fall vpon the Israelites that there is not any tongue that may expresse the same or man that may beleeue it The sonnes of Eli shall die and the Priesthood shall be transported into the family of Eleazar For Eli hath more loued his children then my seruice and more then was expedient for them Eli inforced the Prophet by imprecations to declare vnto him that which he had heard But Samuel for feare he should discomfort him would not disclose the same vnto him which made him the more assured of the intended and imminent death of his sonnes And because that which Samuel prophecied in effect proued true his reputation increased daily more and more In that time the Philistines leading out their armie against the Israelites incamped neere vnto the Citie of Amphec and for that the Hebrewes were negligent to withstand them they passed further into the countries thereabout so that in fighting with their enemies the Philistines at last got the vpper hand and slew the Hebrewes and had them in chace for the space of foure miles pursuing the rest of those that fled euen vnto their owne tents Whereupon the Hebrewes grew iealous and affraid of their whole estate and therefore sent they to the councell of the Elders and the high Priest praying them to bring the Arke of God with them to the end that hauing it in presence with them they might strike the battell and ouercome their enemies But they bethought them not that he that had pronounced the sentence of their calamitie against them was greater then the Arke which was made for him The Arke then was brought and the sonnes of Eli attended it whom their father had expresly commaunded that if it so fell out that the Arke were taken they should neuer more come before his presence except they would die Now Phinees executed the office of the high Priest by the permission of his father by reason he was verie aged The Hebrewes because of the presence of the Arke conceiued very great hope and assurance that they should haue the vpper hand of their enemies The Philistines likewise were sore amazed fearing the presence of the same but the issues were not answerable according to the one or the others expectation For when they ioyned battell the victorie which the Hebrewes hoped should be theirs fell vnto the Philistines the losse which the Philistines feared fell vpon the Hebrewes who at last perceiued that they had reposed their confidence on the Arke all in vaine For as soone as their enemies and they fought pell mell with them they turned their backs and lost about thirtie thousand men amongst whom the sonnes of the high Priest were slaine and the Arke was taken and carried away by the enemie CHAP. XII Eli vnderstanding of the losse of his sonnes fell from his seate and died AS soone as the newes of this ouerthrow was brought into Silo and that it was certainly knowne that the Arke was taken for a young Beniamite who was at the execution was come to bring tidings thereof all the Citie was filled with sorrow and Eli the high Priest who sate in one of the gates on a high throne vnderstanding the lamentation and iudging that some desaster had befallen his people sent to seeke out this young messenger by whom he was aduertised of that which had hapned This accident of his sonnes and the army he bare with great moderation because that before that time he had vnderstood by God what should happen for those aduersities which are least suspected do more grieuously oppresse vs at such time as they happen But when he knew that the Arke was surprised and in the enemies hands by reason that it hapned beyond his expectation he was in such sort attainted with griefe that he suffered himselfe to fall from his throne vpon the ground where he died he liued ninetie and eight yeares in all and had spent fortie of them in the gouernment of the people The same day died the wife of Phinees the sonne of Eli who had no more power to liue when she vnderstood of the misfortune of her husband for she was with child at such time as the message of this his death was brought vnto her and she brought forth a sonne in the seuenth month which liued and was called Ichabod which signifieth ignominie by reason of the infamie receiued at that time by the armie Eli was the first that gouerned among the successours of Ithamar one of the sonnes of Aaron for before that time the house of Eleazar was possessed of the Priesthood the sonne receiuing it from his father Eli transferred it to Phinees after him Abiezar his sonne occupied the place and left it to his sonne Boci whose sonne called Ozes receiued it after whom Eli of whom we speake at this present tooke the same whose posteritie retained that dignitie till the time of the raigne of Salomon for at that time the posteritie of Eleazar were reinstalled THE SIXTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 6. booke 1 How the Palestines compelled by pestilence and famine sent the Arke of God backe againe vnto the Hebrewes 2 The victorie of the Hebrewes vnder the conduct of Samuel 3 How Samuel when his strength failed him thorow age committed the administration of the affaires to his sonnes 4 How the people being offended with the manners of Samuels sonnes required a King that might rule ouer them 5 Saul by Gods commaundement was annointed King 6 Sauls victorie against the Ammonites 7 The Palestines assailing the Hebrewes are ouercome by them in battell 8 The victorie of Saul against the Amalechites 9 Samuel translateth the Royall dignitie vnto Dauid 10 The expedition of the Palestines against the Hebrewes 11 Dauids single fight with Golias and the slaughter of the Palestines that succeeded 12 Saul admiring Dauids fortitude giueth him his daughter in marriage 13 How the King sought Dauids death 14 How Dauid oftentimes hardly escaped from the kings treasons yet hauing him twice in his power how he would not hurt him 15 The Hebrewes are ouercome in a great battell by the Palestines wherein Saul the king and his sonnes fighting valiantly are slaine CHAP. I. How the Palestines compelled by pestilence and famine sent backe the Arke of couenant vnto the Hebrewes AFter that the Philistines had gotten the victorie ouer the Hebrewes and taken the sacred Arke as we haue before this declared they brought it with other their spoiles vnto the City of Azot and placed it in maner of a trophee in the Temple of Dagon their Idoll But on the next day after when earely in the morning they came and entred into the Temple to adore their god they found him fallen from that base or pillar that sustained him and lay along vpon the ground his face vpward before the Arke whereat being fore moued they tooke and fastned him in his former place
Courtiers to sound and seeke out Dauids resolution and how he was affectioned towardes marriage who began to deuize with him telling him that the king bare him a most intire fauour and that the people admired him and how they would procure him the mariage of the kings daughter Whereunto Dauid replied Thinke you it to be a small matter to be son in law vnto the king for my selfe I esteeme otherwise considering in especial mine own base condition who haue neither reputation nor any honorable qualitie When Sauls seruants had related vnto him what answere Dauid had made them Tell him said he that I neither want goods nor presents for that were to expose my daughter to sale and not to match her with a husband I seeke for a sonne in law that hath valour and that is adorned with all vertue such as is manifest and apparant in thee and my desire is that for the dower of my daughter thou giue me neither gold nor siluer nor any other valuable wealth out of thy fathers house but the punishment of the Philistines and six hundreth of their heads which shall be the most desired and accepted dower thou canst present me with My daughter also requesteth aboue all the dowers that may accrew vnto her by order of law to be married to such a man that is so enobled and famous by the ouerthrow of his enemies When these words were reported vnto Dauid he was verie ioyfull thinking that Saul spake sincerely of this affinitie and without delay or taking counsaile or deliberation whether the thing were easie or impossible for him to execute hee incontinently departed with his company to go and finde out the enemy and execute the condition vnder which the marriage was promised him For it was God that made all things easie and possible to Dauid for after he had slaine diuers of them and cut off six hundreth of their heads he returned and presented them to the king and in consideration thereof required the performance of his marriage CHAP. XII Saul admiring Dauids fortitude giueth him his daughter to wife BVt Saul that could not flie from his promise for feare least it should be a great dishonour for him to be found a lier or to haue promised Dauid his daughter vnder colour either to murther him or to draw him to the execution of things that were impossible deliuered his daughter Michol vnto him But his intention was not to continue long in that mind For perceiuing that Dauid was gracious in Gods sight and in good reputation amongst the people he was affraid of him and being vnable to conceale his feare he had conceiued to be depriued of two things of such consequence as were his kingdome and life he resolued to kill Dauid giuing commission to his sonne Ionathan and diuers other of his seruants to execute the same But Ionathan amased to see this change in his father in steed of the singular good liking he had of Dauid in times past sought to hurt Dauid not in any slight sort but by indangering his life and on the other side being singularly affected towards him and respecting of his vertue he communicated the secret and deliberation of his father with him counselling him to haue care of himselfe and to flie vpon the next morrow and that in the meane time he would go and salute his father and as soone as the occasion presented it selfe hee would speake and conferre with him to know the cause of his conceiued displeasure against him to the intent he might pacifie the same supposing it to bee a matter vnreasonable that he should be depriued of life to whom the people were so much indebted and who in particular was his esteemed and vowed friend yea in respect of his former merits although he were found guiltie of many hainous offences yet ought he to obtaine a deserued pardon I will tell thee afterward said he what my fathers resolution is Dauid gaue credit to his holesome counsaile and retired himselfe from the presence of the king CHAP. XIII How the King practised to murther Dauid THe next day after Ionathan came vnto Saul and finding him merrie and well disposed he began to speake vnto him to this effect as concerning Dauid In what fault O Father either great or small haue you found Dauid guiltie that you haue ordained commanded him to be done to death who is such a man as for the conseruation of your own person hath been very profitable and besides that hath preiudiced the estate of the Philistines and inhaunced the honour of the people of the Hebrewes and hath deliuered them from that disgrace and mockerie wherewith they haue been curbed for the space of fortie yeares so that he onely hath dared and opposed himselfe against the proud defies of the enemy and since that time hath brought so many of the Philistines heads as was commanded him in recompence whereof he hath had my sister to wife so that his death should be a great displeasure vnto vs not onely by reason of the vertue wherwith he is endowed but also thorow occasion of his alliance with vs in bloud and consanguinitie For by his death your daughter shall partake part of the iniurie by reason that she shall suffer the incommoditie of widowhood before she hath tasted the fruites and commodities of marriage Way these things and pacifie your displeasure and do no wrong vnto such a man who first of all hath beene the author of your so good and great fortunes as is the conseruation of your person at such time as you were possessed and tormented with euil spirits and hath brought to passe that your furies are alayed and secondly hath reuenged you of your enemies For it is a thing vnworthy either your maiestie or the name of a man to forget good deserts With these words was Saul pacified so that he swore vnto his sonne that he would not iniure Dauid for his iust perswasions and arguments were more stronger then the choler and feare of the king Ionathan sent to seeke out Dauid and told him these good and happy tidings from his father and brought him vnto him where he liued and remained in sort as he did before time CHAP. XIIII How hardly Dauid escaped the ambushes that were often layd for him by the king yet hauing him twice at aduantage and in his power would not murther him ABout the same time whilest the Philistines led forth their army anew against the Hebrewes Saul sent out Dauid against them accompanied with his forces who encountring them slew a great number of them returned vnto the king with a great victorie But Saul entertained him not both as he deserued and the happy exploit atchieued by him did merit but despited and enuied his good actions honorable deserts as if Dauids happy successe had bin Sauls disaduantage and preiudice But at such time as the euill spirit returned anew and both seased and vexed him he lodged
occasion offered for a man to speake ill Touching the rest said he the matter standeth thus Thou hast a kinsman said he that is more neere thee in bloud then I am thou must enquire of him if it be his pleasure to take thee to his wife if he saith that he liketh thee thou then must necessarily submit vnto him but if he refuse thee I will take thee for my wife according as the lawe intendeth Now when she had reported these newes vnto her mother in lawe she gathered courage and conceiued hope that Boos would take care of her Thereupon Boos came into the Citie about noone-daies and called a councell of the Elders and sent for Ruth and his kinsman to whom in person he spake thus Doest thou possesse the heritage of Abimelech and his successors Who when he had publikely declared that he was seased thereof in right of proximitie according to the ordinance of the lawe Boos replyed Thou must not saith he onely obserue the lawes in part but thou must precisely execute them according as they are For behold here a yoong woman whom it behooueth thee to marrie according to the law if thou wilt be inheritor of his possessions But he surrendred vnto Boos not onely the possessions but also the woman by reason that Boos was allied also to those that were dead and especially for that the said kinsman had already both wife and children Boos therefore hauing first of all taken witnesse of all the councell called for the woman and willed her to draw neere vnto her kinsman and to vnloose his shoe and strike him on the face according as the law had ordained which done Boos espoused Ruth by whom about a yeare after he had a sonne which Naomi brought vp and by the aduice of the women she called his name Obed because she had nourished him in her age for Obed in the Hebrew tongue signifieth a slaue Obed begat Iesse and Iesse Dauid who was king and who left the Realme vnto his successours for one and twentie generations of men I haue beene enforced to declare these things as touching Ruth because I haue an intent to declare the power of God to whom it is possible to raise men from obscuritie to the highest tip and tittle of dignitie as he hath chosen Dauid who descended from these of whom I haue spoken The affaires of the Hebrewes were at this time in verie poore estate and they armed themselues anew against the Philistines vpon this occasion The high Priest Eli had two sonnes Ophni and Phinees They against all right and law offering outrages to men and vrging impieties against God suffered no sinne to ouerslip them which they committed not for they tooke presents partly in way of honour partly rauished by force and rapine And as touching those women that came vnto the Tabernacle in way of deuotion they abused them and rauishing some against their wils and corrupting some other by presents they so lewdly liued that their life seemed to be a true and licentious tyrannie for this cause their father was sore displeased with them but the people were so much the more ouerburdened with griefe because as yet they perceiued not that Gods punishmēt should so sodainly fal vpon them But incontinently after that God had declared to Eli and the Prophet Samuel who about that time was verie young what mishappe should fall vpon Elies children he mourned ouer them as if they had beene alreadie dead But I will first of all declare somwhat vnto you as concerning the Prophet Samuel and afterwards wil I speak of the children of Eli what inconueniēt fell vpon all the Hebrew nation Elcana was a Leuite of base condition liuing in Ramatha a part of Ephraim he had maried two wiues the one called Anna the other Phenanna by Phenanna he had children yet notwithstanding loued he Anna verie intirely although she were barren Now as Elcana with his wiues repaired to Silo where the Tabernacle of God was resident as we haue before declared to the intent to offer sacrifice in that place whilest I say during the festiuall he distributed the portion of his meat to his wiues and children Anna beholding the children of his other wife sitting round about their mother began to weepe and lament with her selfe because she was without issue and alone And after that by her grief she had ouercome all that consolation which her husband could giue her she went vnto the Tabernacle to beseech God that it might please him to giue her a sonne and make her a mother promising that her first begotten sonne should be dedicated vnto the seruice of God and should lead a particular life farre differing from that of other liuing men And for that she employed long time in making her praiers the hie Priest Eli who sate before the Tabernacle commaunded hir to depart from thence supposing that she had tasted too much wine but after that she had told him that she drunke nothing but water and that being oppressed with griefe she was come into the Tabernacle to beseech God that it might please him to grant her children he exhorted her to be of good courage promising her that God had heard her praiers whereupon she returned to her husband replenished with good hope and tooke her repast with ioy and gladnes When as then they returned to their owne house she began to waxe big with child and at last she bare a little young sonne whom she called Samuel that is to say Requested at Gods hands Afterwards they returned to offer sacrifice and giue thanks vnto God for the birth of the child which God had giuen them and to bring their tenths whereupon the woman remembring her of the vow she had made in his behalfe deliuered him into the hands of Eli and consecrated him vnto God to be his Prophet For which cause they suffered his haire to grow and he dranke nothing but water and Samuel was nourished and brought vp in the Temple Elcana had by Anna other sonnes and three daughters But as touching Samuel incontinently after he attained to the age of twelue yeares he prophecied On a certaine night therefore whilest he slept God called him by his name and he supposing that the high Priest had wakened him came vnto him but he told him that he had not called him This notwithstanding God continued to call him three times whereat Eli being fore amased he said vnto him Samuel I neither now at this present nor before this time haue spoken vnto thee but it is God that calleth thee answere him therefore and say here I am Now it chanced that he heard the voice of God once more and he required him that it might please him to speake and he would answere not failing any waies to doe him seruice in that wherein he should command him Whereunto God answered saying since saith he thou art here know that so great a calamitie shall
long time together warred against the Idumaeans Zabidus departing out of a Citie of Idumaea where Apollo was worshipped came vnto the Iewes promising them to deliuer vnto them Apollo the Dorians god and bring him vnto their Temple if so bee that all of them would there assemble themselues together and that afterwards Zabidus did make a most excellent kind of wooden instrument and placed in it three ranckes of Candles and put it vpon him and so walked like a starre gliding on the ground for that shape he resembled to them that were a farre off from him And that the Iewes hereat seeing this straunge vision admired and were astonished and standing a farre off they were all silent and how by this shift Zabidus easily got into their Temple and tooke away the golden Asses head for so hee writeth plainely and so to haue returned speedily to Dora Wherefore we may say that Apion leadeth an Asse to wit himselfe with fooleries and lies for hee nameth places that are not and setteth downe Cities to himselfe vnknowne for Idumaea is a Prouince neere vnto vs and bordering vpon Gara and there is no Citie in it called Dora but in Phaenicia neere vnto the hill Carmelus there is a Citie of that name yet nothing consonant to Apions slaunders for it is foure dayes iourney from Iudaea Why therefore doth he so rashly accuse vs for not worshipping the same gods that other nations doe seeing as he saith our predecessors did so easily beleeue that Apollo would come vnto them and that he walked vpon the earth with starres vpon his backe Perhaps indeed they had neuer before seene a candle or lampe themselues hauing so many or is it likely that he walking thus quite through our countrie where so many thousand men are no one of them al met him Did he in time of warre finde the townes and villages by which he past without any watchmen Well I omit the rest The gates of our temple were three score cubites high twentie cubites broad all couered with gold yea almost all of cleane gold and these gates euerie day were shut by two hundreth men and it was too impious a thing to leaue them open is it then credible that this candlebearer could easily open them who alone was iudged to haue the asses head So that now it remaineth doubtfull whether Zabidus did bring backe againe the asses head or els Apion tooke it of him and brought it againe to our temple that there Antiochus might finde it and so Apion might haue another occasion of lying He also belieth vs concerning the oath which he saith we Iewes doe take swearing by the God of heauen and earth and sea neuer to fauour any stranger and especially the Greekes This liar might better haue said not to fauour any stranger and especially the Aegyptians and so his former lies and these should haue had better correspondence with the beginning if our auncestors had been expelled by their predecessors out of Aegypt not for their wickednesse but for their owne calamitie But we are so far from the Greeks that we scarcely euer thinke of them so that no man can say that there is any enmitie betweene vs and the Greekes But contrariwise many of them haue embraced our religion and some of them therein perseuered others againe haue forsaken it yet none of them will say that he heard this oath spoken amongst vs but it should seeme that onely Apion heard of it in that he himselfe indeed forged it Truely his great wisedome and prouidence is woorthy to be admired as shall hereafter appeare for he to prooue these his lies to be true saith that it is a certaine testimonie that the lawes we obserue are most vniust and that we worship not God as we ought to do in that we were subiect to diuers nations and our Citie endured many calamities Where as touching themselues they are of a Citie that flourisheth in absolute authoritie accustomed to gouerne from the foundation thereof and not to serue the Romans In effect who can resist their valour Truely no man but Apion would euer haue flowted vs herewith seeing that few Cities so flourish and raigne ouer other that they againe at no one time haue been brought into subiection For many nations are subiect to others onely the Aegyptians are freed from the captiuitie of such as rule Europe and Asia for that as they say the gods flying into their countrey were saued by entring into the bodies of beasts Yet haue they not indeed had any one daies libertie since the beginning of the world neither vnder the gouernment of their owne princes nor vnder strangers I will not stand to recken how often the Persians haue wasted their Citie destroied their temples and slaine their supposed gods For it is not decent that I should imitate herein Apions foolishnesse neither am I calling to memorie what befell the Athenians and Lacedaemonians the last of which are recorded to haue beene most valiant and the first to haue beene most deuout and religious neither will I recken vp those most godly kings amongst whom Craesus was one who notwithstanding fell into great calamities Moreouer I will not recount how the Castle of Athens was set on fire and the temples of Ephesus and Delphos likewise and many others There is now one Apion a new accuser of the Iewes who vpbraideth them with their calamities forgetting quite all miserie that hath befallen his countrimen the Aegyptians but he was blinded with the fable of Sesostris whom he saith to haue been king of Aegypt We could report and boast of our kings Dauid and Salomon who subdued many nations vnto them but it is not fit here to speake of them But Apion was ignorant of that which all the world knoweth to wit that the Aegyptians haue serued first to the Persians and afterwards to the Macedonians and that as bondslaues where we remaining in free libertie raigned ouer all Cities round about vs 120. yeeres euen vnto the time of Pompey the great and when all the other kings were subdued by the Romans onely our kings for their fidelitie and friendship towards them were deare vnto them Oh but this sticketh vpon Apions stomacke that we haue not had any famous men of our nation who haue inuented artes and sciences and been excellent in wisedome such as Socrates Zeno Cleanthes and others whom he setteth downe were and which is most to be admired Apion putteth himselfe in the number of these famous men and saith that Alexandria is blessed and happy that hath deserued to haue such a Citizen as he is and great reason that he himselfe should testifie that of himselfe which all men else perceiue in him to wit that hee is an impudent deceitefull fellow both of corrupt life and manners So that any Alexandrians had iust cause to be sorie that they euer had any better opinion of him But that our nation had men equall at least vnto those
three sonnes Ionathan Iosuah and Melchi and two daughters Merob and Michal The generall of his army was Abner the sonne of his vnckle called Ner for Ner and Cis Sauls father were brothers and sonnes of Abiel He was verie rich both in horse and chariots and against whatsoeuer enemy he marched forth he alwaies returned with victorie so that he reduced the affaires of the Hebrewes to a happy estate and so much increased their power that they weare feared by all those nations that neighboured vpon them But the chiefest of the youth that either preuailed in strength or exceeded in beauty he chose to be of his guarde CHAP. VIII Sauls victorie against the Amalechites BVt Samuel comming vnto Saul told him that he was sent vnto him by God to admonish him how he had chosen him aboue the rest and preferred him to the kingdome for that cause that it behooued him to be obedient vnto him in all things because he ruled the people but God both kings kingdomes and all things Thus therefore said hee doth God command thee Since the Amalechites offered many iniuries vnto the Hebrewes in the desert whilest in their departure out of Aegypt they trauelled into that region which they now inhabite it behooueth thee to punish them by a most iust warre and hauing ouercome them that thou vtterly extinguish their memorie without regard of either sex or yeares and this reuenge shalt thou execute vpon them in repaiment of those iniuries they in times past offered to our forefathers Neither shalt thou spare either beast or horse or flocke to apply them to thy profit or particular vse but thou shalt consecrate all vnto God and according as Moses commanded it deface the name of the Amalechites from of the earth All these things did Saul promise to performe and supposing obedience consisted in this not onely in the acting but also the speedie execution of that which was enioyned him he presently assembled all his forces togither and mustring his souldiers at Galgal he found about fortie thousand besides the tribe of Iuda which of it selfe affoorded and allowed thirty thousand chosen men with these did Saul enter the countrey of the Amalechites and layd diuers ambushes neere vnto a riuer not onely to afflict them with open and hostile warre but also to enclose and surprise them at vnwares and kill them amidst their hie waies He charged them therefore and put them to flight and discomfited their whole army pursuing them that fled Which execution of his hauing that answerable successe according as God had promised him before he marched onwards and besieged the Cities of the Amalechites and ouercame some of them by batterie some by mines and countermures raised on the outside other some by famine and thirst and diuers other waies And in those Cities which he ouercame he neither spared women nor children neither supposing their murther to be cruell neither inhumane first for that he executed it vpon his enemie next for that he did nothing but according to Gods commandement towards whom his disobedience might redound to his vtter ouerthrow He tooke Agag prisoner also who was the king of the Amalechites whose beautie and personage seemed vnto him so well proportioned and perfect that he wondred thereat and thought him worthy to be kept aliue and that not by Gods commandement but ouercome by his owne affection vsurping vpon an vngranted priuiledge of mercie to his owne preiudice For God so hated the Amalechites that he spared not their infants who ought in naturall compassion to haue beene more pitied then the rest But Saul kept aliue the king of his enemies and the author of all the Hebrewes euils setting more by his beauty then Gods commandement This sinne of his the people presently imitated for they spared both horse and other kind of cattell and made pray of them notwithstanding that God had charged them to reserue nothing They caried away with them all other moueables and riches and only consumed those things which were of smalest valew by fire This victorie had Saul ouer those people that dwell betwixt Pelusium which is a Citie on the borders of Aegypt vnto the red sea But he medled not with the Sichemites which inhabite in the midst of the Madianites whom before the battell he had commaunded to retire themselues least they should partake the calamities of the Amalechites for in that they were allied vnto them by reason of Raguel Moses father in lawe the Hebrewes had cause to procure their safetie Saul hauing obtained this victorie reioycing at his good successe returned to his owne home as full of content as if he had pretermitted nothing of that which God had commanded him by the Prophet Samuel before his warre with the Amalechites but as if he had precisely obserued all that which was enioyned him But God was sore displeased both for that the king of the Amalechites was preserued and for that the people had made pray of their cattell for both these actions of theirs were expressely against Gods permission For it was not to be tolerated no not in a mortall king that they should neglect and contemne his lawes and decrees by whose onely meanes they were furthered and fauoured in their victorie For which cause God told the Prophet Samuel that he repented him in that he had chosen Saul for their king considering that he infringed his commandements and gouerned himselfe according to his owne appetites When Samuel heard these words he was sore troubled and besought God all the night long that he would appease his wrath and displeasure conceiued against Saul but notwithstanding al the importunities and praiers which the Prophet made for him God would in no sort be reconciled because it was inconuenient that the sinnes which were committed by Saul should be remitted by Samuels submission and intercession For sinne neuer more augmenteth and increaseth then when such as are offenced are too remisse in their punishments for whilest they would be reputed both for good and mercifull they themselues both vnwares and vnwitting become the authors of sinne When as therefore God had denied the Prophet his request and it manifestly appeared that no praiers or supplication might appease him as soone as it was day Samuel repaired to Saul who at that time remained in Galgal Now as soone as the king apperceiued him he ranne vnto him and embraced him saying I giue God thankes for the victorie and all those things which hee commanded me I haue performed But Samuel replied and said How commeth it then to passe that I heare this bleating of sheepe and bellowing of beasts thorow the army Saul answered that the people had reserued that cattell for sacrifice and that besides them all the nation of the Amalechites was exterminated according as God had commanded and that there was not any one remaining but that he onelie had reserued the king whom he would cause
to be presented before him to the end they might consult togither what should be done with him Hereunto the Prophet answered That God tooke no pleasure in sacrifices but such as were good and iust and such said he are they that are according to his will and commandement since no action may be reputed good but in respect of the reference it hath to Gods will for God refuseth not him that sacrificeth not but him that disobeyeth him For he willingly accepteth not those sacrifices that are offered vnto him by those that submit not themselues vnto him and offer not vnto him the true and onely offering yea though they present diuers and many great sacrifices and bring him sundrie Iewels of gold and siluer but reiecteth such things and respecteth them not as pledges of pietie but testimonies of wickednesse But he taketh pleasure in those onely that obserue that which he hath pronounced and commanded making choise rather to die then any waies to infringe the same not seeking that sacrifices should be offered vnto him but if they be offered although of small and no valew yet are they more acceptable vnto him in pouertie and obedience then all those which the richest hand or strongest fortune can affoord him any waies Know thou therefore said he that thou hast incurd Gods displeasure in that thou hast contemned and neglected his commandements for how canst thou thinke that he will regard thy sacrifices with a gracious eie which hee himselfe hath adiudged to vtter perdition and ruine except thou thinke that to offer such thinges vnto God be in effect no lesse then to seeke out death Be assured therefore of the losse both of thy kingdome and power which hath in such sort transported thee that thou hast contemned God who bestowed the same vpon thee But Saul confessed that he had sinned and done amisse in that hee had not obeyed the words of the Prophet yet alleadged he that he was compelled to doe the same in that he durst not restraine the souldier who was whet and kindled vpon the pray but said he be fauourable and mercifull vnto me for her after I will take heede least I fall into the like sinne and he besought him that he would stay with him so long whilest he might offer a peace offering in his behalfe But he that foresaw and knew that God would be mooued by no sacrifice began to depart CHAP. IX Samuel proclaimed Dauid King BVt Saul willing to retaine Samuel tooke hold of his garment and for that the Prophet hastily withdrew himselfe he tore away a part thereof by reason that Samuel violently withdrew himselfe from him To whom the Prophet sayd that in like sort his kingdome should be rent from him and that another who was more honest and vpright should take possession therof for God continued in his determination intended against him because that to change varie opinion is humane passion and not diuine puissance Saul answered that he had grieuously sinned but that it was impossible for him to recal that which was done he notwithstanding besought him that in the presence of the people he would as yet doe him honor at such time as he should walke with him cast himself before the presence of God which Samuel condescended vnto and went with him to adore God After this Agag the king of the Amalechites was brought before Samuel who heard him lament and complaine that death was verie bitter and tedious to whom he answered in this manner following As thou hast caused diuers mothers amongst the Hebrews to weepe and lament the losse of their children so shalt thou cause thy mothers sorrow and torment for thy death which said he presently commanded that he should be put to death in Galgal as for himselfe he returned backe againe to the city of Ramath But the king perceiuing in himself into how many mischiefs he had fallen by his offences committed against God departed to his chiefe city called Gaba which name signifieth a hillock and from that day forwards he neuermore came into the prophet Samuels presence who was hartily sory for his fall But God commanded him to giue ouer his care that taking with him the sacred oile he should repaire to the city of Bethleem to Iesse the son of Obed and that there he should annoint one of his sons for king according as he had cōmanded him when as the Prophet said that he was afraid lest Saul getting notice therof should either by treason or opē force seeke to slay him being incouraged assured in his attempt he came to the forenamed town In that place was he saluted with great concourse of people each of thē inquired of him to what intent he repaired thither who answered them that he came to offer sacrifice vnto God Now when the oblations were performed he inuited Iesse and his sonnes to banquet with him and beholding the eldest of them to be faire and well proportioned he coniectured by his stature and seemelines that it should be he that was to be elected king but in this matter he attained not the scope of Gods prouidence For demanding whether he should annoint that young man whom in admiration he thought so worthie of the kingdome it was answered him that men saw not in such manner as God doth For thou said he beholding the beautie of the young man supposest him worthie of the kingdome but I prise not royaltie and gouernment of estate by the beauties of the bodie but by the vertues of the soule and him require I that is perfectly furnished herewith and hath his mind beautified with pietie iustice obedience and fortitude Vpon these words Samuel commaunded Iesse to bring all his other sonnes into his presence who presented him with fiue others the eldest of which was called Eliab the second Aminadab the third Sala the fourth Nathaneel the fift Rael and the sixt Asam. Now when the Prophet beheld these likewise no lesse beautifull men then was the eldest he asked of God which of them he should choose for king he answered him that he should choose neither of them for which cause he enquired of Iesse whether he had any other sons besides them who told him that he had one which was called Dauid who had the care and custodie of his flockes Him did the Prophet sodainly commaund him to send for alledging that it was impossible for them to sit downe to the banquet except he were present Now when Dauid was arriued according as his father had commanded him Samuel seeing him faire in colour quicke in eye and otherwaies answerable to his naturall ornaments This is he said he in priuate to himself who is accepted and elected by God to be our king This said he sat downe at the table and made the young man sit aboue him and both Iesse his father and his other brethren Afterwards taking the cruet of oyle in the presence of the
other age but consumed the whole Citie with fire onely one sonne of Achimelech escaped who was called Abiathar All which befortuned according as God had foretold the high priest Eli saying that by reason of the transgression of his two sonnes his posteritie should be extinguished This cruell and malicious act perpetrated by king Saul in extinguishing all the race of the sacerdotall order without compassion either of infants or reuerence of old age this destruction of his of that Citie which God had chosen to be the countrey and common nurse of the Priests and Prophets and which he elected to be a receptacle and refuge of all that sort of men manifestly expresseth and declareth vnto all men how depraued and corrupt the mindes of men are For so long as they are humble and limited by a base and priuate estate because they neither dare nor can haue libertie to giue scope to their vnbridled natures they seeme to be good and iust men and make shew of a wonderfull studie of iustice accompanying the same with pietie and are perswaded that God is present in all our actions finally that he beholdeth all our cogitations But no sooner haue they attained to power and empire laying aside their former and reformed manners and taking vpon them as it were in a stage play both a new habite and an other personage but they are deuoured in all audaciousnes and insolencie and contempt of both diuine and humane lawes And when as to ouercome their enuie that had most need of pietie and iustice and when as not onely all their actions but also their wils are exposed to all mens eies then most of all as if either God dissembled or feared their power they exercise their tyrannies vpon their subiects and whatsoeuer they decree either thorowe vaine feare hatred or vnreasonable fauour that suppose they both to be ratified by men and allowed by God being altogither depriued of either respect or reason of those things that are to come For whatsoeuer they be that spend their many and vnexhausted labours in their seruice those do they first preferre and afterwards when they haue loaden them with the burthen of dignities they thorow enuie not onely depriue of those dignities but thorow slander also doe oftentimes oppresse them not considering how deseruedly they oppresse but onely giuing credit without proofe to rash and scandalous detractions executing and satiating their rage not on those they ought to punish but those that may most easilie be depressed and ouerthrown The manifest example hereof appeareth vnto vs in Saul the sonne of Cis who after the gouernment of the nobilitie was extinct and the supreme magistracie of iudges was disanulled being the first created king of the Hebrewes onely for that he suspected Achimelech he slew three hundreth priests and prophets and after he had slaine them destroied their citie with fire and as much as in him lay depriued the high temple of God not only of priests but sacred ministers and after so hideous a slaughter neither spared their countrey nor any one of their ofspring to be left aliue But Abiathar Achimelechs sonne who only escaped with life amidst all his slaughtered family flying vnto Dauid declared vnto him both the ouerthrow of his family and the death of his father Dauid answered him that he expected no lesse then that which hapned at such time as he espied Doeg there who as his minde gaue him would not faile to reproue and scandale Achimelech to Saul yet tooke he it on him that the misfortune hapned vnto his friend by his meanes he therefore praied him to remaine with him because he could not be concealed or secured in any place better then with himselfe About the same time Dauid vnderstanding that the Philistines made a road into the countrey of Cilla and praied the same determined to assault them if after the Prophet had asked counsell of God he should be by the oracle animated to the performance thereof which accordingly falling out he sallied out accompanied with his friends and set vpon the Philistines and made a great slaughter of them and recouered a verie rich pray and gaue conuoy to the Cillans till such time as they had safely gathered in and housed all their corne and fruit The rumour of this his exploit was presently brought vnto Saul for this noble act and happy execution was not only not shut within the limits of the place wherein it was performed but the renowme thereof was dispersed euerie where both in other mens eares as also in the kings and both the action and the authour thereof were highly commended Saul was verie ioyfull to heare that Dauid was in Cilla and said thus God hath deliuered him into my hands by inforcing him to shut vp himselfe within a citie inclosed with wals gates and bars whereupon he sodainly gaue commandement that all the people should march against Cilla and besiege the same and surprise or kill Dauid But Dauid hauing intelligence hereof and aduertised by God that if he staied among the Cillans they would deliuer him into the hands of Saul hee tooke with him his foure hundreth men and retired himselfe from the Citie into the desart and encamped on a defenced hill called Engaddi so that the king being aduertised that he was fled from the Cillans ceased to issue out in armes against him From thence Dauid departed to a certaine place of the Ziphians where Ionathan Sauls sonne met with him and after he had embraced him he exhorted him to be of good cheere and to conceiue an assured hope of future good fortune and not to giue place to his present miseries by reason that he should obtaine the kingdome and should haue the whole power of the Hebrewes subiected vnto him but that such things were not-wont to happen except they were accompanied with great trauailes and after they had once more renued the oth of mutual and lasting amitie and faith betweene them during all the time of their liues calling God to witnesse with imprecations against him that should contradict or in any sort change those conuentions Ionathan left Dauid somewhat eased in heart and disburdned of his conceiued feare and that done returned to his owne home But the Ziphians intending to gratifie Saul told him that Dauid was amongst them and promised him to deliuer him prisoner into his hands if so be he would issue out against him in so much as if he would seaze all the streights of the countrey it should bee impossible for him to flie into any other place The king praised their forwardnesse and promised them to requite their loyalty and to remunerate them shortly for this their good affection and withall sent out certaine men to seeke out Dauid and to beake ouer the forrest promising them that shortly he would follow after them Thus did the gouernours princes of the Ziphians offer themselues vnto the king to search out and apprehend him
expressing their affection therein not onely in outward shew but also with their whole power labouring what they might that surprising him they might deliuer him to the kings hands But their iniust desire had as infortunate successe who being to incurre no perill by concealing him from pursuit promised to betray into the kings hands thorow adulation and auarice a man that was both vertuous and wrongfully persecuted to death by his enemies For Dauid being made priuie to their malice and ascertained of the Kings approch leauing those narrow streights wherin they then incamped escaped to a certaine rocke which is situate in the desarts of Simon Neither desisted Saul to pursue him for knowing by the way that he had ouercome the streights he came to the other side of the rock Dauid had surely both bin taken and circumuented had not the king beene reuoked by fearfull tidings which assured him that the Palestines had forcibly entred and spoiled his kingdome For he thought it more conuenient to reuenge himselfe on those his hostile and sworne enemies and to giue succour to his countrey and people being ready to be spoiled and wasted then vnder desire to lay hands on a priuate enemie to betray both his countrie subiects to their swords and thus was Dauid saued beyond all expectation and retired himselfe to the streights of Engaddi But after that Saul had repulsed the Palestines certaine newes was brought him that Dauid dwelt in the streights of Engaddi whereupon presently taking with him three thousand of the choisest men in all his armie heled them speedily to the forenamed place and being not farre from thence he perceiued neere vnto the high way a deepe hollowe large long and open caue whereas Dauid with his foure hundreth men might be hidden and descended himselfe alone into the caue to disburthen the necessities of nature This was presently discouered by one of Dauids followers who told him that God had presented him a fit oportunitie to reuenge him on his enimie and counselled him to cut off Sauls head and discharge himselfe thereby of much trouble and torment who arising and finding him out onely cut off the lap of the vesture wherewith Saul was attired and presently thereupon repented himself saying that it were a wicked deed in him to kil his lord whom God by election had raised to the estate of Maiestie and Empire For said he although he be vniust toward me yet ought I not to be iniurious towards him But when Saul was issued out of the caue Dauid went out after and cried with a loud voice beseeching Saul that he would giue him audience who turning backe vnto him he cast himselfe prostrate before his feete and humbled him on his face according to the custome and spake after this manner How vnworthie is it for thee O King that opening thy eares to scandalous backbiters and giuing trust and credit to vaine loose men thou suspectest thy most tried friends whom thou rather oughtest to iudge by their sincere and vpright actions for words may be either false or true but the mind may be discouered by none more apparant arguments then by mens actions as at this present thou maist iudge whether thou hast rashly beleeued them that make me guiltie before thy Maiestie of that crime that was neuer yet so much as thought vpon and haue so much exasperated thee against me that day and night thou thinkest on nothing more then my destruction Seest thou not now how vaine thy opinion is whereby they perswade thee that I am an enimie of thy house and earnestly desirous of thy death Or with what eies thinkest thou doth God behold thy crueltie who requirest his death who hauing occasion and opportunitie offered him to be reuenged on thee spareth thy life whose life were it in thy hands were assuredly lost for as easily might I haue cut off thy head as this lap of thy garment and therewithall in confirmation of his words he shewed it him yet did I forbeare this iust reuenge yet contrariwise art not thou afraid to exercise thy vniust tyrannies against me But God shall beare witnesse hereof and shall approue which of vs both are of more peaceable behauiours Saul amased to see how straungely his life had beene preserued and rauished to consider the naturall mildnes and moderation in Dauid began to weepe and Dauid wept also but Saul said that he had greater cause to lament then he For said he by thy meanes haue I receiued many benefits and thou at my hands hast been repaid with infinit iniuries This day hast thou testified that thou retainest the ancient iustice of thy progenitors who commaunded that their enemies should be dismissed with life at such time as they were surprised in the desart now am I thorowly perswaded that God hath reserued the kingdome for thee and that the Empire of all the Hebrewes attendeth thee Assure thou me therefore by an oth that thou wilt not exterminate my race neither remember thee of those iniuries I haue done vnto thee but that sparing my posteritie thou warrantise and keepe them vnder thy protection Dauid sware vnto him according as he had required and suffered him to returne into his Realme and both he and his companies retired themselues to the streights of Maspha About the same time died Samuel the Prophet a man who by his merit was in great estimation amongst the Hebrewes the famous testimonie of whose vertue and the peoples obseruation towards him was expressed in this in that they celebrated his funerall and set out his sepulcher with great pompe and when they had performed his rites they buried him in Ramath his countrey and lamented him many daies not after the manner of a common or forraine misery but as if each one of them had in particular a preiudice and losse to lament for For he was a man that was naturally framed to all iustice and goodnes and for these his vertues most acceptable vnto God He gouerned the people after the death of Eli the high Priest first in his owne person for the space of twelue yeares and afterwards during the raigne of Saul eighteene yeares whose death hapned as I said about this time But in those places where Dauid at that time remained there was a certaine Ziphian in a towne called Emma a man verie rich and Lord of much cattell For he had a troupe of three thousand sheepe and a heard of a thousand Goats On these did Dauid commaund his people to commit no waste neither thorow desire nor necessitie nor hope of concealement they should doe him any hurt Charging them moreouer that they should offer no wrong vnto any man because that to violate and take another mans goods was both vnlawfull and wicked and contrarie to Gods commandement Hee instructed them in this sort imagining with himselfe that he should gratifie a good man and such a one as deserued to be in like sort fauoured but
thing for him to slay him who was Gods elected for that it was Gods right to take reuenge on him who had giuen the kingdome and thus restrained he the others vnbridled furie Yet to the intent he might certifie the king that hauing the opportunitie to slay him he had spared his life he bare away with him his Iauelin and the pitcher of water that stood by Saul whilst he slept without the witting or knowledge of any of the campe so much were they deuoured and ouerhaled with sleepe He therefore departed thence in all assurance hauing executed all that which either the time or his courage would permit him to doe But after he had passed the riuer and had attained the top of a mountaine from whence he might be easily heard he cried out to Sauls soldiers and their generall Abner so strongly that he awaked them from their sleepe and calling vpon Abner as well as the common sort of souldiers the generall asked who it was that called him to whom Dauid answered It is I the sonne of Iesse your fugitiue but said he how commeth it to passe that thou who art so great and in chiefest authoritie about the king hast so small respect and gard of his person Thy sleep is more pleasant vnto thee then thy watch for his conseruation Assuredly this act of thine deserueth a capitall punishment because thou neither hast discouered me nor any others before we entred the campe or approched the â—…ing Seeke for the kings Iauelin and his pitcher of water and thou shalt perceiue in what great danger he hath been euen in the midst of you without any notice or discouerie of yours Saul perceiuing that it was Dauids voice and conceiued how that being in his hands whom he had surprised in the depth of sleep thorow the negligence of his guard he had not slaine him but pardoned him his life although it iustly lay in his power to take his head from him he said that he gaue him thankes and acknowledged his life from him exhorting him to be assured and without suspect of any euill to returne home vnto his house because he was perswaded that he loued not himselfe so much as he was intirely affected by Dauid notwithstanding that he had pursued him and for a long time past had chased him like a fugitiue constraining him also by diuers afflictions and great torments of spirit to be abandoned from his neerest parents and friends yea from Dauid himselfe who might haue preserued him and who had giuen him diuers demonstrations of his good will towards him and by whom he had been often times preserued whom notwithstanding he ceased not to pursue vnto the death who contrariwise desired nothing more then his life Hereupon Dauid willed him to send some one of his seruants to bring backe his Iauelin and pitcher of water protesting that God should be iudge of both their natures manners actions who knew that that day also he had spared his enemy whom if he had so thought good he might haue extinguished Saul hauing this second time escaped from Dauids hands returned to his royall house But Dauid fearing least if he soiourned in that place he should bee intrapped by Saul thought good to retire himselfe into the countrey of the Philistines and soiourne there So that accompanied with six hundreth men which he had with him he transported himselfe to Achis king of Geth one of their fiue Cities who receiued him with all his people and gaue him a place to dwell in so that he aboad in Geth hauing with him his two wiues Achimaas and Abigal Which when Saul vnderstood he made no more account to send or sallie out against him because that two seuerall times he had been in danger of his life at such time as he pursued him to intrap him Dauid held it not conuenient to remaine in the Citie of Geth and therfore requested the king of the Philistines that since he had courteously entertained him it might please him likewise to do him the fauour to assigne him a certaine place in his countrey where he might make his habitation because he feared to be chargeable to him if so be he remained in the Citie Achis assigned him a village called Siceleg which Dauid after he obtained the kingdome loued and honoured holding that for his owne demaine as his owne children and heires did after him But hereof will we speake in an other place The time that Dauid liued amongst the Philistines and in the towne of Siceleg were foure moneths and twentie daies during which time by seuerall and secret excursions against the bordering Sarrites and Amalechites he spoyled their countrey and returned backe againe with a great bootie of oxen and camels yet brought he thence no bondmen least Achis by their meanes should haue intelligence of his enterprise He sent likewise a part of the pray vnto the king and when he demaunded from whom he had taken the same he answered that he had taken it from the Iewes that dwelt Southward and in the plaine perswading him that he had done no losse so that Achis conceiued an opinion that since Dauid warred against his owne nation all the time of his aboad with him hee would be a faithfull seruant vnto him About the same time the Philistines hauing determined to lead forth their army against the Israelites sent out to their allies requiring them to assist them in that warre and to make their Rendeuous at Renga to the intent that being there assembled they might dislodge and assaile the Israelites Amongst their other auxiliarie companies Achis had requested Dauid to assist him with his six hundreth souldiers which he promised him willingly to performe telling him that the opportunitie was now come wherein he might requite his curtesie and the hospitalitie he had shewed him Achis promised him that after the victory when as all things had succeeded according as he desired he would preferre Dauid to the guard of his person thinking by the promise of this honour and trust he might augment Dauids forwardnes and affection towards him CHAP. XV. The Philistines renew their warre against the Hebrewes and obtaine the victorie and Saul with his sonnes are slaine in the battell BVt Saul about this time had banished all diuiners and inchanters and in generall all such as were tellers of fortunes reseruing none within his countrey but the Prophets When as therefore hee vnderstood that the Palestines were alreadie vp in armes and strongly encamped neere to the city of Sonna sciruate in the plain he marched forward made head against them with all his forces And as soone as he drew neere to the mountain of Gelboa he encamped right ouer against the enemy Now when his army discouered their great forces they were much discomforted no sooner beheld it but were amased Being therfore sore troubled herewith he sought counsel at Gods hands as touching the euent of the battell seeing he returned him no
two last which were named by vs were the sonnes of concubines But Thamar was Absalons sister by the same father and mother CHAP. IIII. Dauid assayled by the Palestines obtaineth a famous victorie against them neere vnto Ierusalem NOw when the Palestines knew that the Hebrewes had created Dauid king they led forth their army against him towards Ierusalem where encamping themselues in the valley of the Giants which is a place not farre off from the Citie they in that place expected the encountrey But the king of the Hebrewes who was wont to do nothing inconsiderately without Gods aduise commanded the high priest to prophecie and foretell what successe and euent the warre should haue who after he had informed him that God smileth on fauoureth their attempts he presently drew out his armie against the enemie and striking the battell he sodainly assailed the enemies on their backes and partly slew them and partly put them to flight But let no man suspect that the army of the Palestines was either small in number or weake in courage which at that time assailed the Hebrewes in that he coniectureth in his mind that they were easily ouercome without either attempting or performing any noble or memorable action For he is to know that all Syria Phenicia and all other warlike nations beyond them bare armes with them and were confederates in this warre which was the onely cause that notwithstanding they were so many times ouercome and had lost diuers thousands of men that they desisted not to assaile the Hebrewes with more great force and that which is more hauing beene defeated in the battels before recited yet forbare they not to assaile Dauid a new with thrice as much power as before or to incampe in the same place For which cause Dauid tooke counsell of God once more what the issue of this battell should be and the high Priest told him that he should encampe in the forrest called Teares because it was not farre off from the enemies campe and that he should not depart from thence neither attempt them in battell before the trees did shake without any agitation or breath of wind Whereupon as soone as the trees shooke and the time which God had appointed was come without any delay he issued out to enioy a prepared and manifest victorie For the squadrons of the enemie were disarrayed and incontinently betooke them to flight and were swiftly followed and slaughtered vntill the Citie of Gerar which is a frontire towne of their countrey and their campe was thorowly ransacked wherein there were found great riches and amongst all other things their Gods were beaten to peeces The battell being brought to this end it seemed good vnto Dauid by the counsaile of the Elders and Coronels ouer thousands that all the flower of their youth should be assembled from all the parts of the countrey euery one according to his tribe Secondly that the Priests and Leuites should repaire to Cariathiarim and bring from thence the Arke of God and conueie it to Ierusalem to the end that when it should be there the seruice of God might thereafter be celebrated in that place other sacrifices and honours agreeable to the diuine maiesty might be performed And had the same beene done during the life of Saul no inconuenient had fallen vpon them When as al the people were assembled according as it was decreed by him the king came forth to transferre the Arke which the Priests carying out of Aminadabs house they laid it vpon a new waine which togither with oxen their brothers and children drewe The king marched formost and after him all the people praising God a◅d tuning all sorts of melodie then vsuall in that countrey with diuersitie of sounds of instruments of Dances and Shalmes Trumpets and Clarions and in this manner conducted he the Arke into Ierusalem But when they were come to the threshing floore of Chidō which is a certain place so called Oza died thorow the wrath of God for the oxen stumbling that drewe the chariot and the Arke somwhat shaken he stretched out his hand with intent to sustaine the same and because he was no Priest God stroke him till he died The king and the people were sore aggrieued at the death of Oza and the place where he died is called to this day Ozas Striking Dauid fearing least if he should retire the Arke with him into the Citie the like happe should attend him that had befallen Oza who was in that sort done to death for that he had onely thus stretched out his hand he placed it not with him in his owne house within the Citie but commaunded that it should be left in the possession of one called Obed by descent a Leuite and in behauiour a man good and vertuous where it remained for three months space during which time his house was blessed with al worldly goods and goodnes The king being ascertained what aduantages had befallen Obed who of a poore and needie man was sodainly become verie rich so that all men had their eies fixed on him they that heard speake of his house enuied him he assured himselfe that no inconuenient would befall him for which cause he retired the Arke into his own house which was caried by the Priests and seuen quires of singing men disposed by the king went before the same The king himselfe likewise touched and plaied vpon the Harpe so that Michol Dauids wife and Sauls daughter seeing him entertaining himselfe after that manner mocked at him The Arke then being thus caried was placed in a Tabernacle orected and dressed by Dauid who offered most magnificent sacrifices of all sorts and forgot not the sacrifices for prosperities he feasted all the people likewise both men women and children distributing vnto euery one a cake a morsell of rosted meat a cake fried in the pan and a portion of the sacrifice and after he had thus feasted the people he dismissed them and retreated himselfe into his owne house But Michol his wife and daughter to king Saul drawing neere vnto him vpon his returne besought God for him that it might please him in all other things she might expresse vnto her husband all that which became her intire and vnequald loue towards him but in this she blamed him because that being so great and mightie a king as he was he had dishonoured himselfe in dauncing despoiling himselfe and discouering partly that which became him not doing all this in companie of his seruants and handmaids To whom Dauid answered that he was not ashamed in performing a thing so acceptable vnto God as that was who had honoured him more then her father placed him aboue all others assuring her that he would play dance oftentimes after that sort without care whether his demeanor pleased either her or her chambermaids This Michol of whom we intreat had no children by Dauid but being maried againe to another to whom her father had
from the siege as we haue declared in an other place And againe a long time after this Herod also opened an other Cabinet from whence he tooke out a great summe And as touching the tombes of Princes no man defaced them because they were most magnificently builded for feare least they should be esteemed destroyers of monuments But for the present it sufficeth that I haue certified thus much THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 8. booke 1 How Salomon obtaining the kingdome expelled his enemies 2 Of the riches prudence and wisedome of Salomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Ierusalem 3 How Salomon being dead the people reuolted from Roboam his sonne and made Hieroboam king of the ten tribes 4 How Susac king of the Aegyptians sacking Ierusalem caried away the riches of that Citie into Aegypt 5 The warre of Hieroboam against Abiam Roboams sonne and the slaughter of his armie and how Basanes the rooter out of Hieroboams posteritie occupied the kingdome 6 The irruption of the Aethipians into the land of the Hebrewes vnder Asa and the ouerthrow of their armie 7 Basans stocke being wholy rooted out amongst the Israelites Zamri ruled in Israel with his sonne Achab. 8 Adad king of Damasco and Syria encamping and fighting two seuerall times against Achab is ouerthrowne 9 Of Iosaphat king of Ierusalem 10 Achab being prouoked to warre by the Sryans is ouercome and slaine in the battell CHAP. I. How Salomon obtaining the kingdome expulsed his enemies WE haue declared in the former Booke what Dauid was how great his vertue hath beene what profits and benefits those of his nation receiued by him what warres and battels he worthily exployted and how happily at last through extremitie of age he departed out of this life But after that Salomon his sonne being at that time verie young had obtained the kingdome and was placed in his fathers throne according as Dauid had determined and the diuine power had decreed the whole people according to the common course in the election of newe Princes with happie acclamations wished him perpetuall felicitie in all his affaires and after his well gouerned estate and royaltie long many prosperous yeares But Adonias who during his fathers life time thought to possesse and seaze himselfe of the royall estate came vnto the kings mother and with all humilitie reuerence saluted her To whom Bethsabe said that if there were anything wherin she might sted him he should manifest it vnto her and that she would grant it him willingly Whereupon he began to say that it was a thing verie well knowen that the kingdome appertained vnto him both in regard of his age as also in respect of the fauour and good liking of the people but since that it had beene transferred vnto Salomon hir sonne by the will of God he was content therewith and would be his seruant being verie glad of the fortunate successe of his affaires He therefore besought her that she would solicite Salomon in his behalfe and perswade him to giue him Abisace to wife who had slept with Dauid for that he had not had any carnall company with her by reason of his age and that as yet she was fully possessed of her virginitie Bethsabe promised him to further his suit to the vtmost of hir power and willingly to employ her selfe toward the accomplishing of the marriage both for that the king was willing to gratifie her in whatsoeuer she should desire as also for that she would instantly intreat him so that he departed from her with assured hope of good successe in respect of his marriage Hereupon presently did Bethsabe addresse her selfe to the king intending to certifie him both what Adonias had requested and what she had granted When tidings came to Salomon that his mother came to visit him he went out to meete her and embraced her afterwards conducting her into the place where the royall treasure was he sate him downe and commaunded his seruants to place a seat on his right hand for his mother who setled by him spake vnto him after this manner My sonne vouchsafe me one fauour that I shall request at thy hands and send me not hence discontended and confused thorow thy refusall Salomon answered her that she should commaund him by reason that dutie tied him to the satisfaction and fauour of his mothers suites reprouing her for that insinuation she had vsed by reason that thereby she euidently expressed that she was not thorowly assured to obtaine her demaund but that she feared the refusall and repulse in the same she therefore required him to giue the Damsell Abisace for wife to Adonias his brother The King displeased at this her suit dismissed his mother alledging that Adonias hammered hie thoughts in his head that he wōdred that in requiring Abisace to wife he had not requested Salomō likewise to giue him place in the kingdome for Adonias was elder than he and had more mightie friends then he had namely the generall Ioab and the high Priest Abiathar For which cause he incontinently sent Banaia captaine of his guard to kill Adonias his brother Then calling vnto him the high Priest Abiathar The paines said he that thou hast endured by accompanying my father Dauid and attending and bearing the Arke with him make thee escape from death yet notwithstanding for that thou hast beene an assistant to Adonias and followed his faction I condemne thee to depart from my presence charging thee not to see my face any more but to retire thy selfe to thine owne house and there to liue in thy countrey vntill thou hast ended thy daies for hauing in this sort neglected me it is not conuenient that thou shouldest be in honour with me For this cause was the house of Ithamar depriued of the priestly dignitie according as God had foreprophecied to Eli one of the auncestors of Abiathar and translated to the race of Phinees and established in Sadoc Those of the race of Phinees who led a priuate life all that time that the Priesthood remained in the familie of Ithamar wherof Eli was the first were these Boccias the sonne of Ioseph Ioatham the sonne of Boccias Maraeoth the sonne of Ioatham Aropha the sonne of Maraeoth Achitob the sonne of Aropha Sadoc the sonne Achitob who was the first high Priest vnder king Dauid Ioab hauing tidings of the death of Adonias was seazed with sodaine and extreme feare for he loued him more than king Salomon and by reason of that friendship which he bare vnto him he iustly and vpon good grounds apprehended his owne danger and in this respect he fled vnto the altar hoping in that place to be secured in regard of that reuerēce which the king bare vnto God But when Ioabs resolution was made knowne vnto the king he sent Banaia vnto him with commission to bring him from the
Moses Moses was not a leper Moses tooke his name of Moy which in the Egyptian tongue signifieth water Against Chaeremon the historiographer Messenes son of Amenophis Manethons historie and Chaeremons compared together The difference betweene Manethons and Chaeremons historie Lysimachus is reproued for lying According to Lysimachus yeâ—…abbed and leprous Iewes were to be conueied into the wildernes and cast into the sea When the Iews got Iudaea and built Ierusalem Lysimus his opinion confuted Nothing is to be said against an impudent liâ—… Apion wrote something verie coldly Apion concerning Moses and the Iewes Apions fiction concerning the temple and Moses is 〈◊〉 The computatioÌ„ of the time is different among the Historiographerâ—… The friendship betweene Hiram and Salomon whereof we made mention in the first booke against Apion in the beginning The Egyptians doe call a disease about the priuie parts Sabatosis Apions fiction of the six daies iourney is confuted Apion denieth his countrey and origen Apion raileth against the Iewes as therby rewarding the Alexandrians The sea coast of Alexandria The liberties and priuiledges granted vnto the Iewes Alexander 1 Ptolomaeus Lagus 2 Ptolomaeus Philadelphus The seuentie interpreters 3. Ptolomaeus Euergetes 4. Ptolomaeus Philometor 5. Ptolomaeus Physcon ceased to to persecute the Iewes Of Cleopatra the last queene of Alexandria Anthonie the husband of Cleopatra The Iewes haue beene alwaies trustie to their princes The Egyptians do worship beasts not agreeable to mans nature The discord of the Iewes and the Alexandrians in religion The cause of discord betweene the Iewes and Alexandrians Apions fiction touching the Iewes being authors oâ—… sedition at Alexandria is confuted The Romans magnanimitie towards the Iewes The Iewes may haue no Images How Emperours and magistrates ought to be honored The lye of Possidonius and Apollonius concerning the Iewesis confuted An answere to the objection of the Asses head Who are accounted Asses amongst the Iewes and other wisemen Certaine Histo riographers endeuour to couer and hide Antiochus hiâ—… periutie and sacriledge That the Iewes ought once a yeare to sacrifice a Grecian The description of the Temple porches What was in the temple Foure Tribes of Priests and of euerie tribe more then fiue thousand men Another fable deuised by Apion of Zabidus Dora is a Citie of Phaenicia and not of Idumaea The gates of the temple Apions lie concerning the oath is confuted Apion vpbraided the Iewes with captiuitie Dauids and Salomons power Apion praiseth himselfe Why the Iewes doe sacrifice coÌ„mon beasts and do not eat swines flesh The Egyptian priests circumcised and eate no swines flesh Apions death The defence of Moses against Apolonius and Lysimachus Wherein Apolonius accuseth the Iewes The louers of order common lawes are excellent in meeknesse and vertue Moses more ancient then all other law-makers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word law is not in Homer The life of Moses Moses maketh God his guide and counceller The Origen of lawes amongst the Greeks The opinion of the wisest Greeks coÌ„cerning God Moses compared with other lawmakers Two methods of moralitie and discipline Moses commaunded all the Iewes to come heare the law The concord of the Iewes in religion What sort of people are to be made priests Of God and of the diuine prouidence The workes of God The sacrifices of the old testament Purifications vsed in sacrifice Of marriage The punishment for him that doth rauish a virgine The purification for the bodie Of the funerals of the dead The honour due to parents Against these and vsurie How we ought to vse our enemies A repetition of the precepts of the law The reward of such as keepe the law The continuance of the lawes amongst the Iewes Plato admired amongst the Greekes Lycurgus the law-maker amongst the Lacedemonians The Iewes compared with the Lacedemonians The streit laws of the lewes Moses forbiddeth to deride and blaspheme false gods only for the name of God impured vnto them The number of Gods amongst the gentle infinit The fable of Iupiter and Pallas Iupiter What is the cause of such error concerning God Poets and pain ters cause the multitude of gods Plato decreed that no poet should be permitted in a comon wealth The Lacedemonians did expell al strangers The AtheniaÌ„s manners Socrates a citizen of Athens Anaxagoras A talent is 600 crownes The Scithians The Persians manners The Iewes coÌ„stancy in their lawes Against the lawmakers of the Gentiles The iniustice of lawmakers The Iewes strict obseruation of the law The Iewes lawes are of great antiquitie The lawes of the Gentiles The Epilogue of this booke The cause why Ioseph writ these bookes against Apion A briefe rehearsall of all that is aboue said The intention of the Iewes lawes The origen of the Iewes lawes Reason hath dominion ouer our passions The death of the seuen brethren and their mother The description of reason and wisedome Griefe and paine cause or hinder passion Reason resembleth a skilfull gardener An instance of Iosephs chastitie An instance of Dauids chirst Samuel 2. 28. Dauid in his thirst refused to drinke the water he so desired Seleucus and Nicanor Simon a traitor to his countrey Appolonius captaine of Syria came with an army to Ierusalem Angels vpon horses shining with fierie brightnesse Onias by prayers obtained Appolonius his life Antiochus his rage against the Iewes Eleazar is brought vnto Antiochus 〈◊〉 Macch. 6. Antiochus his exhortation to Eleazar Eleazars answere to Antiochus Eleazar constancie Eleazar cruelly whipped Eleazars last words in the fire Reasons victorie A similitude taken from the rocke Eleazars praise Antiochus caused seueÌ„ noble young men of the Hebrews and their mother to bee brought to Antioch 2. Macch. 7. The kings exhortation to the seuen brethren The young mens constancie The seuen brethren reply vnto Antiochus Antiochus coÌ„manded Macchabeus to bee racked The death of the elder brother The second brother bought Machir the third brother is brought Iudas the fourth brother is brought The death of the fourth brother Achas The fifth brother presecnted himselfe to torments before he was called The valour of the sixt brother The sixt brother sharpely reproueth Antiochus Iacob the seuenth brother brought to torments All men are borne and must die alike The death of the youngest brother Reason mistres of our affection A similitude of the waues The seuen brethren exhort one another to suffer death manfully True brotherhood A pledge and signe of brotherly amitie The mothers griefe The mother suffered seuen torments before she was tormented A similitude from the Deluge The mothers speech exhorting her seuen sons to suffer A golden saying of the mother of her seuen children The mother followed her sonnes in torments The light of the iust 1. Cor. 15. Antiochus leuied an armie of footemen from amongst the Hebrewes Antiochus dyed stinking exceedingly 2. Mach. 9. An Epitome of the life of the seuen sonnes and their mother The ioy of the blessed in euerlasting life