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and a hundred fat lambs； all these were besides what were taken
by hunting harts and buffaloes； and birds and fishes； which were
brought to the king by foreigners day by day。 Solomon had also so
great a number of chariots； that the stalls of his horses for
those chariots were forty thousand； and besides these he had
twelve thousand horsemen； the one half of which waited upon the
king in Jerusalem； and the rest were dispersed abroad； and dwelt
in the royal villages； but the same officer who provided for the
king's expenses supplied also the fodder for the horses； and
still carried it to the place where the king abode at that time。
5。 Now the sagacity and wisdom which God had bestowed on Solomon
was so great； that he exceeded the ancients； insomuch that he was
no way inferior to the Egyptians； who are said to have been
beyond all men in understanding； nay； indeed； it is evident that
their sagacity was very much inferior to that of the king's。 He
also excelled and distinguished himself in wisdom above those who
were most eminent among the Hebrews at that time for shrewdness；
those I mean were Ethan； and Heman； and Chalcol； and Darda； the
sons of Mahol。 He also composed books of odes and songs a
thousand and five； of parables and similitudes three thousand；
for he spake a parable upon every sort of tree； from the hyssop
to the cedar； and in like manner also about beasts； about all
sorts of living creatures； whether upon the earth； or in the
seas； or in the air； for he was not unacquainted with any of
their natures； nor omitted inquiries about them； but described
them all like a philosopher； and demonstrated his exquisite
knowledge of their several properties。 God also enabled him to
learn that skill which expels demons； （4） which is a science
useful and sanative to men。 He composed such incantations also by
which distempers are alleviated。 And he left behind him the
manner of using exorcisms； by which they drive away demons； so
that they never return； and this method of cure is of great force
unto this day； for I have seen a certain man of my own country；
whose name was Eleazar； releasing people that were demoniacal in
the presence of Vespasian； and his sons； and his captains； and
the whole multitude of his soldiers。 The manner of the cure was
this： He put a ring that had a Foot of one of those sorts
mentioned by Solomon to the nostrils of the demoniac； after which
he drew out the demon through his nostrils； and when the man fell
down immediately； he abjured him to return into him no more；
making still mention of Solomon； and reciting the incantations
which he composed。 And when Eleazar would persuade and
demonstrate to the spectators that he had such a power； he set a
little way off a cup or basin full of water； and commanded the
demon； as he went out of the man； to overturn it； and thereby to
let the spectators know that he had left the man； and when this
was done； the skill and wisdom of Solomon was shown very
manifestly： for which reason it is； that all men may know the
vastness of Solomon's abilities； and how he was beloved of God；
and that the extraordinary virtues of every kind with which this
king was endowed may not be unknown to any people under the sun
for this reason； I say； it is that we have proceeded to speak so
largely of these matters。
6。 Moreover Hiram； king of Tyre； when he had heard that Solonion
succeeded to his father's kingdom； was very glad of it； for he
was a friend of David's。 So he sent ambassadors to him； and
saluted him； and congratulated him on the present happy state of
his affairs。 Upon which Solomon sent him an epistle； the contents
of which here follow：
Solomon To King Hiram。
〃（5）Know thou that my father would have built a temple to God；
but was hindered by wars； and continual expeditions； for he did
not leave off to overthrow his enemies till he made them all
subject to tribute。 But I give thanks to God for the peace I at
present enjoy； and on that account I am at leisure； and design to
build a house to God； for God foretold to my father that such a
house should he built by me； wherefore I desire thee to send some
of thy subjects with mine to Mount Lebanon to cut down timber；
for the Sidonians are more skillful than our people in cutting of
wood。 As for wages to the hewers of wood； I will pay whatsoever
price thou shalt determine。〃
7。 When Hiram had read this epistle； he was pleased with it； and
wrote back this answer to Solomon。
Hiram To King Solomon。
〃It is fit to bless God that he hath committed thy father's
government to thee； who art a wise man； and endowed with all
virtues。 As for myself； I rejoice at the condition thou art in；
and will be subservient to thee in all that thou sendest to me
about； for when by my subjects I have cut down many and large
trees of cedar and cypress wood； I will send them to sea； and
will order my subjects to make floats of them； and to sail to
what place soever of thy country thou shalt desire； and leave
them there； after which thy subjects may carry them to Jerusalem。
But do thou take care to procure us corn for this timber； which
we stand in need of； because we inhabit in an island。〃
8。 The copies of these epistles remain at this day； and are
preserved not only in our books； but among the Tyrians also；
insomuch that if any one would know the certainty about them； he
may desire of the keepers of the public records of Tyre to show
him them； and he will find what is there set down to agree with
what we have said。 I have said so much out of a desire that my
readers may know that we speak nothing but the truth； and do not
compose a history out of some plausible relations； which deceive
men and please them at the same time； nor attempt to avoid
examination； nor desire men to believe us immediately； nor are we
at liberty to depart from speaking truth； which is the proper
commendation of an historian； and yet be blameless： but we insist
upon no admission of what we say； unless we be able to manifest
its truth by demonstration； and the strongest vouchers。
9。 Now king Solomon； as soon as this epistle of the king of Tyre
was brought him； commended the readiness and good…will he
declared therein； and repaid him in what he desired； and sent him
yearly twenty thousand cori of wheat； and as many baths of oil：
now the bath is able to contain seventy…two sextaries。 He also
sent him the same measure of wine。 So the friendship between
Hiram and Solomon hereby increased more and more； and they swore
to continue it for ever。 And the king appointed a tribute to be
laid on all the people； of thirty thousand laborers； whose work
he rendered easy to them by prudently dividing it among them； for
he made ten thousand cut timber in Mount Lebanon for one month；
and then to come home； and rest two months； until the time when
the other twenty thousand had finished their task at the
appointed time； and so afterward it came to pass that the first
ten thousand returned to their work every fourth month： and it
was Adoram who was over this tribute。 There were also of the
strangers who were left by David； who were to carry the stones
and other materials； seventy thousand； and of those that cut the
stones； eighty thousand。 Of these three thousand and three
hundred were rulers over the rest。 He also enjoined them to cut
out large stones for the foundations of the temple； and that they
should fit them and unite them together in the mountain； and so
bring them to the city。 This was done not only by our own country
workmen； but by those workmen whom Hiram sent also。
CHAPTER 3。
Of The Building Of This Temple
1。 Solomon began to build the temple in the fourth year of his
reign； on the second month； which the Macedonians call
Artemisius； and the Hebrews Jur； five hundred and ninety…two
years after the Exodus out of Egypt； but one thousand and twenty
years from Abraham's coming out of Mesopotamia into Canaan； and
after the deluge one thousand four hundred and forty years； and
from Adam； the first man who was created； until Solomon built the
temple； there had passed in all three thousand one hundred and
two years。 Now that year on which the temple began to be built
was already the eleventh year of the reign of Hiram； but from the
building of Tyre to the building of the temple； there had passed
two hundred and forty years。
2。 Now； therefore； the king laid the foundations of the temple
very deep in the ground； and the materials were strong stones；
and such as would resist the force of time； these were to unite
themselves with the earth； and become a basis and a sure
foundation for that superstructure which was to be erected over
it； they were to be so strong； in order to sustain with ease
those vast superstructures and precious ornaments； whose own
weight was to be not less than the weight of those other high and
heavy buildings which the king designed to be very ornamental and
magnificent。 They erected its entire body； quite up to the roof；
of white stone； its height was sixty cubits； and its length was
the same； and its breadth twenty。 There was another building
erected over it； equal to it in its measures； so that the entire
altitude of the tem