Doig's Biblical Chronology  . Exact Dating of the Exodus and Birth and Crucifixion of Jesus

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Index to Josephus

Antiquities of the Jews - Book VIII

CONTAINING THE INTERVAL OF ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-THREE YEARS
FROM THE DEATH OF DAVID TO THE DEATH OF AHAB

CHAPTER 1

HOW SOLOMON, WHEN HE HAD RECEIVED THE KINGDOM TOOK OFF HIS ENEMIES

1. WE have already treated of David, and his virtue, and of the benefits he was the author of to his countrymen; of
his wars also and battles, which he managed with success, and then died an old man, in the foregoing book. And
when Solomon his son, who was but a youth in age, had taken the kingdom, and whom David had declared, while he
was alive, the lord of that people, according to God's will; when he sat upon the throne, the whole body of the
people made joyful acclamations to him, as is usual at the beginning of a reign; and wished that all his affairs might
come to a blessed conclusion; and that he might arrive at a great age, and at the most happy state of affairs
possible.

2. But Adonijah, who, while his father was living, attempted to gain possession of the government, came to the
king's mother Bathsheba, and saluted her with great civility; and when she asked him, whether he came to her as
desiring her assistance in any thing or not, and bade him tell her if that were the case, for that she would cheerfully
afford it him; he began to say, that she knew herself that the kingdom was his, both on account of his elder age, and
of the disposition of the multitude, and that yet it was transferred to Solomon her son, according to the will of God.
He also said that he was contented to be a servant under him, and was pleased with the present settlement; but he
desired her to be a means of obtaining a favor from his brother to him, and to persuade him to bestow on him in
marriage Abishag, who had indeed slept by his father, but, because his father was too old, he did not lie with her,
and she was still a virgin. So Bathsheba promised him to afford him her assistance very earnestly, and to bring this
marriage about, because the king would be willing to gratify him in such a thing, and because she would press it to
him very earnestly. Accordingly he went away in hopes of succeeding in this match. So Solomon's mother went
presently to her son, to speak to him about what she had promised, upon Adonijah's supplication to her. And when
her son came forward to meet her, and embraced her, and when he had brought her into the house where his royal
throne was set, he sat thereon, and bid them set another throne on the right hand for his mother. When Bathsheba
was set down, she said, "O my son, grant me one request that I desire of thee, and do not any thing to me that is
disagreeable or ungrateful, which thou wilt do if thou deniest me." And when Solomon bid her to lay her commands
upon him, because it was agreeable to his duty to grant her every thing she should ask, and complained that she did
not at first begin her discourse with a firm expectation of obtaining what she desired, but had some suspicion of a
denial, she entreated him to grant that his brother Adonijah might marry Abishag.

3. But the king was greatly offended at these words, and sent away his mother, and said that Adonijah aimed at
great things; and that he wondered that she did not desire him to yield up the kingdom to him, as to his elder
brother, since she desired that he might marry Abishag; and that he had potent friends, Joab the captain of the
host, and Abiathar the priest. So he called for Benaiah, the captain of the guards, and ordered him to slay his
brother Adonijah. He also called for Abiathar the priest, and said to him, "I will not put thee to death because of
those other hardships which thou hast endured with my father, and because of the ark which thou hast borne along
with him; but I inflict this following punishment upon thee, because thou wast among Adonijah's followers, and wast
of his party. Do not thou continue here, nor come any more into my sight, but go to thine own town, and live on thy
own fields, and there abide all thy life; for thou hast offended so greatly, that it is not just that thou shouldst retain
thy dignity any longer." For the forementioned cause, therefore, it was that the house of Ithamar was deprived of
the sacerdotal dignity, as God had foretold to Eli, the grandfather of Abiathar. So it was transferred to the family of
Phineas, to Zadok. Now those that were of the family of Phineas, but lived privately during the time that the high
priesthood was transferred to the house of Ithamar, (of which family Eli was the first that received it,)were these
that follow: Bukki, the son of Abishua the high priest; his son was Joatham; Joatham's son was Meraioth;
Meraioth's son was Arophseus; Aropheus's son was Ahitub; and Ahitub's son was Zadok, who was first made high
priest in the reign of David.

4. Now when Joab the captain of the host heard of the slaughter of Adonijah, he was greatly afraid, for he was a
greater friend to him than to Solomon; and suspecting, not without reason, that he was in danger, on account of his
favor to Adonijah, he fled to the altar, and supposed he might procure safety thereby to himself, because of the
king's piety towards God. But when some told the king what Joab's supposal was, he sent Benaiah, and commanded
him to raise him up from the altar, and bring him to the judgment-seat, in order to make his defense. However, Joab
said he would not leave the altar, but would die there rather than in another place. And when Benaiah had reported
his answer to the king, Solomon commanded him to cut off his head there (1) and let him take that as a punishment
for those two captains of the host whom he had wickedly slain, and to bury his body, that his sins might never leave
his family, but that himself and his father, by Joab's death, might be guiltless. And when Benaiah had done what he
was commanded to do, he was himself appointed to be captain of the whole army. The king also made Zadok to be
alone the high priest, in the room of Abiathar, whom he had removed.

5. But as to Shimei, Solomon commanded that he should build him a house, and stay at Jerusalem, and attend upon
him, and should not have authority to go over the brook Cedron; and that if he disobeyed that command, death
should be his punishment. He also threatened him so terribly, that he compelled him to take all oath that he would
obey. Accordingly Shimei said that he had reason to thank Solomon for giving him such an injunction; and added an
oath, that he would do as he bade him; and leaving his own country, he made his abode in Jerusalem. But three
years afterwards, when he heard that two of his servants were run away from him, and were in Gath, he went for his
servants in haste; and when he was come back with them, the king perceived it, and was much displeased that he
had contemned his commands, and, what was more, had no regard to the oaths he had sworn to God; so he called
him, and said to him, "Didst not thou swear never to leave me, nor to go out of this city to another? Thou shalt not
therefore escape punishment for thy perjury, but I will punish thee, thou wicked wretch, both for this crime, and for
those wherewith thou didst abuse my father when he was in his flight, that thou mayst know that wicked men gain
nothing at last, although they be not punished immediately upon their unjust practices; but that in all the time
wherein they think themselves secure, because they have yet suffered nothing, their punishment increases, and is
heavier upon them, and that to a greater degree than if they had been punished immediately upon the commission
of their crimes." So Benaiah, on the king's command, slew Shimei.

1. SOLOMON having already settled himself firmly in his kingdom, and having brought his enemies to punishment,
he married the daughter of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and built the walls of Jerusalem much larger and stronger than
those that had been before, (2) and thenceforward he managed public affairs very peaceably. Nor was his youth any
hinderance in the exercise of justice, or in the observation of the laws, or in the remembrance of what charges his
father had given him at his death; but he discharged every duty with great accuracy, that might have been expected
from such as are aged, and of the greatest prudence. He now resolved to go to Hebron, and sacrifice to God upon
the brazen altar that was built by Moses. Accordingly he offered there burnt-offerings, in number a thousand; and
when he had done this, he thought he had paid great honor to God; for as he was asleep that very night God
appeared to him, and commanded him to ask of him some gifts which he was ready to give him as a reward for his
piety. So Solomon asked of God what was most excellent, and of the greatest worth in itself, what God would
bestow with the greatest. joy, and what it was most profitable for man to receive; for he did not desire to have
bestowed upon him either gold or silver, or any other riches, as a man and a youth might naturally have done, for
these are the things that generally are esteemed by most men, as alone of the greatest worth, and the best gifts of
God; but, said he, "Give me, O Lord, a sound mind, and a good understanding, whereby I may speak and judge the
people according to truth and righteousness." With these petitions God was well pleased; and promised to give him
all those things that he had not mentioned in his option, riches, glory, victory over his enemies; and, in the first
place, understanding and wisdom, and this in such a degree as no other mortal man, neither kings nor ordinary
persons, ever had. He also promised to preserve the kingdom to his posterity for a very long time, if he continued
righteous and obedient to him, and imitated his father in those things wherein he excelled. When Solomon heard
this from God, he presently leaped out of his bed; and when he had worshipped him, he returned to Jerusalem; and
after he had offered great sacrifices before the tabernacle, he feasted all his own family.

2. In these days a hard cause came before him in judgment, which it was very difficult to find any end of; and I think
it necessary to explain the fact about which the contest was, that such as light upon my writings may know what a
difficult cause Solomon was to determine, and those that are concerned in such matters may take this sagacity of
the king for a pattern, that they may the more easily give sentence about such questions. There were two women,
who were harlots in the course of their lives, that came to him; of whom she that seemed to be injured began to
speak first, and said, "O king, I and this other woman dwell together in one room. Now it came to pass that we both
bore a son at the same hour of the same day; and on the third day this woman overlaid her son, and killed it, and
then took my son out of my bosom, and removed him to herself, and as I was asleep she laid her dead son in my
arms. Now, when in the morning I was desirous to give the breast to the child, I did not find my own, but saw the
woman's dead child lying by me; for I considered it exactly, and found it so to be. Hence it was that I demanded my
son, and when I could not obtain him, I have recourse, my lord, to thy assistance; for since we were alone, and there
was nobody there that could convict her, she cares for nothing, but perseveres in the stout denial of the fact."
When this woman had told this her story, the king asked the other woman what she had to say in contradiction to
that story. But when she denied that she had done what was charged upon her, and said that it was her child that
was living, and that it was her antagonist's child that was dead, and when no one could devise what judgment could
be given, and the whole court were blind in their understanding, and could not tell how to find out this riddle, the
king alone invented the following way how to discover it. He bade them bring in both the dead child and the living
child; and sent one of his guards, and commanded him to fetch a sword, and draw it, and to cut both the children into
two pieces, that each of the women might have half the living and half the dead child. Hereupon all the people
privately laughed at the king, as no more than a youth. But, in the mean time, she that was the real mother of the
living child cried out that he should not do so, but deliver that child to the other woman as her own, for she would be
satisfied with the life of the child, and with the sight of it, although it were esteemed the other's child; but the other
woman was ready to see the child divided, and was desirous, moreover, that the first woman should be tormented.
When the king understood that both their words proceeded from the truth of their passions, he adjudged the child to
her that cried out to save it, for that she was the real mother of it; and he condemned the other as a wicked woman,
who had not only killed her own child, but was endeavoring to see her friend's child destroyed also. Now the
multitude looked on this determination as a great sign and demonstration of the king's sagacity and wisdom, and
after that day attended to him as to one that had a divine mind.

3. Now the captains of his armies, and officers appointed over the whole country, were these: over the lot of
Ephraim was Ures; over the toparchy of Bethlehem was Dioclerus; Abinadab, who married Solomon's daughter,
had the region of Dora and the sea-coast under him; the Great Plain was under Benaiah, the son of Achilus; he also
governed all the country as far as Jordan; Gabaris ruled over Gilead and Gaulanitis, and had under him the sixty
great and fenced cities [of Og]; Achinadab managed the affairs of all Galilee as far as Sidon, and had himself also
married a daughter of Solomon's, whose name was Basima; Banacates had the seacoast about Arce; as had
Shaphat Mount Tabor, and Carmel, and [the Lower] Galilee, as far as the river Jordan; one man was appointed
over all this country; Shimei was intrusted with the lot of Benjamin; and Gabares had the country beyond Jordan,
over whom there was again one governor appointed. Now the people of the Hebrews, and particularly the tribe of
Judah, received a wonderful increase when they betook themselves to husbandry, and the cultivation of their
grounds; for as they enjoyed peace, and were not distracted with wars and troubles, and having, besides, an
abundant fruition of the most desirable liberty, every one was busy in augmenting the product of their own lands,
and making them worth more than they had formerly been.

4. The king had also other rulers, who were over the land of Syria and of the Philistines, which reached from the
river Euphrates to Egypt, and these collected his tributes of the nations. Now these contributed to the king's table,
and to his supper every day (3) thirty cori of fine flour, and sixty of meal; as also ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out
of the pastures, and a hundred fat lambs; all these were besides what were taken by hunting harts and buffaloes,
and birds and fishes, which were brought to the king by foreigners day by day. Solomon had also so great a number
of chariots, that the stalls of his horses for those chariots were forty thousand; and besides these he had twelve
thousand horsemen, the one half of which waited upon the king in Jerusalem, and the rest were dispersed abroad,
and dwelt in the royal villages; but the same officer who provided for the king's expenses supplied also the fodder
for the horses, and still carried it to the place where the king abode at that time.

5. Now the sagacity and wisdom which God had bestowed on Solomon was so great, that he exceeded the ancients;
insomuch that he was no way inferior to the Egyptians, who are said to have been beyond all men in understanding;
nay, indeed, it is evident that their sagacity was very much inferior to that of the king's. He also excelled and
distinguished himself in wisdom above those who were most eminent among the Hebrews at that time for
shrewdness; those I mean were Ethan, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He also composed
books of odes and songs a thousand and five, of parables and similitudes three thousand; for he spake a parable
upon every sort of tree, from the hyssop to the cedar; and in like manner also about beasts, about all sorts of living
creatures, whether upon the earth, or in the seas, or in the air; for he was not unacquainted with any of their
natures, nor omitted inquiries about them, but described them all like a philosopher, and demonstrated his exquisite
knowledge of their several properties. God also enabled him to learn that skill which expels demons, (4) which is a
science useful and sanative to men. He composed such incantations also by which distempers are alleviated. And
he left behind him the manner of using exorcisms, by which they drive away demons, so that they never return; and
this method of cure is of great force unto this day; for I have seen a certain man of my own country, whose name
was Eleazar, releasing people that were demoniacal in the presence of Vespasian, and his sons, and his captains,
and the whole multitude of his soldiers. The manner of the cure was this: He put a ring that had a Foot of one of
those sorts mentioned by Solomon to the nostrils of the demoniac, after which he drew out the demon through his
nostrils; and when the man fell down immediately, he abjured him to return into him no more, making still mention
of Solomon, and reciting the incantations which he composed. And when Eleazar would persuade and demonstrate
to the spectators that he had such a power, he set a little way off a cup or basin full of water, and commanded the
demon, as he went out of the man, to overturn it, and thereby to let the spectators know that he had left the man;
and when this was done, the skill and wisdom of Solomon was shown very manifestly: for which reason it is, that all
men may know the vastness of Solomon's abilities, and how he was beloved of God, and that the extraordinary
virtues of every kind with which this king was endowed may not be unknown to any people under the sun for this
reason, I say, it is that we have proceeded to speak so largely of these matters.

6. Moreover Hiram, king of Tyre, when he had heard that Solonion succeeded to his father's kingdom, was very
glad of it, for he was a friend of David's. So he sent ambassadors to him, and saluted him, and congratulated him on
the present happy state of his affairs. Upon which Solomon sent him an epistle, the contents of which here follow:

                                  SOLOMON TO KING HIRAM.

     "(5)Know thou that my father would have built a temple to God, but was hindered by wars, and
     continual expeditions; for he did not leave off to overthrow his enemies till he made them all subject to
     tribute. But I give thanks to God for the peace I at present enjoy, and on that account I am at leisure,
     and design to build a house to God, for God foretold to my father that such a house should he built by
     me; wherefore I desire thee to send some of thy subjects with mine to Mount Lebanon to cut down
     timber, for the Sidonians are more skillful than our people in cutting of wood. As for wages to the
     hewers of wood, I will pay whatsoever price thou shalt determine."

7. When Hiram had read this epistle, he was pleased with it; and wrote back this answer to Solomon.

                                  HIRAM TO KING SOLOMON.

     "It is fit to bless God that he hath committed thy father's government to thee, who art a wise man, and
     endowed with all virtues. As for myself, I rejoice at the condition thou art in, and will be subservient to
     thee in all that thou sendest to me about; for when by my subjects I have cut down many and large
     trees of cedar and cypress wood, I will send them to sea, and will order my subjects to make floats of
     them, and to sail to what place soever of thy country thou shalt desire, and leave them there, after
     which thy subjects may carry them to Jerusalem. But do thou take care to procure us corn for this
     timber, which we stand in need of, because we inhabit in an island." (6)

8. The copies of these epistles remain at this day, and are preserved not only in our books, but among the Tyrians
also; insomuch that if any one would know the certainty about them, he may desire of the keepers of the public
records of Tyre to show him them, and he will find what is there set down to agree with what we have said. I have
said so much out of a desire that my readers may know that we speak nothing but the truth, and do not compose a
history out of some plausible relations, which deceive men and please them at the same time, nor attempt to avoid
examination, nor desire men to believe us immediately; nor are we at liberty to depart from speaking truth, which is
the proper commendation of an historian, and yet be blameless: but we insist upon no admission of what we say,
unless we be able to manifest its truth by demonstration, and the strongest vouchers.

9. Now king Solomon, as soon as this epistle of the king of Tyre was brought him, commended the readiness and
good-will he declared therein, and repaid him in what he desired, and sent him yearly twenty thousand cori of wheat,
and as many baths of oil: now the bath is able to contain seventy-two sextaries. He also sent him the same measure
of wine. So the friendship between Hiram and Solomon hereby increased more and more; and they swore to
continue it for ever. And the king appointed a tribute to be laid on all the people, of thirty thousand laborers, whose
work he rendered easy to them by prudently dividing it among them; for he made ten thousand cut timber in Mount
Lebanon for one month; and then to come home, and rest two months, until the time when the other twenty
thousand had finished their task at the appointed time; and so afterward it came to pass that the first ten thousand
returned to their work every fourth month: and it was Adoram who was over this tribute. There were also of the
strangers who were left by David, who were to carry the stones and other materials, seventy thousand; and of those
that cut the stones, eighty thousand. Of these three thousand and three hundred were rulers over the rest. He also
enjoined them to cut out large stones for the foundations of the temple, and that they should fit them and unite them
together in the mountain, and so bring them to the city. This was done not only by our own country workmen, but by
those workmen whom Hiram sent also.

1. SOLOMON began to build the temple in the fourth year of his reign, on the second month, which the
Macedonians call Artemisius, and the Hebrews Jur, five hundred and ninety-two years after the Exodus out of
Egypt; but one thousand and twenty years from Abraham's coming out of Mesopotamia into Canaan, and after the
deluge one thousand four hundred and forty years; and from Adam, the first man who was created, until Solomon
built the temple, there had passed in all three thousand one hundred and two years. Now that year on which the
temple began to be built was already the eleventh year of the reign of Hiram; but from the building of Tyre to the
building of the temple, there had passed two hundred and forty years.

2. Now, therefore, the king laid the foundations of the temple very deep in the ground, and the materials were
strong stones, and such as would resist the force of time; these were to unite themselves with the earth, and
become a basis and a sure foundation for that superstructure which was to be erected over it; they were to be so
strong, in order to sustain with ease those vast superstructures and precious ornaments, whose own weight was to
be not less than the weight of those other high and heavy buildings which the king designed to be very ornamental
and magnificent. They erected its entire body, quite up to the roof, of white stone; its height was sixty cubits, and its
length was the same, and its breadth twenty. There was another building erected over it, equal to it in its measures;
so that the entire altitude of the temple was a hundred and twenty cubits. Its front was to the east. As to the porch,
they built it before the temple; its length was twenty cubits, and it was so ordered that it might agree with the
breadth of the house; and it had twelve cubits in latitude, and its height was raised as high as a hundred and twenty
cubits. He also built round about the temple thirty small rooms, which might include the whole temple, by their
closeness one to another, and by their number and outward position round it. He also made passages through them,
that they might come into on through another. Every one of these rooms had five cubits in breadth, (7) and the
same in length, but in height twenty. Above these there were other rooms, and others above them, equal, both in
their measures and number; so that these reached to a height equal to the lower part of the house; for the upper
part had no buildings about it. The roof that was over the house was of cedar; and truly every one of these rooms
had a roof of their own, that was not connected with the other rooms; but for the other parts, there was a covered
roof common to them all, and built with very long beams, that passed through the rest, and rough the whole building,
that so the middle walls, being strengthened by the same beams of timber, might be thereby made firmer: but as for
that part of the roof that was under the beams, it was made of the same materials, and was all made smooth, and
had ornaments proper for roofs, and plates of gold nailed upon them. And as he enclosed the walls with boards of
cedar, so he fixed on them plates of gold, which had sculptures upon them; so that the whole temple shined, and
dazzled the eyes of such as entered, by the splendor of the gold that was on every side of them, Now the whole
structure of the temple was made with great skill of polished stones, and those laid together so very harmoniously
and smoothly, that there appeared to the spectators no sign of any hammer, or other instrument of architecture; but
as if, without any use of them, the entire materials had naturally united themselves together, that the agreement of
one part with another seemed rather to have been natural, than to have arisen from the force of tools upon them.
The king also had a fine contrivance for an ascent to the upper room over the temple, and that was by steps in the
thickness of its wall; for it had no large door on the east end, as the lower house had, but the entrances were by the
sides, through very small doors. He also overlaid the temple, both within and without, with boards of cedar, that
were kept close together by thick chains, so that this contrivance was in the nature of a support and a strength to
the building.

3. Now when the king had divided the temple into two parts, he made the inner house of twenty cubits [every way],
to be the most secret chamber, but he appointed that of forty cubits to be the sanctuary; and when he had cut a
door-place out of the wall, he put therein doors of Cedar, and overlaid them with a great deal of gold, that had
sculptures upon it. He also had veils of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and the brightest and softest linen, with the
most curious flowers wrought upon them, which were to be drawn before those doors. He also dedicated for the
most secret place, whose breadth was twenty cubits, and length the same, two cherubims of solid gold; the height of
each of them was five cubits (8) they had each of them two wings stretched out as far as five cubits; wherefore
Solomon set them up not far from each other, that with one wing they might touch the southern wall of the secret
place, and with another the northern: their other wings, which joined to each other, were a covering to the ark,
which was set between them; but nobody can tell, or even conjecture, what was the shape of these cherubims. He
also laid the floor of the temple with plates of gold; and he added doors to the gate of the temple, agreeable to the
measure of the height of the wall, but in breadth twenty cubits, and on them he glued gold plates. And, to say all in
one word, he left no part of the temple, neither internal nor external, but what was covered with gold. He also had
curtains drawn over these doors in like manner as they were drawn over the inner doors of the most holy place; but
the porch of the temple had nothing of that sort.

4. Now Solomon sent for an artificer out of Tyre, whose name was Hiram; he was by birth of the tribe of Naphtali,
on the mother's side, (for she was of that tribe,) but his father was Ur, of the stock of the Israelites. This man was
skillful in all sorts of work; but his chief skill lay in working in gold, and silver, and brass; by whom were made all
the mechanical works about the temple, according to the will of Solomon. Moreover, this Hiram made two [hollow]
pillars, whose outsides were of brass, and the thickness of the brass was four fingers' breadth, and the height of the
pillars was eighteen cubits and their circumference twelve cubits; but there was cast with each of their chapiters
lily-work that stood upon the pillar, and it was elevated five cubits, round about which there was net-work
interwoven with small palms, made of brass, and covered the lily-work. To this also were hung two hundred
pomegranates, in two rows. The one of these pillars he set at the entrance of the porch on the right hand, and called
it Jachin (9) and the other at the left hand, and called it Booz.

5. Solomon also cast a brazen sea, whose figure was that of a hemisphere. This brazen vessel was called a sea for
its largeness, for the laver was ten feet in diameter, and cast of the thickness of a palm. Its middle part rested on a
short pillar that had ten spirals round it, and that pillar was ten cubits in diameter. There stood round about it
twelve oxen, that looked to the four winds of heaven, three to each wind, having their hinder parts depressed, that
so the hemispherical vessel might rest upon them, which itself was also depressed round about inwardly. Now this
sea contained three thousand baths.

6. He also made ten brazen bases for so many quadrangular lavers; the length of every one of these bases was five
cubits, and the breadth four cubits, and the height six cubits. This vessel was partly turned, and was thus contrived:
There were four small quadrangular pillars that stood one at each corner; these had the sides of the base fitted to
them on each quarter; they were parted into three parts; every interval had a border fitted to support [the laver];
upon which was engraven, in one place a lion, and in another place a bull, and an eagle. The small pillars had the
same animals engraven that were engraven on the sides. The whole work was elevated, and stood upon four
wheels, which were also cast, which had also naves and felloes, and were a foot and a half in diameter. Any one who
saw the spokes of the wheels, how exactly they were turned, and united to the sides of the bases, and with what
harmony they agreed to the felloes, would wonder at them. However, their structure was this: Certain shoulders of
hands stretched out held the corners above, upon which rested a short spiral pillar, that lay under the hollow part of
the laver, resting upon the fore part of the eagle and the lion, which were adapted to them, insomuch that those who
viewed them would think they were of one piece: between these were engravings of palm trees. This was the
construction of the ten bases. He also made ten large round brass vessels, which were the lavers themselves, each
of which contained forty baths; (10) for it had its height four cubits, and its edges were as much distant from each
other. He also placed these lavers upon the ten bases that were called Mechonoth; and he set five of the lavers on
the left side of the temple (11) which was that side towards the north wind, and as many on the right side, towards
the south, but looking towards the east; the same [eastern] way he also set the sea Now he appointed the sea to be
for washing the hands and the feet of the priests, when they entered into the temple and were to ascend the altar,
but the lavers to cleanse the entrails of the beasts that were to be burnt-offerings, with their feet also.

7. He also made a brazen altar, whose length was twenty cubits, and its breadth the same, and its height ten, for the
burnt-offerings. He also made all its vessels of brass, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons; and besides these,
the snuffers and the tongs, and all its other vessels, he made of brass, and such brass as was in splendor and
beauty like gold. The king also dedicated a great number of tables, but one that was large and made of gold, upon
which they set the loaves of God; and he made ten thousand more that resembled them, but were done after
another manner, upon which lay the vials and the cups; those of gold were twenty thousand, those of silver were
forty thousand. He also made ten thousand candlesticks, according to the command of Moses, one of which he
dedicated for the temple, that it might burn in the day time, according to the law; and one table with loaves upon it,
on the north side of the temple, over against the candlestick; for this he set on the south side, but the golden altar
stood between them. All these vessels were contained in that part of the holy house, which was forty cubits long,
and were before the veil of that most secret place wherein the ark was to be set.

8. The king also made pouring vessels, in number eighty thousand, and a hundred thousand golden vials, and twice
as many silver vials: of golden dishes, in order therein to offer kneaded fine flour at the altar, there were eighty
thousand, and twice as many of silver. Of large basons also, wherein they mixed fine flour with oil, sixty thousand of
gold, and twice as many of silver. Of the measures like those which Moses called the Hin and the Assaron, (a tenth
deal,) there were twenty thousand of gold, and twice as many of silver. The golden censers, in which they carried
the incense to the altar, were twenty thousand; the other censers, in which they carried fire from the great altar to
the little altar, within the temple, were fifty thousand. The sacerdotal garments which belonged to the high priest,
with the long robes, and the oracle, and the precious stones, were a thousand. But the crown upon which Moses
wrote [the name of God], (12) was only one, and hath remained to this very day. He also made ten thousand
sacerdotal garments of fine linen, with purple girdles for every priest; and two hundred thousand trumpets,
according to the command of Moses; also two hundred thousand garments of fine linen for the singers, that were
Levites. And he made musical instruments, and such as were invented for singing of hymns, called ,Nablee and
Cindree, [psalteries and harps,] which were made of electrum, [the finest brass,] forty thousand.

9. Solomon made all these things for the honor of God, with great variety and magnificence, sparing no cost, but
using all possible liberality in adorning the temple; and these things he dedicated to the treasures of God. He also
placed a partition round about the temple, which in our tongue we call Gison, but it is called Thrigcos by the Greeks,
and he raised it up to the height of three cubits; and it was for the exclusion of the multitude from coming into the
temple, and showing that it was a place that was free and open only for the priests. He also built beyond this court a
temple, whose figure was that of a quadrangle, and erected for it great and broad cloisters; this was entered into by
very high gates, each of which had its front exposed to one of the [four] winds, and were shut by golden doors. Into
this temple all the people entered that were distinguished from the rest by being pure and observant of the laws.
But he made that temple which was beyond this a wonderful one indeed, and such as exceeds all description in
words; nay, if I may so say, is hardly believed upon sight; for when he had filled up great valleys with earth, which,
on account of their immense depth, could not be looked on, when you bended down to see them, without pain, and
had elevated the ground four hundred cubits, he made it to be on a level with the top of the mountain, on which the
temple was built, and by this means the outmost temple, which was exposed to the air, was even with the temple
itself. (13) He encompassed this also with a building of a double row of cloisters, which stood on high upon pillars of
native stone, while the roofs were of cedar, and were polished in a manner proper for such high roofs; but he made
all the doors of this temple of silver.

1. WHEN king Solomon had finished these works, these large and beautiful buildings, and had laid up his donations
in the temple, and all this in the interval of seven years, and had given a demonstration of his riches and alacrity
therein, insomuch that any one who saw it would have thought it must have been an immense time ere it could have
been finished; and would be surprised that so much should be finished in so short a time; short, I mean, if compared
with the greatness of the work: he also wrote to the rulers and elders of the Hebrews, and ordered all the people to
gather themselves together to Jerusalem, both to see the temple which he had built, and to remove the ark of God
into it; and when this invitation of the whole body of the people to come to Jerusalem was every where carried
abroad, it was the seventh month before they came together; which month is by our countrymen called Thisri, but by
the Macedonians Hyperberetoets. The feast of tabernacles happened to fall at the same time, which was celebrated
by the Hebrews as a most holy and most eminent feast. So they carried the ark and the tabernacle which Moses
had pitched, and all the vessels that were for ministration, to the sacrifices of God, and removed them to the
temple. (14) The king himself, and all the people and the Levites, went before, rendering the ground moist with
sacrifices, and drink-offerings, and the blood of a great number of oblations, and burning an immense quantity of
incense, and this till the very air itself every where round about was so full of these odors, that it met, in a most
agreeable manner, persons at a great distance, and was an indication of God's presence; and, as men's opinion was,
of his habitation with them in this newly built and consecrated place, for they did not grow weary, either of singing
hymns or of dancing, until they came to the temple; and in this manner did they carry the ark. But when they should
transfer it into the most secret place, the rest of the multitude went away, and only those priests that carried it set it
between the two cherubims, which embracing it with their wings, (for so were they framed by the artificer,) they
covered it, as under a tent, or a cupola. Now the ark contained nothing else but those two tables of stone that
preserved the ten commandments, which God spake to Moses in Mount Sinai, and which were engraved upon
them; but they set the candlestick, and the table, and the golden altar in the temple, before the most secret place, in
the very same places wherein they stood till that time in the tabernacle. So they offered up the daily sacrifices; but
for the brazen altar, Solomon set it before the temple, over against the door, that when the door was opened, it
might be exposed to sight, and the sacred solemnities, and the richness of the sacrifices, might be thence seen; and
all the rest of the vessels they gathered together, and put them within the temple.

2. Now as soon as the priests had put all things in order about the ark, and were gone out, there cane down a thick
cloud, and stood there, and spread itself, after a gentle manner, into the temple; such a cloud it was as was diffused
and temperate, not such a rough one as we see full of rain in the winter season. This cloud so darkened the place,
that one priest could not discern another, but it afforded to the minds of all a visible image and glorious appearance
of God's having descended into this temple, and of his having gladly pitched his tabernacle therein. So these men
were intent upon this thought. But Solomon rose up, (for he was sitting before,) and used such words to God as he
thought agreeable to the Divine nature to receive, and fit for him to give; for he said, "Thou hast an eternal house,
O Lord, and such a one as thou hast created for thyself out of thine own works; we know it to be the heaven, and
the air, and the earth, and the sea, which thou pervadest, nor art thou contained within their limits. I have indeed
built this temple to thee, and thy name, that from thence, when we sacrifice, and perform sacred operations, we may
send our prayers up into the air, and may constantly believe that thou art present, and art not remote from what is
thine own; for neither when thou seest all things, and hearest all things, nor now, when it pleases thee to dwell here,
dost thou leave the care of all men, but rather thou art very near to them all, but especially thou art present to
those that address themselves to thee, whether by night or by day." When he had thus solemnly addressed himself
to God, he converted his discourse to the multitude, and strongly represented the power and providence of God to
them; - how he had shown all things that were come to pass to David his father, as many of those things had already
come to pass, and the rest would certainly come to pass hereafter; and how he had given him his name, and told to
David what he should be called before he was born; and foretold, that when he should be king after his father's
death, he should build him a temple, which since they saw accomplished, according to his prediction, he required
them to bless God, and by believing him, from the sight of what they had seen accomplished, never to despair of
any thing that he had promised for the future, in order to their happiness, or suspect that it would not come to pass.

3. When the king had thus discoursed to the multitude, he looked again towards the temple, and lifting up his right
hand to the multitude, he said," It is not possible by what men can do to return sufficient thanks to God for his
benefits bestowed upon them, for the Deity stands in need of nothing, and is above any such requital; but so far as
we have been made superior, O Lord, to other animals by thee, it becomes us to bless thy Majesty, and it is
necessary for us to return thee thanks for what thou hast bestowed upon our house, and on the Hebrew people; for
with what other instrument can we better appease thee when thou art angry at us, or more properly preserve thy
favor, than with our voice? which, as we have it from the air, so do we know that by that air it ascends upwards
[towards thee]. I therefore ought myself to return thee thanks thereby, in the first place, concerning my father,
whom thou hast raised from obscurity unto so great joy; and, in the next place, concerning myself, since thou hast
performed all that thou hast promised unto this very day. And I beseech thee for the time to come to afford us
whatsoever thou, O God, hast power to bestow on such as thou dost esteem; and to augment our house for all ages,
as thou hast promised to David my father to do, both in his lifetime and at his death, that our kingdom shall
continue, and that his posterity should successively receive it to ten thousand generations. Do not thou therefore
fail to give us these blessings, and to bestow on my children that virtue in which thou delightest. And besides all
this, I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt let some portion of thy Spirit come down and inhabit in this temple, that
thou mayst appear to be with us upon earth. As to thyself, the entire heavens, and the immensity of the things that
are therein, are but a small habitation for thee, much more is this poor temple so; but I entreat thee to keep it as
thine own house, from being destroyed by our enemies for ever, and to take care of it as thine own possession: but
if this people be found to have sinned, and be thereupon afflicted by thee with any plague, because of their sin, as
with dearth or pestilence, or any other affliction which thou usest to inflict on those that transgress any of thy holy
laws, and if they fly all of them to this temple, beseeching thee, and begging of time to deliver them, then do thou
hear their prayers, as being within thine house, and have mercy upon them, and deliver them from their afflictions.
Nay, moreover, this help is what I implore of thee, not for the Hebrews only, when they are in distress, but when
any shall come hither from any ends of the world whatsoever, and shall return from their sins and implore thy
pardon, do thou then pardon them, and hear their prayer. For hereby all shall learn that thou thyself wast pleased
with the building of this house for thee; and that we are not ourselves of an unsociable nature, nor behave ourselves
like enemies to such as are not of our own people; but are willing that thy assistance should be communicated by
thee to all men in common, and that they may have the enjoyment of thy benefits bestowed upon them."

4. When Solomon had said this, and had cast himself upon the ground, and worshipped a long time, he rose up, and
brought sacrifices to the altar; and when he had filled it with unblemished victims, he most evidently discovered that
God had with pleasure accepted of all that he had sacrificed to him, for there came a fire running out of the air, and
rushed with violence upon the altar, in the sight of all, and caught hold of and consumed the sacrifices. Now when
this Divine appearance was seen, the people supposed it to be a demonstration of God's abode in the temple, and
were pleased with it, and fell down upon the ground and worshipped. Upon which the king began to bless God, and
exhorted the multitude to do the same, as now having sufficient indications of God's favorable disposition to them;
and to pray that they might always have the like indications from him, and that he would preserve in them a mind
pure from all wickedness, in righteousness and religious worship, and that they might continue in the observation of
those precepts which God had given them by Moses, because by that means the Hebrew nation would be happy,
and indeed the most blessed of all nations among all mankind. He exhorted them also to be mindful, that by what
methods they had attained their present good things, by the same they must preserve them sure to themselves, and
make them greater and more than they were at present; for that it was not sufficient for them to suppose they had
received them on account of their piety and righteousness, but that they had no other way of preserving them for
the time to come; for that it is not so great a thing for men to acquire somewhat which they want, as to preserve
what they have acquired, and to be guilty of no sin whereby it may be hurt.

5. So when the king had spoken thus to the multitude, he dissolved the congregation, but not till he had completed
his oblations, both for himself and for the Hebrews, insomuch that he sacrificed twenty and two thousand oxen, and
a hundred and twenty thousand sheep; for then it was that the temple did first of all taste of the victims, and all the
Hebrews, with their wives and children, feasted therein: nay, besides this, the king then observed splendidly and
magnificently the feast which is called the Feast of Tabernacles, before the temple, for twice seven days; and he
then feasted together with all the people.

6. When all these solemnities were abundantly satisfied, and nothing was omitted that concerned the Divine
worship, the king dismissed them; and they every one went to their own homes, giving thanks to the king for the
care he had taken of them, and the works he had done for them; and praying to God to preserve Solomon to be
their king for a long time. They also took their journey home with rejoicing, and making merry, and singing hymns
to God. And indeed the pleasure they enjoyed took away the sense of the pains they all underwent in their journey
home. So when they had brought the ark into the temple, and had seen its greatness, and how fine it was, and had
been partakers of the many sacrifices that had been offered, and of the festivals that had been solemnized, they
every one returned to their own cities. But a dream that appeared to the king in his sleep informed him that God
had heard his prayers; and that he would not only preserve the temple, but would always abide in it; that is, in case
his posterity and the whole multitude would be righteous. And for himself, it said, that if he continued according to
the admonitions of his father, he would advance him to an immense degree of dignity and happiness, and that then
his posterity should be kings of that country, of the tribe of Judah, for ever; but that still, if he should be found a
betrayer of the ordinances of the law, and forget them, and turn away to the worship of strange gods, he would cut
him off by the roots, and would neither suffer any remainder of his family to continue, nor would overlook the
people of Israel, or preserve them any longer from afflictions, but would utterly destroy them with ten thousand
wars and misfortunes; would cast them out of the land which he had given their fathers, and make them sojourners
in strange lands; and deliver that temple which was now built to be burnt and spoiled by their enemies, and that city
to be utterly overthrown by the hands of their enemies; and make their miseries deserve to be a proverb, and such
as should very hardly be credited for their stupendous magnitude, till their neighbors, when they should hear of
them, should wonder at their calamities, and very earnestly inquire for the occasion, why the Hebrews, who had
been so far advanced by God to such glory and wealth, should be then so hated by him? and that the answer that
should be made by the remainder of the people should be, by confessing their sins, and their transgression of the
laws of their country. Accordingly we have it transmitted to us in writing, that thus did God speak to Solomon in his
sleep.

1. AFTER the building of the temple, which, as we have before said, was finished in seven years, the king laid the
foundation of his palace, which be did not finish under thirteen years, for he was not equally zealous in the building
of this palace as he had been about the temple; for as to that, though it was a great work, and required wonderful
and surprising application, yet God, for whom it was made, so far co-operated therewith, that it was finished in the
forementioned number of years: but the palace, which was a building much inferior in dignity to the temple, both on
account that its materials had not been so long beforehand gotten ready, nor had been so zealously prepared, and
on account that this was only a habitation for kings, and not for God, it was longer in finishing. However, this
building was raised so magnificently, as suited the happy state of the Hebrews, and of the king thereof. But it is
necessary that I describe the entire structure and disposition of the parts, that so those that light upon this book
may thereby make a conjecture, and, as it were, have a prospect of its magnitude.

2. This house was a large and curious building, and was supported by many pillars, which Solomon built to contain a
multitnde for hearing causes, and taking cognizance of suits. It was sufficiently capacious to contain a great body of
men, who would come together to have their causes determined. It was a hundred cubits long, and fifty broad, and
thirty high, supported by quadrangular pillars, which were all of cedar; but its roof was according to the Corinthian
order, (15) with folding doors, and their adjoining pillars of equal magnitude, each fluted with three cavities; which
building as at once firm, and very ornamental. There was also another house so ordered, that its entire breadth was
placed in the middle; it was quadrangular, and its breadth was thirty cubits, having a temple over against it, raised
upon massy pillars; in which temple there was a large and very glorious room, wherein the king sat in judgment. To
this was joined another house that was built for his queen. There were other smaller edifices for diet, and for sleep,
after public matters were over; and these were all floored with boards of cedar. Some of these Solomon built with
stones of ten cubits, and wainscoted the walls with other stones that were sawed, and were of great value, such as
are dug out of the earth for the ornaments of temples, and to make fine prospects in royal palaces, and which make
the mines whence they are dug famous. Now the contexture of the curious workmanship of these stones was in
three rows, but the fourth row would make one admire its sculptures, whereby were represented trees, and all sorts
of plants; with the shades that arose from their branches, and leaves that hung down from them. Those trees anti
plants covered the stone that was beneath them, and their leaves were wrought so prodigious thin and subtile, that
you would think they were in motion; but the other part up to the roof, was plastered over, and, as it were,
embroidered with colors and pictures. He, moreover, built other edifices for pleasure; as also very long cloisters,
and those situate in an agreeable place of the palace; and among them a most glorious dining room, for feastings
and compotations, and full of gold, and such other furniture as so fine a room ought to have for the conveniency of
the guests, and where all the vessels were made of gold. Now it is very hard to reckon up the magnitude and the
variety of the royal apartments; how many rooms there were of the largest sort, how many of a bigness inferior to
those, and how many that were subterraneous and invisible; the curiosity of those that enjoyed the fresh air; and
the groves for the most delightful prospect, for the avoiding the heat, and covering of their bodies. And, to say all in
brief, Solomon made the whole building entirely of white stone, and cedar wood, and gold, and silver. He also
adorned the roofs and walls with stones set in gold, and beautified them thereby in the same manner as he had
beautified the temple of God with the like stones. He also made himself a throne of prodigious bigness, of ivory,
constructed as a seat of justice, and having six steps to it; on every one of which stood, on each end of the step two
lions, two other lions standing above also; but at the sitting place of the throne hands came out and received the
king; and when he sat backward, he rested on half a bullock, that looked towards his back; but still all was fastened
together with gold.

3. When Solomon had completed all this in twenty years' time, because Hiram king of Tyre had contributed a great
deal of gold, and more silver to these buildings, as also cedar wood and pine wood, he also rewarded Hiram with
rich presents; corn he sent him also year by year, and wine and oil, which were the principal things that he stood in
need of, because he inhabited an island, as we have already said. And besides these, he granted him certain cities
of Galilee, twenty in number, that lay not far from Tyre; which, when Hiram went to, and viewed, and did not like
the gift, he sent word to Solomon that he did not want such cities as they were; and after that time these cities were
called the land of Cabul; which name, if it be interpreted according to the language of the Phoenicians, denotes what
does not please. Moreover, the king of Tyre sent sophisms and enigmatical sayings to Solomon, and desired he
would solve them, and free them from the ambiguity that was in them. Now so sagacious and understanding was
Solomon, that none of these problems were too hard for him; but he conquered them all by his reasonings, and
discovered their hidden meaning, and brought it to light. Menander also, one who translated the Tyrian archives
out of the dialect of the Phoenicians into the Greek language, makes mention of these two kings, where he says
thus: "When Abibalus was dead,. his son Hiram received the kingdom from him, who, when he had lived fifty-three
years, reigned thirty-four. He raised a bank in the large place, and dedicated the golden pillar which is in Jupiter's
temple. He also went and cut down materials of timber out of the mountain called Libanus, for the roof of temples;
and when he had pulled down the ancient temples, he both built the temple of Hercules and that of Astarte; and he
first set up the temple of Hercules in the month Peritius; he also made an expedition against the Euchii, or Titii,
who did not pay their tribute, and when he had subdued them to himself he returned. Under this king there was
Abdemon, a very youth in age, who always conquered the difficult problems which Solomon, king of Jerusalem,
commanded him to explain. Dius also makes mention of him, where he says thus: "When Abibalus was dead, his
son Hiram reigned. He raised the eastern parts of the city higher, and made the city itself larger. He also joined the
temple of Jupiter, which before stood by itself, to the city, by raising a bank in the middle between them; and he
adorned it with donations of gold. Moreover, he went up to Mount Libanus, and cut down materials of wood for the
building of the temples." He says also, that Solomon, who was then king of Jerusalem, sent riddles to Hiram, and
desired to receive the like from him, but that he who could not solve them should pay money to them that did solve
them, and that Hiram accepted the conditions; and when he was not able to solve the riddles proposed by Solomon,
he paid a great deal of money for his fine; but that he afterward did solve the proposed riddles by means of
Abdemon, a man of Tyre; and that Hiram proposed other riddles, which, when Solomon could not solve, he paid
back a great deal of money to Hiram." This it is which Dius wrote.

1. Now when the king saw that the walls of Jerusalem stood in need of being better secured, and made stronger,
(for he thought the wails that encompassed Jerusalem ought to correspond to the dignity of the city,) he both
repaired them, and made them higher, with great towers upon them; he also built cities which might be counted
among the strongest, Hazor and Megiddo, and the third Gezer, which had indeed belonged to the Philistines; but
Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had made an expedition against it, and besieged it, and taken it by force; and when he
had slain all its inhabitants, he utterly overthrew it, and gave it as a present to his daughter, who had been married
to Solomon; for which reason the king rebuilt it, as a city that was naturally strong, and might be useful in wars, and
the mutations of affairs that sometimes happen. Moreover, he built two other cities not far from it, Beth-horon was
the name of one of them, and Baalath of the other. He also built other cities that lay conveniently for these, in order
to the enjoyment of pleasures and delicacies in them, such as were naturally of a good temperature of the air, and
agreeable for fruits ripe in their proper seasons, and well watered with springs. Nay, Solomon went as far as the
desert above Syria, and possessed himself of it, and built there a very great city, which was distant two days'
journey from Upper Syria, and one day's journey from Euphrates, and six long days' journey from Babylon the
Great. Now the reason why this city lay so remote from the parts of Syria that are inhabited is this, that below there
is no water to be had, and that it is in that place only that there are springs and pits of water. When he had
therefore built this city, and encompassed it with very strong walls, he gave it the name of Tadmor, and that is the
name it is still called by at this day among the Syrians, but the Greeks name it Palmyra.

2. Now Solomon the king was at this time engaged in building these cities. But if any inquire why all the kings of
Egypt from Menes, who built Memphis, and was many years earlier than our forefather Abraham, until Solomon,
where the interval was more than one thousand three hundred years, were called Pharaohs, and took it from one
Pharaoh that lived after the kings of that interval, I think it necessary to inform them of it, and this in order to cure
their ignorance, and to make the occasion of that name manifest. Pharaoh, in the Egyptian tongue, signifies a king
(16) but I suppose they made use of other names from their childhood; but when they were made kings, they
changed them into the name which in their own tongue denoted their authority; for thus it was also that the kings of
Alexandria, who were called formerly by other names, when they took the kingdom, were named Ptolemies, from
their first king. The Roman emperors also were from their nativity called by other names, but are styled Caesars,
their empire and their dignity imposing that name upon them, and not suffering them to continue in those names
which their fathers gave them. I suppose also that Herodotus of Halicarnassus, when he said there were three
hundred and thirty kings of Egypt after Menes, who built Memphis, did therefore not tell us their names, because
they were in common called Pharaohs; for when after their death there was a queen reigned, he calls her by her
name Nicaule, as thereby declaring, that while the kings were of the male line, and so admitted of the same nature,
while a woman did not admit the same, he did therefore set down that her name, which she could not naturally have.
As for myself, I have discovered from our own books, that after Pharaoh, the father-in-law of Solomon, no other
king of Egypt did any longer use that name; and that it was after that time when the forenamed queen of Egypt and
Ethiopia came to Solomon, concerning whom we shall inform the reader presently; but I have now made mention of
these things, that I may prove that our books and those of the Egyptians agree together in many things.

3. But king Solomon subdued to himself the remnant of the Canaanites that had not before submitted to him; those
I mean that dwelt in Mount Lebanon, and as far as the city Hamath; and ordered them to pay tribute. He also
chose out of them every year such as were to serve him in the meanest offices, and to do his domestic works, and
to follow husbandry; for none of the Hebrews were servants [in such low employments]: nor was it reasonable, that
when God had brought so many nations under their power, they should depress their own people to such mean
offices of life, rather than those nations; while all the Israelites were concerned in warlike affairs, and were in
armor; and were set over the chariots and the horses, rather than leading the life of slaves. He appointed also five
hundred and fifty rulers over those Canaanites who were reduced to such domestic slavery, who received the entire
care of them from the king, and instructed them in those labors and operations wherein he wanted their assistance.

4. Moreover, the king built many ships in the Egyptian Bay of the Red Sea, in a certain place called Ezion-geber: it
is now called Berenice, and is not far from the city Eloth. This country belonged formerly to the Jews, and became
useful for shipping from the donations of Hiram king of Tyre; for he sent a sufficient number of men thither for
pilots, and such as were skillful in navigation, to whom Solomon gave this command: That they should go along with
his own stewards to the land that was of old called Ophir, but now the Aurea Chersonesus, which belongs to India,
to fetch him gold. And when they had gathered four hundred talents together, they returned to the king again.

5. There was then a woman queen of Egypt and Ethiopia; (17) she was inquisitive into philosophy, and one that on
other accounts also was to be admired. When this queen heard of the virtue and prudence of Solomon, she had a
great mind to see him; and the reports that went every day abroad induced her to come to him, she being desirous
to be satisfied by her own experience, and not by a bare hearing; (for reports thus heard are likely enough to
comply with a false opinion, while they wholly depend on the credit of the relators;) so she resolved to come to him,
and that especially in order to have a trial of his wisdom, while she proposed questions of very great difficulty, and
entreated that he would solve their hidden meaning. Accordingly she came to Jerusalem with great splendor and
rich furniture; for she brought with her camels laden with gold, with several sorts of sweet spices, and with precious
stones. Now, upon the king's kind reception of her, he both showed a great desire to please her, and easily
comprehending in his mind the meaning of the curious questions she propounded to him, he resolved them sooner
than any body could have expected. So she was amazed at the wisdom of Solomon, and discovered that it was more
excellent upon trial than what she had heard by report beforehand; and especially she was surprised at the fineness
and largeness of his royal palace, and not less so at the good order of the apartments, for she observed that the
king had therein shown great wisdom; but she was beyond measure astonished at the house which was called the
Forest of Lebanon, as also at the magnificence of his daily table, and the circumstances of its preparation and
ministration, with the apparel of his servants that waited, and the skillful and decent management of their
attendance: nor was she less affected with those daily sacrifices which were offered to God, and the careful
management which the priests and Levites used about them. When she saw this done every day, she was in the
greatest admiration imaginable, insomuch that she was not able to contain the surprise she was in, but openly
confessed how wonderfully she was affected; for she proceeded to discourse with the king, and thereby owned that
she was overcome with admiration at the things before related; and said, "All things indeed, O king, that came to
our knowledge by report, came with uncertainty as to our belief of them; but as to those good things that to thee
appertain, both such as thou thyself possessest, I mean wisdom and prudence, and the happiness thou hast from thy
kingdom, certainly the same that came to us was no falsity; it was not only a true report, but it related thy
happiness after a much lower manner than I now see it to be before my eyes. For as for the report, it only
attempted to persuade our hearing, but did not so make known the dignity of the things themselves as does the
sight of them, and being present among them. I indeed, who did not believe what was reported, by reason of the
multitude and grandeur of the things I inquired about, do see them to be much more numerous than they were
reported to be. Accordingly I esteem the Hebrew people, as well as thy servants and friends, to be happy, who
enjoy thy presence and hear thy wisdom every day continually. One would therefore bless God, who hath so loved
this country, and those that inhabit therein, as to make thee king over them."

6. Now when the queen had thus demonstrated in words how deeply the king had affected her, her disposition was
known by certain presents, for she gave him twenty talents of gold, and an immense quantity of spices and precious
stones. (They say also that we possess the root of that balsam which our country still bears by this woman's gift.)
(18) Solomon also repaid her with many good things, and principally by bestowing upon her what she chose of her
own inclination, for there was nothing that she desired which he denied her; and as he was very generous and
liberal in his own temper, so did he show the greatness of his soul in bestowing on her what she herself desired of
him. So when this queen of Ethiopia had obtained what we have already given an account of, and had again
communicated to the king what she brought with her, she returned to her own kingdom.

1. ABOUT the same time there were brought to the king from the Aurea Chersonesus, a country so called, precious
stones, and pine trees, and these trees he made use of for supporting the temple and the palace, as also for the
materials of musical instruments, the harps and the psalteries, that the Levites might make use of them in their
hymns to God. The wood which was brought to him at this time was larger and finer than any that had ever been
brought before; but let no one imagine that these pine trees were like those which are now so named, and which
take that their denomination from the merchants, who so call them, that they may procure them to be admired by
those that purchase them; for those we speak of were to the sight like the wood of the fig tree, but were whiter, and
more shining. Now we have said thus much, that nobody may be ignorant of the difference between these sorts of
wood, nor unacquainted with the nature of the genuine pine tree; and we thought it both a seasonable and humane
thing, when we mentioned it, and the uses the king made of it, to explain this difference so far as we have done.

2. Now the weight of gold that was brought him was six hundred and sixty-six talents, not including in that sum what
was brought by the merchants, nor what the toparchs and kings of Arabia gave him in presents. He also cast two
hundred targets of gold, each of them weighing six hundred shekels. He also made three hundred shields, every
one weighing three pounds of gold, and he had them carried and put into that house which was called The Forest of
Lebanon. He also made cups of gold, and of [precious] stones, for the entertainment of his guests, and had them
adorned in the most artificial manner; and he contrived that all his other furniture of vessels should be of gold, for
there was nothing then to be sold or bought for silver; for the king had many ships which lay upon the sea of
Tarsus, these he commanded to carry out all sorts of merchandise unto the remotest nations, by the sale of which
silver and gold were brought to the king, and a great quantity of ivory, and Ethiopians, and apes; and they finished
their voyage, going and returning, in three years' time.

3. Accordingly there went a great fame all around the neighboring countries, which proclaimed the virtue and
wisdom of Solomon, insomuch that all the kings every where were desirous to see him, as not giving credit to what
was reported, on account of its being almost incredible: they also demonstrated the regard they had for him by the
presents they made him; for they sent him vessels of gold, and silver, and purple garments, and many sorts of
spices, and horses, and chariots, and as many mules for his carriages as they could find proper to please the king's
eyes, by their strength and beauty. This addition that he made to those chariots and horses which he had before
from those that were sent him, augmented the number of his chariots by above four hundred, for he had a thousand
before, and augmented the number of his horses by two thousand, for he had twenty thousand before. These horses
also were so much exercised, in order to their making a fine appearance, and running swiftly, that no others could,
upon the comparison, appear either finer or swifter; but they were at once the most beautiful of all others, and their
swiftness was incomparable also. Their riders also were a further ornament to them, being, in the first place, young
men in the most delightful flower of their age, and being eminent for their largeness, and far taller than other men.
They had also very long heads of hair hanging down, and were clothed in garments of Tyrian purple. They had also
dust of gold every day sprinkled on their hair, so that their heads sparkled with the reflection of the sun-beams
from the gold. The king himself rode upon a chariot in the midst of these men, who were still in armor, and had their
bows fitted to them. He had on a white garment, and used to take his progress out of the city in the morning. There
was a certain place about fifty furlongs distant from Jerusalem, which is called Etham, very pleasant it is in fine
gardens, and abounding in rivulets of water; (19) thither did he use to go out in the morning, sitting on high [in his
chariot.]

4. Now Solomon had a divine sagacity in all things, and was very diligent and studious to have things done after an
elegant manner; so he did not neglect the care of the ways, but he laid a causeway of black stone along the roads
that led to Jerusalem, which was the royal city, both to render them easy for travelers, and to manifest the
grandeur of his riches and government. He also parted his chariots, and set them in a regular order, that a certain
number of them should be in every city, still keeping a few about him; and those cities he called the cities of his
chariots. And the king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones in the street; and so multiplied cedar trees in
the plains of Judea, which did not grow there before, that they were like the multitude of common sycamore trees.
He also ordained the Egyptian merchants that brought him their merchandise to sell him a chariot, with a pair of
horses, for six hundred drachmae of silver, and he sent them to the kings of Syria, and to those kings that were
beyond Euphrates.

5. But although Solomon was become the most glorious of kings, and the best beloved by God, and had exceeded in
wisdom and riches those that had been rulers of the Hebrews before him, yet did not he persevere in this happy
state till he died. Nay, he forsook the observation of the laws of his fathers, and came to an end no way suitable to
our foregoing history of him. He grew mad in his love of women, and laid no restraint on himself in his lusts; nor
was he satisfied with the women of his country alone, but he married many wives out of foreign nations; Sidontans,
and Tyrians, and Ammonites, and Edomites; and he transgressed the laws of Moses, which forbade Jews to marry
any but those that were of their own people. He also began to worship their gods, which he did in order to the
gratification of his wives, and out of his affection for them. This very thing our legislator suspected, and so
admonished us beforehand, that we should not marry women of other countries, lest we should be entangled with
foreign customs, and apostatize from our own; lest we should leave off to honor our own God, and should worship
their gods. But Solomon was Gllen headlong into unreasonable pleasures, and regarded not those admonitions; for
when he had married seven hundred wives, (20) the daughters of princes and of eminent persons, and three
hundred concubines, and those besides the king of Egypt's daughter, he soon was governed by them, till he came to
imitate their practices. He was forced to give them this demonstration of his kindness and affection to them, to live
according to the laws of their countries. And as he grew into years, and his reason became weaker by length of
time, it was not sufficient to recall to his mind the institutions of his own country; so he still more and more
contemned his own God, and continued to regard the gods that his marriages had introduced nay, before this
happened, he sinned, and fell into an error about the observation of the laws, when he made the images of brazen
oxen that supported the brazen sea, (21) and the images of lions about his own throne; for these he made, although
it was not agreeable to piety so to do; and this he did, notwithstanding that he had his father as a most excellent and
domestic pattern of virtue, and knew what a glorious character he had left behind him, because of his piety towards
God. Nor did he imitate David, although God had twice appeared to him in his sleep, and exhorted him to imitate
his father. So he died ingloriously. There came therefore a prophet to him, who was sent by God, and told him that
his wicked actions were not concealed from God; and threatened him that he should not long rejoice in what he had
done; that, indeed, the kingdom should not be taken from him while he was alive, because God had promised to his
father David that he would make him his successor, but that he would take care that this should befall his son when
he :was dead; not that he would withdraw all the people from him, but that he would give ten tribes to a servant of
his, and leave only two tribes to David's grandson for his sake, because he loved God, and for the sake of the city
of Jerusalem, wherein he should have a temple.

6. When Solomon heard this he was grieved, and greatly confounded, upon this change of almost all that happiness
which had made him to be admired, into so bad a state; nor had there much time passed after the prophet had
foretold what was coming before God raised up an enemy against him, whose name was Ader, who took the
following occasion of his enmity to him. He was a child of the stock of the Edomites, and of the blood royal; and
when Joab, the captain of David's host, laid waste the land of Edom, and destroyed all that were men grown, and
able to bear arms, for six months' time, this Hadad fled away, and came to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, who received
him kindly, and assigned him a house to dwell in, and a country to supply him with food; and when he was grown up
he loved him exceedingly, insomuch that he gave him his wife's sister, whose name was Tahpenes, to wife, by whom
he had a son; who was brought up with the king's children. When Hadad heard in Egypt that both David and Joab
were dead, he came to Pharaoh, and desired that he would permit him to go to his own country; upon which the king
asked what it was that he wanted, and what hardship he had met with, that he was so desirous to leave him. And
when he was often troublesome to him, and entreated him to dismiss him, he did not then do it; but at the time when
Solomon's affairs began to grow worse, on account of his forementioned transgressions (22) and God's anger
against him for the same, Hadad, by Pharaoh's permission, came to Edom; and when he was not able to make the
people forsake Solomon, for it was kept under by many garrisons, and an innovation was not to be made with
safety, he removed thence, and came into Syria; there he lighted upon one Rezon, who had run away from
Hadadezer, king of Zobah, his master, and was become a robber in that country, and joined friendship with him, who
had already a band of robbers about him. So he went up, and seized upon that part of Syria, and was made king
thereof. He also made incursions into the land of Israel, and did it no small mischief, and spoiled it, and that in the
lifetime of Solomon. And this was the calamity which the Hebrews suffered by Hadad.

7. There was also one of Solomon's own nation that made an attempt against him, Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who
had an expectation of rising, from a prophecy that had been made to him long before. He was left a child by his
father, and brought up by his mother; and when Solomon saw that he was of an active and bold disposition, he made
him the curator of the walls which he built round about Jerusalem; and he took such care of those works, that the
king approved of his behavior, and gave him, as a reward for the same, the charge of the tribe of Joseph. And when
about that time Jeroboam was once going out of Jerusalem, a prophet of the city Shilo, whose name was Ahijah,
met him and saluted him; and when he had taken him a little aside to a place out of the way, where there was not
one other person present, he rent the garment he had on into twelve pieces, and bid Jeroboam take ten of them;
and told him beforehand, that "this is the will of God; he will part the dominion of Solomon, and give one tribe, with
that which is next it, to his son, because of the promise made to David for his succession, and will have ten tribes to
thee, because Solomon hath sinned against him, and delivered up himself to women, and to their gods. Seeing
therefore thou knowest the cause for which God hath changed his mind, and is alienated from Solomon, be thou

8. So Jeroboam was elevated by these words of the prophet; and being a young man, (23) of a warm temper, and
ambitious of greatness, he could not be quiet; and when he had so great a charge in the government, and called to
mind what had been revealed to him by Ahijah, he endeavored to persuade the people to forsake Solomon, to make
a disturbance, and to bring the government over to himself. But when Solomon understood his intention and
treachery, he sought to catch him and kill him; but Jeroboam was informed of it beforehand, and fled to Shishak,
the king of Egypt, and there abode till the death of Solomon; by which means he gained these two advantages to
suffer no harm from Solomon, and to be preserved for the kingdom. So Solomon died when he was already an old
man, having reigned eighty years, and lived ninety-four. He was buried in Jerusalem, having been superior to all
other kings in happiness, and riches, and wisdom, excepting that when he was growing into years he was deluded by
women, and transgressed the law; concerning which transgressions, and the miseries which befell the Hebrews
thereby, I think proper to discourse at another opportunity.

1. NOW when Solomon was dead, and his son Rehoboam (who was born of an Amntonite wife; whose name was
Naamah) had succeeded him in the kingdom, the rulers of the multitude sent immediately into Egypt, and called
back Jeroboam; and when he was come to them, to the city Shethem, Rehoboam came to it also, for he had
resolved to declare himself king to the Israelites while they were there gathered together. So the rulers of the
people, as well as Jeroboam, came to him, and besought him, and said that he ought to relax, and to be gentler than
his father, in the servitude he had imposed on them, because they had borne a heavy yoke, and that then they
should be better affected to him, and be well contented to serve him under his moderate government, and should do
it more out of love than fear. But Rehoboam told them they should come to him again in three days' time, when he
would give an answer to their request. This delay gave occasion to a present suspicion, since he had not given them
a favorable answer to their mind immediately; for they thought that he should have given them a humane answer
off-hand, especially since he was but young. However, they thought that this consultation about it, and that he did
not presently give them a denial, afforded them some good hope of success.

2. Rehoboam now called his father's friends, and advised with them what sort of answer he ought to give to the
multitude; upon which they gave him the advice which became friends, and those that knew the temper of such a
multitude. They advised him to speak in a way more popular than suited the grandeur of a king, because he would
thereby oblige them to submit to him with goodwill, it being most agreeable to subjects that their kings should be
almost upon the level with them. But Rehoboam rejected this so good, and in general so profitable, advice, (it was
such, at least, at that time when he was to be made king,) God himself, I suppose, causing what was most
advantageous to be condemned by him. So he called for the young men who were brought up with him, and told
them what advice the elders had given him, and bade them speak what they thought he ought to do. They advised
him to give the following answer to the people (for neither their youth nor God himself suffered them to discern
what was best): That his little finger should be thicker than his father's loins; and if they had met with hard usage
from his father, they should experience much rougher treatment from him; and if his father had chastised them with
whips, they must expect that he would do it with scorpions. (24) The king was pleased with this advice, and thought
it agreeable to the dignity of his government to give them such an answer. Accordingly, when the multitude was
come together to hear his answer on the third day, all the people were in great expectation, and very intent to hear
what the king would say to them, and supposed they should hear somewhat of a kind nature; but he passed by his
friends, and answered as the young men had given him counsel. Now this was done according to the will of God,
that what Ahijah had foretold might come to pass.

3. By these words the people were struck as it were by all iron hammer, and were so grieved at the words, as if they
had already felt the effects of them; and they had great indignation at the king; and all cried out aloud, and said,
"We will have no longer any relation to David or his posterity after this day." And they said further, "We only
leave to Rehoboam the temple which his father built;" and they threatened to forsake him. Nay, they were so
bitter, and retained their wrath so long, that when he sent Adoram, which was over the tribute, that he might pacify
them, and render them milder, and persuade them to forgive him, if he had said any thing that was rash or grievous
to them in his youth, they would not hear it, but threw stones at him, and killed him. When Rehoboam saw this, he
thought himself aimed at by those stones with which they had killed his servant, and feared lest he should undergo
the last of punishments in earnest; so he got immediately into his chariot, and fled to Jerusalem, where the tribe of
Judah and that of Benjamin ordained him king; but the rest of the multitude forsook the sons of David from that
day, and appointed Jeroboam to be the ruler of their public affairs. Upon this Rehoboam, Solomon's son, assembled
a great congregation of those two tribes that submitted to him, and was ready to take a hundred and eighty
thousand chosen men out of the army, to make an expedition against Jeroboam and his people, that he might force
them by war to be his servants; but he was forbidden of God by the prophet [Shemaiah] to go to war, for that it was
not just that brethren of the same contry should fight one against another. He also said that this defection of the
multitude was according to the purpose of God. So he did not proceed in this expedition. And now I will relate first
the actions of Jeroboam the king of Israel, after which we will relate what are therewith connected, the actions of
Rehoboam, the king of the two tribes; by this means we shall preserve the good order of the history entire.

4. When therefore Jeroboam had built him a palace in the city Shechem, he dwelt there. He also built him another
at Penuel, a city so called. And now the feast of tabernacles was approaching in a little time, Jeroboam considered,
that if he should permit the multitude to go to worship God at Jerusalem, and there to celebrate the festival, they
would probably repent of what they had done, and be enticed by the temple, and by the worship of God there
performed, and would leave him, and return to their first kings; and if so, he should run the risk of losing his own
life; so he invented this contrivance; He made two golden heifers, and built two little temples for them, the one in
the city Bethel, and the other in Dan, which last was at the fountains of the Lesser Jordan (25) and he put the
heifers into both the little temples, in the forementioned cities. And when he had called those ten tribes together
over whom he ruled, he made a speech to the people in these words: "I suppose, my countrymen, that you know
this, that every place hath God in it; nor is there any one determinate place in which he is, but he every where
hears and sees those that worship him; on which account I do not think it right for you to go so long a journey to
Jerusalem, which is an enemy's city, to worship him. It was a man that built the temple: I have also made two
golden heifers, dedicated to the same God; and the one of them I have consecrated in the city Bethel, and the other
in Dan, to the end that those of you that dwell nearest those cities may go to them, and worship God there; and I
will ordain for you certain priests and Levites from among yourselves, that you may have no want of the tribe of
Levi, or of the sons of Aaron; but let him that is desirous among you of being a priest, bring to God a bullock and a
ram, which they say Aaron the first priest brought also." When Jeroboam had said this, he deluded the people, and
made them to revolt from the worship of their forefathers, and to transgress their laws. This was the beginning of
miseries to the Hebrews, and the cause why they were overcome in war by foreigners, and so fell into captivity. But
we shall relate those things in their proper places hereafter.

5. When the feast [of tabernacles] was just approaching, Jeroboam was desirous to celebrate it himself in Bethel,
as did the two tribes celebrate it in Jerusalem. Accordingly he built an altar before the heifer, and undertook to be
high priest himself. So he went up to the altar, with his own priests about him; but when he was going to offer the
sacrifices and the burnt-offerings, in the sight of all the people, a prophet, whose name was Jadon, was sent by God,
and came to him from Jerusalem, who stood in the midst of the multitude, and in the 'hearing of' the king, and
directing his discourse to the altar, said thus: God foretells that there shall be a certain man of the family of David,
Josiah by name, who shall slay upon thee those false priests that shall live at that time, and upon thee shall burn
the bones of those deceivers of the people, those impostors' and wicked wretches. However, that this people may
believe that these things shall so come to pass, I foretell a sign to them that shall also come to pass. This altar shall
be broken to pieces immediately, and all the fat of the sacrifices that is upon it shall be poured upon the ground."
When the prophet had said this, Jeroboam fell into a passion, and stretched out his hand, and bid them lay hold of
him; but that hand which he stretched out was enfeebled, and he was not able to pull it in again to him, for it was
become withered, and hung down, as if it were a dead hand. The altar also was broken to pieces, and all that was
upon it was poured out, as the prophet had foretold should come to pass. So the king understood that he was a man
of veracity, and had a Divine foreknowledge; and entreated him to pray to God that he would restore his right hand.
Accordingly the prophet did pray to God to grant him that request. So the king, having his hand recovered to its
natural state, rejoiced at it, and invited the prophet to sup with him; but Jadon said that he could not endure to come
into his house, nor to taste of bread or water in this city, for that was a thing God had forbidden him to do; as also to
go back by the same way which he came, but he said he was to return by another way. So the king wondered at the
abstinence of the man, but was himself in fear, as suspecting a change of his affairs for the worse, from what had
been said to him.

1. NOW there was a certain wicked man in that city, who was a false prophet, whom Jeroboam had in great esteem,
but was deceived by him and his flattering words. This man was bedrid, by reason or the infirmities of old age:
however, he was informed by his sons concerning the prophet that was come from Jerusalem, and concerning the
signs done by him; and how, when Jeroboam's right hand had been enfeebled, at the prophet's prayer he had it
revived again. Whereupon he was afraid that this stranger and prophet should be in better esteem with the king
than himself, and obtain greater honor from him: and he gave orders to his sons to saddle his ass presently, and
make all ready that he might go out. Accordingly they made haste to do what they were commanded, and he got
upon the ass and followed after the prophet.; and when he had overtaken him, as he was resting himself under a
very large oak tree that was thick and shady, he at first saluted him, but presently he complained of him, because
he had not come into his house, and partaken of his hospitality. And when the other said that God had forbidden
him to taste of any one's provision in that city, he replied, that "for certain God had not forbidden that I should set
food before thee, for I am a prophet as thou art, and worship God in the same manner that thou dost; and I am now
come as sent by him, in order to bring thee into my house, and make thee my guest." Now Jadon gave credit to this
lying prophet, and returned back with him. But when they were at dinner, and merry together, God appeared to
Jadon, and said that he should suffer punishment for transgressing his commands, - and he told him what that
punishment should be for he said that he should meet with a lion as he was going on his way, by which lion he should
be torn in pieces, and be deprived of burial in the sepulchers of his fathers; which things came to pass, as I suppose,
according to the will of God, that so Jeroboam might not give heed to the words of Jadon as of one that had been
convicted of lying. However, as Jadon was again going to Jerusalem, a lion assaulted him, and pulled him off the
beast he rode on, and slew him; yet did he not at all hurt the ass, but sat by him, and kept him, as also the prophet's
body. This continued till some travelers that saw it came and told it in the city to the false prophet, who sent his
sons, and brought the body unto the city, and made a funeral for him at great expense. He also charged his sons to
bury himself with him and said that all which he had foretold against that city, and the altar, and priests, and false
prophets, would prove true; and that if he were buried with him, he should receive no injurious treatment after his
death, the bones not being then to be distinguished asunder. But now, when he had performed those funeral rites to
the prophet, and had given that charge to his sons, as he was a wicked and an impious man, he goes to Jeroboam,
and says to him, "And wherefore is it now that thou art disturbed at the words of this silly fellow?" And when the
king had related to him what had happened about the altar, and about his own hand, and gave him the names of
divine man, and an excellent prophet, he endeavored by a wicked trick to weaken that his opinion; and by using
plausible words concerning what had happened, he aimed to injure the truth that was in them; for he attempted to
persuade him that his hand was enfeebled by the labor it had undergone in supporting the sacrifices, and that upon
its resting awhile it returned to its former nature again; and that as to the altar, it was but new, and had borne
abundance of sacrifices, and those large ones too, and was accordingly broken to pieces, and fallen down by the
weight of what had been laid upon it. He also informed him of the death of him that had foretold those things, and
how he perished; [whence he concluded that] he had not any thing in him of a prophet, nor spake any thing like one.
When he had thus spoken, he persuaded the king, and entirely alienated his mind from God, and from doing works
that were righteous and holy, and encouraged him to go on in his impious practices (26) and accordingly he was to
that degree injurious to God, and so great a transgressor, that he sought for nothing else every day but how he
might be guilty of some new instances of wickedness, and such as should be more detestable than what he had been
so insolent as to do before. And so much shall at present suffice to have said concerning Jeroboam.

1. Now Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who, as we said before, was king of the two tribes, built strong and large
cities, Bethlehem, and Etare, and Tekoa, and Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, and Ipan, and Maresha, and Ziph,
and Adorlam, and Lachlsh, and Azekah, and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron; these he built first of all in the tribe of
Judah. He also built other large cities in the tribe of Benjamin, and walled them about, and put garrisons in them all,
and captains, and a great deal of corn, and wine, and oil, and he furnished every one of them plentifully with other
provisions that were necessary for sustenance; moreover, he put therein shields and spears for many ten thousand
men. The priests also that were in all Israel, and the Levites, and if there were any of the multitude that were good
and righteous men, they gathered themselves together to him, having left their own cities, that they might worship
God in Jerusalem; for they were not willing to be forced to worship the heifers which Jeroboam had made; and they
augmented the kingdom of Rehoboam for three years. And after he had married a woman of his own kindred, and
had by her three children born to him, he married also another of his own kindred, who was daughter of Absalom by
Tamar, whose name was Maachah, and by her he had a son, whom he named Abijah. He had moreover many other
children by other wives, but he loved Maachah above them all. Now he had eighteen legitimate wives, and thirty
concubines; and he had born to him twenty-eight sons and threescore daughters; but he appointed Abijah, whom he
had by Maachah, to be his successor in the kingdom, and intrusted him already with the treasures and the
strongest cities.

2. Now I cannot but think that the greatness of a kingdom, and its change into prosperity, often become the
occasion of mischief and of transgression to men; for when Rehoboam saw that his kingdom was so much
increased, he went out of the right way unto unrighteous and irreligious practices, and he despised the worship of
God, till the people themselves imitated his wicked actions: for so it usually happens, that the manners of subjects
are corrupted at the same time with those of their governors, which subjects then lay aside their own sober way of
living, as a reproof of their governors' intemperate courses, and follow their wickedness as if it were virtue; for it is
not possible to show that men approve of the actions of their kings, unless they do the same actions with them.
Agreeable whereto it now happened to the subjects of Rehoboam; for when he was grown impious, and a
transgressor himself, they endeavored not to offend him by resolving still to be righteous. But God sent Shishak,
king of Egypt, to punish them for their unjust behavior towards him, concerning whom Herodotus was mistaken, and
applied his actions to Sesostris; for this Shishak, (27) in the fifth year of the reign of Rehoboam, made an
expedition [into Judea] with many ten thousand men; for he had one thousand two hundred chariots in number that
followed him, and threescore thousand horsemen, and four hundred thousand footmen. These he brought with him,
and they were the greatest part of them Libyans and Ethiopians. Now therefore when he fell upon the country of
the Hebrews, he took the strongest cities of Rehoboam's kingdom without fighting; and when he had put garrisons
in them, he came last of all to Jerusalem.

3. Now when Rehoboam, and the multitude with him, were shut up in Jerusalem by the means of the army of
Shishak, and when they besought God to give them victory and deliverance, they could not persuade God to be on
their side. But Shemaiah the prophet told them, that God threatened to forsake them, as they had themselves
forsaken his worship. When they heard this, they were immediately in a consternation of mind; and seeing no way
of deliverance, they all earnestly set themselves to confess that God might justly overlook them, since they had
been guilty of impiety towards him, and had let his laws lie in confusion. So when God saw them in that disposition,
and that they acknowledge their sins, he told the prophet that he would not destroy them, but that he would,
however, make them servants to the Egyptians, that they may learn whether they will suffer less by serving men or
God. So when Shishak had taken the city without fighting, because Rehoboam was afraid, and received him into it,
yet did not Shishak stand to the covenants he had made, but he spoiled the temple, and emptied the treasures of
God, and those of the king, and carried off innumerable ten thousands of gold and silver, and left nothing at all
behind him. He also took away the bucklers of gold, and the shields, which Solomon the king had made; nay, he did
not leave the golden quivers which David had taken from the king of Zobah, and had dedicated to God; and when
he had thus done, he returned to his own kingdom. Now Herodotus of Halicarnassus mentions this expedition,
having only mistaken the king's name; and [in saying that] he made war upon many other nations also, and brought
Syria of Palestine into subjection, and took the men that were therein prisoners without fighting. Now it is manifest
that he intended to declare that our nation was subdued by him; for he saith that he left behind him pillars in the
land of those that delivered themselves up to him without fighting, and engraved upon them the secret parts of
women. Now our king Rehoboam delivered up our city without fighting. He says withal (28) that the Ethiopians
learned to circumcise their privy parts from the Egyptians, with this addition, that the Phoenicians and Syrians that
live in Palestine confess that they learned it of the Egyptians. Yet it is evident that no other of the Syrians that live
in Palestine, besides us alone, are circumcised. But as to such matters, let every one speak what is agreeable to his
own opinion.

4. When Shishak was gone away, king Rehoboam made bucklers and shields of brass, instead of those of gold, and
delivered the same number of them to the keepers of the king's palace. So, instead of warlike expeditions, and that
glory which results from those public actions, he reigned in great quietness, though not without fear, as being
always an enemy to Jeroboam, and he died when he had lived fifty-seven years, and reigned seventeen. He was in
his disposition a proud and a foolish man, and lost [part of his] dominions by not hearkening to his father's friends.
He was buried in Jerusalem, in the sepulchers of the kings; and his son Abijah succeeded him in the kingdom, and
this in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam's reign over the ten tribes; and this was the conclusion of these affairs. It
must be now our business to relate the affairs of Jeroboam, and how he ended his life; for he ceased not nor rested
to be injurious to God, but every day raised up altars upon high mountains, and went on making priests out of the
multitude.

1. HOWEVER, God was in no long time ready to return Jeroboam's wicked actions, and the punishment they
deserved, upon his own head, and upon the heads of all his house. And whereas a soil of his lay sick at that time,
who was called Abijah, he enjoined his wife to lay aside her robes, and to take the garments belonging to a private
person, and to go to Ahijah the prophet, for that he was a wonderful man in foretelling futurities, it having been he
who told me that I should be king. He also enjoined her, when she came to him, to inquire concerning the child, as if
she were a stranger, whether he should escape this distemper. So she did as her husband bade her, and changed
her habit, and came to the city Shiloh, for there did Ahijah live. And as she was going into his house, his eyes being
then dim with age, God appeared to him, and informed him of two things; that the wife of Jeroboam was come to
him, and what answer he should make to her inquiry. Accordingly, as the woman was coming into the house like a
private person and a stranger, he cried out, "Come in, O thou wife of Jeroboam! Why concealest thou thyself?
Thou art not concealed from God, who hath appeared to me, and informed me that thou wast coming, and hath
given me in command what I shall say to thee." So he said that she should go away to her husband, and speak to
him thus: "Since I made thee a great man when thou wast little, or rather wast nothing, and rent the kingdom from
the house of David, and gave it to thee, and thou hast been unmindful of these benefits, hast left off my worship,
hast made thee molten gods and honored them, I will in like manner cast thee down again, and will destroy all thy
house, and make them food for the dogs and the fowls; for a certain king is rising up, by appointment, over all this
people, who shall leave none of the family of Jeroboam remaining. The multitude also shall themselves partake of
the same punishment, and shall be cast out of this good land, and shall be scattered into the places beyond
Euphrates, because they have followed the wicked practices of their king, and have worshipped the gods that he
made, and forsaken my sacrifices. But do thou, O woman, make haste back to thy husband, and tell him this
message; but thou shalt then find thy son dead, for as thou enterest the city he shall depart this life; yet shall he be
buried with the lamentation of all the multitude, and honored with a general mourning, for he was the only person of
goodness of Jeroboam's family." When the prophet had foretold these events, the woman went hastily away with a
disordered mind, and greatly grieved at the death of the forenamed child. So she was in lamentation as she went
along the road, and mourned for the death of her son, that was just at hand. She was indeed in a miserable condition
at the unavoidable misery of his death, and went apace, but in circumstances very unfortunate, because of her son:
for the greater haste she made, she would the sooner see her son dead, yet was she forced to make such haste on
account of her husband. Accordingly, when she was come back, she found that the child had given up the ghost, as
the prophet had said; and she related all the circumstances to the king.

2. Yet did not Jeroboam lay any of these things to heart, but he brought together a very numerous army, and made
a warlike expedition against Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, who had succeeded his father in the kingdom of the two
tribes; for he despised him because of his age. But when he heard of the expedition of Jeroboam, he was not
affrighted at it, but proved of a courageous temper of mind, superior both to his youth and to the hopes of his
enemy; so he chose him an army out of the two tribes, and met Jeroboam at a place called Mount Zemaraim, and
pitched his camp near the other, and prepared everything necessary for the fight. His army consisted of four
hundred thousand, but the army of Jeroboam was double to it. Now as the armies stood in array, ready for action
and dangers, and were just going to fight, Abijah stood upon an elevated place, and beckoning with his hand, he
desired the multitude and Jeroboam himself to hear first with silence what he had to say. And when silence was
made, he began to speak, and told them, - "God had consented that David and his posterity should be their rulers
for all time to come, and this you yourselves are not unacquainted with; but I cannot but wonder how you should
forsake my father, and join yourselves to his servant Jeroboam, and are now here with him to fight against those
who, by God's own determination, are to reign, and to deprive them of that dominion which they have still retained;
for as to the greater part of it, Jeroboam is unjustly in possession of it. However, I do not suppose he will enjoy it
any longer; but when he hath suffered that punishment which God thinks due to him for what is past, he will leave
off the transgressions he hath been guilty of, and the injuries he hath offered to him, and which he hath still
continued to offer and hath persuaded you to do the same: yet when you were not any further unjustly treated by
my father, than that he did not speak to you so as to please you, and this only in compliance with the advice of
wicked men, you in anger forsook him, as you pretended, but, in reality, you withdrew yourselves from God, and
from his laws, although it had been right for you to have forgiven a man that was young in age, and not used to
govern people, not only some disagreeable words, but if his youth and unskilfulness in affairs had led him into some
unfortunate actions, and that for the sake of his father Solomon, and the benefits you received from him; for men
ought to excuse the sins of posterity on account of the benefactions of parent; but you considered nothing of all this
then, neither do you consider it now, but come with so great an army against us. And what is it you depend upon for
victory? Is it upon these golden heifers, and the altars that you have on high places, which are demonstrations of
your impiety, and not of religious worship? Or is it the exceeding multitude of your army which gives you such good
hopes? Yet certainly there is no strength at all in an army of many ten thousands, when the war is unjust; for we
ought to place our surest hopes of success against our enemies in righteousness alone, and in piety towards God;
which hope we justly have, since we have kept the laws from the beginning, and have worshipped our own God, who
was not made by hands out of corruptible matter; nor was he formed by a wicked king, in order to deceive the
multitude; but who is his own workmanship, (29) and the beginning and end of all things. I therefore give you
counsel even now to repent, and to take better advice, and to leave off the prosecution of the war; to call to mind
the laws of your country, and to reflect what it hath been that hath advanced you to so happy a state as you are now
in."

3. This was the speech which Abijah made to the multitude. But while he was still speaking Jeroboam sent some of
his soldiers privately to encompass Abijab round about, on certain parts of the camp that were not taken notice of;
and when he was thus within the compass of the enemy, his army was affrighted, and their courage failed them; but
Abijah encouraged them, and exhorted them to place their hopes on God, for that he was not encompassed by the
enemy. So they all at once implored the Divine assistance, while the priests sounded with the trumpet, and they
made a shout, and fell upon their enemies, and God brake the courage and cast down the force of their enemies,
and made Ahijah's army superior to them; for God vouchsafed to grant them a wonderful and very famous victory;
and such a slaughter was now made of Jeroboam's army (30) as is never recorded to have happened in any other
war, whether it were of the Greeks or of the Barbarians, for they overthrew [and slew] five hundred thousand of
their enemies, and they took their strongest cities by force, and spoiled them; and besides those, they did the same
to Bethel and her towns, and Jeshanah and her towns. And after this defeat Jeroboam never recovered himself
during the life of Abijah, who yet did not long survive, for he reigned but three years, and was buried in Jerusalem
in the sepulchers of his forefathers. He left behind him twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters; and he had also
those children by fourteen wives; and Asa his son succeeded in the kingdom; and the young man's mother was
Michaiah. Under his reign the country of the Israelites enjoyed peace for ten years.