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that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoary head go down to hell in peace. 7 But shew kindness to the sons of Berzellai the Galaadite, and let them eat at thy table: for they met me when I fled from the face of Absalom thy brother.

-8 Thou hast also with thee Semei the son of Gera the son of Jemini of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse, when I went to the camp; but because he came down to meet me when I passed over the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying: I will not kill thee with the sword:

9 Do not thou hold him guiltless. But thou art a wise man, and knowest what to do with him, and thou shalt bring down his gray hairs with blood to hell.

10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

11 And the days that David reigned in Israel, were forty years: in Hebron he reigned seven years, in Jerusalem thirty-three.

12 And Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was strengthened exceedingly.

13 And Adonias the son of Haggith came to Bethsabee the mother of Solomon. And she said to him: Is thy coming peaceable? He answered: Peaceable.

14 And he added: I have a word to speak with thee. She said to him: Speak. And he said: 15 Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had preferred me to be their king: but the kingdom is transferred, and is become my brother's: for it was appointed him by the Lord.

16 Now therefore I ask one petition of thee; turn not away my face. And she said to him: Say on.

17 And he said: I pray thee speak to king Solomon (for he cannot deny thee any thing) to give me Abisag the Sunamitess to wife.

18 And Bethsabee said: Well, I will speak for thee to the king.

19 Then Bethsabee came to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonias: and the king arose to meet her, and bowed to her, and sat down upon his throne: and a throne was set for the king's mother, and she sat on his right hand. 20 And she said to him: I desire one small petition of thee, do not put me to confusion. And the king said to her: My mother, ask: for I must not turn away thy face.

21 And she said: Let Abisag the Sunamitess be given to Adonias thy brother to wife.

22 And king Solomon answered, and said to his mother: Why dost thou ask Abisag the Sunamitess for Adonias? ask for him also the kingdom: for he is my elder brother, and hath Abiathar the priest, and Joab the son of Sarvia. 23 Then king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying: So and so may God do to me, and add

2 Kin. 19. 31.-b 2 Kin. 16, 5. & 19. 19.- Acts, 2. 29.-d 1 Par. 29, 27-1 Kin. 2. 31.- 2 Kin. 3. 27. 2 Kin. 10. 20.

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more, if Adonias hath not spoken this word against his own life.

24 And now as the Lord liveth, who hath es-tablished me, and placed me upon the throne of David my father, and who hath made me a house, as he promised, Adonias shall be put to death this day.

25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Banaias the son of Joiada, who slew him, and he died.

26 And the king said also to Abiathar the přiest: Go to Anathoth to thy lands, for indeed thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou didst carry the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and hast endured trouble in all the troubles my father endured.

27 So Solomon cast out Abiathar, from being the priest of the Lord, that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he spoke concerning the house of Heli in Silo.

28 And the news came to Joab, because Joab had turned after Adonias, and had not turned after Solomon: and Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord and took hold on the horn of the altar. 29 And it was told king Solomon, that Joab was fled into the tabernacle of the Lord, and was by the altar: and Solomon sent Banaias the son of Joiada, saying: Go, kill him. 30 And Banaias eame to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said to him: Thus saith the king: Come forth. And he said: I will not come forth, but here I will die. Banaias brought word back to the king, saying: Thus saith Joab, and thus he answered me.

31 And the king said to him: Do as he hath said: and kill him, and bury him, and thou shalt remove the innocent blood which hath been shed by Joab, from me, and from the house of my father.

32 And the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head, because he murdered two men, just and better than himself: and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing it. Abner the son of Ner, general of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, general of the army of Juda.

33 And their blood shall return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever. But to David and his seed and his house, and to his throne be peace for ever from the Lord. 34 So Banaias the son of Joiada went up, and setting upon him slew him, and he was buried in his house in the desert.

35 And the king appointed Banaias the son of Joiada in his room over the army, and Sadoe the priest he put in the place of Abiathar. 36 The king also sent, and called for Semei, and said to him: Build thee a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there: and go not out from thence any whither.

37 For on what day soever thou shalt go out, and shalt pass over the brook Cedron, know that thou shalt be put to death: thy blood shall upon thy own head:

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38 And Semei said to the king: The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will nify the place or state of damnation; but the piace and thy servant do. And Semei dwelt in Jerusa

Ver. 6. To hell. This word hell doth not here sig

state of the dead.

lem, many days.

39 And it came to pass after three years, that I am but a child, and know not how to go out the servants of Semei ran away to Achis the and come in. son of Maacha the king of Geth: and it was told Semei that his servants were gone to Geth. 40 And Semei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Achis to Geth to seek his servants, and he brought them out of Geth.

41 And it was told Solomon that Semei had gone from Jerusalem to Geth, and was come back. 42 And sending he called for him, and said to him: Did I not protest to thee by the Lord, and tell thee before: On what day soever thou shalt go out and walk abroad any whither, know that thou shalt die? And thou answeredst me: The word that I have heard is good.

43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment that I laid upon thee?

8 And thy servant is in the midst of the people which thou hast chosen, an immense people, which cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, and discern between good and evil." For who shall be able to judge this people, thy people which is so numerous. 10 And the word was pleasing to the Lord that Solomon had asked such a thing. 11 And the Lord said to Solomon: Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life nor riches, nor the lives of thy enemies, but hast asked for thyself wisdom to discern judgment,

12 Behold I have done for thee according to 44 And the king said to Semei: Thou know-thy words, and have given thee a wise and unest all the evil, of which thy heart is conscious, derstanding heart, insomuch that there hath which thou didst to David my father: the Lord been no one like thee before thee, nor shall hath returned thy wickedness upon thy own head: arise after thee. 45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord for ever.

46 So the king commanded Banaias the son of Joiada: and he went out and struck him, and he died.

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ND the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon, and he made affinity with Pharao the king of Egypt: for he took his daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the

wall of Jerusalem round about.

2 But yet the people sacrificed in the high places: for there was no temple built to the name of the Lord until that day.

13 Yea and the things also which thou didst not ask, I have given thee: to wit, riches and glory, so that no one hath been like thee among the kings in all days heretofore.

14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, and keep my precepts, and my commandments, as thy father walked, I will lengthen thy days.

15 And Solomon awaked, and perceived that it was a dream: and when he was come to Jerusalem, he stood before the ark of the covesacrificed victims of peace-offerings, and made Inant of the Lord, and offered holocausts, and a great feast for all his servants.

16 Then there came two women that were harlots, to the king, and stood before him: lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house. 17 And one of them said: I beseech thee, my and I was delivered of a child with her in the chamber.

18 And the third day, after that I was delivered, she also was delivered, and we were to3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the precepts of David his father, only he sacri-gether, and no other person with us in the house. only we two. ficed in the high places: and burnt incense.

4 He went therefore to Gabaon, to sacrifice for in her sleep she overlaid him. 19 And this woman's child died in the night there for that was the great high place: a thousand victims for holocausts did Solomon offer upon that altar in Gabaon.

5 And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, saying: Ask what thou wilt that I should give three.

6 And Solomon said: Thou hast shewn great mercy to thy servant David my father, even as he walked before thee in truth, and justice, and an upright heart with thee: and thou hast kept thy great mercy for him, and hast given him son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

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7 And now, O Lord God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and

A. M. 2991. A. C. 1013.-b 2 Par. 1. 1.- 2 Par. 8. 11.

Par. 1. 10.- Wis. 7. 11. Mat. 6. 29.

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Ch. 3. v. 2. High places. That is, altars where they worshipped the Lord, but not according to the ordinance of the law; which allowed of no other places for sacrifice but the temple of God. Among these high places that of Gabaon was the chiefest, because there was the tabernacle of the testimony, which had been removed from Silo to Nobe, and from Nobe to Gabaon.

she took my child from my side, while I thy
20 And rising in the dead time of the night,
and laid her dead child in my bosom.
handmaid was asleep, and laid it in her bosom.

21 And when I rose in the morning to give dering him more diligently when it was clear my child suck, behold it was dead: but considay, I found that it was not mine which I bore.

22 And the other woman answered: It is not is alive. On the contrary she said: Thou liest: so as thou sayst, but thy child is dead, and mine in this manner they strove before the king. for my child liveth, and thy child is dead. And 23 Then said the king: The one saith, My child is alive, and thy child is dead. And the other answereth: Nay, but thy child is dead, and mine liveth.

24 The king therefore said: Bring me a sword. And when they had brought a sword before the king.

25 Divide, said he, the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

26 But the woman, whose child was alive.said | 20 Juda and Israel were innumerable, as the to the king, (for her bowels were moved upon her sand of the sea in multitude: eating and drinkchild) I beseech thee, my lord, give her the child ing, and rejoicing. alive, and do not kill it. But the other said: Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. 27 The king answered, and said: Give the living child to this woman, and let it not be killed, for she is the mother thereof.

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Solomon's chief officers. His riches and wisdom. ND king Solomon reigned over all Israel:

21 And Solomon had under him all the kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines even to the border of Egypt: and they brought him presents, and served him all the days of his life.

22 And the provision of Solomon for each day, was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,

23 Ten fat oxen and twenty out of the pastures, and a hundred rams, besides venison of harts, roes, and buffles, and fatted fowls. 24 For he had all the country which was be

Az And these were the princes which he yond the river, from Thaphsa to Gazan, and

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had: Azarias the son of Sadoc the priest : 3 Elihoreph, and Ahia,the sons of Sisa, scribes: Josaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder:

4 Banaias the son of Joiada, over the army and Sadoc and Abiathar priests.

5 Azarias the son of Nathan, over them that were about the king: Zabud the son of Nathan priest, the king's friend:

6 And Ahisar governor of the house: and Adoniram the son of Abda over the tribute.

7 And Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, who provided victuals for the king and for his household: for every one provided necessaries, each man his month in the year. 8 And these are their names: Benhur, in mount Ephraim,

9 Bendecar, in Macces, and in Salebim, and in Bethsames, and in Elon, and in Bethanan. 10 Benhesed in Aruboth: his was Socho, and all the land of Epher.

11 Benabinadab, to whom belonged all Nephath-Dor, he had Tapheth the daughter of Solomon to wife.

12 Bana the son of Ahilud, who governed Thanac and Mageddo, and all Bethsan, which is by Sarthana beneath Jezrael, from Bethsan unto Abelmehula over-against Jecmaan.

13 Bengaber in Ramoth Galaad: he had the towns of Jair the son of Manasses in Galaad, he was chief in all the country of Argob, which is in Basan, threescore great cities with walls,

⚫ and brazen bolts.

14 Ahinadab the son of Addo was chief in Manaim.

all the kings of those countries: and he had peace on every side round about.

25 And Juda and Israel dwelt without any fear, every one under his vine, and under his fig-tree, from Dan to Bersabee, all the days of Solomon. 26 b And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and twelve thousand for the saddle.

27 And the foresaid governors of the king fed them: and they furnished the necessaries also for king Solomon's table, with great care in their time.

28 They brought barley also and straw for the horses, and beasts, to the place where the king was, according as it was appointed them. 29 And God gave to Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30 And the wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the Orientals, and of the Egyptians, 31 And he was wiser than all men: wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Dorda the sons of Mahol, and he was renowned in all nations round about. 32 Solomon also spoke three thousand parables: and his poems were a thousand and five. 33 And he treated about trees from the cedar

that is in Libanus, unto the hyssop that cometh out of the wall: and he discoursed of beasts, and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34 And they came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who heard of his wisdom. CHAP. V.

15 Achimaas in Nephtali: he also had Base-Hiram king of Tyre agreeth to furnish timber and math the daughter of Solomon to wife.

16 Baana the son of Husi, in Aser and in Baloth. 17 Josaphat the son of Pharue, in Issachar. 18 Semei the son of Ela in Benjamin.

workmen for building the temple: the number of workmen and overseers.

AND

Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon: for he heard that they had 19 Gaber the son of Uri, in the land of Ga-anointed him king in the room of his father: laad, in the land of Sehon the king of the for Hiram had always been David's friend. Amorrhites and of Og the king of Basan, over all that were in that land.

Eneli. 47. 15-2 Par. 9. 25.- Eccli. 47. 16.d A. M. 2992.

A. C. 1012- 2 Kin. 7. 13. 1 Par. 22. 10.

Ch. 4. v. 4. Abiathar. By this it appears that Abiathar was not altog ther deposed from the high priesthood; but only banished to his country house, and by that means excluded from the exercise of his functions. Ver 21. The river. Euphrates,

Ver. 32. Three thousand parables, &c. These works are all lost, excenting some part of the parables extant in the book of Proverbs; and his chief poem called the

Canticle of Canticles.

2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying: 3 Thou knowest the will of David my father, and that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars that were round about him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

4 But now the Lord my God hath given me rest round about: and there is no adversary nor evil occurrence.

5 Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying: Thy son, whom

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I will set upon the throne in thy place, he shall build a house to my name.

6 Give orders therefore that thy servants cut me down cedar trees out of Libanus, and let my servants be with thy servants: and I will give thee the hire of thy servants whatsoever thou wilt ask, for thou knowest how there is not among my people a man that has skill to hew wood like to the Sidonians.

7 Now when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced exceedingly, and said: Blessed be the Lord God this day, who hath given to David a very wise son over this numerous people.

8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I have heard all thou hast desired of me: and I will do all thy desire concerning cedar trees, and fir trees. 9 My servants shall bring them down from Libanus to the sea and I will put them together in floats in the sea, and convey them to the place, which thou shalt signify to me; and will land them there, and thou shalt receive them and thou shalt allow me necessaries, to furnish food for my household.

10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees, and fir trees, according to all his desire.

11 And Solomon allowed Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat, for provision for his house, and twenty measures of the purest oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram every year.

12 And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they two made a leagued together.

month Zio (the same is the second month,) he
began to build a house to the Lord.
2 And the housewhich king Solomon built to the
Lord, was threescore cubits in length, and twen-
ty cubits in breadth, and thirty cubits in height.
3 And there was a porch before the temple of
twenty cubits in length, according to the measure
of the breadth of the temple: and it was ten
cubits in breadth before the face of the temple.
4 And he made in the temple oblique windows.
5 And upon the wall of the temple he built
floors round about, in the walls of the house
round about the temple and the oracle, and he
made sides round about.

6 The floor that was underneath, was five cubits in breadth, and the middle floor was six cubits in breadth, and the third floor was seven cubits in breadth. And he put beams in the house round about on the outside, that they might not be fastened in the walls of the temple. 7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stones hewed and made ready; so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house when it was in building. 8 The door for the middle side was on the right hand of the house: and by winding stairs they went up to the middle room, and from the middle to the third.

9 So he built the house, and finished it: and he covered the house with roofs of cedar. 10 And he built a floor over all the house five cubits in height, and he covered the house with timber of cedar.

11 And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying:

13 And king Solomon chose workmen out of all Israel, and the levy was of thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand every month by turns, so that two months they were at home: and Adoniram was over this levy. 15 And Solomon had seventy thousand to car-spoke to David thy father. ry burdens, and eighty thousand to hew stones in the mountain:

12 This house which thou buildest, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments, walking in them, I will fulfil my word to thee, which I

16 Besides the overseers who were over every work, in number three thousand, and three hundred that ruled over the people, and them that did the work.

17 And the king commanded, that they should bring great stones, costly stones, for the foundation of the temple, and should square them:

18 And the masons of Solomon, and the masons of Hiram hewed them: and the Giblians prepared timber and stones to build the house. CHAP. VI.

The building of Solomon's temple.

AND it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of the reign of Solomon over Israel, in the

Supra, 3. 12.-b A. M. 2992. A. C. 1012.- 2 Par. 3. 1.2 Kin. 7. 16.- 1 Per. 22. 9.

13 And I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. 14 So Solomon built the house and finished it. 15 And he built the walls of the house on the inside, with boards of cedar, from the floor of the house to the top of the walls, and to the roofs, he covered it with boards of cedar on the inside: and he covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.

16 And he built up twenty cubits with boards
of cedar at the hinder part of the temple, from
the floor to the top and made the inner house
of the oracle to be the Holy of Holies.
17 And the temple itself before the doors of

the oracle was forty cubits long.
18 And all the house was covered within with
cedar, having the turnings, and the joints thereof
artfully wrought, and carvings projecting out.
all was covered with boards of cedar: and ne
stone could be seen in the wall at all.

19 And he made the oracle in the midst of the

house, in the inner part, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

Ch. 6 v. 5. Upon the wall, i, e. loining to the wall. Ib. He built floors, &c. Chambers or cells adjoining to the temple, for the use of the temple, and of the priests, so contrived as to be between the inward and outward wall of the temple, in three stories, one aboveanother. Ib. The oracle. The inner temple or holy of holies, where God gave his oracles. Ver.7. Made ready.&c. So the stones for the building of God's eternal temple, in the heavenly Jerusalem (who are the faithful,) must first be hewn and polished here by many trials and sufferings, before they san be admitted to have a place in that celestial structure. 21 And the house before the oracle he overlaid

20 Now the oracle was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in height. And he covered and overlaid it with most pure gold. And the altar also he covered with cedar.

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