twenty…four courses； sixteen of the house of Eleazar； and eight
of that of Ithamar； and he ordained that one course should
minister to God eight days； from sabbath to sabbath。 And thus
were the courses distributed by lot； in the presence of David；
and Zadok and Abiathar the high priests； and of all the rulers；
and that course which came up first was written down as the
first； and accordingly the second； and so on to the
twenty…fourth； and this partition hath remained to this day。 He
also made twenty…four parts of the tribe of Levi； and when they
cast lots； they came up in the same manner for their courses of
eight days。 He also honored the posterity of Moses； and made them
the keepers of the treasures of God； and of the donations which
the kings dedicated。 He also ordained that all the tribe of Levi；
as well as the priests； should serve God night and day； as Moses
had enjoined them。
8。 After this he parted the entire army into twelve parts； with
their leaders ＇and captains of hundreds＇ and commanders。 Now
every part had twenty…four thousand； which were ordered to wait
on Solomon； by thirty days at a time； from the first day till the
last； with the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds。 He
also set rulers over every part； such as he knew to be good and
righteous men。 He set others also to take charge of the
treasures； and of the villages； and of the fields； and of the
beasts； whose names I do not think it necessary to mention。 When
David had ordered all these officers after the manner before
mentioned； he called the rulers of the Hebrews； and their heads
of tribes； and the officers over the several divisions； and those
that were appointed over every work； and every possession； and
standing upon a high pulpit； he said to the multitude as follows：
〃My brethren and my people； I would have you know that I intended
to build a house for God； and prepared a large quantity of gold；
and a hundred thousand talents of silver； but God prohibited me
by the prophet Nathan； because of the wars I had on your account；
and because my right hand was polluted with the slaughter of our
enemies； but he commanded that my son； who was to succeed me in
the kingdom； should build a temple for him。 Now therefore； since
you know that of the twelve sons whom Jacob our forefather had
Judah was appointed to be king； and that I was preferred before
my six brethren； and received the government from God； and that
none of them were uneasy at it； so do I also desire that my sons
be not seditious one against another； now Solomon has received
the kingdom； but to bear him cheerfully for their lord； as
knowing that God hath chosen him； for it is not a grievous thing
to obey even a foreigner as a ruler； if it be God's will； but it
is fit to rejoice when a brother hath obtained that dignity；
since the rest partake of it with him。 And I pray that the
promises of God may be fulfilled； and that this happiness which
he hath promised to bestow upon king Solomon； over all the
country； may continue therein for all time to come。 And these
promises O son； will be firm； and come to a happy end； if thou
showest thyself to be a religious and a righteous man； and an
observer of the laws of thy country； but if not； expect adversity
upon thy disobedience to them。〃
9。 Now when the king had said this； he left off； but gave the
description and pattern of the building of the temple in the
sight of them all to Solomon： of the foundations and of the
chambers； inferior and superior； how many they were to be； and
how large in height and in breadth； as also he determined the
weight of the golden and silver vessels： moreover； he earnestly
excited them with his words to use the utmost alacrity about the
work； he exhorted the rulers also； and particularly the tribe of
Levi； to assist him； both because of his youth； and because God
had chosen him to take care of the building of the temple； and of
the government of the kingdom。 He also declared to them that the
work would be easy； and not very laborious to them； because he
had prepared for it many talents of gold； and more of silver；
with timber； and a great many carpenters and stone…cutters； and a
large quantity of emeralds； and all sorts of precious stones； and
he said； that even now he would give of the proper goods of his
own dominion two hundred talents； and three hundred other talents
of pure gold； for the most holy place； and for the chariot of
God； the cherubim； which are to stand over and cover the ark。 Now
when David had done speaking； there appeared great alacrity among
the rulers； and the priests； and the Levites； who now contributed
and made great and splendid promises for a future Contribution；
for they undertook to bring of gold five thousand talents； and
ten thousand drams； and of silver ten thousand talents； and many
ten thousand talents of iron； and if any one had a precious stone
he brought it； and bequeathed it to be put among the treasures；
of which Jachiel； one of the posterity of Moses； had the care。
10。 Upon this occasion all the people rejoiced； as in particular
did David； when he saw the zeal and forward ambition of the
rulers； and the priests； and of all the rest； and he began to
bless God with a loud voice； calling him the Father and Parent of
the universe； and the Author of human and divine things； with
which he had adorned Solomon； the patron and guardian of the
Hebrew nation； and of its happiness； and of that kingdom which he
hath given his son。 Besides this； he prayed for happiness to all
the people； and to Solomon his son； a sound and a righteous mind；
and confirmed in all sorts of virtue； and then he commanded the
multitude to bless God； upon which they all fell down upon the
ground and worshipped him。 They also gave thanks to David； on
account of all the blessings which they had received ever since
he had taken the kingdom。 On the next day he presented sacrifices
to God； a thousand bullocks； and as many lambs； which they
offered for burnt…offerings。 They also offered peace…offerings；
and slew many ten thousand sacrifices； and the king feasted all
day； together with all the people； and they anointed Solomon a
second time with the oil； and appointed him to be king； and Zadok
to be the high priest of the whole multitude。 And when they had
brought Solomon to the royal palace； and had set him upon his
father's throne； they were obedient to him from that day。
CHAPTER 15。
What Charge David Gave Tohis Son Solomon At The Approach Of His
Death； And How Many Things He Left Him For The Building Of The
Temple。
1。 A Little afterward David also fell into a distemper； by reason
of his age； and perceiving that he was near to death； he called
his son Solomon； and discoursed to him thus： 〃I am now； O my son；
going to my grave； and to my fathers； which is the common way
which all men that now are； or shall be hereafter； must go； from
which way it is no longer possible to return； and to know any
thing that is done in this world。 On which account I exhort thee；
while I am still alive； though already very near to death； in the
same manner as I have formerly said in my advice to thee； to be
righteous towards thy subjects； and religious towards God； that
hath given thee thy kingdom； to observe his commands and his
laws； which he hath sent us by Moses； and neither do thou out of
favor nor flattery allow any lust or other passion to weigh with
thee to disregard them； for if thou transgressest his laws； thou
wilt lose the favor of God； and thou wilt turn away his
providence from thee in all things； but if thou behave thyself so
as it behooves thee； and as I exhort thee； thou wilt preserve our
kingdom to our family； and no other house will bear rule over the
Hebrews but we ourselves for all ages。 Be thou also mindful of
the transgressions of Joab； （26） the captain of the host； who
hath slain two generals out of envy； and those righteous and good
men； Abner the son of Ner； and Amasa the son of Jether； whose
death do thou avenge as shall seem good to thee； since Joab hath
been too hard for me； and more potent than myself； and so hath
escaped punishment hitherto。 I also commit to thee the son of
Barzillai the Gileadite； whom； in order to gratify me； thou shalt
have in great honor； and take great care of； for we have not done
good to him first； but we only repay that debt which we owe to
his father for what he did to me in my flight。 There is also
Shimei the son of Gera； of the tribe of Benjamin； who； after he
had cast many reproaches upon me； when； in my flight； I was going
to Mahanaim； met me at Jordan； and received assurances that he
should then suffer nothing。 Do thou now seek out for some just
occasion； and punish him。〃
2。 When David had given these admonitions to his son about public
affairs； and about his friends； and about those whom he knew to
deserve punishment； he died； having lived seventy years； and
reigned seven years and six months in Hebron over the tribe of
Judah； and thirty…three years in Jerusalem over all the country。
This man was of an excellent character； and was endowed with all
virtues that were desirable in a king； and in one that had the
preservation of so many tribes committed to him； for he was a man
of valor in a very extraordinary degree； and went readily and
first of all into dangers； when he was to fight for his subjects；
as exciting the soldiers to action by his own labors； and
fighting for them； and not by commanding them in a despotic way。
He was also of very great abilities in understanding； and
apprehension of present and future circumstances； when he was to
manage any affairs。 He was prudent and moderate； and kind to such
as were under any calamities； he was righteous and humane； which
are good qualities； peculiarly fit for kings； nor was he guilty
of any offense in the exercise of so great an authority； but in
the business of the wife of Uriah。 He also left behind him
greater wealth than any other king； either of the Hebrews or； of
other nations； ever did。
3。 He was buried by his son Solomon； in Jerusalem； with great
magnificence； and with all the other funeral pomp which kings
used to be buried with； moreover； he had great and immense wea