, whether little or great, man or wonian. 14 And they swore to the Lord with a loud voice, with joyful shouting, and with sound of trumpet, and sound of cornets, 15 All that were in Juda with a curse: for with all their heart they swore, and with all their will they sought him; and they found him: and the Lord gave them rest round about. 16 Moreover Maacha the mother of king Asa he deposed from the royal authority, because she had made in a grove an idol of Priapus: and he against Juda, and built a wall about Rama, that no one might safely go out or come in of the kingdom of Asa. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold, out of the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king's treasures, and sent to Benadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying: 3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father; wherefore I have sent thee silver and gold, that thou mayst break thy league with Baasa king of Israel, and make him depart from me. 4 And when Benadad heard this, he sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel: and they took Ahion, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the walled cities of Nephthali. 5 And when Baasa heard of it, he left off the building of Rama, and interrupted his work. 6 Then king Asa took all Juda, and they carried away from Rama, the stones and the timber that Baasa had prepared for the building: and he built with them Gabaa and Maspha. 7 At that time Hanani the prophet came to Asa king of Juda, and said to him: Because thou hast had confidence in the king of Syria, and not in the Lord thy God, therefore hath the army of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians, and the Libyans much more numerous in chariots, and horsemen, and an exceeding great multitude: yet because thou trustedst in the Lord, he delivered them into thy hand? 9 For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore thou hast done foolishly; and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against thee. 10 And Asa was angry with the seer, and commanded him to be put in prison: for he was greatly enraged because of this thing: and he put to death many of the people at that time. 11 But the works of Asa the first and last are written in the Book of the kings of Juda and Israel. 12 And Asa fell sick in the nine and thirtieth year of his reign, of a most violent pain in his feet: and yet in his illness he did not seek the Lord, but rather trusted in the skill of physicians. 13 And he slept with his fathers: and he died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. 14 And they buried him in his own sepulchre, which he had made for himself in the city of David: and they laid him on his bed full of spices and odoriferous ointments, which were made by the art of the perfumers: and they burnt them over him with very great pomp. CHAP. XVII. Josaphat's reign: his care for the instruction of his people: his numerous forces. entirely destroyed it, and breaking it into pieces, AND Josaphat his son reigned in his stead, burnt it at the torrent Cedron. and grew strong against Israel. 2 And he placed numbers of soldiers in all the 17 But high places were left in Israel: never-fortified cities of Juda. And he put garrisons in theless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. the land of Juda, and in the cities of Ephraim, 18 And the things which his father had vowed, which Asa his father had taken. and he himself had vowed, he brought into the house of the Lord, gold and silver, and vessels of divers uses. 19 And there was no war unto the five and thirtieth year of the kingdom of Asa. CHAP. XVI. 3 And the Lord was with Josaphat; because he walked in the first ways of David his father, and trusted not in Baalim," 4 But in the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not according to the sins of Israel. 5 And the Lord established the kingdom in his Asa is reproved for seeking help from the Syri- hand; and all Juda brought presents to Josaphat: and he acquired immense riches, and much ans: his last acts and death. AND in the kingdom,* *Baasa the king of Israel came up *Sir and thirtieth year of his kingdom. That is, of the kingdom of Juda, taking the date of it from the beginning of the reign of Roboam. 6 And when his heart had taken courage for the ways of the Lord, he took away also the high places and the groves out of Juda. 7 And in the third year of his reign, he sent of his princes Benhail, and Abdias, and Zacharias, |