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never to despair of any thing that he had promised for the
future； in order to their happiness； or suspect that it would not
come to pass。
3。 When the king had thus discoursed to the multitude； he looked
again towards the temple； and lifting up his right hand to the
multitude； he said；〃 It is not possible by what men can do to
return sufficient thanks to God for his benefits bestowed upon
them； for the Deity stands in need of nothing； and is above any
such requital； but so far as we have been made superior； O Lord；
to other animals by thee； it becomes us to bless thy Majesty； and
it is necessary for us to return thee thanks for what thou hast
bestowed upon our house； and on the Hebrew people； for with what
other instrument can we better appease thee when thou art angry
at us； or more properly preserve thy favor； than with our voice？
which； as we have it from the air； so do we know that by that air
it ascends upwards ＇towards thee＇。 I therefore ought myself to
return thee thanks thereby； in the first place； concerning my
father； whom thou hast raised from obscurity unto so great joy；
and； in the next place； concerning myself； since thou hast
performed all that thou hast promised unto this very day。 And I
beseech thee for the time to come to afford us whatsoever thou； O
God； hast power to bestow on such as thou dost esteem； and to
augment our house for all ages； as thou hast promised to David my
father to do； both in his lifetime and at his death； that our
kingdom shall continue； and that his posterity should
successively receive it to ten thousand generations。 Do not thou
therefore fail to give us these blessings； and to bestow on my
children that virtue in which thou delightest。 And besides all
this； I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt let some portion of
thy Spirit come down and inhabit in this temple； that thou mayst
appear to be with us upon earth。 As to thyself； the entire
heavens； and the immensity of the things that are therein； are
but a small habitation for thee； much more is this poor temple
so； but I entreat thee to keep it as thine own house； from being
destroyed by our enemies for ever； and to take care of it as
thine own possession： but if this people be found to have sinned；
and be thereupon afflicted by thee with any plague； because of
their sin； as with dearth or pestilence； or any other affliction
which thou usest to inflict on those that transgress any of thy
holy laws； and if they fly all of them to this temple； beseeching
thee； and begging of time to deliver them； then do thou hear
their prayers； as being within thine house； and have mercy upon
them； and deliver them from their afflictions。 Nay； moreover；
this help is what I implore of thee； not for the Hebrews only；
when they are in distress； but when any shall come hither from
any ends of the world whatsoever； and shall return from their
sins and implore thy pardon； do thou then pardon them； and hear
their prayer。 For hereby all shall learn that thou thyself wast
pleased with the building of this house for thee； and that we are
not ourselves of an unsociable nature； nor behave ourselves like
enemies to such as are not of our own people； but are willing
that thy assistance should be communicated by thee to all men in
common； and that they may have the enjoyment of thy benefits
bestowed upon them。〃
4。 When Solomon had said this； and had cast himself upon the
ground； and worshipped a long time； he rose up； and brought
sacrifices to the altar； and when he had filled it with
unblemished victims； he most evidently discovered that God had
with pleasure accepted of all that he had sacrificed to him； for
there came a fire running out of the air； and rushed with
violence upon the altar； in the sight of all； and caught hold of
and consumed the sacrifices。 Now when this Divine appearance was
seen； the people supposed it to be a demonstration of God's abode
in the temple； and were pleased with it； and fell down upon the
ground and worshipped。 Upon which the king began to bless God；
and exhorted the multitude to do the same； as now having
sufficient indications of God's favorable disposition to them；
and to pray that they might always have the like indications from
him； and that he would preserve in them a mind pure from all
wickedness； in righteousness and religious worship； and that they
might continue in the observation of those precepts which God had
given them by Moses； because by that means the Hebrew nation
would be happy； and indeed the most blessed of all nations among
all mankind。 He exhorted them also to be mindful； that by what
methods they had attained their present good things； by the same
they must preserve them sure to themselves； and make them greater
and more than they were at present； for that it was not
sufficient for them to suppose they had received them on account
of their piety and righteousness； but that they had no other way
of preserving them for the time to come； for that it is not so
great a thing for men to acquire somewhat which they want； as to
preserve what they have acquired； and to be guilty of no sin
whereby it may be hurt。
5。 So when the king had spoken thus to the multitude； he
dissolved the congregation； but not till he had completed his
oblations； both for himself and for the Hebrews； insomuch that he
sacrificed twenty and two thousand oxen； and a hundred and twenty
thousand sheep； for then it was that the temple did first of all
taste of the victims； and all the Hebrews； with their wives and
children； feasted therein： nay； besides this； the king then
observed splendidly and magnificently the feast which is called
the Feast of Tabernacles； before the temple； for twice seven
days； and he then feasted together with all the people。
6。 When all these solemnities were abundantly satisfied； and
nothing was omitted that concerned the Divine worship； the king
dismissed them； and they every one went to their own homes；
giving thanks to the king for the care he had taken of them； and
the works he had done for them； and praying to God to preserve
Solomon to be their king for a long time。 They also took their
journey home with rejoicing； and making merry； and singing hymns
to God。 And indeed the pleasure they enjoyed took away the sense
of the pains they all underwent in their journey home。 So when
they had brought the ark into the temple； and had seen its
greatness； and how fine it was； and had been partakers of the
many sacrifices that had been offered； and of the festivals that
had been solemnized； they every one returned to their own cities。
But a dream that appeared to the king in his sleep informed him
that God had heard his prayers； and that he would not only
preserve the temple； but would always abide in it； that is； in
case his posterity and the whole multitude would be righteous。
And for himself； it said； that if he continued according to the
admonitions of his father； he would advance him to an immense
degree of dignity and happiness； and that then his posterity
should be kings of that country； of the tribe of Judah； for ever；
but that still； if he should be found a betrayer of the
ordinances of the law； and forget them； and turn away to the
worship of strange gods； he would cut him off by the roots； and
would neither suffer any remainder of his family to continue； nor
would overlook the people of Israel； or preserve them any longer
from afflictions； but would utterly destroy them with ten
thousand wars and misfortunes； would cast them out of the land
which he had given their fathers； and make them sojourners in
strange lands； and deliver that temple which was now built to be
burnt and spoiled by their enemies； and that city to be utterly
overthrown by the hands of their enemies； and make their miseries
deserve to be a proverb； and such as should very hardly be
credited for their stupendous magnitude； till their neighbors；
when they should hear of them； should wonder at their calamities；
and very earnestly inquire for the occasion； why the Hebrews； who
had been so far advanced by God to such glory and wealth； should
be then so hated by him？ and that the answer that should be made
by the remainder of the people should be； by confessing their
sins； and their transgression of the laws of their country。
Accordingly we have it transmitted to us in writing； that thus
did God speak to Solomon in his sleep。
CHAPTER 5。
How Solomon Built Himself A Royal Palace； Very Costly And
Splendid； And How He Solved The Riddles Which Were Sent Him By
Hiram。
1。 After the building of the temple； which； as we have before
said； was finished in seven years； the king laid the foundation
of his palace； which be did not finish under thirteen years； for
he was not equally zealous in the building of this palace as he
had been about the temple； for as to that； though it was a great
work； and required wonderful and surprising application； yet God；
for whom it was made； so far co…operated therewith； that it was
finished in the forementioned number of years： but the palace；
which was a building much inferior in dignity to the temple； both
on account that its materials had not been so long beforehand
gotten ready； nor