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his family a Levite； and deposited the ark with him； and it
remained there three entire months。 This augmented the house of
Obededom； and conferred many blessings upon it。 And when the king
heard what had befallen Obededom； how he was become； of a poor
man in a low estate； exceeding happy； and the object of envy to
all those that saw or inquired after his house； he took courage；
and； hoping that he should meet with no misfortune thereby； he
transferred the ark to his own house； the priests carrying it；
while seven companies of singers； who were set in that order by
the king； went before it； and while he himself played upon the
harp； and joined in the music； insomuch； that when his wife
Michel； the daughter of Saul； who was our first king； saw him so
doing； she laughed at him。 But when they had brought in the ark；
they placed it under the tabernacle which David had pitched for
it； and he offered costly sacrifices and peace…offerings； and
treated the whole multitude； and dealt both to the women； and the
men； and the infants a loaf of bread and a cake； and another cake
baked in a pan； with the portion of the sacrifice。 So when he had
thus feasted the people； he sent them away； and he himself
returned to his own house。
3。 But when Michal his wife； the daughter of Saul； came and stood
by him； she wished him all other happiness； and entreated that
whatsoever he should further desire； to the utmost possibility；
might be given him by God； and that he might be favorable to him；
yet did she blame him； that so great a king as he was should
dance after an unseemly manner； and in his dancing； uncover
himself among the servants and the handmaidens。 But he replied；
that he was not ashamed to do what was acceptable to God； who had
preferred him before her father； and before all others； that he
would play frequently； and dance； without any regard to what the
handmaidens and she herself thought of it。 So this Michal； who
was David's wife； had no children； however； when she was
afterward married to him to whom Saul her father had given her；
（for at this time David had taken her away from him； and had her
himself；） she bare five children。 But concerning those matters I
shall discourse in a proper place。
4。 Now when the king saw that his affairs grew better almost
every day； by the will of God； he thought he should offend him；
if； while he himself continued in houses made of cedar； such as
were of a great height； and had the most curious works of
architecture in them； he should overlook the ark while it was
laid in a tabernacle； and was desirous to build a temple to God；
as Moses had predicted such a temple should be built。 （8） And
when he had discoursed with Nathan the prophet about these
things； and had been encouraged by him to do whatsoever he had a
mind to do； as having God with him； and his helper in all things；
he was thereupon the more ready to set about that building。 But
God appeared to Nathan that very night； and commanded him to say
to David； （9） that he took his purpose and his desires kindly；
since nobody had before now taken it into their head to build him
a temple； although upon his having such a notion he would not
permit him to build him that temple； because he had made many
wars； and was defiled with the slaughter of his enemies； that；
however； after his death； in his old age； and when he had lived a
long life； there should be a temple built by a son of his； who
should take the kingdom after him； and should be called Solomon；
whom he promised to provide for； as a father provides for his
son； by preserving the kingdom for his son's posterity； and
delivering it to them； but that he would still punish him； if he
sinned； with diseases and barrenness of land。 When David
understood this from the prophet； and was overjoyful at this
knowledge of the sure continuance of the dominion to his
posterity； and that his house should be splendid； and very
famous； he came to the ark； and fell down on his face； and began
to adore God； and to return thanks to him for all his benefits；
as well for those that he had already bestowed upon him in
raising him from a low state； and from the employment of a
shepherd； to so great dignity of dominion and glory； as for those
also which he had promised to his posterity； and besides； for
that providence which he had exercised over the Hebrews in
procuring them the liberty they enjoyed。 And when he had said
thus； and had sung a hymn of praise to God； he went his way。
CHAPTER 5。
How David Brought Under The Philistines； And The Moabites； And
The Kings Of Sophene And Of Damascus； And Of The Syrians As Also
The Idumeans； In War； And How He Made A League With The King Of
Hamath； And Was Mindful Of The Friendship That Jonathan； The Son
Of Saul； Had Borne Him。
1。 A Litlle while after this； he considered that he ought to make
war against the Philistines； and not to see any idleness or
laziness permitted in his management； that so it might prove； as
God had foretold to him； that when he had overthrown his enemies；
he should leave his posterity to reign in peace afterward： so he
called together his army again； and when he had charged them to
be ready and prepared for war； and when he thought that all
things in his army were in a good state； he removed from
Jerusalem； and came against the Philistines； and when he had
overcome them in battle； and had cut off a great part of their
country； and adjoined it to the country of the Hebrews； he
transferred the war to the Moabites； and when he had overcome two
parts of their army in battle； he took the remaining part
captive； and imposed tribute upon them； to be paid annually。 He
then made war against Iadadezer； the son of Rehob； king of
Sophene； （10） and when he had joined battle with him at 'the
river Euphrates； he destroyed twenty thousand of his footmen； and
about seven thousand of his horsemen。 He also took a thousand of
his chariots； and destroyed the greatest part of them； and
ordered that no more than one hundred should be kept。 （11）
2。 Now when Hadad； king of Damascus and of Syria； heard that
David fought against Hadadezer； who was his friend； he came to
his assistance with a powerful army； in hopes to rescue him； and
when he had joined battle with David at the river Euphrates； he
failed of his purpose； and lost in the battle a great number of
his soldiers； for there were slain of the army of Hadad twenty
thousand； and all the rest fled。 Nicelens also ＇of Damascus＇
makes mention of this king in the fourth book of his histories；
where he speaks thus： 〃A great while after these things had
happened； there was one of that country whose name was Hadad； who
was become very potent； he reigned over Damascus； and； the other
parts of Syria； excepting Phoenicia。 He made war against David；
the king of Judea； and tried his fortune in many battles； and
particularly in the last battle at Euphrates； wherein he was
beaten。 He seemed to have been the most excellent of all their
kings in strength and manhood；〃 Nay； besides this； he says of his
posterity； that 〃they succeeded one another in his kingdom； and
in his name；〃 where he thus speaks： 〃When Hadad was dead； his
posterity reigned for ten generations； each of his successors
receiving from his father that his dominion； and this his name；
as did the Ptolemies in Egypt。 But the third was the most
powerful of them all； and was willing to avenge the defeat his
forefather had received； so he made an expedition against the
Jews； and laid waste the city which is now called Samaria。〃 Nor
did he err from the truth； for this is that Hadad who made the
expedition against Samaria； in the reign of Ahab； king of Israel；
concerning whom we shall speak in due place hereafter。
3。 Now when David had made an expedition against Damascus； and
the other parts of Syria； and had brought it all into subjection；
and had placed garrisons in the country； and appointed that they
should pay tribute； he returned home。 He also dedicated to God at
Jerusalem the golden quivers； the entire armor which the guards
of Hadad used to wear； which Shishak； the king of Egypt； took
away when he fought with David's grandson； Rehoboam； with a great
deal of other wealth which he carried out of Jerusalem。 However；
these things will come to be explained in their proper places
hereafter。 Now as for the king of the Hebrews； he was assisted by
God； who gave him great success in his wars； and he made all
expedition against the best cities of Hadadezer； Betah and
Machen； so he took them by force； and laid them waste。 Therein
was found a very great quantity of gold and silver； besides that
sort of brass which is said to be more valuable than gold； of
which brass Solomon made that large vessel which was called The
＇Brazen＇ Sea； and those most curious lavers； when he built the
temple for God。
4。 But when the king of Hamath was informed of the ill success of
Hadadezer； and had heard of the ruin of his army； he was afraid
on his own account； and resolved to make a league of friendship
and fidelity with David before he should come against him； so he
sent to him his son Joram； and professed that he owed him thanks
for fighting against Hadadezer； w