should be called by that name； over whom he hath promised to take
the like care as a father takes over his son； and that he would
make the country of the Hebrews happy under him； and that； not
only in other respects； but by giving it peace and freedom from
wars； and from internal seditions； which are the greatest of all
blessings。 Since； therefore；〃 says he； 〃thou wast ordained king
by God himself before thou wast born； endeavor to render thyself
worthy of this his providence； as in other instances； so
particularly in being religious； and righteous； and courageous。
Keep thou also his commands and his laws； which he hath given us
by Moses； and do not permit others to break them。 Be zealous also
to dedicate to God a temple； which he hath chosen to be built
under thy reign； nor be thou aftrighted by the vastness of the
work； nor set about it timorously； for I will make all things
ready before I die： and take notice； that there are already ten
thousand talents of gold； and a hundred thousand talents of
silver （25） collected together。 I have also laid together brass
and iron without number； and an immense quantity of timber and of
stones。 Moreover； thou hast many ten thousand stone…cutters and
carpenters； and if thou shalt want any thing further； do thou add
somewhat of thine own。 Wherefore； if thou performest this work；
thou wilt be acceptable to God； and have him for thy patron。〃
David also further exhorted the rulers of the people to assist
his son in this building； and to attend to the Divine service；
when they should be free from all their misfortunes； for that
they by this means should enjoy； instead of them； peace and a
happy settlement； with which blessings God rewards such men as
are religious and righteous。 He also gave orders； that when the
temple should be once built； they should put the ark therein；
with the holy vessels； and he assured them that they ought to
have had a temple long ago； if their fathers had not been
negligent of God's commands； who had given it in charge； that
when they had got the possession of this land； they should build
him a temple。 Thus did David discourse to the governors； and to
his son。
3。 David was now in years； and his body； by length of time； was
become cold； and benumbed； insomuch that he could get no heat by
covering himself with many clothes； and when the physicians came
together； they agreed to this advice； that a beautiful virgin；
chosen out of the whole country； should sleep by the king's side；
and that this damsel would communicate heat to him； and be a
remedy against his numbness。 Now there was found in the city one
woman； of a superior beauty to all other women； （her name was
Abishag；） who； sleeping with the king； did no more than
communicate warmth to him； for he was so old that he could not
know her as a husband knows his wife。 But of this woman we shall
speak more presently。
4。 Now the fourth son of David was a beautiful young man； and
tall； born to him of Haggith his wife。 He was named Adonijah； and
was in his disposition like to Absalom； and exalted himself as
hoping to be king； and told his friends that he ought to take the
government upon him。 He also prepared many chariots and horses；
and fifty men to run before him。 When his father saw this； he did
not reprove him； nor restrain him from his purpose； nor did he go
so far as to ask wherefore he did so。 Now Adonijah had for his
assistants Joab the captain of the army； and Abiathar the high
priest； and the only persons that opposed him were Zadok the high
priest； and the prophet Nathan； and Benaiah； who was captain of
the guards； and Shimei； David's friend； with all the other most
mighty men。 Now Adonijah had prepared a supper out of the city；
near the fountain that was in the king's paradise； and had
invited all his brethren except Solomon； and had taken with him
Joab the captain of the army； and： Abiathar； and the rulers of
the tribe of Judah； but had not invited to this feast either
Zadok the high priest； or Nathan the prophet； or Benaiah the
captain of the guards； nor any of those of the contrary party。
This matter was told by Nathan the prophet to Bathsheba；
Solomon's mother； that Adonijah was king； and that David knew
nothing of it； and he advised her to save herself and her son
Solomon； and to go by herself to David； and say to him； that he
had indeed sworn that Solomon should reign after him； but that in
the mean time Adonijah had already taken the kingdom。 He said
that he； the prophet himself； would come after her； and when she
had spoken thus to the king； would confirm what she had said。
Accordingly Bathsheba agreed with Nathan； and went in to the king
and worshipped him； and when she had desired leave to speak with
him； she told him all things in the manner that Nathan had
suggested to her； and related what a supper Adonijah had made；
and who they were whom he had invited； Abiathar the and Joab the
general； and David's sons； excepting Solomon and his intimate
friends。 She also said that all the people had their eyes upon
him； to know whom he would choose for their king。 She desired him
also to consider how； after his departure； Adonijah； if he were
king； would slay her and her son Solomon。
5。 Now； as Bathsheba was speaking； the keeper of the king's
chambers told him that Nathan desired to see him。 And when the
king had commanded that he should be admitted； he came in； and
asked him whether he had ordained Adonijah to be king； and
delivered the government to him； or not； for that he had made a
splendid supper； and invited all his sons； except Solomon； as
also that he had invited Joab； the captain of his host； ＇and
Abiathar the high priest；＇ who are feasting with applauses； and
many joyful sounds of instruments； and wish that his kingdom may
last for ever； but he hath not invited me； nor Zadok the high
priest； nor Benaiah the captain of the guards； and it is but fit
that all should know whether this be done by thy approbation or
not。 When Nathan had said thus； the king commanded that they
should call Bathsheba to him； for she had gone out of the room
when the prophet came。 And when Bathsheba was come； David said；
〃I swear by Almighty God； that thy son Solomon shall certainly he
king； as I formerly swore； and that he shall sit upon my throne；
and that this very day also。〃 So Bathsheba worshipped him； and
wished him a long life； and the king sent for Zadok the high
priest； and Benaiah the captain of the guards； and when they were
come； he ordered them to take with them Nathan the prophet； and
all the armed men about the palace； and to set his son Solomon
upon the king's mule； and to carry him out of the city to the
fountain called Gihon； and to anoint him there with the holy oil；
and to make him king。 This he charged Zadok the high priest； and
Nathan the prophet； to do； and commanded them to follow Solomon
through the midst of the city； and to sound the trumpets； and
wish aloud that Solomon the king may sit upon the royal throne
for ever； that so all the people may know that he is ordained
king by his father。 He also gave Solomon a charge concerning his
government； to rule the whole nation of the Hebrews； and
particularly the tribe of Judah； religiously and righteously。 And
when Benaiah had prayed to God to be favorable to Solomon；
without any delay they set Solomon upon the mule； and brought him
out of the city to the fountain； and anointed him with oil； and
brought him into the city again； with acclamations and wishes
that his kingdom might continue a long time： and when they had
introduced him into the king's house； they set him upon the
throne； whereupon all the people betook themselves to make merry；
and to celebrate a festival； dancing and delighting themselves
with musical pipes； till both the earth and the air echoed with
the multitude of the instruments of music。
6。 Now when Adonijah and his guests perceived this noise； they
were in disorder； and Joab the captain of the host said he was
not pleased with these echoes； and the sound of these trumpets。
And when supper was set before them； nobody tasted of it； but
they were all very thoughtful what would be the matter。 Then
Jonathan； the son of Abiathar the high priest； came running to
them； and when Adonijah saw the young man gladly； and said to him
that he was a good messenger； he declared to them the whole
matter about Solomon； and the determination of king David：
hereupon both Adonijah and all the guests rose hastily from the
feast； and every one fled to their own homes。 Adonijah also； as
afraid of the king for what he had done； became a supplicant to
God； and took hold of the horns of the altar； which were
prominent。 It was also told Solomon that he had so done； and that
he desired to receive assurances from him that he would not
remember the injury he had done； and not inflict any severe
punishment for it。 Solomon answered very mildly and prudently；
that he forgave him this his offense； but said withal； that if he
were found out in any attempt for new innovations； that he would
be the author of his own punishment。 So he sent to him； and
raised him up from the place of his supplication。 And when he was
come to the king； and had worshipped him； the king bid him go
away to his own house； and have no suspicion of any harm； and
desired him to show himself a worthy man； as what would tend to
his own advantage。
7。 But David； being desirous of ordaining his son king of all the
people； called together their rulers to Jerusalem； with the
priests and the Levites； and having first numbered the Levites；
he found them to be thirty…eight thousand； from thirty years old
to fifty； out of which he appointed twenty…three thousand to take
care of the building of the temple； and out of the same； six
thousand to be judges of the people and scribes； four thousand
for porters to the house of God； and as many for singers； to sing
to the instruments which David had prepared； as we have said
already。 He divided them also into courses： and when he had
separated the priests from them； he found of these priests
twenty…four courses； sixteen of the house of Eleazar； and eight
of that of Ithamar； and he ordained that one course should