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the antiquities of the jews-1-第98章

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of Jerusalem with him; and accompany him during his flight。 He
replied; that this piece of injustice was owing to Ziba; because;
when he was ordered to get things ready for his going out with
him; he took no care of it; but regarded him no more than if he
had been a slave; 〃and; indeed; had I had my feet sound and
strong; I had not deserted thee; for I could then have made use
of them in my flight: but this is not all the injury that Ziba
has done me; as to my duty to thee; my lord and master; but he
hath calumniated me besides; and told lies about me of his own
invention; but I know thy mind will not admit of such calumnies;
but is righteously disposed; and a lover of truth; which it is
also the will of God should prevail。 For when thou wast in the
greatest danger of suffering by my grandfather; and when; on that
account; our whole family might justly have been destroyed; thou
wast moderate and merciful; and didst then especially forget all
those injuries; when; if thou hadst remembered them; thou hadst
the power of punishing us for them; but thou hast judged me to be
thy friend; and hast set me every day at thine own table; nor
have I wanted any thing which one of thine own kinsmen; of
greatest esteem with thee; could have expected。〃 When he had said
this; David resolved neither to punish Mephibosheth; nor to
condemn Ziba; as having belied his master; but said to him; that
as he had 'before' granted all his estate to Ziba; because he did
not come along with him; so he 'now' promised to forgive him; and
ordered that the one half of his estate should be restored to
him。 (20) Whereupon Mephibosheth said; 〃Nay; let Ziba take all;
it suffices me that thou hast recovered thy kingdom。〃

4。 But David desired Barzillai the Gileadite; that great and good
man; and one that had made a plentiful provision for him at
Mahanaim; and had conducted him as far as Jordan; to accompany
him to Jerusalem; for he promised to treat him in his old age
with all manner of respect … to take care of him; and provide for
him。 But Barzillai was so desirous to live at home; that he
entreated him to excuse him from attendance on him; and said that
his age was too great to enjoy the pleasures 'of a court;' since
he was fourscore years old; and was therefore making provision
for his death and burial: so he desired him to gratify him in
this request; and dismiss him; for he had no relish of his meat;
or his drink; by reason of his age; and that his ears were too
much shut up to hear the sound of pipes; or the melody of other
musical instruments; such as all those that live with kings
delight in。 When he entreated for this so earnestly; the king
said; 〃I dismiss thee; but thou shalt grant me thy son Chimham;
and upon him I will bestow all sorts of good things。〃 So
Barzillai left his son with him; and worshipped the king; and
wished him a prosperous conclusion of all his affairs according
to his own mind; and then returned home; but David came to
Gilgal; having about him half the people 'of Israel'; and the
'whole' tribe of Judah。

5。 Now the principal men of the country came to Gilgal to him
with a great multitude; and complained of the tribe of Judah;
that they had come to him in a private manner; whereas they ought
all conjointly; and with one and the same intention; to have
given him the meeting。 But the rulers of the tribe of Judah
desired them not to be displeased; if they had been prevented by
them; for; said they; 〃We are David's kinsmen; and on that
account we the rather took care of him; and loved him; and。 so
came first to him;〃 yet had they not; by their early coming;
received any gifts from him; which might give them who came last
any uneasiness。 When the rulers of the tribe of Judah had said
this; the rulers of the other tribes were not quiet; but said
further; 〃O brethren; we cannot but wonder at you when you call
the king your kinsman alone; whereas he that hath received from
God the power over all of us in common ought to be esteemed a
kinsman to us all; for which reason the whole people have eleven
parts in him; and you but one part (21) we are also elder than
you; wherefore you have not done justly in coming to the king in
this private and concealed manner。〃

6。 While these rulers were thus disputing one with another;。 a
certain wicked man; who took a pleasure in seditious practices;
(his name was Sheba; the son of Bichri; of the tribe of
Benjamin;) stood up in the midst of the multitude; and cried
aloud; and spake thus to them: 〃We have no part in David; nor
inheritance in the son of Jesse。〃 And when he had used those
words; he blew with a trumpet; and declared war against the king;
and they all left David; and followed him; the tribe of Judah
alone staid with him; and settled him in his royal palace at
Jerusalem。 But as for his concubines; with whom Absalom his son
had accompanied; truly he removed them to another house; and
ordered those that had the care of them to make a plentiful
provision for them; but he came not near them any more。 He also
appointed Amass for the captain of his forces; and gave him the
same high office which Joab before had; and he commanded him to
gather together; out of the tribe of Judah; as great an army as
he could; and come to him within three days; that he might
deliver to him his entire army; and might send him to fight
against 'Sheba' the son of Bichri。 Now while Amass was gone out;
and made some delay in gathering the army together; and so was
not yet returned; on the third day the king said to Joab; 〃It is
not fit we should make any delay in this affair of Sheba; lest he
get a numerous army about him; and be the occasion of greater
mischief; and hurt our affairs more than did Absalom himself; do
not thou therefore wait any longer; but take such forces as thou
hast at hand; and that 'old' body of six hundred men; and thy
brother Abishai; with thee; and pursue after our enemy; and
endeavor to fight him wheresoever thou canst overtake him。 Make
haste to prevent him; lest he seize upon some fenced cities; and
cause us great labor and pains before we take him。〃

7。 So Joab resolved to make no delay; but taking with him his
brother; and those six hundred men; and giving orders that the
rest of the army which was at Jerusalem should follow him; he
marched with great speed against Sheba; and when he was come to
Gibeon; which is a village forty furlongs distant from Jerusalem;
Amasa brought a great army with him; and met Joab。 Now Joab was
girded with a sword; and his breastplate on; and when Amasa came
near him to salute him; he took particular care that his sword
should fall out; as it were; of its own accord: so he took it up
from the ground; and while he approached Amasa; who was then near
him; as though he would kiss him; he took hold of Amasa's beard
with his other hand; and he smote him in his belly when he did
not foresee it; and slew him。 This impious and altogether profane
action Joab did to a good young man; and his kinsman; and one
that had done him no injury; and this out of jealousy that he
would obtain the chief command of the army; and be in equal
dignity with himself about the king; and for the same cause it
was that he killed Abner。 But as to that former wicked action;
the death of his brother Asahel; which he seemed to revenge;
afforded him a decent pretense; and made that crime a pardonable
one; but in this murder of Amasa there was no such covering for
it。 Now when Joab had killed this general; he pursued after
Sheba; having left a man with the dead body; who was ordered to
proclaim aloud to the army; that Amasa was justly slain; and
deservedly punished。 〃But;〃 said he; 〃if you be for the king;
follow Joab his general; and Abishai; Joab's brother:〃 but
because the body lay on the road; and all the multitude came
running to it; and; as is usual with the multitude; stood
wondering a great while at it; he that guarded it removed it
thence; and carried it to a certain place that was very remote
from the road; and there laid it; and covered it with his
garment。 When this was done; all the people followed Joab。 Now as
he pursued Sheba through all the country of Israel; one told him
that he was in a strong city; called Abelbeth…maachah。 Hereupon
Joab went thither; and set about it with his army; and cast up a
bank round it; and ordered his soldiers to undermine the walls;
and to overthrow them; and since the people in the city did not
admit him; he was greatly displeased at them。

8。 Now there was a woman of small account; and yet both wise and
intelligent; who seeing her native city lying at the last
extremity; ascended upon the wall; and; by means of the armed
men; called for Joab; and when he came to her; she began to say;
That 〃God ordained kings and generals of armies; that they might
cut off the enemies of the Hebrews; and introduce a universal
peace among them; but thou art endeavoring to overthrow and
depopulate a metropolis of the Israelites; which hath been guilty
of no offense。〃 But he replied; 〃God continue to be merciful unto
me: I am disposed to avoid killing any one of the people; much
less would I destroy such a city as this; and if they will
deliver
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