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！
manner； so he did not neglect the care of the ways； but he laid a
causeway of black stone along the roads that led to Jerusalem；
which was the royal city； both to render them easy for travelers；
and to manifest the grandeur of his riches and government。 He
also parted his chariots； and set them in a regular order； that a
certain number of them should be in every city； still keeping a
few about him； and those cities he called the cities of his
chariots。 And the king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as
stones in the street； and so multiplied cedar trees in the plains
of Judea； which did not grow there before； that they were like
the multitude of common sycamore trees。 He also ordained the
Egyptian merchants that brought him their merchandise to sell him
a chariot； with a pair of horses； for six hundred drachmae of
silver； and he sent them to the kings of Syria； and to those
kings that were beyond Euphrates。
5。 But although Solomon was become the most glorious of kings；
and the best beloved by God； and had exceeded in wisdom and
riches those that had been rulers of the Hebrews before him； yet
did not he persevere in this happy state till he died。 Nay； he
forsook the observation of the laws of his fathers； and came to
an end no way suitable to our foregoing history of him。 He grew
mad in his love of women； and laid no restraint on himself in his
lusts； nor was he satisfied with the women of his country alone；
but he married many wives out of foreign nations； Sidontans； and
Tyrians； and Ammonites； and Edomites； and he transgressed the
laws of Moses； which forbade Jews to marry any but those that
were of their own people。 He also began to worship their gods；
which he did in order to the gratification of his wives； and out
of his affection for them。 This very thing our legislator
suspected； and so admonished us beforehand； that we should not
marry women of other countries； lest we should be entangled with
foreign customs； and apostatize from our own； lest we should
leave off to honor our own God； and should worship their gods。
But Solomon was Gllen headlong into unreasonable pleasures； and
regarded not those admonitions； for when he had married seven
hundred wives； （19） the daughters of princes and of eminent
persons； and three hundred concubines； and those besides the king
of Egypt's daughter； he soon was governed by them； till he came
to imitate their practices。 He was forced to give them this
demonstration of his kindness and affection to them； to live
according to the laws of their countries。 And as he grew into
years； and his reason became weaker by length of time； it was not
sufficient to recall to his mind the institutions of his own
country； so he still more and more contemned his own God； and
continued to regard the gods that his marriages had introduced
nay； before this happened； he sinned； and fell into an error
about the observation of the laws； when he made the images of
brazen oxen that supported the brazen sea； （20） and the images of
lions about his own throne； for these he made； although it was
not agreeable to piety so to do； and this he did； notwithstanding
that he had his father as a most excellent and domestic pattern
of virtue； and knew what a glorious character he had left behind
him； because of his piety towards God。 Nor did he imitate David；
although God had twice appeared to him in his sleep； and exhorted
him to imitate his father。 So he died ingloriously。 There came
therefore a prophet to him； who was sent by God； and told him
that his wicked actions were not concealed from God； and
threatened him that he should not long rejoice in what he had
done； that； indeed； the kingdom should not be taken from him
while he was alive； because God had promised to his father David
that he would make him his successor； but that he would take care
that this should befall his son when he ：was dead； not that he
would withdraw all the people from him； but that he would give
ten tribes to a servant of his； and leave only two tribes to
David's grandson for his sake； because he loved God； and for the
sake of the city of Jerusalem； wherein he should have a temple。
6。 When Solomon heard this he was grieved； and greatly
confounded； upon this change of almost all that happiness which
had made him to be admired； into so bad a state； nor had there
much time passed after the prophet had foretold what was coming
before God raised up an enemy against him； whose name was Ader；
who took the following occasion of his enmity to him。 He was a
child of the stock of the Edomites； and of the blood royal； and
when Joab； the captain of David's host； laid waste the land of
Edom； and destroyed all that were men grown； and able to bear
arms； for six months' time； this Hadad fled away； and came to
Pharaoh the king of Egypt； who received him kindly； and assigned
him a house to dwell in； and a country to supply him with food；
and when he was grown up he loved him exceedingly； insomuch that
he gave him his wife's sister； whose name was Tahpenes； to wife；
by whom he had a son； who was brought up with the king's
children。 When Hadad heard in Egypt that both David and Joab were
dead； he came to Pharaoh； and desired that he would permit him to
go to his own country； upon which the king asked what it was that
he wanted； and what hardship he had met with； that he was so
desirous to leave him。 And when he was often troublesome to him；
and entreated him to dismiss him； he did not then do it； but at
the time when Solomon's affairs began to grow worse； on account
of his forementioned transgressions （21） and God's anger against
him for the same； Hadad； by Pharaoh's permission； came to Edom；
and when he was not able to make the people forsake Solomon； for
it was kept under by many garrisons； and an innovation was not to
be made with safety； he removed thence； and came into Syria；
there he lighted upon one Rezon； who had run away from Hadadezer；
king of Zobah； his master； and was become a robber in that
country； and joined friendship with him； who had already a band
of robbers about him。 So he went up； and seized upon that part of
Syria； and was made king thereof。 He also made incursions into
the land of Israel； and did it no small mischief； and spoiled it；
and that in the lifetime of Solomon。 And this was the calamity
which the Hebrews suffered by Hadad。
7。 There was also one of Solomon's own nation that made an
attempt against him； Jeroboam the son of Nebat； who had an
expectation of rising； from a prophecy that had been made to him
long before。 He was left a child by his father； and brought up by
his mother； and when Solomon saw that he was of an active and
bold disposition； he made him the curator of the walls which he
built round about Jerusalem； and he took such care of those
works； that the king approved of his behavior； and gave him； as a
reward for the same； the charge of the tribe of Joseph。 And when
about that time Jeroboam was once going out of Jerusalem； a
prophet of the city Shilo； whose name was Ahijah； met him and
saluted him； and when he had taken him a little aside to a place
out of the way； where there was not one other person pres