said that he would rather have it than a great deal of money。
When these three men heard what he said； they ran away
immediately； and burst through the midst of their enemy's camp；
and came to Bethlehem； and when they had drawn the water； they
returned again through the enemy's camp to the king； insomuch
that the Philistines were so surprised at their boldness and
alacrity； that they were quiet； and did nothing against them； as
if they despised their small number。 But when the water was
brought to the king； he would not drink it； saying； that it was
brought by the danger and the blood of men； and that it was not
proper on that account to drink it。 But he poured it out to God；
and gave him thanks for the salvation of the men。 Next to these
was Abishai； Joab's brother； for he in one day slew six hundred。
The fifth of these was Benaiah； by lineage a priest； for being
challenged by ＇two＇ eminent men in the country of Moab； he
overcame them by his valor； Moreover； there was a man； by nation
an Egyptian； who was of a vast bulk； and challenged him； yet did
he； when he was unarmed； kill him with his own spear； which he
threw at him； for he caught him by force； and took away his
weapons while he was alive and fighting； and slew him with his
own weapons。 One may also add this to the forementioned actions
of the same man； either as the principal of them in alacrity； or
as resembling the rest。 When God sent a snow； there was a lion
who slipped and fell into a certain pit； and because the pit's
mouth was narrow it was evident he would perish； being enclosed
with the snow； so when he saw no way to get out and save himself；
he roared。 When Benaiah heard the wild beast； he went towards
him； and coming at the noise he made； he went down into the mouth
of the pit and smote him； as he struggled； with a stake that lay
there； and immediately slew him。 The other thirty…three were like
these in valor also。
CHAPTER 13。
That When David Had Numbered the People； They Were Punished； and
How the Divine Compassion Restrained That Punishment。
1。 Now king David was desirous to know how many ten thousands
there were of the people； but forgot the commands of Moses； （23）
who told them beforehand； that if the multitude were numbered；
they should pay half a shekel to God for every head。 Accordingly
the king commanded Joab； the captain of his host； to go and
number the whole multitude； but when he said there was no
necessity for such a numeration； he was not persuaded ＇to
countermand it＇； but he enjoined him to make no delay； but to go
about the numbering of the Hebrews immediately。 So Joab took with
him the heads of the tribes； and the scribes； and went over the
country of the Israelites； and took notice how numerous the
multitude were； and returned to Jerusalem to the king； after nine
months and twenty days； and he gave in to the king the number of
the people； without the tribe of Benjamin； for he had not yet
numbered that tribe； no more than the tribe of Levi； for the king
repented of his having sinned against God。 Now the number of the
rest of the Israelites was nine hundred thousand men； who were
able to bear arms and go to war； but the tribe of Judah； by
itself； was four hundred thousand men。
2。 Now when the prophets had signified to David that God was
angry at him； he began to entreat him； and to desire he would be
merciful to him； and forgive his sin。 But God sent Nathan the
prophet to him； to propose to him the election of three things；
that he might choose which he liked best： Whether he would have
famine come upon the country for seven years； or would have a
war； and be subdued three months by his enemies？ or； whether God
should send a pestilence and a distemper upon the Hebrews for
three days？ But as he was fallen to a fatal choice of great
miseries； he was in trouble； and sorely confounded； and when the
prophet had said that he must of necessity make his choice； and
had ordered him to answer quickly； that he might declare what he
had chosen to God； the king reasoned with himself； that in case
he should ask for famine； he would appear to do it for others；
and without danger to himself； since he had a great deal of corn
hoarded up； but to the harm of others； that in case he should
choose to be overcome ＇by his enemies＇ for three months； he would
appear to have chosen war； because he had valiant men about him；
and strong holds； and that therefore he feared nothing therefrom：
so he chose that affliction which is common to kings and to their
subjects； and in which the fear was equal on all sides； and said
this beforehand； that it was much better to fall into the hands
of God； than into those of his enemies。
3。 When the prophet had heard this； he declared it to God； who
thereupon sent a pestilence and a mortality upon the Hebrews； nor
did they die after one and the same manner； nor so that it was
easy to know what the distemper was。 Now the miserable disease
was one indeed； but it carried them off by ten thousand causes
and occasions； which those that were afflicted could not
understand； for one died upon the neck of another； and the
terrible malady seized them before they were aware； and brought
them to their end suddenly； some giving up the ghost immediately
with very great pains and bitter grief； and some were worn away
by their distempers； and had nothing remaining to be buried； but
as soon as ever they fell were entirely macerated； some were
choked； and greatly lamented their case； as being also stricken
with a sudden darkness； some there were who； as they were burying
a relation； fell down dead； without finishing the rites of the
funeral。 Now there perished of this disease； which began with the
morning； and lasted till the hour of dinner； seventy thousand。
Nay； the angel stretched out his hand over Jerusalem； as sending
this terrible judgment upon it。 But David had put on sackcloth；
and lay upon the ground； entreating God； and begging that the
distemper might now cease； and that he would be satisfied with
those that had already perished。 And when the king looked up into
the air； and saw the angel carried along thereby into Jerusalem；
with his sword drawn； he said to God； that he might justly be
punished； who was their shepherd； but that the sheep ought to be
preserved； as not having sinned at all； and he implored God that
he would send his wrath upon him； and upon all his family； but
spare the people。
4。 When God heard his supplication； he caused the pestilence to
cease； and sent Gad the prophet to him； and commanded him to go
up immediately to the thrashing…floor of Araunah the Jebusite；
and build an altar there to God； and offer sacrifices。 When David
heard that； he did not neglect his duty； but made haste to the
place appointed him。 Now Araunah was thrashing wheat； and when he
saw the king and all his servants coming to him； he ran before；
and came to him and worshipped him： he was by his lineage a
Jebusite； but a particular friend of David's； and for that cause
it was that； when he overthrew the city； he did him no harm； as
we informed the reader a little before。 Now Araunah inquired；
〃Wherefore is my lord come to his servant？〃 He answered； to buy
of him the thrashing…floor； that he might therein build an altar
to God； and offer a sacrifice。 He replied； that he freely gave
him both the thrashing…floor and the ploughs and the oxen for a
burnt…offering； and he besought God graciously to accept his
sacrifice。 But the king made answer； that he took his generosity
and magnanimity loudly； and accepted his good…will； but he
desired him to take the price of them all； for that it was not
just to offer a sacrifice that cost nothing。 And when Araunah
said he would do as he pleased； he bought the thrashing…floor of
him for fifty shekels。 And when he had built an altar； he
performed Divine service； and brought a burnt…offering； and
offered peace…offerings also。 With these God was pacified； and
became gracious to them again。 Now it happened that Abraham
（24）came and offered his son Isaac for a burnt…offering at that
very place； and when the youth was ready to have his throat cut；
a ram appeared on a sudden； standing by the altar； which Abraham
sacrificed in the stead of his son； as we have before related。
Now when king David saw that God had heard his prayer； and had
graciously accepted of his sacrifice； he resolved to call that
entire place The Altar of all the People； and to build a temple
to God there； which words he uttered very appositely to what was
to be done afterward； for God sent the prophet to him； and told
him that there should his son build him an altar； that son who
was to take the kingdom after him。
CHAPTER 14。
That David Made Great Preparations For The House Of God； And
That； Upon Adonijah's Attempt To Gain The Kingdom； He Appointed
Solomon To Reign。
1。 After the delivery of this prophecy； the king commanded the
strangers to be numbered； and they were found to be one hundred
and eighty thousand； of these he appointed fourscore thousand to
be hewers of stone； and the rest of the multitude to carry the
stones； and of them he set over the workmen three thousand and
five hundred。 He also prepared a great quantity of iron and brass
for the work； with many （and those exceeding large） cedar trees；
the Tyrians and Sidonians sending them to him； for he had sent to
them for a supply of those trees。 And he told his friends that
these things were now prepared； that he might leave materials
ready for the building of the temple to his son； who was to reign
after him； and that he might not have them to seek then； when he
was very young； and by reason of his age unskillful in such
matters； but might have them lying by him； and so might the more
readily complete the work。
2。 So David called his son Solomon； and charged him； when he had
received the kingdom； to build a temple to God； and said； 〃！I was
willing to build God a temple myself； but he prohibited me；
because I was polluted with blood and wars； but he hath foretold
that Solomon； my youngest son； should build him a temple； and
should be called by that name； over whom he hath promised to take
the like care as a father takes over his son； an