Part 200 (1/2)

4:19. Gaber, the son of Uri, in the land of Galaad, in the land of Sehon, the king of the Amorrhites, and of Og, the king of Basan, over all that were in that land.

4:20. Juda and Israel were innumerable, as the sand of the sea in mult.i.tude; eating and drinking, and rejoicing.

4:21. And Solomon had under him all the kingdoms, from the river to the land of the Philistines, even to the border of Egypt: and they brought him presents, and served him all the days of his life.

The river... Euphrates.

4:22. And the provision of Solomon, for each day, was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal;

4:23. Ten fat oxen, and twenty out of the pastures, and a hundred rams; besides venison of harts, roes, and buffles, and fatted fowls.

4:24. For he had all the country which was beyond the river, from Thaphsa to Gazan, and all the kings of those countries: and he had peace on every side round about.

4:25. And Juda, and Israel, dwelt without any fear, every one under his vine, and under his fig tree, from Dan to Bersabee, all the days of Solomon.

4:26. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and twelve thousand for the saddle.

4:27. And the foresaid governors of the king fed them; and they furnished the necessaries also for king Solomon's table, with great care, in their time.

4:28. They brought barley also, and straw for the horses and beasts, to the place where the king was, according as it was appointed them.

4:29. And G.o.d gave to Solomon wisdom, and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, as the sand that is on the sea sh.o.r.e.

4:30. And the wisdom of Solomon surpa.s.sed the wisdom of all the Orientals, and of the Egyptians;

4:31. And he was wiser than all men: wiser than Ethan, the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Dorda, the sons of Mahol, and he was renowned in all nations round about.

4:32. Solomon also spoke three thousand parables: and his poems were a thousand and five.

Three thousand parables, etc... These works are all lost, excepting some part of the parables extant in the book of Proverbs; and his chief poem called the Canticle of Canticles.

4:33. And he treated about trees, from the cedar that is in Liba.n.u.s, unto the hyssop that cometh out of the wall: and he discoursed of beasts, and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

4:34. And they came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who heard of his wisdom.

3 Kings Chapter 5

Hiram king of Tyre agreeth to furnish timber and workmen for building the temple: the number of workmen and overseers.

5:1. And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon: for he heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram had always been David's friend.

5:2. Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

5:3. Thou knowest the will of David, my father, and that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord his G.o.d, because of the wars that were round about him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

5:4. But now the Lord my G.o.d hath given me rest round about; and there is no adversary nor evil occurrence.

5:5. Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of the Lord my G.o.d, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying: Thy son, whom I will set upon the throne, in thy place, he shall build a house to my name.

5:6. Give orders, therefore, that thy servants cut me down cedar trees, out of Liba.n.u.s, and let my servants be with thy servants: and I will give thee the hire of thy servants whatsoever thou wilt ask: for thou knowest how there is not among my people a man that has skill to hew wood like to the Sidonians.