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！
its inhabitants； he utterly overthrew it； and gave it as a
present to his daughter； who had been married to Solomon； for
which reason the king rebuilt it； as a city that was naturally
strong； and might be useful in wars； and the mutations of affairs
that sometimes happen。 Moreover； he built two other cities not
far from it； Beth…horon was the name of one of them； and Baalath
of the other。 He also built other cities that lay conveniently
for these； in order to the enjoyment of pleasures and delicacies
in them； such as were naturally of a good temperature of the air；
and agreeable for fruits ripe in their proper seasons； and well
watered with springs。 Nay； Solomon went as far as the desert
above Syria； and possessed himself of it； and built there a very
great city； which was distant two days' journey from Upper Syria；
and one day's journey from Euphrates； and six long days' journey
from Babylon the Great。 Now the reason why this city lay so
remote from the parts of Syria that are inhabited is this； that
below there is no water to be had； and that it is in that place
only that there are springs and pits of water。 When he had
therefore built this city； and encompassed it with very strong
walls； he gave it the name of Tadmor； and that is the name it is
still called by at this day among the Syrians； but the Greeks
name it Palmyra。
2。 Now Solomon the king was at this time engaged in building
these cities。 But if any inquire why all the kings of Egypt from
Menes； who built Memphis； and was many years earlier than our
forefather Abraham； until Solomon； where the interval was more
than one thousand three hundred years； were called Pharaohs； and
took it from one Pharaoh that lived after the kings of that
interval； I think it necessary to inform them of it； and this in
order to cure their ignorance； and to make the occasion of that
name manifest。 Pharaoh； in the Egyptian tongue； signifies a king
（15） but I suppose they made use of other names from their
childhood； but when they were made kings； they changed them into
the name which in their own tongue denoted their authority； for
thus it was also that the kings of Alexandria； who were called
formerly by other names； when they took the kingdom； were named
Ptolemies； from their first king。 The Roman emperors also were
from their nativity called by other names； but are styled
Caesars； their empire and their dignity imposing that name upon
them； and not suffering them to continue in those names which
their fathers gave them。 I suppose also that Herodotus of
Halicarnassus； when he said there were three hundred and thirty
kings of Egypt after Menes； who built Memphis； did therefore not
tell us their names； because they were in common called Pharaohs；
for when after their death there was a queen reigned； he calls
her by her name Nicaule； as thereby declaring； that while the
kings were of the male line； and so admitted of the same nature；
while a woman did not admit the same； he did therefore set down
that her name； which she could not naturally have。 As for myself；
I have discovered from our own books； that after Pharaoh； the
father…in…law of Solomon； no other king of Egypt did any longer
use that name； and that it was after that time when the forenamed
queen of Egypt and Ethiopia came to Solomon； concerning whom we
shall inform the reader presently； but I have now made mention of
these things； that I may prove that our books and those of the
Egyptians agree together in many things。
3。 But king Solomon subdued to himself the remnant of the
Canaanites that had not before submitted to him； those I mean
that dwelt in Mount Lebanon； and as far as the city Hamath； and
ordered them to pay tribute。 He also chose out of them every year
such as were to serve him in the meanest offices； and to do his
domestic works； and to follow husbandry； for none of the Hebrews
were servants ＇in such low employments＇： nor was it reasonable；
that when God had brought so many nations under their power； they
should depress their own people to such mean offices of life；
rather than those nations； while all the Israelites were
concerned in warlike affairs； and were in armor； and were set
over the chariots and the horses； rather than leading the life of
slaves。 He appointed also five hundred and fifty rulers over
those Canaanites who were reduced to such domestic slavery； who
received the entire care of them from the king； and instructed
them in those labors and operations wherein he wanted their
assistance。
4。 Moreover； the king built many ships in the Egyptian Bay of the
Red Sea； in a certain place called Ezion…geber： it is now called
Berenice； and is not far from the city Eloth。 This country
belonged formerly to the Jews； and became useful for shipping
from the donations of Hiram king of Tyre； for he sent a
sufficient number of men thither for pilots； and such as were
skillful in navigation； to whom Solomon gave this command： That
they should go along with his own stewards to the land that was
of old called Ophir； but now the Aurea Chersonesus； which belongs
to India； to fetch him gold。 And when they had gathered four
hundred talents together； they returned to the king again。
5。 There was then a woman queen of Egypt and Ethiopia； （16） she
was inquisitive into philosophy； and one that on other accounts
also was to be admired。 When this queen heard of the virtue and
prudence of Solomon； she had a great mind to see him； and the
reports that went every day abroad induced her to come to him；
she being desirous to be satisfied by her own experience； and not
by a bare hearing； （for reports thus heard are likely enough to
comply with a false opinion； while they wholly depend on the
credit of the relators；） so she resolved to come to him； and that
especially in order to have a trial of his wisdom； while she
proposed questions of very great difficulty； and entreated that
he would solve their hidden meaning。 Accordingly she came to
Jerusalem with great splendor and rich furniture； for she brought
with her camels laden with gold； with several sorts of sweet
spices； and with precious stones。 Now； upon the king's kind
reception of her； he both showed a great desire to please her；
and easily comprehending in his mind the meaning of the curious
questions she propounded to him； he resolved them sooner than any
body could have expected。 So she was amazed at the wisdom of
Solomon； and discovered that it was more excellent upon trial
than what she had heard by report beforehand； and especially she
was surprised at the fineness and largeness of his royal palace；
and not less so at the good order of the apartments； for she
observed that the king had therein shown great wisdom； but she
was beyond measure astonished at the house which was called the
Forest of Lebanon； as also at the magnificence of his daily
table； and the circumstances of its preparation and ministration；
with the apparel of his servants that waited； and the skillful
and decent management of their attendance： nor was she less
affected with those daily sacrifices which were offered to God；
and the careful management which the priests and Levites used
about them。