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this time was larger and finer than any that had ever been
brought before； but let no one imagine that these pine trees were
like those which are now so named； and which take that their
denomination from the merchants； who so call them； that they may
procure them to be admired by those that purchase them； for those
we speak of were to the sight like the wood of the fig tree； but
were whiter； and more shining。 Now we have said thus much； that
nobody may be ignorant of the difference between these sorts of
wood； nor unacquainted with the nature of the genuine pine tree；
and we thought it both a seasonable and humane thing； when we
mentioned it； and the uses the king made of it； to explain this
difference so far as we have done。
2。 Now the weight of gold that was brought him was six hundred
and sixty…six talents； not including in that sum what was brought
by the merchants； nor what the toparchs and kings of Arabia gave
him in presents。 He also cast two hundred targets of gold； each
of them weighing six hundred shekels。 He also made three hundred
shields； every one weighing three pounds of gold； and he had them
carried and put into that house which was called The Forest of
Lebanon。 He also made cups of gold； and of ＇precious＇ stones； for
the entertainment of his guests； and had them adorned in the most
artificial manner； and he contrived that all his other furniture
of vessels should be of gold； for there was nothing then to be
sold or bought for silver； for the king had many ships which lay
upon the sea of Tarsus； these he commanded to carry out all sorts
of merchandise unto the remotest nations； by the sale of which
silver and gold were brought to the king； and a great quantity of
ivory； and Ethiopians； and apes； and they finished their voyage；
going and returning； in three years' time。
3。 Accordingly there went a great fame all around the neighboring
countries； which proclaimed the virtue and wisdom of Solomon；
insomuch that all the kings every where were desirous to see him；
as not giving credit to what was reported； on account of its
being almost incredible： they also demonstrated the regard they
had for him by the presents they made him； for they sent him
vessels of gold； and silver； and purple garments； and many sorts
of spices； and horses； and chariots； and as many mules for his
carriages as they could find proper to please the king's eyes； by
their strength and beauty。 This addition that he made to those
chariots and horses which he had before from those that were sent
him； augmented the number of his chariots by above four hundred；
for he had a thousand before； and augmented the number of his
horses by two thousand； for he had twenty thousand before。 These
horses also were so much exercised； in order to their making a
fine appearance； and running swiftly； that no others could； upon
the comparison； appear either finer or swifter； but they were at
once the most beautiful of all others； and their swiftness was
incomparable also。 Their riders also were a further ornament to
them； being； in the first place； young men in the most delightful
flower of their age； and being eminent for their largeness； and
far taller than other men。 They had also very long heads of hair
hanging down； and were clothed in garments of Tyrian purple。 They
had also dust of gold every day sprinkled on their hair； so that
their heads sparkled with the reflection of the sun…beams from
the gold。 The king himself rode upon a chariot in the midst of
these men； who were still in armor； and had their bows fitted to
them。 He had on a white garment； and used to take his progress
out of the city in the morning。 There was a certain place about
fifty furlongs distant from Jerusalem； which is called Etham；
very pleasant it is in fine gardens； and abounding in rivulets of
water； （18） thither did he use to go out in the morning； sitting
on high ＇in his chariot。＇
4。 Now Solomon had a divine sagacity in all things； and was very
diligent and studious to have things done after an elegant
manner； so he did not neglect the care of the ways； but he laid a
causeway of black stone along the roads that led to Jerusalem；
which was the royal city； both to render them easy for travelers；
and to manifest the grandeur of his riches and government。 He
also parted his chariots； and set them in a regular order； that a
certain number of them should be in every city； still keeping a
few about him； and those cities he called the cities of his
chariots。 And the king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as
stones in the street； and so multiplied cedar trees in the plains
of Judea； which did not grow there before； that they were like
the multitude of common sycamore trees。 He also ordained the
Egyptian merchants that brought him their merchandise to sell him
a chariot； with a pair of horses； for six hundred drachmae of
silver； and he sent them to the kings of Syria； and to those
kings that were beyond Euphrates。
5。 But although Solomon was become the most glorious of kings；
and the best beloved by God； and had exceeded in wisdom and
riches those that had been rulers of the Hebrews before him； yet
did not he persevere in this happy state till he died。 Nay； he
forsook the observation of the laws of his fathers； and came to
an end no way suitable to our foregoing history of him。 He grew
mad in his love of women； and laid no restraint on himself in his
lusts； nor was he satisfied with the women of his country alone；
but he married many wives out of foreign nations； Sidontans； and
Tyrians； and Ammonites； and Edomites； and he transgressed the
laws of Moses； which forbade Jews to marry any but those that
were of their own people。 He also began to worship their gods；
which he did in order to the gratification of his wives； and out
of his affection for them。 This very thing our legislator
suspected； and so admonished us beforehand； that we should not
marry women of other countries； lest we should be entangled with
foreign customs； and apostatize from our own； lest we should
leave off to honor our own God； and should worship their gods。
But Solomon was Gllen headlong into unreasonable pleasures； and
regarded not those admonitions； for when he had married seven
hundred wives； （19） the daughters of princes and of eminent
persons； and three hundred concubines； and those besides the king
of Egypt's daughter； he soon was governed by them； till he came
to imitate their practices。 He was forced to give them this
demonstration of his kindness and affection to them； to live
according to the laws of their countries。 And as he grew into
years； and his reason became weaker by length of time； it was not
sufficient to recall to his mind the institutions of his own
country； so he still more and more contemned his own God； and
continued to regard the gods that his marriages had introduced
nay； before this happened； he sinned； and fell into an error
about the observation of the laws； when he made the images of
brazen oxen that supported the brazen sea； （20） and the images of
lions about his own throne； for these he made； although it was
not agreeable to piety so to do； and this he did； notwithstanding
that he had his father as a most excellent and domestic pattern
of virtue； and knew what a glorious character he had left behind
him； because of his piety towards God。 Nor did he imitate David；
although God had twice appeared to him in his sleep； and exhorted
him to imitate his father。 So he died ingloriously。 There came
therefore a prophet to him； who was sent by God； and told him
that his wicked actions were not concealed from God； and
threatened him that he should not long rejoice in what he had
done； that； indeed； the kingdom should not be taken from him
while he was alive； because God had promised to his father David
that he would make him his successor； but that he would take care
that this should befall his son when he ：was dead； not that he
would withdraw all the people from him； but that he would give
ten tribes to a servant of his； and leave only two tribes to
David's grandson for his sake； because he loved God； and for the
sake of the city of Jerusalem； wherein he should have a temple。
6。 When Solomon heard this he was grieved； and greatly
confounded； upon this change of almost all that happiness which
had made him to be admired； into so bad a state； nor had there
much time passed after the prophet had foretold what was coming
before God raised up an enemy against him； whose name was Ader；
who took the following occasion of his enmity to him。 He was a
child of the stock of the Edomites； and of the blood royal； and
when Joab； the captain of David's host； laid waste the land of
Edom； and destroyed all that were men grown； and able to bear
arms； for six months' time； this Hadad fled away； and came to
Pharaoh the king of Egypt； who received him kindly； and assigned
him a house to dwell in； and a country to supply him with food；
and when he was grown up he loved him exceedingly； insomuch that
he gave him his wife's sister； whose name was Tahpenes； to wife；
by whom he had a son； who was brought up with the king's
children。 When Hadad heard in Egypt that both David and Joab