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continued; still expecting that some one of the house of Saul
should reign over them。 Those of the tribe of Ephraim were twenty
thousand and eight hundred; and these mighty men of valor; and
eminent for their strength。 Out of the half tribe of Manasseh
came eighteen thousand; of the most potent men。 Out of the tribe
of Issachar came two hundred; who foreknew what was to come
hereafter; (3) but of armed men twenty thousand。 Of the tribe of
Zebulon fifty thousand chosen men。 This was the only tribe that
came universally in to David; and all these had the same weapons
with the tribe of Gad。 Out of the tribe of Naphtali the eminent
men and rulers were one thousand; whose weapons were shields and
spears; and the tribe itself followed after; being (in a manner)
innumerable 'thirty…seven thousand'。 Out of the tribe of Dan
there were of chosen men twenty…seven thousand and six hundred。
Out of the tribe of Asher were forty thousand。 Out of the two
tribes that were beyond Jordan; and the rest of the tribe of
Manasseh; such as used shields; and spears; and head…pieces; and
swords; were a hundred and twenty thousand。 The rest of the
tribes also made use of swords。 This multitude came together to
Hebron to David; with a great quantity of corn; and wine; and all
other sorts of food; and established David in his kingdom with
one consent。 And when the people had rejoiced for three days in
Hebron; David and all the people removed and came to Jerusalem。
CHAPTER 3。
How David Laid Siege To Jerusalem; And When He Had Taken The
City; He Cast The Canaanites Out Of It; And Brought In The Jews
To Inhabit Therein。
1。 Now the Jebusites; who were the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and
were by extraction Canaanites; shut their gates; and placed the
blind; and the lame; and all their maimed persons; upon the wall;
in way of derision of the king; and said that the very lame
themselves would hinder his entrance into it。 This they did out
of contempt of his power; and as depending on the strength of
their walls。 David was hereby enraged; and began the siege of
Jerusalem; and employed his utmost diligence and alacrity
therein; as intending by the taking of this place to demonstrate
his power; and to intimidate all others that might be of the like
'evil' disposition towards him。 So he took the lower city by
force; but the citadel held out still; (4) whence it was that the
king; knowing that the proposal of dignities and rewards would
encourage the soldiers to greater actions; promised that he who
should first go over the ditches that were beneath the citadel;
and should ascend to the citadel itself and take it; should have
the command of the entire people conferred upon him。 So they all
were ambitious to ascend; and thought no pains too great in order
to ascend thither; out of their desire of the chief command。
However; Joab; the son of Zeruiah; prevented the rest; and as
soon as he was got up to the citadel; cried out to the king; and
claimed the chief command。
2。 When David had cast the Jebusites out of the citadel; he also
rebuilt Jerusalem; and named it The City of David; and abode
there all the time of his reign; but for the time that he reigned
over the tribe of Judah only in Hebron; it was seven years and
six months。 Now when he had chosen Jerusalem to be his royal
city; his affairs did more and more prosper; by the providence of
God; who took care that they should improve and be augmented。
Hiram also; the king of the Tyrians; sent ambassadors to him; and
made a league of mutual friendship and assistance with him。 He
also sent him presents; cedar…trees; and mechanics; and men
skillful in building and architecture; that they might build him
a royal palace at Jerusalem。 Now David made buildings round about
the lower city: he also joined the citadel to it; and made it one
body; and when he had encompassed all with walls; he appointed
Joab to take care of them。 It was David; therefore; who first
cast the Jebusites out of Jerusalem; and called it by his own
name; The City of David: for under our forefather Abraham it was
called (Salem; or) Solyma; (5) but after that time; some say that
Homer mentions it by that name of Solyma; 'for he named the
temple Solyma; according to the Hebrew language; which denotes
security。' Now the whole time from the warfare under Joshua our
general against the Canaanites; and from that war in which he
overcame them; and distributed the land among the Hebrews; (nor
could the Israelites ever cast the Canaanites out of Jerusalem
until this time; when David took it by siege;) this whole time
was five hundred and fifteen years。
3。 I shall now make mention of Araunah; who was a wealthy man
among the Jebusites; but was not slain by David in the siege of
Jerusalem; because of the good…will he bore to the Hebrews; and a
particular benignity and affection which he had to the king
himself; which I shall take a more seasonable opportunity to
speak of a little afterwards。 Now David married other wives over
and above those which he had before: he had also concubines。 The
sons whom he had were in number eleven; whose names were Amnon;
Emnos; Eban; Nathan; Solomon; Jeban; Elien; Phalna; Ennaphen;
Jenae; Eliphale; and a daughter; Tamar。 Nine of these were born
of legitimate wives; but the two last…named of concubines; and
Tamar had the same mother with Absalom。
CHAPTER 4。
That When David Had Conquered The Philistines Who Made War
Against Him At Jerusalem; He Removed The Ark To Jerusalem And Had
A Mind To Build A Temple。
1。 When the Philistines understood that David was made king of
the Hebrews; they made war against him at Jerusalem; and when
they had seized upon that valley which is called The Valley of
the Giants; and is a place not far from the city; they pitched
their camp therein; but the king of the Jews; who never permitted
himself to do any thing without prophecy; (6) and the command of
God and without depending on him as a security for the time to
come; bade the high priest to foretell to him what was the will
of God; and what would be the event of this battle。 And when he
foretold that he should gain the victory and the dominion; he led
out his army against the Philistines; and when the battle was
joined; he came himself behind; and fell upon the enemy on the
sudden; and slew some of them; and put the rest to flight。 And
let no one suppose that it was a small army of the Philistines
that came against the Hebrews; as guessing so from the suddenness
of their defeat; and from their having performed no great action;
or that was worth recording; from the slowness of their march;
and want of courage; but let him know that all Syria and
Phoenicia; with many other nations besides them; and those
warlike nations also; came to their assistance; and had a share
in this war; which thing was the only cause why; when they had
been so often conquered; and had lost so many ten thousands of
their men; they still came upon the Hebrews with greater armies;
nay; indeed; when they had so often failed of their purpose in
these battles; they came upon David with an army three times as
numerous as before; and pitched their camp on the same