按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。
CHAPTER 2。
Concerning The Wife Of Solomon； Concerning His Wisdom And Riches；
And Concerning What He Obtained Of Hiram For The Building Of The
Temple。
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 famil