IDOLATRY AND DEFEAT. 245

like “little flocks of kids, but the Syrians filled the
country.”

Marianne. Ahab would be frightened then ?

Grandfather. It is not unlikely that he was, because
he must have felt that his false gods were feeble sup-
ports, and he could not look with confidence to the God
whom he had disobeyed. But the Lord chose to vindi-
cate the honour of His own name by shewing to the
Syrians that He was sovereign ruler in all places. He
sent a prophet to say to Ahab: “Thus saith the Lord,
because the Syrians have said, the Lord is God of the
hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I
deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye
shall know that I am the Lord.” Seven days the two
armies faced each other ; on the seventh day they fought,
and Israel was completely victorious, killing of the
Syrians one hundred thousand men. The others fled to
Aphek, where twenty-seven thousand were killed by the
falling of the walls of the town. The city of their re-
fuge proved their destruction. From their fate we learn
that where we think ourselves secure danger may be near.

George. Was Benhadad killed ?

Grandfather. No, he had hid himself.

George. Cowardly fellow!

Grandfather. Now that they were reduced to the last
extremity, he and those who were with him resolved to
submit to Ahab. Perhaps he would not be severe on
them ; and, at any rate, it was their only chance for
life. The servants went first, dressed in sackcloth, and