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！
prudent man； and considering that kings； when they fall into a
passion； are guided more by that passion than they are by
justice； he resolved to conceal the threatenings that proceeded
from God； and made a good…natured discourse to him； and this
after the。 manner following： … He desired that the king would
give him his opinion in the following case： … There were；〃 said
he； 〃two men inhabiting the same city； the one of them was rich；
and ＇the other poor＇。 The rich man had a great many flocks of
cattle； of sheep； and of kine； but the poor man had but one ewe
lamb。 This he brought up with his children； and let her eat her
food with them； and he had the same natural affection for her
which any one might have for a daughter。 Now upon the coming of a
stranger to the rich man； he would not vouchsafe to kill any of
his own flocks； and thence feast his friend； but he sent for the
poor man's lamb； and took her away from him； and made her ready
for food； and thence feasted the stranger。〃 This discourse
troubled the king exceedingly； and he denounced to Nathan； that
〃this man was a wicked man who could dare to do such a thing； and
that it was but just that he should restore the lamb fourfold；
and be punished with death for it also。〃 Upon this Nathan
immediately said that he was himself the man who ought to suffer
those punishments； and that by his own sentence； and that it was
he who had perpetrated this 'great and horrid crime。 He also
revealed to him； and laid before him； the anger of God against
him； who had made him king over the army of the Hebrews； and lord
of all the nations； and those many and great nations round about
him； who had formerly delivered him out of the hands of Saul； and
had given him such wives as he had justly and legally married；
and now this God was despised by him； and affronted by his
impiety； when he had married； and now had； another man's wife；
and by exposing her husband to the enemy； had really slain him；
'that God would inflict punishments upon him on account of those
instances of wickedness； that his own wives should be forced by
one of his sons； and that he should be treacherously supplanted
by the same son； and that although he had perpetrated his
wickedness secretly； yet should that punishment which he was to
undergo be inflicted publicly upon him； 〃that； moreover；〃 said
he； 〃the child which was born to thee of her shall soon die。〃
When the king was troubled at these messages； and sufficiently
confounded； and said with tears and sorrow that he had sinned；
（for he was without controversy a pious man； and guilty of no sin
at all in his whole life； excepting those in the matter of
Uriah；） God had compassion on him； and was reconciled to him； and
promised that he would preserve to him both his life and his
kingdom； for he said that； seeing he repented of the things he
had done； he was no longer displeased with him。 So Nathan； when
he had delivered this prophecy to the king； returned home。
4。 However； God sent a dangerous distemper upon the child that
was born to David of the wife of Uriah； at which the king was
troubled； and did not take any food for seven days； although his
servants almost forced him to take it； but he clothed himself in
a black garment； and fell down； and lay upon the ground in
sackcloth； entrusting God for the recovery of the child； for he
vehemently loved the child's mother； but when； on the seventh
day； the child was dead； the king's servants durst not tell him
of it； as supposing that when he knew it； he would still less
admit of food； and other care of himself； by reason of his grief
at the death of his son； since when the child was only sick； he
so greatly afflicted himself； and grieved for him： but when the
king perceived that his servants were in disorder； and seemed to
be affected； as those who are very desirous to conceal something；
he understood that the child was dead； and when he had called one
of his servants to him； and discovered that so it was； he arose
up and washed himself； and took a white garment； and came into
the tabernacle of God。 He also commanded them to set supper
before him； and thereby greatly surprised his kindred and
servants； while he did nothing of this when the child was sick；
but did it all when he was dead。 Whereupon having first begged
leave to ask him a question； they besought him to tell them the
reason of this his conduct； he then called them unskillful
people； and instructed them how he had hopes of the recovery of
the child while it was alive； and accordingly did all that was
proper for him to do； as thinking by such means to render God
propitious to him； but that when the child was dead； there was no
longer any occasion for grief； which was then to no purpose。 When
he had said this； they commended the king's wisdom and
understanding。 He then went in unto Bathsheba his wife； and she
conceived and bare a son； and by the command of Nathan the
prophet called his name Solomon。
5。 But Joab sorely distressed the Ammonites in the siege； by
cutting off their waters； and depriving them of other means of
subsistence； till they were in the greatest want of meat and
drink； for they depended only on one small well of water； and
this they durst not drink of too freely； lest the fountain should
entirely fail them。 So he wrote to the king； and informed him
thereof； and persuaded him to come himself to take the city； that
he might have the honor of the victory。 Upon this letter of
Joab's； the king accepted of his good…will and fidelity； and took
with him his army； and came to the destruction of Rabbah； and
when he had taken it by force； he gave it to his soldiers to
plunder it； but he himself took the king of the Ammonites' crown；
whose weight was a talent of gold； （13） and it had in its middle
a precious stone called a sardonyx； which crown David ever after
wore on his own head。 He also found many other vessels in the
city； and those both splendid and of great price； but as for the
men； he tormented them； （14） and then destroyed them； and when he
had taken the other cities of the Ammonites by force； he treated
them after the same manner。
CHAPTER 8。
How Absalom Murdered Amnon； Who Had Forced His Own Sister； And
How He Was Banished And Afterwards Recalled By David。
1。 When the king was returned to Jerusalem； a sad misfortune
befell his house； on the occasion following： He had a daughter；
who was yet a virgin； and very handsome； insomuch that she
surpassed all the most beautiful women； her name was Tamar； she
had the same mother with Absalom。 Now Amnon； David's eldest son；
fell in love with her； and being not able to obtain his desires；
on account of her virginity； and the custody she was under； was
so much out of order； nay； his grief so eat up his body； that he
grew lean； and his color was changed。 Now there was one Jenadab；
a kinsman and friend of his； who discovered this his passion； for
he was an extraordinary wise man； and of great sagacity of mind。
When； therefore； he saw that every morning Amnon was not in body
as he ought to be； he came to him； and desired him to tell him
what was the cause of it： however； he said that he guessed that
it