The people numbered. 2 SAMUEL, XXIV. 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all. CHAPTER XXIV. AND again the anger of the LORD was B. C. 1017. The numbering punished. choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. a Le.26.41,43 13 So Gad came to David, and told him, 61 Ch. 21. 12. and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or Bor, many. wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that Ps.103.8..14 there be three days' pestilence in thy 119. 156. land? Now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. CXXXVI. d Ps.106.41,42 Is. 47. 6. e chap. 20.26. fch.11.3,&c. g chap. 21. 1. y Satan, 14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD, for his mercies are hand of man. great, and let me not fall into the 15 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel, from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people, 1Ch.21.1,&c from Dan even to Beer-sheba, seventy Ja. 1. 13, 14. thousand men. h1 Ch. 27. 23, 16 And when the angel stretched out 24. his hand upon Jerusalem, to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the peo i Ex. 12. 23. 135. 14. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah' the Jebusite. 2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, & Go Ps. 90. 13. ple, It is enough; stay now thine hand. now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number m of the people. 3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing? dor, compass. k Is. 27. 8. Joel 2.13,14 I verse 18. 1 Ch. 21.15, Ornan. 2 Ch. 3. 1. m Je. 17. 5. 4 Notwithstanding, the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host: and Joab and the n Ps. 51. 4. captains of the host went out from the Ps. 74. 1. presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. 5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer," on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the " river of Gad, and toward Jazer: 6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the @land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan," and about to Zidon, 7 And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba. 8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. Araniah. Jos.13.9,16. nor, valley. Nu. 32. 1, 3. e or, nether r Ju. 18. 29. 17 And David spake unto the LORD, when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have" sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. 18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of SAraunah the Jebusite. 19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up, as the LORD commanded. 20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. 21 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed" from the people. 22 And Araunah said unto David, Let 8 Jos. 19. 28. my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. t Ge.23.8..16. 50. 9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thou-1 Ki. 19. 21. sand valiant men that drew the sword; w Ps. 45. 16. and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 10 And David's heart smote" him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away" the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.6 11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; Re. 1. 6. 1 Sa. 24. 5. chap.12.13. a Ho. 14. 2. 1 Sa. 13. 13. c1 Sa. 22.5. v 20 23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king: and Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. 24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. 230 The First Book of the KINGS, commonly called The Third Book of the KINGS. CHAPTER I. Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. 2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin; and let her stand before the king, and let her Scherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. 3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, brought her to the king. 4 And the damsel was very fair, cherished the king, and ministered him but the king knew her not. с and B. C. 1015. Bentered into days. y them seek. a ver. 7..9. sa damsel, a c 2 Sa. 3. 4. d Lu. 14. 11. and to O reign. 5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 And his father had not displeased him at Kany time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man;μ and his mother bare him after Absalom. 7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest and they, "following Adonijah, helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. 9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants : 10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. 11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? 12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. 13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swearr unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? 14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words. 15 And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. 16 And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou? 17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto e 2 Sa. 15. 1. from his were. fchap. 2. 28. ter Adoni jah. &c. vor, the well 2 Sa. 17.17. π Let king 71 Sa. 10. 24. m 2 Sa. 12. 1, &c. before the n 2 Sa. 4. 9. 41 Ch. 22. 6.. Ne. 2. 3. 13. Da. 2. 4. 6. 21. o fill up. น $ 2 Sa. 20. 6. What to thee? which be- me, t2 Ch. 32. 30. 1 Sa. 10. 1. 16.3, 12. 2 Sa. 2. 4. 2 Ki. 9. 3. thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne: 18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not: 19 Anda he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called. 20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. 22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. 23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. 24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? 25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest: and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save' king Adonijah. 26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called. 27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him ? 28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath-sheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king. 29 And the king sware, and said," As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, 30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day. 31 Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let" my lord king David live for ever. 32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. 33 The king also said unto them, Take Ps.89.20,36. with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:t 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint" him there king over Is. 45. 1. Ac. 10. 38. 2 Co.1.21,22 Israel: and blow a ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. 35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. 36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. 37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. 38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. B. C.1015. a 2 Ki. 9. 13. De. 31. 14. e1 Ch. 17.27. g Jos. 23. 14. Ec. 12. 13. k verse 47. Ps. 89. 27. De.17.13..20 Bor, do n Ex.30.23..25 Ps. 89. 20. .1 Ch.29. 22. 39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet ;" and all the people said, God save king Solomon. 40 And all the people came up after him; and the people piped with Y pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that theyor, flutes. earth rent with the sound of them. r2 Sa. 7. 16. & be cut off from thee from the throne. 41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar? 42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings. 43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king. $ 2 Sa. 19.5..7. Pr. 14. 13. Sput. 40. b2 Sa. 17. 27. c2Sa.16.5,&c. 44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule: 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gi-n strong. hon; and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard. 46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom. d2 Sa. 19. 18.. 23. e Ex. 20. 7. f1 Ch. 29. 23. Ac. 13. 36. Ac. 2. 29. 47 And, moreover, the king's servantschap. 1. 21. came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed. 48 And also thus said the king, Blessed" be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes? even seeing it. 49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. 50 And Adonijah feared because of So-t lomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught_hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day, that he will not slay his servant with the sword. 52 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there" shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but wickedness shall be found in him, he if o1 Ch. 29. 23. PPs. 128.5, 6. 8 w Je. 27. 5..8. 1 Sa. 14. 45. Ac. 27. 34. Job 15. 22. Pr. 13. 6. O turn not away my face, shall die." David's dying charge. 53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house. с CHAPTER II. Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man ;* 3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself; 4 That the LORD may continue his word, which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, therer shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. 5 Moreover, thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner" the son of Ner, and unto Amasa" the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. 6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace. 7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillaia the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother. 8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword. 9 Now therefore holde him not guiltless; for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood. 10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. 11 Andm the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. 12 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly. 13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest" thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably. 14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on. 15 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's; for it was his" from the LORD. 16 And now I ask one petition of thee, Ps. 132. 10. deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on. Adonijah's and Joab's death. 1 KINGS, III. 17 And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto | B. C. 1014. Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishaga the Shunammite to wife. a chap.1.3,4. 62 Sa. 3. 29. 18 And Bath-sheba said, Well; I wille Pr. 25. 5. speak for thee unto the king. d Ps.89.36,37. Is. 9. 6, 7. Le. 19. 32. Ex. 20. 12. 19 Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand. 20 Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not say thee nay. 21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife. 22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah. 23 Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God? do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life. 24 Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day. 25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died. t 26 And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art B worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because" thou barest the ark of the Lord Gop before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted" in all wherein my father was afflicted. 27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. 28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom: and Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him. 30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me. 31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father. 32 And the LORD shall return" his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and bettert than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner," captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa" the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah. Job 34. 24. 13. 1 Ch. 6. 53. k verse 27. 0 Jos. 2. 19. 2 Sa. 1. 16. 8 death, "1 Sa. 23. 6. 2 Sa. 15. 24, w1 Sa. 22.20.. 23. Ec. 8. 2. 22 Sa. 16.5..8. 1 John 3.20. Eze. 17. 19. d chap. 1. 50. e Ps. 72. 17. ver. 33, 34. Eze. 9. 6. 9.24. 2 Sa. 5. 7. chap. 7. 1. m chap. VI. Nu. 35. 33. De. 19. 13. 21.8,9. chap.22.43. r Ju. 9.24, 57. De.30.16,20. Ps. 31. 23. Mat. 22.37. Ro. 8. 28. t2 Ch. 21.13. Destruction of Shimei. 33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: bute upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for everd from the LORD. 34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host; and Zadoki the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.* 36 And the king sent and called for Shimei,' and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither. 37 For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy" blood shall be upon thine own head. 38 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days. 39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah, king of Gath: and they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath. ass, 40 And Shimei arose, and saddled his and went to Gath, to Achish, to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath. 41 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again. 42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good. 43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with? 44 The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness" which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head: 45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever. 46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. CHAPTER III. AND Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. 2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. 21. 3 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes" of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. v2 Sa. 3. 37. 4 And the king went to Gibeon* to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings God's appearance to Solomon. did Solomon offer upon that altar. 1 KINGS, IV. B. C. 1014. 5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared" to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Aske what I shall give thee. 6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great B mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O' LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father; and I am but a little child:h I know not how to go out or come in. a 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 8 un 9 Give therefore thy servant an derstanding heart to judge" thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to " discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have donet according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honour; so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. 14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. 15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feasta to all his servants. 16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before' him. 17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. 18 And it came to pass, the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. 19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. 20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead; but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son which I did bear. 22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. The wisdom of Solomon. 23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is a chap. 9. 2. the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but b Nu. 12. 6. thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. Mat. 1. 20. 24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. c Mat. 7. 7. And they brought a sword before the king. John 16. 24. child in two, and give half to the one, 25 And the king said, Divide the living Bor, bounty. d chap. 2. 4. 9. 4. 15. 5. 2 Ki. 20. 3. Ps. 15. 2. fchap. 1. 48. Ge. 43. 30. Is. 49. 15. Je. 31. 20. Ho. 11. 8. y were hot. h1 Ch. 29. 1. Ps. 121. 8. k De. 7. 6. m and half to the other. 26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels y yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. 27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in Shim, to do judgment. CHAPTER IV. Ge. 13. 16. Ja. 1. 5. n Ps. 72. 1, 2. John 5. 30. ¿the midst of him. king Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah, the son of Zadok," the priest; 3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat" the son of Ahilud, the recorder. 0 4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host; and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests; 5 And Azariah the son of Nathan was over or, secreta-principal officer, and the king's" friend; the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was ries. r 2 Sa. 20. 24. Kor, remem brancer. many days. ch. 2. 27,35. u hear. 1 John 5. 14. u1 Ch.27.33. vch. 4. 29..31 5. 12. 6 And Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute. 7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision. 8 And these are their names: P The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim. 9 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and 10. 23, 24. in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Ec. 1.13,16. Elon-beth-hanan. 10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher. 11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife. 12 Baana, the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam. 13 The x son of Geber, in Ramoth-gilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of d Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities, with walls and brazen bars. 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had & Mahanaim. 15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also Mar. 6. 21. took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife. |