186 The Legends of the Jews
whose term of uncleanness had not expired, even though he had taken the ritual bath." His implicit trust in God made him a complete contrast to his skeptical father. He turned to God and implored His help when to human reason help seemed an utter impossibility. In the war with the Arameans, an enemy held his sword at Jehoshaphat's very throat, ready to deal the fatal blow, but the king entreated help of God, and it was granted.*0
In power and wealth, Ahab, king of Samaria, outstripped his friend Jehoshaphat, for Ahab is one of that small num- ber of kings who have ruled over the whole world.*1 No less than two hundred and fifty-two kingdoms acknowledged his dominion.™ As for his wealth, it was so abundant that each of his hundred and forty children possessed several ivory palaces, summer and winter residences." But what gives Ahab his prominence among the Jewish kings is neither his powei nor his wealth, but his sinful conduct. For him the gravest transgressions committed by Jeroboam were slight peccadilloes. At his order the gates of Samaria bore the inscription : " Ahab denies the God of Israel" He was so devoted to idolatry, to which he was led astray by his wife Jezebel, that the fields of Palestine were full of idols. But he was not wholly wicked, he possessed some good qualities. He was liberal toward scholars, and he showed great reverence for the Torah, which he studied zealously. When Ben-hadad exacted all he possessed — his wealth, his wives, his children — he acceded to his demands regarding everything except the Torah ; that he refused peremptorily to surrender.*4 In the war that followed between himself and the Syrians, he was so indignant at the presumptuous-
