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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； and were set
over the chariots and the horses； rather than leading the life of
slaves。 He appointed also five hundred and fifty rulers over
those Canaanites who were reduced to such domestic slavery； who
received the entire care of them from the king； and instructed
them in those labors and operations wherein he wanted their
assistance。
4。 Moreover； the king built many ships in the Egyptian Bay of the
Red Sea； in a certain place called Ezion…geber： it is now called
Berenice； and is not far from the city Eloth。 This country
belonged formerly to the Jews； and became useful for shipping
from the donations of Hiram king of Tyre； for he sent a
sufficient number of men thither for pilots； and such as were
skillful in navigation； to whom Solomon gave this command： That
they should go along with his own stewards to the land that was
of old called Ophir； but now the Aurea Chersonesus； which belongs
to India； to fetch him gold。 And when they had gathered four
hundred talents together； they returned to the king again。
5。 There was then a woman queen of Egypt and Ethiopia； （16） she
was inquisitive into philosophy； and one that on other accounts
also was to be admired。 When this queen heard of the virtue and
prudence of Solomon； she had a great mind to see him； and the
reports that went every day abroad induced her to come to him；
she being desirous to be satisfied by her own experience； and not
by a bare hearing； （for reports thus heard are likely enough to
comply with a false opinion； while they wholly depend on the
credit of the relators；） so she resolved to come to him； and that
especially in order to have a trial of his wisdom； while she
proposed questions of very great difficulty； and entreated that
he would solve their hidden meaning。 Accordingly she came to
Jerusalem with great splendor and rich furniture； for she brought
with her camels laden with gold； with several sorts of sweet
spices； and with precious stones。 Now； upon the king's kind
reception of her； he both showed a great desire to please her；
and easily comprehending in his mind the meaning of the curious
questions she propounded to him； he resolved them sooner than any
body could have expected。 So she was amazed at the wisdom of
Solomon； and discovered that it was more excellent upon trial
than what she had heard by report beforehand； and especially she
was surprised at the fineness and largeness of his royal palace；
and not less so at the good order of the apartments； for she
observed that the king had therein shown great wisdom； but she
was beyond measure astonished at the house which was called the
Forest of Lebanon； as also at the magnificence of his daily
table； and the circumstances of its preparation and ministration；
with the apparel of his servants that waited； and the skillful
and decent management of their attendance： nor was she less
affected with those daily sacrifices which were offered to God；
and the careful management which the priests and Levites used
about them。 When she saw this done every day； she was in the
greatest admiration imaginable； insomuch that she was not able to
contain the surprise she was in； but openly confessed how
wonderfully she was affected； for she proceeded to discourse with
the king； and thereby owned that she was overcome with admiration
at the things before related； and said； 〃All things indeed； O
king； that came to our knowledge by report； came with uncertainty
as to our belief of them； but as to those good things that to
thee appertain； both such as thou thyself possessest； I mean
wisdom and prudence； and the happiness thou hast from thy
kingdom； certainly the same that came to us was no falsity； it
was not only a true report； but it related thy happiness after a
much lower manner than I now see it to be before my eyes。 For as
for the report； it only attempted to persuade our hearing； but
did not so make known the dignity of the things themselves as
does the sight of them； and being present among them。 I indeed；
who did not believe what was reported； by reason of the multitude
and grandeur of the things I inquired about； do see them to be
much more numerous than they were reported to be。 Accordingly I
esteem the Hebrew people； as well as thy servants and friends； to
be happy； who enjoy thy presence and hear thy wisdom every day
continually。 One would therefore bless God； who hath so loved
this country； and those that inhabit therein； as to make thee
king over them。〃
6。 Now when the queen had thus demonstrated in words how deeply
the king had affected her； her disposition was known by certain
presents； for she gave him twenty talents of gold； and an immense
quantity of spices and precious stones。 （They say also that we
possess the root of that balsam which our country still bears by
this woman's gift。） （17） Solomon also repaid her with many good
things； and principally by bestowing upon her what she chose of
her own inclination； for there was nothing that she desired which
he denied her； and as he was very generous and liberal in his own
temper； so did he show the greatness of his soul in bestowing on
her what she herself desired of him。 So when this queen of
Ethiopia had obtained what we have already given an account of；
and had again communicated to the king what she brought with her；
she returned to her own kingdom。
CHAPTER 7。
How Solomon Grew Rich； And Fell Desperately In Love With Women
And How God； Being Incensed At It； Raised Up Ader And Jeroboam
Against Him。 Concerning The Death Of Solomon。
1。 About the same time there were brought to the king from the
Aurea Chersonesus； a country so called； precious stones； and pine
trees； and these trees he made use of for supporting the temple
and the palace； as also for the materials of musical instruments；
the harps and the psalteries； that the Levites might make use of
them in their hymns to God。 The wood which was brought to him at
this time was larger and finer than any that had ever been
brought before； but let no one imagine that these pine trees wer