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the antiquities of the jews-1-第100章

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an Egyptian; who was of a vast bulk; and challenged him; yet did
he; when he was unarmed; kill him with his own spear; which he
threw at him; for he caught him by force; and took away his
weapons while he was alive and fighting; and slew him with his
own weapons。 One may also add this to the forementioned actions
of the same man; either as the principal of them in alacrity; or
as resembling the rest。 When God sent a snow; there was a lion
who slipped and fell into a certain pit; and because the pit's
mouth was narrow it was evident he would perish; being enclosed
with the snow; so when he saw no way to get out and save himself;
he roared。 When Benaiah heard the wild beast; he went towards
him; and coming at the noise he made; he went down into the mouth
of the pit and smote him; as he struggled; with a stake that lay
there; and immediately slew him。 The other thirty…three were like
these in valor also。

CHAPTER 13。

That When David Had Numbered the People; They Were Punished; and
How the Divine Compassion Restrained That Punishment。

1。 Now king David was desirous to know how many ten thousands
there were of the people; but forgot the commands of Moses; (23)
who told them beforehand; that if the multitude were numbered;
they should pay half a shekel to God for every head。 Accordingly
the king commanded Joab; the captain of his host; to go and
number the whole multitude; but when he said there was no
necessity for such a numeration; he was not persuaded 'to
countermand it'; but he enjoined him to make no delay; but to go
about the numbering of the Hebrews immediately。 So Joab took with
him the heads of the tribes; and the scribes; and went over the
country of the Israelites; and took notice how numerous the
multitude were; and returned to Jerusalem to the king; after nine
months and twenty days; and he gave in to the king the number of
the people; without the tribe of Benjamin; for he had not yet
numbered that tribe; no more than the tribe of Levi; for the king
repented of his having sinned against God。 Now the number of the
rest of the Israelites was nine hundred thousand men; who were
able to bear arms and go to war; but the tribe of Judah; by
itself; was four hundred thousand men。

2。 Now when the prophets had signified to David that God was
angry at him; he began to entreat him; and to desire he would be
merciful to him; and forgive his sin。 But God sent Nathan the
prophet to him; to propose to him the election of three things;
that he might choose which he liked best: Whether he would have
famine come upon the country for seven years; or would have a
war; and be subdued three months by his enemies? or; whether God
should send a pestilence and a distemper upon the Hebrews for
three days? But as he was fallen to a fatal choice of great
miseries; he was in trouble; and sorely confounded; and when the
prophet had said that he must of necessity make his choice; and
had ordered him to answer quickly; that he might declare what he
had chosen to God; the king reasoned with himself; that in case
he should ask for famine; he would appear to do it for others;
and without danger to himself; since he had a great deal of corn
hoarded up; but to the harm of others; that in case he should
choose to be overcome 'by his enemies' for three months; he would
appear to have chosen war; because he had valiant men about him;
and strong holds; and that therefore he feared nothing therefrom:
so he chose that affliction which is common to kings and to their
subjects; and in which the fear was equal on all sides; and said
this beforehand; that it was much better to fall into the hands
of God; than into those of his enemies。

3。 When the prophet had heard this; he declared it to God; who
thereupon sent a pestilence and a mortality upon the Hebrews; nor
did they die after one and the same manner; nor so that it was
easy to know what the distemper was。 Now the miserable disease
was one indeed; but it carried them off by ten thousand causes
and occasions; which those that were afflicted could not
understand; for one died upon the neck of another; and the
terrible malady seized them before they were aware; and brought
them to their end suddenly; some giving up the ghost immediately
with very great pains and bitter grief; and some were worn away
by their distempers; and had nothing remaining to be buried; but
as soon as ever they fell were entirely macerated; some were
choked; and greatly lamented their case; as being also stricken
with a sudden darkness; some there were who; as they were burying
a relation; fell down dead; without finishing the rites of the
funeral。 Now there perished of this disease; which began with the
morning; and lasted till the hour of dinner; seventy thousand。
Nay; the angel stretched out his hand over Jerusalem; as sending
this terrible judgment upon it。 But David had put on sackcloth;
and lay upon the ground; entreating God; and begging that the
distemper might now cease; and that he would be satisfied with
those that had already perished。 And when the king looked up into
the air; and saw the angel carried along thereby into Jerusalem;
with his sword drawn; he said to God; that he might justly be
punished; who was their shepherd; but that the sheep ought to be
preserved; as not having sinned at all; and he implored God that
he would send his wrath upon him; and upon all his family; but
spare the people。

4。 When God heard his supplication; he caused the pestilence to
cease; and sent Gad the prophet to him; and commanded him to go
up immediately to the thrashing…floor of Araunah the Jebusite;
and build an altar there to God; and offer sacrifices。 When David
heard that; he did not neglect his duty; but made haste to the
place appointed him。 Now Araunah was thrashing wheat; and when he
saw the king and all his servants coming to him; he ran before;
and came to him and worshipped him: he was by his lineage a
Jebusite; but a particular friend of David's; and for that cause
it was that; when he overthrew the city; he did him no harm; as
we informed the reader a little before。 Now Araunah inquired;
〃Wherefore is my lord come to his servant?〃 He answered; to buy
of him the thrashing…floor; that he might therein build an altar
to God; and offer a sacrifice。 He replied; that he freely gave
him both the thrashing…floor and the ploughs and the oxen for a
burnt…offering; and he besought God graciously to accept his
sacrifice。 But the king made answer; that he took his generosity
and magnanimity loudly; and accepted his good…will; but he
desired him to take the price of them all; for that it was not
just to offer a sacrifice that cost nothing。 And when Araunah
said he would do as he pleased; he bought the thrashing…floor of
him for fifty shekels。 And when he had built an altar; he
performed Divine service; and brought a burnt…offering; and
offered peace…offerings also。 With these God was pacified; and
became gracious to them again。 Now it happened that Abraham
(24)came and offered his son Isaac for a burnt…offering at that
very place; and when the youth was ready to have his throat cut;
a ram appeared on a sudden; standing by the altar; which Abraham
sacrificed in the stead of his son; as we have before related。
Now when king David saw that God had heard his prayer; and had
graciously accepted of his sacrifice; he resolved to call that
entire place The Altar of all the People; and to build a temple
to God there; which words he uttered very appositely to what was
to be done afterward; for God sent the prophet to him; and told
him that there should his son build him an altar; that son who
was to take the kingdom after him。

CHAPTER 14。

That David Made Great Preparations For The House Of God; And
That; Upon Adonijah's Attempt To Gain The Kingdom; He Appointed
Solomon To Reign。

1。 After the delivery of this prophecy; the king commanded the
strangers to be numbered; and they were found to be one hundred
and eighty thousand; of these he appointed fourscore thousand to
be hewers of stone; and the rest of the multitude to carry the
stones; and of them he set over the workmen three thousand and
five hundred。 He also prepared a great quantity of iron and brass
for the work; with many (and those exceeding large) cedar trees;
the Tyrians and Sidonians sending them to him; for he had sent to
them for a supply of those trees。 And he told his friends that
these things were now prepared; that he might leave materials
ready for the building of the temple to his son; who was to reign
after him; and that he might not have them to seek then; when he
was very young; and by reason of his age unskillful in such
matters; but might have them lying by him; and so might the more
readily complete the work。

2。 So David called his son Solomon; and charged him; when he had
received the kingdom; to build a temple to God; and said; 〃!I was
willing to build God a temple myself; but he prohibited me;
because I was polluted with blood and wars; but he hath foretold
that Solomon; my youngest son; should build him a temple; and
should be called by that name; over whom he hath promised to take
the like care as a father takes over his 
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