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 present； he
rent the garment he had on into twelve pieces； and bid Jeroboam
take ten of them； and told him beforehand； that 〃this is the will
of God； he will part the dominion of Solomon； and give one tribe；
with that which is next it； to his son； because of the promise
made to David for his succession； and will have ten tribes to
thee； because Solomon hath sinned against him； and delivered up
himself to women； and to their gods。 Seeing therefore thou
knowest the cause for which God hath changed his mind； and is
alienated from Solomon； be thou
8。 So Jeroboam was elevated by these words of the prophet； and
being a young man； （22） of a warm temper； and ambitious of
greatness； he could not be quiet； and when he had so great a
charge in the government； and called to mind what had been
revealed to him by Ahijah； he endeavored to persuade the people
to forsake Solomon； to make a disturbance； and to bring the
government over to himself。 But when Solomon understood his
intention and treachery； he sought to catch him and kill him； but
Jeroboam was informed of it beforehand； and fled to Shishak； the
king of Egypt； and there abode till the death of Solomon； by
which means he gained these two advantages to suffer no harm from
Solomon； and to be preserved for the kingdom。 So Solomon died
when he was already an old man； having reigned eighty years； and
lived ninety…four。 He was buried in Jerusalem； having been
superior to all other kings in happiness； and riches； and wisdom；
excepting that when he was growing into years he was deluded by
women； and transgressed the law； concerning which transgressions；
and the miseries which befell the Hebrews thereby； I think proper
to discourse at another opportunity。
CHAPTER 8。
How； Upon The Death Of Solomon The People Forsook His Son
Rehoboam； And Ordained Jeroboam King Over The Ten Tribes。
1。 Now when Solomon was dead； and his son Rehoboam （who was born
of an Amntonite wife； whose name was Naamah） had succeeded him in
the kingdom； the rulers of the multitude sent immediately into
Egypt； and called back Jeroboam； and when he was come to them； to
the city Shethem； Rehoboam came to it also； for he had resolved
to declare himself king to the Israelites while they were there
gathered together。 So the rulers of the people； as well as
Jeroboam； came to him； and besought him； and said that he ought
to relax； and to be gentler than his father； in the servitude he
had imposed on them； because they had borne a heavy yoke； and
that then they should be better affected to him； and be well
contented to serve him under his moderate government； and should
do it more out of love than fear。 But Rehoboam told them they
should come to him again in three days' time； when he would give
an answer to their request。 This delay gave occasion to a present
suspicion； since he had not given them a favorable answer to
their mind immediately； for they thought that he should have
given them a humane answer off…hand； especially since he was but
young。 However； they thought that this consultation about it； and
that he did not presently give them a denial； afforded them some
good hope of success。
2。 Rehoboam now called his father's friends； and advised with
them what sort of answer he ought to give to the multitude； upon
which they gave him the advice which became friends； and those
that knew the temper of such a multitude。 They advised him to
speak in a way more popular than suited the grandeur of a king；
because he would thereby oblige them to submit to him with
goodwill； it being most agreeable to subjects that their kings
should be almost upon the level with them。 But Rehoboam rejected
this so good； and in general so profitable； advice； （it was such；
at least； at that time when he was to be made king；） God himself；
I suppose； causing what was most advantageous to be condemned by
him。 So he called for the young men who were brought up with him；
and told them what advice the elders had given him； and bade them
speak what they thought he ought to do。 They advised him to give
the following answer to the people （for neither their youth nor
God himself suffered them to discern what was best）： That his
little finger should be thicker than his father's loins； and if
they had met with hard usage from his father； they should
experience much rougher treatment from him； and if his father had
chastised them with whips； they must expect that he would do it
with scorpions。 （23） The king was pleased with this advice； and
thought it agreeable to the dignity of his government to give
them such an answer。 Accordingly； when the multitude was come
together to hear his answer on the third day； all the people were
in great expectation； and very intent to hear what the king would
say to them； and supposed they should hear somewhat of a kind
nature； but he passed by his friends； and answered as the young
men had given him counsel。 Now this was done according to the
will of God； that what Ahijah had foretold might come to pass。
3。 By these words the people were struck as it were by all iron
hammer； and were so grieved at the words； as if they had already
felt the effects of them； and they had great indignation at the
king； and all cried out aloud； and said； 〃We will have no longer
any relation to David or his posterity after this day。〃 And they
said further； 〃We only leave to Rehoboam the temple which his
father built；〃 and they threatened to forsake him。 Nay； they were
so bitter； and retained their wrath so long； that when he sent
Adoram； which was over the tribute； that he might pacify them；
and render them milder； and persuade them to forgive him； if he
had said any thing that was rash or grievous to them in his
youth； they would not hear it； but threw stones at him； and
killed him。 When Rehoboam saw this； he thought himself aimed at
by those stones with which they had killed his servant； and
feared lest he should undergo the last of punishments in earnest；
so he got immediately into his chariot； and fled to Jerusalem；
where the tribe of Judah and that of Benjamin ordained him king；
but the rest of the multitude forsook the sons of David from that
day； and appointed Jeroboam to be the ruler of their public
affairs。 Upon this Rehoboam； Solomon's son； assembled a great
congregation of those two tribes that submitted to him； and was
ready to take a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men out of the
army； to make an expedition against Jeroboam and his people； that
he might force them by war to be his servants； but he was
forbidden of God by the prophet ＇Shemaiah＇ to go to war； for that
it was not just that brethren of the same contry should fight one
against another。 He also said that this defection of the
multitude was according to the purpose of God。 So he did not
proceed in this expedition。 And now I will relate first the
actions of Jeroboam the king of Israel； after which we will
relate what are therewith connected； the actions of Rehoboam； the
king of the two tribes； by this means we shall preserve the good
order of the history entire。
4。 When therefore Jeroboam had built him a palace in the city
Shechem； he dwelt there。 He also built him another at Penuel； a
city so called。 And now the feast of tabernacles was approaching
in a little time； Jeroboam considered； that if he should permit
the multitude to go to worship God at Jerusalem； and there to
celebrate the festival； they would probably repent of what they
had done； and be enticed by the temple； and by the worship of God
there performed； and would leave him； and return to their first
kings； and if so； he should run the risk of losing his own life；
so he invented this contrivance； He made two golden heifers； and
built two little temples for them； the one in the city Bethel；
and the other in Dan； which last was at the fountains of the
Lesser Jordan （24） and he put the heifers into both the little
temples； in the forementioned cities。 And when he had called
those ten tribes together over whom he ruled； he made a speech to
the people in these words： 〃I suppose； my countrymen； that you
know this； that every place hath God in it； nor is there any one
determinate place in which he is； but he every where hears and
sees those that worship him； on which account I do not think it
right for you to go so long a journey to Jerusalem； which is an
enemy's city； to worship him。 It was a man that built the temple：
I have also made two golden heifers； dedicated to the same God；
and the one of them I have consecrated in the city Bethel； and
the other in Dan； to the end that those of you that dwell nearest
those cities may go to them； and worship God there； and I will
ordain for you certain priests and Levites from among yourselves；
that you may have no want of the tribe of Levi； or of the sons of
Aaron； but let him that is desirous among you of being a priest；
bring to God a bullock and a ram； which they say Aaron the first
priest brought also。〃 When Jeroboam had said this； he deluded the
people； and made them to revolt from the worship of their
forefathers； and to transgress their l