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same manner as I have formerly said in my advice to thee； to be
righteous towards thy subjects； and religious towards God； that
hath given thee thy kingdom； to observe his commands and his
laws； which he hath sent us by Moses； and neither do thou out of
favor nor flattery allow any lust or other passion to weigh with
thee to disregard them； for if thou transgressest his laws； thou
wilt lose the favor of God； and thou wilt turn away his
providence from thee in all things； but if thou behave thyself so
as it behooves thee； and as I exhort thee； thou wilt preserve our
kingdom to our family； and no other house will bear rule over the
Hebrews but we ourselves for all ages。 Be thou also mindful of
the transgressions of Joab； （26） the captain of the host； who
hath slain two generals out of envy； and those righteous and good
men； Abner the son of Ner； and Amasa the son of Jether； whose
death do thou avenge as shall seem good to thee； since Joab hath
been too hard for me； and more potent than myself； and so hath
escaped punishment hitherto。 I also commit to thee the son of
Barzillai the Gileadite； whom； in order to gratify me； thou shalt
have in great honor； and take great care of； for we have not done
good to him first； but we only repay that debt which we owe to
his father for what he did to me in my flight。 There is also
Shimei the son of Gera； of the tribe of Benjamin； who； after he
had cast many reproaches upon me； when； in my flight； I was going
to Mahanaim； met me at Jordan； and received assurances that he
should then suffer nothing。 Do thou now seek out for some just
occasion； and punish him。〃
2。 When David had given these admonitions to his son about public
affairs； and about his friends； and about those whom he knew to
deserve punishment； he died； having lived seventy years； and
reigned seven years and six months in Hebron over the tribe of
Judah； and thirty…three years in Jerusalem over all the country。
This man was of an excellent character； and was endowed with all
virtues that were desirable in a king； and in one that had the
preservation of so many tribes committed to him； for he was a man
of valor in a very extraordinary degree； and went readily and
first of all into dangers； when he was to fight for his subjects；
as exciting the soldiers to action by his own labors； and
fighting for them； and not by commanding them in a despotic way。
He was also of very great abilities in understanding； and
apprehension of present and future circumstances； when he was to
manage any affairs。 He was prudent and moderate； and kind to such
as were under any calamities； he was righteous and humane； which
are good qualities； peculiarly fit for kings； nor was he guilty
of any offense in the exercise of so great an authority； but in
the business of the wife of Uriah。 He also left behind him
greater wealth than any other king； either of the Hebrews or； of
other nations； ever did。
3。 He was buried by his son Solomon； in Jerusalem； with great
magnificence； and with all the other funeral pomp which kings
used to be buried with； moreover； he had great and immense wealth
buried with him； the vastness of which may be easily conjectured
at by what I shall now say； for a thousand and three hundred
years afterward Hyrcanus the high priest； when he was besieged by
Antiochus； that was called the Pious； the son of Demetrius； and
was desirous of giving him money to get him to raise the siege
and draw off his army； and having no other method of compassing
the money； opened one room of David's sepulcher； and took out
three thousand talents； and gave part of that sum to Antiochus；
and by this means caused the siege to be raised； as we have
informed the reader elsewhere。 Nay； after him； and that many
years； Herod the king opened another room； and took away a great
deal of money； and yet neither of them came at the coffins of the
kings themselves； for their bodies were buried under the earth so
artfully； that they did not appear to even those that entered
into their monuments。 But so much shall suffice us to have said
concerning these matters。
BOOK 8。
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 gr