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第123章

the antiquities of the jews-1-第123章

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3。 When Solomon had completed all this in twenty years' time;
because Hiram king of Tyre had contributed a great deal of gold;
and more silver to these buildings; as also cedar wood and pine
wood; he also rewarded Hiram with rich presents; corn he sent him
also year by year; and wine and oil; which were the principal
things that he stood in need of; because he inhabited an island;
as we have already said。 And besides these; he granted him
certain cities of Galilee; twenty in number; that lay not far
from Tyre; which; when Hiram went to; and viewed; and did not
like the gift; he sent word to Solomon that he did not want such
cities as they were; and after that time these cities were called
the land of Cabul; which name; if it be interpreted according to
the language of the Phoenicians; denotes what does not please。
Moreover; the king of Tyre sent sophisms and enigmatical sayings
to Solomon; and desired he would solve them; and free them from
the ambiguity that was in them。 Now so sagacious and
understanding was Solomon; that none of these problems were too
hard for him; but he conquered them all by his reasonings; and
discovered their hidden meaning; and brought it to light。
Menander also; one who translated the Tyrian archives out of the
dialect of the Phoenicians into the Greek language; makes mention
of these two kings; where he says thus: 〃When Abibalus was dead;。
his son Hiram received the kingdom from him; who; when he had
lived fifty…three years; reigned thirty…four。 He raised a bank in
the large place; and dedicated the golden pillar which is in
Jupiter's temple。 He also went and cut down materials of timber
out of the mountain called Libanus; for the roof of temples; and
when he had pulled down the ancient temples; he both built the
temple of Hercules and that of Astarte; and he first set up the
temple of Hercules in the month Peritius; he also made an
expedition against the Euchii; or Titii; who did not pay their
tribute; and when he had subdued them to himself he returned。
Under this king there was Abdemon; a very youth in age; who
always conquered the difficult problems which Solomon; king of
Jerusalem; commanded him to explain。 Dius also makes mention of
him; where he says thus: 〃When Abibalus was dead; his son Hiram
reigned。 He raised the eastern parts of the city higher; and made
the city itself larger。 He also joined the temple of Jupiter;
which before stood by itself; to the city; by raising a bank in
the middle between them; and he adorned it with donations of
gold。 Moreover; he went up to Mount Libanus; and cut down
materials of wood for the building of the temples。〃 He says also;
that Solomon; who was then king of Jerusalem; sent riddles to
Hiram; and desired to receive the like from him; but that he who
could not solve them should pay money to them that did solve
them; and that Hiram accepted the conditions; and when he was not
able to solve the riddles proposed by Solomon; he paid a great
deal of money for his fine; but that he afterward did solve the
proposed riddles by means of Abdemon; a man of Tyre; and that
Hiram proposed other riddles; which; when Solomon could not
solve; he paid back a great deal of money to Hiram。〃 This it is
which Dius wrote。

CHAPTER 6。

How Solomon Fortified The City Of Jerusalem; And Built Great
Cities; And How He Brought Some Of The Canaanites Into
Subjection; And Entertained The Queen Of Egypt And Of Ethiopia。

1。 Now when the king saw that the walls of Jerusalem stood in
need of being better secured; and made stronger; (for he thought
the wails that encompassed Jerusalem ought to correspond to the
dignity of the city;) he both repaired them; and made them
higher; with great towers upon them; he also built cities which
might be counted among the strongest; Hazor and Megiddo; and the
third Gezer; which had indeed belonged to the Philistines; but
Pharaoh; the king of Egypt; had made an expedition against it;
and besieged it; and taken it by force; and when he had slain all
its inhabitants; he utterly overthrew it; and gave it as a
present to his daughter; who had been married to Solomon; for
which reason the king rebuilt it; as a city that was naturally
strong; and might be useful in wars; and the mutations of affairs
that sometimes happen。 Moreover; he built two other cities not
far from it; Beth…horon was the name of one of them; and Baalath
of the other。 He also built other cities that lay conveniently
for these; in order to the enjoyment of pleasures and delicacies
in them; such as were naturally of a good temperature of the air;
and agreeable for fruits ripe in their proper seasons; and well
watered with springs。 Nay; Solomon went as far as the desert
above Syria; and possessed himself of it; and built there a very
great city; which was distant two days' journey from Upper Syria;
and one day's journey from Euphrates; and six long days' journey
from Babylon the Great。 Now the reason why this city lay so
remote from the parts of Syria that are inhabited is this; that
below there is no water to be had; and that it is in that place
only that there are springs and pits of water。 When he had
therefore built this city; and encompassed it with very strong
walls; he gave it the name of Tadmor; and that is the name it is
still called by at this day among the Syrians; but the Greeks
name it Palmyra。

2。 Now Solomon the king was at this time engaged in building
these cities。 But if any inquire why all the kings of Egypt from
Menes; who built Memphis; and was many years earlier than our
forefather Abraham; until Solomon; where the interval was more
than one thousand three hundred years; were called Pharaohs; and
took it from one Pharaoh that lived after the kings of that
interval; I think it necessary to inform them of it; and this in
order to cure their ignorance; and to make the occasion of that
name manifest。 Pharaoh; in the Egyptian tongue; signifies a king
(15) but I suppose they made use of other names from their
childhood; but when they were made kings; they changed them into
the name which in their own tongue denoted their authority; for
thus it was also that the kings of Alexandria; who were called
formerly by other names; when they took the kingdom; were named
Ptolemies; from their first king。 The Roman emperors also were
from their nativity called by other names; but are styled
Caesars; their empire and their dignity imposing that name upon
them; and not suffering them to continue in those names which
their fathers gave them。 I suppose also that Herodotus of
Halicarnassus; when he said there were three hundred and thirty
kings of Egypt after Menes; who built Memphis; did therefore not
tell us their names; because they were in common called Pharaohs;
for when after their death there was a queen reigned; he calls
her by her name Nicaule; as thereby declaring; that while the
kings were of the male line; and so admitted of the same nature;
while a woman did not admit the same; he did therefore set down
that her name; which she could not naturally have。 As for myself;
I have discovered from our own books; that after Pharaoh; the
father…in…law of Solomon; no other king of Egypt did any longer
use that name; and that it was after that time when the forenamed
queen of Egypt and Ethiopia came to Solomon; concerning whom we
shall inform the reader presently; but I have now made mention of
these things; that I may prove that our books and those of the
Egyptians agree together in many things。

3。 But king Solomon subdued to himself the remnant of the
Canaanites that had not before submitted to him; those I mean
that dwelt in Mount Lebanon; and as far as the city Hamath; and
ordered them to pay tribute。 He also chose out of them every year
such as were to serve him in the meanest offices; and to do his
domestic works; and to follow husbandry; for none of the Hebrews
were servants 'in such low employments': nor was it reasonable;
that when God had brought so many nations under their power; they
should depress their own people to such mean offices of life;
rather than those nations; while all the Israelites were
concerned in warlike affairs; and were in armor; a

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