should be kings of that country； of the tribe of Judah； for ever；
but that still； if he should be found a betrayer of the
ordinances of the law； and forget them； and turn away to the
worship of strange gods； he would cut him off by the roots； and
would neither suffer any remainder of his family to continue； nor
would overlook the people of Israel； or preserve them any longer
from afflictions； but would utterly destroy them with ten
thousand wars and misfortunes； would cast them out of the land
which he had given their fathers； and make them sojourners in
strange lands； and deliver that temple which was now built to be
burnt and spoiled by their enemies； and that city to be utterly
overthrown by the hands of their enemies； and make their miseries
deserve to be a proverb； and such as should very hardly be
credited for their stupendous magnitude； till their neighbors；
when they should hear of them； should wonder at their calamities；
and very earnestly inquire for the occasion； why the Hebrews； who
had been so far advanced by God to such glory and wealth； should
be then so hated by him？ and that the answer that should be made
by the remainder of the people should be； by confessing their
sins； and their transgression of the laws of their country。
Accordingly we have it transmitted to us in writing； that thus
did God speak to Solomon in his sleep。
CHAPTER 5。
How Solomon Built Himself A Royal Palace； Very Costly And
Splendid； And How He Solved The Riddles Which Were Sent Him By
Hiram。
1。 After the building of the temple； which； as we have before
said； was finished in seven years； the king laid the foundation
of his palace； which be did not finish under thirteen years； for
he was not equally zealous in the building of this palace as he
had been about the temple； for as to that； though it was a great
work； and required wonderful and surprising application； yet God；
for whom it was made； so far co…operated therewith； that it was
finished in the forementioned number of years： but the palace；
which was a building much inferior in dignity to the temple； both
on account that its materials had not been so long beforehand
gotten ready； nor had been so zealously prepared； and on account
that this was only a habitation for kings； and not for God； it
was longer in finishing。 However； this building was raised so
magnificently； as suited the happy state of the Hebrews； and of
the king thereof。 But it is necessary that I describe the entire
structure and disposition of the parts； that so those that light
upon this book may thereby make a conjecture； and； as it were；
have a prospect of its magnitude。
2。 This house was a large and curious building； and was supported
by many pillars； which Solomon built to contain a multitnde for
hearing causes； and taking cognizance of suits。 It was
sufficiently capacious to contain a great body of men； who would
come together to have their causes determined。 It was a hundred
cubits long； and fifty broad； and thirty high； supported by
quadrangular pillars； which were all of cedar； but its roof was
according to the Corinthian order； （14） with folding doors； and
their adjoining pillars of equal magnitude； each fluted with
three cavities； which building as at once firm； and very
ornamental。 There was also another house so ordered； that its
entire breadth was placed in the middle； it was quadrangular； and
its breadth was thirty cubits； having a temple over against it；
raised upon massy pillars； in which temple there was a large and
very glorious room； wherein the king sat in judgment。 To this was
joined another house that was built for his queen。 There were
other smaller edifices for diet； and for sleep； after public
matters were over； and these were all floored with boards of
cedar。 Some of these Solomon built with stones of ten cubits； and
wainscoted the walls with other stones that were sawed； and were
of great value； such as are dug out of the earth for the
ornaments of temples； and to make fine prospects in royal
palaces； and which make the mines whence they are dug famous。 Now
the contexture of the curious workmanship of these stones was in
three rows； but the fourth row would make one admire its
sculptures； whereby were represented trees； and all sorts of
plants； with the shades that arose from their branches； and
leaves that hung down from them。 Those trees anti plants covered
the stone that was beneath them； and their leaves were wrought so
prodigious thin and subtile； that you would think they were in
motion； but the other part up to the roof； was plastered over；
and； as it were； embroidered with colors and pictures。 He；
moreover； built other edifices for pleasure； as also very long
cloisters； and those situate in an agreeable place of the palace；
and among them a most glorious dining room； for feastings and
compotations； and full of gold； and such other furniture as so
fine a room ought to have for the conveniency of the guests； and
where all the vessels were made of gold。 Now it is very hard to
reckon up the magnitude and the variety of the royal apartments；
how many rooms there were of the largest sort； how many of a
bigness inferior to those； and how many that were subterraneous
and invisible； the curiosity of those that enjoyed the fresh air；
and the groves for the most delightful prospect； for the avoiding
the heat； and covering of their bodies。 And； to say all in brief；
Solomon made the whole building entirely of white stone； and
cedar wood； and gold； and silver。 He also adorned the roofs and
walls with stones set in gold； and beautified them thereby in the
same manner as he had beautified the temple of God with the like
stones。 He also made himself a throne of prodigious bigness； of
ivory； constructed as a seat of justice； and having six steps to
it； on every one of which stood； on each end of the step two
lions； two other lions standing above also； but at the sitting
place of the throne hands came out and received the king； and
when he sat backward； he rested on half a bullock； that looked
towards his back； but still all was fastened together with gold。
3。 When Solomon had completed all this in twenty years' time；
because Hiram king of Tyre had contributed a great deal of gold；
and more silver to these buildings； as also cedar wood and pine
wood； he also rewarded Hiram with rich presents； corn he sent him
also year by year； and wine and oil； which were the principal
things that he stood in need of； because he inhabited an island；
as we have already said。 And besides these； he granted him
certain cities of Galilee； twenty in number； that lay not far
from Tyre； which； when Hiram went to； and viewed； and did not
like the gift； he sent word to Solomon that he did not want such
cities as they were； and after that time these cities were called
the land of Cabul； which name； if it be interpreted according to
the language of the Phoenicians； denotes what does not please。
Moreover； the king of Tyre sent sophisms and enigmatical sayings
to Solomon； and desired he would solve them； and free them from
the ambiguity that was in them。 Now so sagacious and
understanding was Solomon； that none of these problems were too
hard for him； but he conquered them all by his reasonings； and
discovered their hidden meaning； and brought it to light。
Menander also； one who translated the Tyrian archives out of the
dialect of the Phoenicians into the Greek language； makes mention
of these two kings； where he says thus： 〃When Abibalus was dead；。
his son Hiram received the kingdom from him； who； when he had
lived fifty…three years； reigned thirty…four。 He raised a bank in
the large place； and dedicated the golden pillar which is in
Jupiter's temple。 He also went and cut down materials of timber
out of the mountain called Libanus； for the roof of temples； and
when he had pulled down the ancient temples； he both built the
temple of Hercules and that of Astarte； and he first set up the
temple of Hercules in the month Peritius； he also made an
expedition against the Euchii； or Titii； who did not pay their
tribute； and when he had subdued them to himself he returned。
Under this king there was Abdemon； a very youth in age； who
always conquered the difficult problems which Solomon； king of
Jerusalem； commanded him to explain。 Dius also makes mention of
him； where he says thus： 〃When Abibalus was dead； his son Hiram
reigned。 He raised the eastern parts of the city higher； and made
the city itself larger。 He also joined the temple of Jupiter；
which before stood by itself； to the city； by raising a bank in
the middle between them； and he adorned it with donations of
gold。 Moreover； he went up to Mount Libanus； and cut down
materials of wood for the building of the temples。〃 He says also；
that Solomon； who was then king of Jerusalem； sent riddles to
Hiram； and desired to receive the like from him； but that he who
could not solve them should pay money to them that did solve
them； and that Hiram accepted the conditions； and when he was not
able to solve the riddles proposed by Solomon； he paid a great
deal of money for his fine； but that he afterward did solve the
proposed riddles by means of Abdemon； a man of Tyre； and that
Hiram proposed other riddles； which； when Solomon could not
solve； he paid back a great deal of money to Hiram。〃 This it is
which Dius wrote。
CHAPTER 6。
How Solomon Fortified The City Of Jerusalem； And Built Great
Cities； And How He Brought Some Of The Canaanites Into
Subjection； And Entertained The Queen Of Egypt And Of Ethiopia。
1。 Now when the king saw that the walls of Jerusalem stood in
need of being better secured； and made stronger； （for he thought
the wails that encompassed Jerusalem ought to correspond to the
dignity of the city；） he both repaired them； and made them
higher； with great towers upon them； he also built cities which
might be counted among the strongest； Hazor and Megiddo； and the
third Gezer； which had indeed belonged to the Philistines； but
Pharaoh； the king of Egypt； had made an expedition against it；
and besieged it； and taken it by force； and when he had slain all
its inhabitants； he utterly overthrew it； and gave it as a
present to his