composed songs and hymns to God, of several sorts of metre: some of those which he made were trimeters, and some were pentameters he also made instruments of music, and taught the Levites to sing hymns to God, both on the Sabbath day, and on the other festivals. Now the construction of the instruments was thus: the viol was an instrument of ten strings, played upon with a bow. The psaltery had twelve musical notes; and was played upon by the fingers. The cymbals were broad and large instruments, and were made of brass. And so much shall suffice, respecting these instruments, that the readers may not be wholly unacquainted with their nature.

tude followed and spoiled the dead bodies. The third was Sheba, the son of Ilus. Now this man, when in the wars against the Philistines they pitched their camp at a place called Lehi; and when the Hebrews were again afraid of their army, and did not stay; he stood alone as an army, and a body of men. And some of them he overthrew; and some, who were not able to abide his strength and force, he pursued. These are the works of the hands, and of fighting, which these three performed.

Now at the time when the king was once at Jerusalem, and the army of the Philistines came upon him to fight him, David went up to the top of the citadel, as we have already said, to inquire of God concerning the battle; while the enemy's camp lay in the valley that extends to the city Bethlehem, which is

Now all the men that were about David were men of courage. Those that were most illustrious and famous of them for their actions were thirty-eight.* Of five of whom I will only relate the performances. For these twenty furlongs distant from Jerusalem. will suffice to make manifest the virtues of the Now David said to his companions, "We others also for these were powerful enough have excellent water in my own city; espeto subdue countries, and conquer great na- cially that which is in the pit near the gate;" tions. First, therefore, was Jessai, the son of wondering if any one would bring him some Achimaas; who frequently leaped upon the of it to drink: but he said, that he had rather troops of the enemy, and did not leave off have it than a great deal of money. When fighting till he overthrew † nine hundred of these three men heard what he said, they ran them. After him was Eleazar, the son of away immediately, and burst through the Dodo; who was with the king at Arasam: midst of their enemy's camp, and came to this man, when once the Israelites were under Bethlehem; and when they had drawn the a consternation at the multitude of the Philis-water, they returned again through the enetines, and were running away, stood alone my's camp to the king: insomuch that the and fell upon the enemy, and slew many of Philistines were so surprised at their boldness them, till his sword clung to his hand by the and alacrity, that they were quiet, and did noblood he had shed; and till the Israelites, see-thing against them; as if they despised their ing the Philistines retire by his means, came small number. But when the water was down from the mountains, and pursued them: brought to the king, he would not drink it; and at that time won a surprising victory: saying, that it was brought by the danger and while Eleazar slew the men, and the multi-blood of men; and that it was not proper on

2

that temple; who accordingly gives us a short descrip-
tion of three of the instruments, Antiq. VII. 12; and
gives us a distinct account that such psalms and hymns
were sung in his days at that temple, Antiq. XX. 9. So
that Josephus's authority is beyond exception in these
matters. Nor can any hypotheses of the moderns, that
do not agree with Josephus's characters, be justly sup-
posed the true metre of the ancient Hebrews.
there, I think, any other original authority now extant,
to be opposed to these testimonies before us. That the
ancient music of the Hebrews was very complete also,
and had in it great variety of tunes, is evident by the
number of their musical instruments, and by the tes-

Nor is

timony of another most authentic witness, Jesus the son of Sirach: Ecclus. i. 18, who says, that at the temple, in his days, the singers sang praises with their voice; with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.

*

Thirty-seven, Heb. and Septuagint.
+ Eight hundred, 2 Sam. xxiii. 8.
See the note on V. 8.

Bethlehem is here said to be but twenty furlongs from Jerusalem, whereas it is well known to be about fortyeight. This must be an error of the copiers, not of Josephus himself: who must have known that distance too well to err above one half in its measure.

that

that account to drink it; but he poured it out
to God, and gave him thanks for the salvation
of the men. Next to these was Abishai,
Joab's brother; who in one day slew * six
hundred. The fifth was Benaiah, by lineage
a priest for being challenged by two emi-
nent men in the country of Moab, he over-
came them by his valor. Moreover there was
an Egyptian, who was of a vast bulk, and
challenged him: yet did he, when he was un-
armed, kill him with his own spear, which he
threw at him; for he caught him by force,
and took away his weapons, while he was
alive and fighting, and slew him with his own

weapons.

CHAP. XIII.

OF THE ENUMERATION OF THE PEOPLE BY DAVID'S COM-
MAND; AND THE SUBSEQUENT EFFECTS OF THE DIVINE

DISPLEASURE.

NOW + king David was desirous to know how many ten thousands there were of the people; but § forgot the commands of Moses, who told them beforehand, that if the multitude were numbered they should pay half a shekel to God for every head. Accordingly the king commanded Joab, the captain of his host, to go and number the whole multitude. But when he said there was no necessity for such a numeration, he was not persuaded to countermand it, but enjoined him to make no delay, but to go about the numbering of the Hebrews immediately. So Joab took with him the heads of the tribes, and the

One may also add this to the afore-mentioned actions of the same man, either as the principal of them in alacrity, or as resembling the rest. When God sent a snow, a lion slipped, and fell into a certain pit: and because the pit's mouth was narrow, it was evi-scribes; and went over the country of the dent he would perish, being inclosed with the snow. So when he saw no way to get out and save himself, he roared. When Benaiah heard the wild beast, he went towards him, and coming at the noise he made, he went down into the mouth of the pit, and smote him, as he struggled, with a stake that lay there, and immediately slew him. The other thirty-three were also like these in valor.

*Three hundred, Heb. and Septuagint.
† 2 Sam. xxiii. 20.

About An. 1058.

§ The words of God by Moses, Exod. xxx. 12, suffi-
ciently justify the reason here given by Josephus for the
great plague mentioned in this chapter. When thou
takest the sum of the children of Israel, after their num-
ber, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul
unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be
no plague amongst them when thou numberest them."
Nor indeed could David's, or the Sanhedrim's neglect of
executing this law at this enumeration excuse the peo-
ple; who ought still to have brought their bounden obla-
tion of half a shekel a piece with them, when they came
to be numbered. And I am inclinable to suppose that
the
great reason why nations are so constantly punished
by and with wicked kings and governors, is this: that
they almost constantly comply with them in their neg-
lect of, or disobedience to, the divine laws; and suffer
those divine laws to go into disuse, or contempt, in order
to please those wicked kings and governors, and that
they submit to several wicked political laws and com-
VOL. I.—NO. 20.

Israelites; and took notice how numerous the
multitude were, and returned to Jerusalem
to the king, after nine months and twenty
days. And he gave in to the king the num-
ber of the people, without the tribe of Benja-
min; for he had not yet numbered that tribe,
nor the tribe of Levi: for the king repented
of his having sinned against God. Now the
number of the rest of the Israelites was
nine hundred thousand men, who were able
to bear arms and go to war. ||
But the

mands of those kings and governors, instead of the righteous laws of God, which all mankind ought ever to obey, let their kings and governors say what they please to the contrary. This preference of human before divine laws seeming to me the principal character of idolatrous or antichristian nations. Accordingly Josephus well observes IV. 8, that it was the duty of the people of Israel to take care that their kings, when they should have them, did not exceed their proper limits of power, and prove ungovernable by the laws of God; which would certainly be a most pernicious thing to their divine settlement. Nor do I think that negligence peculiar to the Jews: those nations which are called Christian are sometimes indeed very solicitous to restrain their kings and governors from breaking the human laws of their several kingdoms; but without the like care for restraining them from breaking the laws of God. "Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto men more than to God, judge ye." Acts iv. 19. "We ought to obey God rather than men. v. 29.

"

tribe of Judah, by itself, was four hundred thousand.*

ΟΙ

they fell, were entirely macerated: some were choked, and greatly lamented their case, as being also stricken with a sudden darkness: and some there were who, as they were burying a relation, fell down dead, † without fnishing the rites of the funeral. Now there perished of this disease, which began with the morning, and lasted till the hour of dinner, seventy thousand. † Nay the angel stretched out his hand over Jerusalem, as sending this terrible judgement upon it. But David had. put on sackcloth, and Jay upon the ground intreating God, and begging that the distemper might now cease; and that he would be satisfied with those that had already perished. And when the king looked up into the air, and saw the angel carried along thereby unto Jerusalem, with his sword drawn, he said to God, that he might justly be punished, who was their shepherd; but that the sheep ought to be preserved, as not having sinned at all; and he implored God that he would send his wrath upon him, and upon all his family; but spare the people.

Now when the prophets had signified to David that God was angry at him, he began to intreat he would be merciful to him, and forgive his sin. But God sent Nathan the prophet to propose to him the choice of three things. "Whether he would have famine come upon the country for seven years? would have a war, and be subdued three months by his enemies? or whether God should send a pestilence and a distemper upon the Hebrews, for three days? But as he was fallen to a fatal choice of great miseries, he was in trouble and sorely confounded. And when the prophet had said, that he must of necessity make this choice, and had ordered him to answer quickly, that he might declare what he had chosen to God; the king reasoned with himself, that in case he should ask for famine, he would appear to do it for others, and without danger to himself; since he had a great deal of corn hoarded up: that in case he should choose to be overcome by his enemies for three months, he would appear to When God heard his supplication, he caushave chosen war, because he had valiant men ed the pestilence to cease; and sent Gad the and strong holds: and that therefore he fear-prophet to him, and commanded him to go up ed nothing therefrom: so he chose that affliction which is common to kings, and to their subjects; and in which the fear was equal on all sides; and said that it was much better to fall into the hands of God, than into those of his enemies.

immediately to the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite; and build an altar there to God, and offer sacrifices. When David heard that he did not neglect his duty, but made haste to the place appointed him. Now Araunah was threshing wheat; and when he saw the When the prophet had heard this, he de-king, and all his servants coming to him, he clared it to God: who thereupon sent a pestilence and a mortality upon the Hebrews. Now the miserable disease was one indeed; but it carried them off by ten thousand causes and occasions, which those that were afflicted could not understand: for one died upon the neck of another: and the terrible malady seized them before they were aware, and brought them to their end suddenly. Some gave up the ghost immediately, with very great pains and bitter grief; and some were worn away by their distempers, and had nothing remaining to be buried; but as soon as ever

*Five hundred thousand.

Whence Josephus took these distinct and melancholy accounts of the particular symptoms, and miserable methods of dying in this terrible pestilence, we can

ran to him and worshipped him. He was by his lineage a Jebusite, but a particular friend of David's, and for that cause it was, that when he overthrew the city, he did him no harm: as we have already informed the reader. Now Araunal inquired, "Wherefore is my lord come to his servant?" He answered, to buy of him the threshing floor; that he might therein build an altar to God, and offer a sacrifice. Araunah replied, that he freely gave him both the threshing floor, and the plows, and the oxen for a burntoffering: and he besought God graciously to

not now tell. Our other copies affording us no such

account.

2 Sam, xxiv. 15.

accept

FTER the delivery of this prophecy §tions, which are the greatest of all blessings.. the king commanded the strangers to be numbered; and they were found to be one

.

*

David was now in years, and his body by length of time was become cold and benumbed; insomuch that he could get no heat by covering himself with many clothes. And when the physicians came together, they agreed that a beautiful virgin, † chosen out of the whole country, should sleep by the king's side; and that this damsel would communicate heat to him, and be a remedy against his numbness. Now there was found in the city one woman of superior beauty; her name was Abishag, who sleeping with the king, did communicate warmth to him. But of this woman we shall speak more pre

to render thyself worthy of this his provi- ||
dence; as is in other instances so particularly
in being religious and courageous. Keep thou
also his commands, and his laws, which he
hath given us by Moses; and do not permit
others to break them. Be zealous also to de-
dicate to God a temple, which he hath chosen
to be built under thy reign. Nor be thou af-
frighted by the vastness of the work; nor set
about it timorously. For I will make all
things ready before I die. And take notice,
that there are already ten thousand talents
of gold, and a hundred talents of silver col-
lected together. I have also laid together
brass and iron without number: and an im-sently.
mense quantity of timber, and of stones.
Moreover thou hast many thousand stone-cut-
ters and carpenters. And if thou shalt want
any thing farther, do thou add somewhat of
thine own.
Wherefore if thou performest this
work, thou wilt be acceptable to God, and
have him for thy patron." David also farther
exhorted the rulers of the people to assist his
son in this building, and to attend to the di-
vine service, when they should be free from
all their misfortunes: for that by this means
they should enjoy, instead of them, peace and
a happy settlement: with which blessings
God rewards such men as are religious and
righteous. He also gave orders, that when
the temple should be built, they should put
the ark therein, with the holy vessels: and he
assured them, that they ought to have had a
temple long ago, if their fathers had not
been negligent of God's commands; who
had given it in charge, that when they
had got the possession of this land, they
should build him a temple. Thus did Da-
vid discourse to the governors, and to his

son.

* Of the quantity of gold and silver expended in the building of Solomon's temple, and whence it arose, see the description of the temples, chap. 13. And of the distinct parts of that temple, see the other chapters of that description thereto belonging.

+ It is the observation of Galen, in his fifth book Of the Powers of Simple Medicines, that nothing so effectually procures heat and health as the application of any thing young to the stomach: the advice of David's physicians therefore was not amiss; but it had been sinful advice, and such as he could not have followed, had not this young woman, whom he took to bed with him, been his Concubinary wife. In those days such wives were al

Now the fourth son of David was a beautiful young man, and tall; born to him of t Haggith, his wife. He was named Adonijah, and was in his disposition like to Absalom, and exalted himself, as hoping to be king, and told his friends that he ought to take the government upon him. He also prepared many chariots, and horses, and fifty men to run before him. § When his father saw this, he did not reprove him, nor restrain him from his purpose, nor did he go so far as to ask wherefore he did so. Now Adonijah had for his assistants Joab, the captain of the army, and Abiathar the high-priest. And the only persons that opposed him were Zadok the high-priest, and the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah, who was captain of the guards, and Shimei, David's friend, with all the other most mighty men. Now Adonijah had prepared a supper out of the city, near the fountain that was in the king's paradise, and had invited all his brethren, except Solomon; and had taken with him Joab, the captain of the army, and Abiathar, and the rulers of the tribe of Judah: but had not invited to this

lowable and that she served him in this capacity, is very
manifest from the account we have of her in Scripture,
for whereas it is said, that the king knew her not, this cer-
tainly implies, that he might have had carnal knowledge
of her without sin or scandal; whereas it is said, that she
lay in his bosom, this phrase every where in Scripture de-
notes what was the sole privilege of a wife, concubine,
Gen. xvi. 5. Deut xiii. 6. Nor can we imagine why
Adonijah's desiring her in marriage had been so heinous
a crime in Solomon's account, had she not been the king's
wife, and he, by this means, had designed to revive his
pretensions to the crown. Poole's Aunotations. B.
§ About An. 1058.

2 Sam. iii. 4.

feast,