THE NIGHT OF ISRAEL. 283

not to the thing signified. Elisha was grieved, and
said that he ought to, have smitten often; then would
he have smitten the Syrians till he had consumed them ;
now he would only smite them three times.

George. Then there would be a great deal of war in
his reign ; tell us about it.

Grandfather. Indeed, George, we are not told much
about it. It is said only that he beat the Syrians three
times, and took out of the hands of Benhadad, king of
Syria, all the cities which Hazael his father had taken
from the Israelites. But there was more war in his
reign: a battle was fought between Israel and Judah.
But before we enter upon it, we must see what the king
of Judah was doing while the Israelites were defeating
the Syrians. Amaziah, son of Joash, succeeded his
father as king of Judah. The first act of his reign
was an act of justice; he put to death the murderers
of his father. Then he assembled all the people of
Judah to go to war against the Edomites; and, not
satisfied with his own people, he hired of the Israelites
one hundred thousand men for one hundred talents of
silver.

George. How much is that in our money ?

Grandfather. About fifty thousand pounds sterling.
A prophet came to the king and told him that it was
not right to let the Israelites go with him, for God was
not with them. Amaziah said, “ But what shall we
do for the hundred talents which I have given to the
army of Israel?” The man of God replied, “The