248 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

shalt pay a talent of silver.’ And as thy servant was
busy here and there he was gone.” This was the com-
plaint he made ; but Ahab saw no necessity for shewing
mercy to him, although it was from carelessness, and not
from crime, that he had forfeited his life. ‘ So shall
thy judgment be, thyself hast decided it.” No sooner
was this sentence pronounced than the prophet put off
his disguise, and the king saw that he was a prophet.
It was now the king’s turn to hear his sentence. It was
in these words: “ Thus saith the Lord, Because thou
hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to
utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life,
and thy people for his people.”

Marianne. Then it was a story that the prophet told,
to shew the king that he deserved punishment.

Johnnie. But why did the prophet tell the man to
strike him? I do not understand that yet.

Marianne. I think I do, though. Was it to shew
that when the man was punished for not striking the
good prophet when God commanded it, surely Ahab
would be punished for not killing the bad Benhadad,
when it was God’s will that it should be done ?

Grandfather. I see you understand it, Marianne. We
shall now proceed to the next battle. A visitor came
to Ahab, no less a person than Jehoshaphat, king of
Judah. The king of Israel treated him with marked
attention, and made great feasts for him and his people.
They were nearly connected ; for the son of Jehosh-
aphat had married the daughter of Ahab. Now Ben-