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those that had already perished。 And when the king looked up into
the air； and saw the angel carried along thereby into Jerusalem；
with his sword drawn； he said to God； that he might justly be
punished； who was their shepherd； but that the sheep ought to be
preserved； as not having sinned at all； and he implored God that
he would send his wrath upon him； and upon all his family； but
spare the people。
4。 When God heard his supplication； he caused the pestilence to
cease； and sent Gad the prophet to him； and commanded him to go
up immediately to the thrashing…floor of Araunah the Jebusite；
and build an altar there to God； and offer sacrifices。 When David
heard that； he did not neglect his duty； but made haste to the
place appointed him。 Now Araunah was thrashing wheat； and when he
saw the king and all his servants coming to him； he ran before；
and came to him and worshipped him： he was by his lineage a
Jebusite； but a particular friend of David's； and for that cause
it was that； when he overthrew the city； he did him no harm； as
we informed the reader a little before。 Now Araunah inquired；
〃Wherefore is my lord come to his servant？〃 He answered； to buy
of him the thrashing…floor； that he might therein build an altar
to God； and offer a sacrifice。 He replied； that he freely gave
him both the thrashing…floor and the ploughs and the oxen for a
burnt…offering； and he besought God graciously to accept his
sacrifice。 But the king made answer； that he took his generosity
and magnanimity loudly； and accepted his good…will； but he
desired him to take the price of them all； for that it was not
just to offer a sacrifice that cost nothing。 And when Araunah
said he would do as he pleased； he bought the thrashing…floor of
him for fifty shekels。 And when he had built an altar； he
performed Divine service； and brought a burnt…offering； and
offered peace…offerings also。 With these God was pacified； and
became gracious to them again。 Now it happened that Abraham
（24）came and offered his son Isaac for a burnt…offering at that
very place； and when the youth was ready to have his throat cut；
a ram appeared on a sudden； standing by the altar； which Abraham
sacrificed in the stead of his son； as we have before related。
Now when king David saw that God had heard his prayer； and had
graciously accepted of his sacrifice； he resolved to call that
entire place The Altar of all the People； and to build a temple
to God there； which words he uttered very appositely to what was
to be done afterward； for God sent the prophet to him； and told
him that there should his son build him an altar； that son who
was to take the kingdom after him。
CHAPTER 14。
That David Made Great Preparations For The House Of God； And
That； Upon Adonijah's Attempt To Gain The Kingdom； He Appointed
Solomon To Reign。
1。 After the delivery of this prophecy； the king commanded the
strangers to be numbered； and they were found to be one hundred
and eighty thousand； of these he appointed fourscore thousand to
be hewers of stone； and the rest of the multitude to carry the
stones； and of them he set over the workmen three thousand and
five hundred。 He also prepared a great quantity of iron and brass
for the work； with many （and those exceeding large） cedar trees；
the Tyrians and Sidonians sending them to him； for he had sent to
them for a supply of those trees。 And he told his friends that
these things were now prepared； that he might leave materials
ready for the building of the temple to his son； who was to reign
after him； and that he might not have them to seek then； when he
was very young； and by reason of his age unskillful in such
matters； but might have them lying by him； and so might the more
readily complete the work。
2。 So David called his son Solomon； and charged him； when he had
received the kingdom； to build a temple to God； and said； 〃！I was
willing to build God a temple myself； but he prohibited me；
because I was polluted with blood and wars； but he hath foretold
that Solomon； my youngest son； should build him a temple； and
should be called by that name； over whom he hath promised to take
the like care as a father takes over his son； and that he would
make the country of the Hebrews happy under him； and that； not
only in other respects； but by giving it peace and freedom from
wars； and from internal seditions； which are the greatest of all
blessings。 Since； therefore；〃 says he； 〃thou wast ordained king
by God himself before thou wast born； endeavor to render thyself
worthy of this his providence； as in other instances； so
particularly in being religious； and righteous； and courageous。
Keep thou also his commands and his laws； which he hath given us
by Moses； and do not permit others to break them。 Be zealous also
to dedicate to God a temple； which he hath chosen to be built
under thy reign； nor be thou aftrighted by the vastness of the
work； nor set about it timorously； for I will make all things
ready before I die： and take notice； that there are already ten
thousand talents of gold； and a hundred thousand talents of
silver （25） collected together。 I have also laid together brass
and iron without number； and an immense quantity of timber and of
stones。 Moreover； thou hast many ten thousand stone…cutters and
carpenters； and if thou shalt want any thing further； do thou add
somewhat of thine own。 Wherefore； if thou performest this work；
thou wilt be acceptable to God； and have him for thy patron。〃
David also further exhorted the rulers of the people to assist
his son in this building； and to attend to the Divine service；
when they should be free from all their misfortunes； for that
they by this means should enjoy； instead of them； peace and a
happy settlement； with which blessings God rewards such men as
are religious and righteous。 He also gave orders； that when the
temple should be once built； they should put the ark therein；
with the holy vessels； and he assured them that they ought to
have had a temple long ago； if their fathers had not been
negligent of God's commands； who had given it in charge； that
when they had got the possession of this land； they should build
him a temple。 Thus did David discourse to the governors； and to
his son。
3。 David was now in years； and his body； by length of time； was
become cold； and benumbed； insomuch that he could get no heat by
covering himself with many clothes； and when the physicians came
together； they agreed to this advice； that a beautiful virgin；
chosen out of the whole country； should sleep by the king's side；
and that this damsel would communicate heat to him； and be a
remedy against his numbness。 Now there was found in the city one
woman； of a superior beauty to all other women； （her name was
Abishag；） who； sleeping with the king； did no more than
communicate warmth to him； for he was so old that he could not
know her as a husband knows his wife。 But of this woman we shall
speak more presently。
4。 Now the fourth son of David was a beautiful young man； and
tall； born to him of Haggith his wife。 He was named Adonijah； and
was in his disposition like to Absalom； and exalted himself as
hoping to be king； and