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5。 But as to Shimei； Solomon commanded that he should build him a
house； and stay at Jerusalem； and attend upon him； and should not
have authority to go over the brook Cedron； and that if he
disobeyed that command； death should be his punishment。 He also
threatened him so terribly； that he compelled him to take all
oath that he would obey。 Accordingly Shimei said that he had
reason to thank Solomon for giving him such an injunction； and
added an oath； that he would do as he bade him； and leaving his
own country； he made his abode in Jerusalem。 But three years
afterwards； when he heard that two of his servants were run away
from him； and were in Gath； he went for his servants in haste；
and when he was come back with them； the king perceived it； and
was much displeased that he had contemned his commands； and； what
was more； had no regard to the oaths he had sworn to God； so he
called him； and said to him； 〃Didst not thou swear never to leave
me； nor to go out of this city to another？ Thou shalt not
therefore escape punishment for thy perjury； but I will punish
thee； thou wicked wretch； both for this crime； and for those
wherewith thou didst abuse my father when he was in his flight；
that thou mayst know that wicked men gain nothing at last；
although they be not punished immediately upon their unjust
practices； but that in all the time wherein they think themselves
secure； because they have yet suffered nothing； their punishment
increases； and is heavier upon them； and that to a greater degree
than if they had been punished immediately upon the commission of
their crimes。〃 So Benaiah； on the king's command； slew Shimei。
CHAPTER 2。
Concerning The Wife Of Solomon； Concerning His Wisdom And Riches；
And Concerning What He Obtained Of Hiram For The Building Of The
Temple。
1。 Solomon having already settled himself firmly in his kingdom；
and having brought his enemies to punishment； he married the
daughter of Pharaoh king of Egypt； and built the walls of
Jerusalem much larger and stronger than those that had been
before； （2） and thenceforward he managed public affairs very
peaceably。 Nor was his youth any hinderance in the exercise of
justice； or in the observation of the laws； or in the remembrance
of what charges his father had given him at his death； but he
discharged every duty with great accuracy； that might have been
expected from such as are aged； and of the greatest prudence。 He
now resolved to go to Hebron； and sacrifice to God upon the
brazen altar that was built by Moses。 Accordingly he offered
there burnt…offerings； in number a thousand； and when he had done
this； he thought he had paid great honor to God； for as he was
asleep that very night God appeared to him； and commanded him to
ask of him some gifts which he was ready to give him as a reward
for his piety。 So Solomon asked of God what was most excellent；
and of the greatest worth in itself； what God would bestow with
the greatest。 joy； and what it was most profitable for man to
receive； for he did not desire to have bestowed upon him either
gold or silver； or any other riches； as a man and a youth might
naturally have done； for these are the things that generally are
esteemed by most men； as alone of the greatest worth； and the
best gifts of God； but； said he； 〃Give me； O Lord； a sound mind；
and a good understanding； whereby I may speak and judge the
people according to truth and righteousness。〃 With these
petitions God was well pleased； and promised to give him all
those things that he had not mentioned in his option； riches；
glory； victory over his enemies； and； in the first place；
understanding and wisdom； and this in such a degree as no other
mortal man； neither kings nor ordinary persons； ever had。 He also
promised to preserve the kingdom to his posterity for a very long
time； if he continued righteous and obedient to him； and imitated
his father in those things wherein he excelled。 When Solomon
heard this from God； he presently leaped out of his bed； and when
he had worshipped him； he returned to Jerusalem； and after he had
offered great sacrifices before the tabernacle； he feasted all
his own family。
2。 In these days a hard cause came before him in judgment； which
it was very difficult to find any end of； and I think it
necessary to explain the fact about which the contest was； that
such as light upon my writings may know what a difficult cause
Solomon was to determine； and those that are concerned in such
matters may take this sagacity of the king for a pattern； that
they may the more easily give sentence about such questions。
There were two women； who were harlots in the course of their
lives； that came to him； of whom she that seemed to be injured
began to speak first； and said； 〃O king； I and this other woman
dwell together in one room。 Now it came to pass that we both bore
a son at the same hour of the same day； and on the third day this
woman overlaid her son； and killed it； and then took my son out
of my bosom； and removed him to herself； and as I was asleep she
laid her dead son in my arms。 Now； when in the morning I was
desirous to give the breast to the child； I did not find my own；
but saw the woman's dead child lying by me； for I considered it
exactly； and found it so to be。 Hence it was that I demanded my
son； and when I could not obtain him； I have recourse； my lord；
to thy assistance； for since we were alone； and there was nobody
there that could convict her； she cares for nothing； but
perseveres in the stout denial of the fact。〃 When this woman had
told this her story； the king asked the other woman what she had
to say in contradiction to that story。 But when she denied that
she had done what was charged upon her； and said that it was her
child that was living； and that it was her antagonist's child
that was dead； and when no one could devise what judgment could
be given； and the whole court were blind in their understanding；
and could not tell how to find out this riddle； the king alone
invented the following way how to discover it。 He bade them bring
in both the dead child and the living child； and sent one of his
guards； and commanded him to fetch a sword； and draw it； and to
cut both the children into two pieces； that each of the women
might have half the living and half the dead child。 Hereupon all
the people privately laughed at the king； as no more than a
youth。 But； in the mean time； she that was the real mother of the
living child cried out that he should not do so； but deliver that
child to the other woman as her own； for she would be satisfied
with the life of the child； and with the sight of it； although it
were esteemed the other's child； but the other woman was ready to
see the child divided； and was desirous； moreover； that the first
woman should be tormented。 When the king understood that both
their words proceeded from the truth of their passions； he
adjudged the child to her that cried out to save it； for that she
was the real mother of it； and he condemned the other as a wicked
woman； who had not only killed her own child； but was endeavoring
to see her friend's child destroyed also。 Now the multitude
looked on this determination as a great sign and demonstration of
the king's sagacity and wisdom； and after that day attended to
him as to one that had a divine mind。
3。 Now the captains of his armies； and officers appointed over
the whole country； were these： over the lot of Ephraim was Ures；
over the toparchy of Bethlehem was Dioclerus； Abinadab； who
married Solomon's daughter； had the region of Dora and the
sea…coast under him； the Great Plain was under Benaiah； the son
of Achilus； he also governed all the country as far as Jordan；
Gabaris ruled over Gilead and Gaulanitis； and had under him the
sixty great and fenced cities ＇of Og＇； Achinadab managed the
affairs of all Galilee as far as Sidon； and had himself also
married a daughter of Solomon's； whose name was Basima； Banacates
had the seacoast about Arce； as had Shaphat Mount Tabor； and
Carmel； and ＇the Lower＇ Galilee； as far as the river Jordan； one
man was appointed over all this country； Shimei was intrusted
with the lot of Benjamin； and Gabares had the country beyond
Jordan； over whom there was again one governor appointed。 Now the
people of the Hebrews； and particularly the tribe of Judah；
received a wonderful increase when they betook themselves to
husbandry； and the cultivation of their grounds； for as they
enjoyed peace； and were not distracted with wars and troubles；
and having； besides； an abundant fruition of the most desirable
liberty； every one was busy in augmenting the product of their
own lands； and making them worth more than they had formerly
been。
4。 The king had also other rulers； who were over the land of
Syria and of the Philistines； which reached from the river
Euphrates to Egypt； and these collected his tributes of the
nations。 Now these contributed to the king's table； and to his
supper every day （3） thirty cori of fine flour； and sixty of
meal； as also ten fat oxen； and twenty oxen out of the pastures；
and a hundred fat lambs； all these were besides what were taken
by hunting harts and buffaloes； and bi