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 Ube Student's ©15 Testament 
 
 ISRAEL'S 
 
 HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL 
 
 NARRATIVES
 
 THE STUDENT'S OLD TESTAMENT 
 
 LOGICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY 
 ARRANGED AND TRANSLATED 
 
 CHARLES FOSTER KENT. Ph.D., Litt.D. 
 
 WOOLSEY PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE IN YALE DNIVERSITT 
 
 ARRANGEMENT OF VOLUMES 
 
 I. Narratives of the Beginnings of Hebrew History. (Now Ready.) 
 
 Introduction. The Beginnings of Human History. Traditional 
 Ancestors of the Hebrews. Deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt. 
 Life of the Hebrews in the Wilderness and East of the Jordan. Con- 
 quest and Settlement of Canaan. 
 
 n. Historical and Biographical Narratives. {Now Ready.) 
 
 Introduction. The United Monarchy. History of Northern Israel. 
 History of Judah. Re-establishruent of the Jewish Community in 
 Palestine. The !Maccabean Struggle. Life of the Jews of the Dis- 
 persion. 
 
 III. Sermons, Epistles, and Apocalypses of Israel's Prophets. 
 
 {Now Ready.) 
 
 Introduction. The Prophets of the Assyrian Period. Prophets of 
 Judah's Decline. Prophets of the Babylonian Exile. Prophets of the 
 Persian Period. Prophets of the Greek and Maccabean Periods. 
 
 IV. Israel's Laws and Legal Precedents. (Now Ready.) 
 
 Introduction. Constitutional Laws. Criminal Laws. Private 
 Laws. Humanitarian Laws. Religious Laws. Ceremonial Laws. 
 
 V. The Songs, Hymns, and Prayers of the Old Testament. 
 
 (Noic Ready.) 
 
 Introduction. Tribal and National Songs. Songs of Lamentation. 
 Songs of Love and Marriage. The Kingly and Messianic Psalms. 
 Hymns of Praise and Thanksgiving. Hymns of Adoration and Trust. 
 Prayers. Reflective and Didactic Psalms. 
 
 VI. Proverbs and Didactic Poems. 
 
 Introduction. Practical and Ethical Observations and Precepts. 
 Religious Proverbs. Gnomic Essays. Numerical Enigmas. Dis- 
 cussions of the Problem of Evil. Discussions Regarding the Value of 
 Life and Its Wise Enjoyment. Poems Describing Wisdom.
 
 SOURCES, GROWTH, AND APPROXIMATE DATES OF TH] 
 
 IMPORTANT EVENTS 
 
 »37 
 
 Division of the Hebrew Empire. 
 Invasion of Shishak. 
 
 Work of Elijah. 
 
 Campaigns of Shalmaneser II. 
 
 ^'^ Jehu's Tribute to Shalmaneser II. 
 ^1<J Joash's Tribute to Hazael. 
 
 781-74'> 
 TSO-T-I" 
 
 745-73^ 
 787-8&-. 
 722-721 
 
 Reign of Jeroboam" II. 
 Preaching of Amos. 
 
 Work of Hosea, 
 Work of Isaiah. 
 jDapture of Samaria. 
 
 686-641 Reactionary Eeign of Manasseh. 
 ^''^ ' Ashurbanipal's Capture of Thebes. 
 
 Earlier Sermons of Zephaniah and Jeremiah. 
 Great Reformation of Josiah. 
 
 The First Captivity. Work of Ezekiel. 
 ^^' The Final Captivity. 
 ^^ E xpulsion of Foreigners from Egypt. 
 
 538 Capture of Babylon by Cyrus. 
 520-51-! Rebuilding of the Temple. 
 
 Reorganization of Persian Empire. 
 
 520-516 
 
 4 Til 
 
 33r'. 
 
 217 
 165 
 
 Battle of Marathon. 
 
 "Battles of Thermopylae and Salamis. 
 
 Expulsion of Persians from Europe. 
 
 Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem. 
 Nehemiah's Second Visit. 
 
 Adoption of the Priestly Law by the Judean 
 Community. 
 
 Devastation of Palestine by Ochus. 
 Conquest of Sjria by Alexander. 
 Battle of Ipsus. 
 
 Death of Pyrrhus. 
 
 Beginning of Translation of Greek 0. T. 
 
 Battle of Raphia. 
 
 Conquest of Palestine by Seleucids. 
 Persecution of the Jews. 
 Rededication of the Temple. 
 
 1^» Election of Simon High Priest, General, and 
 Governor of the Jews. 
 Renewal of Treaty with Rome. 
 
 Subjugation of Moab and Ammon. 
 Seizure of Judea by Rome. 
 
 Ji(*v ^-foRres 
 
 ^<'.*KI.v .Saui. Stories 
 
 x,;^ ~T KTEm&AVip SroR' i 
 
 
 
 ,AV1> T>i\'n> ''•r.H?. vTfVF_5 
 
 Popular Jude.'LN 
 
 Latek Ephbaimite 
 
 ! T>ivn^ >»Ti)iiik> 
 
 / 
 
 T z^EKY Late 1 1 
 
 FIRST EDITION 
 OP I. II SAMUEL 
 
 FLNAL BEYIStON C 
 
 / 
 
 —f- 
 
 \ 
 
 MIDHI 
 
 / THE BOOK I i 
 
 / OF ISRAEli 
 
 \ / 
 V— - 
 
 BOOKS OF CHRONICLES } CH»n 
 
 I MACCABEES 
 
 Kaowv ovtT TBSouoH QcotATiova. 
 
 EXPLANATION ( 
 REFERRED TO BY^
 
 ILD TESTAMENT AND APOCRYPHAL HISTORICAL BOOKS 
 
 1 ■ ' ■ ' 
 
 
 
 HON EaKLV 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 lEMPUE KHORI'S A 
 
 
 / 'AM X 
 
 / ' ;^ 
 
 
 N rp 
 
 
 / — r — 
 
 / 
 
 
 ■St 
 
 
 r 
 
 7^ TTfP APT^ \ 
 
 Early Ei"" >"-' 
 
 EuSHA Na 
 
 / 
 
 
 SOLOMON \ ,. 
 
 ■T \ « 
 
 N, \ R ,< y 
 
 / Samaria Cycle 
 / "P EttsHA Stories 
 
 - L, 
 
 X 4'' / 
 
 CHRONICLES QF THE 
 KINOS OF ISRAEL , 
 
 
 iAH 
 
 -v._. ,, ,. 
 
 \i/ 
 
 CHRONICLES 'o'f'THE KINGS OF JVDAH 
 
 FIRST EDITION OP 
 I. II KINGS 
 
 aUEL AND KINOS 
 
 HAGGAI 1 
 
 BOOK OF JEREMIAH 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 -** 
 
 J^KHtiH.-. 
 
 
 _ 
 
 
 
 \ OF \ 
 IE' KINGS 
 1 JUDAH 
 
 \ / ^- 
 
 1 'iVR 
 
 I.ER'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY { EZ 
 
 RA— N^UEMIAH 
 
 
 
 
 
 B( 
 
 >0K OF ESTHER 
 
 BISTORT OF THE MACCABEAN 
 
 STRUOOLE BY JASON OF CYRENE 
 
 _ ■ ■ — ' _ _ 
 
 \ 
 
 
 PE AND COLOR; 
 \sB BUT NOW LOST. BOOKS STILL EXTANT. 

 
 C6e ^tunent's 2DID Cestament 
 
 ISRAEL'S 
 HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL 
 
 NARRATIVES 
 
 FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HEBREW KINGDOM 
 TO THE END OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES FOSTER KENT, Ph.D. 
 
 Woolsey Professor of Biblical Literature in 7'ale University 
 
 WITH MAPS AND CHRONOLOGICAL CHARTS 
 
 HODDER AND STOUGHTON 
 
 LONDON TORONTO NEW YORK
 
 •,u., ..; • 
 
 V
 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 It is a significant fact that nearly half of the entire Old Testament con- 
 sists of historical and biographical narratives. These represent the oldest, 
 the simplest, and the most concrete record of God's revelation of Himself 
 "through life to life." That revelation is real ana iiiteiiigiblc, and the faith 
 that grew up about it possesses a permanent and universal value, because 
 its foundations were the actual experiences of men who lived and struggled, 
 amid trying circumstances, with the ever-recurring problems of human 
 existence. In a very true sense Israel's unique faith was the substance 
 of things seen and felt. Not in the garden of Eden but in the fiery furnace 
 of adversity were the rude, primitive Hebrew tribes trained and given that 
 divine message which made them Jehovah's chosen people— his witnesses, 
 called to conquer the world, not by the sword but by unselfish service and 
 the compelling power of truth. 
 
 Their later historians were inclined to invest the earlier periods and char- 
 acters with a halo and to ignore the evidence of their elemental barbarity; 
 but embedded in Judges, Samuel, and Kings are found extracts from older 
 narratives that faithfully reflect those conditions which are the true back- 
 ground, and which make clear by contrast the real nature and significance 
 of that marvellous development and revelation, the consummation of which 
 is recorded in the later chapters. Israel's faith and ethical standards grad- 
 ually unfolded under the divine teaching in the school of national experience, 
 as did its political and social institutions. It is because they were con- 
 stantly developing that they are significant. Along the same paths each 
 individual must proceed from the comparative ignorance and barbarism 
 of childhood to the maturity and strength of manhood. The Old Testament 
 histories are unique, not merely because they record important events, but 
 because the causes, the meaning, and the consequences of these are con- 
 stantly interpreted by Israel's inspired historians. Hence the narratives, 
 which begin with Samuel and end with I Maccabees, are the natural gateway 
 through which to enter the broad fields represented by the Bible. Because 
 of their vividness and concretene-ss the stories of Samuel, of Saul, and of 
 David at once attract and hold the attention of young and old alike. Studied 
 in their logical order ^which is the order of events— the historical narratives 
 introduce the student in succession and in their true relations to the sig- 
 nificant characters and factors in Israel's remarkable history. Thus a 
 definite, systematic basis is established for all subsecjueiii study. In the 
 light of this knowledge, the noble work and messages of Israel's teachers 
 at once become real and possessed of a vital, personal interest and value. 
 
 illl?.rr"^^^"^^
 
 PREFACE 
 
 The remarkable success that has attended the few initial experiments is 
 convincing evidence that the time is not far distant when elementary, as 
 well as advanced, Bible classes will abandon the unsystematic and largely 
 fruitless methods still in vogue and enter upon a graded, unified course of 
 study, which will in the end give a complete and thorough knowledge of the 
 contents of both Testaments. In one year of systematic study it is possible 
 to become acquainted with the essential outlines and facts of Israel's history; 
 in another with the strong personality and noble messages of the prophets; 
 then, intelligently and with greatest profit the fascinating narratives of the 
 beginnings of Hebrew history, which come largely from the pens of the 
 early prophets, can be studied, with the assurance that the intricate problems 
 which they present will vanish when viewed from the vantage-points already 
 gained. Similarly, as in succeeding years the great messages of the psalmists, 
 priests, and sages are considered, they will each yield their wealth of in- 
 spiring truth, and in the end the entire Old Testament will be as familiar 
 ground as the Gospel of Luke or the twenty -third psalm. This is not a 
 distant ideal, but an easily attainable goal, provided our Bible teachers 
 will set it definitely before their classes and inspire zeal and enthusiasm in 
 steadily advancing toward it. They will soon find that various parts of 
 the Old Testament are of very different values; but each stage in the study 
 will reveal unsuspected beauties and vital truths which will kindle interest 
 and arouse the sense of definite work and conquest and personal growth. 
 Also, when they pass at times from the Scriptures which Jesus studied so 
 deeply, and from which he and his apostles drew those truths and illus- 
 trations and expressions which they wove into all their teachings, to the 
 New Testament, they will find that it has an entirely new meaning and 
 significance. 
 
 Modern scholarship furnishes most valuable aid in restoring the original 
 text, in explaining the obscurities and contradictions, in interpreting events 
 in the light of universal history, and in supplementing the often meagre 
 biblical narrative by the testuuony of contemporary monumental literature; 
 but modern Old Testament histories, however excellent, should never be 
 substituted for that vivid, clear, dramatic history, written by Israel's own 
 historians. It has been said, with much truth, that the Bible was never moi;e 
 studied and less read than to-day. Knowledge of its history, structure, and 
 contents is essential; but it cannot without great loss take the place of per- 
 sonal acquaintance with the exalted ideas and records of the original writers, 
 expressed in their own unrivalled literary form. The supreme aim, there- 
 fore, in this volume, as in the series of which it is a part, has been to facili- 
 tate the intelligent reading and personal study of the Bible itself. Introduc- 
 tions and foot-notes are simply intended to indicate the chief reasons for the 
 faith that is rapidly becoming the common possession of all Bible students. 
 Fortunately, wlaile the Hebrew text of Samuel, Kings, and Ezra-Nehemiah 
 is in many places obscure or defective, the Greek and other early versions 
 have preserved a large number of original readings and in some cases long 
 passages, so that it is now possible to place at the disposal of English readers 
 a much more lucid and complete text of these important books. In adding 
 
 vi
 
 PREFACE 
 
 a new translation of I and II Maccabees, it is also felt that a real and growing 
 need will be met. 
 
 Through the generous and efficient co-operation of the publishers it has 
 also been possible to furnish within the compass of this volume an unusually 
 complete equipment for the study of Old Testament history. The debt 
 which I owe to the hundreds of scholars who have made this work possible 
 is too great to acknowledge in detail; the classified list of books of reference 
 in Appendix I gives the titles of those most often used. I am under deep 
 obligation to mv colleasues, Professor Torrev for suggestions m connection 
 with chapters V and ^ I of the Introduction, to the Reverend Frederick 
 Lent, M. A., for important collaboration in the translation of I Maccabees, 
 and to the Reverend George D. Castor, M. A., in the translation of II Mac- 
 cabees. The Reverend A. A. Madsen, M. A., has also placed at my dis- 
 posal the valuable results of his detailed investigations in the fields of biblical 
 geography and chronology, while Professor McFadyen, of Knox College, 
 Toronto, has generously contributed at each point his most admirable criti- 
 cisms. Last of all I wish to acknowledge the large debt which I owe to the 
 members of my biblical and Hebrew seminars, whose practical discussions and 
 sane conclusions have thrown clear light upon many difficult problems. 
 
 C. F. K. 
 
 Yale College, 
 Easter, 1904. 
 
 vu
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL 
 
 NARRATIVES 
 
 PAO.J 
 
 I. The Origin and Present Literary Form of the Old Testament His- 
 torical AND Biographical Narratives 3 
 
 II. The Earlier Histories and Biographies Incorporated in Samuel and 
 
 Kings 10 
 
 1. The Early Judean Saul and David Narratives 10 
 
 2. The Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 12 
 
 3. Very Late Popular Prophetic Traditions 13 
 
 4. Popular Judean David Stories 14 
 
 5. The Book of the Acts of Solomon 14 
 
 6. The Israelitish and Judean Royal Chronicles 16 
 
 7. The Early Ephraunite Elijah Stories 17 
 
 8. The Gilgal Cycle of Elisha Stories 18 
 
 9. The Samaria Cycle of Popular Elisha Stories 19 
 
 10. The Isaiah Stories 20 
 
 11. The Final Editing of the Books of Samuel and Kings 20 
 
 III. The Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History of Judah and the Temple. . " 
 
 IV. The Original Sources and Historical Value of Ezra-Nehemiah 'z^ 
 
 V. The Records of the Maccabean Age 35 
 
 VI. The Recovery of the Original Text of the Historical Books 41 
 
 IX
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 THE UNITED MONARCHY 
 
 I. The Work of Samuel and the Es- 
 
 ^ TABLISHMENT OF THE KiNGDOM. 
 
 § 1. The Birth and Consecration of 
 Samuel 
 
 S 2. Doom of the House of Eli and 
 the Call of Samuel 
 
 § 3. Capture of the Ark and the 
 Fall of the House of Eli 
 
 § 4. Fortunes of the Ark among 
 the Philistines 
 
 § 5. Secret Anointing of Saul by 
 Samuel 
 
 § f) Events Connected with Saul's 
 Election as King 
 
 § 7. The Great Deliverance from 
 the Philistines 
 
 § 8. Saul's Disobedience and Re- 
 jection 
 
 § 9. Smnmary of Saul's Reign . . . . 
 
 CLASSIFICATION 
 
 Earhj Judean Saul 
 
 Narratives 
 
 ISam. 4ib. 2b,3a, 
 4a, 5a, c, 6b, 7b, 9b, 
 10a, c 
 
 52-lla (llb_6l), 2- 
 4 /5^ 6-14 /15) 16 
 /17, 18a\ 18b_72a_ 
 
 91 -8 (9)^ 10_io7. 9- 
 16 
 
 1027b, lll-8a (8b)^ 
 9-11 (12-14\ 15 
 
 13 (1)^ 2-4a, 5a, 6, 
 7a, 15b-18 (•19-22') 
 23_i436a r36h\ 37- 
 46,52 
 
 (108, 134b- 5b, 7b 
 
 15a\ 
 (1447-51) 
 
 OF THE SOURCES 
 Later Ephraim- 
 
 ite Samuel 
 
 Narratives 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I Sam. 11-5(0),* 
 
 7a /7b\ 7c-28, 
 211.18-21 51 
 
 3I2-I7, 22a /22b) 
 23-31 (32a) 32b 
 (33a) ^ 33b-35a 
 
 (35b, 36)^ 3I-2I 
 (41a) ..'......' 
 
 4.1c, 2a, 3b, 4b, 5b, 
 6a, 7a, 8, 9a, 10b, 
 11-14 (-15)^ 16-18a 
 (18b) 19-21 (22) 
 
 51..'. .' 
 
 54 
 
 57 
 
 59 
 
 62 
 
 715-87 (8), 9-22^ 
 1017-24, ] 21-11 
 (12a) 12b-14 (15) 16- 
 20a (20b, 21) 22-25 
 (l025-27a) 65 
 
 >^2b-13a (13b) 14 79 
 
 jgla ('lb'\ lc-35a. yg 
 
 79 
 
 * References in parentheses are to later additions to the earlier narratives. Minor additions of 
 a word or short clause are not indicated.
 
 CONTEXTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 II. The Decline of Saul axd the Rise 
 OF David. 
 
 § 10. David's Introduction to Pub- 
 lic Life 
 
 § 11. His Growing Popularity and 
 Saul's Insane Jealousy 
 
 § P2. David as a Fugitive 
 
 § 13. Saul's Vengeance upon the 
 Priests of Nob 
 
 § 14. Saul's Pursuit and David's 
 3Iagnaniiiiity 
 
 § 15. David and Abigail 
 
 § 16. David among the Philistines. 
 
 § 17. David and the Philistine In- 
 
 ^ vasion 
 
 § 18. His Pursuit and Defeat of the 
 Amalekites 
 
 § 19. Saul's Visit to the Medium of 
 Endor 
 
 § 20. Defeat and Death of Saul and 
 Jonathan 
 
 III. D.wid's Reign A.S King oveu Judah 
 
 AND OVKR ATX IsR.VET.. 
 
 § 21. David's Reception of the News 
 of the Death of Saul and Jonathan. 
 
 CLASSIFICATION 
 Earhj J ltd eon Da- 
 vid Xarratives 
 
 I Sam. 1614-1711 
 
 32-40, 42a (^42b-\ 43- 
 4Sa, 49, 51-54 
 
 jg6-8a (^Sb-s 9, 12a 
 C12b'\ 13-16, 20, 21a 
 ('2 lb-) 22-26a (26b \ 
 27-29a'^ 191 (2, 3)' 
 4-17 
 
 20lb-39 (40-42)^ 21 
 1-9, 221-4 (5) 
 
 226-18 nQ\ 20-23 _ _ 
 23I-5 (6)^ 7-14a 
 
 (14b), 26 
 25lb-26a (2Cb)^ 27- 
 
 44 
 
 27 
 
 281 • 2, 29 
 
 301-4 (5)^ 6-18a 
 nSh\ 19-31 
 
 31 
 
 II Sam. 11-4(5-10), 
 
 11, 12 (13-lC) 17 
 (18a)^ 18b-27 
 
 OF THE SOURCES 
 Popular David 
 Stories 
 
 (lo35b-16l3), 17 
 12-31, 41, 4Sb, 50, p^^j. 
 55-58 80 
 
 l<^l-5, 17-19, 29b, 
 30,10,11 85 
 
 23 (15)^16-18 (1918_ 
 20ia) 89 
 
 94 
 
 23l9_244a, 6, 7a, 
 4b,5,7b-22 95 
 
 100 
 
 2110-15 (1 ciir. 
 
 121-22) 102 
 
 105 
 
 106 
 
 Late Popular Pro- 
 phetic Narratives 
 
 25l^ 283-16 (17. 
 18), 19-25 109 
 
 (IChr. 10) 110 
 
 . .- 112 
 
 XI
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 III. David's Reign as King over Judah 
 AND OVER ALL IsRAEL — Continued. 
 § 22. David King at Hebron and 
 Ishbaal at Mahanaim 
 
 § 23. Hostilities between the Two 
 Kingdoms 
 
 §24. Abner's Disaffection and 
 Deatli 
 
 § 25. Assassination of Islibaal .... 
 
 § 26. David's Election as King of 
 
 all Israel 
 
 § 27. War with the Philistmes 
 
 § 28. Capture and Establishment of 
 Jerusalem as the Capital 
 
 § 29. Establishment of the Ark and 
 the Davidic Dynasty at Jerusalem . 
 
 § 30. David's Family and Court . . 
 
 § 31. Public Execution of the Sons 
 of Saul 
 
 § 32. David's Treatment of the Son 
 of Jonathan 
 
 § 33. Census and Preparations for 
 the Temple 
 
 § 34. David's Illustrious Warriors . 
 
 § 35. His Wars of Conquest 
 
 § 36. His Double Crime 
 
 § 37. His Condemnation and Pun- 
 ishment 
 
 § 38. Birth of Solomon 
 
 § 39. Crime of Amnon 
 
 § 40. Absalom's Revenge 
 
 § 41. Pardon and Return of Absa- 
 lom 
 
 CLASSIFICATION 
 Early Judean Da- 
 vid Narratives 
 
 11 Sam. 3I-9 (loa), 
 
 lOb /11\ 
 
 212-31 
 
 3(6a),6b-16(17-19)^ 
 
 20-29 (30 \ 31-39_ _ 
 4.1, 2a (^2b, 3\ 5-12 _ 
 
 5 (1.2), 3 (4.5).. 
 
 517 (2313-17)^ 5I8- 
 25 (2115-22^ gl) . . 
 
 56a (6b -\ 7a (7b \ 8a 
 (8b\ 9-12 
 
 6l.2a (2b)^3-23 (7) 
 
 (32-5, 513-I6, 815- 
 
 18,3023-26) 
 
 311 (2), 3-6 (7), 8-14 
 
 4*, 9 
 
 24I-I6 (17)^ 18-25. . 
 238-12, 18-39 
 
 (82), 101-19, 8 (3-6), 
 7-10 (11, 12\ 13, 14a 
 
 (14b), 111, 1226-31 
 
 112-27 
 
 12 (l-15a-\ 15b-23 
 
 1324, 25 . ; ■ ; 
 
 I3I-8 (9)_ 10-17 (18a)^ 
 
 18b-22 
 
 1323-39 
 
 I4I-24 (25-27) 28-33 
 
 OF THE SOURCES 
 Chronicler s Ec- 
 clesiastical 
 History 
 
 PAGE 
 
 114 
 
 115 
 
 116 
 
 118 
 
 I Chr. Ill 3, 
 
 1223-40 119 
 
 1115-19 148-17 
 
 181,20^-8 120 
 
 114-9 141,2 . 123 
 
 13, 151-167. 37_ 
 
 1727 124 
 
 3I-9, 143-7, 1814- 
 
 17, 3725-34 .... 131 
 
 132, 
 
 133 
 
 21, 22 134 
 
 1110-14, 20-47^ 27 i 
 
 1-24 139 
 
 182, 19^ 183-13^ 
 
 20I-3 142 _ 
 
 144 
 
 146 
 
 148 
 
 148 
 
 150 
 
 151 
 
 xn
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 David's Reign as King over Judah 
 
 AND OVER ALL IsRAEL — Continued. 
 
 § 42. Absalom's Rebellion 
 
 § 43. David's Return 
 
 § 44. Sheba's Rebellion and the 
 Murder of Amasa 
 
 § 45. Adonijah's Attempted Usurpa- 
 tion and Solomon's Establish- 
 ment on the Throne 
 
 Early Judean 
 David Nar- 
 ratives 
 § 46. David's Fmal 
 Injunctions and 
 Death 
 
 The Splendors 
 AND Building En- 
 terprises OF Solo- 
 mon's Reign. 
 
 § 47. Removal of 
 His Opponents . . . 
 
 §48. His Wisdom. 
 
 § 49. Organization 
 and Glories of 
 Solomon's King- 
 dom 
 
 § 50. Preparations 
 for His Building 
 Enterprises 
 
 CLASSIFICATION 
 Early Judean Da- 
 vid Narratives 
 
 151-1832 . . 
 1833-1943 . . 
 
 301-22. . . .^ 
 I Kgs. 1 . . . 
 
 Popular 
 Solomon 
 Traditions 
 
 2l, 2a (2b-4'\ 5-9 
 (10. II) 
 
 I Kgs. 2 (12), 13- 
 
 27a (27b) 28-46 
 
 Annals of 
 Solomon 
 
 IKgs. 4i-4a(4b)^ 
 
 5-19,27, 28, 22,23 
 (24, 25, 20, 21)^ 
 31, 9I6. 17a 
 
 51. 2 (3. 4)^ 5a 
 (.5b), 6 (7), 8-11 
 (12a), 12b-18 
 
 I Kgs. 3 (3. 2), 
 4-6a(6b),7(8), 
 9-12a (12b), 13a 
 (13b, 14),' 15a 
 (15b) 16-28 (429- 
 34) 
 
 Temple 
 Records 
 
 OF THE SOURCES 
 Chronicler's Er 
 
 clesiastical 
 
 History 
 
 VaUK 
 
 153 
 
 160 
 
 .' 162 
 
 I Chr. 33I 164 
 
 281-3930 167 
 
 II Chr. li 
 
 12-13 
 
 171 
 174 
 
 114-17, 
 
 176 
 
 178 
 
 xin
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 rV. The Splendors 
 AND Building Enter- 
 prises OF Solomon's 
 Reign — Continued. 
 § 51. Building tlie 
 Temple 
 
 § 52. Ornamenta- 
 tions and Fur- 
 nishings of the 
 Temple 
 
 § 53. Dedication of 
 the Temple 
 
 § 54. So lomon' s 
 Palace 
 
 § 55. H i s Re- 
 sources and 
 Wealth 
 
 § 56. Visit of the 
 Queen of Sheba. 
 
 § 57. Solomon's 
 Idolatry 
 
 Annals of 
 Solomon 
 
 6 <la), lb-6 (7)^ 
 8, 9 
 
 I KgS. 7I-8, 924a, 
 79-12 
 
 9 (10, lla\, llb-15, 
 17b-19 (20-22 \ 23, 
 26-28 10^ 1- 12, 
 14-22 (23, 24 \ 25, 
 26 (27) , 28, 29 
 
 Ilia (2)^ 3a (3b)^ 
 4a (-lb), 7, 5,8 (6, 
 9-13\ 
 
 Temple 
 Records 
 
 gl5, 16a (16b\ 17 
 (18, 19\ 20a 
 (20b N 20c (21, 
 22^) 29 (SON 23a, 
 26, 23b, 24, 25, 
 27, 28,31-36(11- 
 14)^ 37,38 
 
 7I3 (14a-\^ 14b-17, 
 18b, 20b, 18c (19, 
 20a\ 21 (22^ 23, 
 24,26,25,27-30a, 
 32-36, 30b, 31, 
 37-45, 47, 46, 48a 
 (48b -49 \ 51 
 
 gla (Ib)^ Ic (2, 
 Sa-) 3b (4a-\ 4b- 
 9a (9b -) ^ 10-13 
 (14_99, 25) 
 
 Popidar Solo- 
 mon Traditions 
 
 IKgs. 10i-i0'i3 
 
 Chronicler's Ec- 
 clesiastical 
 History 
 
 31-14 
 
 PAGE 
 
 180 
 
 315-5I 184 
 
 52.710^ 812-16 .. . 187 
 
 IlChr. 811 193 
 
 gl-lO, 17, 18^ 9IO, 
 11. 13-28. _'..., 193 
 
 91-9-12 195 
 
 196 
 
 XIV
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 
 Annals of 
 
 Jeroboam 
 
 Chronicler's Ec- 
 
 
 
 Solomon 
 
 History 
 
 clcsiastical 
 
 
 ^. The Splendors 
 
 
 
 History 
 
 
 AND Building En- 
 
 
 
 
 
 terprises OF Solo- 
 
 
 
 
 
 mon's Reign — Cont'd. 
 
 
 
 
 
 § 58. His Adver- 
 
 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 saries and Death . 
 
 jjl4, 15a, c, 17b, 
 19a, 20b, 21, 22, 
 25b, 15b, 16, 17a, 
 18, 19b, 20a, c, 
 23-25a 
 
 I KgS. 1126 31 
 (■32-39\ 40 /41-43) 
 
 929-31 
 
 197 
 
 HISTORY OF NORTHERN ISRAEL 
 
 I. From Jeroboam to Omri. 
 
 § 59. Rejection of Rehoboam 
 and tlie Election of Jero- 
 boam 
 
 § 60. Jeroboam's Institution of 
 the Calf Worship at Betliel 
 and Dan 
 
 § 61. Prophecy against the 
 Altar at Bethel 
 
 § 62. A h i j a h ' s Prophecy 
 against Jeroboam 
 
 § 63. Death of Jeroboam and 
 Reign of Nadab 
 
 § 64. Baasha's Reign 
 
 § 65. Elah's Reign 
 
 § 66. Brief Reign of Zunri 
 
 II. Rule of the House of Omri 
 AND THE Work of Elijah. 
 § 67. Omri's Accession and 
 Reign 
 
 Jeroboam 
 History 
 
 I KgS. 132. 1 (3a) ^ 
 3b-20 (21-24) 25 
 
 1326-32. 
 
 1527 -29a (29b-31-\ 
 
 Annals 
 of Israel 
 
 16 (8), 9. lOa (lOb)^ 
 
 11, 12a (12b-14) 
 IQ (i5a.\ 15b-18 (19, 
 
 20) 
 
 I KgS. 1621.22(23)^ 
 24 (25-28) 
 
 Late Prophetic 
 Narratives 
 
 PAGE 
 
 (II Chr. 10) 203 
 
 205 
 
 (1333-1334) 205 
 
 I4I-I8. . 208 
 
 1419.20^1525,26..,. 209 
 
 1532-167 209 
 
 210 
 
 210 
 
 Early Ephraimite 
 Elijah Stories 
 
 211 
 
 XV
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 II. Rule of the House of Omri and 
 
 THE Work of Elijah — Continued. 
 
 § 68. Ahab's Accession and 
 
 Policy 
 
 § 69. Tlie Drought Announced 
 by Elijah 
 
 § 70. Jehovah's Vindication on 
 Mount Carmel 
 
 § 71. Revelation to Elijah at 
 Horeb 
 
 § 73. Call of Elisha 
 
 § 73. Murder of Naboth and Eli- 
 jah's Condemnation of Ahab. 
 
 § 74. Deliverance of Samaria 
 from the Arameans 
 
 § 75. Ahab's Victory over the 
 Arameans at Aphek 
 
 § 76. Message of the Unknown 
 Prophet 
 
 § 77. Predictions of Micaiah 
 and the Four Hundred False 
 Prophets 
 
 § 78. Death of Ahab at Ra- 
 moth in Gilead 
 
 § 79. Ahaziah's Reign and Fa- 
 tal Illness 
 
 § 80. Jehoram's Reign 
 
 III. Popular Traditions about 
 Elisha. 
 
 § 81. Translation of Elijah and 
 Consecration of Elisha 
 
 § 82. The Widow's Oil 
 
 § 83. Miraculous Provision of 
 Food for the Sons of the 
 Prophets 
 
 § 84. Recovery of the Lost Ax. 
 
 Annals of 
 Israel 
 
 I Kgs. 16 (29-31), 
 
 32, 33a /33b ■) 34 _ _ 
 
 Ahah History 
 
 201-25 
 
 2026-34 
 
 (2035-43) 
 
 221 28 (II chr. 181- 
 
 2T\ 
 
 2229-37 (38-40) 
 
 (2251-53) 
 
 n Kgs, (31-3) 
 
 Samaria Cycle 
 xvi 
 
 Early Ephraimite 
 Elijah Stories 
 
 PAGE 
 
 212 
 
 I Kgs. 17 212 
 
 lgl-3a (3b, 4\ 5-19a 
 (19b)^ 19C-30 (31,32a'\ 
 32b-46 '213 
 
 19l-9a (9b-lla\ llb-18 216 
 I919-21 '...... 217 
 
 2ll-20a (20b -22 ^ 23 
 (24-26)^ 27 (28, 29) _ gjg 
 
 219 
 
 221 
 
 222 
 
 223 
 
 225 
 
 HKgS. 1 (l),2-8 (9- 
 16), 17a (17b, 18), ... 225 
 
 227 
 
 Gilgal Cycle 
 
 II Kgs. 2 227 
 
 4I-7 229 
 
 438-44 229 
 
 61-7 230
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 III. PopuiuUi Traditioxs about 
 Elisha — Contitiucd. 
 
 § 85. Restoration of the Shu- 
 naniniite's Son 
 
 § 86. Restoration of the Shu- 
 nammite's Land 
 
 § 87. Healing of Naaman the 
 Leper 
 
 § 88. War with Moab 
 
 § 89. Deception of the Ara- 
 means 
 
 § 90. Siege and Deliverance of 
 Samaria 
 
 § 91. Elisha and Hazael 
 
 § 92. Elisha's Farewell Bless- 
 ing and Death 
 
 IV. From Jehu to the Fall of 
 Samaria. 
 
 § 93. The Prophetic Revolu- 
 tion Led by Jehu 
 
 § 94. Jehu's Reign 
 
 § 95. Jehoahaz's Reign 
 
 § 96. Events of Jehoash's Reign 
 
 § 97. Jeroboam II's Reign 
 
 § 98. Reigns of Zechariah, 
 Shallum, Menahem and Peka- 
 hiah 
 
 § 99. Reign of Pekah and the 
 Invasion of Tiglath-Pileser III 
 
 § 100. Reign of Hoshea and 
 the Fall of Samaria 
 
 § 101. Causes of the Downfall 
 of Northern Israel 
 
 § 102. Origin and Religion of 
 the Samaritans 
 
 Samaria Cycle 
 
 U Kgs. 48 37 
 
 81-6 
 
 5 
 
 34-27 
 
 68-23 
 
 g24_7l7 (18-20) _ _ 
 87-15 ['..'. 
 
 1314-21 
 
 Annals 
 of Israel 
 
 1324 ."2V 148-14;;;; 
 
 I5IO, 14; 16, 19,20,25 
 
 1529,30a 
 
 173.4 
 
 GUgal Cycle 
 
 PAGE 
 
 230 
 
 232 
 
 232 
 
 234 
 
 236 
 
 237 
 
 240 
 
 240 
 
 Prophetic 
 Jehu History ' 
 
 II Kgs. 9I-6 (7-iOa)^ 
 
 10b-1027 241 
 
 Late Prophetic 
 Summaries 
 
 II Kgs. 1028-36 246 
 
 I3I-9 246 
 
 I3IO, 11 CI2, 13-\ 22.23 
 
 I415.I6 ' 247 
 
 1423-29 248 
 
 158, 9, 11-13, 15, 17, 18, 
 21-24,26 249 
 
 1527.28. 30b. 31 250 
 
 171.2,5.6^189-12 250 
 
 177-16a /10b, 17a-\ 17b, 
 18 (19, 20\ 21-23 251 
 
 1724-34a (34b-40)^ 41 , 252 
 
 xvn
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 JUDAH 
 
 
 
 I. From Rehoboam ro 
 Ahaz. 
 § 103. Rehoboam's 
 
 Reign 
 
 § 104. Shishak's In- 
 
 vasion 
 
 Annals 
 of Judah 
 
 Late Prophetic 
 Summaries 
 
 I KgS. 1421-24. . 
 
 Chronicler's Ec- 
 clesiastical 
 History 
 
 II Chr. 115-23. . 
 13 
 
 13i_14ia 
 
 14lb-15l5 
 
 1519-1614 
 
 17, 194 11, 3031- 
 
 34 . 
 
 I8I-I93. ...... 
 
 301-30 
 
 3035-311 
 
 312-20 
 
 33I-9 
 
 PAGE 
 
 257 
 
 1 KgS. 1425-28 
 (29), 30 (31) 
 
 259 
 
 § 105. Abijah's(Abi- 
 jam's) Reign .... 
 
 § 106. Asa's Piety 
 and Might 
 
 § 107. His War with 
 Baasha 
 
 § 108. The Benign 
 Rule of Jehosha- 
 phat 
 
 § 109. Jehoshaphat's 
 Alliance with 
 Ahab against the 
 Arameans 
 
 I5I-8 
 
 159-11- 14 
 
 1523.24 _ 
 
 3241-46 
 
 260 
 
 I5I2, 13, 15 
 
 I5I6-22 
 
 262 
 264 
 
 Annals 
 of Israel 
 
 334,29-36 
 
 Annals 
 of Judah 
 
 3347-49(50) 
 
 II KgS. 820-22. . . 
 
 265 
 
 267 
 
 § 110. His War 
 against the Mo- 
 abites, Ammon- 
 ites, and their Al- 
 lies 
 
 
 268 
 
 § 111. His Disas- 
 trous Commercial 
 Enterprises 
 
 § 112. Jehoram's 
 Reign 
 
 § 113. Ahaziah's 
 Brief Reign 
 
 § 114. Overthrow of 
 Athaliah and the 
 Accession of Jo- 
 ash 
 
 
 270 
 
 816-19, 23-24 
 825-29,927,28 .. 
 
 271 
 
 272 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 111-5 (6), 7-9 (10), 
 11-20 
 
 
 33IO-332I 
 
 274 
 
 
 
 
 XVUl
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 I. From Rehobo.oi to 
 
 Ahaz — Continued. 
 
 § llo. Joash's Reign 
 
 and Repair of the 
 
 Temple 
 
 § 116. Amaziah's 
 Reign 
 
 § 117. Reign of Aza- 
 riah (Uzziali) .... 
 
 § 118. Jot ham's 
 Reign 
 
 II KgS. 134 21a. 
 
 Annals 
 of Jiidah 
 
 j_|.5, 6a (6b\ 7 
 155 
 
 Late Prophetic 
 Summaries 
 
 H21_l33,21b,19 
 
 J4.1-4, 17-21 _ 
 
 151-4, 
 
 156. 7. 
 
 14 
 
 22 
 
 1532-38. 
 
 Chronicler's Ec- 
 clesiastical 
 History 
 
 II Chr. 34 
 
 35 
 
 36 
 
 37 
 
 PAGE 
 
 277 
 
 280 
 
 284 
 
 II. The Assyrian Pe- 
 riod: From Ahaz 
 to josiah. 
 § 119. Tlie Reign of 
 Ahaz and His 
 Homage to Tig- 
 latli-Pileser 
 
 § 120. The Reign of 
 Hezekiali and His 
 Reforms 
 
 §121. His Illness 
 and Recovery. . . . 
 
 § 122. The Embassy 
 of Merodach-Bal- 
 adan 
 
 Temple 
 Records 
 
 II KgS. 16 
 
 10-18 
 
 Late 
 
 Prophetic 
 
 Summaries 
 
 II KgS. 16 
 
 1-4, 19, 20 
 
 l§l-4a, 5-7 
 
 Isaiah 
 Stories 
 
 301-7(8-11), 
 
 Is. 381-8' 
 21,22 
 
 II KgS. 
 
 3012-19, 
 
 Is. 39. . . 
 
 Chronicler's Ec- 
 clesiastical 
 History 
 
 II Chr. 38. 285 
 
 39I-31I6. 
 
 n7-i9) 20, 
 21,3327-29. 289 
 
 332-1-26 295 
 
 296 
 
 XIX
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 II. The Assyrian Pe- 
 riod: From Ahaz 
 TO JosiAH — Cont'd. 
 § 123. Sennacherib's 
 Invasion of Judah 
 § 124. Sennacherib's 
 Demand and Isa- 
 iah's Prophetic 
 Counsel 
 
 § 125. Reactionary 
 Reigns of Manas- 
 seh and Amon . . . 
 
 III. The Babylonian 
 Period : Froai Jo- 
 
 SIAH TO THE RiSE OF^ 
 
 Cyrus. 
 
 § 126. Discovery of 
 the Book of the 
 Law in the Days 
 of Josiah ....... 
 
 § 127. The Great 
 Reformation un- 
 der Josiah 
 
 § 128. Jo si ah' s 
 Death 
 
 § 129. Jehoahaz's 
 Reign 
 
 § 130. Jehoialiim's 
 Reign 
 
 Annals 
 of Judah 
 
 II Kgs. 18 
 
 13-16 
 
 3329,30. _ 
 2331b, 33-35 
 34la,7, lb. 
 
 Hezekiah 
 History 
 
 II Kgs. 18 
 
 17_J99a,36, 
 37 (2020. 
 
 21), Is. 36- 
 379a, 37, 38 
 
 Temple 
 Records 
 
 II Kgs. 22 
 
 3-16(17\ 18- 
 20 
 
 23l-3a (3b) ^ 
 3c (4, 5\ 6- 
 13 (14\ 15 
 (16-20\ 21- 
 23 (24-27 \ 
 
 Isaiah 
 Stories 
 
 II Kgs. 19 
 
 9b-35, Is. 
 379b -36 
 
 Late 
 Prophetic 
 Summaries 
 
 II Kgs. 21 
 
 1-6 (7-16\ 
 17-26 
 
 22l'2. 
 
 2328, 
 
 2331a.32 . . 
 
 2336.37^24 
 2-6 
 
 Chronicler's Ec- 
 clesiastical 
 History 
 
 PAGE 
 
 II Chr. 33 
 
 1-8 297 
 
 329-23,32,33. 393 
 
 33 
 
 303 
 
 341-28 306 
 
 3429-3519. . 309 
 
 3520-361 . . 313 
 
 362-4 314 
 
 365-8 314 
 
 XX
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 The B.vbyloxlvn 
 Period : From Jo- 
 
 SIAH TO THE RiSE OF 
 
 Cyrus — Continued. 
 
 § 131. Jeremiah's 
 Preaching and 
 Trial 
 
 § 132.3Iartyrdomof 
 the Prophet Uriali 
 
 § 133. First and Sec- 
 ond Collections of 
 Jeremiah's Ser- 
 mons 
 
 § 134. The First 
 Captivity 
 
 § 135. Zedekiah's 
 Reign and Rebel- 
 lion against Bab- 
 ylon 
 
 § 136.Perfidy of the 
 Hebrews during 
 the Siege 
 
 § 137. Jeremiah's 
 Imprisonment 
 and Deliverance. 
 
 § 138. The Final 
 Capture of Jeru- 
 salem and the De- 
 portation of its In- 
 habitants 
 
 §139. Jeremiah's 
 Liberation 
 
 §140. Brief Rule 
 and Death of Ge- 
 daliah 
 
 Annals 
 of J lid ah 
 
 Baruch's 
 
 Biography 
 
 of Jeremiah 
 
 Jer. 361-19 , 
 
 3620-24.... 
 
 36 
 
 34la (lb)^2- 
 22 
 
 37,381 -28a 
 3915-18..., 
 
 3828b, 39(1. 
 
 2), 3 (4-10) 
 
 Jer. 3911- 
 40^ 
 
 407-4118 
 
 Late 
 
 Prophetic 
 
 Summaries 
 
 248-12 (13- 
 14\ 15-17 . 
 
 34I8-352, 
 Jer.531-5. 
 
 II Kgs. 25 
 
 3-15 (16. 
 17), 18-21^ 
 
 Jer. 536- 
 
 27(28-30) 
 
 II Kgs. 35 
 
 22-20 
 
 Chronicler's E&- 
 clesiastical 
 History 
 
 PAGE 
 
 315 
 
 316 
 
 316 
 
 II Chr. 369' 
 10 319 
 
 36il-i<5 319 
 
 320 
 
 322 
 
 3617-21 325 
 
 328 
 
 328 
 
 XXI
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 III. 
 
 
 Annals • 
 
 Baruch's 
 
 Late 
 
 Chronicler's Ec- 
 
 
 of Judah 
 
 Biography 
 
 Prophetic 
 
 clesiastical 
 
 
 
 of Jeremiah 
 
 Summaries 
 
 History 
 
 The Babylonian 
 
 
 
 
 
 Period : From Jo- 
 
 
 
 
 
 SIAH TO THE RiSE OF 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cyrus — Continued. 
 
 
 
 
 
 §141. The Jewish 
 
 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Refugees in Egypt 
 § li'i. Jehoiachin's 
 
 
 Jer. 43-44. 
 
 
 331 
 
 
 
 
 
 Liberation 
 
 
 
 II Kgs. 35 
 
 
 
 
 
 27-30, Jer. 
 
 
 
 
 
 5331-34 . . 
 
 335 
 
 THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JEWISH * COMMUNITY 
 
 IN PALESTINE 
 
 I. The Rebuilding of the Temple. 
 § 143. Cyrus's Decree Regard- 
 ing the Temple at Jerusalem . 
 
 § 144. The Return of Certain 
 Jews with the Vessels of the 
 Temple 
 
 §145. Re-establishment of Wor- 
 ship at Jerusalem and the 
 Laying of the Foundation of 
 the Temple 
 
 § 146. Beginning of the Re- 
 building of the Temple in the 
 Days of Darius 
 
 § 147. Unsuccessful Opposition 
 to the Building of the Temple 
 
 § 148. Dedication of the Temple 
 and the Observation of the 
 Passover ; 
 
 Aramaic 
 Document 
 
 Ezra 63-5 
 
 5I4, 15, 
 
 Prophecy 
 of Haggai 
 
 Hag. 1I-12 (13), 14. 
 
 15 
 
 Aramaic 
 Document 
 
 Ezra 53-«14a (14b) ^ 
 14c (14d, 15) 
 
 Chronicler's Ec- 
 clesiastical 
 History 
 
 II Chr. 3622. 23^ p^GE 
 Ezrali-4 339 
 
 15-11, I Esdr. 447a. 
 
 48,51-56,62,63 5l-6_ 349 
 
 Ezra 32-46- 24 342 
 
 51- 2 
 
 344 
 
 616-22. 
 
 345 
 
 348 
 
 XXII
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 The Work of Nehe^hah in Re- 
 storing THE WalLvS of Jerusa- 
 lem AXD IX Reforming the 
 JuDEAN Community. 
 § 149. Xehemiah's Interest in 
 the Afflicted Judean Com- 
 munity 
 
 § 150. His Leave of Absence 
 
 and Arrival at Jerusalem. . . 
 
 § 1j1. The Rebuilding of the 
 
 AValls 
 
 § 152. Hostile Opposition and 
 Xehemiah's Precautionary 
 
 Measures 
 
 § 153. Xehemiah's Social Re- 
 forms 
 
 § 154. Unsuccessful Plots 
 against Xehemiah 
 
 § 155. An Appeal to Artaxerxes 
 to Stop the Rebuilding of 
 Jerusalem 
 
 § 156. Measures to Insure the 
 Protection of Jerusalem. . . . 
 
 § 157. Dedication of the Walls 
 of Jerusalem 
 
 § 158. Xehemiah's Later Re- 
 
 ligious Reforms. 
 
 The Work of Ezra and the 
 
 Institution of the Priestly 
 
 IvAW. 
 
 § 159. Artaxerxes's Commission 
 
 to Ezra 
 
 § 100. Return of Ezra and his 
 
 Company 
 
 Nehemiah's 
 Memoirs 
 
 Neh. li-iib 
 
 illc_«>20 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 Aramaic 
 Document 
 
 Ezra 4 (7), 8a, 9, 10, 
 8b, 11-23 
 
 N ehemiah" s 
 Memoirs 
 
 Xeh. 1^-'"^ 
 
 12 (27-30-) ^ 31 , 32 (33- 
 36N 37-40 (41-43y 
 
 I^A, 5a (.5b N 6-13a 
 (13b -j^ 13C-21 (22a\ 
 22b-3l' 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 Ezra 7" -26 
 
 727_8l9 (20^ 21-36^ 
 
 Xeh. 7'0-7^ Q^^) . .' 
 xxiii 
 
 Chronicler^ s Ec- 
 clesiastical 
 History 
 
 PAGE 
 
 349 
 
 350 
 
 Xeh. 3 352 
 
 354 
 
 355 
 
 357 
 
 358 
 
 111- 2 360 
 
 361 
 
 1244_i33 362 
 
 Ezra 7 
 
 1-10 
 
 367
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 III. The Work of Ezra and the 
 Institution of the Priestly 
 Law — Cont inned. 
 
 § 161. Public Reading of the 
 Law and the Observation of 
 the Feast of Tabernacles .... 
 
 § 162. Ezra's Crusade Against 
 Mixed Marriages 
 
 § 163. Public Confession of 
 Guilt 
 
 § 164. The Covenant and its 
 Terms 
 
 IV. Organization of the Restored 
 JuDEAN Community. 
 
 § 165. Census of the Jews in 
 Palestine 
 
 § 166. Population of Jerusalem 
 and the Villages 
 
 § 167. Genealogy of the Priests 
 and Levites 
 
 Neh. 773b (73c) ^ gi- 
 6 (7-9aN 9b-I8 
 
 Ezra 9, 10 . 
 Neh. 91-37. , 
 
 938, 10 (l-28a)^ 28b- 
 39 
 
 Chronicler's Ec- 
 clesiastical 
 History 
 
 PAGE 
 
 369 
 371 
 374 
 
 377 
 
 Neh. 76-69 (Ezra 2^- 
 
 67) 379 
 
 Neh. 113-36 382 
 
 131-26 383 
 
 THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE 
 
 I. Causes of the Maccabean 
 Struggle. 
 
 § 168. Alexander and his Suc- 
 cessors 
 
 § 169. Seleucus's Futile Attempt 
 to Rob the Temple 
 
 § 170. Atrocities of the Jewish 
 Hellenizing Leaders 
 
 § 171. Repeated Sackings of Je- 
 rusalem by Antiochus Epiph- 
 anes 
 
 § 172. Antiochus's Measures to 
 Root out Judaism 
 
 § 173. The Martyrs for the Law. 
 
 § 174. The Uprising of Matta- 
 thias and his Sons 
 
 § 175. Fortunes of the Fugitives 
 
 § 176. Death of Mattathias 
 
 History of 
 the Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 11 9. 
 
 31-28. 
 
 329-48. 
 
 349-70 
 
 Traditional 
 
 History of the 
 
 Maccabean Struggle 
 
 PAGE 
 
 387 
 
 II Mac. 3 388 
 
 390 
 
 394 
 
 397 
 
 398 
 
 402 
 403 
 405 
 
 527,81-7. 
 
 XXIV
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 325-37^ , 
 
 338_427, 
 428-35 _ ^ 
 
 436-6 1_ 
 
 II. The Wars and Achievements 
 
 OF Judas Maccabeus. 
 
 § 177. Judas's Victory over 
 ApoUonius 
 
 § 178. Departure of Antiochus 
 Epiphanes for Persia and 
 his Appointment of Lysias 
 as Regent 
 
 § 179. Defeat of the Syrian 
 Generals 
 
 § 180. Victory over Lysias at 
 Bethsura 
 
 § 181. Purification of the Tem- 
 ple and the Restoration of its 
 Service 
 
 § 182. Successful Campaigns 
 against the Surroundmg Na- 
 tions 
 
 § 183. Death of Antiochus 
 Epiphanes and the Accession 
 of Eupator 
 
 § 184. The Disastrous Battle of 
 Beth-zacharias 
 
 § 185. The Treaty Establishmg 
 Religious Freedom 
 
 § 186. Appointment and Rule of 
 Alcimus as High Priest 
 
 § 187. Defeat and Death of Ni- 
 canor 
 
 § 188. The Treaty with Rome. . 
 
 § 189. Death of Judas 
 
 III. The Attainment of Political Independence under 
 
 JON.VTHAM. 
 
 § 190. Jonathan's Contests and Final Treaty with 
 Bacchides 
 
 § 191. Concessions by the Syrian Rivals, Demetrius I 
 and Ale.vander Balas 
 
 § 192. Honors Bestowed upon Jonathan by Alexander 
 Balas 
 
 § 193. Jonathan's Victory over ApoUonius 
 
 § 19 1. Overthrow of Alexander by Ptolemy and De- 
 metrius U 
 
 History of 
 the Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 31 24. 
 
 Traditional 
 History of the 
 Maccabean Struggle 
 
 PAGE 
 
 406 
 
 408 
 
 II Mac. 88-36 408 
 
 III-I3I 413 
 
 101-9. 
 
 415 
 
 1014-38^132-45 417 
 
 9, 109-13 425 
 
 131-22 429 
 
 1323-26 432 
 
 I4I-14 433 
 
 I415-I536 435 
 
 441 
 
 443 
 
 History of 
 the Hasmoneans 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I Mac. 923-73 444 
 
 101-47 447 
 
 1048-66 449 
 
 1067-89 450 
 
 111-19 
 
 451 
 
 XXV
 
 CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION 
 
 III. The Attainment of Political Independence under 
 Jonathan — Cont inued . 
 
 § 195. Jonathan's New Honors and Privileges under 
 Demetrius II 
 
 I 196. Jonatlian's Transfer of Allegiance from De- 
 metrius II to Antiochus 
 
 § 197. Jonathan's Alliances, Victories, and Building 
 Operations 
 
 § 198. Tryphon's Treacherous Capture and Murder 
 of Jonathan 
 
 IV. Simon's Prosperous Reign. 
 
 § 199. Peace with Demetrius and the Capture of 
 Gazara and the Citadel at Jerusalem 
 
 § 200. Peace and Prosperity under Simon 
 
 § 201. Renewal of the Treaty with Rome 
 
 § 202. Honors Conferred upon Sunon by the Jews. . 
 
 § 203. Early Promises and Later Demands of An- 
 tiochus Sidetes 
 
 § 204. Defeat of the Syrian Army 
 
 § 205. The Treacherous Murder of Simon 
 
 History of 
 the Hasvioneans 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I Mac. 1120-40 452 
 
 1141-74. 453 
 
 131-38 455 
 
 1339-1330 457 
 
 1331-53 459 
 
 I4I-15 461 
 
 I4I6-24 461 
 
 1425-49 462 
 
 I5I-37 464 
 
 1538-1610 465 
 
 1611-24 466 
 
 THE LIFE OF THE JEWS OF THE DISPERSION 
 
 The Story of Esther. 
 
 § 206. Repudiation of Queen Vashti by Ahasuerus 
 
 § 207. Choice of Esther as Queen and Mordecai's 
 Service to King Ahasuerus 
 
 § 208. Haman's Purpose and the King's Permission 
 to Put to Death all the Jews in the Empire .... 
 
 § 209. Esther's Successful Efforts to Avert the Ca- 
 lamity and the Ignominious Death of Haman . . . 
 
 § 210. The Royal Decrees for the Protection of the 
 Jews 
 
 §211. Destruction of the Enemies of the Jews . , . - 
 
 § 212. Institution of the Feast of Purim 
 
 § 213. The Greatness of Mordecai 
 
 Book of Esther 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Esth. 1 471 
 
 3 473 
 
 3 474 
 
 4-7 475 
 
 8 478 
 
 9I-I6 480 
 
 917-32 480 
 
 10 4«2 
 
 XXVI
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I. Selected Bibliography and Detailed References 485 
 
 II. Hebrew Chronology 492 
 
 III. Shishak's List of Palestinian Cities 494 
 
 IV. The Moabite Stone 494 
 
 V. The Western Campaigns of Shalmaneser II 496 
 
 VI. Tigl.\th-Pileser Ill's Conquests in Palestine 497 
 
 VII. Sargon's Capture of Samaria 498 
 
 VIII. The Siloam Inscription 499 
 
 IX. Sennacherib's Inv.\sions of Judah 499 
 
 X. The Babylonian Chronicle (B) 502 
 
 XI. Contemporary Accounts of the Conquest of Babylon by Cyrus... 503 
 
 XII. The Gadatas Inscription 505 
 
 XIII. The Hebrew, Babylonian and IVIacedonian Months 506 
 
 CHRONOLOGICAL CHARTS AND MAPS 
 
 Sources, Growth, and Approximate Dates of the Old Testament and His- 
 torical Books Frontispiece 
 
 The Hebrew Empire under David Opposite page 49 
 
 Restoration of Solomon's Temple Opposite page 180 
 
 Plan of Solomon's Palace Opposite page 193 
 
 Hebrew and Contemporary Chronology from the Division of the Hebrew 
 
 Empire to the Babylonian Exile After page 199 
 
 The Assyrian Empire Opposite page 248 
 
 Israel and Judah after the Division of the Hebrew Empire .... Opposite page 255 
 
 Jewish and Contemporary Chronology from 597 to 165 b.c After page 335 
 
 The Jerusalem of Nehemiah Opposite page 349 
 
 The Empires of Babylonia, Persia and Alexander Opposite page 365 
 
 The Jewish Community in Palestine during the Persi.\n and Greek 
 
 Periods Opposite page 379 
 
 Palestine during the Maccabean Period Opposite page 385 
 
 INDEX OF BIBLICAL PASSAGES Pages xxix, xxx 
 
 Explanation of Typographical Symbols and Abbreviations Page xxxi 
 
 xxvii
 
 INDEX OF BIBLICAL PASSAGES 
 
 I Samuel 
 
 CHAPTERS PAGES 
 
 li-72a 51-62 
 
 72b-i4 70-74 
 
 715-822 65-67 
 
 91-10^ 62-64 
 
 108 76,77 
 
 109-16 65 
 
 10i'-24 67, 68 
 
 1025-27a 70 
 
 102"b-lli5 65-68 
 
 12i_134a 68-71 
 
 13^b 77 
 
 135a 71 
 
 135b 77 
 
 136. "a 71 
 
 13"b-i5a 77, 78 
 
 13i5b_i446 71-76 
 
 14-*"-5i 79 
 
 1452 76 
 
 15i-35a 76-79 
 
 1535b-l6l3 80-82 
 
 16i-»-19i7 80-88 
 
 19i8-20ia 92,93 
 
 20ib_2i9 89-93 
 
 2110-15 102, 103 
 
 22I-2314 92-97 
 
 2315-I8 91,92 
 
 2319-25^4 95-102 
 
 26 97-100 
 
 271-282 102-105 
 
 28'^-25 109, 110 
 
 29,30 105-108 
 
 31 110, 111 
 
 II Samuel 
 
 II-3I 112-116 
 
 32-5 131 
 
 36-43 116-118 
 
 4^* 133 
 
 45-55 118, 119 
 
 56-12 123, 124 
 
 II Samuel 
 
 CHAPTERS PAGES 
 
 513-I6 131 
 
 5i"-25 120-122 
 
 6,7 124-130 
 
 8i 122 
 
 82-14 142-144 
 
 815-18 131 
 
 9 133, 134 
 
 101-1225 142-148 
 
 1226-31 144 
 
 I3I-2022 148-164 
 
 2023-26 131 
 
 211-14 132^ 133 
 
 2115-22 122 
 
 238-12 139^ 140 
 
 2313-17 121 
 
 23I8-39 140 
 
 24 134-138 
 
 I Kings 
 
 1,2 164-173 
 
 3I 178 
 
 32-419 174-177 
 
 420.21 178 
 
 422-25 177^ 178 
 
 427.28 177 
 
 429-34 176 
 
 5,6 178-184 
 
 71-12 193 
 
 713-99 184-192 
 
 910-15 193, 194 
 
 9I6. 17a 178 
 
 9l7b-23 194 
 
 924 193 
 
 925 192 
 
 926-28 194 
 
 lOi-io 195, 196 
 
 1011-12 194 
 
 1013 196 
 
 1014-29 194, 195 
 
 11 196-199 
 
 xxix 
 
 I Kings 
 
 CHAPTERS PAGES 
 
 I2I-I420 203-209 
 
 I42I-I524 257-265 
 
 1525-1921 209-217 
 
 20 219-223 
 
 21 218,219 
 
 221-40 223-225 
 
 2241-46 .'265,266 
 
 2247-50 270 
 
 2251-53 225 
 
 II Kings 
 
 1 226 
 
 2 227-229 
 
 3I-3 227 
 
 34-27 234-236 
 
 4I-7 229 
 
 48-37 230-232 
 
 438-44 229,230 
 
 5 232-234 
 
 6l-7 230 
 
 68-720 236-239 
 
 8i-6 232 
 
 87-15 240 
 
 816-29 271-273 
 
 91-1036 241-246 
 
 11,12 274-280 
 
 I3I-13 246,247 
 
 I314-21 240,241 
 
 1322-25 247 
 
 I4I-7 280,281 
 
 I48-I6 247,248 
 
 I4I7-22 282,283 
 
 1423-29 248 
 
 I5I-7 282,283 
 
 158-31 249,250 
 
 1532-1620 284-289 
 
 17 250-253 
 
 181-3 289 
 
 184-6 293 
 
 187' 8 294,295
 
 INDEX OF BIBLICAL PASSAGES 
 
 II Kings 
 
 CHAPTERS PAGES 
 
 189-12 250,251 
 
 1813-1937 297-303 
 
 301-19 295-297 
 
 20-0-24" 303-314 
 
 348-352 319, 320 
 
 353-21 325-327 
 
 3522-26 328,329 
 
 3527-30 335 
 
 I Chronicles 
 
 10 110, 111 
 
 III-3 119 
 
 11^-9 123 
 
 1110-14 139 
 
 1115-19 120, 121 
 
 1120-47 140 
 
 131-22 103-105 
 
 1323-40 119^ 120 
 
 13 124-128 
 
 141-2 123, 124 
 
 143-7 131 
 
 148-17 121 
 
 151^167 126-128 
 
 1637-1727 128-130 
 
 18i 121 
 
 182-13 142, 143 
 
 1814-17 131 
 
 I9I-203 143, 144 
 
 204-8 122 
 
 31,33 134-139 
 
 33I 164 
 
 371-24...: 141 
 
 3725-34 131, 132 
 
 38,29 . .167-171 
 
 II Chronicles 
 
 li 171 
 
 12-722 -174-192 
 
 81-10 193, 194 
 
 811 193 
 
 812-16 192 
 
 817-18 193, 194 
 
 9I-9 195, 196 
 
 II Chronicles 
 
 CHAPTERS PAGES 
 
 910.11 194 
 
 912 196 
 
 913-28 194,195 
 
 929-31 199 
 
 10 203-205 
 
 11^-179 257-266 
 
 I8I-I93, 223-225, 267, 268 
 
 194-11 267 
 
 201-368 268-314 
 
 369-16 319,320 
 
 3617-21 325-327 
 
 3622.23 339 
 
 Ezra ' 
 
 1 339-341 
 
 21-67 379-381 
 
 268-3I 369 
 
 32-46 342-344 
 
 47-23 358-360 
 
 424 344 
 
 5I.2 344,345 
 
 53-622 345-348 
 
 71-836 365-369 
 
 9, 10 371-374 
 
 Nehemiah 
 
 1-6 349-358 
 
 7I-5 360 
 
 76-69 379-381 
 
 770-8I8 369-371 
 
 9, 10 374-378 
 
 111.2 360 
 
 113-1326 382-384 
 
 1327-1331 361-364 
 
 Esther 
 1-10 471-482 
 
 Isaiah 
 
 36, 37 298-303 
 
 381-8.21,22 295,296 
 
 39 296, 297 
 
 Jeremiah 
 
 CHAPTERS PAGES 
 
 36 315, 316 
 
 34 320,321 
 
 37,38 322-325 
 
 39I-14 325-328 
 
 3915-I8 325 
 
 40I-4430 328-335 
 
 53I-5 319 
 
 536-30 325-327 
 
 5331-34 335 
 
 Haggai 
 
 1 344,345 
 
 I Esdras 
 
 447a, 48, 51-56, 62, 63 5I-6 
 
 341,342 
 
 I Maccabees 
 
 II-9 387, 388 
 
 110-15 391,392 
 
 116-64 394-398 
 
 21-617 402-428 
 
 618-1624 429-467 
 
 II Maccabees 
 
 3I-526 388-397 
 
 527 403, 404 
 
 6I-742 397-402 
 
 8l-7 404, 405 
 
 88-36 408-412 
 
 9I-29 425-428 
 
 IOI-8 415-417 
 
 109-13 428 
 
 1014-23 417,418 
 
 1024-38 421,422 
 
 III-I2I 413-415 
 
 122-25 418-421 
 
 1226-45 422-425 
 
 I3I-I536 429-440 
 
 XXX
 
 EXPLANATION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL SYMBOLS AND 
 
 ABBREVIATIONS 
 
 Text in roman type. 
 
 Supplemental and editorial additions to an older section in smaller type. 
 
 Superscriptions iv small capitals. 
 
 Poetical passages are distinguished by smaller type and broken lines. 
 
 Explanatory clauses, found in the original, in ( ). 
 
 English equivalents of the more significant Hebrew proper names in [ ]. 
 
 Words implied by the context or supplied to restore the original narratives, 
 where these have been abridged in the process of editorial fusion, in italics. 
 
 Foot-notes, presenting the reasons for the analysis and classification of the mate- 
 rial, significant alternate readings, and explanatory material, in small roman 
 tjTe- 
 
 Interpretative side-headings, giving a condensed summary of the accompanying 
 text, on the margins in small roman type. 
 
 Chapter numbers in arable figures. Verse numbers in small figures placed 
 above the line. Successive portions of a verse indicated by "■ ^ or •=, placed 
 after the verse number. Thus, Genesis II. 4 (second part of the verse) to 
 IV. 6 (first half) inclusive is written 2^^-4^^\ 
 
 Complete stories or literary units (with their parallels, if any) are numbered with 
 arable numerals successively throughout the entire volume and are referred to as 
 sections. Thus, § 2 refers to § 2, The Primitive Story of Man's Creation 
 and Fall, pp. 53-^6, 
 
 AmRV = American Revised 
 Version (1901). 
 
 AV = Authorized Version 
 (1611). 
 
 Apocr. = Apocrypha or apoc- 
 ryphal. 
 
 Aram. — Aramaic. 
 
 Assyr. = Assyrian. 
 
 Bab. ~ Babylonian. 
 
 cf. = compare. 
 
 e. g. = for example. 
 
 f. = and following. 
 
 Gk. = Greek B (Vatican) 
 text of the O.T. 
 
 General Abbreviations 
 
 Gk.A = Alexandrian Gk. text 
 
 of the O.T. 
 Gk. S = Sinaitic Gk. text of 
 
 the O.T. 
 Heb. = Hebrew, 
 i. e. = that is. 
 .fos. = Josephus. 
 Lat. = Latin (Vulgate) text 
 
 of Jerome. . 
 Lit. — literally. 
 Luc. = Lucian's Recension 
 
 of the Greek O.T. 
 N.T. = New Testament. 
 
 Old Lat. = Old Latin Version 
 
 of the O.T. 
 Origen = Reading found in 
 
 Origan's Hexapla. 
 O.T. = Old Testament. 
 Pent. = Pentateuch. 
 RV= Revised Version (1885). 
 Sam. = Samaritan Version of 
 
 the Pent. 
 Sem. = Semitic. 
 Syr. = Syriac Version of the 
 
 O.T. 
 Targ. = Targum. 
 Vs. = verse. 
 
 Abbreviations for the Old Testament and Apocryphal Books 
 
 Gen. = Genesis. 
 
 Is. = Isaiah. 
 
 Esdr. = Esdras. 
 
 Ex. = Exodus. 
 
 Jer. = Jeremiah. 
 
 Wisd. Sol. = Wisdom of Solo- 
 
 Lev. = Leviticu.s. 
 
 Lam. = Lamentations. 
 
 mon. 
 
 Num. = Numbers. 
 
 Ezek. = Ezekiel. 
 
 B. Sir. = Ben Sira or Ecclesi- 
 
 Dt. = Deuteronomy. 
 
 Dan. = Daniel. 
 
 asticus. 
 
 Josh. = Joshua. 
 
 Hos. = Hosea. 
 
 Bar. = Baruch. 
 
 Judg. = Judges. 
 
 Am. = Amos. 
 
 Sg. of Three — Song of tha 
 
 Sam. = Samuel. 
 
 Ob. = Obadiah. 
 
 Three Children. 
 
 Kgs. = Kings. 
 
 Jon. = Jonah. 
 
 Sus. =: Susanna. 
 
 Chr. = Chronicles. 
 
 Mic. = Micali. 
 
 Pryr. of Man. = Prayer of 
 
 Neh. = Nehemiah. 
 
 Nah. = Nahum. 
 
 Manas.ses. 
 
 Ksth. = Esther. 
 
 Hab. = Hahukkuk. 
 
 Mac. = Maccabees. 
 
 Ps. = Psalms. 
 
 Zeph. = Zephaiiiah. 
 
 I'.nooh = Book of Enoch. 
 
 Pr. = Proverbs. 
 
 Hag. = Haggai. 
 
 Ps. of Sol. = Psalms of Solo- 
 
 Ecc. = Ecclesiastes. 
 
 Zech. = Zccliariah. 
 
 mon. 
 
 8g. of Sg3. = Song of Songs, 
 
 Mai. = Malachi. 
 
 
 XXXI
 
 THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL 
 AND BIOGRAPHICAL NARRATIVES
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 THE ORIGIN AND PRESENT LITERARY FORM OF THE OLD 
 TESTAMENT HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL 
 
 NARRATIVES 
 
 Israel's national and literary history begins with the establishment of The 
 the Hebrew monarchy under Saul. LTp to this time the only records of the nfngs" 
 past appear to have been disconnected popular traditions, recounted be- of isra- 
 side the camp fire, in the secret of the harem, at marriage feasts, at the tional 
 local sanctuaries, diuing the annual feasts, at the wells, or beside the city "'*'^°'"^ 
 gates, wherever men or women were gathered together and the story-teller 
 could find an audience (cf. Vol. I, p. 13). These early stories, many of 
 which are found in the first eight books of the Old Testament, undoubt- 
 edly preserve a great number of significant historical facts, but they do 
 not constitute a national history, for the oldest and most authentic stories 
 originated before the Israelitish tribes had yet crystallized into a nation, 
 and the narratives furnish only occasional pictures of the more important 
 acts and actors in that great drama which later unfolded on the soil of Pales- 
 tine. They represent rather the prologue to the subsequent history, since 
 they record the movements of the nomadic ancestors of the Hebrews and 
 the early struggles of the individual tribes to secure and maintain possession 
 of the much-contested land of Canaan. Through these varied traditions 
 the historian is able to trace in outline at least the beginnings of Hebrew 
 history. 
 
 Before there can be a history in the generally accepted sense of that term, Con- 
 there must be historians possessed of the facilities for recording their facts and 'f^y^^y^ 
 events worthy of record and calculated to inspire them to write. In ancient aWe for 
 Israel these two conditions were first met and then fully supplied during willing 
 the brilliant reigns of David and Solomon. The assimilation of the highly tory* 
 developed civilization of the Canaanites and the diplomatic and commercial 
 relations with other centres of literary culture, such as Egy])t, Phoenicia, 
 and Damascus, gave the Hebrew historians their system of writing and 
 also precedents to follow. From the days of David recorders and scribes 
 figure among the court officials. The dramatic, epoch-making events of the 
 reigns of Saul and David gave them themes well worthy of the pen of patri- 
 otic historians. The national pride, and splendor, and comparative peace 
 of the reign of Solomon also afforded them the atmosj)here and op|)ortunity 
 which undoubtedly gave rise to the earliest Hebrew historical records. 
 
 3
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 Liter- These were either very brief annals of important events, such as the suc- 
 ?orinof cessions of kings, wars, building enterprises, treaties, and alliances, or else 
 'iie oral traditions which recounted the deeds of important religious or military 
 tecords leaders, like Samuel and Saul and David. Both of these very different 
 types of sources underlie the narrative of Samuel and Kings. As the his- 
 tory unfolded, the tendency became marked to weave these various sources 
 into a continuous narrative. Naturally, later historians would also further 
 supplement the older records with current traditions regarding the earlier 
 period. Thus it is that the narratives of Samuel and Kings have all the 
 literary characteristics — absence of technical details, the few characters, 
 the striking contrasts, the vividness, and the dramatic action — of the primi- 
 tive traditions regarding the beginnings of Hebrew life. The story of David's 
 family history, for example, is presented in II Samuel 9-20 in a literary 
 form that suggests the great tragedies of Greece. The dramatic dialogue 
 is also effectively employed, as in the more primitive traditions, to make the 
 history realistic. The result is that the characters live and move and speak 
 before the awakened imagination of the reader. 
 The in- When the Hebrew prophets became preachers and statesmen, swaying 
 tlon"''" public opinion by the power of their voice and by the divine messages which 
 ofser- they proclaimed in the form of public addresses, the historians also intro- 
 and ad- duced sermons and long orations into their narratives. This literary form 
 dresses j^ common to all literature. Mark Antony's famous address in Shake- 
 speare's Julius Cccsar is perhaps the most familiar modern example. This 
 effective form of narration was in Hebrew literature but the natural out- 
 growth of the ancient oracle, as for example Jacob's blessing in Genesis 49, 
 and of the dialogue. It appears first and most prominently in the writings 
 of the later Ephraimite school, which bore the stamp of Hosea's strong, in- 
 spiring personality, and was still further developed by its Judean heir, the 
 late prophetic or Deuteronomic school (cf. Vol. I, Introd., pp. 37-42). The 
 most striking examples in the opening books of the Old Testament are 
 the farewell addresses of Moses in Deuteronomy and Joshua in Joshua 23 
 and 24. In Samuel and Kings there are also many examples : Samuel's long 
 sermons in I Samuel 8 and 12, Nathan's in II Samuel 7, Solomon's speech 
 at the dedication of the temple in I Kings 8, and Ahijah's warnings in Ip'-'^ 
 and 14'"'^ In each case the language and ideas indicate that these are 
 from the later schools of writers. In the didactic stories in Chronicles, which 
 are based on the earlier narratives of Samuel and Kings, these hortatory ad- 
 dresses are still more common. They are in fact the favorite literary form 
 of the later Jewish writers, as is shown by the long prayers in Ezra 9 and 
 Nehemiah 9, and even by the speeches attributed to Judas and his fellow- 
 leaders in the more strictly historical books of I and II INIaccabees. 
 Promi- Israel's historians were always more interested in individual men than 
 of per- iu movements. Since their chief sources were also current traditions re- 
 sonal garding popular heroes, the texture of their histories largely consists of per- 
 phies sonal biographies, which they have woven together into a larger whole. 
 Remove from the historical books the biographies of Samuel, Saul, David, 
 Solomon, Jeroboam, Ahab, Elijah, Elisha, Jehu, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Jere- 
 
 4
 
 THEIR ORIGIN AND PRESENT LITERARY FORM 
 
 miah, Nehemiah, and Ezra, and little besides bare statistics and the record 
 of three or four important events in the history of the temple remain. It 
 is this prominent personal element that constitutes the chief charm of the 
 narratives; while their vital touch with actual men and real life is the main 
 source of their permanent and practical value. 
 
 The prominence of the biographical element is likewise due fo the fact Domi- 
 that the authors of the so-called historical books were not primarilv his- ahn*not 
 torians, but rather religious teachers seeking apt and familiar illustrations bistori- 
 of the spiritual truths which impelled them to write. From Israel's history reiig-" 
 as a whole they drew many valuable lessons, but even more from the life of ^°"^ 
 a hero like David, or of an intrepid chamj^ion of righteousness like Elijah. 
 Hence the Old Testament records lack historic proportion. David's final 
 epoch-making victory over the Philistines is only meagrely described, while 
 to his private family history many chapters are devoted. Omri's important 
 reign is dismissed with a few verses, while four chapters are given to de- 
 scribing the work of the Tishbite prophet. This fact is the basis of the com- 
 mon assertion that there is strictly speaking no real history in Hebrew 
 literature until we reach the Maccabean period. The books which are des- 
 ignated as historical are either collections of historical illustrations, which 
 enforce prophetic principles, or else traditions regarding the temple and 
 the origin of its later ceremonial institutions. 
 
 The amount of authentic data which such books as Samuel, Kings, and Indi- 
 Ezra-Nehemiah contain at once place them in the first rank among the his- that'"^ 
 torical records coming from antiquity, but the historical facts are neverthe- the ear- 
 less incidental, although for this reason none the less valuable. It is ex- torical 
 ceedingly important, therefore, always to remember the higher ethical and p^n^i^t 
 religious purpose which determined the form and contents of these books, chiefly 
 This, as well as the fact that they consist largely of quotations from earlier tations 
 works, explains their lack of unity and the presence of occasional contradic- 
 tions. These are but the guide-posts which point the way back to the 
 original sources and make it possible to trace the complex literary history 
 of these composite books and thus to do the work of reconstruction which 
 is necessarA^ before they can be fully appreciated as literature, as history, 
 and above all as illustrations of those eternal principles which regulate the 
 life of nations and men. 
 
 The fact that the aim of Samuel and Kings was primarily prophetic rather History 
 than historical was recognized by the Jews who formed the Old Testament Cookl 
 canon, for thev classified them, together with Joshua and Jiulffes, as The "f Sam- 
 
 xiel and 
 
 Former Prophets. In reality the two books of Sanniel, together with those Kings 
 of Kings, constitute one continuous narrative, bound together by closest 
 bonds. The Greek translators .so treated them, calling them the Books of 
 the Kingdoms, dividing flicm into their present divisions. Jerome gave 
 them the title of Kings, and in the case of the seconil two he has been fol- 
 lowed by the English translators, while the first two retain their Hebrew title. 
 
 The books of Samuel trace the history of the Hebrews from the latter Con- 
 part of the period of the Judges to the accession of Solomon, and therefore I'^'nfin 
 represent approximately one century. In the present form they consist of Sanmcl 
 
 5
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 five general divisions: (1) Samuel and Saul narratives, I Samuel 1-15; (2) 
 stories regarding the rise of David and the decline and death of Saul, 16-31; 
 (3) the account of David's rule first over Judah and then over all Israel, 
 II Samuel 1-8; (-i) David's family history, 9-20; (5) an appendix, 21-24. 
 Prin- In I Samuel the principle of arrangement is in general chronological. In 
 
 of'ar- 1-15, however, two very different portraits of Samuel are given: in the one 
 range- (Q^ jQ) he is the local seer of Ramah, who finds Saul and encourages him 
 I Sam- to become king, but in the other (7, 8, 12), the prophet-judge, who protest- 
 ingly at the demand of the people turns over the supreme authority to their 
 first king. In the one also (13, 14), the Philistines are defeated by Saul in 
 a fierce engagement, but in the other (7) they are miraculously smitten in 
 response to Samuel's prayer. The duplicate versions in 16-31 of certain of 
 the more important incidents also indicate that the book is composite through- 
 out, and that its literary unity and chronological arrangement are due to 
 the careful work of the editor. 
 In II In II Samuel the material is grouped according to subject matter. In 
 
 1-8 the most important political events in David's reign are briefly out- 
 lined, beginning with his accession to the throne of Judah and concluding 
 with a summary of his foreign wars. The events recounted in 9-20 are in 
 part contemporary with those recorded in 1-8, but they trace the series of 
 crimes in his family and court which so sadly dimmed the lustre of his reign. 
 Their natural and probably original sequel is found in I Kings 1 and 2. 
 The last division contains a heterogeneous group of narratives, which were 
 evidently taken from various sources, and probably added to the original 
 book of Samuel after it was separated from Kings. It includes an account 
 of the fate of Saul's sons (21'"'^), which is closely related in theme to 9, a 
 description of the exploits of David's heroes, 21'^"-^ 23^"^", into the midst of 
 which at a comparatively late date Psalm 18 and David's traditional "Last 
 Words" were introduced, and finally the record of a census, which appears 
 to belong to the period of David's foreign wars. In the character of its 
 contents, and in their relation to the narratives in the rest of the book this 
 appendix closely resembles that found at the end of Judges (17-20). Unlike 
 Judges and Kings, the books of Samuel have received few editorial addi- 
 tions. Aside from a few chronological notes, the earlier material has simply 
 been grouped without being fitted into an editorial framework. 
 Con- In the books of Kings the work of the editor is much more prominent. 
 
 tents of I3eginning with the accession of Solomon and the death of David about 
 books 97j B.C., he traces the double thread of Hebrew history to the Babylonian 
 Kings exile and Jehoiachin's liberation in 561 B.C. ; the books therefore represent a 
 period of about four centuries. The principle of arrangement is prevail- 
 ingly chronological, although groups of stories, as for example the Elisha 
 traditions (II Kgs. 2'-8'^), are introduced as a unit. Three general divi- 
 sions may be distinguished: (1) the records of Solomon's reign, I Kings 1-11; 
 (2) the parallel history of Israel and Judah, I Kings 12-11 Kings 17; (3) 
 the history of Judah, II Kings 18-25. 
 
 In the first division the editor's contributions appear chiefly in 11, where 
 he condemns Solomon's foreign marriages and the toleration of heathen 
 
 6
 
 THEIR ORIGIN AND PRESENT LITERARY FORM 
 
 cults in Israel. Beginning with the history of the two kingdoms after the The 
 division, he incorporates his data regarding each reign in a regular frame- rjaf**" 
 work, consisting of an introductory and concluding formula. The opening <''ame- 
 one always defines the synchronism with the neighboring kingdom and the 
 length of the reign (cf. Appendix II for a fuller treatment of Hebrew chro- 
 nology). To tliis is added in the case of the kings of Judah the name of 
 the queen-mother. It concludes with a general judgment upon each king. 
 Upon the rulers of Israel this is always adverse, for the basis of the con- 
 demnation appears to be the ruler's attitude toward the religion of Jehovah, 
 and in the opinion of the editor the northern cult was altogether wrong 
 because it centred about the high places selected by Jeroboam I to rival 
 the temple at Jerusalem (I Kgs. l^-**"^^). Occasionally detailed reasons for 
 the condemnation are also given (cf. I Kgs. 14^^"", 15""'^ 16^°"^^). The 
 concluding formula includes a reference to the editor's source and a record 
 of the death of the king and the name of his successor. To this is added, 
 in the case of the kings of Judah who did not come to a violent end, the 
 statement that, he slept with his fathers. 
 
 Parallel to the narrative of Kings and for the most part simply quoted Histor- 
 from it are the historical sections in the book of Isaiah (36-39). Far uonsTn 
 more important are the corresponding passages in Jeremiah (26, 34, 36- Isaiah 
 45), for they richly supplement the narrative of Kings, which unfortu- Jere- 
 nately has only a brief account of the events immediately preceding and ""'^ 
 following the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. These historical sections in 
 Jeremiah are doubly valuable because they appear to be taken from a prac- 
 tically contemporary biography of Jeremiaii, probably written by his faithful 
 scribe liaruch. 
 
 It is a striking and fortunate fact that with few exceptions the most im- Parallel 
 portant events and epochs in the biblical history are recorded in two or ^'^^° 
 more distinct books. The beginnings of Israel's history and the work and 
 teachings of the Founder of Christianity are presented in four parallel 
 strands of narrative. For the period beginning with Saul and extending to 
 the Babylonian exile there are two, and at certain points three distinct records. 
 
 The .second continuous history of Israel is found in the books of Chron- Con- 
 iclcs. They begin with a group of genealogical tables, which goes back to ^f^l ® ° 
 Adam, and carry the history down to the decree of Cyrus permitting the books 
 Jews to return after the Babylonian exile. Their dependence upon the older Chron- 
 books of Samuel and Kings is clearly shown by the presence of many ver- "^ °^ 
 butim (|Uotations. To these are added long sections which give this later 
 history its distinctive form. Although it traces the genealogy of the race 
 back to Adam, the narrative really begins with the death of Saul and hence- 
 forlh focusses the attention on Judah, the temple, and especially the religious 
 institutions which grew up about it. The books of Chronicles consist of 
 four general divisions: (1) An introduction containing genealogical lists, in- 
 terspersed with brief narratives, I Chronicles 1-9; (2) the history of David's 
 reign, 10-29; (3) an account of Solomon's reign, II Chronicles 1-9; (4) 
 the history of Judah to the fall of Jerusalem, with an appendix containing 
 the decree of Cyrus, 10-30. 
 
 7
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 History The immediate sequel to Chronicles is found in the books of Ezra and 
 Ezra- Nehemiah. In the original Jewish and Greek canon they form a single 
 Nehe- book. The separation of the book of Nehemiah under its distinct title was 
 probably the work of Alexandrian scholars, and was adopted by Jerome. 
 This division is not only artificial but also misleading, for as will be shown 
 later (p. 32) parts of the original Ezra narrative are also found in Nehe- 
 miah. The original book therefore is best designated as Ezra-Nehemiah. It 
 begins with the decree of Cyrus in 538 B.C., and traces the priestly gen- 
 ealogy down to the close of the Persian rule in 332, and therefore represents 
 a period of a little over two centuries. 
 Tts A satisfactory analysis of it in its present form is impossible, for its con- 
 
 tents stituent parts have evidently been disarranged. Thus for example, the con- 
 clusion of the Ezra narrative is found in Nehemiah 7^0-10^° in the midst of 
 Nehemiah's account of the rebuilding of the walls, which begins in 1-6 and 
 is concluded in 12""^^. Nehemiah 12^'^* also contains a list of the priests 
 and Levites wJio went uj) tvith Zcrubhahel and Jeshua, which has no ob- 
 vious connection with its context. As it now stands Ezra-Nehemiah con- 
 sists of six general divisions: (1) an account of the events which resulted 
 in the restoration of the temple, Ezra 1-6; (2) a description of the expedition 
 of Ezra and his preliminary reforms, 7-10; (3) Nehemiah's history of his 
 work in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and restoring the Judeah com- 
 munity, Nehemiah V-7^^; (4) an account of the reading of the law by Ezra 
 and the public confession which was followed by the acceptance of the new 
 code by the Jewish community, 7'''-10^*; (5) a census of the Jews in Palestine, 
 with a list of the priests and Levites, 11^-12^*; (6) Nehemiah's description 
 of the dedication of the walls and of his later reform measures, 12"-13^^ 
 Period The narrative of Israel's history is taken up where Ezra-Nehemiah leaves 
 covere jj. ^^ j Maccabees, which begins with Alexander's Asiatic conquests in 
 I Mac- 333-332 B.C. and ends with the death of the Hasmonean ruler Simon, in 
 135 B.C. Like Ezra-Nehemiah it, therefore, represents a period of about 
 two centuries. The events preceding the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes 
 (176 B.C.) are passed over briefly, but from this time on they are recorded 
 in chronological order and with a fulness and historic proportion unsur- 
 passed in any other Jewish narrative. 
 Its ?on- It consists of four general divisions- (1) an introduction briefly describing 
 the origin of the Seleucid empire and the attempt of Antiochus Epiphanes 
 to abolish the Jewish religion, 1 ; (2) the history of the successful struggle for 
 religious freedom led by Judas Maccabeus, 2-6; (3) the record of the wars 
 and alliances by which the Jews finally secured political independence, 7-12; 
 (4) the history of Simon's benign rule, 13-16. 
 Period Second Maccabees is parallel to I Maccabees, but deals with a much 
 by briefer period. It begins with the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes and 
 cabees°" ^^^^^^ wiih. the restoration of the temple service and the death of Nicanor 
 in 161 B.C. It pictures in great detail the horrors of the religious persecu- 
 tion and the bravery of the martyrs for the law. The parallels with I Macca- 
 bees are closest in the accounts of the wars of Judas, which occupy the second 
 half of the book (8-15). 
 
 8 
 
 tent
 
 THEIR ORIGIN AND PRESENT LITERARY FORM 
 
 In its present form it contains five general divisions: (1) two letters pur- Its con- 
 porting to have been sent by the Jews of Palestine to the Jews of Egypt urging ^^^^^ 
 them to observe the feast of Dedication, l'-2'*; (2) the author's preface, 
 019-32. ^3^ jj description of the events which led up to the persecution, 3-5; 
 
 (4) an account of the persecution and the endurance of the faithful, 6, 7; 
 
 (5) the history of Judas's wars and victories, 8-15. 
 
 Although it is a popular story rather than a history, the book of Esther Theme 
 may also be included with Israel's historical and biographical narratives, char- 
 because it reflects the pride and hatred with which the Jews during the ^^^er of 
 Maccabean period regarded their heathen neighbors, with whom they were book of 
 constantly brought into close and painful contact. Like the apocryphal ^®*"®'" 
 book of Tobit, which also belongs to the same class of literature, it throws 
 light indirectly upon the life of the Jews of the dispersion, among whom 
 were probably to be found in the later centuries fully half of the members 
 of that persecuted race. The story is a closely knit literary unit, is viv- 
 idly told, and abounds in dramatic contrasts and the effective dialogues 
 which constitute the charm of the earlier Old Testament narratives. 
 
 Viewed as literature, the historical and biographical narratives as a whole General 
 constitute an exceedingly attractive and important department of the Old acfer of 
 Testament library. They are concrete, vivid, realistic portraits of the com- J^e Old 
 plex life of ancient Israel. Their literary forms are almost as varied as ment 
 their themes. Brief annals, genealogical lists, personal memoirs, impas- ical°'' 
 sioned orations, songs of lamentations, popular traditions, didactic stories, ''J^""- 
 and historical romances are all represented. Viewed as the record of nine 
 centuries of Israel's national experiences they are unique among the writings 
 of antiquity because of the relative completeness and exactness of the picture 
 which they present. The important events and epochs are usually portrayed 
 with great fulness, while the unimportant are passed over rapidly or in 
 silence. The duplicate narratives make it possible to study the vital facts 
 from very different points of view. The significant characters in the history 
 and their acts also stand out in clear relief. Intimate acquaintance with 
 the men who made Israelitish history discloses the dominant tendencies of 
 each age and the forces which influenced it. Above all, these Old Testa- 
 ment narratives at every f)oint call attention to the divine guidance and 
 purpose which moulded Israel's history and made it not merely the record 
 of the life of an insignificant race, but a transccndently important chapter 
 in the history of humanity, for through the life of that race God was reveal- 
 ing his character and will to the world.
 
 II 
 
 THE EARLIER HISTORIES AND BIOGRAPHIES INCOR- 
 PORATED IN SAMUEL AND KINGS 
 
 The The historical value of the great prophetic record in the books of Samuel 
 
 growth ^^^ Kings is due to the fact that it consists for the most part of verbatim 
 Sam- quotations from earlier histories and biographies. The determination of 
 Kings their character and date is therefore not only interesting but also absolutely 
 essential before they can be used in reconstructing the true outlines of Israei- 
 ilish history. The growth of these books was gradual and the process 
 nearly as complex as in the case of the opening books of the Old Testament. 
 No sharp hne of demarcation sejjarates the one group from the other. Con- 
 temporaneously and as the result of similar forces, each took form. They 
 drew their data from the same fund of common tradition, and doubtless in 
 many cases the same authors or at least school of authors contributed to 
 each. The following chapter aims simply at giving a clear outline of the 
 conclusions presented in this volume regarding the nature of the sources 
 which underlie Samuel and Kings, and their literary history. The detailed 
 reasons and analyses will be given in connection with the text (for a graphic 
 representation of the different sources and their relations to each other and 
 to the completed book, compare the Frontispiece to this volume). 
 
 I. The Early Judean Saul and David Narratives 
 
 The The original book of Judges closed abruptly in chapters 13-16 with an 
 
 stories account of the Philistine advance and Samson's ill-organized and futile 
 counter-attacks. The original sequel to these in the early Judean pro- 
 phetic narratives appears to be embedded in I Samuel 4, which tells of the 
 repeated defeats of the Israelites by the Philistines and of the loss of the ark. 
 The subsequent fortunes of this sacred palladium, which already has figured 
 most prominently in the Judean narratives (cf. Vol. I, §§79, 86), and which 
 found its final resting place in the southern capital and sanctuary, are re- 
 counted in 5'-7^ Possibly these popular narratives were once taken from 
 a cycle of stories which centred about the ark itself, but their present lan- 
 guage, picturesque literary form, and natural representation, reveal their 
 relationship to the products of the early Judean prophetic school. 
 Saul From the same point of view and in the same literary style are written 
 
 sfories°^the vivid stories in 9'-10'^ II'-"' l^^ 13^~U*\ They also assume precisely 
 the conditions pictured in 4-6. They tell of the natural steps whereby 
 Saul was made king and wrested from the Philistines the independence 
 lost when the ark fell into the hands of those strong foes. These Saul stories 
 constitute a closely knit literary unit. The character and work of Israel's 
 
 10
 
 EARLIER HISTORIES IX SAMUEL AND KINGS 
 
 first king are presented sympathetically and appreciatively. Samuel does 
 not oppose, but rather works earnestly for the establishment of the kingdom. 
 Circumstances force the people to take the successive steps which ultimately 
 led to union and national independence. As in the case of the different 
 groups of the patriarchal stories (Vol. I, pp. 22, 23), these traditions were 
 probablv found originally in the form of a Saul cycle and then incorporated 
 in their larger history of Israel by the early Judean historians. They may 
 therefore be appropriately designated as the earhj Judean Saul narra- 
 tives. 
 
 With 16'^--^ the point of view perceptibly changes. Henceforth David EarL 
 is the central object of interest and Saul suffers by contrast. The facts and narra- 
 conditions, however, presented in the preceding early Judean narratives ti^'es 
 are assumed. The same vivid style and picturesque words and expressions 
 recur. The representation is natural and the historical motive is prominent. 
 Again the conviction deepens that the group of stories which from this point 
 run through II Kings 2, picturing realistically the fortunes and achievements 
 of David, is the sequel of the preceding Judean narratives, but that originally 
 thev were drawn from that largest and most important cycle of stories in 
 the Old Testament, which gathered about the character of Israel's popular 
 hero and conqueror-king. They may therefore be designated as the early 
 Judean David narratives. 
 
 These narratives are found in I Samuel lG'^-17"' ''-'°' «""■ ='-^ 18«-«' Their 
 12-16. :o-29:.^ 191-17^ 201-39^ 2V'\ 22'~23''\ 2.3=-28% 29-31, II Samuel l^"*' "• '"- Hlf^ 
 i7_3i.7_5i3. 17-24^ g^ g7-io^ 9'-21'*, 23'-^^ 24, I Kings 1, 2'^-^^ Many of them unity 
 stand alone by themselves as complete stories, and it is possible that, as is 
 maintained by some scholars, those found in II Samuel 9-20 originally con- 
 stituted an independent group, but the unity of the David stories as a whole 
 is very marked. Not only are they written in the same style and char- 
 acterized by the same familiar idioms, but the same conceptions of the 
 events of the history and of the chief characters constantly recur. David 
 in his declining years, overshadowed by his great sin, is not so attractive 
 as the hero of the earlier struggles, but he is still the object of the nation's 
 love, the great king whose earlier achievements the people cannot forget 
 (II Sam. 19). The Joab of II Samuel 18 and 20 is identical with the bold, 
 unscrupulous general of II Samuel 3. The unique friendship between 
 David and Jonathan and its dark background, the hatred and jealousy of 
 the house of Saul, run through and bind together all these stories. 
 
 A'iewed either as literature or as historical sources, the early Judean David Their 
 narratives are unsurjiassed by any others in the Old Testament. The acter 
 pictures which they give of the actors and events in this epoch-making period j'fjjg^y 
 in Israel's history are not only interesting and full of life and local color, 
 but they may be accepted as substantially true, even in detail, to the histor- 
 ical facts. They and the related Saul stories prol)ably represent the first 
 extensive Hebrew writings. The impressions which the stirring events 
 recorded made upon the p()f)nlar mind were exceedingly vivid. It was 
 dr)ii})fless because of their great iiiiporlance and universal interest that the 
 iiiijjulse to commit them to writing was first felt by Israel's patriotic his- 
 
 11
 
 date 
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 torians. This conclusion is fully confirmed by their character. As the 
 earliest product of the Judean prophetic school, they naturally have certain 
 characteristics pecuhar to themselves, partly due to their priority and partly 
 to the nature of the original traditions which they embody. They appear to 
 have shaped the ideas, determined the methods, and given the inspiration 
 to the early Judean writers, which led them subsequently to collect the 
 traditions regarding the period of the Judges and then of each preceding 
 period, until they traced their history back to the first man in the Garden of 
 Eden (cf. Vol. I, pp. 18, 19). 
 Their From their themes and literary character, as well as from their relation 
 to the longer Judean narrative, it may be fairly inferred that the Saul and 
 David histories were written not very long after, if not before, the division 
 of the Hebrew empire at the death of Solomon. There is in them no reflec- 
 tion of the hostility between the North and South which immediately fol- 
 lowed that event. The later reign of Jehoshaphat (876-851 B.C.), when 
 the armies of the two kingdoms again fought side by side and when the polit- 
 ical, commercial, and probably the intellectual life was very active, furnishes 
 a most natural background for the work of the prophets who gleaned them 
 from the mouth of the people and committed them to writing. 
 
 2. The Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 Ab- In view of the division of the Hebrew empire at the death of Solomon 
 
 oMlfe ^^"^ ^^^^ bitterness engendered in the North against the house of David, 
 early the Northern or Ephraimite historians had little desire or incentive to record 
 imite the glories of the united kingdom. These belonged in a peculiar sense to 
 tiveTin ^^^^ South. Moreover, the Judean records were so complete that there was 
 Samuel no necessity for the late prophetic editors to draw from the traditions of 
 the North, which perhaps presented the darker side of these reigns in a 
 manner not altogether agreeable to the conceptions of later Judean editors. 
 Whatever are the real reasons, there is no clear evidence of citations in Samuel 
 and Kings from the early Ephraimite prophetic narratives. With the accounts 
 of the achievements of the northern heroes recounted in Judges, the quo- 
 tations in the Old Testament from this early source apparently cease, except 
 as the stories of Elijah (corresponding to the Saul and David stories in their 
 relation to the Judean narratives) probably represent the prototype of the 
 writing of this school (cf. p. 18). 
 The Side by side, however, with the Judean account of the establishment of 
 
 narra-^* the monarchy is a connected series of narratives which have all the character- 
 tives istics of the later Ephraimite source. They recount the deeds of a prophet 
 — Samuel of Ramah in the North. In these later narratives he is conceived 
 of as judging the people, as did Moses according to the related tradition of 
 Exodus 18. Like his great predecessor, he rules as Jehovah's regent over all 
 Israel (cf. Vol. I, pp. 38, 39). TMien the people confess their sin (7^ 12'"; 
 cf. Num. 14", Judg. lO'"' '^), Samuel intercedes for them (7^ 8"; cf. Gen. 
 207. 27. ]S[um. ll^ 21"), and Jehovah miraculously delivers them from their 
 powerful foes. 
 
 12
 
 EARLIER HISTORIES IN SAMUEL AND KINGS 
 
 In the early Judean narratives the kingship is regarded as so desirable Evi- 
 that Samuel persuades Saul to assume the leadership, and in the late pro- ^^°j® 
 plietic or Deuteronomie as a necessary institution, the abuses of which must ^^^y 
 be carefully guarded against (Dt. IT^^-^"). In I Samuel 8 and 12, how- from 
 ever, it is absolutely condemned in almost the same terms as were the kings Ephra- 
 of his day by the Ephraimite prophet Hosea (cf. I Sam. 8 and Hos. 8*\ '^"jj^^j 
 13''). Many other minor indications, as for example, the reference to a 
 sacred stone or pillar (I Sam. 7'-), still regarded as I'-gitimate in the Ephraim- 
 ite narratives (Vol. I, p. 40), but sternly forbidden in the late prophetic, 
 leave little doubt that this peculiar conception of the history and the work 
 of Samuel originated in the Northern prophetic guilds. 
 
 These narratives are found in I Samuel V-5\ T^^-S", W'', 12 and 15. Their 
 The interest throughout is rehgious rather than political. The purpose is 1°^l^ 
 didactic rather than historical. The whole is a popular biography of Samuel and^^ 
 rather than a parallel history of the period. It begins with the account of 
 his birth, consecration, early life at Shiloh, and call to be a prophet; but 
 throughout the stories, the attention is focussed on Samuel, the man of God, 
 rather than on Samuel, the individual. That all Israel was led by a prophetic 
 representative of Jehovah, as in the days of Moses, is assumed. The super- 
 natural is prominent. The same peculiar conceptions and point of view 
 reappear in the Elijah and Elisha stories of I Kings 20-11 Kings 15. The 
 kinship of these three groups of traditions is clearly very close. They were 
 undoubtedly cherished in the same prophetic circle in the North — probably 
 many of them at the sanctuary of Gilgal near Shiloh, which appears to have 
 become the inheritor of its traditions when the older shrine was destroyed 
 by the Philistines (Jer. 19\ cf. note § 3). 
 
 Some time after the days of Hosea and before Josiah's reformation in Their 
 621 B.C. the cycle of Samuel stories, together with kindred products of the ^^*^ 
 later Ephraimite prophetic school, was committed to writing. Whether or 
 not it originally existed independently for a period is a question which can 
 never be absolutely decided, and which is of only secondary importance. 
 
 3. Very Late Popular Prophetic Traditions 
 
 In I Samuel 1535b_i6i3, 19'»-20'% I Kings W-}3'\ 20''-'\ II Kings p-'" char- 
 are found certain stories which are related in many ways to the preceding f^fj"' 
 groii{)s. They illustrate the later belief in the dominant, almost supernatural and 
 position assumed by the earlier proi)hets in the life of the nation. They the late 
 were evidently retold for generations in i)rophetic circles. While related, {^",',1"''^'' 
 this group evidently reflects a still later conception of the proph(>ts than phet^c 
 the Samuel cycle. Their real ethical and religious work is almost forgotten tions 
 and the men of God are conceived of as mere wonder-workers. Thus for 
 example in I Samuel 19'^-" the messengers of Saul, and later the king him- 
 self, fall down in ecstasy before Samuel, or in II Kings l^-'" the military com- 
 panies sent by Ahaziah are consumed by fire from heaven at the command 
 of VAi'y.ih. Evidently the popular iinaginalion has contributed nuicli to the 
 stories. They recall the midrashim or late Jewish didactic tales (cf. p. 26). 
 
 18
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 While it cannot be maintained that they are all from the same school or 
 date, they reflect the same very late point of view. 
 
 4. Popular Judean David Stories 
 
 Con- From the lips of the people also doubtless came the variant versions of 
 
 and*'' the more important incidents in David's early life, as for example, his con- 
 history ^psj ^y[i\i Goliath, his marriage with Saul's daughter, the king's futile attempt 
 popular to kill him, and his magnanimity in sparing Saul's life. A comparison shows 
 l^vici'^ that they are clearly duplicates of the corresponding early Judean narratives, 
 stones })ut here the stories are told with slight variations; details and names are 
 usually forgotten, the coloring is heightened, and the language illustrates 
 the effects of their having been retold from generation to generation. The 
 same love and admiration for David are revealed, only he has been so com- 
 pletely idealized that his faults and sins have been forgotten. The scenes 
 are most of them laid in Southern Judah. It is difficult to conceive that 
 they originally came from any other source than the memories of his fellow- 
 clansmen in the South. The popular version of the story of his contest 
 with Goliath, which was probably added to the Hebrew text at a very late 
 date, since it is not found in the earliest Greek version, may well have been 
 cherished at Bethlehem in Judah. 
 Their The popular David stories are found in I Samuel IT'^-^^' "■ ="• ^^-^\ 18'-'- 
 date ,0. u. 17-19. 29b. 30^ ^V'-'"', 23"^-24", II Samuel P"^". Most of these were evi- 
 place dently committed to writing before the late prophetic editor compiled his 
 books history of the period — that is before the first capture of Jerusalem in 597 b.c. 
 Samuel ^^ his zeal to preserve everything known regarding David, he made the 
 early Judean narratives the basis of his history from I Samuel 16 on, and 
 then supplemented them by the popular traditions, not welding the dupli- 
 cates closely together as is often done by early editors in the first seven books 
 of the Old Testament, but giving each a different setting. The one excep- 
 tion to this rule is found in I Samuel 17 and 18, and is clearly the work of a 
 still later editor. 
 
 5. The Book of the Acts of Solomon 
 
 The With the reign of Solomon a new era in Hebrew history opened. The 
 
 acti'vity alliances with neighboring peoples, and especially the Phoenicians, intro- 
 in Sol- (Juced foreign culture. The ambition of the king was to brine; his people 
 
 omon s .... .. 
 
 reiga and kingdom into line with those of contemporary Semitic potentates. The 
 emphasis was placed on the development of his court and capital rather 
 than upon conquest. Literature, as well as art, was probably encouraged 
 by him. In addition to the chancellor or recorder, two scribes were counted 
 among the important officials of his court (I Kgs. 4'). Their duty was 
 probably primarily to conduct the royal correspondence, but for diplomatic 
 reasons, if for no other, a record of the most important events of each reign 
 would also be needed for reference. Hence from the days of Solomon it 
 appears that the Hebrew historians were not dependent upon popular memory 
 and tradition, but had access to brief contemporary annals for the more 
 
 14
 
 EARLIER HISTORIES IN SAMUEL AND KINGS 
 
 important political facts. Here, therefore, the Judean prophetic history 
 properly ends, for the task of its authors was to collect and put in literary 
 form the inherited traditions regarding the period antedating that of con- 
 temporary records. At the same time it is clear that the connection Avas very 
 close between the work of the southern annalists and that of the Judean 
 historians, for the one was the virtual successor of the other. 
 
 The compiler of Kings refers his readers for further details to what ap- Refer- 
 pears to have been three distinct historical works. They must have been earfy *^*' 
 extant and accessible in his day, and, we may infer from the form of his Hebrew 
 references that they were well known. They are the Book of the Acts (or tories 
 Events) of Solomon (I Kgs.ll"), the Chronicles (lit.. Book of the Acts of 
 Days) of the Kings of Israel, and the corresponding Chronicles of the 
 Kings of Judah. It is reasonable to conclude that these histories, to which 
 he frequently refers, were also among the chief sources from which he him- 
 self drew his political facts regarding the earlier periods. The character 
 and aim of his work and the form of his allusions to them further indicate 
 that he simply quoted from them that which was adapted to his more dis- 
 tinctively religious and pragmatic purpose. 
 
 That these older histories were more than mere annals is clearly indicated. Their 
 The reference in I Kings 11" is to the point: Now the rest of the acts of acter 
 Solomon and all that he did and his wisdom, are they not recorded in the 
 Book of the Ads of Solomon? The same inference is confirmed by the al- 
 lusions to the contents of the Chronicles (cf. p. 16). The term Book in this 
 connection also implies a continuous, more or less expanded history. The 
 Chronicles recorded the events of many different centuries. Their his- 
 torical value depended upon the fact that they were compiled from older 
 sources. The work of other authors appears to have been simply to com- 
 bine and expand the earlier material. The state annals appear to have 
 been the basis of their work and the expansion at important points to have 
 been accomplished by introducing long ciuotations from existing histories 
 of important kings and reigns like those of Jeroboam, Ahab, and Jehu. 
 
 For the Book of the Acts of Solomon, two and possibly three sources ap- Earlier 
 pear to have been utilized. The detailed, annalistic material, for example fn^or-^^ 
 i^ 41-19. 22. 23, 26-28^ 5i_7i2^ 910-29^ iQiu 12-1125^^^8 prcsumably taken from the P^\^^'^ 
 annals of his reign. Only written records would preserve many of the rec- Acts of 
 ondite facts there found. From the same source may have come the detailed ^o°" 
 data regarding the ornamentation, furnishing, and dedication of the tem- 
 ple in 7"-8'\ but they would more naturally be kept in the temple records, 
 citations from which appear later in Kings (cf. p. 17). With these may be 
 comf)ared the Babylonian temple accounts which come from a very early 
 period (cf. Johns, Bab. and Assyr. Laxcs, Contracts, and Letters, p. 295). 
 Finally there are found in I Kings 3^"^^ and lO'"'"- ^^ certain po[)ular tradi- 
 tions, evidently of early origin, which illustrate Solomon's wisdom. If the 
 reference to the record of the king's wisdom in 11" is original it would 
 strengthen the conclusion that those traditions were found in the Book of 
 the Acts of Solomon, although these, like the popular David stories, may 
 well have been added by the late prophetic editor. 
 
 15
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 Its In I Kings 3-11 are found also many late prophetic passages evidently 
 
 acfer riot from the Book of the Acts, but the original quotations from it suggest 
 ^^'^ its general character. It was a reasonably comprehensive history dealing 
 with the political and religious events of Solomon's reign. Its primary aim 
 was not religious but rather to record facts. The tendency, however, to 
 idealize Solomon and his reign, which became very marked in later genera- 
 tions, is apparent. The author was evidently a Judean and probably lived 
 not earlier than 800 B.C. He may well have belonged to the early Judean 
 prophetic school. His purpose was to carry the Judean history down to 
 the division of the Hebrew kingdom. Repetition of the same notices in 
 different settings further suggests that his work was supplemented and pos- 
 sibly rearranged before it was used by the late prophetic editor. 
 
 6. The Israelitish and Judean Royal Chronicles 
 
 Char- The author of the present book of Kings always refers to the Chronicles 
 the ° of the Kings of Israel and the Chronicles of the Kings of Jiidah as if they 
 chron- ^^^^ distiiict books. Their titles also suggest that they were originally in- 
 icles dependent. This conclusion is confirmed hj the fact that the same events, 
 as for example the campaign of Hazael (II Kgs. 10^-, 13^ cf. 12'^' ^'), are 
 recorded twice in quotations apparently taken from these histories, each 
 describing the invasion as it affected one of the two Hebrew kingdoms and 
 ignoring its effects upon the other. The character and contents of the 
 Chronicles appear to have been very similar to those of the Book of the A cts 
 of Solomon. Their exact title, Book of the A cts of Days of the Kings, sug- 
 gests that they were histories containing detailed records of events, arranged 
 in chronological order, and that their chief sources were the older annals 
 of the two kingdoms. The thirty-one references which the editor of Kings 
 makes to them and their contents and the quotations which he evidently 
 cites from them establish their character. In the first place they included 
 a continuous and complete history of all the difi"erent reigns. In the case 
 of all the kings except Jehoram, Ahaziah, Hoshea, Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin, 
 and Zedekiah, who met untimely fates, the editor explicitly states that the 
 Chronicles recorded the deeds of each. 
 Their For twenty-three distinct items the reader is referred for information or 
 tents fuller details to the Chronicles. Some of these facts are: Jeroboam's wars, 
 the mighty deeds of Baasha, the treason of Zimri, Ahab's ivory house, the 
 cities built by Asa, Hezekiah's construction of the pool and conduit, and 
 Manasseh's sin. They deal chiefly with secular subjects, such as the wars, 
 building enterprises, successes, and the material splendors of each reign. 
 Their attitude toward most of the kings appears to have been commenda- 
 tory — in striking antithesis to the adverse judgment passed upon them for 
 religious reasons by the author of Kings. The implication of his references 
 to these histories is that they contained many more details than he saw fit 
 to introduce in his brief summaries. Like the A cts of Solomon, they doubt- 
 less contained quotations from older sources. These were, as in the Acts 
 of Solomon, the independent annals of the two kingdoms. The citations 
 
 16
 
 E.\RLIER HISTORIES IN SA:MUEL AND KINGS 
 
 were probably in most cases transcribed verbatim and, having been again 
 quoted by the editor of Kings, found a place in our present books. They 
 can be recognized by their brief sententious form and by their use of certain 
 expressions, as then or at that time, and the pecuhar use of the personal pro- 
 noun (for the corresponding Babylonian synchronistic chronicle, compare 
 Appendix X). 
 
 The author of the Chronicles of tJie Kings of Judah appears also to have Their 
 had access to temple records. Extracts from these are found in IJ Kings 11, tempfe 
 12, IG*"-!* and 22^-23^^ In these passages the attention is focussed not on records 
 the king and the fortunes of the kingdom, but upon the temple and its ritual. 
 As in ancient Babylonia, many of the priests were probably scribes, and 
 that they would keep a record of the more important events in the temple 
 history was most natural. The desire to expand these brief records into 
 fuller narratives would also later be felt. They represent the antecedent? 
 of the much later temple and institutional history found in Chronicles and 
 Ezra-Nehemiah. That quotations from the temple records had already 
 been incorporated in the Chronicles, to which the editor of Kings refers 
 as his main source, is at least probable, although not certain. It is also 
 significant that the citations in II Kings 16 are joined immediately to material 
 taken from the state annals, with no trace of the harmonistic or introductory 
 clauses which the editor usually adds when he himself unites quotations 
 from different sources. 
 
 The authors of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, on the other hand. Also 
 appear to have drawn from the older private histories of important kings ^[gj^ ® 
 Hke Jeroboam (I Kgs. iP^-^i. ", 12i-'^), Ahab (20'-'\ 22'""), Jehu (II Kgs. tories 
 9'-10-'). These personal histories correspond very closely to the early Saul 
 and David histories in Samuel. They were probably not written during 
 the lifetime, but a generation or two after the death of the given king. They 
 give a natural and at the same time sympathetic and favorable portrait of 
 him and the events of his reign. The resulting picture is often in striking 
 contrast to the very different estimates found in the prophetic sources and 
 in the epitomes of the editor of Kings. 
 
 Quotations from the Chronicles and references to them cease with the Period 
 reign of Jehoiakim (II Kgs. 24''). They contain none of the expressions ^y^fhe*^ 
 and ideas peculiar to the late prophetic school which dominated the thought (y'ron- 
 of the exile. It would seem, therefore, that they were composed some time 
 not long after 597 B.C., between the first and second captivities. Possibly 
 the work was begun earlier, and the data regarding the later reigns added 
 as appendices by subsequent writers. The Chronicles of the Kings of 
 Israel probably attained their final form shortly after the fall of Samaria in 
 722 B.C. Together fhey carried the two great histories of the North and 
 South practically down to the final destruction of both kingdoms. 
 
 7. The Early Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 With I Kings 17 is suddenly introduced a unicpie form of narrative. The 
 brief quotations and annalistic style of the preceding chapters are supplanted 
 
 17
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 Char- by a picturesque, detailed story. Interest is centred not in the kings of 
 
 acter 
 and 
 
 Israel, but in Elijah the Tishbite; not in the insurrections and wars, but in 
 date of the religious and social life of the nation. Towering above the king and 
 EUjah dominating the history is the commanding personahty of the great prophet 
 stones ^j£ Gilead. As the spokesman of Jehovah, hke Moses in the early prophetic 
 or Samuel in the later Ephraimite narratives, he moulds the history. At 
 the same time there is a freshness, a concreteness, a directness in the lan- 
 guage, and a naturalness and reserve in the representation which stamp 
 the stories as comparatively early. The worship at the public shrines like 
 Bethel and Dan, with their golden calves, receives no censure, as it does in 
 the sermons of Amos and Hosea. The toleration and popular identification 
 of the Baal-cult with that of Jehovah are the chief objects of attack. They 
 therefore clearly antedate 750 B.C., when Amos appeared at Bethel with his 
 revolutionary message. On the other hand, the character of Elijah has 
 begun to be clothed with a certain mystery. The tone of the narratives 
 suggests that the traditions which they embody were not committed to writing 
 until a generation or two after the great prophet had passed away. Their 
 approximate date may accordingly be fixed not long after 800 b.c. 
 Their The stories were doubtless treasured in prophetic circles and later kept 
 
 history -^^ written form. The spirit and point of view, as well as the direct refer- 
 ence to Judah in 19^ as a foreign nation, demonstrate that they came from 
 Northern Israel. Occasional expressions, like ajter these things {W\ 21'), 
 the designation of the sacred mountain as Horeh (19-), and above all the 
 commanding role attributed to the prophet proclaim the kinship of these 
 with the early Ephraimite prophetic narratives in the opening books of the 
 Old Testament (cf. Vol. I, 37-40). Of the two, however, the Elijah stories 
 seem to be the more primitive. They were probably the nucleus about 
 which gathered the similar narratives which ultimately traced the history of 
 the theocratic people back to the days of Abraham. In their light it is for 
 the first time possible fully to understand why this school conceived of the 
 earliest prophets as clothed with almost omnipotent authority and, like 
 Elijah and Isaiah of a later and very different age, shaping from the first 
 the history of the Israelitish race. 
 Their In the Greek version the narratives of 17-19 are continued immediately 
 
 exte'nt^ by 21, and in this order they probably stood in the original text. Extracts 
 from the same source appear in II Kings 1. That they are but extracts 
 from a more complete biography of Elijah is clearly shown by the abruptness 
 with which he is introduced in 17 — many facts being assumed which are 
 nowhere stated in the fragments which have been preserved — and by the 
 incompleteness of the biography as it stands. Following his usual method 
 only those sections were quoted which conserved the broad purpose of the 
 prophetic editor of Kings. 
 
 8. The Gilgal Cycle of Popular Elisha Stories 
 
 In II Kings 2'-8'', 13'^-^' is found a collection of narratives which centre 
 about Elisha. They have all the characteristics of stories long transmitted 
 
 18
 
 EARLIER HISTORIES IN SAMUEL AND KINGS 
 
 from mouth to mouth. Details regarding the exact setting and the names De- 
 of the reigning kings have been lost. The supernatural elements are promi- p®"*^ 
 nent and the ethical motives are often obscured. In these Elisha figures of the 
 as the man of God, the great wonder-worker. That they are later and storie; 
 modelled after the early EHjah narratives is demonstrated by the fact that ^1^°^ 
 the same elements and in some cases almost the identical stories reap- Elijah 
 pear in enlarged proportions. Thus for example, the story of the widow's ^^°^^ 
 meal and jar of oil that failed not (I Kgs. 17-""') reappears in the account of 
 the widow's pot of oil which did not fail until she had, at Elisha's command, 
 drawn enough from it to defray all her debts (II Kgs. 4'"'). Closely similar 
 to the account of the reviving of the widow's son by Elijah (I Kgs. l?"-^^) 
 is the story of his resuscitating the Shunamniite's son (II Kgs. 4*"^'). It 
 would seem that just as the same tale of deception regarding his wife was 
 twice told about Abraham in different settings and once about I.saac (cf. 
 Vol. I, §13), so in popular tradition, not only the mantle, but also the repu- 
 tation of Elijah fell upon his chief disciple. 
 
 The Elisha stories are not as closely knit together as are the Elijah narra- The 
 tives. They are rather a bundle of anecdotes, each complete in itself. Minor (iYc.°inct 
 inconsistencies also indicate that they were originally taken from at least two cycles 
 distinct groups. Thus for example in 5" Gehazi is a leper and therefore Elisha 
 an outcast, but in 8^ he is introduced conversing with the king and is still ^*"''"^ 
 the trusted ser\'ant of the man of God. There is not the slightest reference 
 to the incurable disease with which, according to 5", he was afflicted. In one 
 cycle of stories Elisha is represented as residing at Gilgal. This is evidently 
 not the Gilgal near Jericho but the sanctuary southeast of Shiloh (cf. 2'"^). 
 There he lives in close association with the guild of the sons of the prophets 
 which was located at that place (4'*""). In this cycle there are frequent 
 references to these sons of the prophets and their wives. Furthermore, the 
 stories without exception all relate to the events of private life, and they re- 
 semble most those found in the early Elijah group. Evidently they were 
 treasured on the lips of the people living in the West Jordan valley, not 
 far from Elisha's home at Abel-^Ieholah, and were probably first collected 
 by some member of the pro{)hetic guild at the neighboring town of Gilgal. 
 
 In the Gilgal cycle may be included II Kings 2, 4'''' ^'*"", 6''. It is im- Date of 
 possible to fix their date exactly. Several generations have evidently trans- oUsal 
 mitted them orally. They have the Northern Israelitish stamp, but since ''y^^^ 
 the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. did not mean the deportation of the bulk of 
 the inhabitants of Israel, it is possible that they were not put in literary form 
 until after that event. This later date also best accords with their general 
 character. 
 
 9. The Samaria Cycle of Popular Elisha Stories 
 
 In the ofluT cycle, whicli included the reinniiiirig stories in II Kings .3-8'*, 
 to which may be added 14**'", Elisha is conceived of as residing at Samaria, 
 the capital (5^, 6^*- ^^), and as being in close touch with the king and court 
 (3", 4", 5", a"- ^^). Mo.st of the .stories reflect his activity not in private 
 but in public life, and especially in the wars with Moab and Aram. The 
 
 19
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 Con- Arameans in fact figure in six out of nine stories belonging to this cycle. No 
 and^ references are found to the sons of the prophets, but instead Gehazi is the 
 acfer servant, ever attendant upon the prophet (4'-' "• "-36^ 520-27^ gis^ 8^). Like a 
 of the king, Elisha is usually represented as simply giving directions or else sending 
 maria his servant with his potent staff to work the wonders recorded. The earlier 
 cycle stories here reflected are found not only in the Elijah group but also in the 
 early Ahab history. Thus for example the parallel between I Kings 22 and 
 II Kings 3 extends even to similar scenes and language (cf. II Kgs. 3'" and 
 I Kgs. 22^"^). Close analogies may also be traced with certain of the pa- 
 triarchal stories, as for example the prediction that the Shunammite woman 
 should have a son before a year had passed (cf. 4'^ and Gen. 18'^). 
 Its It is difficult to determine which of these cycles is the older. They doubt- 
 
 less grew up contemporaneously. The Samaria group, however, clearly 
 embodies more historical data and probably was committed to writing 
 before the fall of that city in 722 e.g. The fact that Samaria was a literary 
 centre would facilitate the process. These tvvO cycles of popular Elisha 
 stories were apparently combined — citations being taken alternately from 
 each — before they were incorporated as II Kings. The fact that they are 
 all introduced together and have received practically no editorial revision 
 probably indicates that they were among the latest additions to the book. 
 It is more than possible that they came into the possession of the late prophetic 
 editor as a result of the conquests and reforming expeditions of Josiah, which, 
 according to II Kings 23'^' ^"j extended to the sanctuaries of Samaria. 
 
 ID. The Isaiah Stories 
 
 Con- It was most natural that in later generations among Isaiah's disciples 
 
 and there should also grow up a cycle of stories associated with him and preserv- 
 
 '^'^f''" p ing in traditional form the memory of his work. Three stories from such 
 
 the a group are found in II Kings 18''-20^^ (cf. ^§ 122, 124). They are again 
 
 stories quoted by the editor of the book of Isaiah in 36-39, with the further 
 
 addition of a psalm which is attributed to Hezekiah (SB'"'-"). The first of 
 
 these narratives is evidently a duplicate of the extract in II Kings IS'^-IO^""' 
 
 36. 37^ which was apparently taken from a Hezekiah history. In popular 
 
 transmission the details of the incident have been partially forgotten ; while 
 
 in the expansion of the story in 20^"", Isaiah like Elisha is conceived of as a 
 
 wonder-worker. The references to the Babylonian exile in 20'^' " indicate 
 
 that these stories were committed to writing after 586 b.c 
 
 II. The Final Editing of the Books of Samuel and Kings 
 
 Work This brief study of the sources of Samuel and Kings has sufficed to show 
 
 pre- that many very early elements enter into these composite books, and that 
 
 editors ^^eir growth was gradual, representing a period of fully four centuries. 
 
 Their real author or authors selected the quotations from the older annals, 
 
 biographies, and temple records, arranged them in their present order and, 
 
 in the book of Kings, fitted them into a stereot^-ped framework (cf. p. 1 j- 
 
 20
 
 EARLIER HISTORIES IN SAMUEL AND KINGS 
 
 The language, the expressions, and the distinctively rehgious ideas of these 
 editorial sections are those of the late prophetic group of writers who were 
 inspired by the book of Deuteronomy and the great reform of Josiah in 
 621 B.C. (for a detailed list of their words and expressions, cf. Driver, 
 LOT, pp. 200-203, Hast. DB II, pp. 859-861). The original editor of Kings 
 carried his history down to the reign of Jehoiakim, but apparently writes 
 from the point of view of Palestine, and while the Judean state was still 
 standing (cf., e.g., to this den/, II Kgs. 8=^ 16^ W'-''). 
 
 The exile, which quickly followed, transformed the thought of Israel's Work 
 religious teachers so completely that a later editor, writing probably in Baby- final 
 Ionia not long after 561 B.C., gave to the book of Kings its final form. He ^''"'o"" 
 likewise belonged to the late prophetic school, so that it is not always easy 
 to distinguish his work from that of his predecessor. He certainly added 
 the account of the final destruction of Jerusalem and the liberation of Je- 
 hoiachin in 561 B.C. The conception of Jehovah in I Kings 8"'^° and of the 
 temple as a place of worship for all peoples is closely akin to that found in 
 Isaiah 40-56. Also ^^' ^* seem to imply the point of view of the exile. This 
 is also true of II Kings 21'"^'. It is probable that in their present form the 
 prophetic addresses in I Kings 8'^-9'' and II Kings 21 ^-'\ as well as certain 
 other minor additions, are from the latest editor. Later priests and scribes 
 added occasional notes, but by 540 B.C. the prophetic historical books of 
 Samuel and Kings were practically complete. 
 
 SI
 
 Ill 
 
 THE CHRONICLER'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF JUDAH 
 
 AND THE TEIVIPLE 
 
 Con- Excepting in the three or four quotations from the temple records, the 
 
 of'ifhe books of Samuel and Kings are throughout national and prophetic in their 
 late interests. Their final editors were clearly prophets, and to the same group 
 siasti- of religious patriots belonged the authors of most of the older sources which 
 Mstorv ^^^ quoted. It was natural that the other prominent class of Israel's teachers, 
 the priests, whose interests were distinctly ritualistic and ecclesiastical, should 
 also write their own version of the history. Closely corresponding in spirit 
 and purpose to the late priestly narratives in the Pentateuch is the parallel 
 history of Judah found in the books of Chronicles and their direct contin- 
 uation Ezra-Nehemiah. Identity in literary style and point of view, as 
 well as the repetition of the opening verses of Ezra (1''^) at the close of Chron- 
 icles (36-^' ^^), leaves no doubt that the books are all from the same author 
 or editor, and originally constituted one continuous narrative, beginning 
 with Adam and concluding with the account of the great priestly reformation 
 associated with Ezra (about 400 B.C.). 
 Its The fact that the author of this extensive history speaks of the days of 
 
 Nehemiah and Ezra as though they belonged to the distant past (Neh. 
 J228. 47^ g^j^j l^jjg kings of Persia as though he lived under a different rule 
 (Ezra !'• ^' '' 3') at once suggests that he wrote at least from the point of 
 view of the succeeding Greek period. Nehemiah 12" ■ ^^ also mentions 
 Jaddua who was high-priest in 332 b.c, when Alexander conquered Pal- 
 estine. The awkward Hebrew which he used, and the highly developed 
 ceremonial institutions with which he is familiar, as well as his general point 
 of view, indicate that he wrote not earlier than 300 B.C., probably about the 
 middle of the third century. 
 Method Again the historical value of the work turns largely upon whether the 
 author author depended for his facts merely upon the traditions current in his own 
 day or upon written sources, and also whether he recast the information, 
 which he collected, in his own language, or quoted it practically verbatim 
 from much earlier sources. An examination of his work at once demonstrates 
 that his method, like that of the editors of Samuel and Kings, was primarilj/ 
 compilation. Nearly half of the books of Chronicles consists of exact or 
 slightly variant quotations from the Old Testament books of Samuel and 
 Kings. Variations in style, point of view, and even minor inconsistencies 
 in representation clearly indicate that the greater part of Ezra-Nehemiah, 
 and probably certain of the remaining portions of Chronicles, were taken 
 bodily from older written sources. The real work of the writer of Chronicles 
 and Ezra-Nehemiah was therefore not primarily that of an original author 
 
 22
 
 THE CHRONICLER'S ECCLESL\STICAL HISTORY 
 
 but of a compiler and editor. An appreciation of this fact is essential to an 
 understanding of his unique history. It also tends to enhance its historical 
 value, for it is obvious that in general the nearer the records stand to the 
 events the greater their accuracy and authenticity. 
 
 Since his name is not known, the final editor of this extensive history may Point 
 be conventionally designated as the Chronicler. From his modifications of and *^^ 
 the older narrative of Samuel-Kings, from his systematic omissions, as well pequl- 
 as from the jiassages which came originally from his pen, it is possible to de- of the 
 termine definitely his point of view and distinctive peculiarities. Like the f ig°°' 
 writers of the late priestly school, his interests are ecclesiastical rather than 
 national, ritualistic rather than prophetic, and didactic rather than historical. 
 He was interested in Judah, because in it was the temple, and in the temple, 
 because about it gathered the ceremonial institutions which he regarded as 
 the beginning and end of existence. History was to him important simply 
 because it gave the background and recorded the beginnings of these insti- 
 tutions, and because it furnished apt illustrations of the peculiar ethical and 
 religious principles which were uppermost in his mind. In common with 
 that post-exilic Judaism whose point of view is likewise reflected in the non- 
 canonical writings, which he quotes, he was dominated by the natural 
 and irresistible tendency to idealize the past and project back into it the 
 conditions and institutions existing in his day. Thus a comparison with 
 the older parallel narratives of Samuel and Kings at once shows that num- 
 bers are often raised from hundreds to thousands (cf. I Chr. 22'^ II Chr. 
 133. 17^ 148. 9^ 17H-19, gS"' *), gold takes the place of brass, the priest of the 
 warrior, and a miracle of the victory won by the swords in the hands of 
 Israel's gallant defenders. David is regarded by him as the founder of the 
 post-exilic guilds of singers and the organizer of the elaborate temple ritual, 
 even though the sanctuary itself was not built until the days of Solomon 
 and did not attain its dominant religious prestige until centuries later. In 
 I Chronicles 2G he ajjy^ears even to have forgotten this fact and refers to the 
 gates of the temple (designated by their Persian name) as already existing 
 in the day of David. 
 
 The Chronicler lived in an age when zeal for the ritual had almost com- Mo<li- 
 pletely obscured the historical perspective. Certain accepted theories were of liiT" 
 also regarded as more authoritative than recorded facts. It was therefore earlier 
 doubtless in all honesty that he at times modified his older sources. Thus 
 the later idealization of Solomon led him to invert the testimony of I Kings 
 9""'* and represent the builder of the temple as receiving certain cities from 
 Hiram of Tyre rather than ceding them to him (II Chr. H-). The later con- 
 ception of Jehovah's rule and the new belief in a personal adversary led him 
 to state that David was influenced by Satan, not by Jehovah, to lunnber the 
 pef)p]e (cf. II Sam. 24' and I Chr. 21'). To reconcile the story with the more 
 familiar version in I Sannicl 1 7, he represents Elhanan as slaying, not (ioliath, 
 as in II Samuel 21'^, but the brother of Goliath (I Chr. 20^). Some of the 
 variations from the narrative in Samuel and Kings are doubtless due to the 
 fact that the Chronicler followc'd a diirercut tradition, as for example, when 
 he states that Jehoshaphat joined with Ahaziah in a commercial enterprise 
 
 23
 
 sions 
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 (II Chr. 20^^), while according to I Kings 22" he refused to unite with him. 
 Sometimes his quotations from distinct sources introduce absolute contra- 
 dictions into his narrative, as for example, when he affirms, following Kings, 
 that Asa and Jehoshaphat did not remove the high places (I Kgs. 15'\ 22", 
 II Chr. 15", 20^^), although, quoting from late traditions which idealized 
 these kings, he had already stated that they did remove the high places 
 (II Chr. 14^ 17^). In every case the reason for the variation is transparent 
 and reveals his peculiar point of view and aim. 
 Omis- His omissions are equally suggestive. Those facts which did not suit 
 his purpose or were contrary to his theory of the history were omitted. Thus 
 nothing is said of David's crimes and the national disasters that followed 
 in their train, for in his thought David was the man after God's own heart, 
 to whom was due the conception and organization of the temple. Many 
 references to the primitive idolatry which survived in Judah until the Baby- 
 lonian exile (e.g., I Kgs. 14^-"-*, II Kgs. 18^) are passed over in silence; no 
 mention is made of Hezekiah's tribute to Assyria (II Kgs. 18""^"). Most 
 significant of all is the almost complete absence of the Northern Israelitish 
 history which figures so prominently in Kings. Saul is only introduced on 
 the fatal battle-field of Gilboa, and then to be condemned. For the Chron- 
 icler the chosen people are those of the South, and Jehovah is not icith Israel 
 (II Chr. 25'). Judah, Benjamin — which he always associates with the 
 southern kingdom — and Levi are the three tribes which command his first 
 attention in the opening genealogies and throughout his history. The 
 northern kingdom has so completely vanished from his vision that Israel 
 is frequently used as a designation of Judah (e.g., II Chr. 21^, 28'^). The 
 reason for this omission is obvious. According to his retributive philosophy 
 of history the early fall of the northern kingdom was conclusive evidence 
 of its rejection by Jehovah. More important still was the historical fact 
 that the antecedents of the later Judean community and the temple, which 
 alone interested the Chronicler, all went back to Judah, not to Israel. 
 His His aim, however, was not to give an ordinary history of Judah. Many 
 
 ^?™te° incidents of great political significance are ignored. Nor was it to write 
 an, . the- history of Israel's religion, else he would not have passed over without 
 
 ecclcsi- o ' 1 
 
 astical mention the great work of Elijah, Amos, and Hosea. It was rather to record 
 
 mstory ^^^ history of Judah, conceived of from the first as a sacred state centring 
 
 about the temple, with the priests, the Levites, and earlier the king and his 
 
 court, as its officials. Although the words, chtirch and ecclesiastical, are in 
 
 a sense anachronisms, the Judah which the Chronicler knows and pictures 
 
 is nothing more than an ecclesiastical state, and his narrative as a whole may 
 
 best be designated as the Ecclesiastical History of Judah and the Temple. 
 
 His The prominence which he gives to the Levites and the frequency with 
 
 tUmin which he introduces into his quotations from earlier sources detailed de- 
 
 the scriptions of the temple music and especially of the levitical guilds of singers, 
 
 munity strongly suggest that he belongs to one of these. Connection with the ruling 
 
 class in the Jewish hierarchy put him in possession of the current priestly 
 
 traditions and doubtless enabled him to consult the then extant histories of 
 
 his race. 
 
 24
 
 THE CHRONICLER'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 
 
 The references of the Chronicler at first glance give the impressioo that His 
 in writing I and II Chronicles he had before him a large number of writings encesto 
 in addition to those now included in the Old Testament. Of these sixteen earlier 
 
 nis- 
 
 distinct titles are given. Four of these, the Book of the Kings of Judah, tories 
 the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel, the Book of the Kings of Israel, 
 and the Affairs of the Kings of Israel, are without much doubt variant titles 
 of the same work. To these may be added in all probability the title Mid- 
 rash of the Book of the Kings (II Chr. 24"), for it is referred to in II 
 Chronicles 24 as containing a group of facts kindred to those found in the 
 work bearing the preceding titles. Furthermore, as has been acutely urged, 
 it is difiicult to see why, if distinct and yet relating to the reigns of all the 
 kines, it should be referred to but once bv the Chronicler. 
 
 Moreover, as will be shown later, most of his quotations from non-canon- Words 
 ical sources evidently came from what might most appropriately be desig- prop^. 
 nated a Midrash (cf. p. 26). When the Chronicler at the conclusion of a etsand 
 
 SGGFS 
 
 reign does not refer his readers for further information to a book having 
 one of the five titles cited above, he substitutes some special authority, as 
 for example the ]]'ords of the Seer Samuel, the Prophet Nathan and the 
 Seer Gad (I Chr. 29-'), or the Words of Nathan the Prophet and the Prophecy 
 of Ahijah the Shilonite and the ^^isions of Iddo the Seer (II Chr. 9^"). 
 Each of these titles is connected with the name of some prophet or seer 
 mentioned in the history of the period. The fact that they are always in- 
 troduced as substitutes for the titles of the more comprehensive work, and 
 never appear with them in connection with the same reign, seems to indicate 
 that they simply refer to sections of the greater Book of the Kings in which 
 these prophets figured. This conclusion is strongly confirmed by such 
 passages as II Chronicles 20^\ Now the other acts of J ehoshaphat, the earlier 
 as icell as the later, have already been recorded in the Words of Jehu the 
 son of Ilanani, which is inserted in the Book of the Kings of Israel, and 
 by the Hebrew version of II Chronicles 32^^ Now the acts of Hezekiah 
 as well as his pious deeds have already been recorded in the Vision of the 
 Prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and 
 Israel. The natural implication of these statements is that possibly the 
 Words and Vision were once originally distinct, but that they then consti- 
 tuted a section of the larger work. The remaining title, the Midrash of the 
 Prophet Iddo (II Chr. 13"), may have been distinct, but it is also possible 
 that the Chronicler employed it as synonym of the work attributed to the 
 same author and in II Chronicles 9^' and 12'^ refers to it under the vari- 
 ant titles, the Visions of Iddo the Seer and the Words of Iddo the Seer. 
 
 The contents of the books of Chronicles supi)ort in general the inferences His 
 drawn from the references to earlier sources. The many verbatim (juota- samuel- 
 tions from the canonical books of Samuel and Kings and especially from the I'^'^ks 
 .sections which came from the lute prophetic editor leave little doubt that 
 they, like the earlier pentateuchal books, were before the Chronicler and 
 were made by him the basis of liis work. 
 
 The history of the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel, to which he so 
 often refers, mu.st necessarily remain largely a matter of conjecture. It is 
 
 25
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 The certain from the references and probable quotations from it that it was 
 Book of <^ig^jj^pt from the Old Testament books of Samuel and Kings. It may 
 Kings possibly have been based on these, but it also contained much else. This 
 dahand additional material may in part have come from the larger Chronicles of the 
 Israel Xjfigg of J lid all and the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, which the editor 
 of Kings frequently mentions. There are occasionally found in the writ- 
 ings of the Chronicler detailed statistics which are probably authentic and 
 which favor the conclusion that they were ultimately derived from an 
 older source. In levitical and priestly circles the older histories would in- 
 evitably be modified and expanded very much as the Chronicler treated 
 the material of Samuel and Kings. Another familiar and instructive illus- 
 tration of the same transforming process is found by comparing the early 
 Judean prophetic accounts of the exodus, the wilderness wandering, and the 
 conquest of Canaan with the corresponding late priestly versions (cf. Vol. I, 
 §§ 63-116). Soon after the beginning of the Babylonian exile the originally 
 distinct chronicles of the northern and southern kingdoms may have been 
 blended into one work. 
 The It does not seem probable that the Chronicler had before him an exilic 
 
 rash Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. Certainly most of his data, other 
 of the than those from the canonical books of Samuel and Kings, if not, as has 
 the been claimed, his own creation, must have been taken from what may prop- 
 '°^^ erly be called a Midrash of the Book of the Kings. The word midrash 
 describes a large proportion of the literature of later Judaism. It is derived 
 from the Hebrew word meaning to search out, explore. It is applied to an 
 edifying story like Tobit, or to an address or exposition intended to bring 
 out the implied or hidden meaning of a scriptural passage. Its aim is al- 
 ways didactic. If the story is highly embellished, it is to attract the reader 
 and emphasize the moral. As in the modern didactic novel, the leading 
 characters are frequently introduced simply to give expression to the teach- 
 ings of the author (cf. p. 4). The passages not quoted by the Chronicler 
 from his canonical source are excellent examples of this type of literature. 
 They always relate to prominent historic characters and scenes. They 
 usually start with certain well-authenticated facts. Questions suggested in 
 the older source are answered at length, numbers are multiplied, all the 
 details assume larger and more exalted proportions, right is always richly 
 rewarded and wickedness signally punished, miracles are common, and 
 prophets and kings deliver noble, majestic, spiritual addresses, embodying 
 the best doctrines of later Judaism. Sometimes the story element is more 
 prominent and sometimes the addresses. These didactic stories and ad- 
 dresses constitute the really distinctive element in the books of Chronicles. 
 A few, and possibly all of them, may have been written by the Chronicler, 
 who is imbued with their spirit and aim, but some appear to have been 
 cited by him from an extensive Midrash of the Book of the Kings which 
 probably grew up gradually on the basis of the earlier exilic Book of the 
 Kings of Judah and Israel. It must, however, be frankly admitted that tht 
 evidence which has led the latest commentators, like Benzinger and Kittel, 
 to assign a large part of Chronicles to this source is meagre and not altogether 
 
 26
 
 THE CHRONICLER'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 
 
 decisive. The presence of the Clironicler's pecuHar idioms and ideas through- 
 out all these sections still furnishes a good basis for the thesis of the earlier 
 German critics, who maintained that the Chronicler had but one source, 
 Samuel-Kings, and that all else was the creation of his own active imagina- 
 tion. On the whole, however, the simplest and most satisfactory explanation 
 of all the facts is that he had before him one or two midrashic sources to 
 which he frequently refers under many different titles. In vocabulary and 
 literary style, as well as in point of ^^ew, the stories which he takes from 
 them are so closely related to those from the pen of the Chronicler that any 
 detailed analysis is necessarily very uncertain and unsatisfactory. Their 
 theological and moral ideas and their attitude toward the ritual are also 
 closely parallel to those of the Chronicler himself. Some of them so obvi- 
 ously favor the Levites at the expense of the priests that they must have 
 come, like the book of Chronicles, from the pens of Levites. 
 
 In general they may be dated in the century of religious and national Date 
 revival which followed the reformation associated with Nehemiah and Ezra mi^^J' 
 about 400 B.C. When the late priestly law was accepted as the absolute guide rashim 
 of the community, the religious leaders sought not only to conform their Chron- 
 lives and those of their own generation to its definite and revolutionary de- ^^ 
 mands, but they also began to rewrite history in order to bring the past into 
 harmony with it. At the same time they were influenced by the desire 
 to find in the precedents of the past, authority for the usages of their day. 
 Thus not only Moses, but also David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Ilezekiah, and 
 Josiah were represented as being strict upholders of the post-exilic institu- 
 tions. Since these midrashhn stand so near in date, as well as point of view 
 and literary style, to the work of the Chronicler, even if they could in each 
 case be definitely distinguished, the analysis would be of little value. 
 
 From the same periods probably come the apparent quotations in I Chron- Late 
 icles 15'-'5' «_i63^ 2r-", 222-'^ 28'-'', 29'-», and possibly the nucleus of fempli^ 
 23-26 and II Chronicles 24*"'^ They are based upon the briefer narratives history 
 of Samuel and Kings. These, however, are revised, so that the priests and 
 Levites figure as the guardians of the ark, and everything is done in accord- 
 ance with the late priestly law. The Levites are divided into six classes, 
 15'-°, instead of three as elsewhere by the Chronicler. The theme which 
 binds together these different sections is their interest in the temple. They 
 appear therefore to have been taken from a l.ate priestly temple history, which 
 may have been incorporated in the Midrash of the Book of the Kings, but 
 was probably originally distinct. 
 
 Thus the Chronicler's work is the outgrowth of many earlier writings, Point 
 and represents the culmination of a long process of development. He him- ,^f \\^J^ 
 self does not stand alone, but is rather the final editor or epitomizer of the f^^'iroii- 
 
 iclcr s 
 
 work of a school of writers. Their predecessors were the editors of Judges, school 
 Samuel, and Kings, who likewi.se selected their stories to illustrate their 
 religious and ethical doctrines. Their contemporaries were those who wrote 
 the very late priestly stories in the Pentateuch (e.g., the account of the war 
 with Miclian, Vol. I, >^ 101). Their successors were the authors of the 
 later Jewish rnidrashim, who for example in the book of Jubilee rewrote 
 
 27
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 and freely expanded the stories of the patriarchs with a similar didactic aim. 
 Time and circumstance explain their lack of the historical sense. Prolonged 
 subjection to foreign rulers had excluded the Jews from all participation 
 in political life. The shadow of the exile still rested heavily upon them. At 
 this time the future offered little to inspire them. Their chief joy and pride 
 and comfort w^ere the magnificence of their ritual and the glories of their 
 past. Prominent before their eyes were the dazzling splendors of the Persian 
 and Greek empires. These furnished their basis by comparison with which 
 the facts recorded in the primitive sources of Samuel and Kings seemed 
 paltry and insignificant. Idealizing and almost idolizing the leaders and 
 great events in the past history of their nation, it was inevitable that 
 they should readily overlook the sins and the mistakes, and represent its 
 victories and glories on a scale corresponding to that with which they were 
 familiar. 
 Their Their idealized past also furnished dramatic illustrations of that moral 
 reiig- order in the universe in which they firmly believed. Aside from their in- 
 concen- ^^^"^^^ ^^ the ritual, which to their minds represented worship and true re- 
 tions ligion, their supreme purpose was to proclaim that God is just, that he is 
 merciful, and that he rules directly and personally in human life. The might 
 of armies and nations counts as nothing against him. In the end the right 
 will surely win. Obedience and faith in Jehovah are more effective in- 
 struments in the hands of Israel's kings than powerful armies and strong 
 alliances. Thus, although the historical perspective of the Chronicler and 
 his school is often defective, their stories emphasize certain of the most ^'ital 
 spiritual truths. 
 
 28
 
 IV 
 
 THE ORIGINAL SOURCES AND HISTORICAL VALUE 
 
 OF EZRA-NEHEMIAH 
 
 While the Chronicler aims in the first great division of his work (I and im- 
 II Chr.) to show that the ceremonial institutions of his day could all be ^"^ce 
 traced back to David and Solomon, in the second, Ezra-Nehemiah, his pur- of 
 pose is to demonstrate that these institutions were revived, in connection Nehe- 
 with the second temple, by the exiles who returned from Babylonia. Un- '""*^ 
 fortunately, the parallel prophetic history of Samuel-Kings stops with the 
 exile, so that the historian is almost entirely dependent upon the Chronicler 
 for information regarding the Jewish community during the Persian period. 
 The sermons of Haggai and Zechariah supplement and correct the Chron- 
 icler's portrait at one important epoch (cf. note § 146), and the book of 
 Malachi and the prophecies in the latter part of Isaiah throw light upon 
 social and religious conditions, but otherwise the additional data are few. 
 On the other hand, the Chronicler stands much nearer the events which he 
 records in the second great division of his work, and his testimony is accord- 
 ingly more valuable. 
 
 Fortunately, his peculiar ideas and tendencies and those of the late priestly Chron- 
 and levitical writers whom he quotes, are clearly revealed by comparative pecuHar 
 study of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. These reappear in Ezra-Nehemiah concep- 
 and must be reckoned with in reconstructing the true course of the history, of the 
 In his mind the priests and Levites are so much more important than the exilic 
 laymen, that only the Babylonian exiles, among whom were found the priests history 
 who survived the catastrophe of 586 B.C., were deemed by him eligible to 
 rebuild the temple and reinstitute the rule of the law. The people of the 
 land — those who survived the captivity and under the inspiring teaching 
 of Haggai and Zechariah actually rebuilt the temple in 520 b.c. (cf. note 
 § 146) — were in his eyes ceremonially unclean. The true Israel — like the 
 Jewish commumly of his own day, ruled by priests and devoted solely to 
 maintaining the temple ritual and fulfilling the insistent denuuids of the 
 ceremonial law — is the chief actor in his history. As in the viidrashim of 
 Chrorn'eJes, events are the results of direct divine intervention. Jehovah is 
 represented as influencing the most powerful Persian kings to pour upon 
 the returning exiles the wealth of the empire and to issue decrees, the lan- 
 guage and purport of which were well calculated to satisfy the strictest 
 priestly patriot. Ezra 1, .3'-4' and 6'"'" are excellent illustrations of the 
 Chroniclers concej)tions of the revival of the Jewish coninninity. Un- 
 doubtedly important historical facts are at the basis, but the idealized char- 
 acter of the narrative is clearly revealed by comparing it with the early 
 record found in Haggai 1 or Ezra 5'-6"'. 
 
 29
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 His The analysis of Chronicles has demonstrated, however, that the Chron- 
 
 the'^*'^^' ^^^^^ ^^'^^ '^^t primarily an author, but a compiler. This fact also determines 
 A''a- the great historical value of Ezra-Nehemiah. He makes long, verbal quo- 
 docu- tations from three or four older sources. The first is the Aramaic document 
 °^^'^^ cited in Ezra 5^-6'^. It records an unsuccessful attempt by the local Per- 
 sian satrap to stop the building of the temple. Not only is the language 
 different, but the vocabulary and literary style are distinct from those of 
 the Chronicler. A Persian monarch like Cyrus is referred to simply as the 
 king, implying that the document was at least composed before the Greek 
 period, when he was designated as the hing of Persia. At the same time 
 the Jewish form of the decree in 6^"'^ suggests that that idealizing process 
 had begun, which is still more prominent in the sections which come from 
 the Chronicler (cf. Appendix XII for a recently discovered decree of Darius). 
 In general, however, the data, which it presents, may be regarded as au- 
 thentic. Probably from the same series of documents, which appear to 
 have recorded the official relations between the Persian government and 
 the Judean community, was taken the other Aramaic section in Ezra 4'"-'. 
 It is very loosely connected with its context, which relates to the rebuilding 
 of the temple, while it records an indejjendent attempt to restore the walls. 
 Its true setting is to be found in connection with the work of Nehemiah 
 (cf. note § 155). Whether or not these Aramaic documents were more ex- 
 tensive and furnished the Chronicler additional data is an interesting ques- 
 tion, which cannot be definitely answered. Ezra 1 appears to be his ex- 
 pansion and idealization of the facts derived from the Aramaic document 
 quoted in 5^-6'^. The continuation of Ezra 1, found in I Esdras 5"-6^ 
 (cf. § 144), and Ezra 3 '-4* may possibly contain some older data derived 
 from his Aramaic source, but there is no conclusive evidence. 
 Nehe- The oldest and by far the most important source quoted by the Chron- 
 me- ^ icier is the memoirs of Nehemiah. Written to record the stirring events in 
 moirs which he was the leader, they rank as in many ways the most authentic and 
 valuable historical document in the Old Testament. In a concise, straight- 
 forward, vivid narrative this noble Jewish patriot tells of how he accom- 
 plished the seemingly impossible task of rebuilding the ruined walls of Jeru- 
 salem and of reconstructing fundamentally the moral and religious standards 
 of the degenerate Jewish community. In Nehemiah V-l^", with the probable 
 exception of chapter 3, the Chronicler quotes bodily from this source. Unless 
 it is found in 11'' ^, the sequel to 7'" has been lost in the complex process of 
 editorial readjustment, to which the material in Ezra-Nehemiah has been 
 subjected. The conclusion of the account of the rebuilding of the walls 
 is probably to be found in 12^'' ^^' ^''". In 13^'^' Nehemiah's energetic 
 reforming spirit again finds expression. Since the section concerns the 
 reform of the ceremonial life of the community, the Chronicler has evidently 
 here departed from his usual custom in quoting from the memoirs of Nehe- 
 miah and recast and supplemented his source at several points (cf. note 
 § 158). The references in ^' ' also imply that he failed to reproduce that 
 part of the memoirs which probably told of Nehemiah's other acts as governor 
 and of his return to Artaxerxes. Otherwise we appear to be in complete 
 
 30
 
 SOURCES AND VALUE OF EZRA-XEHEMIAH 
 
 possession of the autobiography of the most important Jew of his age. The 
 preservation of this document, which records the work not of a priest nor of 
 a Levite, but of a layman, must forever be reckoned to the Chronicler's 
 credit. It certainly represents his greatest service to history. Upon a brief 
 but exceedingly important period, which is preceded and followed by cen- 
 turies of comparative obscurity, it throws the clear hght of contemporary 
 testimony. 
 
 Nehemiah's memoirs also furnish a definite starting point for the con- Various 
 sideration of the complex and difficult problems presented by the remaining s°on*s"' 
 chapters of Ezra-Nehemiali. Within the past decade an extensive literature rega"!- 
 has grown up about them (cf. Appendix I), in which very diverse conclu- origin 
 sions have been maintained by different scholars. Basing his deductions ^,^[^3 
 upon a careful, exhaustive study of the vocabulary and literary style, Pro- '^ ^^^ 
 fessor Torrey in his Composition and Historical Value of Ezra-Xehemiah narra- 
 concludes that they were all originally written by the Chronicler, and that '^^ 
 Ezra is but the creation of his imagination. Others maintain that in Ezra 
 7"-9'^ 10, we have verbatim quotations from Ezra's memoirs, and in Nehe- 
 miah T'^-IO'^ documents of the time of Ezra (cf., e.g., Guthe, The Book of 
 Ezra and Xeh. in SBOT). This position naturally carries with it the ac- 
 ceptance of the testimony of these records as substantially historical. These 
 wide variations in opinion are possible from the historical point of view, 
 because Ezra is mentioned nowhere else in the Old Testament outside Ezra- 
 Nehemiah. Even in Ben Sira's list of Israel's immortals (written about 190 
 B.C.) the name of Ezra is not found beside those of Zerubbabel, Jeshua, anc 
 Nehemiah (49"''^). This omission is all the more significant because Ben Sira 
 himself is an intelligent and reverent disciple of the law and of the traditions 
 that gathered about it. Likewise in the still later traditions found in II ^lac- 
 cabees l'^--^ Xehemiah, not Ezra, is the one who is represented as coming 
 back from Babylon to Jerusalem to restore the worship. In estimating the 
 work and relative importance of these two men it is significant that outside 
 the writings of the Chronicler the one, a priest and scribe, is ignored and 
 the other, a layman, is honored for the next three or four centuries by Juda- 
 ism, the chief interest of which nevertheless centred in ceremonialism and 
 the law. 
 
 Many of the otherwise insuperable difficulties of Ezra-Nehemiah dis- Priority 
 appear, when it is recognized that, if at all historical, the work of Ezra must Nehe- 
 have followed, not preceded that of Neheniiah. If an expedition of the size ™Q^k^ 
 and importance of the one described in Ezra 8 had gone to Judah only thir- 
 teen years before, it is incredible that Xehemiah would have made no refer- 
 ence to it, and also have found conditions in Jerusak»m as he did. Not one 
 of the ardent reformers mentioned in Ezra 8 is referred to in Nehemiah's 
 detailed record. The leaders of the community also, in.stead of being ready 
 to submit to anv sacrifice, are even suspicious of the iiiaii who conies to help 
 them build their walls. Moreover, after the conununity had submitted to 
 Ezra's sweeping measures, Nehemiah's mild reforms are meaningless. On 
 the other hand, such an expedition as Ezra is represented as leading back to 
 Judah was a [)ractical irn[)ossibility before Nehemiah had fortified Jerusalem, 
 
 31
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 reorganized the community, and brought the dismembered sections of the 
 Jewish race into sympathetic touch with each other. Likewise his pioneer 
 reforms, enforced by his energy and authority and claim to the gratitude of 
 the Palestinian community, alone make credible the revolutionary changes 
 associated with Ezra and realized in the character of later Judaism. Direct 
 evidence also may be found in Ezra's prayer in Ezra 9, in which he gives 
 thanks that the wall of Jerusalem has been rebuilt and Judah's defences 
 restored (vs. *). Instead of a defenceless, afflicted city, he found a strong, 
 populous community, ready to follow him to any extreme, even if it involved 
 the severance of all relations with foreigners and the rending asunder of 
 their homes (Ezra 10). 
 Present The present impossible order of events in Ezra-Nehemiah is probably due 
 dueTo to the Chronicler's desire to give Ezra, the priest and scribe, the precedence 
 the over Nehemiah. His free readjustment of his sources is illustrated not only 
 icier in Chronicles but also repeatedly in Ezra-Nehemiah. Thus for example 
 the account of an attempted interruption of the rebuilding of the walls in 
 the days of Artaxerxes he introduced in 4''^^ as an explanation of why the 
 temple was not completed before the days of Darius. In Nehemiah 12"- 
 13^' the analogy is even closer. Just before the quotation in 13'"''^, which 
 tells of Nehemiah's pioneer regulations providing for the income of the 
 Levites and singers, he himself adds a section, 12""", in which it is stated 
 that this arrangement had already been made and was in force in the days 
 of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah (§ 158). Possibly the original 
 Ezra tradition read in Ezra 7 the thirty- or jorty-sevcnth year of Artaxerxes, 
 or the reference may have been to Artaxerxes II or III. It is more probable, 
 however, that the Chronicler simply introduced his favorite number to estab- 
 lish the priority of Ezra. Additional evidence of his desire to give Ezra a 
 prominent position is found in the fact that he also in Nehemiah 12^" places 
 Ezra at the head of the procession of priests at the dedication of the walls, 
 although the older sources give no suggestion that this priestly reformer was 
 then at Jerusalem. 
 Orig- That the similar material in Nehemiah T'^-IO", which is injected into the 
 order of iTiidst of the quotations from Nehemiah's memoirs, belongs with the dis- 
 the membered section, Ezra 7-10, was even recognized by the editor of I Esdras, 
 narra- wlio introduces Nehemiah and immediately after Ezra 10. Of the many 
 attempts to restore the original order, that of Torrey alone gives a connected 
 and consistent narrative: Ezra 7, 8, Nehemiah 7"-8", Ezra 9, 10, Nehe- 
 miah 9, 10. With the exception of the editor's introduction, Ezra 7'"'", and 
 a few supplemental passages, the unity of representation and ideas is con- 
 firmed by the constant recurrence of the same peculiar words and expres- 
 sions. It mu.st be admitted that the strenuous efforts of certain scholars to 
 find here the work of several different authors is a failure. Even those sec- 
 tions in which Ezra is represented as speaking in the first person are not 
 exceptions. As Professor Torrey has further demonstrated, nowhere out- 
 side that book itself do we find more, if as many, of the literary character- 
 istics that distinguish the book of Chronicles. They are so marked and recur 
 in nearly every verse with such persistency that all possibility is eliminated 
 
 32 
 
 tive
 
 SOURCES AND VALUE OF EZRA-XEHEML\H 
 
 that this is due to mere chance. This fact is fully recognized and further The 
 ilhistrated in great detail by Geissler (in Die litcrarischen Beziehumjen nfrra- 
 der Esramemoiren), who, however, maintains that the Chronicler was not tive 
 ,he original author of the narrative. Contents and method of representation the 
 also emphasize the close relationship with the narratives of Chronicles. If ^^1°^' 
 a majority of the distinctive passages in that book are from the Chronicler, school 
 he is unquestionably the author of the Ezra narrative. But if, as seems 
 more probable (cf. pp. 26, 27), he quoted largely from the midrashim which 
 came from the very late priestly school to which he belonged and of which 
 he was the final editor, he here again figures in his ordinary role of editor 
 and reviser. The arbitrary manner in which he has rearranged the narrative, 
 dismembering it without adjusting the parts to their new settings, strongly 
 suggests that he had an older document before him. Certain grammatical 
 and stylistic pecuHarities, as well as characteristic words and idioms, also 
 distinguish this Ezra narrative from the passages elsewhere assigned to the 
 Chronicler (cf. Geissler, LBE pp. 22-24). His own additions can also be 
 detected at several points. As Geissler has shown, the earlier scriptures 
 most quoted are the pre-exilic and exilic prophets, Deuteronomy, and the 
 Hohness Code, but not the later sections of the priestly code, which figure 
 most prominently in the writings of the Chronicler. 
 
 The possibility that Ezra himself wrote a memoir and that we have quo- Evi- 
 tations from it is therefore not absolutely precluded, but literary and his- that^ 
 torical considerations do not support it. The vocabulary and literary struct- ^^^ 
 ure of what may be called the Ezra narrcdive proclaim that it stands nearer narra- 
 the Chronicler and the author of Esther than Nehemiah or the late priestly ijeai'.^ 
 writers. Its contents support the same inference. The decree of Artaxerxes, j^.^J 
 Ezra 7''"^', the account of the fabulous wealth brought back by the exiles, 
 8^*"", and the sudden conversion of the Judean community read umch more 
 like the midrashim in Chronicles than Nehemiah's detailed memoirs. The 
 parallels between the history of Nehemiah and that of Ezra are also many 
 and striking: the liberal decree of Artaxerxes, the journey to Jerusalem 
 with a following and unusual authority, the preliminary study of the con- 
 ditions, the detailed reforms, and finally the recording it all in the form of a 
 personal memoir. It is significant that practically every element in the cove- 
 nant recorded in Nehenn'ah 10 corresponds to a distinct reform instituted 
 by Nehemiah (13^"^'). When we add to this the conspicuous absence of 
 any other references to Ezra in the literature of the next three or four cen- 
 turies, the conviction deepens that this is partly idealized history, in which 
 the mantle of Nehemiah has fallen upon F.zra. An instructive analogy might 
 be drawn between the Nehemiah-Ezra and the Elijah-lOlisha stories. Elijah 
 and Nehemiah were both men who met grave crises with dauntless courage 
 and energy, ancl as a result of their achievements set to work forces which 
 revoluticHiized the subse(juent history of their race. Later schools of writers, 
 how'ever, manifested a strong tendency to transfer the renown of their work 
 to two of their successors who represented more perfectly the ideals of the 
 later school in which the Ehsha and Ezra traditions respectively assumed 
 their final literary form (cf. pp. 18-20). 
 
 33
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 Its At the same time there is good reason for beheving that Ezra, as well aa 
 
 ical""^" Elisha, actually lived and that he performed an important, although less 
 signifi- conspicuous service than tradition attributed to him, in introducing the 
 cance pj.jgg^}y j^w to the Judean community. As portrayed, he and his acts faith- 
 fully symbolize that fundamental and probably gradual reformation which 
 converted the weak, discouraged people to whom Nehemiah and the author 
 of Malachi spoke into a body of heroes and martyrs, who in the Maccabean 
 struggle won religious and political freedom. 
 Origin The remaining chapters of Ezra-Nehemiah consist chiefly of genealogical 
 gine-^ lists in which the Chronicler was deeply interested. The data incorporated in 
 alogical them may in part have been derived from the Booh o] the Chroi ides, to which 
 he refers in Nehemiah 12-^ but their setting and present hterary form are 
 clearly due to the editor himself. It must be admitted that their historical 
 value is slight, except as they reveal the organization of the Judean com- 
 munity in the days of the Chronicler and in the immediately preceding 
 century. The census of the Jews in Palestine in the latter part of the Persian 
 period (cf. note § 165) has been introduced by the editor into the Nehemiah 
 history and again in Ezra 2, where it purports to give the list of those who 
 returned soon after 538 B.C. 
 His- Thus in its present form, as it comes from the Chronicler, Ezra-Nehemiah 
 
 va"ue gives the reader a confused and misleading conception of the real course of 
 of post-exilic history. And yet side by side with the dull and almost valueless 
 
 Nehe- genealogical lists, this book contains some of the most detailed and exact 
 ^'a historical writings in all the Old Testament. In a fragmentary manner, 
 whole and yet with vivid flashes of light at critical points, it records the rebuilding 
 of the second temple, the elaborate development of its ritual, the revival 
 of the Judean state, the return of the exiles, the unification of the Jewish 
 race, and the birth of that Judaism which treasured the writings and tra- 
 ditions incorporated in the Old Testament and furnished the background 
 and atmosphere of the New. 
 
 34
 
 THE RECORDS OF THE MACCABEAN AGE 
 
 The list of the Jewish liigh -priests in Nehemiah 12'°' " carries the history Impor- 
 of the Jewish people down to the conquests of Alexander in 332 B.C. This of'ttfe 
 leaves a period of over three centuries, until the birth of Christ, regarding Greek 
 which the historical records in the present Protestant Bible are absolutely Macca- 
 silent. It is, however, one of the most important periods in biblical and pe^ods 
 Israelitish history. It was during these centuries that several of the books of 
 the Old Testament, such as Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Eccle- 
 siastes, and Esther were written, and many more like Proverbs and Psalms 
 crystallized into their present form. It also witnessed the gradual growth 
 and practical completion of the canon of the Old Testament. These mem- 
 orable three centuries not only bind the Old Testament to the New, but 
 represent the final development of that Judaism which is the outgrowth of 
 the life recorded in the Old Testament. Without a knowledge of the events 
 and forces of this revolutionizing era, any study of either of the Testaments is 
 necessarily incomplete. It was then that Greek and Jewish ideas and civili- 
 zation met in mortal combat and later contributed each their peculiar mes- 
 sage to Christianity. Out of the fires of persecution came that passionate 
 love for race, for law, for traditions, and for Jerusalem, which fused all the 
 scattered members of the Jewish nation together, and which has kept them 
 practically intact until the present. Then the feud between Jew and Samar- 
 itan reached its height of bitterness, and through the conversion of the Idu- 
 means at the edge of the sword, the malign influence of the Herodian house 
 became a potent factor in Jewish history. Then also the Jews of Galilee and 
 Perea were brought into religious union with those of Judea. The same 
 transitional epoch saw the birth and full development of the Pharisaic and 
 Sadducean parties. The brilliant victories under the leadership of Judas 
 Maccabeus and his successors gave the Jews that taste of liberty and conquest 
 which made them so restive under the rule of Rome and so eager to welcome 
 the visions of a tem{)oral INIessianic kingdom. 
 
 Fortunately, the most important events of this reign are recorded in detail Value 
 in two books which are still included in the Old Testament canon accepted °:^'} , 
 
 __ IC3.Ii Oil** 
 
 by the Greek and Roman Catholic churches, and which have only in very 'city of 
 recent times been dropped from the Protestant Bible. In the case of several cabees 
 of the so-called Apocryphal Old Testament books the conclusions of the 
 Reformers and the final decision of the Bible Societies, during the earlier 
 part of the last century, are amply justified. But the tendency which is be- 
 coming so marked among thoughtful Bible students in this country and in 
 Europe to restore at lea.st in practice such a book as I Maccabees to its 
 rightful place beside Samuel and Kings is sane and thoroughly justified by 
 the facts. Its lateness and the fact that, unlike Ecclesiastes and many Psalms, 
 
 35
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 it was not associated with revered names like those of Solomon or David, 
 alone kept it out of the Palestinian Jewish canon. Otherwise its historical 
 title to a place in the Old Testament is well established. Measured by the 
 more fundamental and enduring standards of value and authority, its claim 
 to a place in the Old Testament is well supported. As has just been noted, 
 the events which it records are surpassed in importance and inspiring qualities 
 by none in Israelitish history. Judas and Simon are certainly as brave and 
 noble types as David and Solomon. The deeply patriotic and religious 
 spirit in which it is written compares favorably with that of Samuel, Kings, 
 or Chronicles. As a vivid, faithful record of the events of which it speaks 
 it is equalled by no other Jewish writing. 
 Value While its historical title to canonicity is equally valid, II Maccabees does 
 canon- "ot rank with the first book. Its theme, however, is in general the same, and 
 icityof it supplements the earlier history at many points. Its spirit is also strongly 
 cabees religious, although far less historical. It may be compared with the Chron- 
 icler's late ecclesiastical history. In both the primary aim is not merely to 
 record events, but rather to edify and instruct. Nowhere else in pre-Christian 
 Jewish literature does the belief in the resurrection of the dead find such 
 clear expression (cf. 7'' "• "' ^^ 12^^"^^ 14^"). In a great variety of ways it 
 effectively aids in bridging the chasm which otherwise yawns between the 
 history and teaching of the Old Testament and that of the New. 
 Orig- The present titles to the Maccabean histories were given by the Greek 
 
 t?tleof translators on the basis of their contents. The term Maccabean was derived 
 I Mac- from the surname or possibly the original name of the chief hero in the his- 
 tory. The Jews themselves, however, never applied it to the histories nor 
 to the members of his family, but used instead the term Hasmoncan (or 
 Asmonean), the family name of the house of Mattathias. The original 
 Hebrew or Aramaic title of I Maccabees, which was known to Origen (cf. 
 Eusebius, HE 6), was probably Book (or History) of the Hasmoneaiis. 
 This title is certainly a felicitous designation of the history which records 
 the achievements of the different members of the famous Hasmonean house 
 and the events of their rule. 
 Its The independent testimony of Origen and Jerome that it was originally 
 
 lan?'"^ written in Hebrew is completely confirmed by the presence in every verse 
 guage Qf characteristic Semitic idioms, and above all by the fact that certain of the 
 later obvious errors in the Greek text, which alone survives, are due to the failur 
 latk)ns of the translator to understand his Hebrew original. Frequently it is possible 
 by restoring the Hebrew to correct the current translation. The original 
 Hebrew version was early lost, probably because it never found a place in 
 the Palestinian canon of the Old Testament, while the Greek, accepted as 
 canonical by the Jews of the dispersion, survived. This translation is exact 
 without being slavishly literal, and was evidently made by a Jew who was 
 well acquainted with the Hebrew and yet master of a good Greek style 
 which was well adapted to the subject matter. Josephus in his history, 
 Jerome in the Vulgate, and the translator of the Syriac version all depended 
 upon the Greek text. 
 
 The author of I Maccabees was evidently a Jew and a native of PalestinCj 
 
 SQ
 
 RECORDS OF THE :\L\CCABEAN AGE 
 
 as is shown bv his minute acquaintance with its topography and comparative Its 
 ignorance of j)hices and affairs outside Judea. His famiHarity with poHtical '^"*^°^ 
 events and court intrigues strongly suggests that he was a man of rank and 
 in close touch with the leaders of his day. His loyalty to each of the Macca- 
 bean rulers and evident approval of their policy indicate that, if affiliated 
 with either of the leading parties of the state, it was with the Sadducean, 
 rather than the Pharisaic, which soon after the restoration of the temple 
 began to view askance the political and military ambitions of Judas's suc- 
 cessors. It is as a devoted and enthusiastic patriot that he writes his 
 history. The earlier historical books are his models. The familiar ex- 
 pressions, to this day (13^°), or, now the rest of the acts of John and his 
 wars aiid his brave deeds — hehohl they are recorded in the Chronicles of 
 his high priesthood (16-^' ^\ cf. 9^^), indicate that he wrote with the feeling 
 that he was the true successor of the earlier Hebrew historians. His spirit 
 is devout, and he is by no means blind to the religious significance of the 
 stirring deeds that he records, but his first aim is simply historical, that is, 
 to produce a simple, ^^vid narrative of events. His own reflections he 
 keeps for the most part to himself, but his enthusiasm and piety doubtless 
 find expression in the exalted addresses, usually in the form of poetry, which 
 are uttered by Mattathias (g'"'*' "-^»), Judas"(3'«-2^ 4«-"), and the people 
 ^350-53^ These and other passages reveal a man zealous for the religious 
 institutions of his race, assured of its noble destiny, but believing that this 
 was to be realized not by miracles but through men who combined faith 
 with courage and action. 
 
 The author of I Maccabees records the death of Simon 13a b.c. and refers its 
 in the epilogue, IG-^ -\ to the wars of John Hyrcanus and the rebuilding ^^*® 
 of the walls which belong to the earlier part of his reign, between 135 and 
 125 B.C. The absence of any reference to the later important acts of John's 
 reign, as for example the conquest of Idumea and the destruction of 
 Samaria, indicate that the history was probably completed by 125 b.c. It 
 also reflects throughout the national pride and exultation that reached their 
 height during the days of Simon and the earlier part of the reign of John 
 Hyrcaims. There is no suggestion of the clouds that began to gather during 
 the latter part of John's reign, because of the opposition of the Pharisees, 
 nor of the storm of civil war which swef)t over Judea during the reign of 
 Alexander Jannjeus. The Romans, instead of being regarded as the future 
 concjuerors of Judea, are spoken of as distant allies whose friendship is most 
 desirable. On the other hand there is no positive evidence ])ointing to a 
 later date. Instead, the minute details, the marvellous acquaintance with 
 men and facts and forces are best explained by the conclusion that the author 
 was reporting events with which he was personally fann'liar. 
 
 The unity of I INIaccabees and the absence of abrupt transition and con- Its 
 tradiction distinguish it from books like Samuel and Kings, which are com- ^",a' 
 f)ilati()ns from earlier sources. Furlhcrniorc, aside from tlie two stereotvped 
 formulas, which he introduced in iniitalion of tiie earlier historians (9"', 
 16^^), the author nowhere gives the slightest .suggestion that when he wrote, 
 earlier sources relating to the period were in existence. The simple, straight- 
 
 37 
 
 sources 
 
 in- 
 tegrity
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 forward style of the book is most like that of Nehemiah's memoirs, and in- 
 dicates that popular traditions contributed very little, if anything, to it. From 
 the first it probably took its position as the standard history of the period. 
 It is the only Jewish source quoted by Josephus for this epoch, and he appears 
 to have known it in practically its present form. It has been questioned 
 whether certain of the documents incorporated in the book are not late 
 additions (especially 10'^"^\ 14"", 15'^"^^). That these are exact copies of 
 the original edicts and letters is not probable, but that the epitomes were 
 made by the author of I Maccabees, who was in a position to be familiar 
 wfth their conditions, seems on the whole the most natural explanation of 
 the facts. 
 General In passing from the sober, exact, carefully dated records of I Maccabees 
 ter^of" to the second book the transition is most marked. In his preface, 2^^'^^, 
 II Mac- the author of the present book of II Maccabees states that his work was an 
 abridgment of a longer work of five volumes written by Jason of Cyrene. 
 Being a Jew of the dispersion, Jason naturally wrote in Greek. This is 
 further proved by the absence of Semitic idioms, and the flowing and highly 
 ornate Greek style which is the antithesis of that employed in I Maccabees. 
 The vocabulary is also extensive, and many rare words occur. Its faults 
 and its virtues are those of the Alexandrian Greek school of writers. 
 The The two letters prefixed to the book may be authentic, but they simply 
 
 ^istory ppj^tg tQ tijg feast of Dedication, and were probably added later to the his- 
 Jason torical section which begins with 3. The important question is, who was 
 Cyrene Jason of Cyrene, whose history is the basis of the present book ? Unfort- 
 unately, the evidence must be derived from the epitome of his work. His 
 knowledge of everything that relates to Syria is far more accurate than in 
 the case of Egypt or Palestine (cf. 4"' ^", 5^\ 8^^ 12, 14^^), which suggests 
 that when he wrote his home was at or near Antioch rather than in Cyrene 
 in northern Africa. His aim in writing, like that of his epitomizer, was 
 probably to edify his readers, the Jews of the dispersion. He differs too 
 often in the order of events, as well as details, from I Maccabees to have been 
 acquainted with that work. From the nature of his material it seems clear 
 that his sources were oral traditions, emanating in some cases at least from 
 eye-witnesses. Regarding the wars of Judas in 1G4-163 B.C. he has pre- 
 served two variant versions, 10""^^ 12'""". In 13=3-28 ^^^^j j 213-21 g^j.^ ^^y^at 
 appear to be two confused accounts of the final treaty with Lysias. Further, 
 the evidence that he utilized originally independent traditions is found in 
 the fact that Timotheus, whose death is recorded in 10", is described in 12 
 as again leading a campaign. 
 His Depending as he does on the oral testimony of those who were contem- 
 
 ^ ^ porary with the events, it is probable that Jason wrote his history some time 
 between 160 and 140 b.c. The wide variations from I Maccabees do not 
 necessarily point to a considerable lapse of time, but are rather due to the 
 fact that the author of the one was actuated by the historical spirit, and 
 was in personal touch with the events which he recorded, while the other 
 was largely dependent upon oral tradition, which develops with marvellous 
 rapidity in the East. 
 
 38
 
 RECORDS OF THE INIACCABEAN AGE 
 
 The epitomizer plainly states that his aim was simply to abridge the Date 
 larger work. He does not appear to have utilized any other sources. His ^"r^ of 
 method seems to have been, as he implies in his preface (2-*"^^), to quote *h? 
 those passages which seemed to him attractive and edifying, omitting others mizei- 
 which dealt with uninteresting details, and briefly to epitomize still others. 
 His work was not known to Josephus, although it was evidently before Philo 
 and the author of Hebrews (cf. 11^^' ^^), from which it may be inferred 
 that he lived somewhere between 60 and 10 b.c. and wrote at Alexandria. 
 
 The historian Niese has recently maintained (in his Kritik der heidcn Rela- 
 Makkabacrbucher) that II Maccabees is equal or superior to I Maccabees at 11^^^,. 
 many points. He is undoubtedly right in his- contention that the second ical 
 has preserved valuable historical facts; but unless all evidence regarding ofi^and 
 the origin and purpose of the two books is to be disregarded, there is no ^^ ^^'^c- 
 doubt that the first is by far the more reliable in reconstructing the history. 
 External as well as internal evidence supports in general the order of events in 
 I Maccabees, and where it is contradicted by II Maccabees the error is in 
 most cases to be found in the latter. Where II IVIaccabees is the only witness, 
 its historical testimony may be utilized after due allowance has been made 
 for its well-known tendencies to exaggerate. In general the two histories 
 confirm and supplement each other and together give a remarkablv vivid 
 and detailed picture of the Maccabean struggles. 
 
 The book of Esther may be counted as one of the indirect sources for Date of 
 the Maccabean period. In an intensified and far from attractive form it book of 
 expresses the proud, almost insolent (cf. Mordecai's refusal to recognize the Esther 
 authority of Ilaman) attitude of the Jews toward the heathen, which was 
 the outgrowth of the Maccabean conflicts and victories. It reflects the 
 same vindictive spirit that led them under John Hyrcanus and Alexander 
 Jannseus to slay by thousands their Idumean, Samaritan, and Philistine 
 foes. The presence of both Aramaic and Persian words and the literary 
 style of the book indicate that it comes from a comparatively late date. The 
 Persian empire lies in the vague past and many of the established usages of 
 its court have been forgotten. The proselyting spirit, which did not appear 
 in Judaism until the Greek and Maccabean periods, is also present (9"). 
 From the nature of its theme it is impossible to determine the exact date of 
 the book. It may be assigned with assurance to the second century b.c. 
 According to the concluding sentence in the Greek translation, this version 
 was known in Egypt by 114 b.c. (if the reference be to Soter II), which 
 points to the first part or middle ratlu'r than the second half of the century. 
 
 The improbabilities and impossibihties of the story have long been recog- Evi- 
 nlzcd. That a Persian king would make an Amalekitc and then a Jew 't^^lj^f^ 
 his j)rinie-minister and a Jewess his queen was contrary to all the firmly is a ro- 
 established customs of the empire. It is also incredible that he would 
 permit and even decree the slaughter not only of all the Jews but also of 
 thousands of his Persian subjects and that, after eleven months' warning, 
 they would make no resistance. The chronological difficulties are equally 
 great. Thus, for example, Mordecai, transported to Babylon in 597 b.c, 
 in 474 becomes Xerxes's prime-minister. The events of the book are also 
 
 39
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 dated at the time when the king was engrossed in his disastrous campaigns 
 in Greece and when Amestris, a cruel and dominating woman, was queen 
 (Herod. 7^^S 9^^^). Above all, the highly dramatic representation and coloring 
 indicate that it is one of the popular stories or midrashim with which later 
 Jewish literature abounded. 
 Its Its obvious purpose was to give the traditional origin, and to encourage 
 
 and^°*^ the observance of the feast of Purim (9""^'). A German scholar (Jensen, 
 origin Elamitische Eigennamen) has recently called attention to the fact that 
 Hamman was the chief deity of the Elamites, whose capital was Susa (Shu- 
 shan), while Marduk (from which the name Mordecai is derived) was the 
 leading god of the Babylonians. In the same pantheon and related to 
 Marduk was the goddess Ishtar, whose name appears in the later Baby- 
 lonian as Estra, which would be Esther in the Hebrew. Similarly Vashti is 
 the name of an Elamite deity. Thus it would seem that the story, like the 
 account of creation in Genesis 1, originated among the Babylonians. It 
 apparently reflected the ancient hostility between them and the Elamites, 
 each people being represented by its chief deities. If so, it has been freely 
 adapted by the Jewish story-teller, who heightens the dramatic interest by 
 making Mordecai a descendant of the family of Saul and Haman of Agag, 
 the Amalekite king captured by Saul (I Sam. 15). 
 Pos- If this is the origin of the story, the feast probably also once commemo- 
 
 Baby- rated a great victory of the ancient Babylonians over their hereditary foes 
 Ionian \\^q Elamites. The non-Hebrew word, Purim, seems to be derived from 
 
 origin . ... 
 
 of the the Babylonian pur, stone, which would point to their custom of casting the 
 Purim lot to determine the date of the feast, as they are known to have done in the 
 case of their great New Year's festival; or it may come from the Babylonian 
 jmhru, assembbj. If it was adopted by the Jews of the East from the Baby- 
 lonians, it retained its secular character and continued to be observed simply 
 as a time of general merry-making. As a modern analogy, attention has 
 been called to the fact that the Jews to-day in many Christian countries 
 celebrate the Christmas festival. 
 Place The interest and aim of the book of Esther are thoroughly secular. Its 
 
 Esther morality is far removed from that of Israel's noblest prophets. Aside from 
 in the their commendable courage and loyalty to race, no thoughtful teacher would 
 hold up Esther or Mordecai as examples to be emulated. The spirit that 
 seems to exult in the slaughter of thousands simply because they are heathen 
 is as alien to the better genius of Judaism as to that of Christianity. It is 
 not strange that the place of the book in the Jewish canon was long and hotly 
 contested by the Jewish scribes, and although the Christians adopted the 
 Palestinian canon in toto, its position in it has repeatedly been challenged. 
 Certainly no one to-day would maintain that its claim on historical or ethical 
 or religious grounds was superior or equal to those of I and II Maccabees 
 or Ben Sira or the Wisdom of Solomon. If, however, the Old Testament 
 is regarded as the faithful record of the many-sided life and thought of that 
 Israelitish race through which Jehovah gradually revealed his universal 
 purpose, then the book of Esther may still be accorded its traditional place. 
 
 40 
 
 canon
 
 Hebrew 
 text 
 
 VI 
 
 THE RECO^'ERY OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF THE 
 HISTORICAL BOOKS 
 
 The oldest existing manuscripts of the Old Testament books, with possibly The 
 one or two minor exceptions, come from the tenth and eleventh centuries ^^'^g 
 of the present era. This surprising lack of comparatively ancient texts is preser- 
 due to the fact that the copies were written on perishable papyrus, parch- of the 
 ment or leather, and when they became worn they were, because of their 
 sanctity, systematically destroyed by the Jews, that they might not be thrown 
 aside and suffer pollution. When it is recalled that the surviving manu- 
 scripts of the earlier historical records were made eighteen hundred years 
 after the originals were written, the marvel grows that they are as well pre- 
 served as they are. Their accuracy depends upon the care and fidelity of 
 the hundreds of scribes, who through the centuries have transmitted the 
 original. There is abundant evidence that in general the existing copies 
 reproduce in nearly all important passages the thought of the prophets, 
 priests, and sages who first wrote them. 
 
 On the other hand, the evidence that a vast number of minor errors has Evi- 
 crept into the surviving Hebrew manuscripts is equally conclusive. This ^^"'=® 
 is demonstrated by the differences in the Hebrew texts themselves, by the many 
 variations found in the early translations made from manuscripts far older textual 
 than any which still survive, and by the obviously confused and corrupt ^"°'^^ 
 character of many passages. The Jews fully recognized that mistakes were 
 inevitable, and ruled that all texts in which there were more than three errors 
 in a column be destroyed or withdrawn from use. Fortunately these textual 
 errors usuallv affect the literary style and individual words and expressions 
 rather than the vital messages of the Old Testament books. 
 
 These errors are due to a great variety of causes, all of which are amply The 
 illu.strated in the historical books. Sometimes the text from which the fopy 
 was made was worn or its letters were not clearly written. Certain letters 
 because of simihirity of form were easily mistaken for others. The ancients 
 were well aware of this danger. In the Mishna {Sahb. 103*') the copyists 
 are warned against confusing the Hebrew letter /; with /r, g with (■, d with r, 
 soft with hard h, ic with //, z with n, t with p, and m with s. A great number 
 of errors are clearly traceable to this .simple cause. Since the vowel letters 
 were not originally written, a wide difference of reading was possible. Abbre- 
 viations were also frequently misunderstood. The consonants, which were 
 at first akjne written and without being separated, were .sometimes wrongly 
 divided, the last letter or two of one word being read with the following; or 
 when the last letter in one word was the same as that of the following, one 
 letter would be omitted. Trans{)ositions of letters and even clauses were 
 
 41 
 
 ir 
 . causes
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 "lot uncommon. Instead of rewriting a roll, a copyist would insert an over- 
 looked clause or verse at the point at which he discovered his omission. 
 Words and clauses were also frequently repeated by mistake (dittography), 
 and conversely one of two clauses or verses with the same beginning or 
 ending was readily overlooked (homoioteluton). 
 Scribal During the early centuries in which the number of copies of each book 
 *= ^'^ses ^^g limited and before the integrity of the text was jealously guarded, each 
 copyist, who was also usually a scribe, was at liberty to change the text. 
 These changes are undoubtedly many and can in most cases be readily 
 recognized. They consist of explanatory glosses, first placed in the margin 
 and then by later copyists introduced into the text, not infrequently in a 
 connection different from that originally intended. Still more common 
 are the supplemental additions intended to conform the reading to the point 
 of view of later scribes. It is often very difficult to distinguish these addi- 
 tional notes from those of the earlier editors of the book. In some cases 
 the scribes deliberately altered the text in accordance with their peculiar 
 religious ideas. The later Jewish aversion to using the sacred name JaJnceh 
 not only led them to substitute the vowels of the Hebrew word for Lord, but 
 also elsewhere to introduce God (Elohim), where the Greek, for example, 
 retains the older name. Interpreting literally the statement in Hosea 2'° 
 that Jehovah would take the names of the Baalim out of their mouth, they 
 substituted the vowels of bosheth, the Hebrew word for shame, wherever 
 Baal occurred. Thus in II Samuel 2* and elsewhere, Ishbaal appears as 
 Ishbosheth. 
 History The history of the Old Testament books is closely connected with that 
 Hebrew c>f the canon. As soon as a book was included in a canon of scripture its 
 text integrity was carefully guarded. The first canon to be formed was prob- 
 ably that of the law between 400 and 300 b.c. To this was later added 
 the canon of prophetic writings, which included the books of Samuel and 
 Kings. By the close of the first Christian century the canon of the Old Tes- 
 tament was complete. Thus for four or five centuries at least each historical 
 book was dependent simply upon the care and fidelity of copyists who did 
 not regard them with the deep veneration that filled the hearts of the later 
 scribes. It is clear that during this long period, which in the case of Samuel- 
 Kings and Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah included the time of the bitter perse- 
 cution and the Maccabean wars, the Hebrew text suffered the greatest alter- 
 ations. This conclusion is not a mere matter of conjecture, but is demon- 
 strated by a comparison with the early Greek versions, which in many cases 
 have undoubtedly retained the original readings. Furthermore, the histori- 
 cal books were never protected by the same exalted reputation for sanctity 
 as the law. The result is that the existing Hebrew versions of these books 
 contain more obvious errors than those of any other Old Testament books 
 excepting possibly Ezekiel. 
 Basis From the first Christian century the strongest eiforts were put forth to 
 existing guard the consonantal text from all possible errors. Many elaborate rules 
 Hebrew were laid down for the guidance of copyists. The verses and words and 
 even letters in each book were counted. The middle word and letter was 
 
 42
 
 THE RECOVERY OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT 
 
 determined. A careful census of the frequency of occurrence of many words 
 and phrases was made. All peculiarities in the writing of the text were 
 also recorded. These and other facts point to the conclusion that early in 
 the Christian era a certain Hebrew text was adopted as the standard edition. 
 Probably from that time on, as later, all variant Hebrew manuscripts were 
 destroyed in order to insure one consistent "reading. This recension is the 
 basis of the present Hebrew Bible. It is obvious that it cannot represent 
 at every point the original autograph text. If it was a critical recension, as 
 seems probable, it simply represents the judgment of the rabbis who were 
 able to compare the existing variant tex-ts. If not, it is but one — probably 
 the best — of the then existing texts. The extravagant claims made concern- 
 ing its perfection by later Jewish scholars and at times adopted by th^ church 
 rest on a dogmatic rather than an historical basis. 
 
 At the close of the fourth century a.d. Jerome knew only a consonantal Work 
 text. From the fifth to the eighth century, however, a group of Jewish ll^^^. 
 scholars devoted themselves to reproducing by the use of signs to represent rites 
 the vowel sounds and punctuation marks the traditional Hebrew text as it 
 was then recited in the synagogues. The tradition regarding the text was at 
 that time known as the Masordh, and they were therefore called the Mas- 
 sorites. Their work also included the division of the original consonants 
 into words and the addition of a large body of critical notes on the margin 
 calling attention to anomalous forms and suggesting traditional readings or 
 conjectural emendations. These are often very valuable and aid materially 
 in restoring the original. The Massorites were the pioneers in Hebrew 
 textual criticism. While they did not always agree among themselves, their 
 work, when completed about the end of the ninth century, became the basis 
 of all later editions of the Hebrew (cf. the modern standard editions of Baer, 
 189^2, Ginsburg, 1894). 
 
 This brief outline of the history of the Hebrew text has illustrated the Genera) 
 inevitable growth of variant versions and the impossibility of checking their ^f the 
 multiplication even by repeatedly adopting a critical recension and guarding \^l^^^_ 
 it with the most strenuous precautions and jealous care. Since this is so, lations 
 it is fortunate that translations of the Hebrew scripture were made at an 
 early date. Their history was similar to that of the Hebrew text. Each 
 original translation was soon succeeded by a brood of variant versions, the 
 variations of which were increased because they were constantly being re- 
 vised by scholars who were familiar with the existing Hebrew manuscripts. 
 While these many variant versions make the task of recovering the original 
 text superlatively complex, they are of the greatest service, for in some one 
 of the many the original has in very many cases been preserved. 
 
 The first essential in the practical use of any version is acquaintance with Date of 
 its history and characteristics. Jewish and Christian tradition agree in orfRinal 
 assigning the translation of the law to the reign of Ptolemy Philadclplnis fj^reek 
 (281-247 n.c). If, as is asserted, it was done under the patronage of Dcme- lation 
 trius, the librarian of the Alexandrian library, it was during tlie earlier part 
 of the reign, before he fell into royal disfavor. The prologue of Ben Sira, 
 written in 132 B.C., speaks of a Greek translation of the law, the j)rophets, 
 
 43
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 and the other hooks of the fathers, which indicates that the books of Samuel 
 and Kings were doubtless translated before that time. The Greek version 
 of Esther appears to have been extant in 114 b.c. The absences of all refer- 
 ences to Ezra (cf. p. 31) strongly suggests that Ezra-Nehemiah and perhaps 
 Chronicles were not translated until near the beginning of the Christian era. 
 Otherwise for the early history of the historical books we are entirely de- 
 pendent upon the internal evidence. 
 Date This favors the conclusion that the books of Samuel and probably Kings 
 
 transta- were translated soon after, and possibly before, the Pentateuch. One of 
 tion of the motives which influenced the Jews to translate their scriptures into Greek 
 Kings was apologetic, that is, to refute the charges that were brought against them 
 by their persecutors especially in Alexandria. These charges aimed to 
 throw discredit upon their past history. The books of Samuel and Kings 
 contained the best answer to this charge and also proclaimed the past glories 
 of their race. From the period which begins with the Babylonian exile, 
 many Jews were found in Egypt, and one of the most powerful influences 
 that maintained their racial integrity and kept alive their faith in Jehovah 
 was the memory of their past triumphs. A strong incentive to translate 
 these books would therefore not be lacking even before the days of Ptolemy 
 Philadelphus. Since they were not then regarded as sacred as the Law, no 
 barrier would deter a patriotic Jew from translating them. Whatever be the 
 historical facts, there is good evidence in the character and relative com- 
 pleteness of the version, that the books of Samuel and probably Kings were 
 translated at a comparatively early date, and that they were based on a 
 Hebrew text superior at a great many points to that found in the Hebrew 
 manuscripts at present available. 
 Value The Greek versions of Chronicles contribute comparatively little addi- 
 Greek tional data. That of Esther adds practically nothing to the well-preserved 
 trans- Hebrew text. Of Ezra there are two distinct Greek translations, one in 
 of the I Esdras and the other in chapters 1-10 of Esdras B in the Greek. A careful 
 ical°'^' comparison of these with the Hebrew version leaves little doubt but that 
 books the one found in I Esdras, aside from the Sforij of the Three Young Men, 
 which was added later, is the older and is also based upon a text in some 
 respects better and more complete than the one in the present Hebrew of 
 Ezra 1-10. These conclusions of course do not mean that the Greek ren- 
 derings of Samuel and I Esdras are to be followed in a majority of cases in 
 preference to the Hebrew. A translation is necessarily defective, and the 
 translators of these books often failed fully to understand the original, and 
 were also subject to their own idiosyncrasies. On the whole, however, these 
 books have been translated with unusual fidelity and skill. 
 Growth If we had the original Greek translations of Samuel-Kings and Ezra- 
 vlriant Nehemiah, they would be practically equal to a Hebrew manuscript at least 
 Greek one thousand vears older than anv we now possess. But as in the case of the 
 Hebrew, the surviving Greek manuscripts are copies of copies. The result 
 was that many variant texts soon sprang into existence. Often the Jewish 
 copyists were not well acquainted with the Greek. The mistakes of the 
 original translators also led them astray. The text was not guarded with 
 
 44 
 
 texts
 
 THE RECOVERY OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT 
 
 the same religious zeal as the original Hebrew. The copyists, as well as the 
 translators, were also usually Jews of the dispersion and therefore constantly 
 tempted to make slight alterations where the original did not accord with 
 their own broader views. 
 
 ^Meantime other independent Greek translations had been made which Version 
 were based upon the then current Hebrew text. These have an independent Aquila 
 value of their own, and also because they exercised a strong influence upon 
 the older Greek translations. Of these, that of Aquila of Pontus, a proselyte 
 to Judaism and a disciple of the great Rabbi Akiba, was the oldest. It was 
 made about 140 a. d. Since it was a slavishly literal rendering of the Hebrew, 
 it is exceedingly useful in restoring that original, although it is too literal to 
 be valuable as a Greek translation. Two fragments of the book of Kings 
 (I Kgs. 20'"'' and II Kgs. 23'-'") were discovered in 1897 in the Cairo syna- 
 gogue (published by F. C. Burkitt). Otherwise the translation is known 
 onlv through the writino's of the Church Fathers. 
 
 The translation made about 200 a.d. by the Ebionite Christian Symmachus Ver- 
 was the antithesis of that of Aquila, for its aim was to express the thought of°"® 
 of the original in clear, idiomatic Greek. It is important to note that both Sym- 
 appear to have had before them a Hebrew text almost identical with that and 
 edited by the Massorites. Some time before the close of the second Christian dotlon 
 century a certain Theodotion, either an Ebionite or a Jewish proselyte, made 
 a thorough revision of the older Greek translation by the aid of the Hebrew. 
 His work is valuable because he appears to have employed an excellent 
 Greek version and to have followed it closely, supplementing it by many 
 transliterations of Hebrew words. It is also probable that in the present 
 accepted Greek Old Testament his work is the basis of the text of Daniel 
 and Esdras B. 
 
 In time the variations in the Greek versions became so many and distress- Ori- 
 ing that the famous Christian scholar Origen, while living at Caesarea, in Hexa- 
 240 A.D. arranged these four Greek versions, together with the current p'^ 
 Hebrew and a Greek transliteration of it, in six parallel columns. This 
 monumental work, consisting of about fifty large volumes, was known as 
 the Hexapla. Unfortunately its size rendered it impracticable to copy it. 
 Portions are reproduced in a surviving Syriac translation of the Greek col- 
 umn (the Sj/ro-He.raplar) and in the writings of the Church Fathers, and 
 the extant fragments have been published (e.g., Field, Origeyis Hexapla, 
 Oxford, 1875). Origen not only prepared the way for a comparative study 
 of these early texts but also revised the older Greek by the use of the Hebrew 
 and the later (ireek translations, especially that of Theodotion. Fortunately, 
 he distinguished his later additions by asterisks. While the principles that 
 he followed cannot be accepted to-day, Origen contributed much to the 
 methods as well as to the equipment of the modern textTial critic. His re- 
 cension aj)pears to have been widely used in Palestine. Its effect, however, 
 was to introduce additional variations into the original Greek text. 
 
 A little later two other recensions appeared. One was prepared by Hesy- Other 
 chius, and according to Jerome was current in Alexandria and Egvpt. The 
 other was the work of Lucian, who founded a school at Antioch, and in 
 
 45 
 
 recen- 
 sions
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 311 A.D. died as a martyr. It was accepted in Antioch and Constantinople. 
 It is valuable because it is evidently based on several variant versions, one 
 of which was probably distinct from those found in Origen's Hcxapla, and 
 upon an older Hebrew text differing from and often superior to the present 
 Massoretic text. Lucian evidently aimed judiciously to eliminate contradic- 
 tions between the different readings, and to secure a lucid, smooth, complete 
 translation. 
 The Fortunately, the existing Greek manuscripts are much older than the 
 
 manu-° Hebrew. The four principal ones come from the fourth and fifth centuries. 
 scripts The chief is the Codex Vaticanus (B, referred to in the notes as Gk.). It 
 represents only a recension, but the one which is supported by the greatest 
 number of the best manuscripts and is therefore generally recognized as 
 on the whole the closest representative of the original Greek translation of 
 the Old Testament. The admirable new edition of this text, prepared by 
 Professor Swete (Cambridge, 1900), inaugurates a new epoch in the history 
 of Old Testament translations. 
 Other Another important recension is represented by the Codex Alexandrinus 
 tant°'^ (A, in the notes, Gk. A). Its readings are supported by another group of 
 manu- manuscripts. It appears to have been revised at many points so as to cor- 
 respond to the accepted Hebrew. Much more important is Lucian's re- 
 cension because it is based in part upon a Hebrew text older than any we 
 now have. For the legal and historical books this has been tentatively re- 
 stored by Lagarde on the basis of marginal readings of the Sijro-Hcxaplar 
 and a group of cursive Greek manuscripts (19, 82, 93, 108, 118). 
 Other As Christianity spread through the ancient world, it carried the old as 
 lark)ns- ^^^^ ^^ the New Testament scriptures, and to meet the needs of foreign 
 O'c'. peoples translations were made into many different languages. Most of 
 these were prepared on the basis of the Greek versions, since the early Chris- 
 tian scholars were usually not familiar with the Hebrew language. Of these 
 the most ancient is probably the Old Latin version which was made in the 
 second Christian century. It was evidently based on a Greek version older 
 than that used by Origen and was current among the Christians of Northern 
 Africa. Only fragments survive. These and the quotations from Cyprian 
 and other Latin writers indicate that it contained many errors. 
 Latin Jeromc's translation of the Old Testament marks a new epoch in the his- 
 " ^^ ® tory of the versions, for not only was it made by the leading scholar of his 
 age, but it was based on the then accepted Hebrew text, supplemented in 
 difficult and doubtful passages by the readings of the different Greek versions, 
 especially that of Symmachus. His work on the Old Testament was begun 
 about 390 and completed in 404 a.d. Confronted by a version whose au- 
 thority rested simply upon its merits and the reputation of the scholar who 
 made it, the Latin Church rejected and opposed it for two centuries, clinging 
 to the defective and corrupt Old Latin. But as is well known, by the seventh 
 century it was generally accepted by the Western Church, became the basis 
 of its later noble missionary activity, and in the end was raised to a position 
 of despotic authority. The best, manuscript of Jerome's translation {Codex 
 Amiatinus) comes from the seventh century. The chief value of Jerome's 
 
 46
 
 THE RECOVERY OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT 
 
 translation to textual criticism is that it aids in establishing the fourth cen- 
 tury readings of the Massoretic text. Its admirable renderings are also 
 very suggestive. 
 
 The oldest Syriac translation (known as the Peshitta, the Simple, or SjTiac 
 popular version) was probably prepared by Jews at Edessa in the second gj^^g 
 or third Christian centuries. It was made from the Hebrew, which corre- 
 sponds closely to the accepted Massoretic text, although at many points 
 its readings originally or later have been modified by the influence of the 
 Greek versions. In the sixth and seventh centuries Christian scholars made 
 translations into the Syriac directly from the Greek. The chief critical use 
 of the Syriac version is in restoring the Hebrew, but its usefulness is limited 
 because the published texts do not always represent the oldest manuscripts. 
 
 Translations were also made between the third and sixth centuries into The 
 Ethiopic, Coptic, Armenian, and Gothic, but only in the case of a few Old Juma 
 Testament books do they possess a critical value. The Targums, or Aramaic 
 paraphrases of the Old Testament, which were used in the synagogues, 
 represent the Jewish exegesis current in the early Christian centuries. Some- 
 times they assume or give literal translations of a Hebrew text slightly better 
 than the accepted Massoretic edition. 
 
 Thus in recovering the original texts of the Old Testament books we are Re- 
 practically dependent upon two great groups of witnesses. The first group ^\^^ 
 goes back to the original of the accepted Massoretic text of the second cen- basis of 
 tury A.D. The chief witnesses are the ninth century Hebrew -manuscripts, Masso- 
 supplemented by the notes of the Massorites, the early Syriac version, Jerome's [^^'^ 
 Vulgate, and the Targums, together with the independent translations of 
 Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion, and the Hebrew column in Origen's 
 Hexapla. In general the testimony of the Hebrew manuscripts is strongest, 
 but when these have suff"ered corruption, some one of the many translations 
 may preserve the original and indicate the nature of the error. Frequently 
 that which points to a sound text, deviating from the present Massoretic, is 
 original, for the later copyists were always inclined to bring all versions into 
 agreement with the Hebrew, and preserved a variant only when it rested on 
 good authority. 
 
 The second group goes back to the original Greek translation, probably Re- 
 made in the case of Sanmel and Kings before 200 B.C., and in the case of the oTthe 
 other historical books a little later. The chief guide in recovering this is ^^T^^^r 
 
 ~ " original 
 
 the Codex Vaticanus, the reading of which must be tested and corrected by of the 
 the aid of the Alexandrian and Eucian texts, which may be regarded as cJfrjs- 
 separate recensions, and by the fragments of the Old Latin and Origen's (i''^". 
 Hexapla. Due allowance must be made for the influence of the later transla- 
 Hebrew version u{)on the Alexandrian, and for the tendency in the Lucian '""^ 
 version to produce a smooth, complete text. The readings of the cursive 
 maimscripts must also be considered. 
 
 In the great majority of cases the Massoretic Hebrew text may be followed Use 
 unhesitatingly. Where there is practical agreement between the early Greek Greek 
 texts and they differ from the accepted Hebrew, their testimony is exceedingly X^""- 
 strong. Even when some agree with the Hebrew, the agreement may be 
 
 47
 
 ISRAEL'S HISTORICAL RECORDS 
 
 due to a later harmonizer, and the variant Greek text may contain the original 
 reading. In general the briefer text represents the earlier, for the tendency 
 of later scribes was to expand. The Greek variant must also be retranslated 
 into Hebrew and tested in the light of the context. Where the Massoretic 
 text has obviously suffered corruption from any of the usual causes, or when 
 it is not supported by its group of witnesses and the Greek on the other hand 
 has a well-authenticated, consistent reading, the latter may be accepted as 
 representing the pre-Christian and probably the original text. If it is con- 
 firmed by the corrected Massoretic reading, the evidence is conclusive. In 
 some cases the data are not so decisive. Then the reading adopted must be 
 the result of a careful judgment, based upon a consideration of all the pos- 
 sibilities of error and a weighing of the testimony of each of the important 
 versions and the evidence of the parallels and context. The tendencies of 
 each individual translation must also be noted. When all has been done, 
 many passages remain in which absolute certainty is impossible. The time, 
 however, has passed when any one text or version can be blindly followed 
 and all others disregarded. The great foundations of faith, as established 
 in the Bible, will not be moved, but patient, exact scholarship, careful judg- 
 ment, better editing and deeper study of the existing texts, and the discovery 
 of new manuscripts will give each succeeding generation a translation which 
 will represent more and more exactly the original books written by Israel's 
 inspired teachers more than two thousand years ago. With the aid of the 
 printing press and photography critical scholars are rapidly putting into 
 imperishable form the best that the past has given us. The future holds 
 out the assured possibility of valuable discoveries. Thus, instead of leaving 
 farther behind, each decade brings much nearer to the present the long-lost 
 autograph copies. 
 
 48
 
 HISTORY OF THE UNITED MONARCHY 
 
 I Sam. l-I Kgs. 11. I Chr. 10-11 Chr. 9
 
 HISTORY OF THE UNITED MONARCHY 
 
 THE WORK OF SAINIUEL AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 
 HEBREW KINGDOM, I Sam. 1-15 
 
 §1. The Birth and Consecration of Samuel, 1, 2*'' ^«--^ 
 Later Ephrnimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 I Sam. 1 ^Now there was a certain man of Ramah, a Zuphite^ of the Sam- 
 hill-coiintry of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, j^f.^^g 
 the son of Ehhu, the son of Toliu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. ^And '^[Y^ 
 he had two wives: the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the 
 other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 
 
 ^And this man used to go up from his city year by year to worship and The 
 to sacrifice to Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And Eh and his two sons,"^ Hophni pfigrim- 
 and Phinehas, were there priests unto Jehovah. ^And it came to pass on ^s^ 
 one occasion that Elkanah sacrificed. Now he used to give portions to 
 Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters, '^but to Hannah he used 
 to give one° portion, although he loved Hannah; but Jehovah had shut up 
 her womb. ^And her rival used to vex her bitterly in order to make her angrj', be- 
 
 The Work of Samuel and the Establishment of the Kingdom.— The first fifteen chapters 
 of I Sam. record the important events which resulted in the election of Saul and the union 
 of the leading Hebrew tribes under one head. The history centres about two individuals. 
 In the oijenins chai>ters and in 7, 8, 12, ami 15 the personality of Samuel overshadows all other 
 men and events. He is conceived of as rulinie; over all tlie Hebrew tribes, and the history 
 unfolds under the influence not of natural but sujiernatural forces. Later prophetic ideas 
 and ideals have evidently here been projected b.ack into this important early period. To 
 understand the real course of Hebrew history, as well as the -^ery <lifTerent representation in 
 the remaining chapters of I Sam. 1-1.5, it is absolutely necessary to appreciate the fact that 
 the opening chapters embody the traditions regarding the character and work of Samuel 
 which were current in Later prophetic circles, f'f. Introd., pp. 12, 13. 
 
 In the remaining chapters Saul is the central figure and Samuel is the patriotic .seer of 
 Ramah. Literary style and reiiresentation indicate that they were originally taken fiom an 
 old and very valuable cycle of Saul traditions, (f. Introd., pp. 1012. Recognizing these two 
 very different points of view, the perplexing difficulties which confront the careful student of 
 I Sam. entirely disappear. 
 
 § 1 Tradition rarely begins with the childhood of the heroes. Jacob, Moses, and Samuel 
 are the conspicuous O.T. exceptions. Furthermore, stories regarding the chil<lhof)d of a great 
 man in antiquity were not appreciated and therefore recounted until long after lie had ceased 
 to live. In their origin they are, therefore, usually much later than those which record 
 his life work. The Samuel stories, however, in the first part of I Sam. con.stitute a clo.'^ely 
 knit literary unit. Samuel's connection with L.li, the ark, and the sanctuary at Shiloh is the 
 link which binds the new era, inaugurated by the establishment of the kiiigdoni, with the 
 earlier period of the Judges. In the opening chapters he appears as the chamiiion of the 
 
 «]' The Heb. is untranslatable. The Gk. indicates the nature of error which has crept 
 into the text and suggests the true reading. 
 
 ''1' So Ok. and demanded by ''. Heb. simply, the two sons of Eli, but Eli and not his 
 two Bon.s figure in this part of the story. 
 
 "^l' The current translation, doulile portion, i.s impossible. Making a slight correction 
 suggested by the Ok., the passage reads consistently as above. 
 
 51
 
 I Sam. !<•] THE WORK OF SAMUEL 
 
 Later Ephraimitc Samuel Narratives 
 
 cause Jehovah had shut up lier womb.'' ''And thus he did year by year, as often 
 as she went up to the house of Jehovah, she used to vex her; therefore she 
 wept and would not eat. ''But Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, 
 why do you weep and not eat, and why is your lieart sad ^^ Am not I better 
 to you than ten sans ? 
 Han- ^So Hannah rose up, after they had eaten in Shiloli*^, and stood before 
 
 vow^ Jehovah. Now EH the priest was sitting at his seat at the door-posts of 
 the temple of Jehovah, ^^^^i^d s]^^ ^^s greatly distressed s and prayed fer- 
 vently to Jehovah and wept bitterly. ^ ^And she vowed a vow, saying, 
 
 O Jeho'vah of hosts! 
 If thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy maid-servant. 
 And remember me and not forget thy maid-servant. 
 But wilt give to thy maiil-servant a man child. 
 Then I will give him to Jehovah all the days of his life, 
 And a razor shall not come upon his liead.'^ 
 
 Eli's ^^And while she continued praying before Jehovah, Eli observed her 
 
 and° mouth. ^^Now Hannah was speaking to herself; only her lips moved, but 
 blessing ijer voice was not heard; therefore Eli took her for a drunken woman. ^^So 
 Eli said to her, How long will you act like a drunken woman ? Put away 
 the effects of your wine and go from the presence of Jehovah.* ^^But 
 Hannah answered and said. No, my lord, an unfortunate womanJ am I; I 
 have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but I have been pouring 
 out my sold before Jehovah. ^ ''Do not take your maid-servant to be a vile 
 woman, for because of the greatness of my grief and vexation'' have I con- 
 tinued speaking until now. ^"Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace, 
 and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him. ^ ^And 
 she said. Let your maid-servant find favor in your sight. So the woman 
 went her way and ate, and her countenance was no more sad.* 
 
 older order while in 9 and 10 he is the herald of the new. With the exception of a few minor 
 additions, it seems certain that 1-3 were taken from the Samuel history which was based 
 in turn on prophetic traditions committe<l to writing by the later representatives of the Eph- 
 raimitc school. Cf. Introd., pp. 12, 13. 
 
 d 1'^ The original and sufficient leason for Hannah's tears and refusal to eat, '''^, when her 
 husband came up to offer his .sacrifice, •'■\ is that she had no children and therefore received 
 only one portion. This alone is assumed in the rest of the .story. The additional reason 
 in 6 and ''^ is not found in the Gk. The anguage in which it is expres,sed is awkward (cl. -■) 
 and it does not fit the context, which is complete without it. It appears, therefore, to be a 
 very late addition, based on common oriental experience in connection with the institution 
 of polygamy. 
 
 " 1* Gk., why does your heart reproacit you? This is evidently ba.sed on a slightly dif- 
 ferent Heb. text. 
 
 ' P So Gk. The Heb. adds, and after they had drunk. In the original text attention 
 is fixed almost exclusively upon Hannah, but in the later recensions of the Heb. and Gk. the 
 tendency is to give IClkanah a more prominent role. 
 
 E V Heb., bitter of soul The Gk. appears to have preserved the original text. 
 
 h 1" This last clause may be a later explanatory addition by a scribe who regarded Samuel 
 as a Nazirite. The Gk. adds, and vine and fermented liquor he shall 7iot drink:. Cf. Num. 
 3", 18". The Heb. version has the balanced poetic parallelism which appears in vows and 
 oracles. 
 
 ' 1" The last clause is found only in the Gk. 
 
 ' V^ Heb., hard of .'spirit. This iiliom elsewhere means obstinate. Cf. Ez. 3''. The Gk. 
 has, hard of day, i.e., unfortunate. Cf. .Job 30-\ 
 
 k 116b Not found in the Gk. Evidently added by some later redactor who introduced '^' ''''. 
 
 1 jisb Gif _ go ti^g woman went her way and entered her lodging place, and ate with her 
 husba7id and drank. 
 
 52
 
 HIS BIRTH AND CONSECRATION [I Sam. li^ 
 
 Later Ephraimitc Samuel Xarratives 
 
 ■^^Aiid tliev rose up in the morning early, and worsliipjied before Jehovah, Sam- 
 and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew J^frth 
 Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her. ^o^^^j JJannah con- 
 ceived"\ and it came to pass at the coming around of the new year" that she 
 bore a son, and called his name Samuel [Asked of God]," saying. For I 
 have asked him of Jehovah. 
 
 2^And the man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to Jehovah Presen- 
 the yearly sacrifice and his vow.' ^i-'i]^^ Hannah did not go up; for she said to je- 
 to her husband, When the child is weaned then I will bring him and he shall 'lo^aii 
 appear in the presence of Jehovah and shall dwell there forever. -^And 
 Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems good to you: wait until 
 you have weaned him; only may Jehovah establish yourP word. So the 
 woman waited and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24^j^j ^yl^^n 
 she had weaned him, she took him up with her, together with a three- 
 year-old'5 bullock and a bushel •■ of flour and a skin of wine, and brought 
 him to the house of Jehovah in Shiloh.® --^And they* slew the bullock 
 and Hannah" brought the lad to Eli. "^And she said, Oh, sir, by 
 your life, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying fervently to 
 Jehovah. -"This is the lad regarding whom I was fervently praying, and 
 Jehovah has granted me my petition which I asked of him. -^Now, I 
 on my part have given him to Jehovah; as long as he lives he is given to 
 Jehovah.^ 
 
 2 ^^So she left him there before Jehovah and went to Ramah. But the Life at 
 lad was ministering to Jehovah in the j)resence of Eli the priest. ^^ 
 
 ^^And Samuel continued ministering before Jehovah — a lad girded with 
 a linen ephod. ^^And his mother used to make him a little robe and bring 
 it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer 
 the yearly sacrifice. -'^And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife and said, 
 Jehovah re])ay^ you with offspring from this woman for the gift which she 
 
 m ]20i FoUowinK the Gk. order, which is logical. 
 
 ■> 1-" Heb., at the corning around of days i.e., when the feast of ingathering was again 
 observed. 
 
 " 1-" This was evidently the popular etymology, based on a certain similarity of sound. 
 The true etymology appears to be, Name of God, although the meaning, Heard of God, is not 
 impossible. 
 
 p 1^ So Gk. and Syt. Heb., his. The meaning is: may Jehovah enable you to carry 
 out your promise. 
 
 1 Y'* So Gk. and Syr. and demanded by ^''. The Heb. text is cviilently corrupt. 
 
 "• 1-^ Ileb., ejihah. 
 
 " 1-' The Ileb. ailds, the lad was a lad, wliich is an un-Hebraic exjiression and adds nothing 
 to the story. It is also unsui)ported by the (Jk. 
 
 ' 1" Referring to tiie attendants wlio had fliarge of the details of the offering. 
 
 " \'^'' (ik., and llaitnah the tnolher of the child broufiht him to Eli. 
 
 V yiH The Heb. adds, Ayid he worshipped Jehovah there. 
 
 " 2" The close connection of the thoiiglit demonstrates that 2" is the immediate .sequel 
 of P*. The .xo-called song of Hannah in 2'-'" is a psalm of i)raise to .Jehovah for victory over 
 I.irael'.s foes and for his wise rule. The reference in ^ to the barren havinti home seven probably 
 explains why a later editor introduced it here. The expression, however, only emboijics an 
 illu-tration of .Jelio\ah's benign rule over mankind. The psalm as a whole is far more appro-/ 
 priate on the lips of the post-exilic Jewish community tlian in the mouth of Hannah. Cf. 
 Vol. V in loco. 
 
 '2-'" Heb., put. A copyist has apparently left out a 'etter which, when restored, gives 
 the original reading preserved by the Gk. 
 
 53
 
 I Sam. 220] THE WORK OF SAMUEL 
 
 Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 gave to Jehovah.^ Then they returned to their'' own home. -^x\nd Je- 
 hovah visited Hannah so that she conceived and bore three sons and two 
 daughters. And the child Samuel grew up before Jehovah. 
 
 § 2. The Doom of the House of EH and the Call of Samuel, I Sam. 
 
 2 12-17, 22-36 3 j,la 
 
 Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 Crimes I Saiii. 2 ^^jsj^Q^y ^j^g gons of Eli were base scoundrels; they had no regard 
 sons of for*' Jehovah, ^^nor for what was justly due the priest from the people. '^ 
 ^ Whenever a man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while 
 the flesh was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, ^^and would 
 strike into the pot or the kettle or the basin or the dish. All that the fork 
 brought up the priest would take for himself.® So they did to all the Israel- 
 ites who came to sacrifice to Jehovah in Shiloh.^ ^ ^Moreover before they 
 burned the fat, the priest's servant used to come and say to the man who 
 was making the offering. Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not 
 take from you boiled flesh, but raw. ^^Should the man, however, say to 
 him. First you should burn the fat, then take as much as you desire, he 
 would reply, No, you must give it at once or else I will take it by force. ^ "Thus 
 the sin of the young men was very great before Jehovah; for the men despised 
 the ofi^ering of Jehovah. 
 Elis in- "-But Eli was very old; and whenever he heard^ what his sons were doing 
 ual to all Israel, how they lay ■«dth the women who did service at the door of tlie tent of 
 
 reproof meeting, •» -^he said to them, Why do you do such things as these, which I 
 hear from the mouth of all the people.^ ^^No, my sons; for it is no good 
 report that I hear the people of Jehovah spreading abroad, ^sjf Qjjg man 
 sin against another, God^ will mediate for him ; but if a man sin against 
 Jehovah, who shall act as mediator for him ? Notwithstanding they did 
 not Usten to the voice of their father, because Jehovah desired to slay 
 them. 26B^^■ ^j^g j^d Samuel kept on growing larger and better in the 
 estimation both of Jehovah and of men. 
 
 » 2-0 Heb., that which was horrmced by Jehovah. Gk., for the loan which you loaned 
 to Jehovah. But cf. 1-* where Hannali is the one who gives the child to Jehovah. A slight 
 emendation of the Heb. gives this harmonious reailing. 
 
 b 220 Heb., thet/ went to his place. Many Heb. codices and Syr. read, their place. The 
 impossible for, which is found in the accepted Heb. text at the beginning of the next verse 
 may represent the final missing letter of -^o. 
 
 § 2 Cf. notes §§ 1 and 6. 
 
 <= 2^ Heb., knew not, in the sense of paying heed to, regarding. 
 
 ^ 2^ So Gk., Syr., Targ., and nine Heb. MSS. Lat., not knowing God nor the duty of 
 the priest toward the people. I.e., what the priest had a right to demand from the people. 
 The verse division has obscured the original meaning. 
 
 ' 2» Heb., iviih it. Gk., Sjt., and Targ. have the better reading followed above. 
 
 '21^ So Gk. Heb., came there in Shiloh. But this is tautological and the Heb. idiom 
 awkward. 
 
 E 222 The Heb. adds, all, but this is not found in the Gk. 
 
 h 222 This clause is also not found in the Gk. It appears to be a very late addition to 
 the Heb., based on the priestly passage Ex. 38'^^. This crime is referred to nowhere else in 
 the story. 
 
 ' 223 So Gk. The Heb. has, for I am hearing of your evil deeds from all the people, even 
 these, but the construction is ungrammatical. The last word is probably due to dittography. 
 
 ' 225 ^g in Ex. 21^, 22*, God appears tf> be equivalent to judges, those who represented 
 God in the judicial capacity. 
 
 54
 
 DOOM OF THE HOUSE OF ELI [I S.ui. 227 
 
 Later Ephraimife Samuel Narratives 
 
 -"And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, Thus saith An- 
 Jehovah, ' I revealed myself to thy father's house,"^ when they were in Egypt n^JJiTof 
 servants' to Pharaoh's house, -^and I chose him from all the tribes of Israel t'ivine 
 to be my priest to go up to mine altar to burn sacrifices, to bear an ephod ment 
 before me,™ and I gave to thy father's house for food" all the offerings of ^{^^'^ 
 the Israelites made by fire. -^Why dost thou look with envious eyes upon h°us? 
 my sacrifices and offerings,*' and honorest thy sons above me in fattening 
 yourselves with the first-fruits of all the offerings which the Israelites bring 
 me ? ' 3'^Therefore Jehovah the God of Israel saith, ' I had indeed thought 
 that thy house and the house of thy father would walk before me forever; ' 
 but now saith Jehovah, ' Far be it from me; for them that honor me I will 
 honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. ^^The days 
 are quickly coming when I will cut oif thine arm and the arm of thy father's 
 house.'' 32\j^d thou shalt look in affliction and enviously upon all the prosiDcrity 
 which Ii will give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in thy house forever. 
 33And the man of tliine whom I do not cut off from mine altar shall be sjjared to con- 
 sume his-- eyes and to wear out his soul, and all the increase of thy house shall 
 die by the sword of men.^ ^^And this shall be the sign to thee that shall 
 come upon thy two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both 
 shall die. ^o^nd I will raise up for myself a faithful priest who shall do 
 according to that which is in my heart and in my desire; and I will build him 
 an enduring house; and he shall walk before mine anointed forever. =|6And it shall 
 come to pass tliat every one who is left in thy house shall come to do him obeisance 
 for a piece of money or a loaf of bread, and shall say, " Put me, I beg, in one of the 
 priests' offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread." '' 
 
 3 ^And the child Samuel continued ministering before Jehovah in the The 
 presence of Eli. And the word of Jehovah was rare in those days; there [fon to 
 was no frequent vision. 2]sjow once at that time, when Eli was lying in his Samuel 
 place — his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see — ^and 
 while the lamp of God was still burning, and Samuel was lying in the temple 
 of Jehovah where the ark of God was, ^Jehovah called, Samuel! Samuel!^ 
 
 ^ 2" So Gk. The Heb. makes the sentence a question calling for the answer, No, which 
 is unintelligible. Dittography exijlains the presence of the interrogative. 
 ' Z" So Gk. The Heb. simi)ly imphes the word, servants. 
 ™ 228 / g _ Take charge of the oracle. Cf. § 14. 
 ■> 2-'* Added by the Gk. 
 
 2-9 The current translations are untenable and do not give an idea in harmony with 
 the context. The Gk. which is followed above is evidently based on an oiiguial text of which 
 the present Heb. is probably a corruption. 
 
 p 231 Vs. *■'" is evidently a later insertion anticipating subsequent conditions, and when 
 it was inserted the original phrase, there shall not be an old man in thy house, -was repeated, 
 so that it is found in the present Ileb. both in s"' and ^'-'Ij. 
 
 1 23^" Heb., he xoill give. The context requires either the first person or Jehovah as the 
 subject. The Gk. omits '">. 32a. 
 
 ' 2» The Heb. has, thy; but the Gk., his. The first half of the vs. is not consistent with 
 the latter half and also anticiijates much later e\ents. 
 
 • 2'« Uefjuired by context and found in the Gk. The Tleb. without the expression, by the 
 sword of. is unintelligible and the current tran.slations unwarranted. 
 
 t 2-»h. ■■» Apparently the original oracle sim|)ly contemplated the destruction of I'.hs 
 dnsceu'lants at Aphek, § 3, and Nob, § 13, and the succession of Samuel (o the i)osition of 
 religious learlership. Vss. ^sb, .% clearly refer to the later elevation of the liouse of Zadok, and 
 tlie language reflects tlie prf)vision in Dt. for the priests of tlie liigh iilaces oiifside Jerusalem. 
 Ilcncc tlifv must be late pronlielic or i)ricsUv addilions lo the origiii;il S.-iniucl history. 
 
 ".'J' Heb., to Samuel. The Gk. has the direct adilress and repeats the name as in 'o. 
 This is in harmony with the literary style of the Ephraimite source. 
 
 55
 
 ISAM. 34] THE WORK OF SAMUEL 
 
 Later Ephrawiite Samuel Narratives 
 
 And he said, Here am I. ^^nd he ran to Eh, and said, Here am I; for 
 you called me. But he said, I did not call, lie down again. So he went 
 and lay down. '^Then Jehovah called yet again, Samuel! Samuel! And 
 Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, Here am I; for you called me. But 
 he answered, I did not call, my son; He down again. '^Now Samuel did 
 not yet know^ Jehovah neither had the word of Jehovah yet been revealed 
 to him. ^So when Jehovah called Samuel again the third time, he arose 
 and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. Then Eli per- 
 ceived that Jehovah was calling the child. ^Therefore Eli said to Samuel, 
 Go, lie down; and if you are called, say, ' Speak, Jehovah; for thy servant is 
 listening.' So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 
 Mes- ^^Then Jehovah came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel! 
 
 gafding Samuel! And Samuel said. Speak; for thy servant is listening. ^And Je- 
 ^^i hovah said to Samuel, See, I am about to do such a thing in Israel, that the 
 ears of every one who hears it shall ring. ^-In that day I will perform 
 toward Eli all that I have spoken against his house from beginning to end. 
 i^For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the guilt which 
 he knew, in that his sons were blaspheming God^ and he did not rebuke 
 them. ^4\ri(i therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the guilt of 
 Eli's house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering forever. 
 An- i^And Samuel lay until the morning; then he rose early in the morning^ 
 
 menTof and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah. And Samuel feared to make 
 ^^^ known the vision to Eh. I'^But Eli called Samuel and said, Samuel, my 
 sage son. And he said. Here am I. ^''And he said. What is the thing that 
 *° ^'' Jehovah hath spoken to you ? I pray, conceal nothing from me; may God 
 do to you whatever he will, if you conceal from me a word of all that he 
 spoke to you. ^^So Samuel told him everything; and concealed nothing 
 from him. And he said. It is Jehovah; let him do what seems good to him. 
 Sam- 1 9^i^(^l Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him and let none of his words 
 
 es'tiilj- f''^ll to the ground.^ 20,^^(1 ^U Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew 
 li'^h- that Samuel was established as a prophet of Jehovah. ^^And Jehovah 
 as a again appeared in Shiloh, for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel.'^ 4 i^^Thus 
 prophet (.]^g word of Samuel came to all Israel. ° 
 
 ^ 3''" I.e., as the prophets knew Jehovah through a special revelation, of. ■">. 
 
 w 313 The Heb. is ungrammatical and untranslatable. The Gk. has clearly preserved the 
 original reading. 
 
 " 3'^ This clause is preserved in the Gk. and was evidently omitted in the Heb. as the 
 result of a common copyist's error. 
 
 » 3'5) The Gk. and Luc. possibly have the original reading, none of his words fell to the 
 ground. 
 
 b 3^1 So Gk. The Heb. contains a late tautological addition, in Shiloh by the toord of 
 Jehovah. The Gk. also re)jeats and adds what may have been found in the original text, but 
 Eli was exceedingly old and his sons kept on doing worse and worse before Jehovah. 
 
 " 4i» Clearly a late editorial resume, not found in the Gk. 
 
 56
 
 I Sam. 41b] 
 
 THE CAPTURE OF THE ARK 
 
 [ISAM. 41° 
 
 3. The Capture of the Ark and the Fall of the House of Eli, I Sam. 4ib-5> 
 
 Israel's 
 defeat 
 bv the 
 Philis- 
 tines 
 
 The 
 
 second 
 defeat 
 and the 
 loss of 
 the ark 
 
 Early Judcan Prophetic 
 
 I Sam. 4 ii^Now in 
 those days the Philistines 
 assembled to make war 
 against Israel/' -^and the 
 battle was hard fought^ 
 and they slew in the ranks 
 on the field about four 
 thousand men. 
 
 ^^But when the people 
 returned to the camp, 
 ^^the people sent to 
 Shiloh and took from 
 there the ark of Jeho- 
 vah of hosts who sits en- 
 throned above the cherubim. 
 ^^■^And when the ark of 
 
 Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 4 i*^Now Israel went out against the Phil- 
 istines to battle, and encamped at Eben- 
 ezer;* and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 
 •-^And the Philistines put themselves in array 
 against Israel, and Israel was smitten before the 
 Philistines. 
 
 ^^Then the elders of Israel said, Why hath 
 Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philis- 
 tines ? Let us bring to us the ark of our God^ 
 out of Shiloh, that it may come among us and 
 save us from the hand of our enemies.*^ '^^So 
 they sent to Shiloh; and the two sons of Eli, 
 Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark 
 of God. ^''And when the ark of God came to 
 
 § 3 The fate which overtook the house of Eli is recorded in 4. The account is closely 
 connected with the doom i)redicted in the preceding chapter. Although Samuel is not men- 
 tioned, it is obvious that one of the reasons why the story is introduced here is because it 
 recounts those revolutionizing changes which opjened the way for his activity recorded in 
 the following chapters. Characteristic expre.ssions also conttrm the conchision that most of 
 the chapter is from the Ephraimite school of writers. It is probably from an older stratum 
 than the citations in 1-3, 7, 8, 12, 15, but it has been so woven into the later series of stories 
 that it may be classified with them. 
 
 Recent commentators on the book of Samuel have recognized that this chapter is com- 
 posite. Thus in the original passage "= (which has been jire-served in the Gk.) the Philistines 
 are represented as having assumed the aggressive, while in '<■ the Israelites do so. In one 
 series i>{ pas.sages the term ark of Jehovah and in another ark of God occurs. Duplicates are 
 also found in which the synonyms characteristic respectively of the Judean and Ephraimite 
 
 narratives appear. Thus cf. ^'^ an( 
 
 '■"' and '-'■'; '"■' and ""'. The.se duplicates. 
 
 when cla.ssified, are found to contain two brief but complete and consi.^tent accounts of the 
 defeat of the Israelites and the loss of the ark. They were so closely parallel that certain 
 expressions appear to have been common to both and at one or two points the analysis is 
 uncertain. 
 
 'I he irnportance of the event also leads us from analogies in the preceding books of the 
 O.T. to anticipate two versions. They are the natural .seijuels to the .ludoaii and Ephraimite 
 narratives in .ludg. 11-16. The Judean Samson stories suggest the increasing aggressions 
 of the Philistines, and the primitive account of the anointing of Saul by Samuel and Saul's 
 initial wars against the P/iilistines assume the facts stated in the brief .ludcan version in 4. 
 Its brevity is probably due to the natural reluctance which a patriotic historian felt in recount- 
 ing the disasters which overtook his people. Many linguistic indications confirm the analysis 
 given above. 
 
 If originally recorded, the account of the rlcstruction of the sanctuary at Shiloh, which 
 apparently occurred at this time, h.as been lost. The absence of any subsequent references 
 to the sanctuary as existing (cf. I Kgs. 12-'^, .\m. 5''), and the definite statements in .ler. 19^ 
 and II Kg.s, 21 1^- " practically establish the fact. From I Sam. 10"', 13' and the sub.seciuent 
 records, it is also clear that the Philistines from this time on made the Israelites tributary 
 to them. 
 
 d 41b These introductory words are not found in the Heb., but in all Gk. MSS., and are 
 required by the context. 
 
 "■ 4''' Ileb., Elipn-ha-ezer, so 5'. 
 
 '■pf' The Heb. gives no sen.se. The Gk. translators evidently had difllculty with it, the 
 battle inclined. \ change of r)ne letter (suggested by Smith, Sam., p. 32) gives the above 
 reading, f'f. II Sam. 2'^, where tlie idiom occurs in a similar .ludcan iiassage. 
 
 "4"' A later scribe, wlio preferred the Deuteroiioniic designation, ark of the covenant 
 of Jehovah, has introduced it in the Heb. here and tlirough '. but no further. 'Hie ab.sence 
 of the words, of the coveninit, in the (Jk. indicjile lliat tlic addition was very late. The scribe 
 substituted the more familiar designation for the abo\e wliicli is preser\ed in the Gk. 
 
 I" 4"'' The ancient war-cry used in connection with the ark, Num. lO'l
 
 I Sam. i^'<'] 
 
 THE WORK OF SAMUEL 
 
 [I Sam. 45b 
 
 Death 
 of Eli 
 
 Early Judean Prophetic 
 
 Jehovah came to the 
 camp, the earth resound- 
 ed. *'b\„(i ^y]i(>„ ["the 
 
 Phihstines] knew that the 
 ark of Jehovah had come 
 to the camp, "^they said, 
 Woe to us ! for it has not 
 been thus before; ^^^ut 
 be men and fi<^ht. 
 
 i^a^So the Phihstines 
 fought and there was a 
 great slaughter. 
 
 Later Ephraimite Saviuel Narratives 
 
 the camp, all Israel shouted a great shout. ^^And 
 
 when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, 
 
 they said. What is this noise of great shouting in 
 
 the camp of the Hebrews ? '^The Philistines 
 
 were afraid, for they said, These are their gods; 
 
 they have come to them to the camp.' ^Woe to 
 
 us ! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of 
 
 these mighty gods ? These are the gods who 
 
 smote the Egyptians with every sort of plague 
 
 and pestilence.J ^^Be courageous and be men, 
 
 O Philistines, that you may not be slaves to the 
 
 Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you. ^"^^^nd 
 
 Israel was defeated and fled each to his tent. 
 
 And there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 
 
 ^ ^And the ark of God was taken, and the two 
 
 sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, perished. 
 
 ^^And a Benjamite ran from the ranks and came to Shiloh the same day 
 
 with his garments torn and with earth on his head, ^^^ijj j^st as he came, 
 
 Eli was sitting upon his seat beside the gate watching the road,"^ for his 
 
 heart was trembling for the ark of God. And when the man came to the 
 
 city to inform it, all the city cried out. i'*And when Eli heard the noise of 
 
 the crying he said, What is this tumultuous noise .'' And the man came 
 
 quickly and told Eli. i^(Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were set, 
 
 so that he could not see).' ^^And the man said to Eli, I am he who came 
 
 from the ranks, for I fled to-day from the ranks. And he said. How went 
 
 the matter, my son ? ^ '^And he that brought the tidings answered and said, 
 
 Israel fled before the Philistines, and there was also a great slaughter among 
 
 the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the 
 
 ark of God has been captured. ^^And it came to pass when he mentioned 
 
 the ark of God, that Eli fell from his seat backward by the side of the gate; 
 
 and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. And he 
 had judged Israel forty years. 
 
 i^And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas's wife, was with child, about to be 
 delivered. And when she heard the report regarding the capture of the 
 birth^of ^^^ °^ ^°^^' ^^'^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ father-in-law and her husband were dead, she 
 bowed herself and gave birth to a child ; for her birth-pains came upon her. 
 
 Circum- 
 stances 
 atteiid- 
 
 Icha- 
 bod 
 
 I 47a Heb. and Lat., God is come to the camp. Gk., These gods have come to them to 
 the camp. Lucian, This -is their God. The fuller reading and the plural seem to be demanded 
 by the context. Cf. especially *. 
 
 j 4« Heb. and Lat., with ever;/ sort of plagne in the wilderness. Gk.. plague and in the 
 wilderness. None of the Heb. trarlitions represents the Egyptians as having been smitten in 
 the wilderness. The different readings are probably due to the mistake of a copyist who 
 mi.stook the Heb. word for pestilence for the very similar word meaning wilderness. 
 
 k 4u So Gk. The gate is evidently that of the sanctuary. Heb., by the side of the road 
 watching. But this is inconsistent with the subsequent context, for, if he was by the road, 
 the messenger would come to him first. 
 
 1 410 This verse interrupts the narrative in ", which is continued in i«, and its representation 
 IS contrary to that of i-* which states that Eli was watching the road. It appears to be a later 
 embellishment of the story. The Gk. e.xpands still further, A7id Eli said to the men who were 
 standing about him, What is this resounding noise f 
 
 58
 
 THE CAPTURE OF THE ARK [I Saji. 4i9 
 
 Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 20And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, 
 Fear not for you have given birth to a son. But she neither answered nor 
 heeded. -^Therefore they named the child Ichabod [No glory], saying, 
 The glory is taken away from Israel, because of the capture of the ark of 
 God, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.™ 5 ^And the Phil- 
 istines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 
 
 •&* 
 
 § 4. The Fortunes of the Ark Among the Philistines, I Sam. 5--7'» 
 Early Jiulean Narratives 
 
 I Sam. 5 ^Then the Philistines took the ark of Jehovah" and brought The ark 
 it to the house of Dagon and set it up by the side of Dagon. ^And when temple 
 the Ashdodites arose earlv the next dav and came to the house of Daji^on," 9f 
 behold there was Dagon fallen upon his face to the ground before the 
 ark of Jehovah. And they raised up^' Dagon and set him in his place again. 
 ■*But when they arose early on the following morning, behold there was Dagon 
 fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of Jehovah. And the 
 head of Dagon and both his hands were cut off upon the threshold, and 
 only the body<^ of Dagon was left. ^Therefore the priests of Dagon and 
 all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in 
 Ashdod to this day, but leap over it.'' 
 
 ^And the hand of Jehovah was heavy upon the Ashdodites, and he de- Plagues 
 stroyed them, and smote them with boils, even Ashdod and its borders. fngThe 
 
 ^___ ark 
 
 ™ 4-' The Heb. adds, ~, And she said. The glory is taken airay from Israel; for (he ark 
 of God has been captured. This is simply a repetition of -' and is probably a scribal note added 
 to call attention to the proverb. The glory is taken away from Israel, which reappears in Hos. 10^ 
 Vs. -"= may also be a later addition based on '■^^. 
 
 § 4 This tradition is one which would naturally be preserved at the Jerusalem temple, 
 where the ark found its final resting-place. The prominence of the ark in the early Judean 
 narratives (cf. Vol. I, notes § 79, 86) also leads us to anticipate that this story was treasured 
 in the southern kingdom. Furthermore, its account of the return of the ark and the fact that 
 it was left in the care of Abinadab, 7', are assumed as the basis of the early Judean David 
 traditions regarding its transfer to Jerusalem, II Sam. &-*, § 29. On the other hand the sub- 
 sequent Kphraimite passages contain no allusion to the ark. With the jiartial fulfilment 
 of the doom upon the house of Eli, the aim of this school of writers in introducing the tradition 
 was realized. There are a few suggestions of duplication in these chapters, but they may 
 be simply due to editorial expansion. Of. notes '■ '■ ^^ If they are composite, no satisfactory 
 analysis has yet been found. 
 
 Possibly the account of the fall of Dagon, S^-s, was originally distinct from the rest of the 
 narrative. If so, S^-s is probably secondary and the original story, as usually in the early 
 Judean narratives, simply records a natural event, namely, the spread of a fearful pestilence 
 wherever the ark was carried. That this was spread by the ark itself is shown by the fact 
 that it bears the contagion to the Hebrews as well as to" the Philistines. O"*. This conclusion 
 is confirmed by the nature of the objects sent to propitiate Jehovah. Mice among the lOgyp- 
 tians, and therefore in all probability among the Philistines, who had long been absorbing 
 Egyptian civilization, were the .symbols of the plague. The golden boils, r)rcpared in accordance 
 with the primitive belief that a cure could be effected by making a representation of the disease, 
 as well as the details of the story, leave little (loubt that the pestilence was the terrible bubonic 
 plague. The story throughout contains the iioi)ular. primitive explanation of this tiread 
 scourge, the physical cau.ses of which were entirely unknown, and which was universally re- 
 garded as a direct judgment from God. The Judean plague stories in Kx. and the description 
 of the pestilence recorded by the same school in II Sam. 24 pre.sent very close analogies. 
 
 ■■ .5^ So Gk. The Heb. has, ark of God. Later Jewish scribes manifest a strong tendency 
 to substitute God for Jehovah. 
 
 " .5^ So Gk. The Heb. has an abbreviated text. 
 
 py The Gk. and Luc. have, raised up. Hut cf. for Heb. idif)m 7'-. 
 
 "J 5* A word appears to have dropiied out of the Heb., which reads, 07ily Dagon U'as left 
 of him. This makes no .sense. 
 
 ' 5' The last clause is from the Gk., but it appears to be original. Cf. Zeph. 1". 
 
 .'5D
 
 ISAM. 5"] THE WORK OF SAMUEL [I Sam. G^ 
 
 Early Judean Narratives 
 
 ^An<l when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, the ark of the 
 God of Israel shall not remain with us; for his hand is severe upon us and 
 Dagon our god.® ^So they sent and gathered all the tyrants of the Philis- 
 tines to them, and said. What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel .'' 
 And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to 
 Gath. So they brought the ark of the God of Israel around. ^But after 
 they had brought it around, the hand of Jehovah was against the city — 
 there was a very great panic — and he smote the men of the city, both young 
 and old, so that boils broke out upon them. ^^Therefore they sent the ark 
 of God to Ekron. But when the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites 
 cried out, saying. They have brought around the ark of the God of Israel 
 to us, to slay us and our people. ^ ^They sent therefore and gathered together 
 all the tyrants of the Philistines and said. Send away the ark of the God of 
 
 Israel, that it may go back to its own place and not kill us and our people. 
 
 For a deadly panic had seized the entire city; the liand of God was very heavy tliere. 
 '^And the men who did not die were smitten with tlie boils; and the cry of lamentation, 
 from the city went up to heaven.* 
 
 Plans 6 'And the ark of Jehovah was in the country of the Philistines seven months. " 
 
 turnhig ^Then the Philistines summoned the priests and the diviners, saying. What 
 the ark shall we do with the ark of Jehovah ? Show us how we shall send it to its 
 place. ^And they said. If you are sending the ark of the God of Israel, 
 you must not send it away, empty; but you must return to him a trespass- 
 offering. Then you will be healed and it shall be made known to you why 
 his hand is not removed from you. '^Then said they, What shall be the 
 trespass-offering which we shall return to him ? x\nd they said. Five golden 
 boils, and five golden mice,^' corresponding to the number of the tyrants of 
 
 the Philistines; for one plague was upon you as well as upon your tyrants. 
 
 ^Therefore you shall make images of your boils, and images of your mice that mar the 
 land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps he will lighten his hand 
 
 from upon you and your gods and your land." ^Why then will you make your 
 hearts stubborn, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh made their hearts stub- 
 born ? Was it not after he had made sport of them that they let them go 
 so that they departed ?^ "Now therefore take and prepare a new cart, and 
 two milch cows upon which the yoke has not come; and fasten the cows to 
 the cart, but you shall leave their calves behind them at home. ^And 
 take the ark of Jehovah and place it on the cart and put the golden objects 
 
 ' 5^ This verse may be due to editorial expansion, for instead of the Ashdodites of ^- ^ the 
 term ynen of Ashdod is used. A different verb is also employed in the familiar idiom, the hand 
 of God was heavy. Vs. * very naturally continues ^ although '' is not absolutely inconsistent 
 with its context. 
 
 t 511 b-i-' Evidently from another source or more probably an editorial expansion. CI. hand 
 of God and the_ variant idiom, deadly panic (in ^ great panic). The peculiar idiom, the cry 
 went up, in i^b jg found elsewhere in the priestly passage, Ex. 2-^. The Heb. word is different 
 from that translated cry in '". The continuation of 5"^ is 6^. 
 
 " 6' The Gk. adds, and their land sicarmed with mice. 
 
 '' 6^ The Gk. omits, five golden mire, here but retains them in ^ and omits the mention 
 of the boils. The evidence seems to indicate that both were found in the original: the boils 
 as symbols of the bubonic plague, and the mice as symbols of pestilence in general. Cf. note § 4. 
 
 " 6^ Evidently an explanatory note added by an editor who did not understand the sym- 
 bolism of the mice and who wished to glorify Israel's God by the testimony of the hated Philis- 
 tines. 
 
 ^ 6^ Possibly also an editorial expansion with a religious purpose. The references are 
 to passages found not in the Ephraimite but Judean sources, Ex. 7", 8"- 2*, 9'' ", 10-. 
 
 60
 
 THE FORTUNES OF THE ARK [I Sam. 6^ 
 
 Early Judcan Narratives 
 
 which you are returning to him as a trespass-offering, in a box at its side. 
 TRen send it away that it may depart. ^And see, if it goes on the way to 
 its own border to Bethshemesh, then it is he who hath done us this great 
 harm, but if not, then we sliall know that it was not his hand that smote 
 us; it was an accident that befell us. 
 
 ^•'And the men did so, and took two milch cows and fastened them to Its res- 
 the cart, and shut up their calves at home. ^^And they placed the ark of tfJn to 
 Jehovah on the cart, and the box with the golden mice and the images of their ^^^ He- 
 
 brews 
 
 boils.-'' ^-And the cows took a straight course in the direction of Beth- 
 shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not 
 turn aside to the right hand or to the left. And the tyrants of the Philis- 
 tines went after them to the border of Bethshemesh. ^-^And the inhabitants 
 of Bethshemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley. And they lifted 
 up their eyes and saw the ark, and came rejoicing to meet it.*^ ^^And when 
 the cart came into the field of Joshua the Bethshemeshite, it stood still there. 
 And a great stone was there. So they sjilit up the wood of the cart and 
 
 offered the cows as a burnt-offering to Jehovah. '^But the Levites took down 
 the ark of Jehovah and the box that was witli it, in which were the golden objects, 
 and placed them on the great stone; and the men of Bethshemesh offered to Jehovah 
 on that day burnt-offerings and ordinary sacrifices. « ^*^And when the five tyrants 
 
 of the Philistines saw it, thev returned to Ekron on that dav. 
 
 I'And these are the golden boils which the Philistines returned as a trespass-offering Confir- 
 to Jehovah : for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron ination 
 one. '*But the golden mice correspond to the number of all the cities of the Philis- °' "^^ 
 tines belonging to the five tyrants, both of fortified cities and of country villages.'' ^ '^^^ 
 
 And a witness is the great stone,® by which they set down the ark of 
 Jehovah. To this day it is in the field of Joshua of Bethshemesh. 
 
 ^^The sons of Jechoniah, however, did not rejoice with the men of Beth- The 
 shemesh, when they looked upon the ark of Jehovah.^ So he smote among Beth- 
 them seventy men ;S and the peoijle mourned because Jehovah had smitten s'\ein- 
 
 ' . on • ^^ ^ 
 
 the people with a great slaughter. -"And the men of Bethshemesh said, Kir- 
 Who is able to stand before Jehovah this holy God ? And to whom shall j'earim 
 lie go up from us.'' -^Then they sent messengers to the inhabitants of 
 Kiriath-jearim, saying. The Philistines have brought back the ark of Je- 
 hovah. Come down and bring it up to you. 7 ^So the men of Kiriath- 
 jearim came, and brought up the ark of Jehovah, and carried it into the 
 
 » 6" The Gk. omits, and the images of their boils. 
 
 ^ e'' So Ok. and Luc. Heb., to see it. 
 
 c 6'-' Prohahly from a priestly editor who felt the lack of projier attendance and .service 
 in connection with the ark. Vs. " records the original sacrifice, while '* reflects the point of 
 view of later Judaism. 
 
 d gi7. is:i \ recapitulation in the spirit and lanRuage of the late Jewish scribes. It also 
 seeks to explain the double symbolism of the golden tumors and mice. 
 
 « 6"*'' Heb., even to the great rneadon\ Rut this translation is doubtful and gives no 
 sense. A change of one letter gives the original reachng, stone, preserved by the Ok. and T.-irg. 
 A slight correction in the traditional vocalization of the Heb. also gives the above intelligible 
 and consonant reading. 
 
 '6'" So Gk. Heb., OTid he smote of the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked 
 at the ark of J ehovnh. and he smote, etc. Not only does this contain an awkward rciiotition 
 but also an iilea foreign to the prophetic narratives. It seems probable, tlierefore, that the 
 Heb. simply represents the clumsy attempt of a scribe to correct a corrupt te.\t. The Gk. 
 reading is consistent anil original. 
 
 "C' Fifty thou.sand is added and is evidently an awkward gloss, suggested by the state- 
 ment that there was a great slaughter. 
 
 61
 
 I Sam. 7I] THE WORK OF SAMUEL 
 
 Earbj Judean Narratives 
 
 house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard 
 the ark of Jehovah. ^apj-Qj^ tj^e time the ark began to abide in Kiriath- 
 jearim, many years passed, and it was twenty years. •» 
 
 § 5. The Secret Anointing of Saul by Samuel, I Sam. O'-IO'' »-i8 
 Earhj Judean Saul Narratives 
 
 Saul's I Sam. 9 ^Now there was a man of Gibeah', whose name was Kish the 
 
 and''^ son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a 
 
 apF^ear- Benjamite, a man well to do.J ^And he had a son whose name was Saul, 
 
 a man in the prime of life and handsome; and there was not one among the 
 
 Israelites more handsome than he. From his shoulders and upwards he 
 
 was higher than any of the people.'' 
 
 His 3j\Jo\y thg she-asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to 
 
 for'the Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with you and arise and go seek 
 
 ^°^}' the asses. "^And they' passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and the 
 
 land of Shalishah, but did not find them. Then they passed through the 
 
 land of Shaalim, but they were not there. And they passed through the 
 
 land of the Benjamites but did not find them. 
 
 Appeal ^When they were come into the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant 
 
 uel ^'^" who was with him, Come, let us return, lest my father cease thinking of the 
 
 asses and become anxious for us. ^And he answered him. Behold now, 
 
 there is in this city a man of God, and the man is held in honor; all that 
 
 he says is sure to come true. Now let us go thither; perhaps he can give us 
 
 •> 7-* All of '^ may be from a later editor who wished to introduce the account of the deliv- 
 erance which follows. If so, the last clause is a still later insertion. 
 
 § 5 Chap. 4 records a sweeping victory of the Philistines over the Hebrews, who were 
 completely vanquished and left without leaders or defenders. Chaps. 9'-10"^, 11, 13. 14 reflect 
 precisely the same conthtions. Samuel himself at Jehovah's command is seeking for a leader 
 who shall save his people out of the hand of the Philistines; for Jehovah has seen the affliction 
 of his people and their cry for deliverance has come up to him, 9'*'''. The whole land and 
 people were held in abject bondage to the Philistines. Cf. especially IS''' "'--3. Not until 
 Saul and Jonathan finally succeeded in rallying the people to successful resistance were they 
 relieved of the intolerable burden. Hence it is perfectly obvious, that if the overwhelming 
 victory, recorded in T^", as a result of which it is stated that the Philistines ivere subdued 
 and came no more within the border of Israel, and the cities which the Philistines had taken 
 from Israel were restored to Israel from. Ekron even to Gath, '3, i4_ jj^s any historical basis, 
 it has been introduced by a later editor into a wrong setting, where it obscures the real course 
 of history. In note § 7 the reason of this transposition and the evidence that it is the later 
 prophetic version of the victory recorded in 13, 14 will be indicated. 
 
 The citation in 9'-10""' from the early Judean Saul narratives (cf. Introd., pp. 10, 11) at once 
 puts the reader into touch with the problems and leaders of the period. Like a clear mirror 
 it reflects conditions as they actually were, without doctrinal or traditional bias. The interest 
 centres in the sturdy young warrior Saul, while Samuel is the patriotic seer of Ranlah, intent 
 upon finding the man to deliver the people from the Philistine yoke. The literary style is 
 vivid, concise, dramatic, abounding in dialogues, realistic — the style of the oldest stories in 
 Judges and the Hexateuch. So complete and consistent is the narrative that the original 
 editor who quoted it and his successors found little occasion to supplement it. To the student 
 of history and literature it, and the citations from the same source which foUow, are among 
 the inestimable treasures of the O.T. 
 
 '9' I Sam. 114, 10'-", assume that Saul is from Gibeah. This word has probably fallen 
 out of the text, for the latter part of the verse states the fact that Kish was a Benjamite. 
 
 J 9' I.e , a man of wealth and standing in the community. Cf. Ruth 2', but also I Kgs. 11^, 
 I Chr. 9". 
 
 ^ Q- Cf. 10^3. This may here be an editorial addition to complete the portrait. 
 
 ' 9^ So Gk. In the Heb. some of the verbs are in the singular. 
 
 62
 
 THE ANOINTING OF SAUL [I Sam. 9^ 
 
 Early Judean Saul Narratives 
 
 information regarding the mission on which we are going. "Then Saul 
 said to his servant, But, suppose we go, what shall we take to the man ? for 
 the bread is gone from our sacks, and there is no present to take to the man 
 of God. What have we ? ^And the servant answered Saul again, and said, 
 See I have with me a fourth part of a silver shekel, and you™ shall give it to 
 the man of God that he may furnish us information regarding our mission. 
 ^(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, Come let us 
 go to the seer; for he who is now called a prophet was previously called a seer).° 
 lOThen Saul said to his servant, Your advice is good; come, let us go. So 
 they went to the city where the man of God was. 
 
 ^^As they were going up the ascent to the city, they met young maidens Meet- 
 going out to draw water and said to them. Is the seer here ? ^-^And they an- ^jf j^ 
 swered them and said, He is; behold he is before you. Make haste now, t^*^ 
 
 seer 
 for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day 
 
 on the high place. ^"^As soon as you come to the city, you will at once find 
 
 him before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat 
 
 until he come, for he is to bless the sacrifice; and afterwards the guests 
 
 eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will meet him. ^^So 
 
 they w^ent up to the city. When they came within the city gate,° Samuel 
 
 was just coming out toward them, to go up to the high place. ^^Now Jehovah 
 
 had given to Samuel, a day before Said came, the following revelation, p 
 
 ^^At this time to-morrow I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin 
 
 and thou shalt anoint him to be a prince over my people Israel. And he 
 
 shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the 
 
 affliction^ of my people and their cry has come to me. ^'^And when Samuel 
 
 saw Saul, Jehovah indicated to him. This is the man of whom I spoke to 
 
 thee ! He it is who shall rule over my people. ^^Then Said drew near to 
 
 Samuel in the gate, and said. Tell me, if you will, where the seer's house is. 
 
 ^^And Samuel answered Saul and said, I am the seer; go up before me to 
 
 the high place, for you shall eat with me to-day; and in the morning I will 
 
 let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart. ^''And as for your 
 
 asses that were lost three days ago, do not trouble yourself"" about them for 
 
 they have been found. And to whom belongs all that is desirable in Israel ? 
 
 Does it not to you, and to your*^ father's house? -^And Saul answered and 
 
 said, Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and is not 
 
 my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin ? Why then 
 
 do you speak thus to me ? 
 
 ^^And Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall At the 
 
 and made them sit at the head of the guests (who were about thirty persons), p^^f' 
 
 meal 
 
 " 9' So Gk. and Luc. Jleh., I wiV give. Syr., Lat* Targs., we. These changes seem later. 
 Cf. for a simi ar chanRe in Gk. v. ■^. 
 
 " Q'-* .apparently a later explanatory note. It fits the context very awkwardly, for the 
 seer is first introduced in '*. 
 
 n 9'^ Heb., cit]/, but "* favors gate. Gk., as they were proceeding into the midst of the city. 
 
 p 9"" Heb., uncovered the ear. 
 
 1 9'" So Gk., liiic, and Targs. Heb. omits affliction. 
 
 ' 9^" Heb., put iioiir mind on. 
 
 • 9-'o So Gk. The Heb. adds, all. 
 
 G3
 
 ISAM. 923] THE WORK OF SAMUEL 
 
 Early Jiidean Saul Narratives 
 
 23And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion I gave you, which "I told 
 you to put aside. -^And the cook took up the leg'^ and placed it before 
 Saul. And Samuel said, See, the meat is served ! eat ! for it was kept for 
 you until the appointed time, that you might eat with those whom I have 
 invited." So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 
 Public -^And after they came down from the high place into the city, they spread 
 
 fnT'iiv" ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^"' °^ ^^^^ ^°^^' ^'^"^ ^^^ ^^y flown. -*^Then at daybreak Samuel 
 Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying. Up, that I may send you away.^ So Saul 
 arose, and he and Samuel"' went out into the street, ^^^g they were going 
 down at the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass 
 on before us,^ but you stand here that I may make known to you the word 
 of God. 10 ^Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, 
 and kissed him and said. Hath not Jehovah anointed you to be a prince over 
 his people Israel ? And you shall reign over the people of Jehovah and de- 
 liver them from the power of their enemies around about. And this shall 
 be the sign that Jehovah has anointed you to be a prince over his heritage:^ 
 ^when you go from me to-day you shall find two men at Rachel's tomb,^ 
 in the boundary of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ' The asses 
 which you went to seek are found, and now your father has dismissed the 
 matter of the asses and is anxious for you, saying, " What shall I do for mj 
 son ? " ' ^Xhen you shall go on from there and come to the oak of Tabor; 
 and there three men going up to God to Bethel will meet you, one carrying 
 three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying 
 a skin of wine. ^And they will salute you and give you two loaves of bread 
 which you shall take from their hand. ^After that you shall come to Gibeah, 
 where is the garrison*' of the Philistines; and furthermore when you come 
 thither to the city, you shall meet a band of prophets coming down from 
 the high place with a lyre, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and 
 they will be prophesying. ^And the spirit of Jehovah will rush upon you, 
 and you shall prophesy with them and shall be turned into another man. 
 ^And when these signs come to you, you shall do as the occasion offers ;<i 
 for God is with you.® 
 
 * 9-* So Gk. The Heb. adds, and hrouoht it {the leg) up. 
 
 " 9-'' The present Heb. text has suffered so much in transmission that it is impossible to 
 translate it as it stands. The above reconstruction (which incorporates suggestions of Gk., 
 Budde and Smith) at least represents the sense of the passage. 
 
 V 925. 26a go Gk., Luc, and Lat. When two minor errors are corrected in the Heb. it gives 
 the same reading. 
 
 ■^ 9-* So Gk. The Heb. adds, both of them. 
 
 ^ 9-^ So Gk. and Sjt. The Heb. adds, and he passed on, which seriously interrupts the 
 context. 
 
 ^ 10"^ So Gk., Luc, and Lat. A later copjdst, possibly by mistake or else because he 
 regarded it as not fulfilled in the work of Saul and especially inharmonious with 8, left it out 
 in the Heb. 
 
 •> 10- E\-idently not identical with the tomb of Rachel of later tradition which was found 
 near Bethlehem. 
 
 <^ 10' The Heb. word is variously translated. Gk., pillar; Targs., soldiers; Lat. and Syr., 
 post or rjarrison. In IS^ the same word occurs. 
 
 '^ lO' Heb., irhat there your hand finds. 
 
 ' W Vs. s has no connection with its context and anticipates the corresponding later 
 addition to the story in 13'-i5. Cf. note § 8. 
 
 64
 
 THE ANOINTING OF SAUL 
 
 [I Sam. 109 
 
 Early Judcati Saul Xarrativcs 
 
 ^Accordingly when he turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him Meet- 
 another heart, ^ and all those signs came to pass that day. ^'^And just as he '^"fij 
 came thence to Gibeah, a band of prophets met him, and he prophesied *'^e 
 among them. ^^And when every one who knew him saw him in the act of of" 
 prophesying with the prophets, the people said to one another, What is this ^l^^^' 
 that has come upon the son of Kish ? Is Saul also among the prophets ? 
 ^-And one of the bystanders answered and said, And who is their^ father ? 
 Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets ? ^^ \j^,] 
 when he had made an end of prophesying, he went to the high place. 
 
 ^^And Saul's cousin said to him and to his servant, Where did you go ? Return 
 And he said. To seek the asses; and when we saw that they were not found, '^°'"'^ 
 we went to Samuel. ^■''And Saul's cousin said, Tell me, I pray, what Samuel 
 said to you. ^"^And Saul said to his cousin. He told us definitely that the 
 asses were found. J3ut concerning the matter of the kingdom, of which 
 Samuel had spoken, he told him nothing.'^ 
 
 § 6. Events Connected with Saul's Election as King, I Sam. T'^-S-, 10"-1225 
 
 Later Ejjhraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 Early Judean Saul N^ar- 
 rativcs 
 
 I Sam. 10 27b^o^, jt 
 came to pass after about 
 a month 11 Hhat Na- 
 
 7 ^-^Now Samuel judged Israel all the days of Sam- 
 his life. ^^And he used to go around from year "u^ge. 
 to year in succession to Bethel, Gilgal, and Miz- sl^'P 
 
 f 10" This clause may be secondary; the latter part of the verse tells of the fulfilment 
 of the sii^n. 
 
 e 10'- Gk., his father. 
 
 ii iQiiib This may be a later note, the contents of which is impUerl by ■-^. The word kijigJom 
 is found only in the later passages, 10'^' 11'*. 
 
 § 6 The establishment of the Hebrew kingdom under Saul was an event of such far-reaching 
 significance that succeeding generations inevitably estimated it very differently. The oldest 
 account is evidently that in 11'-'^. It reflects the same conditions as are presented in 9'- 10"'. 
 The Israelites are the prey of their hostile neighbors and have no leader until Saul, already 
 encouraged by Samuel, like the champions whose deeds are recorded in the corresponcling 
 stories in .Judg., challenges the warriors to follow him against the insolent Ammonites. When 
 he returns victorious, he is, like Gideon (Judg. 8), asked to be their king and leader. The 
 simplicity of the narrative and its consistency with actual conditions estabhsh its priority and 
 hLstorical accuracy. 
 
 Very different were the traditions cherished by the later prophets. The figure of an Elijah, 
 an I'.Iislia, or an Isaiah dictating in the name of Jehovah to king and peojile was on the one 
 hand prominently before them. On (he utlier the evils of the kingship, as exemi)lifipd in the 
 despotic, lu.xurious, and — to their enlightencil point of view — .aijostate reigns of such kings 
 a.s Solomon and Ahab, were uppermost in the minds. To them the kingshi]) seemed a ste[) 
 not forward from anarchy and oppression, as it actually was, but backward from that ideal 
 theocracy which their imagination had unconsciously i)ro.iected on the canvas of their early 
 pa.'it. AH Israel wa.s conceived of as enjoying the benign guidance of the great iirophct-judge, 
 Samuel. To him they are represented as coming with the demand for a king, and he, voicing 
 in 8 the mature experiences and conclusions of prophets like Hosca, seeks to <li.*sua<le them 
 by pointing out the baneful conser|uonccs. Since they persist, he at last reluctantly con- 
 sents, referring the ehfuce through the lot, directly to ."lehovah, 10'"-'. Then follows a long 
 and noble address, full of historical illustrations, recalling the traditional farewells of Moses 
 in Dt. and Joshua in Josh. 2.3, 24 (cf. Vol. I, §§ 104, 128\ in which Samuel i>reaches to the 
 people, a.s would the prophetic successors of Hosea and Isaiah in the pre.seiice of the audience 
 and conditions which they, through the dim light of tradition, seemed to .see confronting 
 hitii. 
 
 A.9 has already been shown, Introd.. f)p. 12, 13, the relationship of these sections to the later 
 r.fihraiinite narratives seems well established. >So widely divergent are the style, point of 
 view, and ret)rc.sentation of the iirimitive and later iirophctic sources that the analysis is com- 
 pan-.tively ea.sy. While the hislori;in naturally follows the one ami ma.\' almost ignore the 
 otherj the religious and ethical teacher fitids in the latter, valuable prophetic (cachings and 
 principles, possessing a perennial value entirely independent of their setting. 
 
 65
 
 Recep- 
 tion of 
 the 
 news 
 by Saul 
 
 IS.ui.lli] THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM [I Sam. 7I6 
 
 Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 pah; and he used to judge Israel in all those 
 places. ^"And his return was to Ramah, for 
 there was his home; and there he judged Israel. 
 And there he built an altar to Jehovah. 
 
 8 ^But when Samuel was old he appointed his 
 sons judges over Israel, ^^nj i\^q name of his 
 eldest was Joel, and the name of his second, 
 Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.J ^How- 
 ever his sons walked not in his ways, but turned 
 aside after unjust gain and took bribes and per- 
 verted justice. 
 
 ■^Then all the elders of Israel assembled and 
 came to Samuel at Ramah, ^and they said to him, 
 See, you have become old and your sons walk not 
 in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to 
 judge us like all the nations. '^But the state- 
 ment displeased Samuel, when they said. Give 
 us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to 
 Jehovah. '^And Jehovah said to Samuel, Listen 
 to the voice of the people according to all that 
 they say to thee; for they have not rejected thee, 
 but they have rejected me from being king over 
 
 them. sLike all the deeds wliich they have done to 
 me since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt 
 even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and 
 served other gods, so also are they doing to thee.'' 
 ^Now therefore hearken to their voice, except 
 that thou shalt solemnly warn them, and shalt 
 show them the prerogative of the king who shall 
 reign over them. 
 
 ^^And Samuel told all the words of Jehovah 
 to the people who were asking of him a king. 
 ^^And he said, This will be the prerogative of the 
 king who shall reign over you : he will take your 
 sons and appoint them for himself over his char- 
 iots and horsemen ; and they shall nm before his 
 chariots; ^-and he shall appoint them for himself 
 as commanders of thousands and commanders of 
 hundreds,^ and some to plow his ground and to 
 
 Early Judean Saul Nar- 
 ratives 
 
 hash the Ammonite came 
 up and besieged Jabesh 
 in Gilead;> and all the 
 men of Jabesh said to Na- 
 hash. Make terms with 
 us and we will serve you. 
 2But Nahasli the Am- 
 monite said to them. On 
 this condition will I make 
 terms with you: that I 
 bore out the right eye of 
 each of you and thereby 
 bring a reproach upon all 
 Israel. ^And the elders 
 of Jabesh said to him. 
 Give us seven days res- 
 pite, that we may send 
 messengers through all 
 the territory of Israel. 
 Then if there be none to 
 save us we will come to 
 you. 
 
 ^So the messengers 
 came to Gibeah of Saul 
 and recounted the facts in 
 the hearing of the people, 
 and all the people wept 
 aloud. ^And Saul was 
 just coming from the field 
 after the oxen. And Saul 
 said. What is the trouble 
 with the peojjle that they 
 are weeping ? Then they 
 told him the words of the 
 men of Jabesh. ^^nd 
 the spirit of Jehovah™ 
 rushed upon Saul when 
 he heard these words, and 
 
 Crimes 
 of his 
 sons 
 
 Popu- 
 lar de- 
 mand 
 for a 
 king 
 and 
 Jeho- 
 vah's 
 re- 
 sponse 
 
 Sam- 
 uel's 
 warn- 
 ing re- 
 garding 
 a king 
 
 ' 10"b, 111 So Gk. and Luc. and a slightly corrected Heb. text. Present Heb., and he 
 was like me holding his -peace. 
 
 k fa^Tit'' '^"^'•' ^^' 32, one in Bethel and one in Beersheha. This vs. may be a later insertion. 
 . * 8» The direction continuation of ^ is 9. The language of * is that of the late prophetic 
 writers. It also contradicts ?. 
 
 ' 812 So Gk., Luc, and Lat. Yi.eh., fifties. Cf. Ex. 18=1 ■ 25^ and I Sam. 22^, which supposes 
 the reading given above. 
 
 ? 1 1* So Gk., Targs., and certain Heb. MSS. and the prevailing usage in the chapter. 
 Received Heb. text, God. 
 
 66
 
 I S-^M. 116] 
 
 ites un- 
 der 
 Saul 
 
 Early Judcan Saul \ar- 
 rativcs 
 
 his anger was greatly 
 aroused. "And he took 
 a yoke of oxen, and cut 
 them in pieces, and sent 
 them throughout all the 
 territory of Israel by the 
 hand of messengers, say- 
 ing, Whoever does not 
 come forth after Saul and 
 after Samuel, so shall it 
 be done to his oxen. 
 The de- Then a terror from Je- 
 anceby hovah fell upon the peo- 
 tl»e pie, and they rallied as 
 one man. *And he mus- 
 tered them in Bezek; and 
 the Israelites were three hun- 
 dred thousand, and the men 
 of Judah thirty tliousand." 
 
 ^And they said to the 
 messengers who came. 
 Thus say to the men of 
 Jabesh in Gilead, ' To- 
 morrow, by the time the 
 sun becomes hot, deliver- 
 ance shall come to you.' 
 So the messengers came 
 and told the men of Ja- 
 besh, and they were glad. 
 ^•^Therefore the men of 
 Jabesh said. To-morrow 
 we will come out to you, 
 and you shall do to us 
 whatever you please. 
 ^^Accordingly on the fol- 
 lowing day, Saul divided 
 the peo[)le into three di- 
 visions; and they came 
 into the midst of the camp 
 in the morning watch, 
 and smote the Ammonites 
 
 SAUL'S ELECTION AS KING [I S.ui. 8i2 
 
 Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 reap his harvest and to make his implements of 
 war and the furnishings for his chariots. I3\nj 
 he will take your daughters to be perfumers and 
 to be cooks and to be bakers. ^"^And of your 
 fields and your vineyards and your oliveyards, 
 he will take the best and give them to his ser- 
 vants. ^°And he will take the tithe of your 
 grain fields and of your vineyards and give to 
 his eunuchs and to his servants. I'^And he will 
 take your men-servants and your maid-servants, 
 and the best of your cattle" and your asses, and 
 use them for his work. i"He will take the tithe 
 of your flocks; and you shall become his servants. 
 i^Then you will cry out in that day on account 
 of your king whom you will have chosen for 
 yourselves; but Jehovah will not answer you in 
 that day. 
 
 ^^But the people refused to listen to the voice 
 of Samuel, and said. Nay, but a king shall 
 be over us, ^Otl^at ^g also may be like all the 
 nations, and that our king may judge us and go 
 out before us and fight our battles, ^l ^^d Sam- 
 uel heard all the words of the people and repeated 
 them to Jehovah. 22.^jj(^ Jehovah said to Sam- 
 uel, Listen to their voice and make them a king. 
 And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go every 
 man to his city.P 
 
 10 ^"And Samuel called the people together to 
 Jehovah to Mizpah; ^^and he said to the Israel- 
 ites, Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel, ' I 
 brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered 
 you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of 
 the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing 
 you. ^^But you yourselves have this day re- 
 lected vour God, who hiniself has been savins: 
 you from all your calamities and your distresses, 
 and you have said to him, ' Nay, but a king shalt 
 thou set over us.' Now therefore present your- 
 selves before Jehovah by your tribes and by your 
 thousands. 
 
 Persist- 
 ent de- 
 mand 
 of the 
 people 
 
 Denun- 
 ciation 
 of their 
 ingrati- 
 tude 
 
 " 8" So Gk. and Luc. Heb., young men. but those have already been alluded to in ". 
 
 o ] jsb Xumbers are not usually civen in the earliest stories and their size in tliis case 
 is good esidonce that they have been supplied by an editor. 
 
 P 8221, This may have been added by an edi(or in f>rder to introduce the narrative in Q'-IO'", 
 but it b also demanded by 10'^. P"or a similar assembly at Mizpah cf. 7". 
 
 67
 
 ISAM, nil] THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE IQNGDOM [I Sam. IO20 
 
 Early Judean Saul Nar- 
 ratives 
 
 until the heat of the day. 
 And then they who re- 
 mained scattered, so that 
 no two of them were left 
 together. 
 
 [lis J^And the people said to 
 
 election Samuel, Who is he that says, 
 asking ' gaul sliall not» reign over 
 us?' Hriiig the men tiiat 
 we may put them to death. 
 "And Saul said, To-day not 
 a man shall be put to death, 
 for to-day Jehovah hath 
 wrought deliverance in Is- 
 rael. 
 
 "Then said Samuel to the 
 people, Come, and let us go 
 to Gilgal, and renew the 
 
 kingdom there'. ^^And all 
 
 the people went to Gilgal ; 
 
 and there they made Saul 
 
 king before Jehovah in 
 
 Gilgal ; and there they 
 
 sacrificed peace-offerings 
 
 before Jehovah; and 
 
 there Saul and all the 
 
 of Israel rejoiced 
 
 men 
 exceedingly. 
 
 Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 2OS0 Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel Choice 
 near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken. ^lAnd by'iot" 
 he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their 
 clans; and the clan of the Matrites was taken ; and 
 he brought near the clan of Matri man by mani 
 and Saul the son of Kish was taken; but when 
 they sought him he could not be found. ^-There- 
 fore they asked of Jehovah further. Did the man " 
 come hither ?^ And Jehovah answered, Behold, 
 he hath hid himself among the baggage. -^And 
 one ran and brought him from there. And as he 
 stood among the people, he was taller than any of 
 the people from his shoulders upward. -^And 
 Samuel said to all the people. Have you seen him 
 whom Jehovah hath chosen ? for there is none 
 like him among all the people. And all the 
 people shouted loudly, May the king live I^ 
 
 13 iTlien Samuel said to all Israel, See, I Sam- 
 have hearkened to your voice in all that you resigna- 
 have said to me and have appointed a king over *'"'? 
 
 ^And from now on, behold the king who farewell 
 
 you. "^Ana irom now on, 
 
 will go before you; but as for me, I am old and 
 gray, and mj^ sons are with, you : and I have walked 
 before you from my youth to this day. ^Here 
 am I ! Testify against me before Jehovah, and 
 before his anointed : whose ox have I taken .'' or whose ass have I taken ? 
 or whom have I oppressed ? whom have I defrauded .' or from w'hose hand 
 have I taken a ransom, or a sandal ?^ Testify and I will restore it to you. 
 ^And they said. You have not oppressed us, nor defrauded us, nor have you 
 taken anything from any man's hand. ^Therefore he said to them, Jehovah 
 is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have 
 not found anything in my hand. And they^ said, He is witness. ^Then 
 
 1 lOr^^ Gk. has retained this clause, which is wanting in the Heb. but demanded by the 
 sense. 
 
 ■■ 10— So Gk. It is in harmony with the answer of Jehovah which follows. 
 
 ' ll"^ So Gk., Syr., and Targs. The Heb. omits the negative. 
 
 t iin-u Yiss 12 and '^ti contain clear allusions to the secondary tradition in 10'^--^ and " 
 is dependent upon ^-. These verses therefore appear to have been introduced to harmonize 
 the two variant traditions and to give Samuel the commanding position. The original narra- 
 tive probably here recorded the fact that the people asked Saul, who had proved himself their 
 deli\-erer, to become their king. 
 
 " 10-* Samuel's address in 12 naturally follows the pubUc choice of the king and precedes 
 the formal dismissal of the people recorded in lO-^--'. The transposition was doubtless made 
 by the editor who brought in the account in 11 of Saul's ^^ctory over the Ammonites, which 
 in the early narratives led to his being chosen by the people. 
 
 ^12^ So Gk., confirmed by Ben Sira 46'^. ' Minor corruptions in the Heb. have given the 
 very different reading. As in Ruth 4**. 9 the sandal may well represent the transfer of title 
 to property offered to the judge as a bribe. 
 
 " 125 So Gk. Heb., he said. 
 
 68
 
 SAUL'S ELECTION AS KING [I S.^i. 126 
 
 Later Ephraimite Sarnuel Xarratives 
 
 Samuel said to the people, Jehovah is witness, who appointed ^Nloses and 
 Aaron ^ and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 
 
 "Now therefore take your stand that I may declare to you before Jehovah The his- 
 all the righteous acts of Jehovah, which he did to you and to your fathers. ^"[J.^,!;^ 
 ^^Yhen Jacob-^' came to Egypt, and your fathers cried to Jehovah, then spect 
 Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron to bring your fathers out of Eg}^t, and matle'^ 
 them dwell in this place. ^But they forgot Jehovah their God, and he sold 
 them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into 
 the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they 
 fought against them. ^^And they cried to Jehovah and said. We have 
 sinned because we have forsaken Jehovah and served the Baalim and the 
 Ashtartes. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will 
 serve thee. ^^And Jehovah sent Jerubbaal, and Barak,^ and Jephthah, 
 and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies round about 
 you so that you dwelt in safety.^ 12 And j^ou saw that Nahash the king of the 
 Ammonites came against you^'. And you said to me, ' Nay, but a king shall 
 reign over us,' although Jehovah your God was your king. 
 
 ^^Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen,^ for Jehovah has The 
 now set a king over you. ^^If you will fear Jehovah and serve him and ^°arl>-" 
 listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, and both i"g 
 
 you and the king who reigns over you follow Jehovah your God, well. i^But 
 if you will not hearken to the voice of Jehovah, but rebel against the commandment 
 of Jehovah, then shall the hand of Jehovah be against you and your king, f ^*^Now 
 therefore take your stand and see this great thing, which Jehovah is about 
 to do before your eyes. ^'^Is it not wheat harvest to-day ? I will call upon 
 Jehovah, to send thunder and rain; and vou shall know and see that vour 
 wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Jehovah in asking 
 you a king. ^*So Samuel called upon Jehovah, and Jehovah sent thunder 
 and rain that day; and all the people were greatly afraid of Jehovah and 
 Samuel. 
 
 ^^Then all the people said to Samuel, Intercede with Jehovah your God Confes- 
 in behalf of your servants that we die not; for we have added to all our sins t^^'peo- 
 the crime of asking a king. 2013^^ Samuel said to the people. Fear not; p'e and 
 you have indeed done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following uel's 
 Jehovah, but serve Jehovah with all j'our heart; ^land do not turn aside after vain g^i^J^r- 
 things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are vain. ^^For Jehovah because tation 
 of his great name will not cast away his people, for Jehovah has undertaken 
 to make you a people for himself. ^^Moreover, as for me, far be it from me 
 
 * 12^ The Heb. is corrupt. The Gk. and Luc. have preserved the text followed above. 
 
 y 12' And his sons is added in the Gk. 
 
 » 12" Heb., tliey (i.e., Moses and Aaron) made them dwell; but this is contrary to all tlie 
 early traditions. The Gk. again has a consonant reading wliich i^ here followed. 
 
 ^ 12" Heb., Bedan; evidently a corruption for Barak, which is preserved in Gk., Luc, 
 and Syr. 
 
 c i2"'-ii This entire retrospect may !)e from the late prophetic editor. 
 
 <i 12'- The reference to Nahash is apparently based upon tlie early Judean narrative in 
 11, and. if so, is from a later editor familiar with l)f)(h sources. 
 
 '■ 12'-'' So (ik. Ilelj. adds i)le<)nas(icallv, ri'iirl iiiiom i/uu have asked. 
 
 ' 12'' So Gk. and demanded by '"\ Tlie Heb., and ayainst your fathers, is an obvious 
 error. 
 
 69
 
 I Sam. 1223] THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM 
 
 Dis- 
 missal 
 of the 
 people 
 
 jMter Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 that I should sin against Jehovah in ceasing to intercede for you; but I will 
 
 instruct you in the good and the right way. ^^Only fear Jehovah and serve 
 
 him in truth with all your heart, for you see what a great thing he hath done 
 
 in your presence. -^But if you persist in doing wrong, both you and your 
 
 king shall be destroyed. 
 
 10 '-"^Tlms Samuel ^e^•ealed to the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote 
 it in a book, and laid it up before Jehovah. And Samuel sent all the people away, 
 each man to his home. 20 4^^ Saul also went to his home at Gibeah ; and there went 
 with him the brave mens whose hearts God had touched. 27a But there were base 
 scoundrels who said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought 
 him no present.'' 
 
 § 7. The Great Deliverance from the Philistines, I Sam. 7^-'*, 
 
 jgl-la, 6, 7a, 15b_2^46, 52 
 
 Later Ephraimite 
 Saviuel Narratives 
 
 Early Judean Saul Narratives 
 
 I Sam. 
 
 of Israel:' 
 
 13 ^Saul chose him three thousand men 
 two thousand were with Said in Mich- 
 
 i 
 
 7 2bThen all the Confes- 
 nation Israel turned o/'the 
 to Jehovah. 3^\nd people 
 Samuel spoke to all 
 the nation Israel, 
 
 Out- 
 break 
 of the 
 war mash and on the mountain of Bethel and a thousand 
 
 ad- were with Jonathan his son^ in Gibeah of Benjamin. 
 
 of?he ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ the people he had sent each to his home. 
 
 Philis- 
 
 E 10-^ So Gk. Heb., army or fighting 'force. 
 
 h io25-2"a These verses appear to be simply editorial, and are intended to explain Saul's 
 appearance in the role of a private citizen in 11. 
 
 § 7 Originally in the early .Tudean Saul history 13, 14 immediately followed 11. The 
 garrison of the Philistines, peculiar to this source, again figures prominently in the story. 
 Cf. IS'' *. To the original narrative in 13, however, there was closely joined at an early period 
 a secondary tradition which represents Saul as rallying liis forces not at Gibeah, the seat of the 
 battle, but at the ancient sanctuary of Gilgal, far down in the Jordan valley, where he waits 
 seven days for Samuel to appear and offer a sacrifice. Its interest is not in the war, but in 
 the reason why Saul's family was rejected by Jehovah and forfeited the throne to David. 
 Cf. § 8. This story is found in '"'• *■ 7b-i5a_ Vs. '" appears to be common to the older and later 
 narratives. The exaggerated numbers in ^^ probably belong to the later. The fact that the 
 Philistines encamped in Michmash is first stated in the earlier narrative in "'''. Removing 
 these later editions, a remarkably complete and consistent record remains of the epoch-making 
 deli%'erance of the Hebrews from their Philistine oppressors. 
 
 Of the manner in which the great victory was wrought a very different tradition was 
 current in the later Ephraimite prophetic circles. Since the deliverance took jjlace wliile 
 Samuel was still alive (cf. 15), it was an inevitable result of their peculiar conception of the 
 history of the period (cf. note § 6) that they should tliink of him as the leading agent in accom- 
 plishing it, and of the method as direct supernatural intervention. Their version is found 
 in 7'^'*. It_ has been supplemented at many points by a late projahetic editor, but the language 
 and the point of view are those which characterize the later Ephraimite prophetic school. 
 
 The points of contact between the primitive and late tradition are suggestive: not Gibeah 
 of Saul, but .Mizpah, the place where according to the later source Samuel gathered the people 
 to elect Saul king, 10'^, is where he again assembles them, y^-"' ". Thither the Philistines 
 come, when they hear of the rally of the Israelites, '', just as in the earlv Judean they advance 
 after Jonathan's attack on the garrison at Gibeah, 1.33. ^a. le. in hoth the Hebrews were seized 
 Viath terror. In the older account Jonathan precipitates the battle bv attacking the Philistine 
 stronghold, in the later Samuel offered a sacrifice and praved to Jehovah for deliverance, 
 ^ne reeords that the earth quaked. 14'5, the other that Jehovah thundered irith a lovd voice; 
 both that the Philistines retreated in confusion, pursued by the Israelites. The older source 
 states that there was bitter war with the Philistines all the days of Saul, 14''2, while the later, 
 losmg the his torical perspective and reflecting conditions first realized in the days of David, 
 
 . ' 1^2 The Gk. which begins the chapter with 2 has here been followed. The Heb. has 
 the impossible reading in •, Saul iras a year old when he began to reign and he reigned tiro years 
 over Israel. The fact that it is lacking in the Gk. strongly suggests that it is a very late addi- 
 J^?"t, A' * scnbe who felt that the framework of Sam.-Kgs. demanded some such introduction. 
 Cf. II Sam. 2'0, 5*. 14^i, etc. 
 
 , M32 In the Heb. the designation, his son, which is required here where Jonathan is first 
 introduced, is lacking, but is retained in the Syr. 
 
 70
 
 I S.^M. 133] DELIVERANCE FROM THE PHILISTINES [I Sam. 1^ 
 Early Jiidean Saul Narratives 
 
 ^Then Jonathan smote the garrison of the Phihstines 
 that was in Gibeah.'^ And the PhiHstines heard the 
 report, The Hebrews have revoUod. But Saul had 
 meantime caused the trumjiet to be blown throughout 
 all the land.' '^'^And all Israel heard the report, Saul 
 has smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also 
 Israel has brought itself into ill odor with the Philis- 
 tines. ^^And the Philistines were gathered together 
 to fisrht with Israel. ^When the men of Israel saw 
 that they were in a strait (for the people were hard 
 pressed)," the people hid themselves in caves, in holes,'' 
 in rocks, in tombs, and in pits. ''^Also many peopleP 
 went over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. 
 i^^'And Saul numbered the people who were with him, 
 about six hundred men. ^*^And Saul and Jonathan 
 his son, together with the people who were with them, 
 were staying in Gibeah^ of Benjamin, while the Phi- 
 listines encamped in Michmasli. ^''And the plunderers 
 came out of the camp of the Philistines in three divis- 
 ions: one division turned in the direction of Ophrah in 
 the land of Sluial, ^^and another division turned in the 
 direction of Bethhoron, and another division turned 
 in the direction of the hill"" that looks down over the 
 valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 
 Lack of i"Xow there was no smith found throughout all the land of 
 arms in Israel, for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make sword 
 Israel or spear; ^obut all the Israelites went down to the Philistines 
 
 Later Ephraimite 
 Samuel Narratives 
 
 all 
 
 saying. If with 
 your heart you are 
 returning to Jeho- 
 vah, then put away 
 the foreign gods and 
 the Ashtartes"" from 
 among you and 
 direct your hearts 
 towards Jehovah 
 and serve him alone 
 that he may deliver 
 you out of the hand 
 of the Philistines. 
 ^Then the Israelites 
 put away the Baal- 
 im and the Ashtar- 
 tes, and served 
 Jehovah only. 
 
 ^And Samuel said, Victory 
 Assemble all Israel ^fjf^^^ 
 at Mizpah and I will t'^es 
 intercede for you 
 with Jehovah. ^So 
 they assembled at 
 Mizpah, and drew 
 water and poured 
 
 asserts that they were sub ued and came no more within the border of Israel and that all the 
 cities from Ekron to Gath fell into tlie hands of the Israelites, 7'''' '^. 
 
 The evidence in the Hght of the oldest sources that the Philistine encroachments con- 
 tinued without interruption from the days of Samson to those of Saul, has already been noted 
 (cf. note § 5). That 7^" represents in reality the later version of the events recorded in 13, 14 
 is also obvious. The reason why the later tradition is given its early position in I Sam. is 
 primarily because the later prophets naturally assigned the great deliverance to that early- 
 idealized period, when they conceived of Samuel as ruling as a theocratic judge oyer all Israel. 
 Cf. note § 6. Later editors also retained it in this early position, for nowhere else in the history 
 could a place be found for it wlicre the striking inconsistencies with tlie other narratives would 
 not be obvious even in an uncritical age. It is chiefly valuable to-day because it vividly ulus- 
 trates the growth of tradition aiul express,es that absolute faith in Jehovah's direct leadership 
 'and r>rotection of his peojile which was one of the noblest messages of the Hebrew prophets. 
 
 ^ Vi' So certain versions and domanded by 10'' and supported by 14"', and by the Ok. 
 in 1.3'". Heb., Oeba; but in the original they are easily confused as the variant readings of 
 the versions testify. f? l i j 
 
 ' 13-' As it now stands the Heb. reads, and Saul blew the trumpet throuohovt all the land, 
 saying. Let the Hebrews hear. Hut the designation ffebreus in the mouth of an Israelite 
 i.s unprecedented. It i.s appropriate rather on the lijis of the PhiHstines. Instead of hear 
 the Ok. has revolted. Following this reading and transposing this clau.se, we ha\e what was 
 the original text. ^ , 
 
 '" 7-' Ok., f/roves. Cf. .ludg. 2", where Ok. has the Phoenician form, Ashlarlcs. 
 
 n 1.3" Or following a suggestion of tlie Ok., the repetition is eliminated by reading, 07i 
 all sides. Or the Heb. may moan, for the army of the Philistines drew near for battle. 
 
 " 1.3" Ileb., thickets. A slight emendation gives the above more consistent reading. 
 QV.., enclosed spaces or folds. 
 
 p 13'" The Heb. and Gk. make no sense. The simple transposition of two letters gives 
 the above reading. 
 
 'I 131" So C.k. Cf. 14'" anil note "<, Ilcb., Geba. 
 
 ' 13'» So Ok. Heb., border. 
 
 71
 
 I Sam. 1320] THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM [I Sam. 7^ 
 Early Judcan Saul Narratives 
 
 Jona- 
 than's 
 pro- 
 posal 
 
 to sharpen each his plowshare and his coulter and his ax and 
 his mattock ; -'yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the 
 coulters and for the forks and for the axes and to set the ox- 
 goatls. " "So it came to pass on the day of Michmash that 
 none of the people with Saul and Jonathan had either sword 
 or spear; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.' 
 
 ^•^And the garrison of the Phihstines went out to the 
 pass of Michmash. 14 ^Now on that day Jonathan 
 the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his 
 armor, Come and let us go over to the Philistines' gar- 
 rison, that is on the other side. But he did not tell his 
 father. ^And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gib- 
 eah under the pomegranate tree which is by the thresh- 
 ing-Hoor," and the people who were with him num- 
 bered about six hundred men. ^And Ahijah the son 
 of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the 
 son of Eli. the priest of Jehovah at Shiloh, was in 
 charge of^ an ephod. And the people did not know 
 that Jonathan had gone. ^And between the passes by 
 which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines' 
 garrison there was a rocky crag on the one side, and 
 a rocky crag on the other side; and the name of the one 
 was Bozez [the Shining], and the name of the other 
 Seneh [the Thorny]. ^The one crag rose up on the north 
 in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front 
 of Geba. ^And Jonathan said to the young man who 
 bore his armor. Come, let us go over to the garrison of 
 these uncircumcised Philistines^; perhaps Jehovah will 
 act for us, for there is nothing that can prevent Jehovah 
 from saving by many or by few. '^And his armorbearer 
 said to him, Do whatever your judgment dictates^; see 
 I am with you; your wish is mine. ^Then Jonathan 
 said. See, we will pass over to the men and show our- 
 selves to them. ^If they say to us, ' Stand still until we 
 can reach you,' then we will stand still in our place, 
 and will not go up to them, ^^pyf jf they say, ' Come 
 up to us,' then we will go up; for Jehovah has given 
 them into our hand ; and this shall be the sign to us. ^ 
 
 Later Ephraimite 
 
 Samuel Narratives 
 
 it out before Jeho- 
 vah, and fasted on 
 that day and said. 
 We have sinned 
 against Jehovah. 
 And Samuel judged 
 the Israelites i n 
 M i z p a h . ''And 
 when the Philis- 
 tines heard that the 
 Israelites had as- 
 sembled at Mizpah, 
 the tyrants of the 
 Philistines went up 
 against Israel. And 
 when the Israelites 
 heard it they were 
 afraid of the Philis- 
 tines. 
 
 ^And the Israel- 
 ites said to Samuel, 
 Cease not to cry to 
 Jehovah our God 
 for us, that he will 
 save us out of the 
 power of the Phi- 
 listines. ^And Sam- 
 uel took a sucking 
 lamb, and offered it 
 as a whole burnt- 
 offering to Jehovah ; 
 and Samuel cried to 
 Jehovah in behalf of 
 Israel, and Jehovah 
 answered him. 
 i^And while Samuel 
 
 » 13-' Only a conjectural translation of this verse is possible. 
 
 I 1319-21! These ^■eI^ses appear to be a later explanatory note. Not only are they not de- 
 manded by the context, but they also are not entirely consistent with the representation else- 
 where. Cf. the account of the armed pursuit of the Philistines in 14. 
 
 " 142 Heb., Migron. But this town was located north of Michmash. The Heb. word 
 is translated by Syr. as above. 
 
 ^ 14-'' Lit., hearing. , 
 
 " 14'^ Heb., uncircumcised, a contemptuous designation of the Philistines. 
 
 " 14" So Gk. lit., all to ivhich your heart (or mind) inclines, which appears to have pre- 
 served the original reading, of which the iiresent awkward Heb., Do all that is in your heart: 
 turn, behold, I am with you according to your heart, is the corruption. 
 
 a 1410 por a, similar sign cf. Gen. 24", where Abraham's servant thus appeals to Jehovah 
 for a decision. 
 
 72
 
 ISAM. 1411] DELIVERANCE FROM THE PHILISTINES [IS.ui.7io 
 
 Early Judean Saul Narratives 
 
 i^Now when both of them showed themselves to 
 the garrison of the Phihstines, the Phihstines said, 
 There are Hebrews coming out of the holes where they 
 have hidden themselves. ^-And the men of the garri- 
 son cried out to Jonathan and his armorbearer, say- 
 ing, Come up to us that we may tell you something. 
 Then Jonathan said to his armorbearer, Come up 
 after me; for Jehovah has given them into the hand of 
 Israel. i-^And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and 
 feet, and his armorbearer after him. And they fell 
 before^ Jonathan, and his armorbearer kept despatch- 
 ing them after him. I'^And in the first attack Jonathan 
 and his armorbearer slew about twenty men with jave- 
 lins and rocks from the field.*' ^^And there was a trem- 
 bling in the camp, in the field, and among all the peo- 
 ple; the garrison, and even the raiders also trembled; 
 and the earth quaked so that it produced a supernat- 
 ural'^ panic. 
 
 i^'And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin 
 looked, and saw a tumult surging hither and thither. ^ 
 I'Tlien said Saul to the j)eople who were with him. In- 
 vestigate now and see who is gone from us. And when 
 they had investigated they found that Jonathan and 
 his armorbearer were not there. i^And Saul said to 
 Aliijah, Bring hither the ephod;^ for at that time he 
 had charge of the ephod before Israel. i^And while 
 Saul was yet speaking to the priest, the tumult in the 
 camp of the Philistines kept on increasing. Therefore 
 Saul said to the priest, Draw back your hand. 20\j^j} 
 Saul and all the people that were with him responded 
 to the call, and came to the battle; and thereupon every 
 man's sword was turned upon his fellow and there was 
 very great confusion. 2i^\,ij ti^g Hebrews,' who were 
 
 Later Ephraimite 
 Samuel Xarratives 
 
 was 
 
 offering 
 
 the 
 burnt-offering, the 
 Philistines drew 
 near to fight 
 against Israel ; but 
 Jehovah thundered 
 with a loud voice on 
 that day against the 
 I* h i 1 i s t i n e s , and 
 threw them into 
 confusion, and they 
 were defeated be- 
 fore Israel. ^And 
 the men of Israel 
 went forth from 
 Mizpah and pur- 
 sued the Philistines 
 and smote them un- 
 til they were below 
 Bethcar. 
 
 i^Then Samuel Memo- 
 took a stone and set refuft"^ 
 it between Mizpah of the 
 and Yeshanas and ^^^ °^^ 
 called its name 
 Ebenezer,^ saying. 
 Hitherto hath Jeho- 
 vah helped us. i^So 
 the Philistines were 
 subdued and came no 
 more within the 
 
 border of Israel. 
 And the hand of Je- 
 
 ** 14" Gk. ami Luc., iher/ looked upon, i.e., were seized with terror at the sight of. 
 
 c i4UIj xhe Heb. is untranslatable. The questionable renderinK. irithhi as it irere half 
 a furrow's lenijth in an acre of land, Rives no satisfactory sense. The (il<. interprets it as refer- 
 ring to the weapons used by the armorbearer. The Syr. reading, ///vT bearers of stone or like 
 drivers of a yoke of oxen in the field, is intelligible, but seems to be only a heroic endeavor 
 to translate certain of the words. A radical revision of the text gives the possible rendering, 
 ■part from the garrison and part from the field, which would refer to the Philistines slam. 
 
 d 14>5 Ok., Luc, and Syr., of Jehovah. Heb., God. 
 
 " 14'^ Making a slight correction required in the Heb., ancl suggested by the Gk. 
 
 ' 14"* The fik. has uiifloubteilly here i)reserved the origiiKil reading. A later scribe 
 evidently substituted, for theological reasons, the ark of God for ephod, forgetting that the 
 ark was still at Kirjath-jearim and that according to the oldest narratives it never appears 
 to have been used as an oracle. Acconling tf> ■' .\hijah xras in charge of the ephod. 
 
 « 7'- .S() (Jk., I>uc.. and Syr. Heb., Shen. Yeshana is mentioned in II Chr. 13'" among 
 the Uenjamite towns and was probably located north of Ucthcl. 
 
 '' 7''' Heb., Kben-ha-ezer as in 4 and .5. 
 
 ' 14^' Gk., slaves, i.e., of the I'hilistines. 
 
 73
 
 Saul's 
 rash 
 vow 
 and 
 Jona- 
 than's 
 viola- 
 tion 
 of it 
 
 I Sam. 1421] ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM [I Sam. 7i3 
 Early Judean Saul Narratives 
 
 with the Phili.stiiios heretofore, who had come up into 
 the ciimj),'^ also turned to be with the Israehtes who 
 were witli Saul and Jonathan. 22Likewise all the men 
 of Israel, who were in Jiiding in the hill-country of 
 Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, 
 also pursued close after them in the battle. '-^^So Jeho- 
 vah saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over 
 beyond Bethhoron.^ 
 
 Later Ephraimiie 
 Samuel Narratives 
 
 hovah was against the 
 Philistines all the days 
 
 of Samuel. J I'^And 
 the cities which the 
 Philistines had 
 taken from Israel 
 were restored to Is- 
 rael from E k r o n 
 even toGath; and 
 their territorv Israel 
 delivered from the 
 power of the Philis- 
 tines. And there 
 was peace between 
 Israel and the Am- 
 orites. 
 
 And all the people were with Saul, about ten thousand men; and the fight- 
 ing was scattered over all the hill-country of Ephraim. -^Then Saul com- 
 mitted a great act of folly that day,"^ for he laid an oath on the people, saying. 
 Cursed is the man who shall eat any food until evening and until I avenge 
 myself on my enemies. So none of the people tasted food. ^o^Tq^^ there 
 was honey on the surface of the groimd," -^and when the people came to 
 the honeycomb, ° the bees had just flown away, but no one put his hand to 
 his mouth, for the people feared the oath, ^/g^j Jonathan had not heard 
 when his father adjured the people; therefore he put forth the end of the 
 rod that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand 
 to his mouth, and his eyes were lightened. ^S'pj^pj^ spoke up one of the people 
 and said, Your father adjured the people saying, ' Cursed be the man who 
 eats food this day.' But the people were exhausted, p ^Q'p}^^,^ gj^jj Jonathan, 
 My father has brought disaster on the land. See how I have been re- 
 freshed,^ because I tasted a little of this honey. ^^li only the people had 
 eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found, how 
 much greater would have been the slaughter of the Philistines I"" 
 
 ' 713 Characteristic late prophetic expressions. Cf. Judg. 38-'!, and Dt. 9. 
 
 ^ 14-1 Making a correction in the Heb. which is supported by the Gk. 
 
 ' 1423 So Gk. and Luc. Heb.. Bethaven. 
 
 m 1423b, 2ja g^ Qjj ^^^ Jmc. with a necessary emendation. 
 
 " 142^ The first part of the verse in the Heb. is untran.slatable. The original meaning 
 may have been, all the land flowed with honey, cf. Gk.. all the land dined, but -^'^ is more probably 
 but a repetition of ^sa through the error of a copyist (the land being equivalent to the people 
 as in 29). 
 
 " 14^. Emending the Heb. to conform with the Gk. 
 
 p 14.8b Apparently a scribal comment. It awkwardly disturbs the context. It would 
 y^l'^f harmonious after so Various emendations have been propo.sed of which the more 
 probable are, and he strictly warned the people, or, joining to the ne.xt verse in accordance 
 with a suggestion of .Josephus, and he (Jonathan) left off eating. 
 
 " 1429 Heb., my eyes have been enliohtened. 
 
 ' 1430 So Gk. and Luc. and one possible reading of the Heb. 
 
 74
 
 THE DELIVERANCE FROM THE PHILISTINES [I Sam. 14^1 
 
 Early Judean Saul Narratives 
 
 •^^But they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon,® Saul's 
 and the people were very faint. 32'j^|^^,jj ^j^p peoj)le rushed U|)on the sj)oil nta!'^° 
 and took sheep and oxen and calves and struck them to the earth, and the Pjecau- 
 people ate them with the blood. ^^When they told Saul, saying. See, the 
 j)eople are sinning against Jehovah in eating with the blood, he said to 
 those who told him,' Roll hither" to me a great stone. '^''And Saul said. 
 Go out among the people and say to them, ' Let each man bring to me his 
 ox and his sheep, and slay it here and eat; but do not sin against Jehovah in 
 eating the flesh together with the blood. And all the people brought that 
 night, each what he had in his hand,^' and slew them there. ^^So Saul 
 built an altar to Jehovah; that was the first altar that he built to Jehovah. 
 
 ^^And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night and jjlunder Penalty 
 among"' them until daybreak, and let us not leave a man of them. And broken 
 they said. Do whatever you think best. Then said the priest, Let us here "^'o^ 
 draw near to God. ^''And Saul asked of God, Shall I go down after the Phi- 
 listines .' Wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel ? But he did not 
 answer him that day. '^^And Saul said. Come hither, all you chiefs^ of the 
 people and know and see in whom is this guilt to-day. ^^For as Jehovah 
 liveth, who delivereth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely 
 die. But no one of all the people answered him. ^"^Then he said to all 
 Israel, You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other 
 side. And the people said to Saul, Do what seems good to you. "^^There- 
 fore Saul said, Jehovah, God of Israel, why hast thou not answered thy 
 servant this day ? If the guilt be in me or in Jonathan my son, Jehovah, 
 God of Israel, give Urim; but if the guilt is in thy people Israel, give Thum- 
 mim.** Then Jonathan and Saul were taken and the peojjle escaped. ^^And 
 Saul said. Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son. He whom Jehovah 
 shall take, must die. And the people said to Saul, It shall not be so ! But 
 Saul overruled the people and they cast the lot between him and Jonathan 
 his son.'^ And Jonathan was taken. 
 
 •^'^Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done. And Jona- Jona- 
 than told him saying, I did indeed taste a little honey with the end of the eo'nfes- 
 staff that was in my hand; and here I am! I am ready to die.'' ^^And !^',"(" ^ig. 
 Saul said, May God do to me whatever he pleases, you shall surely die, Jona- liver- 
 
 " 14'" The Gk. reads, in Michmash, and omits, to Aijalon. Smith woulii join (his clause 
 to the precedinK speech of .Jonathan, omitting, that dan. Of the proposed emendation tlie 
 most plausil)le is, from midday until eveninr). 
 
 t 14.1:1 ifeh., You deal treacherously ; Gk., Gittaim ; but a probable correction in the text 
 gives the above reading. 
 
 " 14'" So Gk. and Luc. A minor corrui)tion in Hot), (fives the meaningless reading, this day. 
 
 " 14-'^ So Ok. and Luc. Ileb., each his oxen his hand. 
 
 " 14*' t)r possibly emending the text to accord with 1 1", let us smite them. 
 
 X J4.1S lie!)., corner- stones. 
 
 • 14" I'V)rtunately flie Gk. and especi.ally Luc. have preserved what bears on its face the 
 evidence rjf being the original reading. The occurrence of the same word led tlie Fleb. scribe 
 to overlook the omitted material. 
 
 '' H")^ A similar mistake or delil)orate [lurixKse appears to have here resulted in a similar 
 omission in the Heb. as in ■". Again the Gk. has preserved what seems to be an original ele- 
 ment in the narrative. 
 
 « 14« Cf. .Jo.sephus, Antiq. VI, 6^ 
 
 75
 
 I Sam. 11^^] THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM 
 
 Saul's 
 mili- 
 tary 
 policy 
 
 Early Judean Saul Narratives 
 
 than !*^ '^''But the people said to Saul, Shall tfonathan die who has wrought 
 this great deliverance in Israel ? Far from it ! As Jehovah liveth, there 
 shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has wrought with 
 God this day. Therefore the people redeemed Jonathan, so that he did not 
 die. '^'^Then Saul went up from pursuing the PhiUstines; and the Philistines 
 went to their own country. 
 
 °-But the war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul. 
 And whenever Saul saw any valiant or efficient man, he would attach him 
 to himself. 
 
 ,8. Saul's Disobedience and Rejection, I Sam. 10^ I3<b, b, 7b.i5b^ 151.38a 
 
 Sam- 
 uel's 
 coni- 
 inarid 
 to Saul 
 
 Later Judean Prophetic 
 
 Narratives 
 
 I Sam. 10 ^Now 
 when Samuel anointed 
 Said, he commanded him, 
 saying. You shall go down 
 before me to Gilgal, and 
 then I will come down to 
 you, to offer burnt-offer- 
 ings and to sacrifice peace- 
 
 Later Ej)hraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 15 ^And Samuel said to Saul, Jehovah sent Com- 
 me to anoint you to be king over his people Israel. <" ^Q g]^y 
 Now therefore listen to the words of Jehovah. *^ *;he 
 "Thus saitli Jehovah of hosts, ' I have determined kites 
 to punish that which Amalek did to Israel, in that 
 he opposed him in the way, when he came up out 
 of Egypt. ^Now go and smite Amalek and utterly 
 destroy s him and all that he has, and spare him 
 
 ^ l^** Gk. and Syr. add, to me. Cf. 3''. The usual condition is not given, but instead the 
 sentence is interrupted, thus vividly expressing the intensity of Saul's feeling. 
 
 I 8 The untimely death of Saul and the misfortune which pursued his family until 
 his kingdom passed completely under the rule of another, presented a moral problem to later 
 generations akin to that which confronted the friends of .Job. That like later kings, he had 
 sinned against .Jehovah in disobeying the divine command proclaimed by his prophet, was 
 universally believed; but regarding the exact nature of that sin traditions differed. The 
 oldest is found in IS"''-''''. I^eferences in " indicate that '•> belongs to the same. The un- 
 explained change of geographical background from Geba in ^ to Gilgal (beside the .Jordan) in 
 ■'b is best explained on the basis that ^Ij is also from this secondary section. The strange com- 
 mand in 10* to go down to Gilgal, etc., which has no connection with its context finds its true 
 place and meaning as the introduction to this secondary tradition of Saul's rejection. The 
 fact that this story has been so closely grafted on to the early Judean account of the Philistine 
 war suggests that it comes from a later stratum of the same narratives. This is strongly con- 
 firmed by the linguistic similarity and by the fact that it is assumed that it was quite right for 
 Saul to offer sacrifices; his sin is simply failure to obey the divine command, '*. 
 
 Parallel to this tradition, but associating the rejection with an entirely different occasion, 
 is the slightly later version in 15. The points in common are many. Gilgal is in both the place 
 of the rejection; the reason in each is that Saul has failed to comply with a distinct command 
 of Samuel, in each he forfeits the kingdom to another. The occasion alone is different. In 
 15 Samuel has handed over his responsibilities as judge to Saul, but otherwise he is portrayed 
 in precisely the sarne commanding prophetic role as in 7, 8, and 12. 
 
 The political situation revealed in the early Saul narrati\-es and the necessity of repelling 
 foreign attacks are entirely ignored. The one vital question is whether or not Saul will obey 
 the divine command proclaimed by .Jehovah's prophet. Many expre.ssions peculiar to the pre- 
 ceding Ephraimite narratives also recur. The story is the culmination of that group of narratives 
 found m 7, 8, 10''--' and 12, which starts with certain outstanding historical facts, like the 
 victories over the Philistines and Amalekites and the downfall of the house of Saul, and with 
 these as a basis develops an objective philosophy of history in which the religious teachings of 
 Amos and Isaiah and especially those of the great prophet of the north, Hosea, are concretely 
 illustrated. 
 
 1-1 ^u '''''' ^^^ later prophetic writer has apparently quoted from an older tradition which 
 Uke the early Judean narratives of 9-11, 13, 14, tells in a natural, circumstantial manner of 
 Saul s campaign against the Amalekites. The same primitive sources may have also recorded 
 the tact that Agag was slain by the hand of the stern, patriotic seer of Raniah. 
 
 < ^1 Jf^ese words were probably added by a scribe familiar with Q'-IO'". 
 15 So Gk. The Heb. combines two forms of expression, listen to the voice of the words 
 of Jehovah. 
 
 s 15* Hsb., devote, place under the ban. 
 
 So throughout the chapter. 
 
 76
 
 I Sam. IQS] 
 
 SAUL'S DISOBEDIENCE 
 
 [I Sam. 133 
 
 Later Judean Prophetic 
 Narratives 
 
 oflFerings. "Wait seven 
 days until I come to you 
 and show you what you 
 shall do. 
 
 13 ^'^Therefore, when 
 he had been made king, 
 the people were assem- 
 bled together after Saul 
 at Gilgal. sb^^j ^lie 
 Philistines were gathered 
 together to fight with 
 Israel — thirty thousand 
 chariots and six thousand 
 horsemen and people,*^ 
 as numerous as the sand 
 on the sea. And they 
 came up and encamped in 
 Michmash, east of Beth- 
 aven.*^ "''But Saul was 
 still in Gilgal, and all 
 the people followed him 
 trembling.* 
 
 ^And he waited seven 
 days for the appointed 
 time which Samuel had 
 set; but Samuel did not 
 come to Gilgal, and the 
 people scattered away 
 from him. ^Therefore 
 Saul said, Bring here to 
 me the burnt-offering and 
 the peace-offerings. And 
 he offered the burnt-offer- 
 ing. '"^And then, just as 
 he had finished offering: 
 the burnt-offering, Sam- 
 uel came; and Saul went 
 out to greet him.J ^^But 
 Samuel said, What have 
 you done ? And Saul 
 said, Because I saw that 
 
 Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 not, but slay both man and woman, child and 
 infant, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' 
 
 Wnd Saul summoned the people and mus- The 
 tered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand ^nd 
 footmen and ten thousand men of Judah. ^And Saul's 
 when Saul came to the city of Amalek, he lay in dience 
 wait in the valley. "^And Saul said to the Ken- 
 ites, Go away, withdraw from among the Amale- 
 kites, lest I destroy you with them, for you showed 
 kindness to all the Israelites when they came 
 up from Egypt. So the Kenites departed from 
 among the Amalekites. ''And Saul smote the 
 Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which 
 is before Egypt. *And he took Agag the king of 
 Amalek alive and completely destroyed all the 
 people with the sword. ^But Saul and the peo- 
 ple spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the 
 oxen, the fathngs, the lambs, and all that was 
 good, and would not completely destroy them; 
 but everything that was worthless and despised, 
 that they completely destroyed. 
 
 I'^Then the word of Jehovah came to Samuel Sam- 
 saying, ^^I repent that I have made Saul king, "ebukg 
 for he has turned from following me and has not 
 carried out my commands. And Samuel was 
 angry and cried to Jehovah all night. ^-And 
 early in the morning Samuel rose to meet Saul. 
 Then Samuel was told, Saul came to Carmel and 
 has just set up a monument and lias turned and 
 passed on and gone down to Gilgal. ^^And 
 when Samuel cam.e to Saul, Saul said to him. 
 Blessed be thou of Jehovah ! I have fulfilled 
 the command of Jehovah. ^^And Samuel said. 
 What then is this bleating of the slicep in my 
 ears and the lowing of the cattle which I hear ? 
 ^'^And Saul said, They have brought them from 
 the Amalekites, for the people sf)ared the best of 
 the .sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to Jehovah 
 your God; and the rest we have completely de- 
 stroyed. ^^Then Samuel said to Saul, Stop ! and 
 let me tell you what Jehovah hath saitl to me 
 
 Gk., Belhhoron. 
 Luc. reads, trembled from after him, i.e., because of fright 
 
 h 13« I.e., Bethel. So Sjt. 
 
 ' 13"> The Heb. is difficult 
 had deserted hirn. 
 
 ' V.V Heb., to bless him, i.e., to greet him with the customary salutation, May you be 
 blessed, cf. II Kgs. 4^". 
 
 77
 
 IS.^i. 131 1] ESTABLISHMENT OE THE KINGDOM [I Sam. I516 
 
 Later J ml can Prophetic 
 Narratives 
 
 the people were scattering 
 away from me and you 
 did not come within tlie 
 appointed time, and the 
 Phihstines were gather- 
 ing together at Mich- 
 mash, i-I said, ' Now 
 will the Philistines come 
 down to me at Gilgal, and 
 I shall not have appeased 
 Jehovah.''^ So I con- 
 strained myself and of- 
 fered the burnt-offering. 
 i^Then Samuel said to 
 Saul, You have acted 
 foolishly. If you had 
 kept the command of Je- 
 hovah your God,* which 
 he commanded you, then 
 would Jehovah have es- 
 tablished your kingdom 
 over Israel forever. ^"^But 
 now your kingdom shall 
 not continue. Jehovah 
 hath sought out a man 
 after his own heart, and 
 Jehovah hath appointed 
 him a leader over his peo- 
 ple, because you have 
 not kept that which Je- 
 hovah commanded you. 
 ^^^Then Samuel arose 
 and went up from Gilgal 
 and proceeded on his way 
 to Gibeah of Benjamin. ^^ 
 
 Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 this night. And he said to him, Speak. ^''And 
 Samuel said. Though you are little in your own 
 sight, are vou not the head of the tribes of Israel ? 
 And Jehovah anointed you king over Israel, 
 i^and Jehovah sent you on an expedition and 
 said, ' Go, and completely destroy the sinners of 
 Amalek and fight against them until they are 
 consumed.' ^^Why then did you not obey the 
 voice of Jehovah and why did you swoop upon 
 the spoil and displease Jehovah ? ■^'^Xnd Saul 
 said to Samuel, I have obeyed the voice of Je- 
 hovah and have gone on the expedition upon 
 which Jehovah sent me and have brought back 
 Agag the king of the Amalekites and have com- 
 pletely destroyed the Amalekites. ^^But the 
 people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best 
 of the things which were placed under the ban 
 to sacrifice to Jehovah your God in Gilgal. -^And 
 Samuel said. 
 
 Does Jehovah delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices 
 
 As in obedience to the voice of Jehovah .'' 
 Behold to obey is better than sacrifice. 
 
 And to hearken than the fat of rams. 
 ^^For rebellion is as bad as the sin of di\ination. 
 
 And obstinacy as the iniquity of the teraphim.™ 
 Because you have rejected the word of Jehovah, 
 
 He hath rejected you from being king." 
 
 2^And Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned, Saul's 
 
 for I have transgressed the command of Jehovah gfJii^*" 
 
 and vour words because I feared the people and ^"^.^. 
 1- ' 1 1 • • 9--s.^ 1 i> 1 petition 
 
 listened to their voice. -^Now theretore pardon for 
 
 my sin and turn back with me, that I may wor- ^^^'^^ 
 
 ship Jehovah, ^eg^^^ Samuel said to Saul, I will 
 
 not turn back with you, for you have rejected 
 
 the word of Jehovah and Jehovah hath rejected 
 
 you from being king over Israel. 2' And as 
 Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, but it tore. 
 ^^Then Samuel said to him, Jehovah hath to-day torn the kingdom of Israel 
 from you and hath given it to your neighbor who is better than you. 
 
 ^ 1312 Heb., mollify the face of Jehovah. 
 
 ' 13|3 Making a slight change in the Heb. to conform to the context. 
 
 m 1523 xhe. Heb. is confused. The above conforms to the parallelism and the reading 
 of Symmachus. The teraphim is an allusion to the early use of household gods for divination. 
 
 ° loj Gk. adds, over Israel; but this may be taken from ^ and it disarranges the rhythm. 
 The words of Samuel are cast in rhythmical form, as are most of the sermons of the prophet3. 
 
 o 1315a So gij Some copyist evidently mistook the second Gilgal for the first with the 
 result that the intervening clauses have been omitted. 
 
 78
 
 SAUL'S DISOBEDIENCE [I S.\m. 1529 
 
 Later Ephraimite Samuel Narratives 
 
 29Moreover the GloryP of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man 
 that he should repent. <3 ^^Then he said, I have sinned, yet honor nie now 
 at least before the elders of my people and before Israel, and turn back with 
 me, that I may worship Jehovah your God. ^^So Samuel turned back and 
 followed Saul, while Saul worshipped Jehovah. 
 
 ^-Then Samuel said. Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. Fate of 
 And Agag came to him trembling. And Agag said. Surely death is bitter.'" ^nl^ 
 ^^And Samuel said. As vour sword has bereaved women, so shall your mother Sam- 
 be the most bereaved of women. Thereupon Samuel hewed Agag in pieces depart- 
 before Jehovah in Gilgal. ^^Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went ""^^ 
 up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. ^^^And Samuel saw Saul no more 
 until the day of his death, for Samuel grieved over Saul. 
 
 § 9. Summary of Saul's Reign, I Sam. 14*^-" 
 Early Editorial Epitome 
 
 I Sam. 14 ^"Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he Saul's 
 fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab and the Ammon- ^^^^ 
 ites and Edom and Beth-rehob,® the king of Zobah and the Philistines; and 
 wherever he turned he was victorious.^ ''^And he did mighty deeds and 
 smote the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of its plunderers. 
 
 ^^Now the sons of Saul were: Jonathan, Ishbaal," and Malchishua. And His 
 these are the names of his two daughters : the eldest, Merab, the young- ^ 
 est, Michal. ^^^nd the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of 
 Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner the son 
 of Ner, Saul's cousin. ^^And Kish the father of Saul and Ner the father 
 of Abner were sons of Abiel. 
 
 p 1529 The exact meaning of the Heb. word is doubtful. The Faithful One (Syr. following 
 context) and the Victor have been suggested. 
 
 •1 \5rJ For the older expression of this idea cf. Num. 23'9, from whence a later editor may 
 have derived this verse. Cf. also i' of this chapter. Originally ^s, 29 were probably poetical 
 in form. 
 
 ' 1.5^ Following Gk. and Luc. The Heb. text has probably suffered from dittography. 
 The current translation is not justified even by the Heb. 
 
 § 9 The conchision of the account of the great deliverance from the Philistines is interrupted 
 by the insertion between *' and ''-' of a summary of Saul's wars and of the names of the important 
 members of his family. It corresponds to the summary of Samuel's activity in T'"''", of David's 
 in II Sam. 8, and of Solomon's in 1 Kgs. 4'-5". Its attitude toward Saul is sym|ia(hetic not 
 critical, and there are none of the chronological data which are usually found in the correspond- 
 ing epitomes from the hand of the late i)roi)hetic eflitor. Its connection with the early .ludean 
 Saul narratives is evidently clo.se. The citations from them cease in 14 and it may have been 
 their original conclusion, but nif)re i)robably it is an editorial eijitome Ija.sed tijion them. A 
 few of tlie facts, as for example, the references to the wars of the Moahites and Arameans and 
 the name of Saul's wife are given only here, indicating that the editor probaljly had a fuller 
 narrative before him. It is difficult (o determine his date. The reference to the Amalekite 
 war seems to be quite independent of l."). It wouki appear, therefore, that his work antedated 
 that of the editor who added the later Kphraimite narratives, for their contents are completely 
 ignored. 
 
 ' 14^^ Following the Gk. anri T>uc., Edom may be a mistaken reading for Armn. Budde 
 maintains that the.se references to Israel's foes are derived from the account of David's wars, 
 II Sam. S'*' '^. The present record of Saul's reign is, however, too incomplete to justify such 
 a negative conclusion. Excepting in tlie three citations frotn his history, the tendency is to 
 miniini/e the importance of his rule. 
 
 ' 14" (ik. lit., v'hh driivcrrd by .lehovah. The Heb., acted impiously, is evidently corrupt 
 or el.se has been deliberately ohangeil by a later scribe who harl no sympathy with Saul. 
 
 " 14''' So many Gk. ,MSS. and elsewhere, e.a., II Sam. 2"* and Introd., p. 42. The name, 
 because it contains the name of the heathen deity, Hani, is usually mutilated by later scribes. 
 The word here translated lahvi is for Ish-Jahweh, man of Jehovah instead of 7)ian of Baal. 
 
 19
 
 I Saai. 1614] 
 
 THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 [I Sam. 1535b 
 
 David's 
 intro- 
 tluction 
 to the 
 court of 
 Saul 
 
 II 
 
 THE DECLINE OF SAUL AND THE RISE OF DAVID, 
 I Sam. 1535b_3li3, I Chr. 10, 121-22 
 
 § 10. David's Introduction to Public Life, I Sam. IS^^"'-!?" 
 
 Earbj Judean David Nar- 
 ratives 
 
 I Sam. 16 i^Now the 
 
 spirit of Jehovah had de- 
 parted from Saul and an 
 evil spirit from Jehovah tor- 
 mented him. I5^nd Saul's 
 servants said to him, See 
 now, an evil spirit from Je- 
 hovah^ is tormenting you. 
 i^Let your serv^ants who are 
 before you speak and they 
 will seek for our lord^ a man 
 skilful in playing the lyre. 
 Then whenever the evil 
 spirit ° comes upon you he 
 shall play with his hand, and 
 you will be better. ^"Then 
 Saul said to his servants, 
 
 Venj Late Popular Prophetic Tradition 
 
 15 35b]sj-Q^ Jehovah repented that he had The 
 made Saul king over Israel, 16 ^and Jehovah fngof*" 
 said to Samuel, How long wilt thou grieve over David 
 Saul, when I have rejected him from being Samuel 
 king over Israel ? Fill thy horn with oil and 
 go. I will send thee to Jesse the Bethle- 
 hemite; for I have provided me a king among 
 his sons. 2^n(i Samuel said. How can I go, 
 since Saul will hear of it and kill me .'' But 
 Jehovah said. Take a calf with thee and say, 
 ' To sacrifice to Jehovah am I come ! ' ^^^d 
 invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show 
 thee what thou shalt do, and anoint him whom 
 I name to thee. "^And Samuel did that which 
 Jehovah had commanded. And when he 
 came to Bethlehem, the elders of the city 
 came trembling to meet him and said. Does 
 
 I 
 
 The Decline of Saul and Rise of David — Beginning with the sixteenth chapter of I Sam. 
 and throughout 11 Sam. the interest of the narratives centres in David. Most of the material 
 is evidently derived from the early Judean David history. Cf. Introd., pp. 10-12. With one 
 or two exceptions, these extracts appear to stand in their original order. They have been sup- 
 plemented, however, by variant versions of the more important incidents and by two or three 
 additional stories. The interest in the variant versions is still focus.sed on David; but many 
 details have been forgotten, while the element of the marvellous is more prominent than in tlie 
 corresponding early narratives. Evidently they have been subject to a longer period of oral 
 transmission. They repre.sent the popular David traditions, probably current and first com- 
 mitted to writing in the southern kingdom. Cf. Introd., p. 14. From the large and varied 
 cycle of David traditions the editors have selected and combined their material so effectively 
 that the result is a remarkably vivid, sympathetic, and on the whole, consecutive account of 
 David's life and deeds. 
 
 § 10 The difficulties and contradictions in 16 and 17 have long been recognized. Thus, 
 for example, in 16'^--3, David has already won fame as a warrior and has been appointed an 
 armorbearer by Saul; but in 1712-31 he is but a lad, and in 17^-' not even his name is known to 
 Saul and Abner. The explanation of the wide variations in representation is that these chap- 
 ters contain at least three different accounts of David's introduction to public life. IG'-'-^^ ig 
 evidently the oldest and is the original continuation of the Judean narrative in 14. Davitl the 
 young shepherd, attractive, athletic, and skilled in the u.srf of the sling, is brought to Saul's 
 court, to soothe the king by his playing, whenever the latter was seized with what appears from 
 the symptoms to have been attacks of either acute melancholia or epilepsy. There he quickly 
 wins Saul's favor and is made his armorbearer. 
 
 Although not recognized as such by the majority of scholars, it seems probable that the 
 sections of 17 found in both the Heb. and Gk. represent the original sequel of the preceding. 
 
 » 16" So Gk., Luc, and Targ. A later scribe, as in many other places, has substituted 
 God m the Heb. 
 
 "^ 16'^ So Gk. and Luc. Heb., Let our Lord now command your servants, who are before 
 you to seek, etc. 
 
 ' 16i« So Gk. The Heb. adds, from God. 
 
 80 
 
 I
 
 I Sa.m. 161^ INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC LIFE [I Sa.m. IG* 
 
 Very Late Popular Prophetic Tradition 
 
 Early Judcan David Nar- 
 ratives 
 
 Provide me now a man who 
 plays well, and bring him to 
 me. ^^Thereupon one of the 
 vounor men answered and 
 said, Behold, I have seen a 
 son of Jesse the Bethlehem- 
 ite who is skilful in playing 
 and a valiant man, a soldier, 
 judicious in speech, a man 
 of good appearance, and Je- 
 hovah is with him. ^^There- 
 fore Saul sent messengers to 
 Jesse and said. Send me 
 David your son, who is with 
 the flock. -^And Jesse took 
 ten loaves s of bread, and a 
 skin of wine, and a kid, and 
 sent them to Saul by David 
 his son. 2igo David came 
 to Saul and entered his ser- 
 
 your coming betoken good ? ^And he said 
 Yes, to sacrifice to Jehovah am I come. Puri- 
 fy yourselves and rejoice"^ with me in the sac- 
 rifice. And he purified Jesse and his sons 
 and invited them to the sacrifice. ^And when 
 they came and he saw Eliab, he said, Surely 
 in Jehovah's presence is his anointed.® 'But 
 Jehovah said to Samuel, Look not on his ap- 
 pearance or on the height of his stature, since 
 I have rejected him ; for Jehovah doth not see^ 
 as man sees, for man looks on the outward 
 appearance, but Jehovah looks at the heart. 
 ^Then Jesse called Abinadab, and brought him 
 before Samuel. But he said, Neither hath 
 Jehovah chosen this one. ^Then Jesse brought 
 forward Shammah. But he said. Neither 
 hath Jehovah chosen this one. ^*^Then Jesse 
 brought his seven sons before Samitel. But 
 Samuel said to Jesse, Jehovah hath not chosen 
 these. ^^And Samuel said to Jesse, Are these 
 
 David is already in the army, ^, attendant upon Saul, ^', and feels the responsibility of his new 
 position. While he is a youth, as in 16'*---*, he is also more than the mere lad of the parallel 
 version, otherwise the king would not have confidence in his ability to vanquish the Philistine, 
 3', and have tried the experiment of [jutting upon him his own giant's armor, ■**•• ■'s. As might have 
 been anticipated, it proves but a hindrance, for he had not tried it. Consequently he goes forth 
 and wins his victory with the weapons natural to a peasant warrior, of. Judg. 20'^. The point 
 of view throughout is Judean, and the achievement is referred to subsequently in the Judean 
 narratives, of. 18'*, 19^ 2P, 22'". The slaying of Goliath also best explains David's sudden leap 
 into public favor and Saul's bitter jealousy. The fact that in II Sam. 21" it is attributed to 
 Klhanan the Bethlehemite does not absolutely invalidate the preceding conclusion, for II Sam. 
 21 evidently contains extracts from a popular cycle of traditions. Cf. § 34. Whatever be the 
 historic fact, it .seems clear that in two distinct traditions — one of which is the early Judean — 
 David figured as the slayer of Goliath. 
 
 The second account of David's introduction to public life is found only in the Heb. version 
 of 17. That it represents a recension distinct from the Gk. is demonstrated by analogies (cf. 
 Introd., p. 14), by the fact that it was originally lacking in both of the leading Gk. texts, and 
 because it is complete in itself and presents many variations from the older parallel. These are 
 perfectly obvious: in 12 Oavid is introduced as for the first time, he is but a stripling, and is 
 unknown to Saul. It was probably the popular idealized version of the story preserved, like 
 certain others in the appendix to .Tudges and II Sam. and in the book of Ruth, at Bethlehem 
 in Juilah and still later introduced into the O.T. 
 
 The third account is found in 10'-" and is closely related to the second, but yet it is dis- 
 tinct. In 17"-^''' the brothers know nothing of David's i)ublic anointing, recorded in 16'-". 
 Three, rather than seven, brothers are mentioned. The introduction in 17'- would also be 
 unnecessary after IG'"''. The point of view of this latter section is also similar in many ways to 
 that of the later Kphraimite Samuel narratives, but the prrphet's fear of Saul in -' is very dif- 
 ferent from his attitude in 1.5. That the story is very late and that it is modelled after the .lu- 
 flean account of the anointing of Saul in 9, 10 seem obvious. Its aim is to make clear David's 
 di\ ine call to the kingship. It was i)robably current in very late prophetic circles and by an 
 exilic or post-exilic editor placed where it now stands, ("f. Introd., p. 13. 
 
 ■^ 10' So Gk. and old Lat. Heb. simply, come. The rejoicing was a prominent element 
 in the ancient sacrificial feasts but <\'as viewed askance by later Jewish scribes, who probably 
 changed the Heb. text. 
 
 • IG" Or, Surely he is the prince of Jehovah, his anointed. 
 
 ' 10' So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. omits, doth ./ehovah see. 
 
 « IG-" Cf. the jtarallel 17'", ten loaves. The expression, lit., an ass of bread, is unprece- 
 dented. The text followed by the Gk. was unintelligible, but favors the correction adopted 
 above. The corruption was due to a very slight error in the Heb. 
 
 81
 
 I Sam. 1621] 
 
 THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 [I Sam. 1611 
 
 Early Judcan David Nar- 
 ratives 
 
 vice;^ and he loved him so 
 much that he became one of 
 his armorbearers. '^'^hnd 
 Saul sent to Jesse, saying, 
 Let David enter my service, 
 for he has found favor in my 
 sight. -^And whenever the 
 evil spirit from God came 
 upon Saul, David would 
 take the lyre and play with 
 his hand and Saul would 
 breathe freely and would 
 feel better and the evil spirit 
 would depart from him. 
 
 Go- 1 7 iNow the Philistines mus- 
 
 chaU^ tered together their forces for 
 lenge to ^ar, and they were gathered to- 
 brews gether at Socoh, which belongs 
 to Judah, and encamped between 
 Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes- 
 dammim. ^knd Saul and the 
 men of Israel were gathered to- 
 gether and encamped in the val- 
 ley of Elah; and they drew up in 
 battle-array against the Philis- 
 tines. ^And the Philistines were 
 standing on the mountain on the 
 one side, and the Israelites were 
 standing on the mountain on the 
 other side, and the valley was 
 between them. "^And there came 
 out a champion from the camp 
 of the Philistines, named Goliath 
 of Gath, whose height was about 
 ten feet. ^And he had a helmet 
 of bronze upon his head, and he 
 was clad with a bronze breast- 
 plate of scales, the weight of 
 which was about two hundred 
 pounds.' 6And he had greaves 
 
 Very Late Popular Prophetic Tradition 
 
 all the young men ? And he said, There is still 
 the youngest, and he is a shepherd with the 
 flock. Therefore Samuel said to Jesse, Send 
 and bring him, for we will not sit down until 
 he is brought here. i-So he sent and brought 
 him in. Now he was ruddy, a youth with beau- 
 tiful eyes and attractive appearance. And 
 Jehovah said. Arise, anoint him, for he it is. 
 i^Then Samuel tookthe horn of oil and anointed 
 him in the midst of his brothers. And the 
 spirit of Jehovah came with power upon David 
 from that day forward. And Samuel arose 
 and went to Ramah. 
 
 Pojndar Judean David Stories 
 
 17 i^Now David was the son of an David 
 Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose "o'the" 
 name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. "?"??'' . 
 And the man was old in the days of Saul, 
 advanced in years among men. i^And the 
 three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after 
 Saul to the war; and the names of his 
 three sons who went to the war were Eliab 
 the eldest, his second Abinadab, and the 
 third Shammah. i^But David was the 
 youngest; and the three eldest had fol- 
 lowed Saul. i^Now David went to and 
 fro from Saul to feed his father's sheep at 
 Bethlehem. i^And the Philistine drew 
 near morning and evening and took his 
 stand forty days. I'^And Jesse said to 
 David his son. Take now for your brothers 
 a bushel of this parched grain and these 
 ten loaves and carry them quickly to the 
 camp to your brothers. i^But bring these 
 ten cheeses to the commander of the 
 thousand and look after your brothers' 
 welfare and take a definite assurance from 
 them. i^Now Saul and they and all the 
 men of Israel are in the valley of Elah 
 fighting with the Philistines. 
 
 I 
 
 stand before me. I. e., became a trusted attendant. Cf. Gen. 41*^, 
 
 *'Wi.22 Lit., 
 I Kgs. 128. 
 
 ' ^^^- u ' According to the Heb. Goliath's height was six cubits and a span, and his breast- 
 plate weighed five thousand shekels, and his spear six hundred shekels. To make the pictur* 
 denmte the approximate modern equivalents are given. 
 
 82 
 
 I
 
 I Sam. 176] INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC LIFE [I Sam. IT-'o 
 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 of bronze upon his legs and a 
 javelin of bronze between his 
 shoulders. ^And the shaft of his 
 spear was like a weaver's beam, 
 and the heatl of his iron spear 
 weighed twenty-four pounds ;' 
 and his shield-bearer went before 
 him. ^And he stood and cried 
 out to the ranks of Israel and 
 said to them, Why ha\e you 
 come out to draw up the line of 
 battle ? Am not I a Philistine 
 and you Saul's servants ? Choose 
 a man for yourselves and let him 
 come down to me. ^If he be able 
 to fight with me and kill me, 
 then will we be your servants; 
 but if I prevail against him and 
 kill him, then shall you be our 
 servants and serve us. ^^And the 
 Philistine said, I have insulted 
 the ranks of Israel to-day; give 
 me a man that we may fight to- 
 gether. ^^And when Saul and all 
 Israel heard these words of the 
 Philistine, they were terrified and 
 greatly afraid. 
 Da\-id's 32j3yj^ David said to Saul, Let not my 
 fight ° lortl's courage'^ fail him; your servant 
 G^ll ^'i'l go ^^*^ %ht with this Philistine, 
 ath 2-^ And Saul said to David, you are not 
 able to go against this Philistine to fight 
 with him, for you are only a youth and 
 he has been a warrior from his youth. 
 ^^But David said to Saul, Your servant 
 was a she{)li(Td with his father's flock; 
 and when a lion, or a bear would come 
 and take a lamb out of the flock, ^^I 
 would go out after him and smite him 
 and deliver it from his mouth; and if he 
 rose up against me, I would seize him 
 
 Popidar Judean David Stories 
 
 -'^So David rose up early in the morn- Go- 
 ing and left the flock with a keeper and cha\-^ 
 took and went, as Jesse had commanded ^^'^se 
 him. And he came to the entrenchment J 
 just as the army was going forth to the 
 battle-array, shouting the war cry. -^And 
 Israel and the Philistines drew up the line 
 of battle, army confronting army. --And 
 David left his vessels in the charge of the 
 keeper of the baggage and ran to the line 
 of battle and came and asked for the wel- 
 fare of his brothers. -^And just as he was 
 talking with them, the champion, the Phi- 
 listine of Gath, Goliath by name, came 
 up out of the ranks of the Philistines 
 and spoke the same words as before; and 
 David heard them. 24\^j ^jj ^j^^ j^^^j^ ^f 
 
 Israel, when they saw the man, fled from 
 him and were greatly afraid. -^And the 
 men of Israel said, Have you seen this 
 man who has come up ? Surely to in- 
 sult Israel has he come up. Whoever 
 smites him, the king will greatly enrich 
 and will give him his daughter also and 
 will make his father's house free in 
 Israel. 
 
 ^''Then David spoke to the 
 men who stood by him, saying, 
 What shall be done to the man 
 who smites that Philistine and 
 takes away the reproach from 
 Israel .'' For who is this uncir- 
 cumcised Philistine, that he has 
 dared to insult the armies of the 
 living God ? -"And the people 
 answered him in the words just 
 given, saying, Thus shall it be done 
 to the man who smites him. ^Sjjyj 
 Eliab his eldest brother heard 
 when he spoke to the men; and 
 
 ' 17 ' See note on previous page. 
 
 i ]72o 'j'jig word apparently niean.s a barricade made of wagons. But there are no refer- 
 ences to wagons in this early period. Budde acutely suggests that it is a later enibellishment 
 of this popular version of the story. 
 
 '' \7'" So Clk. and Luc. Heb., Let no man's courage. But the context and other parallels 
 
 favor the above, 
 
 83
 
 I Sam. 1735] 
 
 THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 [I Sam. 1728 
 
 The 
 duel 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 by liis board, and slav bim witli a blow. 
 ^''Your servant smote both lion and 
 bear. Now this uncircumcised Philis- 
 tine shall be like one of them, since he 
 has insulted the armies of the living 
 God. "^'^David also said, Jehovah who 
 delivered me from the paw of the Hon, 
 and from the paw of the bear, will de- 
 liver me from the hand of this Philis- 
 tine. Therefore Saul said to David, 
 Go, and may Jehovah be with you. 
 ^^And Saul clothed David with his gar- 
 ments, and put a helmet of bronze on 
 his head and clad him with a coat of 
 mail.™ ^^And David girded his sword 
 over his coat and made a vain attempt 
 to go, for he had not tried them. ° Then 
 David said to Saul, I cannot go with 
 these, for I have not tried them. And 
 David ])ut them off him. 
 
 ■^•^And he took his club in his hand, and chose five 
 smooth stones out of the brook and put them in his 
 bag,'^ and took his sling in his hand, and he drew 
 near to the Philistine. ^^ Vj^fj ^yhon the Philistine 
 looked and saw David, he despised him, for he was 
 but a youth and ruddy, a young man of attractive ap- 
 pearance.i ^^And the Philistine said to David, Am 
 I a dog that you come to me with a club ? And 
 the Philistine cursed David by his gods. '*^And the 
 Philistine said to David, Come to me that I may 
 give your flesh to the birds of the heavens and to 
 the beasts of the field. '^^Then David answered the 
 Philistine, 
 
 You come to me with a sword and a spear and a javelin, 
 But I come to you in tlie name of JehovaJi of hosts. 
 And tlie God of the ranl^s of Israel whom you have in- 
 sulted. 
 ^"To-day Jehovah will deliver you into my hands. 
 That I may smite you and cut off your head; 
 
 Popular Jiidean David Stories 
 
 Eliab's anger was kindled against 
 David, and he said. Why have you 
 come down ? And with whom have 
 you left those few sheep' in the 
 wilderness ? I know you well and 
 the wickedness of your heart; for 
 to see the battle you have come 
 down. 2^And David said, What 
 have I now done ? Is it not a 
 matter of importance ? ^'^And 
 turning away from him to an- 
 other, he spoke as before ; and the 
 people answered him again as at 
 the first time. ^^And when the 
 words were heard which David 
 spoke, they reported them to Saul. 
 And they° took liim and brought 
 him before Saul. 
 
 ^^But the Philistine The 
 kept coming nearer to ^^^^ 
 David, and the man 
 who was bearing the 
 shield went before 
 him. 48bxhen David 
 quickly ran toward the 
 line of battle to meet 
 the Philistine, ^o^nd 
 David prevailed over 
 the Philistine with a 
 sling and with a stone 
 and smote the Philis- 
 tine, and slew him, 
 although there was no 
 sword in David's 
 hand. 55\j^^j when 
 Saul saw David going 
 out against the Philis- 
 
 ^^11 ^'*' inorsel of a flock. The tone of contempt is clear. 
 
 " 1738 The last clause is not found in the Gk. 
 
 ° Wr i° t'*^' ^'^'' "" *^'' ha.i^\s of a slight correction of the Heb. 
 
 •° I ' u i''' Heb., and he took him. Probably at this point a part of the secondary 
 version has been lost, but it is nearly complete as it is, and Saul's ignorance of David's name and 
 Klentity^^revealed in »\ suggests that no conversation was recorded here as in the other account. 
 , , " ^'i ^,.,^'^; ^ scribe has added the explanatory note, in the shepherd's bag which he 
 had, and this has been incorporated in the Heb 
 
 9 17" Apparently a gloss taken from I612. 
 
 84
 
 I Sam. 17^6] INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC LIFE 
 
 Early Jiidcan David Xarraiives 
 
 [I S.ui. 1755 
 
 And I will this day give the dead of the army of the Phi- 
 listines 
 
 To the birds of the heavens and to the wild beasts of the 
 earth, 
 
 That all the world may know that there is a God in Israel, 
 
 *"And that all this assembly may know 
 
 That not with the sword and spear doth Jehovah save, 
 
 For the battle is Jehovah's and he will give you into our 
 hand."^ 
 
 ^^^Then when the Philistine arose and came and 
 drew near to meet David, "^^David put his hand in 
 his bag and took from it a stone and slung it and 
 smote the Philistine on his forehead; and the stone 
 sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to 
 the earth. ^^Then David ran and stood over the 
 Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of its 
 sheath,' and slew him, and cut off his head with it. 
 And when the Philistines sa\v that their champion 
 was dead, they fled. ^-And the men of Israel and 
 Judah arose and raised the battle cry and pursued 
 the Philistines to the entrance to Gath and to the 
 gates of Ekron, so that the wounded of the Philis- 
 tines fell down on the way from Shaaraim, even to 
 Gath and Ekron. ^"^And when the Israelites re- 
 turned from pursuing the Philistines, they plun- 
 dered their camp, ^^but David took the head of 
 the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; and he 
 put his armor in his tent. 
 
 § 11. David's Growing Popularity and Saul's Insane Jealousy, 
 
 I Sam 18'-19'' 
 
 Popnlar Judean David 
 Stories 
 
 Popular Judean David 
 Stories 
 
 tine, he said to Abner, 
 the commander of the 
 army, Abner, whose 
 son is this lad ? And 
 Abner said. As you 
 live, O king, I cannot 
 tell. 56^\nd the king 
 said. Inquire whose 
 son the young man is. 
 ^~ And when David 
 returned from smiting 
 the Philistine, Abner 
 took him, and brought 
 him before Saul with 
 the Philistine's head 
 in his hand. °^And 
 Saul said to him, 
 Whose son are you, 
 my lad ? And David 
 answered, I am the son 
 of your servant Jesse 
 the Bethlehemite. 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 David's I Sam. 18 ^Now when they came back, as 
 David returned from slaying the Philistine, the 
 women came out dancing from all the cities of 
 Israel to meet Saul the king with tambourines, 
 with cries of rejoicing, and with cymbals.* "And 
 
 f)0|Ui- 
 arity 
 ami 
 Saul's 
 fear of 
 hirn 
 
 18 ^Now when [David] 
 had ceased speaking with 
 Saul the soul of Jonathan 
 was knit to the soul of 
 1 )avi(l, and Jonathan lox cd 
 
 r i7«b-47 Like most of the longer .speeches in the historical books, the words of David are 
 here expressefl in poetry — the five-beat measure prevailing. 
 
 • 17^' Not found in the Gk. 
 
 S 11 Again the Gk. has a much briefer (18«-9. "^a, is-w, 20, sia, 22-201, 19) and yet complete 
 and consistent text. Its contents, as well as the literary style, indicate that it is tlie original 
 sequel of the early .Judean David narratives in 10 and 17. The Heb. in IS as in 17 evidently 
 represents a different text which has been supplemented by extracts from a secondary source. 
 They introduce inevitable confusion and contr.-idictions into text. Thus in IS-"-^'-', consistent 
 with the representation elsewhere, David is given Saul's daughter Michal as wife, but in "-'" 
 it is not Michal but Merab. The account in '"• " of Saul's attempt to kill David, is a duplicate 
 
 » 18* So Gk. The Heb. text has become slightly confused. 
 
 85 
 
 Jona- 
 than's 
 cove- 
 nant 
 with 
 Davi(l 
 and his 
 great 
 popu- 
 larity
 
 I Sam. 187] THE RISE OF DAVID [I Sam. 18i 
 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 His 
 
 mar 
 riage 
 
 Popular Judean David 
 Stories 
 
 him as his own Hfe. ^ \nd 
 Saul took him that day 
 and would not let him re- 
 turn to his father's house. 
 ^And Jonathan made a 
 covenant with David, be- 
 cause he loved him as his 
 own life. *And Jonathan 
 stripped himself of the 
 cloak which he had on 
 and gave it to David and 
 his military coat, even to 
 his sword and to his bow 
 and to his girdle. ^And 
 David went out ; in all 
 for which Saul sent him, 
 he acted wisely and with 
 success, so that Saul ap- 
 pointed him over the 
 warriors. And he was be- 
 loved alike by all the peo- 
 ple and by the servants of 
 Saul. 
 
 ^"And Saul said to nis 
 David, See, my oldest fsed™' 
 daughter, Merab, her will ".^^'"" 
 
 f nage 
 
 . . with 
 
 Merab 
 almost word for word of the version in 19'' '". Of these two, the one in 19'' i" is evidently the 
 older and in its true setting; while the secondary one in 18'°. " fits very awkwardly in its con- 
 text, no sufficient motive being given for Saul's act; while the events recorded in IS'^^-IQ" are 
 hardly consistent with a previous open attempt upon David's life. It would seem that the later 
 editor, who collected and introduced the secondary popular versions of the events, recognized 
 the close resemblance between the two duplicates and therefore placed the later version as 
 early in the narrative as possible. An analogous editorial treatment of duplicates has already 
 been noted in 7-14 and in the pentateuchal books cf. Vol. I, § 18. The introductory formula in 
 IS'", now on the next day, confirms the conclusion that originally it stood in a different context, 
 part of which has been lost in the process of combination. The result is that the late popular 
 version of David's experiences in Saul's court is not nearly as coherent as the early Judean. 
 
 191-1^ appears to be the immediate sequel of the early Judean narrative in 18. It records 
 the growing jealousy of Saul and its ever more active and open exjiression. The successive 
 stages are vividly portrayed, until finally Saul flings the spear and then, in his anger, does not 
 even regard the sanctity of David's home. The references to the killing of Goliath in =■ and to 
 Michal in "-'^ still further confirm the relationship to the older sections in 17 and 18. The 
 statement regarding Jonathan's affection for David in 19"' would have been quite unnecessary 
 if it was originally a part of the secondary narratives in 18'*. 19-' ^ alone seem to be editorial 
 additions, for they are but a reflection of 20. Vs. * is also the natural sequel of '. 
 
 " 18^ I.e., sang antiphonally accompanying their words by the dance as in the ancient 
 ballad. 
 
 ^' 18" The song of the women, like the riddles of Samson, has rhyme as well as rhythm and 
 parallelism. 
 
 w jgsb xhis last cause is lacking in the Gk. and has the characteristics of a late editorial 
 addition. 
 
 I igi2b This is not found in the Gk. and appears to be a late explanatory note, probably 
 introduced from ^**>. 
 
 a Igu, 15 xhe Heb. verb has the double meaning of acting wisely and of enjoying the suc- 
 cess which results from such action. 
 
 86 
 
 the women sang to each other as they danced,^ 
 and said, 
 
 Saul ha.s slain his thousands, 
 But David his ten thousands.^ 
 
 ®And it made Saul very angry, and this saying dis- 
 pleased him and he said. They ascribed to David 
 ten thousands, while to me they ascribed but 
 thousands, and what can he have more but the king- 
 dom?" ^And Saul kept his eye on David from 
 that day forward, ^^^d Saul was afraid of 
 David, because Jehovah was with him and had de- 
 parted from Saul. ^ ^^xherefore Saul removed him 
 from him, and made him his commander over 
 a thousand; and he went out and came in at 
 the head of the people. ^^And David acted 
 wisely and prospered^ in all his ways, for Jeho- 
 vah was with him. ^^And when Saul saw that 
 he acted wisely and prospered, he stood in dread 
 of him. i^But all Israel and Judah loved David, 
 for he went out and came in at their head. 
 
 ^^Michal, Saul's daughter, also loved David. 
 
 And when they told Saul, he was pleased. 
 
 with 21 ^YjjJ gg^^l gg^jjj J ^jjj „jyg jjgj. ^q him, that shc 
 
 Michal ^ '
 
 1 Sam. 18-1] SAUL'S JEALOUSY OF DAVID 
 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 [I Sam. 1817 
 
 mav be a snare to him and that the hand of the 
 Philistines may be upon him. Therefore Saul said 
 to David, you shall this day be my son-in-law a second 
 time.'' --So Saul commanded his servants, say- 
 ing, Communicate with David secretly and say, 
 'See, the king is pleased with you and all his 
 servants love you; now therefore become the 
 king's son-in-law.' -"^And Saul's servants spoke 
 these words in the ears of David. And David 
 said, Is it an easy thing in your opinion to be- 
 come the king's son-in-law, when I am a poor 
 man and of no reputation ? ^^^And the servants 
 of Saul" told him saying, David spoke thus. 
 2^And Saul said. Thus shall you say to David, 
 ' The king desires no bride-price, but a hundred 
 
 foreskins of the Philistinet 
 vengeance on the king's 
 
 m order to take 
 enemies.' But Saul 
 thought to make David fall by the hand of the 
 Philistines. 2*^And when his servants told David 
 these words, David was well pleased with the 
 prospect of being the king's son-in-law. And the 
 days were not yet expired;'! ^''and David arose and 
 went together with his men and slew of the 
 Philistines a hundred *^ men; and David brought 
 their foreskins and paid them in full to the king, 
 in order to become the king's son-in-law. There- 
 fore Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife. 
 2^And when Saul saw and knew that Jehovah 
 was with David and that all Israel ^ loved him, 
 2^''Saul feared David still more. 
 
 19 ^And Saul commanded Jonathan his son and all 
 his servants to put David to death. But Jonathan, Saul's 
 son, was very fond of David. ^And Jonathan told David, 
 saying, Savil my fatlier is sookinp; to put you to death ; now there- 
 fore, I jiray you, take rare in Iho niorniiip; and stay in conceal- 
 ment and hide yourself. ''And I will go out and stand beside 
 my father in the field wliere you are, and I will converse re- 
 garding you with my father, and whatever I see I will tell you. 
 
 ^And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father. 
 
 Popular Judean David 
 Stories 
 
 I give to you as wife; only 
 be a valiant champion and 
 fight Jehovah's battles. 
 For Saul said to himself, 
 Let not my hand be upon 
 him, but let the hand of 
 the Philistines be upon 
 him. i^And David re- 
 plied to Saul, Who am I, 
 and what is my father's 
 clan in Israel, that I 
 should be the king's son-in- 
 law .'' i^But when the time 
 came that Merab, Saul's 
 daughter, should have 
 been given to David, she 
 was given as wife to 
 Adriel" the Meholathite. 
 2^^But Saul remained hos- 
 tile to David. ^OAnd the 
 princes of the Philistines 
 went forth ; and as often as 
 they went forth, David 
 acted more wisely and 
 with greater success than 
 all the servants of Saul, 
 so that his name was held 
 
 m 
 
 high repute. 
 
 l^Now on the Saul's 
 next day the evil a"!^"^ 
 spirit from God tempt 
 
 f , to kill 
 
 rushed upon David 
 Saul, and h e 
 became frenzied 
 within the house, 
 
 b ig2ib Not found in the Ok. and evifiently an interpolation which anticipates what \s 
 stated subsequently. The reailiiiK of the last word is very doubtful. It may mean, on tu'o 
 conditions, but these are not expressed. 
 
 ■= 18'a Aram, form of the name. The Heb. is, Esdriel, of. Jer. 362". cf. II Sam. 218 (Gk.). 
 The TIeb. makes him the husband of Michal. 
 
 '' lS-'''i' Lacking in the (Ik. and not sur)ported by the context which suRgests no time limit. 
 
 ' IS'"' Heb., v'UK very preciou/i. 
 
 ' IK-' So (;k. Heb., Iv'o hundred. The cliange was doubtless due to the later tendency 
 to idealize David's acts. 
 
 « 18^8 So Gk. Heb., Michal, Saul's daugMcr, repeated from '". 
 
 87
 
 I Sam. IQi] THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 and said to him, Let not the king sin against his servant 
 David, because he has not sinned against you and because 
 his conduct toward you has been exceedingly good; 
 ^for he look his hfe in his hand and smote the PhiHs- 
 tine, and Jehovah wrought a great dehverance for Israel 
 You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against 
 innocent blood, in slaying David without a cause ? '^And 
 Saul barkened to the voice of Jonathan; and Saul gave an 
 oath. As Jehovah liveth, he shall not be put to death. '^And 
 Jonathan called David, and Jonathan made known to 
 him all these words. And Jonathan brought David to 
 Saul, so that he was again in his presence as formerly. 
 ^But when there was war again, David went out and 
 fought against the Philistines, and slew great numbers of 
 them, so that they fled before him. ^Then an evil spirit 
 from Jehovah came upon Saul, while he was sitting in his 
 house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing 
 on the lyre. ^^And Saul sought to pin David to the wall 
 with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, 
 so that he smote the spear into the wall, and David fled 
 and escaped. 
 
 Da^ad's ^^And that night^ Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, 
 escape ^^ ^^ ^^ j,jjj ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, saying. 
 If you do not save your life to-night, to-morrow you will be slain. ^'^&o 
 Michal let David down through the window; and he fled away and escaped. 
 l^And Michal took the household god™ and laid it in the bed, and put a 
 cloth of goat's hair for its head and covered it with the garment. ^^And 
 when Saul sent messengers to take David, she** said. He is sick. ^^Then 
 Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, 
 that I may put him to death. I'^And when the messengers came in, there 
 the household god was in the bed, with the cloth of goat's hair for its pillow. 
 i''And Saul said to Michal, Why have you deceived me thus, and let my 
 enemy go, so that he has escaped ? And Michal answered Saul, He said to 
 me, ' Let me go; why should I kill you ? '° 
 
 [I Sam. 1810 
 
 Popular Judean 
 David Stories 
 
 while David was 
 playing on the 
 lyre** as he did 
 each day. And 
 Saul had his 
 spear inhishand; 
 l^and he lifted 
 up* the spear, 
 saying to himself, 
 I will pin David 
 tothewaU.J But 
 David escaped 
 from his pres- 
 ence twice, ^ 
 
 h 1810 Heb., u'ith his hand. 
 
 \ 18" So Gk. A, Luc, Targ. and a possible reading of the Heb. 
 
 > IS'i Heb., / u'ill smite David and the wall. 
 
 •= 18" The meaning, of the Heb. is exceedingly doubtful. It may have been added by an 
 editor who recalled the parallel incident in 19''' '" and wished to harmonize them. Possibly it 
 also indicates that this duplicate once followed rather than preceded IQ'-'' '". 
 
 ' 19" So Gk. and Luc. The present division of verses joins the clause, that night, to 'o. 
 
 ■" 19'3 Heb., teraphim. Cf. Vol. I, p. 115, note '. 
 
 o 19" Gk., they. 
 
 ° IQi' A common form of threat. 
 
 88
 
 DAVID AS A FUGITIVE [I S.ui. 20ib 
 
 § 1^2. David as a Fugitive, I Sam. IQ^^-Sl', 22^-\ 23^5-i8 
 Earli/ Judean David Narratives 
 
 I Sam. 20 I'^Then [David] came and said before Jonathan, ^Tiat have David's 
 I done ? \Miat is my guilt ? And what is my sin before your father, that *^°ew" 
 he is seeking mv Hfe ? -And he replied to him, Far be it ! You shall not Y^^^ 
 die. See, my father does nothing great or small, but that he discloses it to than 
 me; and why should my father hide this from me? Not so. ^And David 
 answeredP and said, Your father well knows that I have found favor in your 
 eyes, and he is saying to himself, ' Let not Jonathan know this lest he be 
 pained.' Nevertheless as surely as Jehovah liveth, and as you live, there is 
 but a step between me and death. ^Then Jonathan said to David, What 
 do you desire to have me do for you .'' ^And David answered Jonathan, 
 Behold, to-morrow is the new moon and I should not fail to sit"^ at the table 
 with the king; therefore let me go and I will hide myself in the field •" until 
 evening. ^If your father misses me, then say, ' David urgently asked leave 
 of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for the yearly sacrifice is there for all 
 the family.' "If he says 'Good,' then it is well with your servant; but if it 
 arouses his anger, then know that evil is determined upon by him. ^Now 
 
 § 12 The events in 20'-^^ evidently followed immediately those recorded in 19'-^'. Before 
 finally fleeing from the court of Saul, David, through Jonathan, whose friendship is attested in 
 all the traditions, seeks to ascertain whether or not a reconciliation with the half-insane king is 
 not still possible. Contents and literary style both indicate that the passage is from the early 
 Judean David narratives. Its theme, however, lent itself readily to expansion and the story is 
 told with unusual fulness. Certain scholars regard •'-i" as a later addition, but the evidence is 
 not conclusive. The story may have been expanded, while still in the oral stage, and therefore 
 have been recorded in its present form (excepting a few textual errors') in the early Judean David 
 history. 
 
 The contents of ^''-42_ however, contradict the implication of the preceding verses, namely, 
 that it was exceedingly dangerous for the two friends in the circumstances to speak directly with 
 each other. If they could thus meet, the elaborate method of communicating recorded in the 
 preceding verses was entirely needless. Their solemn covenant had already been made, '-■", 
 and farewells said. The passage, therefore, appears to be either an editorial expansion or else 
 an extract from a later form of the tradition. 
 
 Still another popular version of the covenant between the two friends is found in 23'5-is. 
 Vs. '^ is probably simply its editorial introduction intended to adjust it to its context with which, 
 as a matter of fact, it ha-s no real connection. The same elements of the tradition reappear 
 here in somewhat magnified and idealized proportion. That David will be king is in '' plainly 
 a-ssumed. This fourfold version of the covenant between David and Jonathan, 20'-' '', IS'^-^ 
 20'"'-'-. 23'^-'*, recalls the fivefold version of the covenant with Abraham, in Gen. Cf. Vol. I. § 13. 
 
 That the account of David's flight to Samuel, recorded in 19'**- 20''', is .secondary is perfectly 
 obvious. Not only does it contain a tradition regarding the proverb, Is Saul a?nong the proph- 
 ets? distinct from that given in the early .ludean narratives of 10" ■ '••', but it has no connec- 
 tion with the sober Judean history of David, which represents him as fleeing southward, 21'-^, 
 simply stopping to get food for himself and his followers at the sanctuary at Nob. The con- 
 ception of Samuel and of the prophets a,s a class is clearly that of a much later i)eriod. Its 
 Coint of view resembles that of the Kphraimite prophetic narratives, but 15'''" is contradicted 
 y 19-". Like the story in 16'-'^, it probably represents a tradition current in very late pro- 
 phetic circles. 
 
 The early Judean narratives trace each step in the fortunes of David. After leaving 
 Nob he found refuge in the stronghold at .\dullam, probably located in the southeastern border 
 of Judah, where his family joins him. For the cla.ssification of 21'"''', cf. § 16. That he placed 
 his father and mother under the protection of the neighboring Moabites is no more unusual 
 than that he himself later .>;ouEht refuge among Israel's enemies, the Philistines, so tliul there is 
 no conclusive ground for regarding 22'- ' as seconriary. The sudden introduction of the proph- 
 <»t GafI, however, in ■'' in a role akin to that of Samuel in 8, 12, and l."), strongly .suggests tliat 
 he verse is from an editor, who thus brings David back from heathen .soil at the command of a 
 rophet. 
 
 p 20^ So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. is corrupt and reads, David swore again. 
 
 'I 20'' The Gk. and fJrigen insert a negative and read, nnd rcrtainh/ will iint sit, etc. The 
 ew moon, like the sabbath, was observed by abstaining from all work. Cf. Am. 8'', II Kgs. 4-^. 
 ' 20'' So tik. and Luc. Ileb. adds, uJitil the third d(n- '^"t, this is not suj^ported by the con- 
 xt and in in form ungrai"'Tia.tic«l 
 
 89
 
 ISam. 208] THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a 
 sacred® covenant witli yourself; but if there be guilt in me, slay me yourself, 
 for why should you bring me to your father? ^And Jonathan said. Far be 
 it from you ! for if I should learn that my father had determined that evil 
 should come upon you, I would tell you. ^^Then David said to Jonathan, 
 Who will tell me, if your father answers me harshly? ^^And Jonathan re- 
 plied to David, Come, and let us go out into the field. So the two of them 
 went out into the field. 
 The ^"And Jonathan said to David, Jehovah, the God of Israel, be witness 
 
 nant that I will sound my father about this time to-morrow and if he be well 
 '^^; disposed toward David, then I will send and disclose it to you.* ^^God do 
 them to Jonathan whatever he will," should my father be disposed to do you evil, 
 and I disclose it not to you and send you away that you may go in peace. 
 And may Jehovah be with you, as he has been with my father. ^^And if 
 I am yet alive, O may you show me the kindness of Jehovah ! But if I 
 should die, ^^may you never withdraw your kindness from my house. And 
 if, when Jehovah hath cut off the enemies of David, every one from the 
 face of the earth, ^^the name of Jonathan should be cut off by the house of 
 David, may Jehovah require it at the hand of David's enemies. "^ ^''So 
 Jonathan took oath again to David,^^ because of his love to him; for with 
 all his heart he loved him. 
 Their ^^Then Jonathan said to him, To-morrow is the new moon and you will 
 com- °'^ ^^6 missed, because your seat will be empty. ^^And on the third day you 
 muni- yy[\\ be greatly missed.'^ Then you shall come to the place where you hid 
 yourself on the day of the affair,^ and you shall sit down there beside the 
 heap of stones.'' ^°And on the third day I will shoot arrows on one side 
 of it, as though I shot at a mark, ^ifj^ei^^ j -^yin sgi^^i ^j^g Jaj^ saying, ' Go, 
 find the arrows.' If I say to the lad, ' See, the arrows are on this side of 
 you; pick them up ! ' — then come; for it is well for you, and, as Jehovah 
 liveth, there is nothing the matter. 22gy^ jf j g^y ^^ ^jjg j^^y^ 'See, the 
 arrows are beyond you,' go, for then Jehovah sends you away, ^s^j^j g^g 
 to the word which you and I have spoken, behold, Jehovah is witness between 
 you and me forever. 
 Discov- ^^So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon came, the 
 lauFs ^^g sat down at the table to eat. ^s^j^j ^]^g king sat upon his seat as usual, 
 
 toward ^"^^^ ^^ *'^^ '^^^^ ^^ ^'^^ ^^^^' ^^^ Jonathan sat opposite," and Abner sat by 
 David Saul's side; but David's place was empty. 26]sfgyej.^}je}ggg g^^^j jj^j j^^^ say 
 
 " 20'^ Heb., covenant of Jehovah, i.e., sanctified and confirmed by Jehovah. 
 
 t 20^2 The Heb. is very obscure and the Gk. much simpler. The above reconstruction 
 probably represents the thou£;ht of the original. 
 
 u 20" So Gk. which follows the ancient formula of swearing. Cf. 3'^ 23''. Heb., Jeho- 
 vah do so to Jonathan and more also. 
 
 . ^ -0'^ Another exceedingly difficult passage. It seems to be the direct continuation of ''. 
 Agam the Gk. appears to have retained the original reading and has been followed. Enemiet, 
 m the last clause may be a later insertion. The sense is better without it. 
 
 " 2019 The Heb. is corrupt. The Gk. has e\ddently retained a better reading. 
 
 ^ 20'9 The event alluded to is unknown. , 
 
 b 2019 Following the Gk. Heb., hy the stone of Ezel. 
 
 ■= 20-5 So Gk. and Luc. Heb., stood up. 
 
 90
 
 DAVID AS A FUGITI^^: 
 
 [I Sam. 2026 
 
 Early Jiidean David Xarrativcs 
 
 am-thing that day, for he thought, It is an accident, he is not ceremonially 
 clean, for he has not been cleansed.*^ ^"But when on the day following the 
 new moon, David's place was empty, Saul said to Jonathan his son. Why 
 has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or to-day ? -^And 
 Jonathan answered Saul, David urgently asked leave of me to go to Bethle- 
 hem, -^for he said, ' Let me go, since our family has a sacrifice in the city; 
 and my brothers^ have commanded me. Now if I have found favor in your 
 sight, let me slip away and see my kinsmen.' Hence he has not come to 
 the king's table. ^^Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and 
 he said to him, Son of a depraved woman !^ Do I not know that you are 
 associated with^ the son of Jesse to your ow^i shame and to the shame of 
 your mother's nakedness ? ^^For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the 
 earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Therefore now 
 send and bring him to me, for he is doomed to die.^ ^-^Then Jonathan 
 answered Saul his father and said to him, Why should he be put to death ? 
 What has he done ? ^^But Saul lifted up his spear at him to smite him. So 
 Jonathan knew that his father had determined to put David to death. ^'^There- 
 fore Jonathan rose from the table in hot anger and ate no food the second 
 day of the month, for he was grieved for David,' because his father reviled 
 him. 
 
 The ^^But in the morning Jonathan went out into the 
 
 ing'^and ^^1*^ ^t the time appointed with David, and a httle 
 secret ]a(} ^yjth him. 2^ And he said to his lad. Run, find 
 view now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, 
 he shot an arrow beyond him. ^''And when the lad 
 came to the place where the arrow which Jonathan 
 had shot lay, Jonathan cried after the lad, and 
 said. Is not the arrow beyond you ? ^^And Jonathan 
 cried after the lad, Hurrj', quick, do not stop ! So 
 Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and brought 
 them to his master. ^^But the lad had no kTiowledge 
 of anything; only Jonathan and David understood 
 the matter. ^oAnd Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, 
 and said to him, Go, carry thorn to the city. ^lAnd as soon 
 as tlie lad had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap, ' 
 and fell on his face to the ground and prostrated Inmself 
 three times, and they kissed each other and wept at length 
 
 Pojndar Judean Da- 
 vid Stories 
 
 I Sam. 23 '^Now 
 
 David feared because 
 Saul had come out to 
 seek liis life; and I^avid 
 was in the Wilderness of 
 
 Ziph in Horesha. ^^And 
 
 Jonathan, Saul's son, 
 
 arose, and went to 
 
 David in Horesha 
 
 and strengthened his 
 
 hand in God. ^'^And 
 
 he said to lu'm, Fear 
 
 not, for the hand of 
 
 Saul my father shall 
 
 not find you, and you 
 
 shall be king over 
 
 Israel and I shall be 
 
 ^ 20* So Gk. The Heb. is a mere repetition. 
 
 ' 2029 So Gk. arifi Luc. Heb., mij brother. 
 
 I 20™ The Heb. is doubtful. It may mean, son of depravity, or perverseness, or, after tlie 
 Gk., son of an escaped slave oirl. It is not intended, however, to reflect at all on the mother, 
 but only on the person aridres.sed. , ,. , 
 
 « 2030 So Gk. and Luc. Owing to the transposition of one letter the Heb. reads, ) ou have 
 chosen. 
 
 '' 20'" Heb., he is a son of death. . 
 
 ' 20" The Gk. omits, for he was grieved for David. It may be a later adiution. 
 
 ' 20" So Gk. and the corrected Heb. text. 
 
 91
 
 1 Sam. i>0»i] THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 Early Jiidcan David Narratives 
 
 with each other. ^ ^-Then Jonathan said to David, Go in 
 peace! As to wliat we two hav^e sworn in the name of Jeho- 
 vah — Jeho\ah will be between me and you and between 
 my descendants and your descendants forever. Then David 
 rose and dei^arted and Jonathan went into the city. 
 
 Da\'id's 31 ^And David came to Nob, to Ahime- 
 to^he Jpch the priest. And Ahimelech came trem- 
 P"!!*? bling to meet David and said to him, Why 
 are you alone and no one with yon ? ^And 
 David answered Ahimelech the priest. The 
 king has entrusted me with a matter and 
 has said to me, ' Let no one know anything 
 about the matter upon which I am sending 
 you and which I have commanded you;' and 
 I have directed the young men to meet me 
 at a certain place. ^Now, therefore, if you 
 have five loaves of bread at hand, or what- 
 ever can be found,"" give it to me. *And 
 the priest answered David, saying, There is 
 no ordinary bread at hand, but there is holy 
 bread, if only the young men have kept them- 
 selves from women. "^ ^And David answered 
 the priest and said to him. Of a truth women 
 have been kept from us; as always when I 
 set out on an expedition, the weapons ° of 
 the young men were consecrated, though it 
 is but an ordinary journey; how much more 
 then to-day shall their weapons be holy !p 
 ^So the priest gave him holy bread, for there 
 was no bread there but the showbread,"" 
 
 [I Sam. 2317 
 
 Popular Judean Da- 
 vid Stories 
 
 next to you ; and that 
 also Saul my father 
 well knows. ^^And 
 they two made a 
 covenant before Je- 
 hovah ; and David 
 abode in Horesha, 
 and Jonathan re- 
 turned home. 
 
 Very Late Popular Prophetic 
 Tradition 
 
 I Sam. 19 i^Now David David's 
 fled and escaped and came to ^o^ *" 
 Samuel to Ramah and told Samuel 
 him all that Saul had done to mah 
 him. And he and Samuel 
 went and remained in Nai- 
 oth.' i^And when it was told 
 Saul, saying, David is there at 
 Naioth in Ramah, ^^Saul sent 
 messengers to take David. But 
 when they saw the company 
 of the prophets prophesying 
 with Samuel standing as head 
 over them, the spirit of God 
 came upon the messengers of 
 Saul, so that they also prophe- 
 sied. 21^11(1 when it was told 
 Saul, he sent other messengers, 
 and they also prophesied. And 
 Saul sent messengers again the 
 third time, and they also proph- 
 esied. "'j'}jgj^ Saul's anger 
 was aroused'i and he himself 
 went to Ramah. And when 
 he came to the cistern of the 
 
 ^ 20^' RV, until David exceeded, i.e., came out ahead in the weeping contest. The idea is, 
 to say the least, peculiar. The Gk. omits David, and suggests the above reading. 
 
 19'8 The meaning of this word is unknown. It may come from the root, to dwell. 
 
 " 213 Heb., What is under your hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand or whatever 
 IS found. 
 
 ° nK J}^^ Tieh. omits, as frequently, the apodosis; Gk. and Luc. add, that they might eat. 
 " 2V Or, bodies. Gk., all of the young men. 
 
 " fot) '^^^rM*'^*^^^ '^ exceedingly difficult, although the general sense is clear. 
 <i 19-- 80 Gk. The clause, Saul's anger was aroused, has apparently dropped out of our 
 present Heb. text. 
 
 ' 216 J g^ tjjg bread set before Jehovah in the sanctuary. Lit., bread of the presence. 
 
 92
 
 I SXM. 216] 
 
 DAVID AS A FUGITIVE 
 
 [I S.oi. 1922 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 that was taken from before Jehovah in order 
 to put hot bread there the day it was taken 
 away. ' Now one of the servants of Saul was 
 there that day, detained before Jehovah/ by 
 the name of Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of 
 Saul's herdsmen. '^ ^And David said to 
 Ahimeleeh, Have you not here at hand a 
 spear or sword ? For I brought neither my 
 sword nor my weapons with me, because the 
 king's matter required haste. ^And the 
 priest said. The sword of GoHath the Phi- 
 listine, whom you slew in the valley of Elah, 
 there it is wrapped in a garment behind the 
 ephod. If you wish to take that, take it, for 
 there is no other except that here. And 
 David said, There is none like that, give it 
 tome. 
 
 Very Late Popidar Prophetic 
 Tradition. 
 
 threshing floor, which is on the 
 bare height,^ he asked, saying, 
 Where are Samuel and David ? 
 And one said, There they are 
 at Naioth in Ramah. -"^But 
 when he went thither to Nai- 
 oth in Ramah, the spirit of God 
 also came upon him, and he 
 went along prophesying, until 
 he came to Naioth in Ramah. 
 2"^And he also stripped ofl^ his 
 clothes and prophesied before 
 Samuel, and lay naked all that 
 day and all that night. There- 
 fore they say. Is Saul also 
 
 among the prophets?^' 20 
 i'»Tlien David fled from Naioth in 
 Ramah. «■ 
 
 23 ^David therefore departed thence and escaped to the stronghold^ of David 
 Adullam. And when his brethren and all his father's clan heard it, they ouflaw 
 went down there to him. -And every one who was in distress, and everv leader 
 one who was in debt, and every one who was embittered gathered about him, 
 and he became their leader.^ And there were with him about four hundred 
 men. 
 
 ■^And David went from there to Mizpeh in Moab; and he said to the king His 
 
 of Moab, Let my father and my mother dwell with'' you, until I know what ^v1th° ^ 
 
 God will do for me. ^And he left them in the presence*' of the king of Moab; *l>e . 
 
 and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the stronghold. Moab 
 'And the prophet Gad said to David, Do not remain in Mizpeh;'' depart and come into 
 the land of Judah. Then David departed and came into the forest of Hereth. 
 
 ■ 19^ So Gk. and Luc. Heb., to the great cistern which is in Secu. 
 
 ' 2V Because of some ceremonial obUgation. 
 
 " 2F Gk., mideherd. 
 
 '•' 19^^ For the older tradition rcgardinK the origin of the proverb, of. lO'", § 6. 
 
 " 20'^ Evidently from the editor and intended to introduce the narrative which follows 
 in 20. 
 
 » 22' Heb., cave; but the parallels in II Sam. 23'3, I Chr. 11''', and the reference in ' de- 
 mand the very similar Heb. word ineaninK, stroncihold. 
 
 " 22^ Cf. the similar band of outlaws who Rathcred about .Jephthah, Judg. II-''. 
 
 ^ 22' So Syr. and Lat. Gk., he. A scribal error in the Heb. gives the unnatural reading, 
 come forth. 
 
 ' 22< So Syr., Lat., Targ., and a .slightly modified reading of the Heb. 
 
 •^ 22' So Syr. Heb., stronghold, but accorcHng to 2.3' the stronghold of Adullam was in 
 Judah. The change of one letter gives the harmonious reading followed above. 
 
 93
 
 IS.^M. 226] THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 § 13. Saul's Vengeance upon the Priests of Nob, I Sam. ;22°-^^ 
 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 Doeg's I Sam. 23 ^Xow when Saul heard tliat David and the men with him were 
 dous discovered (Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk-tree on the high 
 testi- place, ^ with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about 
 him),^ "Saul said to his serv'ants who were standing before him, Hear O 
 Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse likewise give you all fields and vine- 
 yards ? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders 
 of hundreds, ^that all of you have conspired against me, and no one dis- 
 closes to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse, and 
 none of you has pity^ upon me or discloses to me that my son has stirred 
 up my servant to be an enemy against me,^ as is now the case ? ^Then 
 Doeg the Edomite, who was standing by the servants of Saul, answered and 
 said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 
 ^^And he inrjuired of God^ for him and gave him provisions and the sword 
 of Goliath the Philistine. 
 Slaugh- i^Then the king summoned x\himelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and 
 t^g° all his father's house, the priests who were in Nob, and they came all of 
 priests them to the king. ^-And Said said, Hear now, O son of Ahitub ! And he 
 answered, Here am I, my lord ! ^^And Saul said to him. Why have you, 
 together with the son of Jesse, conspired against me, in that you have given 
 him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, that he should 
 rise against me as an enemy, ^ as is now the case ? ^^Then Ahimelech an- 
 swered the king and said. But who among all your servants is like David, 
 trusted and the king's son-in-law and captain over your retainers J and 
 honored in your household ? ^^Is this the first time I have inquired of God 
 for him ? Far be it from me ! Let not the king impute anything to his 
 sen'ant nor to any one of my clan, for your ser\^ant did not know the slightest 
 thing about all this. ^^But the king said, A^ou shall surely die, Ahimelech, 
 together with all your clan. ^'And the king said to the runners who stood 
 before him. Turn about and slay the priests of Jehovah, for their hand also 
 was with David, and, although they knew that he was fleeing, they did not 
 disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hands 
 to strike down the priests of Jehovah. ^^Then the king said to Doeg, Turn 
 and strike down the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned and himself 
 
 § 13 While one or two new facts, as, for example, that Ahimelech inquired of .Jehovah 
 for David, '", are found in 22^-23, and not in 21'-^, the points of correspondence are so many and 
 close between the two sections that it is difficult to believe, as has sometimes been maintained, 
 that they are not from the same source; the former indeed is the immediate sequel of the latter. 
 The sword of Goliath also figures in both, 21' and 22 '3. Abiathar likewise reappears in the sub- 
 sequent early Judean David narratives, e.g., 23'', II Sam. lo-^' •'^- ^. The natural representation 
 and the vivid style strongly confirm the conclusion that it was taken from the early Judean 
 David narratives. 
 
 ''22** So Gk. and Luc. It was the place of public assembly. Cf. 9^. The Heb. has the 
 impossible reading, Ramah. 
 
 ' 22^ A long interjected descriptive clause, not uncommon in Heb. 
 
 e 228 Heb., is sick for. 
 
 •> 228- 13 So Gk. Heb., to be in wait. 
 
 ■ 2210 So Syr., Gk., and Luc, and in ", isff. Heb., Jehovah. 
 
 ' 22'* So Gk., Luc, and Targ. The current translation, is taken into thy councils, is 
 hardly tenable. 
 
 94
 
 SAUL'S VENGE.VNCE ON THE PRIESTS [I Sam. 22i8 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 struck down the priests. So he slew on that day eighty-five men who wore 
 
 the ephod. '^And the priestly city Nob he put to the sword, both men and women, 
 children and infants, oxen and asses and sheep. ' 
 
 -*^And one of the sons of Ahiinelech the son of Ahituh, named Abiathar, Abia- 
 escaped and fled to David."^ -^And Abiatliar told David that Saul had I'^aY'I 
 slain the priests of Jehovah. -^And David said to Abiathar, I knew that 
 day, because Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. 
 I myself am guilty" of all the lives of your clan. ^Sj^^j^^j^jj^ with me, fear 
 not; for whoever seeks your life must also seek mine,° since you are placed in 
 my charge. 
 
 §14. Saul's Pursuit and David's Magnanimity, I Sam. 231-h,i9-;9^ 04, 26 
 
 Dis- 
 closure 
 of Da- 
 vid's 
 hiding- 
 place to 
 Saul 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 I Sam. 23 ^Now when David was told. 
 The Philistines are fighting against Keilah 
 and are robbing the threshing floors, 
 -David inc|uired of Jehovah, saying, Shall 
 I go and attack these Philistines ? And 
 Jehovah said to David, Go, attack the 
 Philistines, and save Keilah. "^But Da- 
 vid's men .said to him, Behold we are 
 afraid here in Judah; how nnich more 
 
 Popular Judean David Stories 
 
 23 i^Then the Ziphites came 
 up to Saul to Gibeah, saying. Is 
 not David hiding himself with us 
 in the strongholds in Iloresha, 
 in the hill of Ilachilah, winch is 
 to the south of the desert ?^^ 
 ^^Now therefore, O king, accord- 
 ing to all your heart's desire come 
 down, and it shall be our part to 
 
 I' 2218 So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. adds, linen. 
 
 I 22'^ Probably an editorial expansion of the story. The language is closely parallel to 
 that of lo-*, which is a late account of tlie destruction of the Anialekites. The early narratives 
 contain no references to the complete destruction of an Israelite town. 
 
 m 22-" The original jirobably added, and brought the ephod with him. Cf. the omission of 
 all reference to the ephod in 14'*. 
 
 n 22-- So Gk., Luc, and Syr. One letter in the Heb. has evidently been changed through 
 a copyist's error, so that at present it is untranslatable. 
 
 o 22^ Restoring that which must have been the original order in this sentence. 
 
 § 14 23'-"" is the direct continuation of the Judean narrative in 22. Al)iathar the priest, 
 who alone escaped from the slaughter of the jiriests at Nob, is present in David's camp, '. The 
 language and spirit are characteristic of the early David stories. 
 
 Chaps. 23"'-242^ and 2(i contain what a])|)ear clearly to be v.ariant versions of the same inci- 
 dent. In both the Ziphites offer to betray David to Saul, an<l the geographical background is 
 the same. In each, Saul, while pursuing hirn, is at the mercy of David, who spares the life 
 of the king because of his regard for the anointed of .lehovah. Both recount much the same 
 conversation between the two which results in their temporary reconciliation. The variations 
 are no more striking than appear in the different versions of events found in (icn.-.Iudg. 
 
 Both versions have many of the expressions and ideas characteristic of the ,)udean school. 
 Chap. 2() appears to be the older and 23'''-24-' the later popular version of the story. Thus in 
 23 ''■'-24-' the tradition has been expanded at .several points: 23'''--' tell ;it length, an(l with much 
 repetition, of the preliminary negotiations between the Ziphites and Saul, and 24'* -'-' has a long 
 account of the conversation between Saul and David in which ideas peculiar to later Hebrew 
 thought (cf. esfjecially -"■ -') are prominent. On the other liaiid, the shorter narrative in 2(1 is 
 much more circumstanti.al and individual names are preserved. Cf., for example, 2()"' ■* and 
 24''-'; 20''-'< and ?4'''"'. David's flaring visit to Saul's camp is much more natural; while the 
 version in 24, which represents Saul as falling completely into Da\id's power, exalts the mag- 
 nanimity of the .ludean hero and again strongly suggests a popular tradition. Tlie expression 
 and representation in 23 ''J 24-' are also much less reKned. Cf. 24-'."^. The religious concep- 
 tions of 20 are the more priinitive. Cf., e.f/., 2()'''-'' and 24-'''". 
 
 Chap. 2f) probably once followed immeiliately after 23'^» and was removed from this position 
 by a later eilitdr who rircfcrrcd llic fuller version, and who was, i)crhaps, also iiiduencod by Iho 
 prominent mention of .Maon in both 2.'{-''-''' and 2.5. As often in Gen. and Sam. the older parallel 
 was preserved by assigrjing it to another setting. 
 
 p 23''-' In 20' the hill of Ilachilah is east of the desert of .ludah (.leshimmon). The varia- 
 tion and tautology suggest that the second part of this verse is from a late cilitor. 
 
 9t
 
 I Sam. 233] 
 
 THE RISE OF DA^TD 
 
 David's 
 escape 
 
 Early Jiidean David Narratives 
 
 then if we go to Keilali against the armies 
 of the Phihstines. "^Then David inquired 
 of Jehovah yet again. And Jehovah an- 
 swered him, saying, Arise, go down to 
 Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines 
 into thy hand. ^So David and his men 
 went to Keilah, and fought with the Phi- 
 hstines and drove away their cattle and 
 slew a great many of them. Thus David 
 delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. ^Xow 
 when Abiatliar the son of Ahimelech fled to 
 David to Keilah, he came down witii the ephod 
 
 in his hand.i ^And when it was told Saul 
 that David had come to Keilah, Saul 
 said, God has sold him into my hand; for 
 he has entrapped himself^ in entering 
 into a town that has doors and bars. 
 
 *And Saul summoned all the people to 
 war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege Da- 
 vid and his men. ^And when David 
 knew that Saul was devising evil against 
 him, he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring 
 here the ephod. ^^And David said, O 
 Jehovah, the God of Israel, thy servant 
 hath surely heard that Saul is seeking to 
 come to Keilah, to destroy the city because 
 of me. ^^Will Saul come down, as thy 
 servant hath heard ?^ O Jehovah, God of 
 Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. 
 And Jehovah said, He will come down. 
 i^Then David said, Will the men of Kei- 
 lah deliver me and my men into the hand 
 of Saul ? And Jehovah said. They will 
 deliver thee up. ^^xhen David and his 
 men, who were about six hundred, arose 
 and departed from Keilah, and wandered 
 hither and thither. And when it was re- 
 ported to Saul that David had escaped 
 from Keilah, he abandoned his expedi- 
 tion. I'^So David dwelt in the wilderness 
 
 [I Sam. 2320 
 
 Popular Judcan David Stories 
 
 deliver him into the king's hand. 
 ^^Then Saul said, Blessed may 
 you be of Jehovah, for you have 
 had compassion on me. 22Qq^ 
 I pray, make yet more sure, and 
 know and see the place where his 
 haunt is and who has seen him 
 there; for I am told that he is 
 very cunning. ^Sg^^g therefore, 
 and gain knowledge of all the 
 lurking-places where he hides, 
 and return to me, with sure in- 
 formation, and I will go with 
 you, and, if he be in the land, 
 I will search him out of all the 
 thousands of Judah.r 
 
 ^^So they arose and went to 
 Ziph before Saul. But David 
 and his men were in the Wilder- 
 ness of Maon, in the Arabah to 
 the south of the desert, ^s^j^j 
 when Saul and his men went to 
 seek him, they told David and he 
 went down to the rock which is 
 in the Wilderness of ^laon. And 
 when Saul heard, he pursued 
 after* David in the Wilderness of 
 Maon. -*^And Saul went on the 
 one side of the mountain and Da- 
 vid and his men on the other side 
 of the mountain; and David was 
 anxiously trying to escape from 
 Saul, for Saul and his men were 
 about to surround David and his 
 men, to seize them, -^when a 
 messenger came to Saul, saying. 
 Come quickly, for the Philistines 
 have made a raid upon the land. 
 ^^So Saul returned from pursu- 
 
 1 23^ Following the order of the Gk. and Luc. The verse was probably inserted in its 
 present position by a later editor who recognized the omission in 2220 and wished to prepare the 
 reader for the introduction of Abiathar with the ephod in ^. 
 
 r 2323 xhe verse has probably been expanded by a scribe. The Gk. has a much briefer text. 
 
 ' 23' So Gk. and the restored Heb. text. 
 
 * 23-^ Following the Gk., the Heb. text has been slightly changed, so that it reads, and 
 dwelt in. 
 
 " 23" A scribe by mistake introduced the question in ^^, also at the beginning of ". It is 
 not found in the Gk. and has been omitted in the translation. 
 
 96
 
 IS.oi. 2314] SAUL'S PURSUIT 
 
 Early Judean David Xarratives 
 
 in the strongholds and remained in the 
 hill-coiintrv in the AVilderness of Ziph. 
 And Saul sought him continually, but Je- 
 hovah"' did not deUver liim into his hand. == 
 
 OF DAMD [I Sam. 2328 
 
 Popular Judean David Stories 
 
 ingr after David and went against 
 the PhiHstine.s; therefore they 
 called that place, Rock of the Di- 
 visions.^ 29^^jj(j David went up 
 thence, and dwelt in the strong- 
 holds of Engedi. 
 
 26 ^Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gib- 
 eah, saying, Is not David hiding in the hill of 
 Hachilah, which is east of the desert ? -Ac- 
 cordingly Saul arose, and went down to the 
 Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand men of 
 Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness 
 of Ziph. ^And Saul encamped in the hill of Ha- 
 chilah, which is east of the desert on the way. 
 But David remained in the wilderness. And 
 when he saw that Saul was pursuing him into 
 the wilderness, "^David sent out spies and learned 
 that Saul had come from Keilah.^ ^And David 
 arose and came to the place where Saul had en- 
 camped. And David saw the place where Saul 
 with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of 
 his army lay, and Saul lay within the barricade,^ 
 and the people were encamped around about 
 him. 
 
 ^Then David spoke and said to Ahimelech 
 the Hittite and to Abishai the .son of Zeruiah, 
 Joab's brother, saying. Who will go down with 
 me to Saul to the camp ? And Abishai said, I 
 will go down with you. ^So David and Abishai 
 came to the people by night; and Saul was lying 
 there asleep within the barricade, with his spear 
 stuck into the earth at his head, with Abner and 
 the peof)le lying around about him. ^Then Abi- 
 shai said to David, God has delivered your enemy 
 into your hand to-day. Now therefore let me 
 smite him with his .spear to the earth at one 
 stroke, and I will not need to smite him twice ! 
 
 34 ^And when Saul re- 
 turned from following the 
 Philistines, it was told 
 him, saying, See, David 
 is in the Wilderness of 
 Engedi. -Then Saul took 
 three thousand men chos- 
 en from all Israel and 
 went to seek David and 
 his men upon the Wild 
 Goats' Crags. ^And he 
 came to the sheepfolds by 
 the way, and there was a 
 cave. And Saul went in 
 to cover his feet, while 
 David and his men were 
 staying in the recesses of 
 the cave. 
 
 ■^^And the men of Da- 
 vid said to him. See this 
 is the day of which Jeho- 
 vah said to you, ' Behold, 
 I give thine enemy into 
 thy hand and thou shalt 
 do to him as thou ])lea.s- 
 est.'° ^And he said to 
 his men, Jehovah forbid 
 that I should do this thing 
 to my lord, Jehovah's 
 anointed, to put forth my 
 hand against him, since 
 
 T 2.32' The implication is that it was so callerl because the two forces separated from each 
 other at this point. In connection witli this rock the story was probably preserved, becau.se, 
 like many of the traditions of Gen., it gave the popular derivation of its name. 
 
 " 2rV" So f;k. Ileb., God. 
 
 » 2.3'"' The direct continuation of 14" is found in 26'. Vs. '■"> appears to be a general ex- 
 planatory kIoss. 
 
 ' 2(>* SoGk. The preceding verb demands the name of some place. The Heb. is evidently 
 corrui)t anil gives no help. 
 
 •'205 Cf. 172", § 10, note '. 
 
 24'"-' The oriKinal order has evidently been disarranged in transmission, or else *^' ^ rep- 
 re.sent a later marginal c.xpansion of the story which has been introduced in the wrong place. 
 
 97
 
 ISAM. 269] THE RISE OF DA^^D 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 [I Sam. 246 
 
 His 
 
 words 
 to Saul 
 
 ^But David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; 
 for who can lay his hand upon Jehovah's anointed 
 and be innocent ? ^^ \nd David said, As Jeho- 
 vah hveth, either Jehovah shall smite him, or his 
 day shall come to die, or he shall go down into 
 battle and be destroyed. ^ ^Jehovah forbid that 
 I should put forth my hand against Jehovah's 
 anointed; but now take the spear that is at his 
 head and the jug of water and let us go. ^^So 
 David took the spear and the jug of water from 
 Saul's head and they departed. And no man 
 saw it or knew it neither did any awake, for they 
 were all asleep because a deep sleep from Je- 
 hovah had fallen upon them. 
 
 i^Then David went 
 over to the other side and 
 stood on the top of a 
 mountain at a distance, a 
 great space being be- 
 tween them. ^^And Da- 
 vid cried to the people 
 and to Abner, the son of 
 Ner, sa^nng, Do you 
 make no answer Abner? 
 Then Abner answered 
 and said. Who are you 
 that calls ?« i^^nd David 
 said to Abner, Are you 
 not a man ? And who is 
 like you in Israel .'' Why 
 then have you not kept 
 guard over your lord the 
 king.? For one of the 
 people came to destroy 
 your lord. ^^This that 
 you have done is not 
 good. As Jehovah liveth, 
 you are deserving of 
 death, ^ because you have 
 
 Popular Judean David 
 Stories 
 
 he is Jehovah's anointed. 
 ^'^So David upbraided'^ 
 his men with these words, 
 and did not permit them 
 to attack Saul, ^bxhen 
 David arose, and secretly 
 cut off the skirt of Saul's 
 mantle. ^But afterward 
 David was seized with re- 
 morse because he had cut 
 off Saul's skirt. 
 
 ^I'And when Saul rose from the cave and went 
 on his way, ^David also rose after him and went 
 from the cave and cried after Saul, saying. My 
 lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, 
 David bowed his face to the earth, and did obei- 
 sance. ^And David said to Saul, Why did you 
 listen to the words of the men who said, ' See, Da- 
 vid seeks your hurt ? ' ^^To-day your eyes see 
 that Jehovah gave you into my hand in the cave, 
 but I refused to kill you^ and had pity on you, 
 and I said, ' I will not put forth my hand against 
 my lord, for he is Jehovah's anointed.' ^ ^More- 
 over, my father, see the sldrt of your mantle in 
 my hand, for in that I cut off the skirt of your 
 mantle and did not kill you, know and see that 
 there is neither evil nor guilt on my hands, and 
 I have not sinned against you, though you are 
 aiming to take my life. I'^Jehovah judge be- 
 tween me and you ; but my hand shall not be upon 
 you. ^^As runs the proverb of the ancients, 
 
 Out of the wicked cometh forth wickedness, s 
 
 But my hand shall not be raised against you. 
 ^^After whom is the king of Israel come out.'' 
 After whom are you pursuing.' After a dead 
 
 <l 24'^* Heb., tear. rend. Gk., persuaded. 
 
 ' 26'* So Gk. The Heb. adds, to the king, but this is not supported by the context. 
 
 f 24'0 Following the suggestion of the Gk; in restoring the otherwise incorrect Heb. Lat., 
 and I thought to kill you. 
 
 « 2415 The infelicitous introduction of the proverb is further evidence of the popular em- 
 bellishment of the story. 
 
 ■» 26'6 Heb., children of death. 
 
 98
 
 ISAM. 26ifi] HIS :\L\GNAXBIITY TOWARD SAUL 
 
 Popular Judean David Stories 
 
 [I Sam. 2414 
 
 Early Judean David 
 Narratives 
 
 not kept watch over your 
 lord, Jehovah's anointed. 
 And now see where the 
 king's spear is and the jug 
 of water that was at his 
 head. 
 
 ^'Then Saul recognized David's voice and 
 said, Is this your voice, my son David ? And 
 David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. 
 ^*And he said. Why is my lord pursuing his 
 servant ? For what have I done ? Or of what 
 kind of evil have I been guilty ? ^^Now there- 
 fore let my lord the king hear the words of his 
 servant. If Jehovah hath stirred you up 
 against me, let him accept an offering ;J but if 
 they be men, cursed be they before Jehovah, 
 for they have driven me out to-day, so that I 
 have no part in the inheritance of Jehovah, 
 sa^-ing, ' Go ser\x other gods.' 20>,jQ^y there- 
 fore, may my blood not fall to the earth far 
 away from the presence of Jehovah, for the 
 king of Israel has come out to seek my life, as 
 one hunts a partridge'^ on the mountains. 
 ^^Then Saul said, I have done wrong; return, 
 my son David, for I will do you no more harm, 
 because my life was regarded as sacred by 
 you™ to-day. I have acted foolishly and have 
 erred exceedingly. ^^Xud David answered 
 and said. There is the king's spear ! Let one 
 of the young men come over and take it. ^'^And 
 Jeliovah will reward each man's righteousness 
 and fidelity ; for Jehovah delivered you into my 
 hand to-day, but I would not raise my hand 
 against Jehovah's anointed. ^^And just as 
 your life was to-day of great value in my sight, 
 so may my life be of great value in Jehovah's 
 sight, and let him deliver me out of all afllic- 
 tion. 2o'pj^(jjj SaxxX said to David, Be blessed, 
 my son David; you shall do great things and 
 
 dog ? After a flea ? ^^Jehovah therefore be 
 judge and decide between me and you and see 
 and plead my cause and obtain justice for me 
 from you. 
 
 ^^Now when David had 
 finished speaking these 
 words to Saul, Saul said, Is 
 this not your voice, my son 
 David? 'Then Saul 'lifted 
 up his voice and wept. ^"And 
 he said to David, You are 
 more righteous than I, for 
 you have done to me that 
 which is good, while I have 
 done to you that which is 
 evil. ^^And you have done 
 great good to me in that to- 
 day,' when Jehovah had shut 
 me up in your hand, you did 
 not kill me. ^^For when a 
 man finds his enemy, does 
 he send him 
 safe and sound 
 may Jehovah 
 richly for what you have 
 done to me this day. -^And 
 now see, I know that you 
 will surely be king, and that 
 through you the kingdom of 
 Israel shall be established. 
 -^Swear now therefore to me 
 by Jehovah, that you will 
 not cut off my descendants 
 after me and that you will 
 not destroy my name from 
 my father's house. ^-So 
 David took oath to Saul. 
 
 on his way 
 '' Therefore 
 reward you 
 
 i 24" Heb., And you have declared to-day. A. sliRht emendation gives the above reading, 
 which is much more intelligible and consonant with the context. 
 
 ' 26''-' Lit., inhale, i.e.. be appeased by an offerinc. 
 
 ■t 2(r" So Gk. texts. Heb. has, a flea, which hardly fits the context here. It was probably 
 introduced from 24"^. Or, making a slight change iu the text, as the eagle hunts the partridge. 
 
 ' 24'" Heb., on a (jood way. 
 
 ■" 20^' Heb., was precious in your eyes. 
 
 99
 
 I Sam. 2625] THE RISE OF DAVID [I Sam. 2423 
 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 shall surely succeed ! So David went his way, 
 but Saul returned to his place. 
 
 Popular Judean David 
 Stories 
 
 And Saul went to his home; 
 but David and his men went 
 up to the stronghold. 
 
 § 15. David and Abigail, I Sam. ^5^^-'^* 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Nabal I Sam. 25 ^'^Then David arose and went into the Wilderness of Maon." 
 Caleb- ^^^^ there was a man in Maon, whose business was in Carmel. And the 
 ''e man was very rich, and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats, 
 
 and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. ^Now the man's name was Nabal; 
 and his wife's name was Abigail; and the woman was sensible and comely, 
 but the man was rough and ill-mannered; and he was a Calebite. 
 David's *And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 
 ^as:e ^And David sent ten young men, and David said to the young men. Go up 
 to him to Carmel and enter Nabal's house and greet him in my name; ^and you 
 shall say to him and to his clan," ' Peace be to you and your house and all 
 that you have. ''And now I have heard that you have shearers. Your 
 shepherds were with us, and we did not jeer at them, and nothing of theirs 
 was missing all the while they were in Carmel. ^Ask your young men and 
 they will tell you. Therefore let the young men find favor in your eyes, 
 for we have come on a feast day. Give, therefore, whatever you have at 
 hand to your servants and to your son David.' ^And when David's young 
 men came, they spoke to Nabal in the name of David and waited as di- 
 rected. 
 Nabal's ^'^Then Nabal answered^ David's servants, and said. Who is David ? And 
 ing^re- ^^'^o is the SOU of Jcssc ? Many are the slaves these days who break away, 
 ply and each from his master! ^l Should I then take my bread and mv water*i 
 
 i )UVIQ S 
 
 plans and my meat that I have slain for my shearers, and give it to men of whom 
 
 •usance' ^ know not whence they are .'' ^2go David's young men turned back on 
 
 their way, and came and reported all these words to him. ^^^n^ David 
 
 said to his men. Let every man gird on his sword. And they girded on each 
 
 man his sword. And David also girded on his sword; and there went up 
 
 after David about four hundred men; and two hundred remained with the 
 
 baggage. 
 
 Ai)i- I'^But one of the young men had told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, David 
 
 prompt ^1^^ just sent messengers from the wilderness to salute our master, and he 
 
 action ^ 
 
 § 15 This account of how David acquired a wife and possessions is one of the most char- 
 acteristic products of the early Judean school. It gives an exceedingly realistic picture of 
 David's life during his outlaw period. Excepting the opening words, which were evidently 
 intended b.y the editor of I Sam. to connect it with the jireceding editorial note regarding the 
 death of Samuel, '■■>, the story has apparently received little, if any, additions. 
 
 ■>2oib SoGk. Heb., Pamn. 
 
 " 25^ Restoring the otherwise unintelligible Heb. in accordance with the exceedingly plaus- 
 ible suggestions of Smith (Sam., 223). 
 
 p 2.59. 10 The Gk. and Luc. translate, possibly preserving an original text, Nabal jumped up 
 and answered. 
 
 1 25" Gk., unne. But this was probably introduced by the translators from ^^, because 
 they did not appreciate the value of water in the wilderness of southern Judah. 
 
 100
 
 DAVID AND ABIGAIL [I Sam. 25i4 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 railed at them. ^^But the men have been very good to us and we have not 
 been jeered at nor have we missed an>i;hing, as long as we went with them, 
 when we were in the fields. ^^They were a wall about us both by night 
 and by day all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. ^^Now 
 therefore know and consider what you will do, for evil is determined against 
 our master and against all his house, for he is such a base scoundrel that 
 no one can speak to him. ^^Then Abigail quickly took two hundred loaves 
 of bread and two skins of wine and five roasted sheep and three and a third 
 bushels'" of parched grain and a hundred bunches of raisins and two hundred 
 cakes of figs and laid them on asses. ^^And she said to her young men, Go 
 on before me; see, I am coming after you. But she said nothing about it 
 to her husband Nabal. 20\j^j j,^jg|^ a^^ gj^^ ^^^g riding on the ass and coming 
 down under cover of the mountain, David and his men were also coming 
 down toward her, so that she met them. 2i>,jQ\y David had said. Surely 
 for nothing did I guard all that belongs to this fellow in the wilderness, so 
 that nothing of all that belongs to him was missing, for he has returned me 
 evil for good. ^-God do whatever he will to David,® if I leave by day- 
 break of all who belong to him as much as a single man. 
 
 ^^And when Abigail saw David, she alighted quickly from her ass and Her 
 fell on her face before David and bowed to the ground. ^^And she fell at counsel 
 liis feet and said. Upon me, my lord, upon me be the guilt. Only let your to Da- 
 maid-servant speak in your ears, and heed the words of your maid-servant. 
 ^^Let not my lord pay any attention to that base scoundrel, Nabal, for as 
 his name is, so is he; "Reckless Fool," is his name and folly is his master; 
 but your maid-servant saw not the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 
 ^^Now my lord, as Jehovah liveth and as you live, since Jehovah has kept 
 you from committing* an act of bloodshed and from delivering yourself by 
 your own hand — and may your enemies and those who seek to do e\'il to my lord be 
 as Nabal" — ^"\et this present,"^ which your servant has brought to my lord, 
 be given to the young men who follow my lord. -'^Forgive. I pray the 
 trespass of your maid-servant, for Jehovah will certainly make for my 
 lord a secure house, for my lord is fighting the wars of Jehovah, and no 
 evil shall be found in you as long as you live. -^And should a man rise up 
 to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the 
 bundle of the living"' in the care of Jehovah your God, but the lives of your 
 enemies will he sling oiit as from the hollow of a sling. ^''And when Jehovah 
 has done to my lord all the good that he has promised you and has 
 made you prince over Israel, •^'then this shall not be a fiualm or a bur- 
 den on the conscience^ of my lord, that you have shed blood without cause 
 
 ' 2.51* Heh., five measures. 
 
 • 2.5^ So Ok. The Heh. adds, to the enemies of. Rut this clause .seems to have been in- 
 serted by a scribe to deliver David from the charge of forswearing himself. 
 
 ' 25--''' Ilcb., from enterint/ into. 
 
 u 2.5-""'' This half verse anticipates the judgment which has not yet overtaken Nabal. The 
 entire verse is f)rohal)ly an editorial adilition. 
 
 »■ 2.5-' ("f. (icn. .'i.'ii", .ludg. 1''. It was a cift brought for the purpo.se of securing a blessing. 
 
 » 2.5-» Cf. the later figure, the hool: of the living, l>s. 09'-", i:.\. 32*-. ^'. 
 
 » 25" Heb., cause of slumbiiny of the heart. 
 
 101
 
 ISAM. 2531] THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 or that my lord has dehvered himself by his own hand. And when Jehovah 
 shall give prosperity to my lord, then remember your maid-servant. 
 David's 32\i^(j David said to Abigail, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who 
 grateful g^j^j. ^^^^ ^^j^jg j^y ^^ rneet me, "^'^and blessed be your discretion, and blessed 
 sponse be you yourself, who have kept me this day from committing an act of blood- 
 shed and from delivering myself by my own hand. ^4^^^ g^g g^j.^ g^g Jehovah, 
 the God of Israel, liveth, who hath kept me from doing you harm, except you 
 had quickly come to meet me, surely there would not have been left to Nabal 
 by daybreak so much as one man. ^ogg David received from her hand that 
 which she had brought him; and to her he said, Go up in peace to your house. 
 See, I have heeded your advice,^ and granted your request. 
 Death ^cgy^ ^yhen Abigail came to Nabal, he was just having a banquet in his 
 Nabal liouse, like a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was 
 very drunk, so that she did not tell him anything at all until daybreak. ^"But 
 then in the morning when the effects of the wine were gone from Nabal, 
 his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him'^ and he became 
 a stone. ^S^^^j a^ ^\^Q gi^^j of about ten days Jehovah smote Nabal, so that 
 he died. 
 David's ^"^ Now when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said. Blessed be Je- 
 riage hovah who hath avenged the case of my insult at the hand of Nabal and 
 ^''^.h hath kept back his servant from evil; and the evil-doing of Nabal hath Je- 
 hovah brought back upon his own head. Thereupon David sent and wooed 
 Abigail to take her to him to be his wife. ^"^And when the servants of 
 David came to Abigail at Carmel and said to her, David has sent us to you 
 to take you to him to be his wife, '^ish'fe arose and bowed with her face to 
 the earth and said, See, your slave is willing to be a maid-servant to wash 
 the feet of my lord's servants, ^^'j'j^ereupon Abigail quickly arose and 
 mounted an ass, and five maidens followed as servants. So she accompanied 
 the messengers of David and became his wife. 
 His ^3j)avid also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both became his wives, 
 
 wives ■^^But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son 
 of Laish of Gallim. 
 
 § 16. David among the Philistines, I Sam. 21'<^-'\ 27, I Chr. Igi" 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 David I Sam. 27 ^Then David said to 
 ge'eat himself, I shall be destroyed some 
 the day by the hand of Saul. There is 
 
 court of -^ •' 
 
 Achish 
 
 Popular Judean David Stories 
 
 31 i^Then David arose and fled 
 that day from before Saul, and went 
 to Achish the king of Gath. ^^And 
 
 * 25^ Lit., lifted up your countenance, i.e., relieved your gloom or anxiety by granting your 
 request. Cf. Gen. 19-'", Job 42S- a. 
 
 i" 25^" The grapliio description points to a stroke of paralysis, the result of his debauchery 
 and the sudden news. 
 
 § 16 Chap. 27 is the natural sequel to the preceding sections and introduces the events 
 recorded in |§ 18 and 19. A brave, warlike people, like the Philistines, naturally attracted 
 David and his followers and offered the asylum and protection which they desired. Like the 
 foreigners who later figure prominently in David's court, tlie outlaw chief became a ger or alien 
 resident in the Philistine territory and, as such, enjoyed the rights and privileges which Semitio 
 
 102
 
 I Sam. 271] DAVID AMONG THE PHILISTINES [I Sail SI" 
 
 Popular Judcan David Stories 
 
 the servants of Achish said to him, Is 
 not this David the king of the land ? 
 Was it not of him that they used to 
 sing responsively in the dances, saying, 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 nothing better for me than that I 
 should escape into the land of the 
 Philistines. Then Saul will despair 
 of seeking; me longer in all the ter- 
 ritory of Israel, and I will escape 
 from his hand. -So David arose and 
 went over, together with the six hun- 
 dred men who were with him, to 
 Achish the son of Maoch, king of 
 Gath. ^And David dwelt with 
 Achish at Gath, together with his 
 men, each with his household, Da- 
 vid with his two wives, Ahinoam the 
 Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmel- 
 itess, Nabal's wife. ^And when 
 Saul was informed that David had 
 fled to Gath, he sought him no more. 
 
 "But David said to 
 Achish, If now I have 
 found favor in your 
 sight, let a place in 
 one of the towns in 
 the open country be 
 given me, that I may 
 dwell there; for why 
 shoidd your servant 
 dwell in the royal 
 city with you ? '^Then 
 Achish gave him Zik- 
 1 a g at that time; 
 therefore Ziklag be- 
 longs to the kings of 
 
 Saul has slain his thousands, 
 But DaA-id his ten thousands? 
 
 i^And David took these words to his 
 heart and was greatly afraid of Achish 
 the king of Gath. ^^ \i^(j }^g pretended 
 to be insane*^ before them, and raved 
 in their hands and drummed"^^ on the 
 doors and let his spittle run down upon 
 his beard. ^^Then said Achish to his 
 servants. You see plainly that the man 
 is mad; why do you bring him to me ? 
 i^Do I lack madmen that you have 
 brought this fellow to act the madman 
 in my presence .'' Should this one 
 come into mv house ? 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 I Clir. 12 ^Now these are they who came to David 
 at Ziklag, while he still kept at a distance from Saul 
 the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty 
 heroes, his helpers in war. ^'phgy ^yere armed with 
 bows and could use both the right hand and the 
 left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from 
 the bow; they were of Saul's tribesmen of Benjamin. 
 ^The chief was Ahiezer; then Joash, the sons of She- 
 maah the Gibeathite, Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of 
 Azmaveth, Beracah, Jehu the Anathothite, '^Ishmaiah 
 the Gibeonite, a mighty warrior among the Thirty 
 and at the head of the Thirty, Jeremiah, Jahaziel, 
 Johanan, Jozabad the Gedcrathite. ''Eluzai. Jcrimoth, 
 Bealiah, Shemariah, Shcphatiah the Harujjhite, ^'El- 
 kanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the Ko- 
 
 custom confirms to one who puts himself under the protection of a foreign chief or race. Cf. 
 Vol. V in /oro for the detailed Israclitish laws rcKardinK the !7Pr. 
 
 The brief |>arallel in 2V-''' has no real connection with its context. It is also inconsistent 
 with the representation of 27, for it is inconceivable that after such an experience, as is recorded 
 in 21'"-'', David would seek or find protection at (lath. The fact that he is called, A-i'no of the 
 Ifi-nd in " and the naive picture of the wa.v in which he effected his escape by (ieception indicate 
 that tliis is evidently the late popular version of his sojourn imder the protection of Achish. The 
 Jews appeared to have preserved it because it was more in accord with their views than the older 
 version in 27 which represented David's relations witii the Philistines as friendly. 
 
 ■^ 21'3 Lit., changed his cliaracter or understanding, as in 25". The word literally means, 
 taste. 
 
 <• 21'' Interpreting this doubtful Heb. word with the aid of the Gk. 
 
 103
 
 I Sam. 276] 
 
 Early Judean David 
 Narratives 
 
 Judah to this day- 
 ^And the length of 
 the time that David 
 dwelt in the open 
 country of the Philis- 
 tines was a year and 
 four months.*^ ^And 
 David and his men 
 went up, and made a 
 raid upon the Ge- 
 shurites, the Gir- 
 zites,f and the Amal- 
 ekites; for these 
 tribes dwell in the 
 land which extends 
 from Telem^ as far 
 as Shur, even to the 
 land of Eg>"pt. ^And 
 as often as David 
 smote the land, he 
 did not leave alive 
 man or woman, but 
 taking the sheep, the 
 oxen, the asses, the 
 camels, and the cloth- 
 ing, he returned and 
 came to A c h i s h . 
 ^^Then when Achish 
 said, Where* haveyou 
 made a raid to-day ? 
 David answered. 
 Against the South 
 Country of Judah, or 
 against the South 
 Country of the Jer- 
 ahmeelites and 
 against the South 
 Country of the Ken- 
 
 THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 n Chr. 126 
 
 rahites, ^Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham 
 of Gedor. ^x\nd of the Gadites there went over to 
 David to the stronghold in the wilderness, 
 
 Brave warriors, 
 
 ]\Ien trained for war. 
 
 Who could handle shield and spear, 
 
 Wliose faces were like the faces of lions. 
 
 And they were as swift as the gazelles upon the mountains. 
 
 ^Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the 
 third, ^^Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 
 ^^ Altai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, ^-^Johanan the 
 eighth, Elzabad the ninth, ^-^Jeremiah the tenth, 
 Machbannai the eleventh. ^^These of the sons of 
 Gad were commanders of the army. 
 
 The least was equal to a hundred,'' 
 And the greatest to a thousand. 
 
 ^°These are they who went over the Jordan in 
 the first month, when it had overflowed all its 
 banks, and they put to flight all those who dwelt in 
 the valleys, both toward the east and toward the 
 west. i^And once there came some of the Benja- 
 mites and Judahites to the stronghold to David. 
 ^'And David went out to meet them and spoke 
 and said to them. If you come peaceably to me to 
 help me, my heart shall be knit to you; but if to be- 
 tray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in 
 my hands, the God of our fathers look down and re- 
 buke it. ^^Then the spirit came upon Abishai,J the 
 chief of the Thirty: 
 
 Thine we are, O Da\id, 
 And on thy side, O son of Jesse ! 
 Peace, peace to thee. 
 And peace to thy helpers ! 
 For thy God helpeth thee ! 
 
 I Sam. 27" This verse is regarded by many as a later addition, but the tivo years of 29^ 
 included the period of residence at Gath. 
 
 ' I Sam. 27'' The identification of these peoples is very doubtful. 
 
 K I Sam 27^ Following certain Gk. manuscripts, Telem is mentioned in 15* as the place 
 where Saul rallied his forces to attack the Amalekites. A change of one letter gives the incon- 
 sequential reading, from of old. 
 
 [' I Chr. 121* Qp commander over a hundred. But cf. Is. 30'^, Lev. 28''. 
 
 1 I Sam. 27'" So Syr., Targ., and certain Heb. te.\ts. Gk., against ivhom. 
 
 > I Chr. 12's Heb., Amasai; but he is not mentioned among Da\dd's heroes. According 
 to 11-" Abishai was chief of the Three. 
 
 lOi
 
 ISAM. 2710] DAVID AMONG THE PHILISTINES 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 [I Clin. 12 
 
 18 
 
 Early J lid can David 
 Narratives 
 
 ites. 11 But David 
 never left alive man 
 or woman, to bring 
 them to Gatli, for he 
 thought, They might 
 give information 
 against us and sav, 
 ' Thus has David 
 done.' And such was 
 his custom all the 
 while he dwelt in the 
 open country of the 
 Philistines. i-And 
 Achish trusted Da- 
 
 vid. 
 
 He has 
 
 brought himself into 
 ill odor with his peo- 
 ple Israel; therefore 
 he shall be my ser- 
 vant forever. 
 
 Then David received them and made them com- 
 manders of the guerilla band. 
 
 i^Of Manasseh also some went over to David, when 
 he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle; 
 but they helped them not, for the tyrants of the Phi- 
 listines after consultation sent him away, saying, he 
 will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of 
 our heads. ^0\g i^g went to Ziklag, there came over 
 to him of Manasseh, Adnali, Jozabad, Jediael, 
 Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, commanders 
 of thousands, who were of Manasseh. ^^And they 
 helped David against the guerilla bands, for they 
 were all brave, valiant warriors and were com- 
 manders in the army. 22'j'|jyg from day to day 
 men came to David to help him, until there was a 
 great army, like the army of God. 
 
 1. 2 
 
 29 
 
 § 17. David and the Philistine Invasion, I Sam. 28 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 I Sam. 28 ^Now in those days the Philistines assembled their forces to David's 
 make a campaign against Israel. And Achish said to David, Be assured monsto 
 that you, together with your men, must go with me alongr with the forces. fiK'>> ^ 
 ^And David said to Achish, Therefore you shall now'' know what your ser- Israel 
 vant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore I make you my body- 
 guard' from this time on. 
 
 29 'And the Philistines hud assembled their forces at Aphck; aiid the Protest 
 Israelites encamped by the fountain in Jezreel. -And the tyrants of the Phi- phuis- 
 listiues were marching past, with hundreds and with thousands; and David ''"^ 
 
 . com* 
 
 and his men marched in the rear guard with Achish. -^Then the commanders mand- 
 of tlic Plilh'stiiU'S said, What are these Hebrews? And Achish said to the®" 
 coninianders of the I'hiiistines, 'J'his is David, the .servant of Saul the king 
 of Israel, who has now already been with me two years,"' and I have found 
 
 § 17 The continuation of 27 is found in 28' • 2, 29. and .30. Not only does 28^-'' interrupt 
 the story, but it also introduces a different theme and contains references to (hita not found in 
 the early .ludean I)a\id narratives. Cf. note § 19. Its insertion here is evidently the work 
 of a Later editor. UestorinK the oriRinal order, (he early narr.ative continue.s the ^■ivid recital 
 of David's e.xperience at this crisis in his life. The popular account of David's experiences at 
 the court of ,\chish. 21'"''', § Ki, also reflects certain elements found in the present story. 
 
 ''28- .So (ik., Luc, and Lat. 
 
 ' 28^ Ileb., krcper of my lirad. 
 
 "■ 29" llel)., llicHP itiiifs or lliese years, is e\idently corrupt. All the Gk. texts make the (iiuo 
 two years and facihtate the correction of I he Heb. 
 
 105
 
 ISAM. 293] THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 Early Jvdean David Narratives 
 
 no fault in him from the time that he came over to me to the present. 
 ^But the commanders of the Phihstines were enraged against him, and"^ 
 said to him, Send back the man that he may return to the place where you 
 have stationed him. Let him not go down with us to battle and let him not 
 be in the camp*' an adversary to us; for with what could this fellow better 
 insrratiate himself with his master than with the heads of these men ? ^Is 
 not this David of whom they sang responsively in the dances, saying, 
 
 Saul lias slain his thousands, 
 But David his ten thousands ? 
 
 David's ^Then Achish called to David and said to him. As Jehovah liveth, you 
 mfssal ^""^ upright, and it is my desire that you should go out and in with me in 
 the camp; for I have found no evil in you from the time that you came to 
 me to the present, but you are not regarded favorably by the tyrants. "There- 
 fore now return and go in peace, that you may do nothing to displease the 
 tyrants of the Philistines. ^And David said to Achish, But what have I 
 done ? And what have you found in your servant from the day that I en- 
 tered into your service to this day, that I may not go and fight against the 
 enemies of my lord the king? ^And Achish answered and said to David, 
 I know that you are as good in my sight as a Messenger of God, but the 
 commanders of the Philistines have said, ' He shall not go up with us to the 
 battle.' ^*^Therefore now rise early in the morning, with the servants of your 
 lord who came with you, and go to the place where I have stationed you, 
 and do not entertain any evil design in your heart, for you are good in my 
 sight, P but rise early in the morning and as soon as it is light, depart. ^^So 
 David rose early, together with his men, to depart in the morning to return 
 to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel. 
 
 § 18. David's Pursuit and Defeat of the Amalekites, I Sam. 30 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 The I Sam. 30 ^Now when David and his men on the third day came to 
 
 Amale- 2iklag, the Amalekites had made a raid on the South Country and upon 
 raid on Ziklag, and had smitten Ziklag and burnt it with fire, ^and had carried 
 away captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, with- 
 out slaying any, and had carried them off and gone on their way. ^^nd 
 when David and his men came to the city, there it was burned down, and 
 their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. ^Then 
 David and the people who were with him wept aloud until they were no 
 
 " 29* So Gk., Syr., and Lat. The Heb. repeats, commanders of the Philistines. 
 
 o 29* So Gk. and I.uc. 
 
 p 29*" A line has apparently dropped out of the Heb. which the Gk. and Luc. retain, re- 
 lie\'ing the verse of its awkward repetition in immediately succeeding sentences. The current 
 English translations are only artificial attempts to eliminate the tautology. 
 
 § 18 Vss. 5. ^^^' fit awkwardly in their respective contexts and appear to have been added 
 later by an editor or scribe especially interested in David's family history. Otherwise the chap- 
 ter is all from the earliest source. 
 
 106
 
 THE PIIILISTLNE INVASION [I Sam. 30^ 
 
 Early Jiidcan David Narratives 
 
 longer able to weep. ^And David's two wives had been taken captive, Aliinoam 
 the Jezreehtess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the CarmeUte. 
 
 f'And David was in great straits, for the people spoke of stoning him, The 
 because the soul of all the people was embittered, each for his sons and for <^'^'»e 
 his daughters; but David strengthened himself in reliance on Jehovah his mand 
 God. "And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, Bring sue\"he 
 here to me the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David, "augers 
 ^And David inquired of Jehovah, saying. 
 
 Shall I pursue this marauding band? 
 Shall I overtake them ? 
 
 And he answered him, 
 
 Pursue, 
 
 For thou shalt surely overtake. 
 
 And thou shalt surely rescue. "J 
 
 ^So David went, together with the six hundred men who were with him, and The 
 came to the Brook Besor, where those who were left behind remained. ^^But f'^'"^"'* 
 David pursued together with four hundred men; while two hundred re- 
 mained behind, who were too faint to cross the Brook Besor. ^^And they 
 found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David and gave him food 
 to eat and water to drink; ^^and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and 
 iwo clusters of raisins. "■ And when he had eaten, his spirit revived,^ for he 
 had eaten no bread and drunk no water for three days and nights. ^^And 
 David said to him, To whom do you belong ? And whence are you ? 
 And he said I am an Egyptian lad, an Amalekite's servant, and my master 
 abandoned me because three days ago I fell sick. ^''We made a raid upon 
 the South Country of the Cherethites and upon that which belongs to Judah 
 and uj)on the South Country of Caleb, and Ziklag we burned with fire. 
 ^^And David said to him, Will you bring me down to this band ? And he 
 said. Swear to me by God, that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into 
 the hands of my master, and T will bring you down to this band. 
 
 ^•"And when he had brought him down, there they were spread over all The 
 the land, eating and drinking and dancing, on account of all the great spoil alufre- 
 that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of ^'Hf^^ 
 Judah. ^"And David smote them from twilight to evcninfj in order to de- phm- 
 stroy them completely.* And none escay)ed except four hundred young 
 men, who rode upon the camels and fled. ^^And David recovered all the per- 
 sons whom the Amalekites had taken ; and David rescued his two wives. ^^And 
 
 1 .30' The brief, sententious, poetic form of the question and the oracle is strikingly a\y- 
 parent . 
 
 r 3Q12 TJig Q\^ does not have the Iwo clusters of raisins. 
 
 ' 30'- Heh., his spirit returned to him. 
 
 ' 30'' The Hf'b. is untran.'ilatal)le, and all (he >-ersions found (liflicultips with tlie pass.aRC. 
 The current I'.nnlii^h translations seem to follow a conjecture of Jcronio. The above reading is 
 ba-sed upon the reconstruction, which does least violence to the le.\t and wliick is most cou- 
 siatent with early lleb. u.sage. Cf. Josh. G^'', 8^. 
 
 107
 
 ISAM. 3019] THE RISE OF DAVID 
 
 Early Jitdcan David Narratives 
 
 there was nothing of them missing either small or great, sons or daugh- 
 ters, spoil or anything that they had taken to themselves — David brought 
 back all. -'^And he took all the flocks and the herds and drove those ani- 
 mals before the people, and they" said. This is David's spoil. 
 The 2i]sjow when David came to the two hundred men, who had been too 
 
 denT' faint to follow him, so that he"^' had to leave them behind at the Brook Besor, 
 regard- they went out to meet David, and the people who were with him. And 
 division when thev came near to the people, thev saluted thera.^' --Then all the 
 
 r ■ 1 •■ Alt 
 
 o spoi ^.jj.]^p(j a^j^j base scoundrels among the men who went with David began 
 to say. Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the 
 spoil that we have recovered, except to each, his wife and his children, that 
 he mav take them away and depart. -"^But David said. Do not so, after 
 that which Jehovah hath given us^ and after he hath preserved us and de- 
 hvered the marauding band that came against us into our hand. ^'^And 
 who will give heed to you in this matter ? For : 
 
 As is the share of him who goes down into battle, 
 So is the share of him who remains with the baggage. 
 They shall share alike. 
 
 2^And from that time on he made it a statute and precedent in Israel* to 
 
 this day. 
 Pres- 26 \j^(j when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders 
 
 sent to ^^ Judah, his friends,^ saying. See ! a present for you from the spoil of the 
 t'le enemies of Jehovah, ^"to them who were in Bethel,*' in Ramoth in the South 
 ern Country, in Jattir, ^^in Aroer, in Siphmoth, and to them who were in Esh- 
 
 temoa, -^in Carmel,'^ in the cities of Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Ken- 
 
 ites, ^^in Hormah, Beersheba,*' in Athach, ^^in Hebron, and to those in all 
 
 the places where David and his men had sojourned. 
 
 u 30^0 The Heb. is unintelligible, if translated literally. As it stands, the first verb is in 
 the singular, liut the rest in the plural with no suggestion as to what is their antecedent. Gk. 
 and Luc. have all three in the singular and with the Lat. agree in omitting the David inserted 
 in the Heb. in the first part of the verse. In the Lat. the first two verbs are in the singular 
 and the last in the plural. The texts are clearly corrupt. The above reading involves only 
 minor corrections and fairly represents the thought of the original. It was natural that David 
 should take the initiative in dividing the spoil and that to him should fall the animals, while 
 the people shared the booty secured in the camp. 
 
 " 30-' Heb., they ; but Gk., Syr., and Lat. and certain manuscripts have, he. 
 
 "■ 3CF' Heb., David came near to the people and saluted them; but the consistent reading 
 suggested by Gk., Syr., and certain manuscripts has been followed above. 
 
 =■ 30^ Restoring the Heb. with the aid of the Gk., otherwise the Heb. gives no sense. 
 
 a 3Gf In Nuni. 31-' the late priestly writers, following their usual custom, attribute the ori- 
 gin of this institution to Moses. The present tradition is undoubtedly by far the older and well 
 illustrates the origin of many of Israel's early laws. Cf. Introd., Vol. IV. 
 
 t' SCF"' Gk., Luc, and Syr., and to his friends or kinsmen. 
 
 <: SO-' Not the Bethel north of Jerusalem but probably the Bethuel of I Chr. 430 near Ziklag. 
 
 d 3029 So Gk. Heb., Racal. 
 
 o 3030 So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. has, Bor-ashan. 
 
 chief- 
 tains 
 
 108
 
 SAUL'S VISIT TO THE MEDIUM [I Sam. 283 
 
 § 19. Saul's Visit to the Medium of Endor, I Sam. 25'% 28^" 
 Late Popular Prophetic Narratives 
 
 I Sam. 28 ^Now Samuel had died and all Israel had lamented for him Saul's 
 and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums f^r^^^ 
 and the wizards out of the land.^ '*And when the Philistines assembled and super- 
 came and encamped in Shunem, Saul assembled all Israel, and they en- rexe-'^'' 
 camped in Gilboa. ^And when Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he ^'^^'^^ 
 was afraid and his heart was filled with apprehension. ^And Saul inquired 
 of Jehovah, but Jehovah did not answer him either by dreams or by Urim 
 or by prophets. 'Then Saul said to his servants. Find for me a medium 
 who has a talisman that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his ser- 
 vants said to him. Behold, there is at Endor a medium who has a talisman. 
 
 ^Therefore Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes and went, The 
 taking two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. x\nd he ^[^\^t 
 said, Divine for me bv the talisman and bring up for me the one whom I scene in 
 shall name to you. ^And the woman said to him, Behold, you know what at 
 Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the ^""°'" 
 land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life, to put me to death ? 
 ^'^And Saul swore to her by Jehovah, saying, As Jehovah liveth, no guilt 
 shall come upon you for this thing. ^^Then the woman said. Whom shall I 
 bring up to you ? And he said, Bring up Samuel. ^-And when the woman 
 saw Samuel, she screamed. And the woman said to Saul, Why have you 
 deceived me, for you are Saul ? ^^And the king said to her, Do not be 
 afraid ! What do you see ? And the woman said to Saul, I see a god com- 
 ing up out of the earth. ^^And he said to her, What is his a{)pearance ? 
 And she said, An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a mantle. 
 Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the 
 earth and worshipped. 
 
 §19 The natural sequel of the early .Tudean narrative in 28i, -, 29 (and the account of 
 Da\-id's fortunes in .30), is the description of the final battle found in 31, In 29" the Philistines 
 have already advanced to Jezreel at the foot of Mount Gilboa. It is difficult to find a place for 
 the |)resent story, which represents them as encamped at Shunem, ^, to the north of (he |ilain of 
 Esdraelon. This fact only confirms the other indications that it is from a difTcrent cycle of 
 traditions. Its theme and representation, as well as its style, strongly sufjKCst that it was a 
 story long cherished in the minds of the people, whose beliefs it vixidly reflects. It also has 
 many points in common with the account of Saul's rejection by Samuel in 1,'j. 
 
 A later editor has furtiier brought the two chapters into close connection by inserting in 
 •'■ 's an allusion to and paraphrase of the prediction in 15"'. In both, not Saul, but Samuel is 
 the dominant figure and the king is under the shadow of the di\ine displeasure. Samuel, how- 
 ever, is not the proi)hetic judge as in the later ICphraimite i)ropli<'(ic narratives, but the seer 
 whom Saul consults to secure an oracle much as in the early .luiioaii story of 9'' -'". Samuel is 
 still conceived of as the friend of Saul, cf.'"' The pathetic i)icturo wliicli it gi\os of Saul also tends 
 to support the conclusion that the tradition took written form in s(;me later .ludean rather 
 than i^phraimite prophetic school at a perio<l not long before the exile. The linguistic evidence 
 also on the whole favors this conclusion. .\t the same time it is evident that the story, like 15, 
 emborlies some much earlier material and may well rest on a firm historical basis. 
 
 '28' Smith has a valuable note on this'passage (Sam., 2.39), in which he addiices many 
 references (cf. especially II Kgs. 21", 23-', I)t. 18'"' " and Lev. 20''") to demonstrate that the 
 reference here is not to necromancers and wizards, but to the paraphernalia used in consulting 
 spirits of the dead. IVom Dt. IS'"' " and Lev. 20-'", as well as the i)resont story, it is e\ ident tliat 
 they were something through which an answer coiild be secured and supposed coimcction with 
 the dead established. The wom.an of luidor, who possesses one, corresponds to the imxleni 
 medium. The Gk. translation, ventrilotiuiuls, suggests the manner in which the dci'option was 
 
 Sracti.sefl. The fact. that, according to the story, not Saul but only the woman claims to see 
 amuel is likewise suggestive. 
 
 109
 
 ISAM. 2815] THE DECLINE OF SAUL 
 
 Late Popular Prophetic Narratives 
 The is^nd Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me 
 
 sa^e'of "P ' ^"*^^ ^^"^'^ answered, I am in great straits, for the Philistines are making 
 doom ^var against me and God has turned from me and answers me no more, 
 either by prophets or by dreams; so I have called you to tell me what I shall 
 do. i^And Samuel said, Why do you ask of me when Jehovah hath turned 
 from you and become your adversary ? I'And Jehovah hath done to you as he 
 declared by me ; and Jehovah hath rent the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to 
 vour associate (David). i^Because you did not heed the voice of Jehovah, and did 
 iaot execute his fierce wrath upon vUnalek, therefore Jehovah hath done this thing to 
 you to-day. ^^And^ to-morrow you and your sons with you'^ shall fall ; Je- 
 hovah w^ill deliver the army of Israel also into the power of the Phihstines. 
 Effect -^Then Saul fell at once at full length upon the earth and was greatly 
 Sauf afraid, because of the words of Samuel ; also he had no strength in him, for 
 he had not eaten bread during all the day and all the night, ^i^nd when the 
 woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly troubled, she said to him, 
 See, your maid-servant has heeded your voice, and I have taken my life in 
 my hand and have listened to your words which you spoke to me. "'^l>io\v 
 therefore, listen also to the advice of your maid-servant and let me set before 
 you a morsel of meat, and eat that you may have strength when you go on 
 your way. '^^'Qwi he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, 
 together with the woman urged him, until he Hstened to their advice. So 
 he rose from the earth and sat upon the couch. "^^Xnd the woman had a 
 fatted calf in the house; and she quickly killed it, and took flour and kneaded 
 it and baked from it unleavened bread, '^^k.nd she set it before Saul and 
 his servants, and they ate. Then they rose up and went away that night. 
 
 §20. The Defeat and Death of Saul and Jonathan, I Sam. 31, I Chr. 10 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Defeat I Sam. 31 ^Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the Israel- 
 Israel- ites fled from before the Philistines and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa. 
 ites and 2\n(j ^\^q Philistines followed close after Saul and his sons; and the Philistines 
 of Saul slew Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. ^And 
 they pressed hard upon Saul, and the archers found him out, and he was 
 wounded by the arcliers. ^Then said Saul to his armorbearer. Draw your 
 sword and run me through with it, lest these uncircumcised Phihstines come 
 and make sport of me.i But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly 
 afraid. Therefore Saul took his owm sword and fell upon it. ^And when 
 
 E 28'9 A scribe has repeated by mistake at the beginning the clause found in the latter 
 part of the vs.. And Jehovah will deliver Israel also with you into the power of the Philistines. 
 It has been omitted in the above translation. 
 
 •i 28'9 So Gk. The Heb. has simply, with me, and no verb. The with me of the Heb. prob- 
 ably represents the with you of the Gk. which has retained the original. 
 
 § 20 Chap. 31 resumes the early Judean account of the PhiUstine invasion. The author 
 of Chr. quoted this chapter practically verbatim, doubtless because he recognized in Saul's 
 fall the event which opened the way for the accession of the king whom he regarded as the ^•irtual 
 founder of the temple. At the end of the quotation he adds a moral reflection which indicates 
 that he had before him the fuUer Saul history in I Sam. 
 
 ' 31^ So Chr. The Heb. repeats, run me through, which was not what Saul feared but 
 rather that the enemy would torture and' abuse him. 
 
 110
 
 HIS DEFEAT AND DEATH [I S.^m. 3P 
 
 Early Judean David Xarratives 
 
 his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword 
 and died with him. ^So Saul and his three sons and his armorbearer J died 
 together on the same day. 
 
 ^And when the Israelites who were in the cities of the valley'^ and in the Fate of 
 
 oil 
 
 cities of the Jordan saw that the Israelites had fled and that Saul and his body 
 sons were dead, they also left the cities and fled, and the Philistines came 
 and remained in them. ^But when on the following day the Philistines came 
 to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gil- 
 boa. ^And they cut ofi" his head and stripped ofl^ his armor and sent through- 
 out the land of the Philistines to bring good news to their idols' and to the 
 people. ^°And they put his armor in the temple of Ashtarte,™ and they 
 fastened his body on the wall of Bethshan.'^ ^^And when the inhabitants of 
 Jabesh in Gilead° heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, ^-all the 
 valiant men arose and marched all night and took the bodies of Saul and 
 his sons from the wall of Bethshan; and they came to Jabesh and lamented 
 over them there. p ^^And they took their bones and buried them under the 
 tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. 
 
 Chronicler^s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 I Chr. 10 ^'^So Saul died for his faithlessness to Jehovah, because he An ex- 
 did not faithfully observe the word of Jehovah, and also in that he inquired t'ion of 
 of a talisman, resorting to it ^^^instead of to Jehovah.*^ Therefore he put Saul's 
 him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. fate 
 
 ' SI*" The Heb. adds, and all his men, wbiich is not found in Chr. and Gk. Chr. changes, 
 armorbearer, to, all his house. 
 
 ■< .31" The text is difBcult. The Heb. makes little sense. Chr. has simply, and when the 
 men of Israel, irho were in the valley, saw. The simple reconstruction followed above gives an 
 intelligible reading. 
 
 ' 3P So I Chr. 10', Gk., and Luc. The Heb. reading, to the house of their idols, is due to an 
 obvious scribal error. 
 
 ■" SI'*" So Gk. and I,uc. Chr., of their gods. The Heb., Ashtarolh, as in Judg. 2'^, is clearly 
 due to a deliberate scribal change. 
 
 " SI'" I Chr. 10'" has for the second half of the verse, and they stuck up his skull in the house 
 of Daijon. In '- the reference to taking the body from the wall of Bethshan is also omitted. 
 
 " 31" The loyalty of the men of Jabesh was doubtless due to Saul's act of deliverance re- 
 corded in 11'-". 
 
 p 31'^ Heb., and burn them there; but this is inconsistent with Heb. usage according to 
 which only the bodies of culprits were burned. Lev. 20'^, 21'', Josh. 7-^, and the statement in the 
 next verse that they buried their bones. The clause is also not found in I Chr. 10'-. The mis- 
 take probably resulted from an error in the rearling of a very similar Heb. word, to lament for 
 the dead. 
 
 'I I Chr. lO'^b. iia But cf. I Sam. 28"- ■"■ 'o which hardly justify the sweeping judgment of 
 the later Jewish traditions which the Ctironicler voices. Cf. Introd., p. 23. 
 
 Ill
 
 II S.oi. li] 
 
 DAVID'S REIGN OVER JUDAH 
 
 III 
 
 Arrival 
 of the 
 messen- 
 ger 
 
 His ac- 
 count 
 of 
 
 Saul's 
 death 
 
 DA^^D'S REIGN AS KING OVER JUDAH AND OVER ALL 
 ISRAEL, II Sam. 1-21, 238-2425, I Kgs. l^-2^\ I Chr. 11, 1223-2930 
 
 ^ 21. David's Reception of the News of the Death of Saul and 
 
 Jonathan, U Sam. 1 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 1 iNow, after the death of Saul,* when David had returned from smiting 
 the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2Then on the third day 
 there came a man out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and 
 with earth upon his head. And as soon as he came to David, he fell to the 
 earth and did obeisance. 3 \n(l David said to him, Whence do you come ? 
 And he answered him. From the camp of Israel have I escaped. "^And 
 David said to him, How was the affair ? Tell me. And he answered. The 
 people fled from the battle, and many of the people fell,'' and also Saul and 
 
 Jonathan his son are dead. 
 
 =Then David said to the 3'oung man who told him, How do you know that Saul and 
 ■Jonathan his son are dead? ^And the young man who told him said, I happened to 
 be on Mount Gilboa, just as Saul was leaning on his spear, and as the chariots and 
 horsemen were following close after liim. ".And when he looked behind him, he saw 
 me and called to me. And I answered, ' Here am I.' s^nd he said to me, ' Who are 
 
 David's Reign as King over Judah and over all Israel. — The record of this thriUing epoch 
 in Israel's history is drawn almost entirely from the early .Judean Da\'id stories. The pohtical 
 events are presented in II Sam. 1-7, conclufling in S^-" with an editorial re\-iew of David's wars 
 and conquests. To this original book of Samuel apparently a later editor first added the long 
 realistic narratives of Q"— 20--, which present in detail the tragedy of Davitl's family and court 
 life. Supplements to the record of political events in 1-8 are found in 21, 23, and 24; while the 
 account of Da\'id's family history in 91-20- is directly continuefl in I Kgs. l'-2", which was eW- 
 dently deri^•ed from the same early David narratives. Ftestored to what was approximately 
 their original order, the different stories furnish a remarkably consistent and complete record of 
 David's important reign. 
 
 § 21 The account of David's lamentation on receiving the news of the death of Saul and 
 Jonathan is in perfect harmony with the early Judean Dav-id narratives which precede and 
 follow. There is every reason to believe that the beautiful elegy in 's--" first came from the lips 
 of the former shepherd from Bethlehem, whose skiU as a minstrel was universally recognized 
 by his own and later generations. The feeling in the poem is strong and genuine and the thought 
 is in keeping with the situation and the spirit of the age. For a study of the literary form of 
 this and kindred poems cf. Vol. V in loco. The text has been printed so as to indicate the num- 
 ber of beats or measures in each line. 
 
 Not only is the story complete without the details found in ^-i"' "^-le^ tjut they evidently 
 embody a different version of Saul's death from that in I Sam. 31. Thus for example in 3V he 
 is pursued by the archers, but in l^ by the chariots and horsemen ; in 31' he is represented as 
 wounded, but in 1^ dizziness seizes him so that he cannot stand; in 31* he falls upon his sword, 
 but in 1'" the Amalekite slays him; in 3P the Philistines strip Saul's body, but in 1"^ the Amalek- 
 ite. On the other hand, there is no evidence in the words or acts of David to indicate that he or 
 the historian regarded the story of the Amalekite as false. Furthermore, there are inconsist- 
 encies between l'-* and ^-^°- i-'"^. In - the messenger is spoken of as a man. presumably an 
 Israelitish soldier, who came as a mourner directly from the camp of Saul, but according to '■* 
 he was a young man, an Amalekite, who happened to be on Mount Gilboa just as the battle was in 
 progress, and instead of mourning for Saul, he comes with gory proofs of his crime to claim a 
 reward from David. The question in " jg a repetition of that in ^. That s'"' "'^ are secondary 
 seems perfectly clear. Expressions Uke, Here am I, in " and be afraid and destroy in " are 
 characteristic of the Northern IsraeUtish group of narratives. This version also saves Saul 
 from the charge of taking his own Hfe. The probabilities are that it was the popular account 
 of Saul's death, current in Northern Israel and introduced here by some editor. 
 
 " 1' The fulness and awkwardness of this verse strongly suggests that the editor has at 
 least added the opening clause to join the story to that which immediately precedes. 
 
 b 1^ So Luc. and Syr. The Heb. adds, are dead. 
 
 112
 
 HIS LAMENT OVER SAUL [II Sam. l^ 
 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 j-ou'' And I replied, 'I am an Amalekite.' 5.\nd lie said to me, 'Stand, I praj% 
 before me and slay me, for dizziness has seized me, because my life is yet whole in 
 me.'"^ '"So 1 stood before him anil slew him, because I was sure that he could not live 
 after he had fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the armlet 
 that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord. 
 
 ^^Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them; and all the men Lamen- 
 
 who were with him did likewise. ^^A.nA they mourned and wept and fasted over" 
 
 until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of Jehovah *^'® 
 
 and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 
 
 i^Aud David said to the young man who told him. Whence do you come? And Execu- 
 he answered, I am the son of an Amalekite sojourner. '^And David said to him. How tionof 
 is it that you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed? ^''^ 
 i^And David said to him. Your blood be upon your head, for your own mouth testi- ™ggj. 
 fied against you, when you said, ' I have slain Jehovah's anointed. ''i '^xhen David 
 called one of the young men, and said. Go near and strike him down. Accordingly 
 he smote him, so that he died. 
 
 ^'Then David sang this dirge over Saul and Jonathan his son i8(behold, it is David's 
 
 written in the Book of Jashar), and said,^ "^^^ 
 
 Weep, O Judah! The 
 
 "Grieve, O Israel! _ ereat-^ 
 
 On thy heights are the slain' theca- 
 
 How have the mighty fallen! lamity 
 
 20TeIl it not in Gath, 
 Declare it not in the streets of Askelon; 
 Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, 
 Lest the daughters of the uncircinncised exult. 
 
 ^'Ye mountains of Gilboa, may no dew descend, 
 
 Nor rain upon you, O ye fields of death!' 
 For there was the shield of the mighty cast away. 
 The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 
 
 ^^From the blood of the slain, Brav- 
 
 From the fat of the mighty, a«rac-' 
 
 The bow of Jonathan turned not back, i\\e- 
 
 The sword of Saul retm-ned not empty. nessof 
 
 the 
 
 ^Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the lovely! fallen 
 In life and in dejith they were not parted; 
 I'hey were swifter than eagles, 
 They were stronger than lions. 
 
 "=1" Heb., for yet my life is whole in me. fJk., for all my life is in me. Luc, as above. 
 Saul's dizziness may have been due to the approach of one of the epileptic attacks to which he 
 appears to have been subject. Cf. the symptoms in I Sam. lO'^--^, 18'". ", lU'*"', 2'2f'-"K If so, 
 life would refer to his physical vigor. 
 
 •1 !"■' This verse has evidently been introduced, probably through the mistake of a copyist, 
 after '* instead of before it, as the sense demands. 
 
 ' l'** The (hfficulties presented by this verse are many and the reconstructions suRRested 
 equally numerous. 'I'he readiriK adoijted above is prjicticuUy that of .Smith (Sniti.. '2'>p, 2()0). 
 The statement, behold it is irrilltn in the Hook of Jashar, appears to be an early eiHtorial note, 
 probably first introduced into the rnarnin and sulisequeiitly into the latter i>art of the \orsc, 
 rather than the first part, where it fits more naturally. Cf. for the character of Book of .hishar, 
 Vol. 1, Intro'l., p. 1(>. .'Ml analogies lead us to e.\|)cct tli.at the initial words, and said, oriKinally 
 introiluced the dirge itself. Vs. '" with its two lines seem also to be abrupt jind incomplete, for 
 I)ractically without exception the followiriK stanz.as contain four lines. The Heb. text as it 
 stands is not only nngrammatical but also unintelliKible. The word, how, is not found in the 
 <ik. and I.uc. Slight corrections in the remaining text give the above consistent reading. 
 
 ' P' So Gk. ;u)d Luc. The Heb., fields of offcrinus, is evidently a corruplioii an<l makes 
 no sense. 
 
 113
 
 II Sam. 124] DAVID'S REIGN OVER JUDAH 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Saul's "Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, 
 
 ser- Who clothed you daintily in fine linen, 
 
 vices to Who put golden ornaments on your garments, [and say]: 
 
 25' How have the mighty fallen in the midst of battle !'s 
 
 David's Jonathan, in thy death hast thou wounded me!*" 
 
 love for 2CJ j^j^^ distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan! 
 
 tJ^"^' . Thou wert surpassingly dear to me, 
 
 Thy love to me was far more than the love of woman ! 
 
 How have the mighty fallen. 
 And the weapons of war perished ! 
 
 § 22. David King at Hebron and Ishbaal at Mahanaim, II Sam. 2^-^' 
 Earbj Judean David Narratives 
 
 David's II Sam. 2 ^Now after this David inquired of Jehovah, saying. Shall I go 
 
 hsh^''' up to one of the cities of Judah ? And Jehovah answered him, Go up. And 
 
 ment when David said, Wliither shall I go up, he said, To Hebron, ^g^ David 
 
 at '° went up with his two wives, Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, the 
 
 Hebron ^jf^ ^f Nabal the Carmelite. ^And Da^nd brought up the men who w^ere 
 
 with him, each with his household, and they dwelt in the towns of Hebron. 
 
 ■^And the men of Judah came and there anointed David king over the house 
 
 of Judah. 
 
 His And when they told David about the men of Jabesh in Gilead who had 
 
 ^Ke'to buried Saul, ^David sent messengers to tne men of Jabesh in Gilead and 
 
 the Gil- said to them, May you be blest of Jehovah, because you have shown this 
 
 kindness to your lord Saul and have buried him. ^Even so may Jehovah 
 
 show kindness and truth to you; and I also will do well by you, because you 
 
 have done this thing. '^Now therefore be courageous and valiant; for Saul 
 
 your lord is dead, and the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. 
 
 Ish- ^Now Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish- 
 
 kfng-^ baal' the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim. ^And he made 
 dom . — 
 
 g 125a Evidently these are the words of lament which the poet would put in the mouths of 
 the wailing women. It is a variation of the refrain in '^b. c 
 
 h x25b Heb., Jonathan on thy heights are the slain. This gives no sense. The confusion in 
 the text appears here to be due to the fact that the scribe had in mind the rest of the refrain 
 of 19. The parallelism imperatively demands here a line synonymous with 26a Following a 
 suggestion of the Gk. text that the original read not, on thy heights, but tn thy death, the above 
 reading may be conjecturally restored after Budtle. 
 
 § 22 This section has all the characteristics of the early Judean David narratives. The 
 chronological notices in '"a ^ri,] ii ^^e evidently a part of the chronological scheme of the editor. 
 Forty is a round number frequently employed by the same editor in Judg. The early narratives 
 imply that Saul was not old at his accession. In I Sam. l-4^'' it is stated and el.sewhere implied 
 that Jonathan was the eldest son. Hence unless Saul's reign was much longer than is suggested 
 by the sources, Ishbaal was very young at his accession. This conclusion also explains his in- 
 efficiency and folly and the dominant position held by Abner. The reign of David at Hebron 
 was practically synchronous with that of Ishbaal, so that either the tiro years in i"'' or the seven 
 and a half in " is a mistake. 
 
 There is no indication that David severed his relation of vassalage to the Philistines. The 
 transfer of I.srael's capital to Mahanaim, east of the Jordan, is evidence that they held central 
 Canaan. It is not improbable that they also exacted tribute and fealty from Ishbaal. 
 
 ' 2* Heb., Ishbosheth, the man of shame. Evidently this, like Ashtaroth. I Sam. 3V°, Judg. 
 213, represents simply the repugnance of later scribes to repeat the names of the heathen deities. 
 The most striking illustration is in Num. 3228, where the name Meon-baal is followed by a note 
 stating that it is to be changed in name. In I Chr. 8^, 9^^, and in some Gk. manuscripts of this 
 passage iu the Old Lat. the original form Ishbaal is preserved. 
 
 114
 
 ISHBAAL KING AT MAHANAIM [II Sam. 2^ 
 
 Earlij Judcan David Narratives 
 
 him king over Gilead and the AshuritesJ and Jezreel and Epliraim and 
 Benjamin and all Israel. ""(Ishbaal, Saul's son, was iorty j-ears old when he be- 
 came king over Israel, and he reigned two years). But the house of Judah fol- 
 lowed David. "And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of 
 Judah, was seven j^ears and six months. 
 
 § 23. Hostilities between the Two Kingdoms, II Sam. 2'--3* 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 II Sam. 3 i^Now Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ishbaal the Battle 
 son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. ^-^And Joab the son of cubeon 
 Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them at the pool of 
 Gibeon. And they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool and the 
 other on the other side of the pool. ^^Then Abner said to Joab, Let the 
 young men arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 
 ^^Then they arose and went over by ninnber:'^ twelve for Benjamin and 
 Ishbaal the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. I'^And they 
 each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his side, so 
 they fell down together. Therefore that place was called. Field of the Ene- 
 mies (which is in Gibeon). ^'And the battle was very fierce that day, and 
 Abner and the men of Israel were vanquished before the servants of David, 
 
 ^^And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; Death 
 and Asahel was as swift of foot as one of the gazelles which are in the field, '(j,.^. 
 ^^And Asahel pursued Abner; and as he went he turned neither to the right l»el 
 nor to the left from the pursuit of Abner. 20q;>]jpj^ Abner looked behind 
 him and said. Is it you, Asahel ? And he answered, It is I. ^I'pijej.efore 
 Abner said to him. Turn aside to your right or to your left and seize one of 
 the young men and take his spoil.' But Asahel would not turn aside from 
 pursuing him. 22'j"'}jei.pfore Abner said again to Asahel, Turn aside from 
 following me. Why should I smite you to the ground ? How then could 
 I look Joab your brother in the face ?™ '^^^wi he refused to turn aside. 
 Therefore Abner smote him with a backward stroke" in the body, so that 
 the spear came out at his back; and he fell there and died in his place. Then 
 all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still. ° 
 
 2^But Joab and A})ishai pursued after Abner. And as the sun was set- Abner' 
 ting, they came to the hill of i\znmah, which is before Giah'' on the highway ^^^'^^''^ 
 in the Wilderness of Gibeon. ^s^j^j t}jg Benjamites assembled behind 
 
 J 29 Probably located immediately north of the plain of Esdraelon. Cf. .ludR. !''■ ^ and 
 Vol. I, map opp. p. 71. Syr. and bat. read, Geshiirite which would include a territory near 
 Gilead, but Oeshur appears to have been independent at this time. Cf. 3-'. 
 
 § 2.3 The rSfium^'m .3' may be from the e<iitor, but otherwi.se the section as a whole appears 
 to be the original continuation of the preceding. 
 
 '' 2'' I .e., were counted off by pas.sing before the teller. 
 
 ' 22' I.e., the armor and whatever might be stripped from the fallen warrior. 
 
 " 2^2 Heb. idiom, hold up mii face to Joab. 
 
 " 2^ Shght ly emending the text. The current tran.«lation, with the hinder end of the spear, 
 is very doubtful. 
 
 o 2-n> 'j'hi.s may be an editorial glo.ss introduced from 20'-. 
 
 "2^ Giah is unidentified and the text doubtful. 
 
 a
 
 II Sam. 225] DAVID'S REIGN OVER JUDAH 
 
 Earhj Judean David Narratives 
 
 Abner and formed a solid phalanx, and stood on the top of a hill. ^^Then 
 Abner called to Joab and said. Shall the sword devour forever ? Do you 
 not know that the end will be bitterness ?^ How long then will it be before 
 you command the people to turn from pursuing their kinsmen ? 27^\j^(j 
 Joab said. As Jehovah'" liveth, if you had not spoken, then assuredly not 
 until morning would the people have ceased each from pursuing his brother. 
 28So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still and pursued Israel, 
 no more, nor did they fight any more, ^ogy^ Abner and his men marched 
 all that night through the Arabah and crossed the Jordan and went through 
 the whole Bithron^ and came to Mahanaim. 
 Losses ^^And Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had 
 If ttf gathered all the people together, nineteen of David's servants beside Asahel 
 were missing; "^^vhile the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin and 
 of Abner's men three hundred and sixty.* ^-And they took up Asahel and 
 buried him in his father's sepulchre, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab 
 and his men marched all night, and day dawned upon them at Hebron. 
 Results '^ ^And the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was 
 of the prolonged; but David kept growing stronger, while the house of Saul grew 
 gradually weaker. 
 
 war 
 
 § 24. Abner's Disaffection and Death, II Sam. 3* 
 
 39 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Abner's II Saill. 3 ^Now, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of 
 wiT"^' David," Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul. ^And Saul had 
 Ish- a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal 
 the son of Saul^' said to Abner, Why do you go in unto my father's concu- 
 bine ? ^Then Abner was very angry because of the words of Ishbaal and 
 said. Am I a dog's head,^ who am at this time showing kindness to the house 
 of Saul your father, to his kinsmen, and to his friends, and have not delivered 
 you into the hand of David, that you now charge me with guilt in connection 
 with a woman ? ^God do to Abner whatever he pleases, if, as Jehovah 
 hath sworn to David, I do not even so to him, i%y transferring the king- 
 dom from the house of Saul and by establishing the throne of David over 
 Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba. ^^And he did not dare to 
 make Abner any answer, for he feared him. 
 
 1 2*^ Lit., bitterness will be the end ; evidently a popular proverb. 
 
 ■■227 Heb., the God, but Gk. and Luc, Jehovah. 
 
 » 229 Or, Ravine. 
 
 t 231 gf, i^uc. and Syr. Heb. adds, they died. 
 
 § 24 This section is evidentl.v from the original Judean David narratives. It is held 
 by some that '2-19 are secondary, but the grounds are far from conclusive and the references to 
 Michal in '--''• relate them to the older source in I Sam. 182", 19^2-17^ § 11. Vs^. '7-'^, however, 
 introduce a later conception and seem to represent an expansion of the original narrative. 
 Furthermore they awkwardly interrupt the story, for 20 is the immediate continuation of ">. 
 
 " 3"" This repetition of ' was introduced by the editor who inserted the list of David's 
 sons 2-5. 
 
 " 3' So Gk. The Heb. omits, Ishbaal the son of Saul, which is required by the context. 
 
 " 3* So Gk. The Heb. also contains a later explanatory note, which belongs to Judah. 
 
 116
 
 ations 
 
 ABXER'S DISAFFECTION [II S.^m. 3I-' 
 
 Early Judcan David Xarrafivcs 
 
 ^~So Abner sent messengers to David to Hebron.^ saying, Make vour Nego- 
 
 league with me, then I will co-operate with you in bringing over all Israel ^g" 
 
 to you. ^3\ji(j YiQ said, Good, I will make a league with you, but one thing tween 
 
 I require of you, that is, you shall not see my face unless you bring Michal, ami 
 
 Saul's daughter, when vou come to see me. ^^Then David sent messengers ^'^^'^'^ 
 
 to Ishbaal, Saul's son, saying. Give me my wife Michal, whom I bought for 
 
 a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. ^^And Ishbaal sent and took her 
 
 from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish. ^"^But her husband followed 
 
 her, weeping as he went, to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, Go, return; 
 
 and he returned. 
 
 I'Now Abner had entered into communication with tlie elders of Israel, saying, Abner's 
 Already for a long time you have been desirous of having David king over you. advice 
 >sNow do it, for Jehovah hath spoken of David, saying, ' By the hand of my servant t" the 
 David will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines and out of the //""ael- 
 hantl of all their enemies?' ''.\bner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin and went to ' ®'' 
 communicate directly to David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the 
 whole house of Benjamin. 
 
 -°And when Abner came to David at Hebron, accompanied by twenty His 
 men, David gave Abner and the men who were with him a feast. .-'And j^a^^ij* 
 Abner said to David, I w^ill arise and go and will gather all Israel to my 
 lord the king, that they may make a covenant with yoti and that you may 
 be king over all which you desire. Then David sent Abner away, and he 
 went in peace. 
 
 2-Just then the sen^ants of David and Joab came from a raid, and brought His 
 in with them great spoil; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he [^^^"'^ 
 had sent him away and he had gone in peace. -"^So when Joab and all the Joab 
 band that was with him came home, they told Joab, saying, Abner the 
 son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in 
 peace. -^Then Joab went to the king and said. What have you done? 
 Behold, Abner came to you; why have you now sent him away, so that he 
 is gone ? ^^Do you not know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive 
 you and to note your going out and your coming in and to know all that 
 vou are doing ?^ -"And when Joab came out from David, he sent messen- 
 gers after Abner and they bronglit him back from the Cistern of Sirah 
 without David's knowing it. ^''And when Abner returned to Hebron. Joab 
 took him apart to the side of'^ the gate to speak with him (|uietly and smote 
 him there in the body. So he died for the blood of Asahel Joab's brother. 
 
 28But afterward when Davitl heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are David's 
 forever guiltless before Jehovah of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. -^May ,7emna- 
 it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may there {{[y^^^f^ 
 not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or 
 who is effeminate,'' or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread. ^oBut 
 
 » 3^ So Luc. Heb., on his behalf, Hayinq. Whose is the land? The repetition of smjing, 
 and the lack of sense confirm the conclusion that the confusion is due to a copyist and that Luc. 
 retains the oriKinal text. 
 
 • :F' So f ;k. and Svr. 
 
 •'32' So Ok. Wch.. the midst. , . 
 
 «32» Heb., holds the spindle, i.e., is like a woman. The current translation, leans on a 
 staff, follows the Gk. 
 
 117
 
 n Sam. 330] DAVID'S REIGN OVER JUDAH 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed tlieir brother Asahel 
 
 at Gibeon in the battle. <* 
 His 3i^i^(^[ David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear 
 
 tation" your clotlie.s, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner ! 
 o^^"" And King David followed the bier, ^^^n^j when they buried Abner in 
 
 Abner ~ 
 
 Hebron, the king wept with a loud voice at the grave of Abner, and all the 
 people wept, ^s^j^^j ^j^g ]^jjg gang a dirge for Abner and said, 
 
 Must Abner die as dies the impious fool .'' 
 ^^Thy hands were not l)ound. 
 Thy feet were not put into fetters; 
 As one falls before ruthless men, thou didst fall. 
 
 Then all the people T\^ept still more over him. ^5 \f ^^j^^ards all the people 
 came to urge David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David took oath, 
 saying, God do to me whatever he will, if I taste bread or anything else 
 before the sun goes down. 2*^And when all the people observed it, they were 
 pleased; for® everything that the king did pleased all the people, ^^^q all the 
 people and all Israel imderstood that day that the king had nothing to do 
 with the slaying of Abner the son of Ner. ^^And the king said to his ser- 
 vants. Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen to-day in 
 Israel ? ^Q^j^^j j ^^^ ^j^jg ^g^y ^^eak, though anointed king, for these men, 
 the sons of Zeruiah, are too strong for me.^ May Jehovah requite the evil- 
 doer according to his wickedness ! 
 
 § 25. Assassination of Ishbaal, II Sam. 4'-^' ^"^^ 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 The II Sam. 4 ^Now when Ishbaal, Saul's son, heard that Abner was dead 
 
 in Hebron, his hands became limpS and all the Israelites were thrown into 
 confusion, ^^nd Ishbaal, Saul's son, had two men who were captains of 
 guerilla bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other 
 
 Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the Benjamites (for Beeroth is 
 also reckoned to Benjamin, ^and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been so- 
 journers there until this day). ^And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab 
 and Baanah, went and came about mid-day to the house of Ishbaal, as he 
 was taking his rest at noon. ^And just then the doorkeeper of the palace was 
 cleaning wheat, and she became drowsy and slept. So Rechab and Baanah 
 his brother slipt in and thus entered the house, while [the king] was lying 
 
 d 330 The repetitious element and the strange introduction of Abishai indicate that this 
 verse is a scribal addition ; intended to excuse .Toab's action. 
 
 •^ iif Slightly correcting the Heb. with the aid of the Gk. 
 
 f 339 The meaning of the Heb. is somewhat doubtful. Luc. makes Abner the subject and 
 reads, though he had been a relative and officer of the king, yet these sons of Zeruiah were too 
 strong for them. 
 
 § 25 Chap. 4 continues the preceding narrative. The awkward explanatory note in 2b. 3 
 is probably from a later hand. Some editor has also inserted in ^ a brief account of the accident 
 that befell Jonathan's son whereby he became a cripple and therefore ineligible for the throne. 
 It belongs more properly with 9, § 32, which tells of David's treatment of him. Vs. ^ is the 
 immediate sequel of '^. 
 
 E 41 I.e., he lost courage. 
 
 118 
 
 crime
 
 40 
 
 ASSASSINATION OF ISHB.VAL [II Sam. 4^ 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 on his bed in his sleeping room, and they smote and killed him and cut off 
 his head.'^ 
 
 "Then they took his head and went all night by the way of the Arabah. David's 
 ^And they brought the head of Ishbaal to David to Hebron and said to f^^\l 
 the king, Here is the head of Ishbaal, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought toward 
 your life. But Jehovah hath avenged my lord the king this day on Saul 
 and his descendants. ^Then David answered Rechab and Baanah his 
 brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them. As Jehov'ah 
 liveth, who hath delivered my life out of all adversity, ^"^when one told me, 
 saying, ' Behold, Saul is dead,' thinking to have brought good news, I took 
 hold of him. and slew him in Ziklag, to give him the reward for his news.' 
 l^How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his 
 own house upon his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from you 
 and destroy you from the earth ? ^-^Then David commanded his young 
 men, and they slew them and cut off tlieir hands and their feet, and hanged 
 them up beside the pool in Hebron. But the head of Ishbaal they took 
 and buried in the grave of Abner at Hebron. 
 
 § 2G. David's Election as King of All Israel, II Sam. 5' s, I Chr. 11' ^ 12^3 
 
 Earhj Judean David Narratives 
 
 II Sam. 5 'Then all the tribes of Israel came to David to Hebron and said, See, The 
 we are j^our bone and your flesh. ^In times past when Saul was king over us, it public 
 wa^ you who led out and brought in Israel, and Jehovah has said to J'ou, ' Thou ^.~ 
 
 shalt be shepherd of my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.' "^And 
 
 all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and King David made 
 
 a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah, and they anointed David 
 
 king over Israel. 
 
 ■"David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. *In Length 
 
 Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned "f 
 
 thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. David b 
 
 •' •' reign 
 
 C/iroriidcr's Ecclesiastical Ilistory 
 
 I Chr. 13 23And these are the numbers of the leaders of the warriors Later 
 who came to David to Hebron, to ttirn over to him the kingdom of Saul, in tion re- 
 accordance with the word of Jehovah. 24'j'jjg Judahites who bore shield fj^^''*"*^ 
 
 rally 
 
 h 4n, 7a The Heb. text is untranslatable and the Gk. has here apparently preserved the orig- jfji^gg 
 inal. 
 
 ' 410 Following a slightly revised text. The present Heb. reads, which was the reward I 
 gave him for Ike oood news. 
 
 § 20 In the original David narratives this important event appears to have been recorded 
 in one verse, 3. flompclled by necessity and believing in David's sincerity and sujierior aljility, 
 the elders of the .North ratified with liirn at Hebron the coiripact which made liim llieir king. 
 The same is stated in '■ -in hingu.age which reveals its later origin an<l iioiiit of view. The 
 chronological note in ' is proh.ahlv from tlio late prophetic editor. 
 
 The Chronicler in I Clir. 1 1 '-'.'rpiotos II ,Sam. f)'' piactically verbatim. In 12-3-"0, however, he 
 gives a detailed and much embellished account of the event. 'I'lie numbers of those represented 
 as having been present have reached incredil)le proportions: r.r/., 120,000 came from across the 
 .lordan. The distinction between the |)riests and Levitos, which was first maile in the days of 
 Josiali, is here assumed. The account has all the characteristics of a late .lewisli rnidrash or 
 didactic story, which reflects the magnified cf)nceptions current in the days of the Chronicler 
 regarding this event, the importance of which became more apparent in the light of subseciuent 
 ages. 
 
 Hi)
 
 I Chr. 1224] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 and spear were six thousand, eight hundred armed warriors. ^SQf ^jjg 
 Simeonites seven thousand, one hundred brave, able warriors. 26Qf ^}jg 
 Levites four thousand, six hundred. "'^And Jehoiada was the prince of the 
 house of Aaron, and with him were three thousand, seven hundred, ^S^nd 
 Zadok a brave, able young man, together with his father's house: twenty- 
 two commanders, ^s^jid of the Benjamites, the kinsmen of Saul, three 
 thousand; for hitherto the majority of them had maintained their allegiance 
 to the house of Saul. 2*^And of the Ephraimites twenty thousand, eight 
 hundred brave, able warriors, famous men in their families. ^^And of the 
 half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand who were mentioned by name 
 to come and make David king. ^-And of the Issacharites, men who thor- 
 oughly understood the times, so that they knew what Israel ought to do — 
 their two hundred leaders and all their clansmen were under their com- 
 mand. ^^Of Zebulun, there took the field, ready for battle and fully armed 
 with all the weapons of war, fifty thousand — a band united by a common pur- 
 pose.J ^''And of Naphtali a thousand commanders, and with them thirty- 
 seven thousand with shield and spear. 3o\jj(j ^f ^jjg Danites twenty-eight 
 thousand, six hundred ready for battle. ^'^And of Asher, there took the 
 field, forty thousand ready for battle. ^^And from the other side of the Jordan, 
 of the Reubenites and the Gadites and of the half tribe of Manasseh, a 
 hundred and twenty thousand fully equipped with all the weapons of war. 
 ^^All these warriors, united by a single purpose,'' came to Hebron to make 
 David king over all Israel. And all the rest of Israel also had the one pur- 
 pose of making David king. 
 The 2^And they were with David three days, eating and drinking, for their 
 
 fea^t kinsmen had made preparation for them, ^ojyjoreover those who were 
 near them, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on 
 asses, camels, mules, and oxen — provisions consisting of meal, cakes of 
 figs, bunches of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep in abundance; for joy 
 reigned in Israel. 
 
 § 27. The War with the Philistines, II Sam. 5»'-\ 8', 2V^-'\ 23'^-" 
 
 1 Chr. ll'5->«, 148", 18', 20^-« 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 The II Sam 5 ^''Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed 
 
 tine'^' David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and when 
 ^■J" David heard of this he went down to the stronghold.^ 
 
 J I Chr. 12*5 Heb., not trith a heart and a heart. 
 
 ^ I Chr. 12-'* Heb., 6.!/ a perfect heart or mind. Cf. ^. 
 
 § 27 The opening verse states that the events recorded in this section immediately fol- 
 lowed David's election as king by all I.srael. Jebus does not figure in this contest and its capt- 
 ure in all probability followed later. The statements in '" i- cover a considerable period and 
 imply that David is at least master of central Canaan. His anointing as king over all Israel is 
 interpreted by the Philistines as a declaration of war, 5'^. The incidents recorded indicate that 
 the Philistine attack found him unprepared for war. He makes not Jebus but Adullam, which 
 
 1 5" I.e., Adullam. Cf. I Sam. 225, jj gam. 23". » and the expression, went down. If it 
 had been Jerusalem, went up would have been used. 
 
 120
 
 WAR WITH THE PHILISTINES [II Sam. 23i3 
 
 Early Popular David S^tories 
 
 33 i^And three of the Thirty™ went down, and came to the rock" to Brave 
 David to the stronghold ° of Adullam, while a force of the Philistines was the'^*'*^ 
 encamped in the valley of Rephaim.P ^^And David was then in the strong- t'>'"ee 
 hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem. ^^And David riorsat 
 longed and said, O that one would give me water to drink from the well hem '^' 
 of Bethlehem, which is by the gate ! I'^And the three famous warriors broke 
 through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Beth- 
 lehem, that was by the gate, and took and brought it to David; he would 
 not drink of it, however, but poured it out to Jehovah. ^"And he said, 
 Jehovah forbid that I should do this. It is the blood of the men who went 
 
 at the risk of their lives. ^ Therefore he would not drink it.'" These things did 
 the three mighty men.' 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 5 ^^Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves out in the valley The 
 of Rephaim. ^^And David inquired of Jehovah, saying. Shall I go up against victory 
 the Philistines ? Wilt thou deliver them into my hand ? And Jehovah "" J^e 
 said to David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand, of Re- 
 ^^And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he P"^^'"^ 
 said, Jehovah hath broken down mine enemies before me, like the breaking 
 of waters. *• Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim [Lord 
 of the breakings through]. 214^(1 ^ij^y jgft their gods" there, and David 
 and his men carried them away. 
 
 2- And the Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves out in The 
 the valley of Rephaim. ^S^j^^j when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, victory 
 
 was his refuge in the outlaw period, his rallying point. The narratives in 5 are each distinct. 
 It is impossible to determine absolutely the original order of events, but it ajipears to have been, 
 (1) a long war for independence from the Philistines; (2) establishment of Jebus as the capital 
 of the free and united Hebrew tribes; (3) establishment of the ark at Jerusalem. 
 
 The account of the first of these events in 5''--^ is surprisingly brief and vague, considering 
 its great importance in Israel's history. It appears to have been taken from the early .ludean 
 David narratives, but may for some reason have been abridged by the etlitor. It is supple- 
 mented, however, by certain anecdotes preserved in the appendix to the book of Sam. These 
 are very loosely connected with their immediate context. Apiiarently the editor has taken 
 them from some other source and introduced them as apt illustrations. Thus, e.g., 23''' refers 
 to the Thirty as though they had already been described, although in the present context that 
 description is first found in '**. Their background and general atmosphere are the same as in 
 5"-", but unlike the latter they recount not national movements but the personal deeds of 
 individual lieroes. The stories are undovihfedly very ancient. l)ut their character, contents, 
 and iKJsition in Sam. strongly suggest that they are popular traditions associated with David and 
 his heroes. This conclusion is also supi)or(ed by the fact that in 21 '■'■-' l!lhanan the Bcthle- 
 hemite is represented as slaying Goliath, wliich is in absolute contradiction to the testimony of 
 the parallel trailitions of ISam. 17. Here a very ancient popular story may have preserved 
 the more historical data. The variant of the Clironicler (cf. note", p. 122) appears to be simply 
 an attempt to harmonize the two very different popular tradition.s about Goliath the Gittite. 
 
 >" 23''' Cf. note § 34. 
 
 ■> 23'3 The Heb. currently translated, in the harvest time, i.s ungrammatical. The parallel, 
 I Chr. 11'^, reads, to the rock. A slight emendation to the Heb. bring.s the text into accord 
 with Luc, which is foUowefl above. 
 
 " 23'-^ Heb., cave, but the next verse makes a slight correction necessary. 
 
 f 23''' Southwest of .Jerusalem. 
 
 •I 23" So Luc, Syr., and Chr. 
 
 r 23'3-" A similar story is told of Alexander the Great (.\rrian VI, 202). 
 
 • 23" Probably this is an editorial note, intended to ascribe the deeds recorded in 8i2 and 
 •'■" to the .same three men. It is more appropriate after '^. 
 
 ' .5^" I.e.. through a dam. 
 
 " yi So Gk. and the parallel I Chr. 14". 
 
 121
 
 II Sam. 523] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Thou shalt not go up; go about to their rear and come upon them opposite 
 the balsam trees. 24\jj(j when thou hearest the sound of marching in the 
 tops of the balsam trees,^' make haste, for then Jehovah has gone out before 
 thee to smite the camp of the Philistines, ^s^j^^j David did as Jehovah 
 commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer.^ 
 
 Early Popular David Stories 
 
 The 21 ^^Now when the Philistines were again at war with Israel, David 
 
 dee(it>f went down together with his servants and encamped in Gob'' and fought 
 Abishai against the Philistines. ^*'Then there arose Dodo, who was one of the de- 
 scendants of the giants,^ the weight of whose bronze spear was about twelve 
 pounds of brass,'' being girded with the sword, and thought to slay David.*' 
 ^"But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him and smote and killed the 
 Philistine. Then the men of David swore, saying. You shall go out no 
 more with us to battle, that you may not quench the lamp of Israel. 
 Of Sib- ^^Now when after this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob,*^ 
 Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Saph, who was one of the descendants of the 
 giants. 
 Of El- ^^And when there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan 
 the son of Jair the Bethlehemite,® slew Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of 
 whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 
 Of Jon- 20^jjd there was again war at Gath, where was a man of gigantic stature, 
 who had on each hand six fingers and on each foot six toes; and he also was 
 descended from the giants, ^i^^d when he defied Israel, Jonathan the 
 son of Shimei,^ David's brother, slew him. 22'p}^ggg four were descended 
 from the giants in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand 
 of his servants. 
 
 David's 8 'And after this David smote the PhiUstines, and subdued them; and David took 
 
 com- 
 plete 
 victory 
 
 becai 
 
 hanan 
 
 athan 
 
 com- ti^g bridle of the motlier city^ out of the liand of the Pliilistines.'' 
 plete ■' 
 
 V 521 The belief that the Deity resides in trees and speaks through the rustling of the winds 
 in the branches is very ancient. Cf. Gen. 12*^, Dt. ll^o, Judg. 9'^. 
 
 " 525 So Gk. and I Chr. 141". Cf. Is. 28-'. In a.d. 66 the Romans retreated before the Jews 
 by the same route. Cf. Jos., Wars. XIX. 
 
 X 2-11^ The text is obscure and has evidently suffered in transmission. Vs. '^ begins with, 
 and they dwelt {encamped) in Nob. But '* suggests that the original read Gob. The transposi- 
 tion gives a more natural text. 
 
 => 21'6 Heb., Raphah, a collective term for the prehistoric inhabitants of the land. Cf. Dt. 
 2U. 20_ 3U, 13 It appears to have been the popular designation of giants. 
 
 b 21'^ Heb., three hundred shekels. According to I Sam. 17^ the head of Goliath's spear 
 was twice as heavy. 
 
 c 21'* Reading only conjectural, being based upon a suggestion of Luc. The entire verse 
 is obscure. 
 
 <^ 21'8 Gk. and Syr., Gath. The Chr. parallel, Gezer. At least it seems probable that the 
 events recorded in this passage are to be localized in Philistine rather than Israelitish territory, 
 and that they therefore follow the victories recorded in 5. 
 
 ' 21 '1 So I Chr. 20^, the Chr. parallel, reads Elhanan the son of .Tair slew Lahtni the brother 
 of Goliath. Other late Jewish writings eliminate the conflict with I Sam. 17 by substituting 
 David for Elhanan. 
 
 '212' In 133, Shimea; I Sam. 16", Shammah; I Chr. 2^\ 20^ Shimea. 
 
 E 8' The parallel in I Chr. 18' reads, took Gath and its towns. The Heb. of Sam. is obscure. 
 It may mean the citadel which commanded the city, or more probably the authority over 
 Gath. 
 
 b 8' An editorial epitome. 
 
 122
 
 n s.oi. 56] 
 
 CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM 
 
 [I Chr. 114 
 
 § '28. Capture and Establishment of Jerusalem as the Capital, II Sam. a^-^-, 
 
 I Chr. 11^ -^ 14' • = 
 
 The 
 ad- 
 vance 
 against 
 Jebus 
 
 Its 
 
 capture 
 and for- 
 tifica- 
 tion 
 
 David's 
 grow- 
 ing 
 pres- 
 tige 
 
 Earhj Judean David Narratives 
 
 II Sam. 5 ^Then the king and 
 his men went to Jerusalem against 
 the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the 
 land, who spoke to David, saying, 
 You shall not come in here, but the 
 blind and the lame shall turn you 
 away,' thinking, David cannot come in 
 here.' 
 
 'Nevertheless David took the 
 stronghold of Zion^^ (that is the city 
 of Da\icl).' ^And David said on 
 that day. Whoever smites the Jeb- 
 usites, let him get up through the 
 watercourse and smite the lame and 
 the blind, whom David's soul hates.™ 
 Therefore it is said, The blind and the 
 lame cannot come into the temple. ° 
 
 ^Then David dwelt in the strong- 
 hold, and called it the City of David. 
 And David constructed an encircling 
 wall from Millo'^ and inwards. p 
 
 i^And David kept on growing 
 greater, for Jehovah^i of hosts was 
 with him. ^^Aiid Hiram king of 
 T>Te sent messengers to David, and 
 cedar trees and carpenters and ma- 
 sons and they built David a palace. 
 ^^Thus David perceived that Jehovah 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 1 Chr. 11 ^Then David and all 
 Israel went to Jerusalem (that is 
 Jebus) ; and the Jebusites, the inhab- 
 itants of the land, were there. ^And 
 the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, 
 You shall not come in here. 
 
 Nevertheless David took the strong- 
 hold of Zion (that is the city of David). 
 ^And David said. Whoever smites the 
 Jebu.sites first shall be commander- 
 in-chief. And Joab the son of Zer- 
 uiali went up first, and was made 
 chief. "Then David dwelt in the 
 stronghold; therefore they called it 
 the city of David. ^And he con- 
 structed an encircling wall from INIillo 
 even round about; and Joab built up"" 
 the rest of the city. 
 
 9 And David kept on growing 
 greater, for Jehovah of hosts was with 
 him. 14 ^And Hiram king of Tyre 
 sent messengers to David, and cedar 
 trees and masons and carpenters to 
 build him a palace. '^Thus David 
 perceived that Jehovah had estab- 
 lished him king over Israel, for his 
 
 § 28 For the probable order of events cf. note § 27. The capture of Jerusalem marks the 
 final downfall of Canaanitish indepentlence in central Palestine. Cf. Josh. 15'''^, Judg. I'-'. It 
 also gave David an almost impregnable capital, more centrally located than Hebron and the 
 common possession of all the tribes. Above all it opened what later proved to be one of the 
 most important chapters in the religious history of mankind. 
 
 The original narrative was taken from the early Judean David source. Unfortunately it 
 early became obscure at several points. The Chronicler accordingly gives a rather free para- 
 phrase of the version in II Sam. 
 
 ' II Sam. 5" Or, ercept you remove the blind and the lame. 
 
 i II Sam. .5* A later gloss to explain the meaning of the Heb. text of the preceding. 
 
 k II Sam. .57 The southeast hill of the city. 
 
 ' II Sam. 5^ A later addition. 
 
 ™ II Sam. .5" Or, whosoever smites the Jebusites brinqs his oim neck into danger; the 
 lame awl the blind David's sold hates not. Kithcr translation is exceerlingly doubtful, for the 
 text is almost hopelcs.sly corrupt. The Chronicler substituted an intelligible reading for the 
 baffling original. , , i- ■ 
 
 " II Sam. .5* Apparently a later note, connecting the law regarding the lame and blind 
 (Lev. 21'") with this incident. 
 
 " II Sam. .5" The encircling wall mentioned in I Kgs. 9'' and II Chr. 32''. 
 
 pII .Sam. .5" Or, towards the house, i.e., palace or sanctuary. The corresponding words 
 in I Chr. are lacking in the Gk. 
 
 1 K Sam. .5'" So Gk. and the parallel in Chr. Heb. adds, God of. 
 
 ' I Chr. 11" Heb., gave life to. 
 
 123
 
 DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL [I Chr. 142 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 kingdom had been exalted on high 
 for the sake of his people Israel. 
 
 II Sam. 1112] 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 had established him king over Israel, 
 for his kingdom had been exalted^ 
 for the sake of his people Israel. 
 
 § 29. Establishment of the Ark and the Davidic Dynasty at Jerusalem, 
 II Sam. 6, 7, I Chr. 13, 15'-16'. 37_i727 
 
 fl»s* i»t- 
 
 teinp* 
 
 to 
 
 bring 
 
 up th? 
 
 ark, and 
 
 the 
 
 death 
 
 of 
 
 Uzzah 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 II Sam. 6 ^Then David again as- 
 sembled all the chosen men of Israel, 
 thirty thousand. ^And David arose 
 and went with all the people who 
 were with him, to Baal-Judah,* to 
 bring up from there the ark of God 
 which is called by the name of Jehovah 
 of hosts who sits enthroned upon the 
 
 cherubim." ^And they set the ark of 
 God upon a new cart, and brought it 
 out of the house of Abinadab, that 
 was on the hill,^ with LTzzah and Ahio 
 the sons of Abinadab guiding the cart : 
 Uzzah went with the ark of God, 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 I Chr. 13 ^Then David consulted 
 with the commanders of thousands 
 and of hundreds, even with all the 
 leaders. ^And David said to all the 
 assembly of Israel. If it is satisfac- 
 tory to you and pleasing to Jehovah, 
 our God, we will send to all our re- 
 maining countrymen in the land of 
 Israel, since the priests and Levites 
 are with them in their cities which 
 have common pasture lands, that 
 they may be gathered to us, ^in order 
 that we may bring back the ark of 
 
 = II Sam. ]5'2 So Chr., Gk.. and Syr. Heb., that he had exalted. 
 
 § 29 It was natural that after making Jeru.salem hi.s cajiital, David should desire to trans- 
 fer thither the ark. The act was prompted by both religious and diijlomatic motives. It 
 was the palladium with which was associated Israel's early experiences and victories. Un- 
 doubtedly it was very popular with the people. Like Gideon before him and Jeroboam later. 
 § 60, David also wisely .sought to make his new capital a religious as well as a political centre.- 
 The transfer of the ark facilitated the realization of this aim. The story reflects the same primi- 
 tive ideas as appear in the other early Jutiean narratives. It is closely connected with the 
 account of the ark among the Philistines in I Sam. 5 and 6, § 4. 
 
 The parallel in I Chr. 13, 15, 1(5 represents a very different conception of the events. In 13 
 the Sam. narrative is the basis, but it has been abbreviated at points and expanded at others, in 
 the spirit and according to the well-known methods of the Chronicler. Cf. Introd., pp. 22-24. 
 Conformably to the strict ceremonial ideas of his age, the priests and Levites are introduced 
 as the guardians of the ark. In IS'-'^' 25-163, however, he may have drawn from a late priestly 
 temple history. Cf. Introd.. p. 27. The basis is still the narrative of II Sam. but the Levites 
 are divided into six classes, IS^'", not into three as by the Chronicler, 23"'. Many late prophetic 
 ideas and expre.ssions also aboun 1. The original narrative is recast so that everything is done 
 in accordance with the late priestly law of Lev. It is still further transformed by the Chroni- 
 cler, who introduces in 15'''--^ and 16^'', 37-4.3_ tJie guilds of temple singers, which sprang up about 
 the second temple and in which he was especially interested. Cf. Introd., p. 24. Finally this 
 highly composite version has been further supplemented by the insertion in 16*"-^ of a psalm 
 compiled from Pss. 105' ■l^ 96, 106. 
 
 There is no suggestion in the early David narratives that he contemplated building a tem- 
 ple beyond the fact that he transferred the ark to Jerusalem. The implication of this act 
 doubtless gave rise to the later traditions which trace back to him the plan to rear the sanct- 
 uary that sub.sequently became the centre of Israel's religious life. II Sam. 7 is clearly from a 
 later hand than 6. Ideas and experiences are reflected which first came to the Heb. race in the 
 seventh century b.c. The messianic hope based on the long-continued rule of the house of 
 David, is prominent. Except po.ssibly in i", there are no traces of the influence of the Babylonian 
 exile. The conception of the kingship is distinct from that of the Ephraimite school, and the 
 ideas and expressions of the late prophetic writers are not much in evidence. It appears 
 rather to come from some later Judean prophet, imbued with a strong love for the Judean 
 royal house. 
 
 ' y.Sam. e? In J9sh. 152" and I Chr. 136 this is identified with Kirjath-jearim. 
 
 " II Sam. & As in I Sam. 4^ this de.scription of Jehovah is from a later scribe. 
 
 ^ } ^^™- ^^ Owing to a scribal error part of '^ in the Heb. has been repeated in ■". Th( 
 Gk. and the Chr. parallel facilitate the restoration of the original. The phrase, that was on the 
 hill, is not found in Chr. and was probably added by a scribe familiar with I Sam. 7'. 
 
 124
 
 n Sam. 64] 
 
 TRANSFER OF THE ARK 
 
 [I Chr. 133 
 
 Early Judcan David \arratives 
 
 ^while Ahio went before the ark.^ 
 ^And David and all the house of Israel 
 were dancing before Jeliovah with all 
 their might and with songs and harps 
 and lyres and cymbals. *^And when 
 thev came to the threshinor-floor 
 of Xacon, Uzzah stretched out his 
 hand to the ark of God to hold it, for 
 the oxen slipped. "Then the anger 
 of Jehovah was aroused against Uz- 
 zah and God smote him there because 
 he had stretched out his hand to the 
 ark,^ so that he died there in the pres- 
 ence of God. ^And David was angry 
 because he had broken forth upon 
 Uzzah. Therefore that j)lace is called 
 Perez-uzzah [Breach of Uzzah] to this 
 day. ^And David was afraid of Jeho- 
 vah that day so that he said, How can 
 the ark of Jehovah come to me .'' 
 ^^And David was unwilling to re- 
 move the ark of Jehovah to the citv 
 of David, but carried it aside into 
 the house of Obed-edom the Git- 
 tite. ^^So the ark remained in the 
 house of Obed-edom the Gittite 
 three months. And Jehovah blessed 
 Obed-edom and all his hou.se. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 our God to us, for we sought it not in 
 the days of Saul. ^'Phen all the as- 
 sembly voted to do so, for the thing 
 seemed right in the eyes of all the 
 people. ^So David assembled all 
 Israel from the River of Egy{)t^ to 
 the entrance of Ilamatli.^'^ to brinw 
 the ark from Kiriath-jearim. *^Then 
 David with all Israel went up to 
 Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim which be- 
 longs to Judah, to bring from there 
 the ark of God which is called by the 
 name of Jehovah, who sits enthroned 
 on the cherubim. "And they carried 
 the ark of God upon a new cart from 
 the house of Abinadab with Uzzah 
 and Ahio guiding the cart. ^And 
 David and all Israel played before 
 God with all their might and with 
 songs and harps ami lyres and tam- 
 bourines and with cymbals and with 
 trumpets. ^But when they came 
 to the threshing-floor of Chidon, 
 Uzzah stretched out his hand to 
 hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 
 ^•^iVnd the anger of Jehovah was 
 aroused against Uzzah and he smote 
 him because he had stretched out his 
 hand to hold the ark, so he died 
 there in the presence of God. ^^And 
 David was angry because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzzah; therefore 
 that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. ^^^^^^d David was afraid 
 of God that day saying. How can I bring the ark of God home to me ? 
 ^■^So David was not willing to remove the ark to the city of David, but car- 
 ried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. ^"^Therefore the ark 
 of God remained with the family of Obed-edom near his house three months. 
 And Jehovah blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had. 
 
 " II Sam. 6* Restoring by the Chr. parallel. The Heb. makes no sense and is evidently 
 corrupt . 
 
 ' I Chr. 13^ Heb., Nile, but this is probably a scribal error for, the River of Egypt, which 
 was the southwest boundary of Isr.aei. 
 
 • I Chr. 1.3* I.e., Coelesyria, where the roads leading to Hamath converge. 
 
 *" II Sam. 6' Again restoring the corrupt Heb. by the aid of I Chr. 13'°. 
 
 125
 
 II Sam. 612] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL [I Chr. 15^ 
 
 Its 
 final 
 trans- 
 fer to 
 Jeru- 
 salem 
 
 Early Judean 
 David Narratives 
 
 6 i^And when 
 the report came 
 
 to King David 
 Jehovah hath 
 blessed Obed- 
 edom and all his 
 house because of 
 the ark of God, 
 David went and 
 brought up with 
 joy the ark of 
 God from the 
 house of Obed- 
 edom to the city 
 of D a V i d> 
 i^And when the 
 bearers of the 
 ark of Jehovah 
 had gone six 
 paces, he sacri- 
 ficed an ox and 
 afatling. ^"'And 
 David was danc- 
 ing'^ before Je- 
 hovah with all 
 his might, and 
 David was gird- 
 ed with a linen 
 ephod.® i^So 
 David and all the 
 house of Israel 
 brought up the 
 ark of Jehovah 
 with shouting, 
 and the sound of 
 the trumpet. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 15 ^Then David made him houses in the city of David 
 and prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched for 
 it a tent. ^Xhen David said, None ought to carry the ark 
 of God but the Levites: for them hath Jehovah chosen to 
 carry the ark of God and to minister to him forever. ^And 
 David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the 
 ark of Jehovah to its place, which he had prepared for it. 
 ■^And David gathered together the sons of Aaron, as well 
 as the Levites. ^Of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, 
 with his kinsmen, a hundred and twenty; "^of the sons of 
 Merari, Asaiah the chief with his kinsmen, two hundred 
 and twenty; "of the sons Gershom, Joel the chief with 
 his kinsmen, one hundred and thirty; ^of the sons of Eliza- 
 phan, Shemaiah the chief with his kinsmen, two hun- 
 dred; ^of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, eighty; ^'^of 
 the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with his kins- 
 men^ one hundred and twelve. ^^And David called for 
 Zadok and Abiathar the priests and for the Levites, Uriel, 
 Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, 
 i^and said to them, You are the heads of the families of 
 the Levites; sanctify yourselves, both you and your kins- 
 men, that you may bring vip the ark of Jehovah, the God 
 of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. ^^Be- 
 cause you were not ready at the first, Jehovah our God 
 broke out upon us, for we sought him not as we should. 
 i^So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to 
 bring up the ark of Jehovah, the God of Israel. ^^And 
 the members^ of the Levitical guilds bore the ark of God 
 with the staves on their shoulders, as Moses directed 
 according to the command of Jehovah. ^ ^''David also 
 commanded the chief of the Levites to appoint their kins- 
 men the singers, with instruments of music, lyres, harps, 
 and cymbals, who should raise loud sounds of rejoic- 
 ing. I'So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; 
 and of his kinsmen, Asaph the son of Berechiah and 
 of the sons of Merari their kinsmen, Ethan the son of 
 Kushaiah, ^^and with them their kinsmen of the second 
 rank, Zechariah, Uzziel, ^^ Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, and 
 Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, the door- 
 
 ' II Sam. 6'- Luc. adds, and David said, I will turn the blessing to my house. 
 
 ^ II Sam. 6" The word probably means, whirling, as the dervishes do to-day. 
 
 " II Sam. C" The garment of a priest, I Sam. 2'**. 
 
 ' I Chr. 15'^ Heb., sons of the Levites. Of. the corresponding expressions, sons of the 
 prophets, or the modern Arabic designation of a traveller, a son of the way. 
 
 K I Chr. 15'5 So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. is so corrupt that it is untranslatable. 
 
 •> I Chr. 15'5 So Gk. and in ^o. in the Heb. the name is variously written, in '* Joaziel, 
 in 20 Aziel, in 16° Jeiel, although this name occurs again in the same verse. 
 
 126
 
 II Sam. 610] 
 
 TRANSFER OF THE ARK 
 
 [I Che. 15I8 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 keepers. ^^So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound aloud 
 on cymbals of brass, ^Owhile Zechariah, Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, 
 Eliab, ^laaseiah, and Benaiah played with lyres set to Alamolh' -'and with 
 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, with 
 harps set to the octave, to lead. 22\j^j Chenaniah, chief of the Levites,J 
 was in charge of the ark; he directed the carrying of it, for he was skilful. 
 23And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark. ^^And She- 
 baniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nathanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and 
 Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpet before the ark of God; 
 Obed-edom and Jehiah were also doorkeepers for the ark. -^Sg^ David 
 with the eklers of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up 
 with rejoicing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the house of Obed- 
 edom. 26^\^j^jj because God was gracious to the Levites who bore the ark 
 of the covenant of Jehovah, they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams. 
 2"And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites, who 
 bore the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah, who was in charge!^ of the 
 transportation of the ark, and David had on an ephod of linen. 2S'pJ^^g 
 all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah with loud shouting 
 and with the sound of the cornet and trumpet and cymbals, sounding aloud 
 with lyres and harps. 
 
 Earhj Judean 
 David Nar- 
 ratives 
 
 6 i*^Now when 
 the ark of Jeho- 
 vah was coming 
 into the city of 
 David, Michal 
 the daughter of 
 Saul looked out 
 of the window, 
 and when she 
 saw King David 
 leaping and 
 dancing before 
 Jehovah, she de- 
 spised him in 
 her heart. '"And 
 when they 
 
 ^^But while the ark of the covenant of Jehovah was 
 coming to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul 
 looked out at the window and saw King David' dancing 
 and sporting. And she despised him in her heart. 16 ^And 
 when they had brought in the ark of God, they, set it in 
 the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it, and 
 they offered burnt-offerings and })eace-ollerings before 
 God. ^And when David had finished sacrificing the 
 burnt-offering and peace-offerings, he blessed the people 
 in the name of Jehovah. ^And he distributed to every 
 one in Israel, botli man and woman, a loaf of bread, and 
 a portion of meat, and a bunch of raisins. '^And he ap- 
 pointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark 
 of Jehovah and to celebrate, thank, and praise Jehovah, 
 the God of Israel: ''Asapli the chief, and second to liini 
 Zechariah, then Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Matti- 
 
 ' I Chr. 1520 Probably a musical direction. It occurs in the superscription to Pss. 6 and 
 12. The meaning, maiden' h voices, i.e.. soprano has been conjectured. Fur a full discussion of 
 Hebrew music and tlie (JifTerent musical orders, cf. Introd., Vol. V. 
 
 ' I Chr. I'i'^ Gk., chief of the ainr/inf/. 
 
 '' I Chr. 1.52^ A scribe has taken the lleb. word to mean, sono. and addetl, sinfjcrs. Singera 
 in the first part of the verse is also probably a later insertion. 
 
 ' II Chr. 1.5-* According to early Hebrew ideas the king was the chief-priest of tlic nation. 
 Cf. I Kgs. 9^'- 
 
 127
 
 II Sam. 61"] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL [I Chr. IG^ 
 
 David 
 
 and 
 
 Michal 
 
 Chronicle/s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 thiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edora, and Jeiel, with lyres 
 and harps; while Asaph played loudly with cymbals, 
 ^and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets 
 continually before the ark of the covenant of God. ''Also 
 on that day David for the first time entrusted to Asaph 
 and his clansmen the giving of thanks to Jehovah. ^^So 
 he left there before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, 
 Asaph and his brethren to minister before the ark contin- 
 ually, as every day's work required ; ^^and Obed-edom the 
 son of Jeduthun and Hosah, with their clansmen, sixty- 
 eight,™ to be doorkeepers, ^^and Zadok the priest, and his 
 clansmen the priests, before the dwelling of Jehovah in 
 the high place that was at Gibeon, ^^^to offer burnt-offer- 
 ings to Jehovah upon the altar of burnt-offering con- 
 tinually morning and evening, according to all that is 
 written in the law of Jehovah, which he commanded 
 Israel; ^^and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the 
 rest of those who were mentioned by name to give thanks 
 to Jehovah, because his kindness endures forever; ^"and 
 with them (Heman and Jeduthun) trumpets and cym- 
 bals for the musicians and instruments for the songs of 
 God; and the sons of Jeduthun to stand in the gate. 
 •^^Then all the people went each to his house, and David 
 returned to greet his family. 
 
 Early Jiidean 
 David Nar- 
 ratives 
 
 brought in the 
 ark of Jehovah 
 and set it in its 
 place in the 
 midst of the tent 
 that David had 
 pitched for it, 
 David offered 
 burnt - offerings 
 and peace-offer- 
 ings before Je- 
 hovah. i^A n d 
 when David had 
 finished sacrific- 
 ing the burnt- 
 offering and the 
 peace-offerings, 
 he blessed the 
 people in the 
 name of Jeho- 
 vah of hosts. 
 i^And he dis- 
 tributed to all 
 the people even 
 among the 
 
 whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a 
 portion of meat,° and a bunch of raisins. Then all the people departed 
 each to his home. 
 
 20But when David returned to greet his family, Michal the daughter of 
 Saul came out to meet David and said. How glorious was the king of Israel as 
 he exposed himself to the eyes of his servants' maids, as one of the vain 
 fellows shamelessly exposes himself ! ^lAnd David said to Michal, It was 
 before Jehovah that I was dancing. Blessed be Jehovah, ° who chose me 
 rather than your father and rather than any of his family to appoint me as 
 prince over the people of Jehovah, over Israel. Therefore I will sport be- 
 fore Jehovah 22and I will be yet more lightly esteemed than this and I will 
 be despised by you.P But of the maids of whom you have spoken I shall 
 indeed be held in honor. -^And Michal the daughter of Saul had no 
 child to the day of her death. 
 
 ™ II Chr. 16^' As the result of a scribal error, Obed-edom is repeated. 
 
 " II Sam. 6^5 The Heb. word occurs only here and its exact meaning is not known. The 
 reading given above is only a conjecture based on the probability that meat formed a part of the 
 feast provided. 
 
 ° II Sam. 6^' These initial words in David's speech are preserved in the Gk., but have 
 been omitted in the Heb. through a scribal error. 
 
 p II Sam. 6- SoGk. The Heb., in wj/ej/es, does not fit the context. 
 
 128
 
 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DAVIDIC DYNASTY [II Sam. 7^ 
 
 Later Jitdean Prophetic Xarratives 
 
 7 ^Now when David had taken possession of his palace,i Jeliovah having David's 
 given him rest around about from all his enemies, "" -the king said to Nathan ^®*""® 
 the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells ti"'''' ^ 
 within tent-curtains. ^And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that you ^"^^ ^ 
 purpose for Jehovah is with you. 
 
 •^But during the same night the w^ord of Jehovah came to Nathan, saying, Jeho- 
 ^Go and tell my servant David, ' Thus saith Jehovah, " Shouldst thou build prom- 
 a temple for me to dwell in ?'' ^I have not dwelt in a temple since the dav '.)*'*". 
 that I brought up the Israelites from Egypt, even to tliis day, but have gone and his - 
 about in a tent-dwelling. ''As long as I went about with all the Israelites, ants^'* 
 did I say anything to one of Israel's judges,*^ whom I commanded to be a 
 shepherd to my people Israel, saying: Why have ye not built me a house of 
 cedar?" ' ^Now therefore thus shalt thou say to my servant David, " Thus 
 saith Jehovah of hosts, I took thee from the pasture, from after the sheep, 
 that thou shouldest be prince over my people, over Israel;^ ^and I have 
 been with thee wherever thou didst go, to destroy all thine enemies from 
 before thee, and I will make thee a name,"^' like the name of the great in the 
 earth. ^o^\nd I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant 
 them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more, and 
 the wicked shall no more afflict them as formerly, l^from the day that I 
 appointed judges over my people Israel. 
 
 And I will give thee rest from all thine enemies, 
 
 And make thee great and build thee a house.'' 
 
 '^And when thy days are complete, 
 
 And thou shalt lie down with thy fathers, 
 
 I will raise up thy descendants after thee. 
 
 Who shall come forth from thy body; 
 
 And I will establish their kingdom. 
 
 i3He shall build a home for my name, 
 
 And I will establish his royal throne forever.* 
 
 1*1 will be to him a father, 
 
 And he shall he to me a son; 
 
 When he commits iniquity, 
 
 I will correct him with the rod of men,y 
 
 And with tlie stripes of the sons of Adam. 
 
 '^And my kindness will I not withdraw from him, 
 
 1 1I Sam. 7' I Chr. 17 reproduces this chapter practically verbatim. 
 
 ■■ II Sam. 7* This circumstantial clause is not found in the Chr. i)arallel and may be a 
 secondary ad'lition. It does not, however, anticipate the subsetiucnt wars of conquest. 
 
 "II Sam. 7'' The parallel in I Chr. 17'' reproduces this as a negative sentence. The nega- 
 tive force is implied in the Ileb. 
 
 ' II Sam. 7' So I Chr. 17'^. Heb., tribes, owing to a scribal error. 
 
 "II Sam. 7' There are traces of a metrical structure in this and the following verses but 
 it cannot be restored without fundamentally reconstructing the text. 
 
 ^ II Sam. 7" I.e., reputation. So I Chr. 17**. Ileb. adds, oreat. 
 
 " II Sam. 7" The scribe evidently mistook a letter so that the Heb. read, Icltcth thee 
 and then added Jeliovah, as the subject. The (Jk. of I Chr. 17'" has preserved the original which 
 reveals the metre and parallelism .so that from this point on the original poetical structure is 
 apparent. The poem is really a messianic psalm. 
 
 » II Sam. 7''' This verse i.s an interpolation, for "b repeats '^ (cf. ""') and the antecedent is 
 Solomon, while in '^ it is the dynasty of David. 
 
 y I.e., humanely. 
 
 129
 
 prayer 
 
 II Sam. 715] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Later Jicdean Prophetic Narratives 
 
 As I withdrew it from him who was before thee.» 
 
 "Thy house and kingdom shall always stand firm before me ; 
 
 Thy throne shall be established forever." 
 
 i^According to all these words and according to all this vision, Nathan 
 spoke to David. 
 David's ^^Then King David went in and sat before Jehovah and said, Who am 
 I, O Lord Jehovah, and what is ray house, that thou hast brought me thus 
 far ? i^And this was too small a thing in thine eyes, O Lord Jehovah, that 
 thou hast spoken also concerning thy servant's house for distant times, and 
 hast let me see the generations of men for all times to come l^ -'^And what 
 shall David say more to thee, for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord Jehovah .'' 
 ^iPor thy servant's sake and according to thine heart hast thou done it to 
 show thy servant all this greatness." ^^Therefore thou art great, O Jehovah 
 my God,'^ for there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, 
 according to all that we have heard with our ears, ^s^j^^j y^\i^{ other nation 
 in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom a God went to redeem for him- 
 self as a people, to make him a name and to do for them great and terrible 
 things in driving a people and its god before his people ?^ 24]3^,^ thou didst 
 establish thy people Israel as thine own people forever, and thou, Jehovah, 
 hast become their God. 25^^,^ now, O Lord Jehovah, confirm forever the 
 promise that thou hast made concerning thy servant and concerning his 
 house, and do as thou hast promised, ^'^that thy name be great forever, in 
 that it will be said, ' Jehovah of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of 
 thy servant David shall be established before thee.' ^yp^j. thou, O Jehovah 
 of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, ' I will build 
 thee a house; ' therefore hath thy servant found courage to pray this prayer to 
 thee. ^^And now, O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth, 
 and thou hast promised this good thing to thy servant; ^^now therefore 
 may it please thee to bless the house of thy servant that it may continue 
 forever before thee ! For thou, O Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it, and with 
 thy blessing will the house of thy servant be forever blessed. 
 
 « II Sam. 7'5 FollowinK Gk., Syr., Lat., and I Chr. 17". 
 
 b 11 Sam. 713 Heb., and this is the law of men. The Chronicler and the tran.slators evi- 
 dently had great difficulty with the text. The above translation is based on a free reconstruc- 
 tion and is supported by the parallelism. 
 
 " II Sam. 721 Reconstructing the text with the aid of the Gk. parallel. Cf. I Chr. 17i9. 
 
 d II Sam. 7-2 So Luc. Heb. simply, God. 
 
 ' II Sam. 72' Again the Heb. is obscure and corrupt, but can be restored with the aid of 
 the Chr. parallel, Gk. and Luc. 
 
 ISO
 
 HIS FAMILY AND COURT [II Sam. 32 
 
 § 30. David's Family and Court, II Sam. 3--=, 5'^-'\ S'^-'s, 20-^-\ I Chr. 3'-», 
 
 W\ 18'*-'', 27"-3* 
 
 Late Prophetic Editorial Summary 
 
 II Sam. 3 ^Xow in Hebron sons were born to David: his eldest was David's 
 Amnon the son of Ahinoam the Jezreehtess; ^and his second, Chileab the f/rg" 
 son of Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom born in 
 the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; "^and the fourth, bron 
 Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 
 °and the sixth, Ithream the son of Eglah, David's wife. These were born 
 to David in Hebron. 
 
 5 ^'^And in Jerusalem David took for himself more concubines and wives. In Jer- 
 after he came there from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born "^'^^'^ 
 to David. ^^And these are the names of those who were born to him in 
 Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ^^Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, 
 Japhia, ^*^Elishama, Baaliada,^ and Eliphelet. 
 
 8 ^^And David was king over all Israel. And David administered justice His 
 and righteousness to all his people. ^*^And Joab the son of Zeruiah was in officials 
 command of the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was chancellor, 
 ^"and Zadok and Abiathar^ the .son of Ahimelech were priests, and Shousha*^ 
 was scribe, ^*and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the 
 Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David's sons were priests; 30 -*^Ira the 
 Jairite' was also a priest of David, ^-laand AdoniramJ was in charge of the 
 forced labor. 
 
 The Chronicler's Summary 
 
 I Chr. 27 -^And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Admin- 
 Adiel, and over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages. 'ttM-Tof 
 and in the castles was Jonathan the son of Uzziah, -*^and over those who did "'^ . 
 the work of the field to cultivate the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub, estates 
 27and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite, and over the increase 
 of the vineyards for the stores of wine was Zabdi the Shipmite, ^^and over 
 
 § 30 These summaries, inserted often awkwardly and without any close connection with 
 their context, appear to be from the late prophetic editor. They may have been tran.-icribed 
 bodily from the earlier source — probably the early David narratives — but their character sug- 
 gests that they are summaries, perhaps compiled in part by the editor himself and embodying 
 all the facts at his command. II Sam. 20"'--'' is probal)ly the original, while 8'^ '*, which dujili- 
 cates it for the most part, was probably added as a conclusion to the summaries of David's reign 
 in 8. 
 
 This material is repeated by the Chronicler, who adds in I Chr. 27-*'*' a list of twelve offi- 
 cials who had charge of the royal estates and herds. The number twelve suggests that the whole 
 is the creation of a late age, and the language and point of view of the section indicate that it is 
 probably from the pen of the Chronicler him.self. David, however, possessed lands and herds, 
 and the names may have been derived from an older source. 
 
 ' II Sam. 5'8 The parallel in I Chr. 14" shows that a later scribe substituted here, Eli (my 
 God) for the detested name Baal. Cf. the similar scribal changes into Ethbaal and Meribnal. 
 
 « II Sam. 8'^ Heb., Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Ahiathar. But ac- 
 cording to I Sara. 229 Ahimelech was a son of Ahitub and in 22-'" .\biathar was priest. Cf . I Kgs. 
 1", 2*', where Zadok and Abiathar are priests. Evidently the original text must be restored 
 as above. 
 
 MlSam. 8'^ Heh. .Seriah but in 20^\ Sheiva; Luc, Sousa; I Chr. W^, Shousha. The 
 latter appears to have been the riginal form. 
 
 ' II .Sam. 20* Luc. and Syr., Jattivile. 
 
 i II Sam. 202i» Heb., Adoram; but Gk., Luc, and II Chr. lO'S as above.
 
 IChr. 2728] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 The Chronicler's Summary 
 
 the olive and the sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baalhanan the Geder- 
 ite, and over tlie stores of oil was Joash, -^and over the herds that fed in 
 Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite, and over the herds that were in the valleys 
 was Shaphat the son of Adlai, ^Oand over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite, 
 and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite, and over the flocks was 
 Jaziz the Hagrite. ^^All these were in charge of the property which King 
 David possessed. 
 Royal ^^Also Jonathan, David's kinsman, was a counsellor, a man of insight 
 seUors ^^<^ learning,'^ and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons, 
 ^^and Ahithophel was the king's counsellor, and Hushai the Archite was 
 the king's friend; ^'^and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, 
 and Abiathar; and the commander of the king's army was Joab. 
 
 § 31. Public Execution of the Sons of Saul, II Sam. 21'-" 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 De- II Sam. 21 ^Now in the days of David there was a famine three years, 
 
 "nhe y^ar after year. And when David sought the face of Jehovah, Jehovah 
 Gibeon- said, Upon Saul and upon his house there is blood-guilt,' because he put to 
 
 death the Gibeonites, ^(now the Gibeonites were not of the Israehtes, but of the 
 remnant of the Amorites; nevertheless the Israelites had sworn to them; and Saul 
 sought to slay them in his zeal for the Isrealites and the Judahites),™ ^and David 
 said to the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you ? And wherewith shall I 
 make the expiation, that you may bless the heritage of Jehovah ? ^And 
 the Gibeonites said to him. It is not a matter of silver and gold between us 
 and Saul or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel. 
 And he said. What do you say that I shall do for you ? ^And they said to 
 the king. The man who consumed us, and who planned to destroy us that we 
 should not remain in any of the borders of Israel" — "^let seven men of his sons 
 be given to us, and we will hang^ them up to Jehovah in Gibeon in the 
 mount of Jehovah. And the king said I will give them. 
 
 ^ I Chr. 2732 Heb., and a scribe. 
 
 § 31 Again the literary style and primitive conceptions reflected in this story reveal its 
 early date and probable relationshii> with the early David narratives. It represents David as 
 subject to the firmly established ancient belief that the Deity could best be appeased by human 
 sacrifice. To more enlightened later editors the idea was justly repulsive. They therefore ditl 
 not quote it in the original edition of the book of Sam. Among the later gleanings from the 
 David narratives it fortunately found a place in the final work, for it makes evident how crude 
 were the religious ideas of the age. It is closely connected with 9. David's words, 9', and the 
 representation in this section indicate that it originally preceded that chapter. They both 
 record events which belong to the beginning of David's reign as king over all Israel. Cf. 16, 
 §42. 
 
 ' 211 The Gk. and Luc. seem to have preserved the original idea and aid in the reconstruc- 
 tion of the Heb. 
 
 m 2l-'b This long and awkward explanatory note is clearly a late gloss that has been intro- 
 duced into the text. The original author would have naturally placed it after '. The one who 
 introduced it also repeated in ' the words in -K Cf . Josh. 9. 
 
 ° 21-5 Slightly correcting the text. 
 
 " 21" The exact meaning of the Heb. verb is not known. The general significance of the 
 Gk. and Targ. favors the above. Cf. Num. 2.5^ and I Sam. 31'". From ^ and the reading of 
 certain Gk. texts, it .seems probable that the original read as above. Heb., in Gibeah of Saul, 
 the chosen of Jehovah. 
 
 132
 
 EXECUTION OF THE SONS OF SAUL [II Sam. 21' 
 
 Early Judean David Xarratives 
 
 "But the king spared Meribaal,p the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of Execu- 
 Jehovah's oath which was between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.i ^So the .1°'' °^ 
 king took tlie two sons of Rizpali the daughter of Aiah, whom slie bore to sons of 
 Saul, Armoni and Meribaal, and the five sons of Merab"" the daughter of and 
 Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. ^And ^'^pah 
 he delivered them over to the Gibeonites, and they hung them in the moun- 
 tain before Jehovah, so that the seven of them fell together; and they were 
 put to death in the first days of hanest. 
 
 ^*^Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for Riz- 
 her upon the rock, from the beginning of the barley harvest^ until water fil^'^. 
 ■was poured upon them from heaven ; and she did not permit the birds of the *'"" to 
 heavens to settle down upon them by day nor the wild beasts by night. ^^And dead 
 when it w^as reported to David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the con- 
 cubine of Saul, had done, ^-David went and took the bones of Saul and the 
 bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh in Gilead. who had stolen 
 them from the citizens of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, 
 on the day that the Philistines slew Saul in Gilboa. ^^And he brought up 
 from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son and they 
 gathered the bones of those who were hanged. ^^And they buried the bones 
 of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son in the territory of Benjamin in 
 Zela in the sepulchre* of Kish his father, and they did all that the king 
 commanded. And after this God was propitiated toward the land. 
 
 § 32. David's Treatment of the Son of Jonathan, II Sam. 4*. 9 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 II Sam. 4 ^Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame in his Meri- 
 feet. lie was five years old when the news came from Jezreel regarding i^^^'ef 
 Saul and Jonathan. And his nurse took him up and fled, and while she ^^ss 
 was hastily fleeing, he fell and became lame. And his name was Meribaal. 
 
 9 ^And David said, Is there left of the house of Saul any to whom I may David's 
 show kindness for Jonathan's sake ? ^jsfow there was of the house of Saul for'if,e 
 a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the remain- 
 king said to him. Are you Ziba ? And he said, Your servant am I. ^The scend- 
 king said, is there no one else belonging to the house of Saul to whom I may ofgaul 
 
 p 2V Later scribes have changed the name, as in the case of Ethbaal, cf. § 22 note', to 
 Mephiboshelh so that instead of Baal the warrior, it means, who puffs at the shameful thing. 
 Luc. retains the oriKinal form. 
 
 1 2V The verse is probably a later note intended to harmonize this narrative with that in 9. 
 Cf . note § 32. 
 
 / 21" So Luc, Targ., and the Heb. codices. Cf. I Sam. 18". In the accepted text the name 
 of Michal has been substituted by a scribe. 
 
 ■ 2r-'. '" At the close of " is found the repetitious phrase, at the beginning of the barley 
 harvest, suggesting that the transposition was due to sonic coijyist. 
 
 '21" Or following certain Gk. codices, in a chaml>cr of the sepulchre. 
 
 § 32 Chap. 9 contains the sequel of the preceding story, wiiich is furtiier continued in 16. 
 The note in 4' also finds here its natural coiiiieotion. In its setting it api>ears to be but an ex- 
 planatory addition from the hand of the oilitor. but the facts wore doubtless derived from the 
 older source, and it may be a verbatim rjuotation from the narrative from which 9 was taken. 
 The story vividly presents that rare combination of tact and magnanimity which was one of the 
 chief elements of David's greatness. 
 
 133
 
 II Sam. 93] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 His 
 provi- 
 sion 
 Meri 
 baal 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 show the kindness of God ? And Ziba said to the king, Jonathan has still 
 a son, who is lame in his feet. ^And the king said to him. Where is he ? 
 And Ziba said to the king, Behold he is in the house of Machir the son of 
 Ammiel, in Lodebar." ^Then King David sent and brought him from the 
 house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. *^And when Meribaal 
 the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell on his face and 
 did obeisance. David said, Meribaal ! And he answered, Behold your 
 servant ! ''Then David said to him, Fear not for I will surely show you 
 kindness for the sake of Jonathan your father and will restore to you all 
 the land of Saul your ancestor; and you shall eat at my table continually. 
 ^And he did obeisance and said. What is your servant that you should look 
 favorably upon such a dead dog as I am ? 
 
 ^Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him. All that 
 for belongs to Saul and all his house have I given to your master's son. ^^And 
 you shall cultivate the land for him, together with your sons and servants, 
 and bring in the fruits that your master's son may have food to eat; but 
 Meribaal your master's son shall always eat bread at my table. Now Ziba 
 had fifteen sons and twenty servants. ^^Then said Ziba to the king, Just 
 as my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do. So 
 Meribaal ate^' at David's table like one of the sons of the king. ^-And Meri- 
 baal had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who dwelt in the 
 house of Ziba were Meribaal's servants. ^^So Meribaal dwelt in Jerusalem, 
 for he ate continually at the king's table, being lame in both feet. 
 
 33. The Census and Preparations for the Temple, II Sam. 24, 1 Chr. 21, 22 
 
 The 
 
 taking 
 of the 
 census 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 II Sam. 34: ^Then Jehovah's anger was 
 again aroused against Israel, and he insti- 
 gated David against them, saying, Go num- 
 ber Israel and Judah ! ^So the king said to 
 Joab and the commanders^ of the army who 
 were with him. Go now about among all the 
 tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical 
 History 
 
 I Chr. 31 iThen Satan 
 stood up against Israel and 
 moved David to number 
 Israel. ^So David said to 
 Joab and to the command- 
 ers of the people, Go, num- 
 ber Israel from Beersheba 
 
 " 9* Cf . 1727. 
 
 ■^ 9" So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. puts these two words in the mouth of Ziba, but without 
 revision they are unintelligible. 
 
 § 33 H Sam. 24, like 21i-», appears to be a citation from the early David narratives which 
 was added last to the book of Sam. It reflects the primitive belief that a census was displeasing 
 to the Deity, as well as the other popular dogma that calamity was a sure index of Jehovah's 
 condemnation. It probably originally followed 211". fhe latter tells of a famine and 24 of a 
 pestilence which Jehovah was believed to have sent as a punishment. The census also belongs 
 naturally in the opening years of David's rule over all Israel, for it was made b.v Joab and the 
 military commanders and was intended to ascertain the rmmber of men who could be counted 
 upon for enrolment in the militia. Cf. «. The fact that a Jebusite is still in posse.ssion of the 
 threshing-floor in Jerusalem also suggests that the event followed not long after David's capture 
 of Jebus. 
 
 The importance of the story is of course due to the fact that it records the purchase of what 
 
 " II Sam. 242 So Gk., Luc, and in *. Heb., commander. 
 
 134
 
 II Sam. 242] 
 
 TAKING THE CENSUS 
 
 [I Chr. 212 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 and muster the people that I may know the 
 number of the people. "^Then Joab answered 
 the king. May Jehovah your God add to the 
 people, a hundred times as many as they are, 
 while the eyes of my lord the king are looking 
 on ! But why has my lord the king a desire 
 for such a thing ? "^But the king's command 
 prevailed against Joab and the commanders of 
 the army. And Joab and the commanders of 
 the army went out from the presence of the 
 king to muster the people of Israel. ''xVnd 
 they crossed the Jordan, and began from 
 Aroer and from the city that is in the midst of 
 the torrent valley, towards Gad and on to 
 Jazer.^ ^Then they came to Gilead and to 
 the land of the Hittites, towards Kadesh;^ and 
 they came to Dan, and from Dan they went 
 around to Sidon, "and came to the fortress of 
 Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites, and of 
 the Canaanites; and they went out to the South 
 Country of Judah at Beersheba. ^So when 
 they had gone about through all the land, they 
 came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months 
 and twenty days. ^And Joab gave to the king 
 the number of the people wlio had been mus- 
 tered, and there were in Israel eight hundred 
 thousand able-bodied, fighting men;^ and the 
 men of Judah were five hundred thousand. 
 
 David's 
 re- 
 morse 
 
 ^^Then David's conscience smote 
 him after he had numbered the peo- 
 ple. And David said to Jehovah. I 
 liave sinned greatly in what I have 
 done. But now, O Jehovah, pardon, 
 
 Chronicler 's Ecclesiastical 
 Historrj 
 
 to Dan ; and bring me word, 
 that I may know their 
 number. ^Then Joab said, 
 Jehovah make his people 
 a hundred times as many 
 as they are; but, my lord the 
 king, are tlK>y not all my 
 lord's servants ? Why does 
 my lord desire this thing? 
 Why shoidd he be a cause 
 of guilt to Israel ? "^But 
 the king's word prevailed 
 against Joab. Therefore 
 Joab departed and went 
 throughout all Israel and 
 came to Jerusalem. ^And 
 Joab gave to David the num- 
 ber of the people who had 
 been nuistered. And all 
 they of Israel were one mill- 
 ion, one hundred thousand 
 fighting men; and Judah 
 was four hundred and sev- 
 enty thousand fighting men. 
 ^But he did not include Levi 
 and Benjamin in the mus- 
 ter, for the king's command 
 was abominable to Joab. 
 
 'And God was displeased with this 
 thing so that he smote Israel. ^And 
 David said to God, I have sinned 
 greatly, in that I have done this thing. 
 But now, pardon, I beseech thee, the 
 
 probably later became the site of Solomon's temple. It is thus distinctly interpreted in the Chr. 
 parallel, I Chr. 21. The variations in ("lir, are so marked and the unity of the luirallel is so per- 
 fect that it is possible tliat the Chronicler here and in 22-2(i (iuote<l (cf. note § 2S)) from a late 
 priestly temple history which was based on traditions in 1 1 Sam., but freely revisinK an<l at some 
 points contradicting and at others expanding the older version, l.ate prophetic expressions and 
 ideas abound. However, the C'hroniclcr's work is readily recoRnized in 21-'*-"' and 22" ■'', and the 
 whole may be from his pen. Cf. Introd., p. 27. The tendency to project overytliing as far 
 backward as possible is here r)rominent. To Davifl is attributed the collection of the material 
 for the temf)le. In 2.3-20, which relate to the priests, I.evites, singers, and i)orters, and there- 
 fore belong with the legal material in Vol. IV, the institution of the later religious orders is 
 al.so assigneil to him. 
 
 » II Sam. 24'' So Gk., Luc., and the restored Ileb. text. _ _ 
 
 » II Sam. 21''' The present Ileb. text, which has suffered at .several points in transmission, 
 may be restored ;is above with the aid of tlie (ik. and l.uc. Possibly instead of Kadcsh on the 
 Orontes, the original read, Hermon. 
 
 ^ II Sam. 24'-' ileb., who drew tlie aword. 
 
 135
 
 II Sam. 2410] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL [I Chr. 2l8 
 
 The 
 divine 
 con- 
 demna- 
 tion 
 and 
 David's 
 choice 
 of the 
 punish- 
 ment 
 
 The 
 pesti- 
 lence 
 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy ser- 
 vant, for I have done very foolishly. 
 1 1 b'pj^gj^ ^}jg word of Jehovah came 
 to the prophet Gad, David's seer, say- 
 ing, i-Go and speak to David, ' Thus 
 saith Jehovah, " Three things I offer 
 thee; choose one of them, that I 
 may do it to thee." ' ^^'^So when 
 David rose up in the morning,'' ^-^Gad 
 came to David and told him, and said 
 to him, Shall three*^ years of famine 
 come over your land ? Or will you 
 flee three months before your foes, 
 while they pursue you ? Or shall 
 there be three days' pestilence in your 
 land ? Now take counsel and con- 
 sider what answer I shall return to 
 him who sent me. i*And David said 
 to Gad, I am in a great strait. We 
 would rather fall into the hand of Je- 
 hovah, for his mercy is great, but let 
 me not fall into the hand of man. 
 
 i^So David chose the pesti- 
 lence. And when it was the 
 time of wheat harvest, the 
 plague began among the peo- 
 ple and slew of the people from 
 Dan to Beersheba seventy 
 thousand men.^ i*^And when 
 the Messenger stretched out 
 his hand toward Jerusalem to 
 destroy it, Jehovah repented 
 of the evil, and said to the 
 Messenger who was destroy- 
 ing the people, Enough, now 
 stay thy hand ! and the Mes- 
 senger of Jehovah was by the 
 threshing-floor of Araunah 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 iniquity of thy servant, for I have 
 done very foolishly. 
 
 ^And Jehovah spoke to Gad, Da- 
 vid's seer, saying, i^Qo and speak to 
 David, saying, ' Thus saith Jehovah, 
 "Three things I offer thee; choose one 
 of them that I may do it to thee." ' 
 i^So Gad came to David, and said to 
 him. Thus saith Jehovah, ' Choose 
 i^either three years of famine or that 
 for three months you must flee before 
 your foes and the sword of your ene- 
 mies;® or else that for three days the 
 sword of Jehovah and pestilence be 
 in the land, and the Messenger of Je- 
 hovah destroying throughout all the 
 territory of Israel.' Now therefore 
 consider what answer I shall return 
 to him who sent me. ^-^And David 
 said to Gad, I am in a great strait. I 
 would rather fall into the hand of Je- 
 hovah, for his mercy is very great; let 
 me not fall into the hand of man. 
 i^So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Is- 
 rael; and there fell of Israel seventy thou- 
 sand men. ^^And God sent a Messenger to 
 Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was about 
 to destroy, Jehovah saw it and repented of 
 the evil, so that he said to the destroying 
 Messenger, Enough, now stay thy hand ! 
 And the Messenger of Jehovah was stand- 
 ing by the threshing-floor of Oman the 
 Jebusite. ^^And when David lifted up his 
 eyes and saw the Messenger of Jehovah 
 standing between earth and heaven, having 
 a drawn sword in his hand stretched out 
 over Jerusalem, then David and the elders, 
 clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 
 I'^And David said to God, Is it not I who 
 
 •= II Sam. 24"^' This has apparently been transposed by a copyist. It is not found in Chr, 
 
 <i II Sam. 24'3 So the parallel in Chr.. favored by the symmetrical use of the number three 
 in the passage. Heb., seven, probably because seven years of famine was a proverbial expression. 
 
 « I Chr. 21'- Correcting the Heb. text with the aid of tiie parallel in Sam. 
 
 ' II Sam. 24'^ The Gk. has a duplicate version of this text, the one reproducing the Heb., 
 So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time. This, how- 
 ever, is indefinite. The other Gk. duplicate followed above is more graphic and accords best 
 with the context. 
 
 136
 
 II Sam. 2i^^] 
 
 TAKING THE CENSUS 
 
 [I Chr. 2117 
 
 Ea rhj Judea n Da v id Xa rratives 
 
 the Jebusite. '"And David 
 spoke to Jehovah when he saw 
 the Messenger who smote the 
 people, and said, See I have 
 sinned and have acted wickedly; 
 but these sheep, what ha\'e they 
 done? Let thy hand, I pray, 
 be against me, and my father's 
 house.s 
 
 The 
 
 ahar 
 
 built 
 
 on the 
 
 thresh- 
 
 inK- 
 
 floor of 
 
 Arau- 
 
 nah 
 
 i^And Gad came that day to Da- 
 vid, and said to him. Go up, rear an 
 altar to Jehovah on the threshing-floor 
 of Araunah the Jebusite. ^^So Da- 
 vid went up at the command of Gad, 
 as Jehovah commanded. -^And 
 when Araunah looked down and saw 
 the king and his servants crossing 
 over to him, Araunah went out and 
 bowed before the king with liis face 
 to the ground. 21 \nd Araunah said, 
 Why has my lord the king come to his 
 servant ? And David said, To buy 
 the threshing-floor of you, to build an 
 altar to Jehovah, that the plague may 
 be averted from the people. ^2^^,^^ 
 Araunah said to David, Let my lord 
 the king take and offer what he 
 pleases, the oxen for the burnt-offer- 
 ing, and the threshing-sledges and 
 the implements of the oxen for the 
 wood. -'^All this has your servant,^ 
 my lord the king, given to the king. 
 And Araunah said to the king, Je- 
 hovah your God accept you ! -^And 
 the king answered Araunah, No, but 
 I will surely buy it of you at a price. 
 I mu.st not offer burnt-offerings to 
 Jehovah my God which cost ine noth- 
 ing. So David bought the ihreshing- 
 floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of 
 silver. ^^'^Then David built there an 
 altar to Jehovah, and offered burnt- 
 offerings and peace-offerings. So 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 thought to ntunber the people ? I am the 
 one who has sinned and acted very wickedly; 
 but these sheep what have they done ? Let 
 thy hand I pray, O Jehovah my God, be 
 against me and my father's house ; but not 
 against thy people that they should be af- 
 fected with the plague. 
 
 i^Then the Messenger of Jehovah 
 commanded Gad to say to David, 
 that David should go up in order to 
 rear an altar to Jehovah in the thresh- 
 ing-floor of Oman the Jebusite. ^^So 
 David went up at the command of 
 Gad, which he gave in the name of 
 Jehovah. -^ \nj when Oman turned 
 about he saw^ the Messenger, and his 
 four sons who were with him hid 
 themselves. Now Oman was thresh- 
 ing wheat. ^^And as David came to 
 Oman, Oman looked up and saw Da- 
 vid, and went out of the threshing- 
 floor, and bowed before David with 
 his face to the ground. ^-Then 
 David said to Oman, Give me the 
 place of this threshing-floor, that I 
 may build on it an altar to Jehovah, 
 For the full price shall you give it me, 
 that the plague may be averted from 
 the people. -"^And Oman said to Da- 
 vid, Take it as yours and let my lord 
 the king do what he pleases. See, I 
 give you the oxen for burnt-oflVrings 
 and the threshiug-slcdges for wood 
 and the wheat for the cereal-offering 
 — I give it all. '^'^Tiut King David said 
 to Oman, No, but I will surely buy it 
 for the full j)rice, for I will not take 
 that which is yours for Jehovah, nor 
 will I offer a burnt-offering which cost 
 
 me nothing. -•^So David 
 
 to 
 
 Oman for the place six hundred shek- 
 
 I II Sam. 24" V.s. '* is the direct sequel of '". Ve. " introduces a note of indiviiiual i)eni- 
 tence and confeisflion that, like David's confession of his sin to Nathan, § 37, breathed the spirit 
 of a later anil more enlightened a^e. 
 
 •• 11 Sam. 24>* Heh., Araunah, which was evidently read by some scribe for the more cus- 
 tomary and, in the Ileb., very similar word, servant. 
 
 137
 
 II Sam. 2425] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL [I Chr. 21^5 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Jehovah was entreated for the land 
 and the plague was averted from 
 Israel. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 els of gold by weight. ^O'pjj^jj David 
 built there an altar to Jehovah and 
 offered burnt-offerings and peace- 
 offerings. And when he called upon 
 Jehovah, he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt- 
 offering. 27^n(j Jehovah commanded the Messenger to put his sword again 
 into its sheath. 
 Place 28 \^ thsii time, after David saw that Jehovah had answered him in the 
 
 dwelf- threshing-floor of Oman the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 2913^^ {\^q dwell- 
 ing of ii^CT of Jehovah, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt- 
 vah offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon, ^^but David could 
 not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid because of the sword 
 of the Messenger of Jehovah. 
 David's 33 ^Then David said, This must be the temple of Jehovah God and this 
 atfoifs^" ^^^6 altar of burnt -offering for Israel. 2An(j David commanded to gather 
 
 for the together the foreigners who were resident in the land of Israel, and he set 
 temple o o ^ 
 
 masons to hewing cut stones to build the house of God. ^iVnd David pre- 
 pared iron in abundance for the nails of the doors of the gates and for the 
 couplings, and brass in abundance without weight ; "^and innumerable cedar 
 trees, for the Sidonians and the Tyrians brought cedar trees in abundance 
 to David. ^Xhen David said, Solomon my son is young and inexperienced 
 and the temple that is to be built for Jehovah must be exceeding magnifi- 
 cent, far-famed and glorious throughout all lands. I will therefore prepare 
 for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death. 
 His ^Then he called for Solomon his son and commanded him to build a 
 
 tions'to temple for Jehovah the God of Israel. ^And David said to Solomon, My 
 Solo- son, I myself had in mind to build a temple to the name of Jehovah my God. 
 ^But the word of Jehovah came to me saying, ' Thou hast shed blood abun- 
 dantly and hast carried on great wars; thou shalt not build a temple to my 
 name, because thou hast shed much blood before me upon the earth. ^Be- 
 hold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man who shall have rest 
 from all his enemies round about, for his name shall be Solomon [Peace], 
 and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. ^^He shall build 
 a temple for my name and he shall be my son a.nd I will be his father; and 
 I will establish his royal throne over Israel forever.' ^^Now, my son, Jehovah 
 be with you, that you may prosper and build the temple of Jehovah your 
 God, as he has spoken concerning you. ^2Qnly may Jehovah give you dis- 
 cretion and insight, if he gives you charge of Israel, that thus you may keep 
 the law of Jehovah your God. ^-^Then will you prosper, if you faithfully 
 observe the statutes and the ordinances with which Jehovah charged Moses 
 concerning Israel. Be firm and strong, fear not, neither be tempted. ^^Now, 
 see, with much trouble I have prepared for the house of Jehovah a hundred 
 thousand talents of gold, and a million talents of silver, and brass and iron 
 so abundant that they cannot be weighed ; timber also and stone have I pre- 
 pared, and you may add thereto, ^^jyjoreover there are workmen with you 
 in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber and all who are 
 
 138 
 
 mon
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR THE TEMPLE [I Chr. 22^5 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 skilful in every kind of work. ^^Of the gold, the silver, and the brass and 
 the iron, there is no limit. Arise, and go to work ! and may Jehovah be 
 with you.i 
 
 ^' David also commanded all the princes to help Solomon his son. saving, To the 
 ^^Is not Jehovah your God with you ? And hath he not given you rest on P'"'"*^''^ 
 every side? for he hath delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; 
 and the land is subdued before Jehovah and before his people. ^^Now set 
 your heart and your soul to seek Jehovah your God; arise therefore, and 
 build the sanctuary of Jehovah God, that you may bring the ark of the 
 covenant of Jehovah and the holy vessels of God into the temple that is to 
 be built to the name of Jehovah. 
 
 §34. David's Illustrious Warriors, II Sam. 23^-12. is-39^ I Chr. Ipo-"- ="-*', 27'-2i 
 
 Early Judean David Xarratives 
 
 II Sam. 23 ^These are the names of David's mighty heroes: Ishbaal Thethree 
 the Hachmonite, leader of the Three ;J he swung his spear over eight hundred famous: 
 slain at one time.^ ishbaal 
 
 ^And next to him among the three mighty heroes was Eleazar the son of Elea- 
 Dodo, the Ahohite. He was with David at Pasdammim when the Philis- ^'^'" 
 tines gathered there for battle. But when the Israelites retreated,' ^*^he 
 stood up and smote the Philistines until his hand Avas weary and clave fast 
 to the sword. Thus Jehovah brought about a great deliverance that day; 
 and the people returned after him only to take spoil. 
 
 ^^And next to him was Sharamah the son of Agee, a Hararite. And the Sham- 
 Philistines gathered together at Lehi. And there was a plot of ground full ™^ 
 of lentils. But when the people fled from the Philistines, ^%e stood in the 
 
 » I Chr. 22'*-'^ If the rest of the section is a quotation, the Chronicler has himself added 
 these verses, for his interest in details and tendency to exaggerate are very prominent. 
 
 § .34 The nucleus of the military organization whereby David built up his emiiire was an 
 experienced body of warriors who by their bravery and personal achievements had eacli at- 
 tained individual distinction. Some of thena were foreigners. Most of them had probably 
 followed him in his outlaw days. They were divided into two groups: the three most dis- 
 tinguished, and another band of thirty knights of the second rank. The list of the names given 
 indicates that the number of the Thirty was extended so as to include thirty-three. They were 
 cla.ssified not according to their ability as leaders, but on the basis of their individual acts of 
 bravery. The brave deeds of some of them are recounted, and reveal a spirit of chivalry which 
 was very like that which inspired the knights of Arthur's round table. The record was probably 
 kept in connection with the other early David stories. Its rude literary form suggests great 
 antiquity. The story in II Sam. 2'.V-^-", as has already been noted, § 27, breaks the continuity 
 of the pre.sent narrative and is probably a later in.sertion. 
 
 The names have suffered much corruption in transmission. The Chronicler has often pre- 
 ser\'ed a better reading, but in certain cases it is impo.'^sible to be sure of the original. The 
 Chronicler adds sixteen more names in iliii)-i7 jj j^, difficult to determine whence these were 
 derived. Budde suggests that they belong after I Clir. 12'. The majority have the same form 
 a,s tho.se in the preceding list and it is at least po.ssible that the Chronicler has reproduced a 
 fuller version of the original source. In 27'--', however, he makes the Thirty commanders of 
 army corps with a total force of 288,000 men under them. ICven Asahel, .loab's brother, who 
 was early killed bv Abner, ", is resurrected, to command one corps! 
 
 i 2.3'< I Chr. 11", chief of the Thirty. 
 
 ^ 23« So Luc. The Heb. and the parallel in I Chr. 11" have widely variant readings. 
 
 ' 23" Following the ('hr. parallel, 11", which ai)pears to have preserved the more original 
 meaning. So twf) Heb. manuscripts. In most of the texts tlie Three and the Thirti/ ha\e ap- 
 parently been confused, .so that they read here. Three; but cf. •*, where Ishbaal is lender of the 
 Three. So also in M--^. 
 
 139
 
 II Sam. 2312] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 middle of the plot and defended it and slew the Philistines. Thus Jehovah 
 
 brought about a great deliverance. 
 
 The i^And Abishai, the brother of Joab the son of Zeruiah, was leader of the 
 
 SieYr^' Thirty. And he swung his spear over three hundred slain, so that he was 
 
 ieader renowned among the Thirty. ^^He was honored more than the Thirty, so 
 
 that he became their commander, but he did not attain to the Three. 
 
 Deeds 20\j^(j Benaiali the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, who 
 
 nai^h" ^i^d done great deeds; he slew the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also 
 
 went down and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow, ^i^nd he 
 
 slew a tall™ Egyptian, who had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him 
 
 with a club and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and slew 
 
 him with his own spear. 22'pjjp^g things did Benaiali the son of Jehoiada, 
 
 and he was renowned among the thirty mighty heroes. ^^He was honored 
 
 more than the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David set 
 
 him over his body-guard. 
 
 The 24^gahel the brother of Joab was one of the Thirty; Elhanan the son of 
 
 [,^™^'"- Dodo of Bethlehem, 25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26Helez 
 
 heroes the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh, the Tekoite, 27Abiezer the Anathothite, 
 
 Sibbecai"^ the Hushathite, 2SZalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 
 
 29Heled° the son of Baanah, the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of 
 
 Gibeah of the Benjamites, ^^Benaiah a Pirathonite, HuraiP of the brooks 
 
 of Gaash, "^^Abibaal'^ the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32Eiiahba 
 
 the Shaalbonite, Jashen the Gunite,'' Jonathan, ^^the son of^ Shammah, 
 
 the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, ^^Eliphelet the son of 
 
 Ahasbai, the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel, the Gilonite, ^^Hezro 
 
 the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, ^'^Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani 
 
 the Gadite, ^'^Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor bearers 
 
 of Joab the son of Zeruiah, ^^Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ^^Uriah 
 
 the Hittite — in all thirty-seven.* 
 
 Chronicler'' s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 The I Chr. 1 1 4ibZabad the son of Ahlai, ^SAdina the son of Shiza the Reu- 
 
 icle°'s benite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, '^^Hanan the son of 
 addi- Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, ^^Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama 
 and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, "^^Jedial the son of Shimri, and 
 Joha his brother the Tizite, '^'^Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Josh- 
 aviah the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, '^'^Eliel, and Obed 
 and Jaasiel the Mezobaite. 
 
 ™ 23-1 Correcting the Heb. bv the parallel in I Chr. ll^^, which adds, five cubits high. 
 ■> 23" So Luc. and I Chr. 11-X 
 
 23-8 So twenty-one codices, Targ. and I Chr. 1V>. 
 p 23-^0 So I Chr. ll'e and certain Gk. codices. 
 
 1 23" Correcting by the aid of the Chr. parallel. 
 '2332 go Luc_ Gk., Gounite. I Chr. liw, Gizonite. 
 
 " 2333 So I Chr. 1134. In Heb., (he son of, has been displaced. 
 
 '233'* In the Heb. not thirty-.seven but thirty-three are given under the head of the Thirty. 
 To this may have been added the Three and Joab the commander of the army, making the 
 thirty-seven. 
 
 140
 
 HIS ILLUSTRIOUS WARRIORS [I Ciiu. 27i 
 
 Chrotiicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 37 ^Now the Israelites after their number, the heads of fathers' houses OrRan- 
 and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who !f,f,V"° 
 served the king in any matter of the corps, which came in and went out montli <luties 
 by month throughout all the months of the year, were in each corps twenty- differ- 
 four thousand. -Over the first corps for the first month was Ishbaal" the ^",* 
 son of Zabdiel; and in liis corps were twenty-four thousand. ^He was of corps 
 the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the army for the first 
 month. "^And over the corps of the second month was Eleazar the son of*^ 
 Dodai the Ahohite,"^' and in his course were twenty-four thousand. ^The 
 third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of 
 Jehoiada the chief priest; and in his course were twenty-four thousand. 
 ^This is that Benaiah, who was the mighty hero of the Thirty, and over the 
 Thirty; and of his corps was Ammizabad his son. '^The fourth commander 
 for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son 
 after him; and in his corps were twenty-four thousand. ^Tlie fifth com- 
 mander for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his corps 
 were twenty-four thousand. ^The sixth for the sixth montli was Ira the son 
 of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his corps were twenty-four thousand. ^^The 
 seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Eph- 
 raim; and in his corps were twenty-four thousand. ^^The eighth for the eighth 
 month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; and in his corps were 
 twenty thousand. ^-The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the xlnatho- 
 thite, of the Benjamites; and in his corps were twenty-four thousand. ^-^The 
 tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites; and 
 in his corps were twenty-four thousand. ^^The eleventh for the eleventh month 
 was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the Ephraimites; and in his corps were 
 twenty-four thousand. ^^The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heled the 
 Netophathite, of Othniel; and in his corps were twenty-four thousand. 
 
 ^•^Furthermore over the tribes of Israel : as prince of the Reubenites, Eliezer The 
 the son of Zichri; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of IMaacali; ^'of ^0,^,^ 
 Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok ; ^^of Judah, Eliab,^' mand- 
 
 ' 777 ' ore 
 
 one of the brothers of David; of Issachar, Omri the son of INIichacl ; ^^of 
 Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of 
 Ezriel; -"of the Ephraimites, Ilosliea the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of 
 Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; -'of the half-tribe of Manasseli in (iilead, 
 Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; --of Dan, 
 Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the commanders of the tribes of 
 Israel. -'^Biit David had not taken the number of them from twenty years 
 old and under, becau.se Jehovah had said he would make Israel as numerous 
 as the .stars of heaven, ^'^.loab the .son of Zeruiah had begun to number, but 
 did not finish; and there came wrath for this upon Israel, .so that the number 
 was not put into the account in the Chronicles of King David. 
 
 " I f'hr. 272 f'f. 11" an<l the p.irallcl in IT Sam. 23^. 
 
 " I C'hr. 27' Ueb., Dodai, but according to 11'- and II Sam. 2,39, the oriKinal must have 
 read as above. 
 
 " I f;hr. 27< Restoring the text which here seems to have suffered through dittograpliy. 
 » I Chr. 27'" Heb. by mistake, Elihu. 
 
 Ill 
 
 ers
 
 II Sam. 82] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Con- 
 quest of 
 Moab 
 
 Cause 
 of the 
 war 
 with 
 the 
 Am- 
 mon- 
 ites 
 
 First 
 victory 
 of the 
 Israel- 
 ites 
 under 
 Joab 
 
 § 35. David's Wars of Conquest, II Sam. 8=", 10'-11>, H^"" 
 
 I Chr. 182-'\ 191-20^ 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 II Sam. 8 ^Then David smote Moab and measured them off with a line, making 
 them He dowTi on the ground; and he measured two Hnes: one full line to put to death 
 and one full line to save alive.'' And thus the Moabites became subject to Da\'id, 
 and brought a present.'' 
 
 10 ^Now it came to pass after this, that the king of the Ammonites died 
 and Hanun his son became king in his place, ^^^d David said, I will 
 show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash as his father showed kindness 
 to me. So David sent by his servants to condole with him concerning his 
 father. But when David's servants came to the land of the Ammonites, 
 ^the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, Do you suppose 
 that David is honoring your father in sending comforters to you "^ Has 
 not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to 
 overthrow it ? '^So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one 
 half of their beards, cut their robes in two, even to their hips, and sent them 
 away. ^When David was informed regarding the men,'' he sent to meet 
 them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said. Stay at 
 Jericho until your beards are grown and then return. 
 
 ^Now when the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to David, 
 the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob, and the Ara- 
 means of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah and of 
 Ishtob'^ with twelve thousand men. '^And when David heard of it, he sent 
 Joab and all the army and the trained warriors.® ^And the Ammonites 
 came out, and drew up in battle-array at the entrance of the city. And the 
 Arameans of Zobah and Rehob, and Ishtob and Maacah, were by themselves 
 
 § 35 The epitome of David's wars in II Sam. 8'-" correspond to the similar review of Saul's 
 wars in I Sam. 14^'-^'. In the original book, II Sam. 8 appears to have been immediately fol- 
 lowed by 21 as is shown by the repetitions in parts of S^'"'* and 22-'^--'^. The family history of 
 David in 9'-20-- was later introduced into the book. This older and fuller history of David was, 
 however, evidently before the editor of the original book of Sam. His brief resume of the Ara- 
 mean wars in S^-^" was clearly based on the more detailed narrative in 10*"'''', which, together with 
 lO'--', ll^-'-' ^fi-sz, gives the .setting of David's great sin. General character and contents connect 
 these older and fuller narratives with the early Judean Saul story in I Sam. 11. 
 
 The editor probably drew the rest of the data in 8 from the Judean David narratives. In 
 g7-io, 13, Ua_ and possibly in S--, he appears to have introduced quotations from the same source. 
 The account in "■ i- of the dedication of all his spoil to Jehovah reflects the ideas of a later age. 
 The earlier usage is best represented in the description of the distribution of the spoil of the 
 vanquished Amalekites in I Sam. 30--""'. 
 
 The Chronicler follows the narrative in Sam. very clo.sely. He omits the reference in 8^ 
 to the wholesale slaughter of the Moabites and the account of David's sin. The result is that, 
 as in the present reconstruction, the contents of II Sam. 11 are brought into immediate con- 
 junction with those of 12-5-*'. 
 
 ^ 8- So Syr. and Lat. Heb., tioo lines to put to death mid one full line to keep alive, i.e., two 
 out of every three lines he condemned to die. But the Gk. translators in attempting to restore 
 a better reading tacitly suggest an error in the Heb., for they read two lines in both cases. Ow- 
 ing to a common scribal error the full line was in one instance omitted. Cf. I Kgs. IP*. 
 
 t' 8- The euphemistic manner of stating that they paid tribute. 
 
 "= 10' So Gk. supported by Chr. and demanded by the context, although the Heb. omits, 
 regarding the men. 
 
 <* 106 The corrected parallel in I Chr. 19", reads, so they hired for themselves thirty-two thou- 
 sand chariots and horsemen, and the Ammonites assembled from their cities and came to fight the 
 Hebrews. After Maacah it reads vith a thousand men and the men of Tob, but this should make 
 the force twenty-three thousand. The error probably arose from a confusion of the proper name, 
 Ishtob, which is retained in the Gk. 
 
 " IC The trained warriors are distinct from the array which was made up of the militia. 
 Either the last word is a gloss or, as some of the parallels suggest, and should be inserted. 
 
 142
 
 HIS WARS OF CONQUEST [II Sam. lO^ 
 
 Early Judean David Xarrativcs 
 
 in the open country. ^But when Joab saw that he was being attacked 
 both in front and in the rear, he selected the picked men of Israel, and put 
 them in array against the Arameans. ^^And the rest of the people he placed 
 under the command of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against 
 the Ammonites. ^^And he said, If the Arameans should be too strong for 
 me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites should be too strong for 
 you, then I will come to your aid. ^^Be courageous and let us show our- 
 selves men for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God ; and may 
 Jehovah do that which seems good to him. ^^N^Q^y when Joab and the 
 people who were with him drew near for battle against the Arameans, they 
 fled before him. ^'^And when the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had 
 fled, they hkewise fled before xVbishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab 
 returned from the Ammonites, and came to Jerusalem. 
 
 ^^But when the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by the Israel- The 
 ites, they gathered themselves together, ^^and Iladadezer^ sent, and brought c^m"'^ 
 out the Arameans who were beyond the River [Euphrates], and thev came vaign 
 to Helam with Shobach, the commander of the army of Hadadezer, at their victory 
 head. ^'And when it was reported to David, he gathered all Israel together "j^'l"" 
 and crossed over the Jordan and came to Helam. And the Arameans set Ara- 
 
 means 
 
 themselves in array against David and fought with him. ^^And the Ara- 
 means fled before Israel; and David slew^ of the Arameans seven hundred 
 horsemen and forty thousand footmen ^ and smote Shobach the commander 
 of their army, so that he died there. ^^And w^hen all th3 kings who were sub- 
 ject to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace 
 with Israel and w^ere subject to them. So the Arameans feared to help the 
 .:Vmmonites any more. 
 
 8 ^Thus Da\-id smote Hadadezer the son of Rehob, the king of Zobah, as he went Subju- 
 to establish his rule at the River Euphrates. ■'And David took from him a thousand gation 
 chariots and seven thousand horsemen,'' and twenty thousand footmen: and David | t?^" 
 hamstrung all the chariot horses leaving only a hundred of them. ■''And when the andThe 
 Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Ara- 
 Aramcans twenty thousand men. ^Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, means 
 antl the Arameans became subject to David and brought a present. And Jehovah 
 helped David wlierevcr he went. 
 
 ^And David took the shields of gold that w^ere on the servants of Hadad- The 
 ezer, and brought tliem to Jerusalem. ^And from Tibhath' and from ^'^"'' 
 Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a great amount of brass. 
 
 ^And when TouJ king of Ilaniath heard that David had .smitten all the Gifts of 
 army of Hadadezer, ^"Tou .sent Hadoram*^ his son to King David, to greet king* of 
 him and to wish him jjood fortune, because he had fou<>ht afrainst Hadade- ^'a- 
 
 III «1 1 11 
 
 zer and smitten him, for Hadadezer was Ton's military antagonist. And he 
 
 f 10""' As the result of a common error, Iladarezer is used in the Heb. of this chapter 
 instearl of the correct spellinp;, Hadadezer, as in 8'- ^' '•'". 
 
 « lO'" The Heb., sleu) seven hundred chariots, is impossible and the fortj/ thousand horse- 
 men, with no reference to footmen, is, to say the least, extraordinary, cf. 8^ belov/. The parallel 
 in I Chr. 19'* reads, seven thousand chariots and forty thousand footmen. The above probably 
 represents the original. 
 
 *■ 8* So Gk. and I Chr. 18^. Heb., seventeen hundred horsemen. 
 
 > 8« So Gk. and the parallel in I Chr. 18". Cf. Gen. 222'. 
 
 i 8" Heb., Toi. Gk., Luc, and the parallel in I Chr. IS*, Toti. 
 
 k 8'0 So Gk. and Chr. Heb., Joram. 
 
 143
 
 II Sam. 810] DA\T[D'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 brought with him vessels of silver, of gold, and of brass. "These also King David 
 dedicated to Jehovah, with the sih'er and gold that he dedicated from all the nations 
 that he subdued — isfpom Edom, ' Moab, the Ammonites, the Phihstines, and Amalek, 
 and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 
 
 Defeat ^^^Then David made a reputation for himself. On his return, he smote 
 Edom- of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt,™ eighteen thousand men. i^i\.nd he 
 ites put garrisons in all Ecjpm;" and all the Edomites became subject to David. 
 
 And Jehovah helped David wherever he went. 
 Victo- 11 ^Now, a year later, "^ at the time when kings are accustomed to go 
 conclu- forth,!' David sent Joab and his servants with him, even all Israel; and they 
 sionof destroyed the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at 
 with Jerusalem. 13 -*^And Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and 
 ^'(^j. took the water city.'^ ^T'pj^gj^ Joab sent messengers to David, saying, I 
 monites have fought against Rabbah ; also I have taken the water city. 28]nJq^ there- 
 fore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and 
 take it, lest I take the city and it should be called by my name. -^So David 
 gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it 
 and took it. ^oAnd he took the crown of Milcom"" from his head; and its 
 weight was about one hundred and forty pounds^ of gold, and in it was a 
 precious stone; and it was set on David's head.* And he brought away the 
 great amount of spoil that was in the city. ^^And he brought away the 
 people who were in it, and put them at the saws^ and picks and axes of iron 
 and made them work at the brickmoulds.^ Even thus he did to all the cities 
 of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. 
 
 § 36. David's Double Crime, 11 Sam. ll^-" 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 David's II Sam. 11 ^Now once at eventide, while Joab was besieging Rabbath- 
 Bath- Ammon, David arose from his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's 
 sheba palace; and from the roof he saw a woman bathing. And the woman was 
 
 ' 8^- So Gk., Syr., eleven Heb. manuscripts, and I Chr. 18". Heb., Aram. 
 
 m gi3a The Gk. connects this clause with the preceding paragraph and reads the re- 
 mainder of the verse as above. The same text was probably before the Chronicler as the 
 basis of his strange reading, I Chr. 18'-, And Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote the Edomites. 
 Cf. I Kgs. 1115a. 
 
 ° 8" In the Heb., through an awkward scribal error, this clause is repeated, but I Chr. 18'^ 
 does not have it. 
 
 " 11' Heb., at the return of the year. 
 
 p 111 So tlie parallel in I Chr. 20' and all the other versions. Heb., when the messenger {of 
 David first) ivent forth. This may represent the idea of the original author. 
 
 1 12-" Heb., city of kings, but this is clearly due to a slight scribal error and should read as 
 in 27. The water city was probably an outlying fortress, which protected the water supply of 
 the capital. 
 
 r 1230 The idol of the Ammonite god. 
 
 » 1230 Heb., a talent of gold. Its weight indicating that it could have been placed only 
 upon an idol. 
 
 ' 1230 J_e., the precious stone was probably set in David's diadem. 
 
 u 1231 The Chronicler, I Chr. 20', interpreted this to mean cut with saw, i.e., sawed them; 
 and he has been followed by many interpreters. 
 
 V 1231 The misreading of one letter in the Heb. gives, pass through the hridtmoulds. But 
 this is meaningless. The statement that he brought away the people, as he did the spoil, con- 
 firms the conclusion that it was not to put them to death, but to enslave them. 
 
 § 36 This faithful record of David's heinous sin plainly belongs to the earliest stratum of 
 the Judean narratives. Although David was the popular hero of his race, the historian un- 
 sparingly lays bare the despicable motives and methods whereby he gratified his lust. Through- 
 
 144
 
 HIS DOUBLE CRBIE [II S.^m. ll^ 
 
 Early Judean David Xarratives 
 
 very beautiful. ^And David sent to inquire concerning the woman. And 
 one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite ? ^Then David 
 sent messengers to take her; and she came to him, and he lay with her — 
 she having been purified from her uncleanness. Then she returned to her 
 house. °And the woman conceived; and she sent to tell David, saying, I 
 am with child. 
 
 ^Then David said to Joab, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent His at- 
 Uriah to David. "And when Uriah had come to him, David asked him {o'con- 
 concerning the welfare of Joab and the people and the progress of the war. cealit 
 ^Then David said to Uriah, Go down to your house and wash your feet. And 
 Uriah departed from the king's house, and there followed him a portion 
 from the king. ^But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with the 
 senants of his lord and did not go down to his house. ^^Xow when it was 
 told David, Uriah did not go down to his house, David said to Uriah, have 
 you not come from a journey ? Why did you noi go down to your house .'' 
 ^^But Uriah said to David, The ark and Israel and Judah are abiding in huts, 
 and my master Joab, and the servants of my lord are camping in the open 
 fields ; shall I then go to my house to eat and drink and to lie with my wife ! 
 As Jehovah liveth and you live,^ I cannot do this. ^^Then David said to 
 Uriah, Stay here to-day also, and to-morrow I will let you go. So Uriah 
 remained in Jerusalem that day. But on the next day^ ^^David invited 
 him and he ate and drank before him, so that he made him drunk. Then 
 in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, 
 but went not down to his house. 
 
 ^^And in the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it bv His 
 Uriah. ^^And he wrote in the letter saying. Set Uriah in the face of the ^™ ^^ 
 fiercest fighting, then retreat from behind him, that he may be smitten and l-'riah 
 die. ^''So in keeping guard over the city, Joab assigned Uriah to the place 
 where he knew valiant men were. ^'And when the city went out to fight 
 with Joab, there fell some of the soldiers of David, and Uriah the Hittite 
 fell also. ^^Then Joab sent to tell David all the facts concerning the war. 
 ^^And he instructed the messenger, saying. When you have finished telling 
 all the facts concerning the war to the king, ^'^then if the king's wrath is 
 aroused, and he say to you, ' Why did you go so near to the city to fight ? 
 Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 2i'\Yi,o smote 
 Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal 't^ Did not a woman cast an upper mill- 
 stone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez ? Why did you 
 go near the wall .'' ' Then shall you say, ' Your servant Uriah the Hittite 
 is dead also.' 
 
 out these stories of his family history the earnest ethical purpose of the prophetic teacher com- 
 
 {)letely over.sha'iows the natural tenriency to idealize the character of the Rreat conquerinE kinR. 
 n the flays of the Chronicler, however, the iflealization has advanced so far that he refrains from 
 all references to David's crimes and their conse(iueiices. 
 
 "11" Ileb., (iH you live and as your soul lives, is a tautolop:ical and uniirecedentcd form of 
 oath. It is probably due to a scribal error. The ordinary idiom has l)een restored above. 
 ^ 1 1'2 So Luc. and Syr. The Ileb. does not jf)in lliis witli tlio fullowinR verse. 
 y 1 F' So Luc. The Ileb. and Gk. have a corrupt form of the name. Cf. Jxidg. 9*', Vol. 
 I, § 142. 
 
 145
 
 II Sam. 1122a] DAVIDS REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Joab's 22agQ ^j^g messenger of Joab went to the king at Jerusalem and came and 
 
 report ^^^jj David all that Joab commanded him concerning the war. 23'j'i^gj^ \)^q 
 
 messenger said to David, The men boldly attacked us and came out to us 
 
 in the open field, and so we drove them back^ even to the entrance of the 
 
 gate. 2^*And the archers shot at your servants from the wall; and some of 
 
 the king's servants are dead. 22b'p]jgj^ David was very angry with Joab, 
 
 and he said to the messenger. Why did you go near the city to fight ? Did 
 
 you not know they would shoot you from the wall ? Who smote Abim- 
 
 elech, the son of Jerubbaal ? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon 
 
 him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez ? Why did you go near the 
 
 wall .'^ 24bj}^j^ ^]^g messenger said. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead 
 
 also. 25'p}jgj.pj,pQjj David said to the messenger. Thus shall you say to 
 
 Joab, ' Let not this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well 
 
 as another; persist in your attack upon^ the city, and overthrow it,' and 
 
 encourage him. 
 
 David's 26]\Jq^ when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, 
 
 riage ^^^ made lamentation for her husband. ^^jJut ^hen the mourning was over, 
 
 ^'th David sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife and 
 
 Bheba bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased Jehovah. 
 
 § 37. David's Condemnation and Punishment, II Sam. Ig'-^a 
 Later Pojndar Prophetic Narratives 
 
 Na- II Sam. 13 ^Then Jehovah sent the prophet^ Nathan to David. And 
 
 para-^ he came to him, and said to him. There were two men in one city, the one 
 
 ble rich, the other poor. -The rich man had very many flocks and herds. 
 
 ^But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had 
 
 bought. And he nourished it and it grew up with him and with his children. 
 
 It used to eat of his own morsel, and drink out of his own cup, and lay in 
 
 * 11^ Heb., we v^ere upon them. 
 
 b 1122b Following the Cik. which has here preserved the fuller and probably original text, 
 but the instructions in ''•'--' and the reference to tlie facts stated in -■* indicate that this passage 
 belongs after -^^. 
 
 <^ 11-^ Heb., strengthen your battle against. 
 
 §37 The natural sequel of IP'b jg i2isb. The thing that Dni'id had done was displeasing to 
 Jehovah, and Jehovah smote the child which Uriah's wife bore to David. This reflects the 
 primitive conception of divine retribution. On the other hand the role of Nathan in 12'-'^* 
 is that of a later Isaiah or Jeremiah. Elsewhere in the oldest sources Nathan figures rather as 
 the effective supporter of Bathsheba's son Solomon, I Kgs. 1. The judgment pronounced by 
 Nathan in '0-12 anticipates the rebellion of Solomon and moves along still different lines and may 
 be from a third hand. David's guilt was a subject that naturally aroused the moral sense of the 
 prophets. His fasting and weeping in 16-'-', the object of which was not forgiveness but the 
 life of the child, were in harmony with his character in the early records and with the spirit of 
 his age; but they did not satisfy the more exalted standards of the later prophets. In the 
 thought of their age David was conceived of as the man after God's own heart. It was inevi- 
 table that they should also think of him as confessing his sin, as he doubtless would, had he 
 enjoyed the benefit of the noble teachings of Hosea or Isaiah. In this later tradition he is the 
 classic example of the royal penitent. Powerfully and effectively the dramatic story conveys 
 the universal truths regarfiing the duty and beauty of frank confession. It only remained for a 
 still later Psalmist to voice the passionate cry for forgiveness which rings through the fifty- 
 first psalm. 
 
 ■The parable of the poor man with his one ewe lamb is characterized throughout by a 
 marked poetic parallelism, although the metrical structure is so irregular that it is not practi- 
 cable to print it as a poem. 
 
 d 12' So certain Heb. MSS., Gk., and Syr. 
 
 146
 
 HIS CONDEMNATION AND PUNISHMENT [II Sam. 123 
 Later Popular Prophetic Narratives 
 
 his bosom, and was to him as a daughter. "^But there came a traveller to 
 the rich man, and he spared his own flock and did not take from it nor from 
 his own herd to make ready for the traveller who had come to him, but took 
 the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him. 
 °Then David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to 
 Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man who has done this is worthy of death, 
 ^and he shall restore the Iamb sevenfold,® because he showed no pity. 
 
 "^Therefore Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus saith Je- Con- 
 hovah, the God of Israel, ' I anointed thee king over Israel and I delivered t^j^'J^of' 
 thee out of the hand of Saul, ^and I gave thee thy master's house and thy David 
 master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of 
 Judah, and if that were too little, I would add to you as much asrain.'^ 
 ^Why have you desj^ised the word of Jehovah by doing that which is evil ? 
 You have smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his 
 wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. 
 ^^Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because 
 you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Ilittite to be your 
 wife. ^^Thus saith Jehovah, ' Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out 
 of thine own house, and I will take thy wives from before thine eyes and 
 give them to thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of 
 this sun, ^-for thou didst it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, 
 and before the sun.' ^^Then David said to Nathan, I have sinned against 
 Jehovah. And Nathan said to David, Jehovah also put away your sin; 
 you shall not die. ^"^Yet, because by this deed you liave scorned^ Jehovah, 
 the child also that is born to you shall surely die. ^^And Nathan departed 
 to his house. 
 
 Earhj Judcan David Narratives 
 
 And J(>liovah smote the child which Uriah's wife bore to David, so that Death 
 it fell sick. ^"^Then David besought God for the child, and fasted and went ijavid's 
 in and lay all night in sackcloth^ upon the earth. ^'^And the elders of his first son 
 house stood over him in order to raise him up from the earth; but he would Bath- 
 not arise, neither would he eat bread with them. ^^But on the seventh day ^^^ "^ 
 the child died. .\nd the servants of David feared to tell luin that the child 
 was dead, for they said. Behold while the child was yet alive, we spoke to 
 him, and he hearkened not to our voice; how can we say the child is dead, 
 for he will do .some harm ! ^^But when David saw that his .servants were 
 whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead, and David 
 said to his .servants, Is the child dead ? And they said. He is dead. -^Then 
 David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed 
 
 • 12* So Gk. Heb., fourfold. The change was |.i«l.;iMy made to harmonize it with the 
 law of Ex. 22'. 
 
 ' 1 2* Or, in this or thai way. 
 
 « 12" A later scribe has inserted, enemies after scorned in order to relieve the offensive 
 expression. 
 
 •' 12"'' /n «acA:c/o</i is found only in Luc. ('f. -". 
 
 147
 
 II Sam. 1220] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 his garments; and he came into the house of Jehovah and worshipped. 
 Then he went to his own house; and he asked for bread and they set it before 
 him and he ate. -^Then said his servants to him, What is this you have 
 done ? You fasted and wept for the child, while it was alive, but when the 
 child died, you arose and ate bread. ^2^,^^ \^q g^JJ^ While the child was 
 yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ' Who knows whether Jehovah will 
 have mercy, so that the child will live ? ' ^Sg^j- j^q^ ]jg jg dead; why should 
 I fast ? Can I bring him back again ? I am going to him, but he will not 
 come back to me. 
 
 § 38. Birth of Solomon, II Sam. 12=4. 
 
 25 
 
 Birth 
 
 and 
 
 name 
 
 the 
 
 second 
 
 son 
 
 Early Jtidean David Narratives 
 
 II Sam. 12 24Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in 
 of unto her and lay with her and she conceived' and bore a son whose name 
 he called Solomon. And Jehovah loved him, ^Sand sent a message through^ 
 Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah [The Beloved of Je- 
 hovah], according to the command of Jehovah.'^ 
 
 Am- 
 
 non's 
 
 base 
 
 passion 
 
 for 
 
 Tamar 
 
 § 39. The Crime of Amnon and Absalom's Revenge, II Sam. 13'-^^ 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 II Sam. 13 ^Now afterwards it came to pass that Absalom the son of 
 David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son 
 of David loved her. -And Amnon was so distressed that he became sick 
 because of his sister Tamar — for she was a virgin — and it seemed to Amnon 
 impossible to do anything to her. ^But Amnon had a friend whose name 
 was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, and Jonadab was a very 
 shrewd man. '^And he said to him. Why are you, a king's son, so ill every 
 morning ? Will you not tell me ? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, 
 my brother Absalom's sister. ^And Jonadab said to him. Lie down on 
 your bed, and pretend to be sick. Then when your father comes to see 
 you, say to him, ' Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and 
 prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.' ^So 
 Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came 
 to see him, Amnon said to the king. Let my sister Tamar come and make a 
 few' heart-shaped cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand. 
 
 • 12« So Gk., but omitted in the Heb. 
 
 i 12-5 Heb., sent by the hand of. A slight emendation of the text gives a reading consistent 
 with Nathan's prominent position in I Kgs. 1, and he vns niven over to Nathan. 
 
 ^ 1225 Sq Luc. and one Heb. text. Accepted Heb., for Jehovah's sake. 
 
 § 39 The familiar story of the sins of David's sons and the train of disasters that resulted 
 from them is taken from the ancient David narratives. All the different sections are clo.sely 
 connected, each constituting a scene in the stupendous tragedy which portrays not merely the 
 anguish of the king but also the temporary dismemberment of the nation. With only slight 
 additions, later editors and copyists have given u.s the story practically as it came from the pen 
 of the original prophet historian. 
 
 ' 13^ Heb. idiom, two. 
 
 148
 
 THE CRIME OF AMNON [II Sam. 13^ 
 
 Early Judcan David Xarratives 
 
 "So David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon's His 
 house, and prepare food for him. ^So Tamar went to her brother .Amnon's ii^,^?}^' 
 house while he lay in bed. And she took dough and kneaded it and made assault 
 cakes as he looked on, and baked the cakes. 'And she took the pan and poured 
 them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Anmon said, Let all go out from 
 me. And they all went out from him.™ ^*^And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring 
 the food into the inner room, that I may take from your hand. And Tamar 
 took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the inner room 
 to Amnon her brother. ^^And when she had brought them to him to eat, 
 he took hold of her and said to her. Come, lie with me, my sister. ^-And 
 she answered him. No, my brother, do not force me, for it is not so done in 
 Israel; do not commit this impious act of folly. ^^And as for me, whither 
 could I carry my shame ? and as for you, you would become one of the impious 
 fools in Israel. Now therefore, I beg you, speak to the king, for he will not 
 withhold me from vou. ^^But he would not hearken to her, btit being: 
 stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. 
 
 ^^Then Amnon hated her with great hatred, for the hatred with which he His 
 hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And [^'"*^' 
 Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone ! ^"^But she said to him, No, my brother; ■"'^ke 
 far greater is the second wrong in sending me away than the first that you for his 
 did to me.*^ And he would not listen to her, ^''but called his servant who ''"^^ 
 was standing in front of the house ° and said, Put this woman out from my 
 presence, and bolt the door after her. '■^And she wore a long-sleeved tunic, for 
 thus the royal maidens were formerly wont to be clad.p Then his servant put her 
 out and bolted the door after her. ^^And Tamar put ashes on her head, 
 and rent her long-sleeved tunic which she wore; and she put her hand on 
 her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went. 
 
 20And Absalom her own brother said to her. Has Amnon your brother David's 
 been with you ? But now, my sister, be silent, for he is your brother; do not J"^,^' 
 take this thing to heart. So Tamar dwelt desolate in her brother Absalom's and 
 house. -^But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry, ioni's 
 but he did not discipline'^ Amnon his son, for he loved him, because he was hatred 
 his eldest.'" -^-^And Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for 
 Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar. 
 
 ™ 139 This verse breaks the continuity of the story and is out of harmony with its conte.\t. 
 Possibly '" is also a later addition. 
 
 n 1310 xhe Heb. text is obscure. Luc, which is here followed, lias probably retained the 
 original. 
 
 " 1.3" So Gk. Heb., who ministered to him. 
 
 p I.3'8 This is evidently an explanatory gloss, intended to explain i', but awkwardly intro- 
 duced into the pre.sent context. 
 
 "> 1.3-' Heb., vex the soul of. 
 
 ' 1321 So Gk. The verse is incomplete in the Heb. 
 
 149
 
 loni's 
 revenge 
 
 II Sam. 1323] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 § 4U. Absalom's Revenge, II Sam. IS-^-^^ 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Absa- II Sam. 13 23Xow it happened after two years, that Absalom had sheep- 
 shearers in Baal Hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's 
 sons. -^And Absalom came to the king and said, See your servant has sheep- 
 shearers; let the king, I pray, and his servants go with your servant. 25J3^^■ 
 the king said to Absalom, No my son, let us not all go, lest we be burden- 
 some to you. And he pressed him; however, he would not go but bade him 
 farewell. ^G^pj^g^ Absalom said, If not, then let my brother Amnon go 
 with us. And the king said, Why should he go with you .'' ^zg^t when 
 Absalom pressed him, he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 
 ^^Then Absalom commanded his servants, saying. See to it, when Amnon's 
 heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ' Smite Amnon,' then kill 
 him. Fear not; have not I commanded you? Be brave and show your- 
 selves valiant men I-'' -^And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absa- 
 lom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose and each mounted 
 his mule and fled. 
 David's 30 ^j^j while they were on the way, the news came to David : Absalom has 
 tfono'f slain all the king's sons so that there is not one of them left. 3ixhen the 
 the king arose and tore his clothes and lay on the earth; and all his servants 
 of who were standing by him tore their clothes* and stood with torn clothes. 
 
 non'a ^^And Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, 
 death Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's 
 sons, for Amnon only is dead, since by the statement of Absalom this was 
 decided from the day of the violation of his sister Tamar. 33]sfQ^ therefore 
 let not my lord the king take this thing to heart, to think that all the king's 
 sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead. 34^nti when the watchman lifted 
 up his eyes and looked, there were many people coming down the descent 
 on the Bethhoron road. And the watchman came and told the king, saying, 
 I have seen people coming down from the Bethhoron road by the side of the 
 hill.'^ 35,^jjd Jonadab said to the king. There the king's sons are coming, 
 as your servant said so it has come to pass. 36^s goon as he had finished 
 speaking, the king's sons came and lifted up their voices and wept; and the 
 king also and all his servants wept loudly. 
 Absa- 37b\j^(j David mourned continually for his son. 37ai}u^ Absalom fled^ 
 flight 3'iid went to Talmai the son of Amihud, king of Geshur, 38and remained 
 there three years. 39\nfi ti^e spirit^ of King David longed to go out to 
 Absalom, for he was comforted for the death of Amnon. 
 
 " 13^8 So Gk., but omitted by a mistake in Heb. 
 
 » 1331 So Gk. 
 
 " 133^ So Gk. Owing to a common scribal error half of the verse has been lost from the Heb. 
 
 V 1337a xhe clause, Absalom fled, has been repeated three times in the Heb., **• ^^a, 38a_ 
 Its original position was probably in ssa ^ scribe has also apparently introduced ssa before 
 37b. The result is repetition and confusion. The original reading has been restored above. 
 
 '^ 1339 So Luc. 
 
 150
 
 PARDON AND RETURN OF ABSALOM [II Saai. U^ 
 
 ^ 41. Pardon and Return of Absalom, II Sam. 1-1 
 Early Judean David Xarratives 
 
 II Sam. 14 ^Now when Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's Joab'a 
 heart was favorable towards Absalom, -Joab sent to Tekoa and brought tn'gue 
 from there a wise woman and said to her, Pretend to be a mourner and to se- 
 put on mourning garments and do not anoint yourself with oil, but be- Absa- 
 come like a woman who has been many days mourning for one dead, 'pj^jon 
 ^and go to the king and speak thus with him. So Joab put the words in her 
 mouth. 
 
 ^And the Tekoite woman came to the king, and prostrated herself upon Ficti- 
 the ground and did obeisance, crying. Help, O king, help !^ ^And the king |,gt"r 
 said to her. What is wrong with you ? And she said. Verily, I am a ti"'" "f 
 widow and my husband is dead. ^And your maid-servant had two sons, Tekoite 
 and these two quarrelled in the field when there was no one to part them, '""°"^^'' 
 and one smote the other and killed him. "And now the whole clan has risen 
 up against your maid-servant and say, ' Deliver up the slayer of his brother, 
 that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he has killed, 
 and we will destroy the heir.' Thus they will quench my remaining coal 
 so as to leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the 
 earth. 
 
 ^Then the king said to the woman, Go to your house and I will give orders David's 
 regarding you. ^And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, My lord. O king, ciTion 
 the guilt be on me and on my father's house; and the king and his throne be 
 innocent. ^^And the king said. Whoever saith anything to you bring him 
 to me and he shall not touch you again. ^^Then she,said, I pray, let the 
 king swear by Jehovah thy God, not to let the avenger of blood destroy and 
 not to let them exterminate my son. And he said. As Jehovah liveth, not 
 one hair of your son shall fall to the ground. 
 
 ^-Then the woman said. Let your maid-servant, I pray you, speak a word AppH- 
 to my lord the king. And he said, Speak. ^•'^And the woman said. Why ofVhe 
 then do you devise such a thing against the people of God ? For in render- princi- 
 ing this decision the king is as one that is guilty, in that the king does not to the 
 bring back his banished one. ^^For we die and are as water sj)ilt on the j^jge 
 ground, which cannot be gathered up again; and (iod will not take away 
 the life of him who devises means not to keep in banishment one who is 
 baiu'shed.'^ ^^Now the reason why I have come to speak this word to my 
 lord the king is because the people made me afraid, and your maid-servant 
 said, ' I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform 
 the request of his servant.' ^''For the king will hear, to deliver his servant 
 out of the hand of the man who seeks to destroy me and my son from the 
 heritage of Jehovah.'^ I'Then vonr maid-servant said, ' Let the word of 
 my lord the king be a comfort, for like the Messenger of God is my lord the 
 king to hear good and evil.' And Jehovah thy God be with you. 
 
 * 14^ So Gk. The seconrl Ae^p isomitteri in the Pleb. 
 
 a ]4iii> TJig latlor part f)f this verse is obscure. The above rearlinc is based upon a slight 
 correction of the text. The Heb. reafls. Cod will not lake axtaji life but desireth means. 
 b 1410 Following the sugge^rition of Luc. and Targ. Heb., God. 
 
 151
 
 II Sam. 14I8] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 His ^^Tlien the king answered and said to the woman, Do not conceal from 
 
 ciatlon iii6> I PJ'^J' anything that I may ask you. And the woman said, Let my 
 
 of lord the king now speak. ^^And the king said. Was the hand of Joab with 
 
 pur- you in all this ? And the woman answered and said, As sure as you live, 
 
 ^'^^^ my lord the king, I cannot turn to the right hand or to the left from all that 
 
 my lord the king has spoken, for your servant Joab bade me put all these 
 
 words in the mouth of your maid-servant; "*^in order to change the face of 
 
 affairs has your servant done this thing. But my lord is wise, according to 
 
 the wisdom of the Messenger of God, so that he knows all things that are in 
 
 the earth. 
 
 Return ^^And tlie king said to Joab, See now, I have granted this request; go 
 
 salom therefore, bring the young man Absalom back. -^Then Joab fell to the 
 
 ground on his face and did obeisance and blessed the king. And Joab said, 
 
 To-day your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, 
 
 O king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant. -^So Joab 
 
 arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 24\j^j 
 
 the king said, Let him live apart in his own house, but my face he shall not 
 
 see. So Absalom lived apart to his own house, but he did not see the king's 
 
 face. 
 
 His 25Nq^ no man in Israel was so praiseworthy for his beauty as Absalom : from the 
 
 per- sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.<^ ^e^^nd 
 
 sonal when he shaved his head — at the end every year he cut it, because it was heavy on 
 
 beau y j^jj^^^ therefore he cut it — he would weigh his hair, about §ix pounds'* according to the 
 
 royal standard of weiglit. '-"And to Absalom there were born three sons and one 
 
 daughter, whose name was Tamar — she was a beautiful woman. 
 
 Resto- 28^j^j Absalom dwelt two years in Jerusalem, without seeing the king's 
 
 to^royal face. ^Q'pj^gj^ Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king; but he would 
 
 favor j^Qt come to him. Then he sent again a second time, but he would not come. 
 
 2*^Tlierefore he said to his servants. See Joab's field is near mine, where he 
 
 has barley; go and set it on fire.® ^^Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom 
 
 at his house and said to him, Why have your servants set my field on fire .'' 
 
 ^^And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to you, saying, ' Come here 
 
 that I may send you to the king, to say, " Why have I come from Geshur ? 
 
 It were better for me to be there still." ' Now therefore let me see the king's 
 
 face, and if there be guilt in me, let him kill me. ^^And when Joab went 
 
 to the king and told him, he called Absalom. And he came to the king and 
 
 bowed himself with his face to the ground before the king. Then the king 
 
 kissed Absalom. 
 
 c 1425-27 The statement in IS** that Absalom had no children indicates that -^ was drawn 
 from a source distinct from the early David narratives. The reference in -" to the royal stand- 
 ard of weight also implies that, as in later times, two systems were then in use. This description 
 of Absalom is clearly a later addition to the original narrative which is found in ^^ and its imme- 
 diate sequel -s. 
 
 d 142s Heb., two hundred shekels, probably according to the Babylonian standard. Gk., 
 one hundred. 
 
 « 143° Gk. adds with some probability of originality, And the servants of Joab came to him 
 ivith torn dothea and said. The servants of Absalom have set the field on fire. 
 
 152
 
 ABSALOM'S REBELLION [II Sam. 15I 
 
 § 42. Absalom's Rebellion, II Sam. IS^-IS^- 
 Earhj Jiidean David Narratives 
 
 II Sam. 15 ^Now later Absalom prepared a chariot and horses and Absa- 
 fifty men to run before him. ^^j^^j Absalom used to rise early and stand '*^™^ 
 beside the way which led to the gate, and every man who had a suit to come t'isues 
 before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to himself and say, Of ilia?°''" 
 what city are you ? And when he replied, Your servant is of one of the ^'^^°'" 
 tribes of Israel, ^Absalom said to him, Evidently your claims are good and 
 right; but there is no man deputed by the king to hear you. ^Absalom said 
 moreover, O that someone would make me judge in the land, that to me 
 might come every man who has any suit or cause, and I would give him 
 justice ! ^And whenever man came near to do obeisance, he would put out 
 his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. ^And in this way Absalom 
 did to all the Israelites who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom 
 stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 
 
 ^And at the end of four^ years, Absalom said to the king, I would like to The 
 go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Jehovah, in Hebron. ^For your ^y^tlon 
 servant vowed the following vowS while I abode at Geshur in Aram, ' If 
 Jehovah shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, I will serve Jehovah in 
 Hebron.'^ ^Then the king said to him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went 
 to Hebron. ^'^But Absalom sent emissaries into all the tribes of Israel, 
 saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ' Absalom 
 has become king in Hebron.' ^^And with Absalom went two hundred men 
 from Jerusalem, who were invited and went in their innocence and knew 
 nothing at all. ^2\nd Absalom sent and called' Ahithophel the Gilonite, 
 David's counsellor, from his city Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. 
 And the conspiracy was strong, for the people with Absalom kept increasing. 
 
 ^^And when a messenger came to David, saying, The heart of the men of David's 
 Israel has gone after Absalom, ^^David said to all his servants who were f^'.f^ 
 with him at Jerusalem, Up, let us flee; for otherwise there will he for us no Jcni- 
 escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he quickly overtake us 
 and bring down evil upon us and j)ut the city to the edge of the sword. ^^Then 
 the king's servants said to the king. Just as our lord the king decides, we are 
 your serv'ants. ^^So the king went out, and all his household with him. 
 And the king left behind ten concubines to keep the ])alace. ^"And the king 
 and all the people who followed him went out and stood at the last house, 
 l^while all his officers passed beside him, and all the Cherethites and all the 
 Pelethites and all the men of Ittai the Gittite,J six hundred who had followed 
 him from Gath passed on before the king. 
 
 § 42 The unity of this remarkably well-told narrative and its kinship with those which 
 precede and follow are obvious. David's character, like that of many other men, is much 
 stroiiKer and attractive in ad\ersity than in i)rosperity. 
 
 '1.5' So Luc, Theod., and .loseplius. }\c])., forty. 
 
 K 1.5* For a similar vow, cf. JuiIk. 1 !■*"■ '-'K 
 
 '' 1.5' So Luc. Ileb. omits, in //etiron. 
 
 ' 1.5'- So ]aic. Heb., sent. 
 
 J 1.5'« Vs. ''•< implies that Ittai the Oittite has Iieen mentioned in i*. The relative clause 
 in '«'' also clearly applies to him. The Gitlitc of tlie Ilcb. should therefore reatl, the men o/ Ittai 
 the Gittite. 
 
 153
 
 Loyalty 
 of Ittai 
 the Git- 
 tite 
 
 David's 
 direc- 
 tions to 
 the 
 priests 
 
 To his 
 friend 
 Hushai 
 
 II Sam. 1519] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 i^Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why will you also go with us ? 
 Return and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner and an exile from 
 your own land. ^Oyesterday you came and to-day shall I make you wander 
 with us, while I go whither I may ? Return, and take your fellow country- 
 men back with you; and Jehovah will show you kindness and faithfulness.'' 
 ^^But Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth and as my lord 
 the king liveth, wherever my lord the king shall be — whether for death or 
 for life — there will your servant be. ^-And David said to Ittai, Well then, 
 go, and pass on. So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the 
 little ones that were with him. 
 
 -^And all the inhabitants of the land were weeping loudly as all the people 
 passed on. While the king stood' in the Kidron valley, the people were 
 passing by before him toward the olive tree*" in the wilderness. ^^And 
 there was Zadok and Abiathar" with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of 
 God, until all the people had all passed out of the city, ^s^j^^j ^}jg king said 
 to Zadok and Abiathar, Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I shall 
 find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me back, and show me both 
 it and his dwelling, ^eg^^ jf j^g gg^y^ ' j Jj^ve no delight in thee'; then here 
 am I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him. -"The king also said to 
 Zadok and Abiathar ° the priests. Behold, return to the city in peace and 
 your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abia- 
 thar. 28gpg^ J g^jj^ going to delay at the fords of the wilderness, until word 
 comes from you to inform me. ^Ofjj^j.gfQj.g Zadok and Abiathar carried 
 the ark of God again to Jerusalem, and they remained there. 
 
 ^'^But David went up the ascent to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he 
 went, and with his head covered and his feet bare. All the people who were 
 with him also covered each his head, and also went up, weeping as they 
 went. ^^And when David was told, Ahithophel is among the conspirators 
 with Absalom, David said, O Jehovah, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel 
 to foolishness, ^^^nd when David came to the summit, where one worships 
 God,'^ there came to meet him Hushai the Archite with his garment rent 
 and earth upon his head. ^^And David said to him. If you go on with me 
 you will be a burden to me. ^'^But if you return to the city, and say to Ab- 
 salom, ' Your brothers have gone away and the king your father has gone 
 away after them, I will be thy servant, O king; I have been your father's 
 servant in the past, so now I will be your servant,' thus you can defeat for me 
 
 ■^ 152" So Gk. Part of the last clause has fallen out of the Heb. 
 
 ' 15-'' Heb., was passing over, but a slight correction gives the above rendering, which is 
 consistent with the subsequent imijlication that the king remained standing. 
 
 ■n 15-'3 So Luc. The Heb. is untranslatable. 
 
 ■> 152* The present Heb. text reads, Zadok and all the Levites ivith them. But the Levites 
 are unknown to the original author of these narratives, and the .sub.sequent context in -^, indi- 
 cates that Abiathar was with Zadok. The scribe, who, influenced by the ideas of a later age, 
 substituted the Lei'iVes, apparently preserved the name in the latter part of the verse, Abiathar 
 went up. The subsequent banishment of Abiathar and the prominence of Zadok ex|)lain why 
 the name of the former was also left out of 25, and even ^7, where its original presence is clearly 
 indicated. 
 
 MS" SoGk. Cf.29. 
 
 p 1532 So the original Gk. 
 
 154
 
 ABSALOM'S REBELLION {II Sam. 1o34 
 
 Early Judcan Dovid Xarrativcs 
 
 the counsel of Ahithophel. ^'^And have you not there with you Zadok and 
 Abiathar the priests ? Everytliing that you hear from the king's palace 
 tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. ^'^See, they have there with them 
 their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and 
 by them you shall send to me everything that you shall hear. ^"gQ Hushai, 
 David's friend, came into the city, when Absalom came to Jerusalem. 
 
 16 ^And David was a httle past the summit, when Ziba the servant of Ziba's 
 Meribaal met him with a pair of asses saddled, and on them two hundred t'lumi^ 
 loaves of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred cakes of of loy- 
 preserved fruits,'^ and a skin of wine. -And the king said to Ziba, Why do '^ ^ 
 you have these ."" And Ziba answered. The asses are for the king's house- 
 hold to ride on, and the bread and the preserved fruit for the young men to 
 eat, and the wine, that those who are faint in the wilderness may drink. 
 ^And the king said. And where is thy master's son ? And Ziba answered 
 the king. He remains there at Jerusalem, for he thinks. ' To-day will the 
 house of Israel give me back my father's kingdom.' "^Then said the king 
 to Ziba, All is now yours that belongs to Meribaal. And Ziba said, I do 
 obeisance. Let me find further favor in your sight, my lord, the king. 
 
 ^And when King David came to Bahurim, there came out from there a Shim- 
 man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of curggg 
 Gera. constantly cursing as he came. ^And he cast stones at David and all 
 the officers of King David and at all the people and all the mighty warriors 
 at his right hand and at his left. '^And thus Shimei said as he cursed. Begone, 
 begone, bloody and vile scoundrel ! ^Jehovah has brought back upon you 
 all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and 
 Jehovah hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; 
 and behold now you are in your misfortune, for you are a bloody man ! 
 
 ^Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, ^Yhy should this dead David'; 
 dog curse my lord the king.' Let me go over now and take off his head. ,^"iiity 
 ^'^But the king said. What have I in common with you, you sons of Zeruiah .'' 
 If he curses when Jehovah hath said to him, ' Curse David ! ' then who shall 
 say, ' Why have you done so .' ' i^And David said to Abishai and to all his 
 officers. See, my son who came from my bowels seeks my life; how much 
 more this Benjamite ! Let him curse, for Jehovah hath bitlden him. ^-Per- 
 haps Jehovah will look on my affliction and repay me good instead of this 
 cursing that he hath sent to-day. ^'^So David and his men went along the 
 way; but Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him, cursing as he 
 went, and threw stones and continually cast dust at him. ^'^Then the king 
 and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan'' and he 
 refreshed himself there. 
 
 •i 16' Gk., dates, but Luc, cakes of preserved fruit, usually figs. The latter was probably 
 intended. 
 
 ■• IG^ So Gk. and the correctefl Heb. text. 
 
 " lO'-* So Luc. In the Heb. the name of the place ha.i ilroj)i)0<i out. Lucian's reading is 
 supported by 17'". ^, where it in clear that David had arrived at the fords of the Jordan. 
 
 155
 
 II Sam. 1615] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Eaiiij Judcan David Narratives 
 Hu- i^And Absalom with all the men of Israel,* came to Jerusalem, and Ahitho- 
 
 protes- P'l^^ ^^^ ''^'i*^^ ^^™- ^^Now when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came 
 tations to Absalom, Ilushai said to Absalom, May the king live, may the king live! 
 alty To i^But Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your love for your friend ? Why did 
 l^m^" you not go with your friend ? ^^Then Hushai answered Absalom, No ! for 
 whom Jehovah and his people and all the men of Israel have chosen, to him 
 will I belong, and with him will I remain. l^And in the second place, whom 
 should I serve ? Should it not be his son ? As I have served your father, 
 so will I serve you. 
 Absa- ^°Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give your counsel as to what we 
 f°™nal ^^^^^^ ^lo- ^^And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in unto your father's 
 usurpa- concubines whom he has left to keep the palace; and all Israel will hear that 
 hi^" " you have made yourself abhorrent to your father, and the hands of all who 
 ^^*hts ^ are on your side will be strengthened. "So they pitched for Absalom the 
 tent" on the top of the house; and Absalom went in vmto his father's concu- 
 bines in the sight of all Israel. -"^x\nd the counsel of Ahithophel, which he 
 gave in those days, was regarded as if one inquired of the word of God — 
 so was all the counsel of Ahithophel regarded by David and Absalom. 
 Ahitho- 17 ^Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve 
 phel's thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David to-night; -^thus I will 
 to pur- come upon him when he is tired and weak and will storm him into a panic 
 once ^nd all the people who are with him will flee; and I will smite the king alone, 
 ^and I will bring back all the people to you as the bride returns to her husband. 
 You seek only the life of one man,^ and all the people shall be at peace. '^And 
 the advice pleased Absalom, and all the elders of Israel. 
 Hu- ^Then Absalom suid. Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear 
 
 shai's likewise what he has to say. ^And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom 
 advice . . "^ . . 
 
 first to spoke to him, saying. Thus Ahithophel has spoken; shall we act upon his 
 
 Israef advice ? If not, you give advice. '^Then Hushai said to Absalom, The 
 counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good. ^Hushai said more- 
 over. You know your father and his men, that they are mighty warriors and 
 of angry temper, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Furthermore 
 your father is a man of war and will not remain at night with the people. 
 ^Even now he has hidden himself in one of the caves or in some other place. 
 And in case some of the people^ fall at the first, whoever hears it will say, 
 ' There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.' ^^Then 
 even he that is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely 
 lose courage ;'' for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty warrior, and 
 they who are with him are valiant men. ^^But I counsel. Let all Israel be 
 gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as many as the sand that is by the 
 sea, with you yourself marching in the midst of them. ^-So shall we come 
 upon him in some place where he has been discovered, and we will light 
 
 t 1615 So Gk. 
 
 " 1622 ig^ the bridal tent. 
 
 " 1/3 The Gk., which has been followed, undoubtedly here presents the original text. 
 
 " 17' So Luc. Heb. simply, some of them. 
 
 » 171" Heb., completely melt away . 
 
 156
 
 ABSALOM'S REBELLION [II Sam. 1712 
 
 Early Jndean David Narratives 
 
 upon liim as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who 
 are with him there shall not be left even one. ^-^But if he has withdrawn 
 into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it 
 to the valley, until not even a small stone is found there. ^^And Absalom 
 and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Ilushai the Archite is l)ettcr 
 than the counsel of Aliitho[)hel. For Jehovah had ordained to defeat the 
 good counsel of Ahithophel, in order that Jehovah might bring evil upon 
 Absalom. 
 
 ^^Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus His 
 did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and ^,^e^!* 
 thus have I counselled. ^''Now therefore send quickly and tell David. ?aKeto 
 saying. Do not spend this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all by the 
 means cross over, lest the king and all the people with him be swallowed up. p""'^^*^ 
 ^"Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at Enrogel; and a maid-servant 
 was to go* and bring them news, and tliey were to go* and tell King David, 
 for they must not be seen to come into the city. ^^But a lad saw them, and 
 told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly and entered into the 
 house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court into which they 
 descended. ^^And the woman took and spread the covering over the mouth 
 of the well, and strewed dried fruit*^ upon it, so that nothing was known. 
 ^^And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house and said, 
 Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan .'' the woman answered them. They are 
 gone over the water brook. "^ And when they had sought and could find 
 nothing, they returned to Jerusalem. -^But as soon as they had gone away 
 they came up out of the well, and went and told King David and said to 
 David, Arise, cross quickly over the water for thus has Ahithophel coun- 
 selled in regard to you. ^-Then David and all the people who were with 
 him arose and they crossed over the Jordan. By daybreak there was not 
 one left behind who had not gone over the Jordan. 
 
 ^■^But when Ahithophel saw that his coimsel had not been carric^d out. Suicide 
 he saddled his ass and arose, and went to his house, to his city. And when Ahitho- 
 he had given command concerning his house, he strangled himself, and he P''cl 
 died and was buried in his father's sepulchre. 
 
 ^^Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan. D.-ivid's 
 together with all the men of Israel. -'^And Absalom .set Amasa over the [f,^,7.Tt 
 army in the place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of an Ishmaelite by the M-iHa- 
 
 * tl 'II 111 
 
 name of Jether,*^ who had come in marriage to Jesse's^ daughter Abigail, 
 
 s 1717 The verbs are frequentative, but the narrative relates >iin|il.\- to the events of a day 
 80 that their peculiar siKnifirance may be hrounlit out .is above. 
 
 h 171'J The exact ineaninR of tlie original i.s iinkiiown. In the current translations, the 
 Lat., crimhed (jrain, is followed; but 1-uc. and TarK-, as well as the probabilities in the case, 
 support the above. 
 
 c 1720 This word occurs only here and its meaninK is doubtful. 
 
 ■^ 17-'' Ileb., Hon of a mnn vliose name vox Illirn (he Israelite, but T Krs. 2''' ■''- confirms 
 I Chr. 2" in the reading Jelher not Ithrn. For the unnecessary Israelite the Chronicler has also 
 undoubtedly retained the original, I shmaelite. The rest of the verse seems to state that, like 
 ■Samson, .lether consummated a faili<i<i marriage in accordance with which the wife and the cliil- 
 drcn remained with her clan instead of going to that of 1 he husband. 
 
 '■ 17" Again the (hroniclor is clearly right in mailing, Jesse, instead ot Nahash. Absalom, 
 like Saul and David, appointeil a kinsman as his military leader. 
 
 157
 
 II Sam. 1725] DAMD'S REIGN O^^R ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 the sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. -^And Israel and Absalom encamped 
 in the land of Gilead. ^vg^^ when David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the 
 son of Nahash of the Ammonite Rabbah, and Machir the son of Ammiel of 
 Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, -%rought couches, rugs, 
 bowls, and earthen vessels, and wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, 
 lentils, -^honey, curds, sheep, and calves^ for David, and for the people who 
 were with him, to eat; for they thought. The people are hungry and weary 
 and thirsty in the wilderness. 
 The 18 ^Then David mustered the people who were with him, and appointed 
 
 over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds, ^^nd David divided^ 
 the people into three divisions, one third was under the command of Joab, 
 another third under Abishai the son oi Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and another 
 third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the 
 people, I also will surely go out with you. ^But the people said, You shall 
 not go out ; for if we flee away, no one will care for us, or if half of us die, 
 no one will care for us, for you are equal to^ ten thousand of us. Also it 
 is now better for you to be ready to help us from the city. '^And the king 
 said to them, I will do what you think best ! So the king stood by the side 
 of the gate, while all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 
 ^And the king commanded Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying. Deal gently 
 for my sake with the young man, with Absalom ! And all the people heard 
 wdien the king gave all the commanders the order regarding Absalom. 
 ^So the people went out into the field against Israel. And the battle was in 
 the forest of Ephraim. 'And the people of Israel were smitten there before 
 the servants of David, so that the slaughter on that day w^as great — twenty 
 thousand men. ^And the battle w'as spread out over the whole country; 
 and the forest devoured more that day than the sword. 
 Absa- ^And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was 
 death riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great 
 oak and his head caught fast in the oak, and he w^as hung^ between heaven 
 and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. ^"^And when a 
 certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in 
 an oak. ^^Then Joab said to the man who told him, So you saw him ! Why 
 did you not smite him there to the ground .-* And my part would have been 
 to give you ten shekels of silver and a girdle, ^^g^t \\yQ man said to Joab, 
 If I were to feel the weight of a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I 
 would not put forth my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the 
 king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ' Take care of the young 
 man Absalom.' ^^Qr if I had treacherously taken his life, nothing would 
 have been hidden from the king, and you yourself would have stood aloof. 
 ^^Then Joab answered, I wall not tarry thus with you.J And he took three 
 
 f 1729 So Luc. and Lat. The Heb. is obscure. Syr., cheese. 
 
 K 18^ So Luc. which has apparently preserved the oriffinal reading. Heb., sent out. 
 I" 183 So Q[(; _ Symmachu';, and Lat. The Heb. makes no .sense. 
 ' 18^ So Luc, Syr., and Targ. This is more natural than the Heb., xras ijiven. 
 i 18'^ Luc. and one form of the Gk., therefore I will begin before you. The variant doubt- 
 less arose because the Heb. verb has two distinct meanings, 
 
 158
 
 ABSALOM'S REBELLION [II Sam. IS^^ 
 
 Earhj Jiidcan Dai'id Narratives 
 
 spears^ in his hand, and thrust them into Absalom's heart, while he was still 
 alive in the midst of the oak. ^^And ten young men who bore Joab's armor 
 gathered about and smote Absalom and put him to death. 
 
 ^^Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuinj; Burial 
 Israel; for Joab held back the people. ^"And thev took Absalom and oast "',-^'^- 
 nim into the great pit in the forest, and raised over ium a heap of stones. 
 And all Israel fled each to his home. ^^But Absalom had already in his 
 lifetime taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the King's 
 Dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance; and he 
 named the pillar after his own name. Therefore it is called ' Absalom's 
 Monument,' to this day. 
 
 ^^But when Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me now run and bring Ahi- 
 the news to the king that Jehovah has pronounced judgment for him against "'=*=^^'s 
 his enemies. ^^Joab said to him. You are not the man to bring news to-day. ness to 
 On another day you may bring news, but not to-day, for the king's son is the'^ 
 dead. -^Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what you have "^^^'^ 
 seen. And the Cushite bowed before Joab and ran off. ^23^^ Ahimaaz 
 the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, However it may be, I would like 
 also to run after the Cushite. And Joab said. Why is it that you would run, 
 my son, seeing that no reward will be paid out ? -"^And he said, However 
 it may be, I would like to run. So he said to him. Run. Then Ahimaaz 
 ran by the way of the Plain of the Jordan and outran the Cushite. 
 
 ^'*Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchir.an had David's 
 gone up to the roof of the gate by the wall. And when he lifted up his eyes [f^®'^} 
 and looked, he saw there a man running alone. ^^Then the watchman cried the 
 and told the king. And the king said. If he be alone, good news are in his 
 mouth. And he kept coming and was drawing near, -^vvhen the watchman 
 saw another man running; and the watchman called toward the gate,' and 
 said, See, another man running alone ! And the king said. He also is bringing 
 good news. -"And the watchman said, I see that the nniiiiiig of the first is 
 like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said. He is a 
 good man and comes with good news. -^Then Ahimaaz drew near and said 
 to the king. All is well. And he bowed before the king with his face to the 
 earth, and said. Blessed be Jehovah your God, who hath delivered up tliemen 
 who lifted up their hand against my lord the king. -'-^And the king said, Is it 
 well with the young man Absalom ? And Ahimaaz answered. When Joab sent 
 your servant,*" I saw a great tumult, but I did not learn what it was. '^"And 
 the king said. Turn aside and stand here, and lie turned aside and stood still. 
 •^'And, just then, the Cushlle said. Lei my lord the king receive tlu- good news 
 that Jehovah hath pronounced judgment for you this day upon all those who 
 rose up against you. -"^-And the king said to the Cushite. Is it well with the 
 young man Absalom ? And the Cushite answered, may the enemies of my 
 lord the king and all who rise uj) against you for evil be as that young man ! 
 
 "< 18" So Ok. Ileb., rbtbs. 
 ' 182« So I,uo., Syr., an<l I.at. 
 "D Ib^" The lieb. also contains the awkward repetition, the king's servant. 
 
 159
 
 II Sam. 1833] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 § 43. David's Return, U Sam. 18^^-19*3 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 David's II Sam. 1 8 33Then the king was greatly moved and went up to the cham- 
 fer Ab- ^^^ ^""'^^ ^^^^ S^^^ ^'^^ wept. And thus he said, as he kept on weeping, My 
 saiom son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom ! O that I had died instead of you, 
 Absalom, my son, my son ! 1 9 ^And it was told Joab, The king is weeping 
 and lamenting for Absalom, ^go for all the people the victory that day was 
 turned to mourning, since the people heard that day. The king is grieving 
 for his son. 3'Pherefore the people stole away into the city, as people who 
 are ashamed when they have fled in battle steal away. ^But the king covered 
 his face, and cried aloud. My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son ! 
 Joab's ^Then Joab came to the king in the palace and said. You have to-day 
 rebuke g}^amed the face of all your servants, who have saved your life and the lives 
 of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines, ^by loving 
 them who hate you and hating them who love you. For you declared to-day 
 that princes and brave ofiicers are nothing to you, for now I know if Absalom 
 had lived and all of us had died to-day, then you would be pleased. 'Now 
 therefore come, go forth, and reassure your followers; for I swear by Jehovah, 
 if you do not go forth, not a man will remain to you, and that will be worse 
 for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now. 
 ^Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And the rumor spread among 
 all the people. See the king is sitting in the gate; and all the people came 
 before the king. 
 Uncer- Now Israel had fled every man to his tent. ^And all the people were at 
 oTthT strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out 
 people of the hand of our enemies, he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines, but 
 now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. ^^And Absalom, whom we 
 anointed over us, has fallen in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing 
 about bringing the king back? ^^^lAnd the word of all Israel came to the 
 king." 
 David's ^^ ^Then King David commanded Zadok and Abiathar the priests, Speak to 
 over- the elders of Judah, saying, ' Why are you the last to bring the king back 
 tures to lo his palacc ? ^-You are my bone and my flesh, why then are you the last 
 dersof to bring back the king? ' ^3Say ^q Amasa, ' Are you not my bone and my 
 ^ ^ flesh ? God do to me whatever he will, if you shall not henceforth be com- 
 mander of the army before me in the place of Joab.' ^^And he° turned the 
 heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent to the king, saying. 
 Return with all your servants. ^^So the king returned, and arrived at the 
 Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him across 
 the Jordan. 
 His ^*^And Shimel the son of Gera the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hast- 
 
 ^f^ °^ ened down with the men of Judah to meet King David, ^''with a thousand men 
 Shimei of Benjamin; and with him was Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with 
 
 § 43 This is the direct continuation of the preceding early Judean David narrative, 
 n igiib This clause has evidently been transposed and, to his place, has been repeated by 
 mistake from the preceding line. 
 
 ° 19'* Luc. probably rightly inserts Amasa, as the subject. 
 
 160
 
 HIS RETURN TO JERUSALEM [II S.^m. W^ 
 Early Judean David Xarrativcs 
 
 his fifteen sons and his twenty servants; and they dashed into the Jordan 
 before the king. ^^And they kept crossing the ford to bring over the king's 
 household"' and to do what would please him. Meanwhile Shimei the son 
 of Gera prostrated himself before the king, when he was about to cross the 
 Jordan. ^^And he said to the king, Let not my lord consider me guiltv nor 
 remember what your servant did perversely the day that my lord the 
 king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. -'^For 
 your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, see, I have come down 
 first of all the house of Joseph to meet my lord the king. -'But Abishai 
 the son of Zeruiah spoke and said, Should not Shimei be put to death 
 for this, because he cursed Jehovah's anointed ? ^-But David said. What 
 have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day oppose 
 me ? Should anyone be put to death to-day in Israel ? -'*.Vnd the king 
 said to Shimei, You shall not die. And the king swore it to him. 
 
 2^ And Meribaal the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had Conces- 
 neither dressed his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes from ^erf. ^° 
 the day the king departed until the day he came home safe and sound.'' baal 
 ^^And so when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, 
 Why did you not go out with me, Meribaal ? -^And he answered. My lord, 
 O king, my servant deceived me: for your servant said, ' Saddle me an ass, 
 on which I may ride and accompany the king, because your servant is lame.' 
 2"But he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king 
 is as a Messenger of God; do therefore what seems good to you. -^For though 
 all my father's house were only deserving of death before my lord, the king 
 set your servant among those who eat at your table. What right have I now, 
 that I should continue to cry to the king?'" -^And the king said to him. Why 
 do you continue to speak ? I say, you and Ziba divide the land. ^"And 
 Meribaal said to the king, rather let him take all, inasmuch as my lord the 
 king has come home safe and sound. 
 
 ^'Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and he went Parting 
 over the Jordan with the king to bid him good-by at the Jordan. ^ ^-Now "|,'e 
 Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old, and he had provided the 'Jf^^'^^jj. 
 king with food while he Remained at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. lai 
 ^^And the king had said to Barzillai, Come over with me, and I will support 
 you during your old age*^ with me in Jerusalem. ^^IJut Barzillai said to the 
 king. How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king 
 to Jerusalem ? ^-^I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish good from 
 evil ? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink ? Can I hear any 
 more the voice of singing men and singing women ? Why then should your 
 servant be a burden to my lord the king ? ^*'Your servant would merely go 
 
 i> 19" So Gk. and .slightly revised Heb. text. The current translation, there went over a 
 ferry-boat, is extremely doubtful. 
 
 '1 19-' Heb., in peace. 
 
 ' W^* hue. And from whose hand shall I receive justicet And he continued to cry to 
 the kinii. 
 
 ■ Itf" FollowinK a suggestion of Luc. The Heb. is untranslatable. 
 
 ' 19^ So Gk. Heb. omits, during your old age. 
 
 161
 
 II Sam. 1936] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 over the Jordan with the king, and why should the king give me this recom- 
 pense ? 370nly let your servant return, I pray you, that I may die in my 
 own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But there is your ser- 
 vant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and treat him as shall 
 seem good to you. 38\j^(j y^g king answered, Chimham shall go over with 
 me, and I will do to him as you would desire; and whatever you shall request 
 of me, that will I do for you. ^O'pj^gj^ q\\ ^\^^ people went over the Jordan. 
 The king also went over^ after he had kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; so 
 he returned to his home. 
 Strife ^^And the king passed by'^ Gilgal, Chimham being with him; and all the 
 tween people of Judah were escorting the king, and also half the people of Israel. 
 Israel ^I'pjjgj.gfQj.g ^^ ^}jg men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, 
 Judah Why have our clansmen, the men of Judah, stolen you away, and brought 
 the king and his household over the Jordan, when all of David's men are his 
 people ? "^-Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because 
 the king is near of kin to us. Why are you angry at this thing ? Have we 
 eaten anything at the king's cost ? or has he been carried away by us ?^ 
 ^^And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, I have ten 
 shares in the king, furthermore I am the first-born rather than you;^ why 
 then did you despise me ? And was not our advice first to bring back the 
 king.'' But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of 
 the men of Israel. 
 
 § 44. Sheba's Rebellion and the Murder of Amasa, II Sam. ao^" 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Rebel- II Sam. 20 ^Now there chanced to be there a vile scoundrel, whose name 
 the* ° ^'^s Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He blew on a trumpet and cried, 
 
 north- 
 tribes We have no share iii David, 
 
 And we have no claim in the son of Jesse ! 
 
 Each to his tents, O Israel !* 
 
 ^So all the men of Israel ceased to follow David, and followed Sheba the son 
 of Bichri ; but the men of Judah remained loyal to their king, from the Jordan 
 even to Jerusalem. 
 
 " 1939 y.uc. possibly has preserved the orisinal reading, But the king stood still. The ciir- 
 rent translation makes Barzillai cross and then immediately recross the river. 
 
 V IQ^o So Gk. 
 
 ^ \9^ Or, has anything been carried away by tis. The meaning is doubtful. The Gk. 
 translates it in two ways. 
 
 ^ 19*-* So Gk., which has clearly ret.ained the original reading. 
 
 § 44 From 21' and I Sam. 9^ it appears that Sheba like Shimei, II Sam. 16^, belonged, as 
 did Saul, to the tribe of Becher. Cf. Gen. 46-'. All Saul's descendants with the exception of 
 the cripple Meribaal being dead, Sheba evidently assumed tlie role of a claimant to the throne 
 of Northern Israel. The story which is the immediate sequel of the preceding clearly reveals 
 the bitter jealousy which still existed between the North and the South and the rival houses of 
 David and Saul. 
 
 * 20^ Like all the ancient Hebrew war-cries, poetical in form. It was the cry of the North- 
 erners, which was again heard after the death of Solomon, I Kgs. 12^^, 
 
 162
 
 SHEBA'S REBELLION [II Sam. 203 
 
 Early Judcan David Narratives 
 
 ^And when David came to his palace at Jerusalem, he took care of his ten Fate of 
 concubines, whom he had left to take charge of the palace, and put them in ^ncu'/ 
 a guarded house and supported them, but went not in unto them. So they bines 
 were shut in until the day of their death, living as widows.'^ 
 
 ■^Then the king said to Amasa, Summon in my name the men of Judah Rein- 
 within three days, and also be present yourself. ^So Amasa went to summon ,^^*ient of 
 Judah. But when he delayed longer than the time which David had ap- J"ab 
 pointed him. '^^David said to Abishai, Now will Sheba the son of Bichri do us death of 
 more harm than did Absalom; take your lord's servants, and pursue after ^™^®^ 
 him, lest he find for himself fortified cities and escape out of our sight. "So 
 there went out after Abishai, '^ Joab and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, 
 and all the mighty heroes. They set out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba 
 the son of Bichri. ^^Yhen they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, 
 Amasa came to meet them.'i And Joab was girt with a sword under his 
 warrior's cloak, and also over it was a girdle with a sword fastened upon 
 his loins in its sheath; and as he went forth it fell out.^ ^And Joab said to 
 Amasa, Is it well with you, my brother .'* And Joab took Amasa by the 
 beard with his right hand to kiss him. ^^But Amasa did not notice the sword 
 that was in Joab's hand; so he smote him with it in the body, and shed his 
 bowels to the ground, and he did not strike a second blow; but he died. And 
 Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. ^^And one 
 of Joab's young men stood by him and said, Whoever favors Joab and is for 
 David, let him follow Joab. ^-But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the 
 middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood 
 still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment 
 over him, inasmuch as he saw that every one who came to him stood still. 
 ^^When he was removed out of the liighway, all the people went on after 
 Joab, to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 
 
 ^"*But he passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah. And Pursuit 
 all the Bichrites^ gathered together, and entered also after him. ^''And they ba and^ 
 came and besieged him in Abel-beth-maacah, and they cast up a mound "^^ 
 against the city, and it stood even with the wall; and all the people with sel of 
 Joab were devising how to throw down the wall. ^*^Then a wise woman ^-^^ 
 out of the city, cried. Hear, hear ! Say, I pray, to Joab, ' Come near that "f'ljlf'j 
 I may speak with you.' ^'^And he came near her; and the woman said. 
 Are you Joab ? And he answered, I am. Then she said to him. Hear the 
 words of your maid-servant. And he said, I am listening. ^'''Then she 
 spoke, saying, They used to say formerly, ' T^et them ask in Abel and Dan 
 whether what the faithful in Israel have established has ceased to be.'s '^I 
 
 ^ 2(P So Gk. The Heb. is obscure, lit., as living widows. 
 
 " 20' So Gk. Heb. omits, AbisJmi. 
 
 ^ 20' Or, making a sliKht correction, leading the people. 
 
 " 20* This 'le^^cripfion is exceerlinKly obscure. Ihe present Heb. makes no sense and the 
 other versions Kive little help. Vs. '" aids in the restoration. 'Ihe idea ai)i)ears to be that Joab 
 concealed an extra sword under his warrior's cloak, while lie puriiosel.y caused his ordinary 
 sword on the outside to fall, as he approached Ama.sa. in order to disarm suspicion. 
 
 '20" Heb., ftirtes; but Gk. anrl Lat. favor the above reading, which would mean that 
 Sheba was support erl by the members of his own clan. 
 
 163
 
 II Sam. 2018] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 am of those who are peaceful and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy 
 
 a city and a mother in Israel; why will you consume the inheritance of 
 
 Jehovah .'' 
 
 Death -*^And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should 
 
 Sheba consume or destroy. ^^That is not at all our errand. But a man of the 
 
 a"d hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his 
 
 of the hand against the king, even against David; only deliver him, and I will 
 
 [fon leave the city. And the woman said to Joab, Behold his head shall be 
 
 thrown to you over the wall. —Then the woman went and advised all 
 
 the people'^ in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of 
 
 Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were 
 
 dispersed from the city, each to his home. And Joab returned to the king 
 
 at Jerusalem. 
 
 § 45. Adonijah's Attempted Usurpation and Solomon's Establishment on 
 
 the Throne, I Kgs. 1, I Chr. ^23' 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 The I Kgs. 1 ^Now King David was advanced in years,' and although they 
 
 kfng in- Covered him with clothes, he was not warm, ^^herefore his servants said 
 
 trusted to him, Let there be sought for mv lord the king a young: virgin and let her 
 
 to the . " " o J o o 
 
 care of attend the king and constantly take care of him; and let her lie in your 
 shag bosom, that the lord my king may be warm. ^So they sought for a beau- 
 tiful maiden throughout all the territory of Israel and found Abishag the 
 ShunammiteJ and brought her to the king. '^And the maiden was surpass- 
 ingly beautiful; and she took care of the king and ministered to him; but 
 the king knew her not. 
 Adoni- ^Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be 
 PQ^j' king. Therefore he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen and fifty 
 spiracy men to run before him as runners. ^And his father had never in his life 
 troubled him by saying, ^\liy have you done so ? And he was also an ex- 
 ceedingly good-looking man, and he was by birth next after Absalom. ''And 
 he entered into negotiations with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abia- 
 thar the priest, so that they espoused Adonijah's cause. ^ ^g^t Zadok the 
 priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei 
 and Rei and David's famous heroes were not with Adonijah. ^And Adoni- 
 
 E 20'* Heb., Let them ask in Abel and so they are at an end. But the Gk. reading which is 
 followed above, seems to be demanded by the succeeding context. It means that Abel was 
 famous as a conserver of Israelite custom and tradition. 
 
 i- 20^^ So Gk. 
 
 § 45 Contents and literary style indicate that I Kgs. 1 is the direct continuation of 11 Sam. 
 9-20. With graphic details the early .ludean David narratives record the circumstances which 
 led to Solomon's accession. Since the given facts did not appeal to the Chronicler, he simply 
 states I Chr 23', that. When David was old and advanced in years, he made Solomon his son 
 king over Israel. 
 
 ' 1' According to the editor David at this time was about seventy years old, II Sam. 5^' ', 
 I Kgs. 2". 
 
 ' 1' From the town of Sunem opposite Gilboa on the northern side of the plain of Esdraelon. 
 Cf. I Sam. 28^ and II Kgs. 4S. 
 
 ''I' lAt., his words were with . . . so that they helped him, following Adonijah. 
 
 164
 
 than's 
 in to 
 
 ADONIJAH'S ATTEMPTED USURPATION [I Kgs. l^ 
 
 Early Jvdcan David Narratives 
 
 jah slew' sheep and oxen and fallings by the Serpent's Stone, which is beside 
 the Fuller's Spring, and he invited all his brothers, the king's sons, together 
 with all the royal officials of Judah; ^*^but the prophet Nathan and Benaiah 
 and the famous heroes and Solomon his brother, he did not invite. 
 
 ^^Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, Have vou not Na- 
 heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has been made king without David *! 
 our lord knowing it? ^-^Now therefore come, let me counsel you that you insure 
 may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. ^^Go at once to mon's 
 King David and say to him, ' Did you not, my lord, the king, swear to your gio^n*^^' 
 maid-servant, saying, " Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he 
 shall sit on my throne ? Why then has Adonijah been made king ? " ' ^^Just 
 as you are talking with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm 
 your words. 
 
 ^^And Bathsheba went in to the king into his apartment; and the king Bath- 
 was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king, ^^^l^^ ^ 
 l^And Bathsheba bowed and did obeisance to the king. And the king said, s"Ke 
 What do you wish ? ^'xVnd she said to him, My lord, you swore to your David 
 maid-servant by Jehovah God, ' Solomon your son shall be king after me 
 and he shall sit upon my throne.' ^^And now, see, Adonijah has been made 
 king, without my lord, the king, knowing it. ^^And he has slain oxen and 
 fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king 
 and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon 
 your servant he has not invited. 20\jjj now, my lord, the king, the eyes of 
 all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who .shall sit on the throne 
 of my lord the king after him.™ -^^Otherwise the result will be, when my 
 lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be 
 regarded as criminals. 
 
 22And, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the pro[)het came N.a- 
 in. 23^\n(l they told the king, saying, Nathan the prophet is here. And he ^o^"'^ 
 came in before the king and did obeisance before the king with his face to fimia- 
 the ground. -*And Nathan said. My lord the king, have you said, ' Adoni- words 
 jah shall be king after me and shall sit on my throne .' ' ^-'For he has gone 
 down this day and slain oxen and fatlings and she<'p in abundance, and has 
 called all the king's sons and the commanders of the army" and Abiathar 
 the i)riest; v.nd there they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, 
 ' May King Adonijah live ! ' 20]}, ,j^^ jj^(>^ even me, your servant, and Zadok 
 the {)riest, Hcnaiali the son of Jchoiada, and your .servant" Solomon, has 
 he not invited. ^''Ilas this been brought about by my lord the king," 
 and have you not showed your servants who .should sit on the throne of my 
 lord the king after him ? 
 
 ' 1' Ttie wDrd ordinarily means, to sacrifice. Tiic implication is that it was a sacrificial 
 meal in honor of his acoesHion. 
 
 '" 1™ So 'I'arK. and certain Heb. MSS. Accepted Hcb., yoM. 
 
 " I^'' lyiic, lUe commander-in-chief Joah. 'I'liis may well he original. 
 
 " 1-* Luc, Hon. 
 
 I' l'^' The ll(!l). form of ihc 'lucslioii implies the net^alivc an.swer. 
 
 1G5
 
 I Kgs. 128] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 David's -^Then King David answered and said, Call Bathsheba to me. And 
 ^^^r n ^^^ came into the king's presence and stood before the king, ^g'phen the 
 that king took an oath and said, As Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed me out 
 "on of all adversity, "^"^as I have sworn to you by Jehovah, the God of Israel, 
 '^"/^''^ saying, ' Solomon your son shall be king after me and he shall sit on my 
 throne in my place; ' verily so will I do to-day. ^^Then Bathsheba bowed 
 her face to the earth, and did obeisance to the king and said. May my lord 
 King David live forever. 
 Com- 22'j>i^gj^ King David said. Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, 
 {^^^'^ and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And when they came before the king 
 pro- 33fijg king said to them. Take with you the servants of your lord, let Solomon 
 him my son ride upon my own mule, bring him down to Gihon,'^ ^^and there 
 ^'"^ let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel; 
 and blow the trumpet, and say. May King Solomon live ! ^^Then you shall 
 go up after him, and he shall enter in and sit upon my throne, for he shall 
 be king in my place; and I have appointed him to be leader over Israel and 
 Judah. ^'^And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said. 
 So mav it be ! thus may Jehovah establish the words of my lord the king. "" 
 ^"As Jehovah has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solo- 
 mon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David ! 
 Public ^^Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of 
 f;!^,?'„'i,*^ Jehoiada, tos;ether with the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and 
 
 ing ana .- . . . on 
 
 accept- set Solomon on King David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. ^^And 
 
 ance of . . 
 
 Solo- Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tent and anointed Solomon. 
 
 king^* Thereupon they blew the trumpet; and all the people said. May Solomon 
 
 live ! "^^Then all the people went up after him and the people played on 
 
 flutes and rejoiced so loudly that the earth seemed to be rent with their voice. 
 
 An- ^^Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it just as 
 
 ment'^of ^^^^Y ^^^'^ finished eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, 
 
 the fact he said. Why is there the noise of the city in an uproar .^ '^- While he was still 
 
 con- speaking, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. x\nd Adonijah 
 
 tors^' said, Come in, for you are a valiant man and bring good news. ^ ^^And 
 
 Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Nay, but our lord King David 
 
 has made Solomon king. ^^And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, 
 
 Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, together with the 
 
 Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they have set him on the king's mule, 
 
 ^°and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in 
 
 Gihon, and they have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is thrown 
 
 into an uproar. That is the noise which you heard. ^^And Solomon also 
 
 has taken his seat on the royal throne ! "*~And moreover the king's servants 
 
 have already come to congratulate*^ our lord King David, saying, ' May God*^ 
 
 1 1^ Probably to be identified with Virgin's Fount, the intermittent spring south of the 
 temple hill. 
 
 ■■ 1*^ So practically Gk. and Luc. Heb., thus may Jehovah the God of my lord the king say, 
 
 ' 1^ Jonathan figures as a messenger in II Sam. 15" and IT'^. 
 
 « 1" Lit., bless. 
 
 " V So Gk., Lat., Luc, and Targ. Heb.. thy God. 
 
 166
 
 SOLOMON'S ACCESSION [I Kgs. 1^7 
 
 Early Judcan David Xarratives 
 
 make the name of Solomon better than your name, and his throne greater 
 than your throne ! ' and the king bowed himself on his bed. ^^And further- 
 more thus said the king, ' Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, who hath 
 given one of my descendants^ to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even 
 seeing it.' 
 
 ^^Then all the guests of Adonijah were seized with terror and rose up and Pardon 
 each went his way. °^Bu\. Adonijah in his fear of Solomon arose, and went ciz^^ 
 and caught hold of the horns of the altar. ^^And it was reported to Solomon, spira- 
 See, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold he has caught hold of the 
 horns of the altar, saying. Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will 
 not slay his servant with the sword. '^-Solomon said. If he shall show him- 
 self a worthy man, not a hair of him shall fall to the earth, but if wicked- 
 ness be found in him he must die. ^^So Kincj Solomon sent to brina: him 
 away from the altar. And he came and did obeisance to King Solomon. 
 And Solomon said to him. Go to your house. 
 
 § 46. David's Final Injunctions and Death, I Kgs. 2»-", I Chr. SS'-gD^" 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 Popular Solomon 
 Traditions 
 I Kgs. 2 iNow 
 
 I Chr. 28 ^Then David assembled all the princes David's 
 
 w h e n the time of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the commanders to the^^ 
 
 of the divisions that served the king, and the com- leaders 
 manders of thousands, and of hundreds, and the people 
 rulers over all the possessions and cattle of the king 
 and of his sons, together with the chamberlains and 
 the mighty heroes — every valiant man — to Jerusa- 
 lem, ^'phen David the king stood up on his feet and 
 said. Hear me, my brothers and my people. I myself 
 had in mind to build a house of rest for the ark of the 
 covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God; 
 
 drew near that Da- 
 vid must die, he 
 charged Solomon 
 his son, saying, -^I 
 am going the way 
 
 of all the earth. Be 
 
 strong therefore, and 
 show }-ourself a man; 
 ^and faithfully dis- 
 charge your duty to 
 
 ■^ 1^* So Gk. and liUc. Heb. omits the important expression, of my descendnnls. 
 
 § 46 In I Kgs. 2-''-'' '"■ " the languaRC and ideas of the prophetic editor are readily 
 recognized. Regarding the origin of the remaining verses, however, there is some lioubt. The 
 reason urged in -^ for the execution of Joab is not tlie command of David but .loab's complicity 
 in Adonijah's conspiracy. The motive in *i w appears to be Solomon's purpose to remove ."ill 
 opponents; at least there is no reference in w-^" (which evidently came from the early David 
 source) to the king's commands in '■^. Certain Gk. texts also introduce the account of David's 
 death immefliately after 1. suggesting that '-' was not found in the text upon which they are 
 ba.sed. The bloodthirsty feeling is also not in harmony with the character of Davi<l portrayed 
 elsewhere. Leniency and regard for human life distinguished him in a marked degree from his 
 contemporaries. On the whole, therefore, it .seems probable that this parting testament was 
 derived from a later source. In the early David narratives, Solomon puts Shimei and Joab to 
 death to prepare the way for his absolute rule. This w.as undoubtedly the real motive. In ''•", 
 however, the responsibility for the act is transferred to David and thus Solomon is exculpated. 
 This fact suggests that 2''" was baser) on a pf)pular .Sdjomim tradition. 
 
 The traditional last words of David become in the I Chr. 28 and 29 explicit directions for 
 Solomon regarding the buiMing of the temple. The presence of late prophetic expressions and 
 many ideas and idioms, which are not e.vaetly characteristic of the Chronicler, suggest thnt they 
 may originally have been t.aken from an earlier source. If .so, it wa.s the late priestly histor.v 
 of the temple. Cf. note § Xi. The noble prayer in 29'"-"', as well as ^o-^", is, however, from the 
 pen of the Clironicler, and possibly the entire section. 
 
 167
 
 I Kgs. 23] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL [I Chr. 282 
 
 Injunc- 
 tion to 
 put to 
 death 
 his foes 
 
 Popular Solomon 
 
 Traditions 
 
 Jehovah your God, 
 by walking in his 
 ways, by keeping his 
 statutes, his com- 
 mands, his judgments, 
 and his testimonies, 
 as it is written in tiie 
 law of Moses, that you 
 may act wisely and 
 prosper in all that you 
 do and in all that you 
 undertake ; ^that Je- 
 hovah may redeem 
 his promise which he 
 made to me, saying, 
 ' If your sons take 
 heed to walk before 
 me in truth with all 
 their heart and with 
 all their soul, there 
 shall not fail you' 
 (said he) ' a man on 
 the throne of Israel.' 
 
 ^And you also 
 know what Joab 
 the son of Zeruiah 
 did to me, how he 
 did to the two com- 
 manders of the ar- 
 mies of Israel, Ab- 
 ner the son of Ner, 
 and Amasa the son 
 of Jether, how that 
 he slew them and 
 thus in time of 
 peace avenged 
 blood shed in war,^ 
 and put innocent 
 upon his 
 e that was 
 about his loins, and 
 in his shoes that 
 were on his feet. 
 6Act therefore ac- 
 cording to your wis- 
 dom, so that you 
 will not let his 
 hoary head go down 
 
 blood -^ 
 gird' 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 and had made ready for the building. ^B^t Qod 
 said to me, ' Thou shalt not build a temple for my 
 name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed 
 blood.' ^However Jehovah, the God of Israel, chose 
 me out of all the house of my father to be king over 
 Israel forever; for he hath chosen Judah to be prince; 
 and in the house of Judah, the house of my father, 
 and among the sons of my father, he took pleasure in 
 me to make me king over all Israel. ^And of all my 
 sons (for Jehovah hath given me many sons), he hath 
 chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Je- 
 hovah's rule over Israel. ^And he said to me, ' Sol- 
 omon thy son shall build my temple and my courts; 
 for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his 
 father. ''And I will establish his kingdom forever, 
 if he will faithfully execute my commands and my 
 ordinances as at present.' ^Now therefore, in the 
 sight of all Israel, the assembly of Jehovah, and in 
 the audience of our God, observe and seek to know all 
 the commands of Jehovah your God, that ye may 
 possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance 
 to your children after you forever. 
 
 ^And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God Exhor- 
 of thy father, and serve him with a whole heart, and ^o ^°^ 
 
 with a willing mind; for Jehovah searcheth all hearts, Solo- 
 
 , . mon 
 
 and perceiveth every impulse of the thoughts; if thou 
 
 seek him he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake 
 
 him he will cast thee off forever. ^^Take heed now; 
 
 for Jehovah hath chosen thee to build a temple as a 
 
 sanctuary; faithfully do it. 
 
 i^Then David gave to Solomon his son the model Plan 
 
 of the porch, and the buildings belonging to it: the organi- 
 
 treasuries, the upper rooms, the inner chambers, and ^fVh° 
 
 the place of the mercy seat; ^^and the plan of all that temple 
 
 he had in mind regarding the courts of the temple of 
 
 Jehovah, and all the surrounding chambers for the 
 
 treasures of the house of God, and for the treasures 
 
 of consecrated objects, ^^^g y^eW as for the courses 
 
 of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of 
 
 the service of the temple of Jehovah, and for all the 
 
 vessels for use in the temple of Jehovah; ^^regarding 
 
 " I Kgs. 2^ So Luc. Heb., put the blood of war on peace, which is, to say the least, ex- 
 tremely awkward. 
 
 ' I Kgs. 2;^ So Gk. and Luc. The Heb., blood of war, is probably due to a scribal repetition 
 of the expression in the preceding sentence. 
 
 168
 
 I Kgs. 26] 
 
 Popular Solomon 
 Traditions 
 
 to Sheol in peace. 
 "But show kindness 
 to the sons of Bar- 
 zillai the Gileadite 
 that they may be 
 among those who 
 eat at your table; 
 for so they came to 
 me when I fled 
 from Absalom your 
 brother. ^Further- 
 more you have with 
 you the Benjamite, 
 Shimei the son of 
 Gera of Bahurim, 
 who uttered a griev- 
 ous curse against 
 me on the day when 
 I went to Maha- 
 naim. But when he 
 came down to meet 
 me at the Jordan, I 
 swore to him by Je- 
 hovah, saying, ' I 
 will not put you to 
 death with the 
 sword.' ^But now 
 do not let him go un- 
 punished; you are a 
 wise man and know 
 what to do in order 
 to bring his hoary 
 head down with 
 blood to Sheol. 
 
 HIS FINAL INJUNCTIONS 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 [I Chr. 28^4 
 
 the gold by weight of gold for each kind of vessel used 
 in the service, regarding all the vessels of silver by 
 weight for each kind of vessel used in the service, ^■''by 
 weight also for the golden candlesticks, and for its 
 golden lamps by weight for each candlestick, and for 
 its lamps and for the silver candlesticks by weight for 
 each candlestick, and for its lamps according to the 
 use of each candlestick, ^^and the gold by weight for 
 the tables of showbread, for each table, and silver for 
 the tables of silver, ^''and the flesh-hooks, and the 
 basins, and the cups of pure gold, and for the golden 
 bowls by weight for each bowl, and for the silver bowls 
 by weight for each bowl, ^^and for the altar of in- 
 cense refined gold by weight, and gold for the model 
 of the chariot, the golden cherubim, that spread out 
 their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of 
 Jehovah.^ ^^Regarding all this^even all the exe- 
 cution of the plan — he has given me instruction by a 
 writing from the hand of Jehovah. 
 
 ^'^And David said to Solomon his son, execute it Com- 
 faithfully and courageously ! Fear not nor be dis- ["^goi. 
 mayed, for Jehovah God, my God, is with you ! He omon 
 will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work 
 for the service of the temple of Jehovah is finished. 
 2^And there are the courses of the priests and of the 
 Levites for all the service of the house of God, and 
 there shall be with you in every work whoever has 
 skill for any kind of service; also the leaders and all 
 the people for all your undertakings.^ 
 
 plete 
 
 the 
 
 work 
 
 39 ^Then David the king said to all the assembly, Solomon my son, whom David's 
 alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for vj^^ions 
 the palace is not for man, but for Jehovah God. -Now I have prepared as [gj"jj '',^ 
 far as I have been able for the house of my God the gold for the things of 
 gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the brass for the things of 
 brass, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, onyx 
 and stones for setting, and dark -colored stones and of divers colors, and all 
 
 • I Chr. 28" '8 Their awkward literary form and the inimite details mark these verses as 
 undoubtedly from the Chronicler. 
 
 '' I f:hr. 2S™. ^1 These also clearly originated with the Chronicler, 20 being a repetition of '", 
 and ^' being based on ^-^o. 
 
 169
 
 IChr. 292] DAVID'S REIGN OVER ALL ISRAEL 
 
 ChronicIer^s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 kinds of precious stones, and marble in abundance. ^Moreover also because 
 I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of 
 iiiv own of cjold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above 
 ali lluit I have prepared for the holy house: ^three thousand talents of gold, 
 of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined s'lver, with which 
 to overlay the walls of the houses, — ^the things of gold with gold, and the 
 things of silver with silver, and also all kinds of work made by the hands 
 of artificers. Who then is now willing to give with free hand to Jehovah ? 
 Re- *^Then the head of the families, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and 
 
 of tCr ^1^<^ commanders of thousands and hundreds, with the officers over the king's 
 jDeople work, announced themselves as willing. '^And they gave for the service of 
 wortl the house of God in gold, five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, 
 gift and in silver, ten thousand talents, and of brass, eighteen thousand talents, 
 and of iron, a hundred thousand talents. ^And those who had precious stones 
 gave them to the treasure of the temple of Jehovah, into the charge of Je- 
 hiel the Gershonite. ^Then the people rejoiced in that they offered willingly, 
 with a whole heart they offered willingly to Jehovah; and David the king 
 also rejoiced greatly. 
 David's i^Then David blessed Jehovah before all the assembly; and David said, 
 prayer pjggggj ^^ thou, O Jehovah, the God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 
 ^^Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the might, and the glory, and the 
 eminence, and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is 
 thine. Thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head 
 above all. ^-Riches and honor come from thee, and thou rulest over all, 
 and in thy hand is might and strength, and in thy hand it is the power to 
 make every one great and strong. ^^Now therefore, our God, we thank 
 thee and praise thy glorious name. ^^But who am I, and what is my people 
 that we should be able to offer such voluntary gifts, for all things come of 
 thee, and from thine own hand have we given to thee. ^^For we are only 
 guests before thee and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on 
 the earth are as a shadow, and there is no hope. ^^O Jehovah, our God, 
 all this store of things that we have prepared in order to build thee a temple 
 for thy holy name comes from thy hand, and all belongs to thee. ^"I know 
 also, my God, that thou triest the heart and hast pleasure in uprightness. 
 As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these 
 things; and now have I seen with joy thy people, who are present here, offer 
 willingly to thee. ^^O Jehovah, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of 
 Israel, our fathers, keep this forever as the purpose in the thoughts of the 
 hearts of thy people, and direct their hearts toward thee, ^^and grant to Sol- 
 omon my son that he may with whole heart keep thy commands, thy testi- 
 monies, and thy statutes, and do all these things, and build the palace for 
 which I have made provision. 
 Re- 20\j^j David said to all the assembly. Now bless Jehovah your God. Then 
 
 of thf ^1' tlie assembly blessed Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and bowed down 
 people their heads, and did homage to Jehovah and their king, si^^^j they of- 
 fered sacrifices to Jehovah, and on the next day they offered burnt-offerings 
 
 170
 
 HIS FINAL INJUNCTIONS [I Chr. 2921 
 
 Chronicler^ s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 to Jehovah, a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, 
 with their accompanying libations, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 
 2-Then they ate and drank before Jehovah on that day with great gladness. 
 Then they made Solomon the son of David king the second time,-^ and 
 anointed him to be Jehovah's prince and Zadok to be priest. -^So Solomon 
 sat on the throne of Jehovah as king in the place of David his father. And 
 he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him ; -^and all the princes, and the mighty 
 heroes as well, all the sons of King David paid homage to Solomon the 
 king. -°And Jehovah exalted Solomon greatly in the sight of all Israel 
 and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as no other king before him in 
 Israel had possessed. 
 
 ■^*^Thus David the son of Jesse was king over 
 all Israel. -"And the time durins: which he 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 l^Then David slept 
 with his fathers and was 
 buried in the city of Da- 
 vid. iiAnd the period 
 that Da\'id reigned over 
 Israel was forty years: 
 seven years in Hebron, 
 and thirty-three years he 
 reigned in Jerusalem. 
 
 during 
 vears : 
 
 reigned over Israel was forty years: seven years 
 he reigned in Hebron, and thirty-three years he 
 reigned in Jerusalem. -8 ^^j^j j^g died in a good old 
 age, satisfied with living, with riches, and with 
 honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place. 
 -^Now the acts of David the king from beginning 
 to end are already described in the history of 
 Samuel the seer, ^^together with all his reign and 
 his brave deeds, and the fortunes that befell him'^ 
 and Israel and all the kingdoms of the countries. 
 
 Estab- 
 lish- 
 ment of 
 Solo- 
 mon on 
 the 
 
 throne 
 of 
 Israel 
 
 Reign 
 
 and 
 
 death 
 
 of 
 
 David 
 
 IV 
 
 THE SPLENDORS AND BUILDING ENTERPRISES OF SOLO- 
 MON'S REIGN, I Kgs. 212-1143^ II Chr. 1-11 
 
 § 47. Removal of Solomon's Opponents, I Kgs. 2'2-46^ jj q\^j. ji 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 I Kgs. 2 '-Now Solomon .sat upon the throne of Da\ad his father and his king- 
 dom was firmh^ established. ^^Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Balh- 
 sheba the mother of Solomon and bowed before her. And she said. Do you 
 
 ' I Chr. 2922 Not founti in Gk. Evidently it is a harmonizing scribal gloss. 
 
 <i I Chr. 29^" Heb., limes that irent over. 
 
 The Splendors and Building Enterprises of Solomon's Reign. — 1 Kgs. 2'--"'' is really the 
 conclusion of the David history. The citations from the Solomon history begin with 3 which 
 contains certain popular stories illustrating his wisdom and furnishing a titling introduction to 
 that which follows. The kernel of the Solomon history is the recorfl of liis building enterprises. 
 The list of his officers which precedes and the account of his wealth and income which follows 
 
 Adoni- 
 jah's 
 solicita- 
 tions 
 for 
 Abi- 
 shag 
 
 § 47. This account of the initial acts of Solomon's reign is related not to the following, but 
 to the preceding passages. There is no tendency to idealize the policy of the king, but the 
 (frirn facts arc presentefl with the directness and naturalness, a.s well as picturcsqueness, that 
 characterize the early .ludean David narratives of which this section is the conclusion^ Tiie 
 story was objectionable to the Chronicler, who in common with his age idealized tlie cliaracter 
 and history of the builder of his beloved temple, .'\ccordingly he otnils it altogether, simply 
 stating ClI f'hr. 1') that Solomon the son «/ David was stronfjli/ established in his kingdom 
 and Jehovah his God iras ivith him and made him exceedinoiy pou'crful. 
 
 171
 
 I Kgs. 213] SPLENDORS OF SOLOMON'S REIGN 
 
 Early Judcan David Xarratives 
 
 come in a friendly manner?-'^ And he replied, Yes, ^^and added, I have 
 something to say to you. And she said. Speak. ^^And he said. You know 
 that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel regarded me as the coming 
 kinw, but now the kingdom has been taken away from me and has become 
 my brother's, for it was his from Jehovah. ^^Now, however, I would ask 
 one thing of you; do not refuse me. And she said to him. Speak. ^''And 
 he said. Then request Solomon the king — he will not refuse you — to give me 
 Abishag the Shunammite as wife. ^^And Bathsheba said. Good, I will speak 
 for you to the king. 
 Solo i^Bathsheba went therefore to King Solomon to speak to him for Adon- 
 
 ind"g- ij^h. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed before her, and sat down 
 nation q,^ i^jg throne, and a seat was placed^ for the king's mother, and she sat on 
 speedy his right. -^Then she said, I would make a small request of you; do not 
 tkTn of refuse me. And the king said to her. Make your request, my mother, for I 
 Adoni- ^vill not refuse you. ^i \n(j she said. Let Abishag the Shunammite be given 
 to Adonijah your brother as wife. --Then King Solomon answered and said 
 to his mother. Why then do you ask Abishag the Shimammite for x\donijah ? 
 Ask for him the kingdom also ! for he is my elder brother,'' and on his side'^ 
 are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah. ^S-j^i^gj-^upon King Solo- 
 mon swore by Jehovah, saying, God do to me whatever he pleaseth if Adon- 
 ijah has not spoken this word against his own life. ^^Now therefore as 
 Jehovah liveth, who hath established me and caused me to mount the throne 
 of David my father, and who hath, as he promised, given me posterity, 
 Adonijah shall surely be put to death this day. 251^}^^^ King Solomon sent 
 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, so that he died. 
 Banish- 26 .^^^j ^^ Abiathar the priest the king said. Go to Anathoth to your estate; 
 of for you are to-day condemned to die,^ but I will not put you to death, because 
 
 U^'^th y^^ bore the ark of Jehovah^ before David my father and because you shared 
 priest all the afflictions which my father experienced. ^''Thus Solomon ejected 
 
 Abiathar, so that he was no longer Jehovah's priest, that he might fulfil the 
 
 word of Jehovah which he spoke concerning the house of EH in Shiloh.'' 
 
 Joab's -^But when the report came to Joab — for Joab had supported Adonijah, 
 
 snd° ^ although he had not supported Absalom^ — Joab fled to the tent of Jehovah, 
 
 and caught hold of the horns of the altar. 29\nd it was told King Solomon, 
 
 are clearly connected with this major theme. Chap. 11 alone reflects the deep shadow which 
 hung oyer Solomon's reign as a consequence of his selfish despotic policy. By subsequent 
 generations the shadow was forgotten and the builder shared the veneration and glory that 
 centred about the temple. The tendency to idealize the comparatively small and modest 
 structure originally rearer! by Solomon, as one of his palace buildings, is well illustrated by the 
 great number of supplemental notes which have been added to the older accounts and the ten- 
 dency to overlay it profusely with gold and precious woods. 
 
 * 213 Lit _ /g your coming peace? The last clause is found in Gk. and Luc. and is probably 
 original. 
 
 ''2^9 So Gk. and Syr. Heb.. caused to be placed. 
 
 '^ 2-- Ileb. adfls through a scribal error, and for him. 
 
 ^ 2~ So Gk., Luc, Syr., and Lat. The Heb. omits, on his side. 
 
 "^ 2'* Heb., made me a house. 
 
 ' 226 Heb., a man of death. 
 
 E 2^5 So Gk. and Syr. The Heb. adds by mistake before Jehovah the word. Lord. 
 
 ^ 2-' Evidently this is a later note, added by an editor familiar with the later Ephraimite 
 passage. II Sam. 2" =». 
 
 ' 22« So Heb., Gk., and Targ. Luc. and Syr., Solomon. 
 
 172 
 
 e
 
 REMOVAL OF S0I.0:M0N'S OPPONENTS [T Kgs. 229 
 
 Early Judean David Narratives 
 
 Joab has fled to the tent of Jehovah and is there beside the altar. Thereupon 
 Solomon sent to Joab, saying, How comes it that you have fled to the altar ? 
 Joab replied. Because I was afraid of you and so I fled to Jehovah. J Then 
 Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, strike him down. 
 2^And Benaiah went to the tent of Jehovah and said to him, The king com- 
 mands, ' Come forth.' But he said. No; I will rather die here. And Benaiah 
 brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab and thus he answered 
 me. -^^And the king said to him. Do as he has said: strike him down and 
 bury him, that you may take away the innocent blood which Joab shed from 
 me and from my father's clan. -^-And Jehovah will rcfjuite his bloody act 
 upon his own head, because he struck down two men more honorable and 
 better than he, and slew them with the sword without the knowledge of 
 my father David: Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, 
 and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. ^^So shall 
 their blood come back upon the head of Joab and the head of his descend- 
 ants forever; but to David, and to his descendants, and to his house, and 
 to his throne may there be peace forever from Jehovah. ^"^Then Benaiah 
 the son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and slew him; and he was 
 buried in his own house in the wilderness. ^^And the king put Benaiah 
 the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and the king put Zadok the 
 priest in the place of Abiathar. 
 
 3^Then the king summoned Shimel and said to him, Build a house in Jeru- The 
 salem, there you may live, but you shall not go forth from there to any place tj^ns'" 
 whatever. ^'^For as soon as you go away and cross the Brook Kidron, know ""- 
 for certain that you shall surely die; your blood shall be upon your own head, upon 
 ^^And Shimei said to the king, The statement is fair; Your servant will do S"'"^®' 
 as my lord the king has said. And Shimei lived in Jerusalem a long time. 
 
 ^^But at the end of three years, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to Achish Shim- 
 son of Maacah king of Gath. And when it was reported to Shimei, Your ^' ^ ** 
 slaves are in Gath, '^"Shimei rose and saddled his ass and went to Gath to 
 Achish to seek his slaves. And Shimei went and brought his slaves from 
 Gath. ^^And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to 
 Gath and had come back again. '^-Then the king summoned Shimei, and 
 said to him, Did I not cause you to take an oath by Jehovah and solemnly 
 admonish you, saying, ' Know for certain that as soon as you go away to any 
 place whatever, you shall surely die ' ? And you said to me, ' The statement 
 is fair.' ^"^Why then have you not kept the oath of Jehovah and the com- 
 mand that I laid upon you ? "^^The king also .said to Shimei, You are aware 
 of all the wickedness which you yourself alone know, that you did to David 
 my father; now Jehovah hath brought your wickedness upon your own head. 
 ^^But King Solomon shall be blessed and the throne of David shall be es 
 tablished before Jehovah forever. "'So the king gave conniiand to BeiiaiaL 
 the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and thus he died. 
 So the kingdom was brought completely under the control of Solomon. 
 
 1 220 The entire clause, Therevpon Solomon sent . . . to Jehovah, has fallen out of Ui« 
 Heb., but is retained in the Gk. and Luc. 
 
 173
 
 I Kgs. 33] SPLENDORS OF SOLOMON'S REIGN [II Chr. 12 
 
 48. Solomon's Wisdom, I Kgs. 3--'\ 4=«-", II Chr. P-'^ 
 
 Solo- 
 mon's 
 sacri- 
 fice at 
 Gibeon 
 
 Popular Solomon Tradi- 
 tions 
 
 I Kgs. 3 'Now Solomon 
 loved Jehovah so that he 
 walked in the statutes of Da- 
 \id his father; onlj- he sacri- 
 ficed and burnt offerings'' on 
 the high places. -The people 
 likewise sacrificed on the high 
 places because up to that 
 time no temple liad been 
 
 built for Jehovah.! '*And the 
 
 king went to Gibeon to 
 
 sacrifice there; for that 
 
 was the great high place; 
 
 a thousand burnt offerings 
 
 did Solomon offer upon 
 
 that altar. 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 1 2 And Solomon summoned all Is- 
 rael, the commanders of thousands and of hun- 
 dreds, and the judges and every prince in all 
 Israel, the heads of the clans. ^gQ Solomon, 
 and all the assembly with him, went to the high 
 place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tent 
 of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of 
 Jehovah had made in the wilderness. ^But the 
 ark of God David had brought up from Kiriath- 
 jearim to the place that David had prepared for 
 it; for he had pitched for it a tent at Jerusalem. 
 ^Moreover the brazen altar, that Bezalel the son 
 of Uri, the son of II ur, had made, was there before 
 the dwelling of Jehovah. And Solomon and the 
 assembly sought it. ^And Solomon made an 
 offering there before Jehovah on the brazen altar 
 which was at the tent of meeting, and sacrificed 
 upon it a thousand burnt -offerings. 
 
 His 
 
 request 
 
 for 
 
 ^In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon 
 in a dream by night. And God said. Ask 
 To'ru?™ ^'^^t I shall give thee. ^And Solomon said, 
 justly Thou hast showed to thy servant David my 
 
 father great kindness, according as he walked 
 before thee in truth, in righteousness, and in up- 
 rightness of heart with thee; and thou hast re- 
 served for him tliis great kindness, in that thou 
 hast given him a son who sits on liis throne tliis 
 day. "And now, O Jehovah my God, thou 
 hast made thy servant king in the place of 
 David my father, although I am but a child, 
 not knowing how to go out or come in. 
 
 ''In that night God appeared 
 to Solomon and said to him, 
 Ask what I shall give thee. 
 *And Solomon said to God, 
 Thou hast showed great kind- 
 ness to David my father, and 
 hast made me king in his place, 
 ^Now, O Jehovah God, let th^ 
 promise to David my father 
 be established; for thou hast 
 made me king over a people as 
 numerous as the dust of the 
 
 § 48 In the Gk. 3' follows 4 and is also connected with 9^'' with which it naturally belongs. 
 Vss. 2. 3 are clearly from late prophetic editors, - having been inserted last. In the passage 
 beginning with *, the worship at high places is assumed as perfectly natural, but the later 
 editors felt it necessary to excuse Solomon's act. These stories appear to have been taken from 
 the popular cycle which grew up about the name of Solomon, as about those of Saul and 
 David. Cf. Introd., p. 15. 'The Chronicler in the parallel passages explains his going to 
 Gibeon by stating that the tent of meeting was there, ^^. The narrative in I Kgs. ^'-^s is as a 
 whole prophetic in character, and is based no doubt on popular tradition. It has been sup- 
 plemented at many points, however, by the late prophetic editor, whose work is clearly revealed 
 by the presence of his characteristic phrases. 
 
 ^ I Kgs. 3^ The Heb. here and elsewhere is correctly translated, burn incense; but it is 
 very doubtful whether or not incense was ever employed in the pre-exilic Heb. ritual. The 
 original meaning of the verb is, to cause the savor of the sacrifice to rise. In II Kgs. 16'3' i' it is 
 used to describe the burning of the burnt-offering and the cereal-offering. It is employed 
 elsewhere in connection with the burning of the fat or vegetable sacrifices. Ordinarily in pre- 
 exilic literature it simply means, offer sacrifice. 
 
 ' I Kgs. 32 So Gk. Heb., for the name of Jehovah. The introduction of the name is probably 
 a later scribal refLnement. 
 
 174
 
 I Kgs. 38] 
 
 SOLOMON'S WISDO:\r 
 
 [II ChR. 19 
 
 Jeho- 
 vah's 
 
 Popular Solomo7i Traditions 
 
 *And thy servant is in the midst of thy people 
 which thou hast chosen, a great people too nu- 
 merous to be numbered or counted. "Give thy 
 servant therefore an understanding mind to 
 judge thy people, that I may discern be- 
 tween good and evil; for who is able to 
 judge this thy great people ? 
 
 ^^And it pleased the Lord that Solomon 
 had asked this thing. ^^And God said to 
 him, Because thou hast asked this thing and 
 hast not- asked for thyself long life nor riches 
 nor the life of thy enemies, but hast asked 
 for thyself insight to discern justice; ^-be- 
 hold, I have done according to thy request: 
 
 I have given thee a wise and discerning mind, 
 
 so that there hath been none like thee before 
 thee, neither after thee shall any arise like thee. 
 
 ^^And I have also given thee that which thou 
 
 hast not asked: both riches and honor, so 
 that, as long as thou livest, there shall not be any 
 among the kings like thee. i^And if thou wilt 
 walk in my ways, so that thou wilt keep my stat- 
 utes and my commands, as did thy father David, 
 
 then will I give thee long life. ^^And when 
 
 Solomon awoke, behold it was a dream. 
 
 Then he returned to Jerusalem, and stood 
 before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah and of- 
 fered up burnt-offerings and sacrificed peace-of- 
 ferings and made a feast for all his servants.™ 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical 
 History 
 
 earth. ^"Give me now wis- 
 dom and knowledge, that I 
 may go out and come in be- 
 fore this people; for who can 
 judge this thy great people ? 
 
 ^^Then God said to Solo- 
 mon, Because this was in thy 
 heart and thou hast not asked 
 riches, wealth, nor the life of 
 those who hate thee, neither 
 hast thou asked long life, but 
 hast asked wisdom and knowl- 
 edge for thyself, that thou 
 mayest judge my people over 
 whom I have made thee king, 
 ^^wisdom and knowledge is 
 granted to thee; and I will give 
 thee riches and wealth and 
 honor, such as none of the kings 
 has had who have been before 
 thee, neither shall there any 
 after thee have the like. ^^So 
 Solomon came from the high 
 place that was at Gibeon, from 
 before the tent of meeting, to 
 Jerusalem, 
 over Israel 
 
 And he reigned 
 
 i^Then two harlots came to the king and stood before him. ^''And the An ex- 
 one woman said, O, my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house; ofSolo 
 and I was delivered of a child in her presence within the house. ^^Now on mpns 
 the third day after I was delivered, this woman was also delivered and we dom: 
 were together, there being no one else with us in the house: we two being l^l^ 
 alone in the house. ^^And this woman's child died in the night, because she of the 
 lay upon it. 20\^(j g]^g arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, moth- 
 while your maid-servant slept, and laid it in her bosom and laid her dead '"^^ 
 child in my bosom. 2i\jj(j when I rose in the morning to nurse my child, 
 there it was dead; but when I looked at it in the morning, behold, it was 
 not my son whom I had borne. 22''p],pj^ |],p other woman said. No; but 
 the living is my son, and the dead child is your son. And the first womAn 
 was saying, No; but the dead is your son and the living child is my son. 
 Thus they contended before the king. 
 
 " I Kgs. 3"* The inconsistency of Solomon's first Roinp; to Gibeon to sacrifice, if he was 
 accustonaefi to do so before the ark, did not f)ccur to the late projjhetic editor, who added this 
 half-verse in order to bring Solomon's conduct into harmony with later usage and ideas. 
 
 175
 
 IKgs. 323] SPLENDORS OF SOLOMON'S REIGN 
 
 Popular Solomon Traditions 
 
 His ^S'pijpn »lig i^ing said, This one says, ' This is my son, the hving, and your 
 
 cfous son is the dead.' And the other says, 'No; but your son is the dead, and 
 
 decision my g^j^ jg tjjg hving ! ' 24^}^gi.pypQj^ the king said, Bring me a sword. And 
 
 they brought a sword before the king. -^^And the king said, Divide the 
 
 living child in two and give half to the one and half to the other. ^"^Then 
 
 the woman to whom the living child belonged, spoke to the king — for her 
 
 heart vearned over her son — and she said, O, my lord, give her the living 
 
 child and on no account put it to death. But the other said, It shall be 
 
 neither mine nor yours! Divide it! ^^Xhen the king answered and said, 
 
 Give her the hving child, and on no account put it to death; she is his 
 
 mother. 28\j^(j ^yhen all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had 
 
 rendered, they revered the king, for they saw that divine wisdom to execute 
 
 justice was in him. 
 
 His 4 -"And God gave Solomon wisdom and insight in plentiful measure, and breadth of 
 
 reputa- rnind, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore, ^''so that Solomon's wisdom sur- 
 
 tionfor passed the wisdom of all the eastern Arabians" and all the wisdom of Egj-pt. ^'For 
 
 ^'^ he was wiser than all men: than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, Darda, the 
 
 sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. ^-And he uttered 
 
 three thousand proverbs, and his songs were five thousand." ^^And he spoke of different 
 
 varieties of trees from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of 
 
 the wall ; he spoke also of beasts, of birds, of creeping things, and of fishes. p '^And 
 
 there came some from among all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, deputed by 
 
 all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.i 
 
 §49. Organization and Glories of Solomon's Kingdom, I Kgs. 3'' 4'-"' "■^*- 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 Solo- I Kgs. 4 ^Now Solomon was king over all Israel. -And these were the 
 
 court^ princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok was priest; "^Elihoreph and 
 
 officials Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud 
 
 was chancellor;'" *and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was at the head of the 
 
 " 430 Lit., children of the East. But this is used in Judg. 63- s*. 7^^, Is. 11». Jer. 49=s, and 
 elsewhere to designate the nomadic Arabian tribes east of Israel in northern Arabia, the home 
 of the popular proverb. 
 
 ° 4P So Gk. and Luc. and certain Lat. MSS. Heb., one thousand and five, but by analogy 
 the round number is probably original. 
 
 p 433 Cf . for an example, Pr. 6^. The habits of plants and animals were frequently used 
 by ancient proverb-makers to illustrate their teachings. 
 
 q 429-M 4 part of these verses in the Gk. follow 2--^. They embody the late prophetic tradi- 
 tion regarding the wisdom of Solomon, which is here magnified and conceived of as ethical as 
 well as mere keenness of wit, as in the previous early tradition citefl as an illustration. The 
 author appears to have in mind proverbs similar to those found in the early collection in 
 Pr. 101-162=. ^ 
 
 § 49 I Kgs. 4 marks a new beginning independent of the preceding chapter. The flowing, 
 picturesque style of the popular story is suddenly exchanged for the repetitious verbiage of the 
 state annals which appear here to have been quoted verbatim. The Gk. seems to have pre- 
 ser^-ed the original order. Since it is also much more logical than the Heb. it has been followed 
 for the most part. Vss. 20. 21, 24-25 however, are awkwardly introduced in the Gk. after 2-». 
 1 hey appear to be later insertions which, as is frequently the case with similar additions, have 
 found a different place in the two versions. Vs. 26 in the Gk. is combined with ICF^, where it 
 probably belonged in the original text. 
 
 The older sections vividly present that system of organization, taxation, and forced labor, 
 which was the source of Solomon's wealth and glory and at the same time the cause of the ulti- 
 mate division of the empire. 
 
 ''4^ The one xvho called to remembrance, i.e., laid important questions before the king, 
 doubtless advising him. He probably also kept records of important events, so that the mean- 
 ing recorder is not misleading, but this did not apparently represent all his functions. 
 
 176
 
 ORGANIZATION OF HIS KINGDOM [I Kgs. 4^ 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 amiy; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;' ''and Azariah the son of Nathan 
 Avas at the head of the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was a priest* 
 and the kuig's friend; ^and Ahishar was prefect of the palace; and Adoniram 
 the son of Abda was in charge of the forced lew. 
 
 "And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for Officers 
 the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month e.'u\"ith 
 m the year. ^And these are their names: Ben-hur," in the hill-country of t'lepol- 
 
 Icct ion 
 
 Ephraim; ^Ben-deker, in INIakaz, Shaalbim, Bethshemesh, and Elonbeth- of food 
 hanan: I'^Ben-hesed, in Arubboth; to him belonged Socoh and all the land court ^ 
 of Hepher; ^^Ben-abinadab, in all the highland of Dor (he had Tapath the 
 daughter of Solomon as wife); ^-Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and 
 Megiddo and all Bethshean, which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from 
 Bethshean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokneam; ^^Ben-geber 
 in Ramoth in Gilead; to him belonged the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which 
 are in Gilead p" to him belonged the region of Argob, which is in Bashan,'^' sixty 
 great cities with walls and brazen bars; ^^Ahinadab the son of Iddo in 
 Mahanaim; ^'^^himaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter 
 of Solomon as wife); ^^Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;^ 
 ^"Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; ^^Shimei the son of Ela, in 
 Benjamin; ^^Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gad,^ the country of Sihon 
 king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and one officer was over all the 
 officials w ho were in the land.^ 
 
 ^"And these officers provided food for King Solomon and for all who Amount 
 came to King Solomon's table, each in his month. They let nothing be lack- pro-"' 
 ing. -^Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds they brt)ught visions 
 to the proper place — each according to his individual responsibility. ^^^And 
 Solomon's provision for one day was about six hundred bushels'' of fine 
 flour, and about one thou.sand, two hundred bushels'^ of meal, -'^ten fat, 
 and twenty meadow-fed oxen, and a hundred sheep, besides harts, gazelles, 
 
 roebucks, and fatted fowls. 
 
 2'For he had dominion over everything on the other side the River Euplirates, from Extent 
 
 Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on the other side the River. And he had of Solo- 
 mon's 
 rule 
 
 ' 4^ Evidently a later insertion. In 1 Zadok's son has succeeded him and in 2-*-" .Vbiathar's 
 banishment is recorded. 
 
 ' 4^ Possibly the word means, an official, but the priests were early regarded as members 
 of the court. 
 
 " 4' Ben-hur, and the names, compounded with ben, son of, are not surnames, but un- 
 fortunately five of these names have been lost in all texts. Probably the oriRinal text was 
 annalistic in part, each line beginning with a name (of. ,Iosh. 12'--''), and the words next to the 
 margin suffered a common fate. 
 
 ^' 4'-' The Ok. and Luc. omit. It was probably aflded by a late editor from Dt. 3". 
 
 " 4" This last descriptive clau.se may also have been added from Dt. 3'. It is found, 
 however, in the Gk. 
 
 ^ 4'" This place has not been identified. Zebulon has been suggested with much plausi- 
 bility. 
 
 » 4'» So Gk. and I.uc. Heb.. Gilead. 
 
 h 419 jijof f,niy ij, ,yjg current translation, he vns the onlji officer vho ivas in the lutul, un- 
 warranted by the Hob., but it is also contradicted by '■'• ". A more than probiililc recon- 
 struction, suggested by the I,at., gives tlie aliove consistent reading. Tiie Git., wliich has lost 
 one of the jireceding names, completes tlio twelve by reading, in lite land of Jtidak. 
 
 ' 4^ Heb., i'" cor. The cor — the honicr = about SO galloiu. 
 
 <" 422 Heb., 60 cor. 
 
 177
 
 IKgs. 424] SPLENDORS OF SOLOMON'S REIGN 
 
 Annals of Solomon • 
 
 peace on all sides of him/ "so that Judah and Israel from Dan to Beersheba dwelt 
 in safety, every man under his own vine and fig tree, as long as Solomon lived. -"Judah 
 and Israel were as numerous as the sand which is by the sea; they were ever eating and 
 drinking and making merry. ■^^And Solomon was the ruler from the River to the land 
 of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and were subject 
 to Solomon as long as he lived. 
 
 3 ^And Solomon allied himself by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt, 
 and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until 
 Egypt iig }|ad completed the building of his own palace and the temple of Jehovah 
 and the wall around Jerusalem. 
 
 9 ^"^Then Pharaoh king of Egypt went up, captured Gezer, and burnt it 
 with fire, slew the Canaanites who dwelt in the city, and gave it as a portion 
 to his daughter, Solomon's wife. ^'^And Solomon rebuilt Gezer. 
 
 Al- 
 liance 
 with 
 
 Capt- 
 ure of 
 Gezer 
 
 § 50. Solomon's Preparations for his Building Enterprises, I Kgs. 5, 
 
 II Chr. 2 
 
 Solo- 
 mon's 
 request 
 that 
 Hiram 
 send 
 work- 
 men 
 and 
 mate- 
 rials 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 I Kgs. 5 'And Hi- 
 ram king of Tyre sent 
 his servants to Solomon 
 because he had heard 
 that they had anointed 
 him king in the place of 
 his father; for Hiram 
 had loved David. 2\nd 
 Solomon sent to Hiram, 
 
 saying, 'You yourself 
 know that David my father 
 was not able to build a tem- 
 ple for the name of Jeho- 
 vah his God on account of 
 the warlike foes' who were 
 about him on every side, 
 until Jehovah brought 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 2 ^Now Solomon purposed to build a 
 temple for the name of Jehovah, and a temple for 
 his kingdom, ^^nd Solomon counted out seventy 
 thousand burden-bearers and eighty thousand 
 hewers of stone in the mountains and three thou- 
 sand six hundred to oversee them. ^And Solo- 
 mon sent to Iluram king of Tyre, saying. As you 
 dealt with David my father, in that you sent him 
 cedars to build himself a palace in which to 
 dwell, *so I now am about to build a temple for 
 the name of Jehovah my God, to dedicate it to 
 him, and to burn before him incense of sweet 
 spices, and for regular presentation of the bread of 
 the presence, for the burnt-offerings morning and 
 evening, on the sabbaths and on the new moons 
 
 « 4^'' Evidently, like kindred passages in the post-exilic -^vTiter?, e.g., Ezra 4"'' '•• '', 
 721, 25_ Neh. 2'' 9^ written from the point of view of Babylon and therefore a late insertion. 
 From Tiphsah . . . the River is not found in Gk.A and Luc. The verse as a whole is a 
 later duplicate of 21. 
 
 § 50 I Kgs. 5 appears to be a continuation of the quotation from the annals, although 
 somewhat more expanded, as the subject-matter required. To the original narrative the 
 late prophetic editor has evidently also made certain additions in order to harmonize it with 
 his representations elsewhere and to bring into prominence the religious motives which most 
 concerned him. Thus 3. ■>. sb depend on II Sam. 7. Cf. Dt. 12^. i". The late religious con- 
 ception of Solomon's wisflom is reflected in ''• ^'-. Vss. ^^- "* do not appear to be in complete har- 
 mony with >3. i4_ Not only may the large numbers be questioned, but '^' '•' seem after ''■ '■* to 
 be superfluous, even though they do not refer to the same people. From their position, in the 
 moiaitains would naturally refer to the Lebanons, but the reference is ambiguous, as well as 
 the question whether the workmen were Israelites or not. Cf. 9-. It is significant that the 
 Chronicler reproduces these verses and ignores '^^ ", which give a different picture of the levy 
 and one in harmony with the extracts from the annals. Removing these secondary passages, 
 the remaining narrative has all the characteristics of a primitive source of the highest historical 
 value. 
 
 ' I Kgs. 53 The Heb. has the abstract noun, warfare, although it contains the plural 
 antecedent of the following verb. Targ., enemies. 
 
 178
 
 IKgs. 53] PREPARATIONS FOR HIS BUILDING [II Chr. 2^ 
 
 Chronicler''s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 and on tlie set feasts of Jehovah our God (which 
 is the constant practice of Israel). ^And the tem- 
 ple which I am about to build is great, for our God 
 is greater than all gods, ^u^t y^.\^Q jg ^ble to build 
 him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of 
 heavens cannot contain him ? Who am I then, 
 that I should build him a temple? It is fitting 
 only to offer sacrifice before him. "Now there- 
 fore send me a man skilful in working in gold, 
 silver and in purple, crimson and violet stuffs, and 
 who knows how to engrave stone in conjunction 
 with the skilful men who are w ith me in Judah 
 and in Jerusalem, whom David my father pro- 
 vided. ^Send me also cedar, cypress, and sandal- 
 wood from I^ebanon; for I know that your ser- 
 vants understand how to cut timber in Lebanon ; 
 and, behold, my servants w ill unite with your ser- 
 vants, ^even to prepare me timber in abiuidance; 
 for the temple which I am about to build should be 
 great and wonderful. ^^And I will now give to 
 your servants, the hewers that cut timber, four 
 hundred thousand bushels'^ of beaten wheat and 
 four hundred thousand bushels'^ of barley, and 
 one hundred and sixty thousand gallons' of wine 
 and one hundred and sixty thousand gallons of oil. 
 
 ^-And Huram said. Blessed be Jeho- 
 vah, the God of Israel, who hath made 
 heaven and earth, who hath given to 
 David the king a wise sou. endued with 
 discretion and understanding enough 
 to build a temple for Jehovah and a 
 temple for his kingdom. ^^And Hu- 
 ram the king of 1 yre sent to Solomon 
 the following reply in writing, I?ccause 
 Jehovah loveth his people, he hath 
 made you king over them. ^-^And now 
 I have sent a skilful man. endued with 
 imderstandiiig, lluram-abi, * 'the son of 
 a Danite woman; and his father was a 
 man of Tyre, who knows how to work 
 in gold, silver, brass, iron, stone, and 
 timber, and in jjurple, violet, and fine 
 
 Atmals of Solomon 
 
 them into subjection to 
 him.^ ■'But now Jehovali 
 my God hath given me rest 
 on every side: there is 
 neither adversary nor mis- 
 fortune. °Now I pur- 
 pose to build a temple 
 for the name of Jehovah 
 
 mv God, as Jehovah spoke 
 to David mj^ father, saying, 
 ' Tliy son, wliom I will set 
 on thy throne in thy place, 
 he shall build the temple 
 
 for my name.' ^there- 
 fore command that they 
 cut for me cedar timber 
 from I,ebanon; and my 
 servants will go with 
 your serv'ants, and I w ill 
 give you wages for your 
 servants just as you shall 
 say; for you know that 
 there is no one among 
 us who knoAvs how to 
 cut timber as the Sido- 
 nians. 
 
 "Now when Hiram heard the words 
 of Solomon, he rejoiced exceedinglj'^ 
 and said, Blessed be Jehovah this day, 
 who hath given to David a wise son 
 over this great people. '*^So Hiram 
 sent to Solomon, saving, I have 
 heard your message to me; I, on 
 my part will fulfil all your wishes 
 in regard to cedar and cypress 
 timber. ^My servants shall bring 
 them down from Lebanon to the 
 sea, and I will make them into 
 rafts to go by sea to the place that 
 you shall appoint, and will have 
 them broken up there, and you 
 .shall receive them. You also sliall 
 fulfil my wish by providing food 
 for my household. ^^So Hiram 
 
 e I Kits. 5^ Hcb., put them under the soles of the feet. 
 •• II Chr. 2'" Heb., 20,rm cor. 
 i II Chr. 2"> Heb., SO.OOO baths. 
 
 179 •
 
 I Kgs. 510] SOLOMON'S BUILDING ENTERPRISES [II Chr. 2^^ 
 
 Solo- 
 mon's 
 forced 
 levy of 
 work- 
 men 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 furnished Solomon cypress timber, 
 as much as he wished. 11 And 
 Solomon gave Hiram four hun- 
 dred thousand bushels^ of wheat 
 for food for his household, and 
 one hundred and sixty thousand 
 gallons'^ of oil from the beaten 
 olives. This much Solomon gave to 
 Hiram year by year. ^^And Jehovah 
 gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised 
 him; and there was peace between 
 Hiram and Solomon, and they 
 made an alliance with each other. 
 
 13 And King Solomon raised a forced levy out of 
 all Israel; and the levy consisted of thirty thou- 
 sand men. ^'^And he sent them to Lebanon, ten 
 thousand a month in relays; a month they were 
 in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoni- 
 ram was in charge of the forced levy. ^^And Sol- 
 omon had seventy thousand burden-beaTjrs and 
 eighty thousand hewers of stone in the mountains; 
 l^besides Solomon's chief officers who were in 
 charge of the work, three thousand, three hun- 
 dred, who superintended the people who did the 
 work. l^And the king commanded that they 
 should hew out great, costly stones, to lay the 
 foundation of the temple with cut stone. ^^And 
 Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and es- 
 pecially the Gebalites' shaped them and prepared 
 the timber and the stones to build the temple. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 linen, and in crimson; also to do all 
 kinds of engraving and to plan any ar- 
 tistic work which may be assigned to 
 him, together with your skilled work- 
 men and with the skilled workmen of 
 my lord David your father. ^^jsjow 
 therefore the wheat and the barley, the 
 oil and the wine, of which my lord has 
 spoken, let him send to his servants; 
 l^and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, 
 as much as you need, and we will bring 
 it to you in floats by sea to Joppa, and 
 you shall carry it up to Jerusalem. 
 
 i^And Solomon took a 
 census of all the resident 
 aliens who were in the 
 land of Israel, according 
 to the census which his 
 father had instituted. 
 And there were found a 
 hundred and fifty-three 
 thousand, six hundred. 
 i^And he made seventy 
 thousand of them bur- 
 den-bearers, and eighty 
 thousand hewers of stone 
 in the mountains, and 
 three thousand, six hun- 
 dred overseers to make 
 the people serve. 
 
 Dimen- 
 sions 
 of the 
 temple 
 
 § 51. Building the Temple, I Kgs. 6, II Chr. 3'-'* 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 3 ^Then Solomon began 
 to build the temple of Jehovah at Je- 
 rusalem on Mount Moriah where 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 I Kgs. 6 ^Now in the four Imndred 
 and eightieth year after the departure of 
 the Israelites from the land of Egypt, in 
 
 ' 1 Kgs. 5" Heb., 20,000 cor. 
 
 ^ 1 Kks. 5» So Gk. and II Chr. 21" and Josephus, 20.000 baths. Heb., 20,000 cor. But the 
 cor was a dry measure. 
 
 ' I Kgs. 51' The prominent place given to the workmen from Gebal is not explained here 
 or in any previous reference. Tlie Gk. takes the word as a verb. If this be the true rendering, 
 the corresponding verb would mean, and Iheij bordered them inth grooved edges. 
 
 § 51 The importance of the subject explains why this section has been supplemented by 
 many editorial and scribal additions. I Kgs. G'* was evidently a later note which in abbreviated 
 form appears in the Gk. an<l Luc. before 5''', and its place is taken by 6^'' '^^'^. The somewhat 
 more logical order of the Gk. is probably due to the translators, although it may possibly repre- 
 sent the original text. That 6''' is a late note is demonstrated by its use of a late Heb. word 
 for montii, instead of the earlier synonym, and by the fact tliat it outlines the general chrono- 
 logical scheme which is followed by the late editor of the book, i.e., 480 (40x12) years from 
 
 180
 
 RESTORATION OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE. 
 
 ACCORDING TO STADE. m.
 
 I Kgs. 61] 
 
 BUILDING THE TEMPLE 
 
 [II Chu. 31 
 
 Annals of Solojuon 
 
 the fourth year of Solomon's reign 
 over Israel, in the month Ziv, that is the 
 second month, he built the temple of 
 Jehovah. 2\nd the length of the 
 temple which King Solomon built for 
 Jehovah was sixty and its breadth 
 twenty cubits, and its height thirty 
 cubits. "^And the porch before the 
 large room™ of the temple was twen- 
 ty cubits wide, corresponding to the 
 breadth of the temple, ten cubits 
 deep before the temple. '*And for 
 the temple he made windows with 
 narrowed frames.'* 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 Jehovah had appeared to David his 
 father in the place which David had 
 prepared, on the threshing-floor of 
 Oman the Jebusite. ^^^j j^g began 
 to build in the second day of the 
 second month, in the fourth year of 
 his reign, ^^^d these are the foun- 
 dations which Solomon laid for the 
 building of the house of God. The 
 length by cubits, according to the old 
 measure, was sixty cubits, and the 
 breadth twenty cubits. "^And the 
 porch that was before the temple — 
 its length before the front of the tem- 
 ple was twenty cubits, and the height 
 a hundred and twenty; and he over- 
 
 laid it within with pure gold. 
 ^And around against the wall of the temple he built wings, o both around The 
 the larger room and the inner room,P and made side chambers round c'ham- 
 about. *^he lower side-chamber'? was five cubits broad, and the middle six ^''^ 
 cubits broad, and the thinl seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made 
 offsets around about the temple in order not to make an inset into the walls 
 of the temple."" 'In building the temple it was built with stone which had been 
 made ready at the quarry ;' neither hammer nor chisel nor any iron tool was heard 
 while the temple was building. ^The entrance into the lower* side-chambers 
 was on the south side of the temple. And one could go up by winding 
 
 the exoflus to the building of Solomon's temple, and 480 years from the latter event to the close 
 of the Uabylonian exile. O' ' is also not found in the jiarallel passage in Chr. 
 
 The statements that all the walls of the outer and inner rooms, -'oi>. 213, were overlaid with 
 gold seem to he from later scribes who sought thereby to eniiance the glories of the temple. 
 When it was later jilundered, there is no reference to this gold. S|)ecial decorations might 
 be expected in the oa.se of the cherubim (cf. the golden calves of .leroboam 1) and the doors 
 leaihng into the sanctuary, although these may also be only the i(U>as of the scribes. The 
 decision really turns ujion whether or not the Hebrew or the Plurnician workmen were at 
 this time ac(4UaiMted witli a process of thin giliHng with li(inid gold. Cf. Pr. 2()--'. 
 
 The remaining passages have been taken from the annals of Solomon's reign. With '"■ * 
 the briefer description ends, so that the more detailed account beginning with '■'' is probably from 
 the temple records. The Chronicler has a briefer narrative, heightened at certain iioints. Cf. 
 3*' 9. For the probable form ancl structure of the temfjle, cf. the accompanying plans. The 
 cubit in Kgs. wa-s probabl.v equivalent to about twenty inches. 
 
 " I Kgs. G'' Lit., (/real, hoiiac. It is the technical designation of the large central hall, or 
 Holy Place. It corresponded to the audience-room of a palace. 
 
 n I Kg.s. 6' I.e., smaller on the outside than on the inside of the wall, as in an ancient for- 
 tress. So hat. and Syr., ohliqve yiarroirrd. Otiierwise, following the Gk., it means, windows 
 with frames cloxed, i.e., with grating or lattice-work. 
 
 " 1 Kgs. G-' Heb. contains what is jjrobabl.v simply a later scribal note, around the mills 
 of the temple. (!k. and Luc. omit it. It appears to be an exi)lanatory duplicate of the im- 
 mediately following clause. 
 
 '' I Kgs. r/' The most holy place, behind the large room, where the ark was placed. Cf. ". 
 
 '' I Kgs. 0" Heb., wing, but this is probabl.v due to a scribal confusion with the similar 
 Heb. worrl, side-chamher. This is also suggested bv <ik. aiul I'arg. and is confiinicd li.\- '*. 
 
 ■■ I Kgs. C' I.e., that the beams which sui)portcd the side-chambers might not be set into 
 the exterior walls, but rather rest on the rebateincnts. 
 
 " I Kgs. (P So t;k. The Heb. makes no sense. 
 
 * I Kgs. 0' So Gk. and Luc. Heb., middle. ^ 
 
 181
 
 II Kgs. 39] SOLOMON'S BUILDING ENTERPRISES 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 stairs" into the middle story, and from the middle into the third. 
 
 lOAnd 
 
 he built the wings against all the temple, each story five cubits high; and 
 they rested on the temple with timbers of cedar."^' ^gQ ]^q built the temple 
 and finished it; and he covered the temple with cedar. ^ 
 
 The 
 
 inte- 
 rior 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 i^And he built the walls of the temple 
 within with boards of cedar: from the floor 
 decora- of the temple to the rafters of the ceiling, 
 overlaying them on the inside with wood; 
 and he covered the floor of the temple with 
 boards of cypress.^ ^^And he l)uilt ofi^ the 
 back twenty cubits from the innermost 
 part of the temple with boards of cedar from 
 the floor to the rafters:^ he built it within 
 for an inner room, even for the most holy 
 place.'' ^"And the temple, that is the large 
 rooin before the inner room"' was forty dibits 
 long. ^^And there was cedar in the interior of 
 the temple, carving in the form of gourds and 
 open flowers; all was cedar, no stone was seen.'^ 
 I'^And he prepared an inner room in the interior 
 of the temple in order to place there the ark of 
 the covenant of Jehovah." 20^\jjj ^]^g inner 
 room^ was twenty cubits long and twenty 
 cubits broad and twenty cubits high. And 
 he overlaid it with piire gold. And he made^ 
 
 an altar of cedar wood -'before the inner room, 
 and he overlaid it with gold.'" --And the whole 
 temple he overlaid with gold, until all the temple 
 was finished.' 29 \j^(j j^g carved all the walls 
 
 ^And the chief structure 
 he ceiled with cypress wood, 
 which he overlaid with fine 
 gold, and wrought thereon 
 palm trees and chains. "^And 
 he beautified the temple with 
 precious stones; and the gold 
 was gold of Parvaim. "^He 
 also overlaid the temple, the 
 beams, the thresholds, and 
 the walls, and the doors with 
 gold; and engraved cheru- 
 bim on the walls. ^And he 
 constructed the most holy 
 room: its length, correspond- 
 ing to the breadth of the 
 temple, was twenty cubits, 
 and its breadth twenty cubits. 
 And he overlaid it with fitie 
 gold, amounting to six hun- 
 dred talents. ^And the weight 
 of the nails was fifty 
 shekels of gold. And he 
 
 " I Kgs. 6* So Syr. and Targs. Gk. and Luc, winding stairs. But these are probably in- 
 ventions peculiar to the Greek age. 
 
 ^ I Kgs. 6"^ Vss. 9' 1" have apparently been transposed by mistake. Restoring them 
 to what appears to have been their original order the sense is clear. 
 
 ■* I Kgs. 6^ So Gk., Luc, and Syr. Heb. has a gloss before cedar, beams and planks, which 
 was probably a marginal note. The resulting Heb. sentence is also ungrammatical. 
 
 ^ I Kgs. 615 Omitted by Gk. and Luc. 
 
 " I Kgs. 6'^ Again reading with Gk. and Luc. Heb., walls. 
 
 ^ I Kgs. 6'8 A very late explanatory note, introducing the terminology of th3 post-exilic 
 priestly writers, cf., e.g., Ex. 2633- **, Num. 4^. 
 
 ■^ I Kgs. 61" This explanatory note was apparently added after the Gk. translation was 
 made. 
 
 <• I Kgs. 6'* This descriptive verse was also added after the Gk. translation was made. 
 
 " I Kgs. 6^^ The jjhrase, ark of the covenant, indicates that this was added by a late prophetic 
 editor. It is unnecessary after '^. 
 
 ' I Kgs. 620 Heb., before the inner room. E^^dently this is due to a dittography of the 
 same phrase in '^. 
 
 B I Kgs. &" So Gk. and Luc. The Heb., through a scribal error, repeats the preceding, 
 covered. 
 
 "■ I Kgs. 6^* So Gk. and Luc. A very late and confusing gloss has crept into the Heb. 
 which is really only an anticipation of ^^. 
 
 • I Kgs. 6-b So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. here has a dupHcate of the original 21. 
 
 182
 
 I Kgs. 629] 
 
 BUILDING THE TEMPLE 
 
 n chr. 39 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 of the house round about with carved 
 figures of cherubim and pahn trees and 
 opening flowers, both in the inner and outer 
 
 rooms. ^"And the floor of the temple he over- 
 laid with gold.J 
 
 23aAnd in the inner room he made two 
 cherubim of oHve wood. ^O'pj^g height of 
 tlie one cherub was ten cubits, and so was 
 that of the other^ — ^Sb^^ph ten cubits high. 
 ^■^And one wing of the cherub measured 
 five cubits, and the other wing of the 
 cherub also five cubits — ten cubits from 
 the extremity of one wing to the extremity 
 of the other. -^And the other cherub also 
 measured ten cubits: both the cherubim 
 were of the same measurement and form. 
 2^ And he set up the cherubim in the inner 
 room of the temple, and the wings of 
 the cherubim were stretched forth, so that 
 the wing of the one touched the one 
 wall, while the wing of the other cherub 
 touched the other wall, and their wings 
 touched each other in the middle of the 
 temple; and he overlaid the cherubim 
 with gold. 
 
 overlaid the upper chambers 
 
 with gold. 
 
 ^^And in the most holy room 
 he made two cherubim of image"^ 
 work; and they were overlaid 
 with gold. ^^And the wings of 
 the cherubim were twenty cubits 
 long; the wing of the one cherub 
 measured five cubits, reaching 
 to the wall of the temple, and 
 the other wing likewise meas- 
 ured five cubits, reaching to the 
 wing of the other cherub. ^-And 
 the wing of the other cherub 
 measured five cubits reaching 
 to the wall of the temple; and 
 the other wing measured five cu- 
 bits also, joining to the wing of 
 the other cherub. ^'^The wings 
 of these cherubim spread them- 
 selves forth twenty cubits. And 
 they stood on their feet, and their 
 faces were toward the temple. 
 
 ^"^And he made a 
 veil of violet, piirple, 
 crimson, and fine lin- 
 en, and he wrought 
 cherubim thereon. 
 
 ^^And the door of the inner room he made with 
 folding doors of olive wood: the pilasters'" formed a 
 pentagonal. ^-^And on the two doors of olive wood 
 he carved carvings of cherubim and palm trees and 
 opening flowers, and he spread the gold over the cher- 
 ubim and the palm trees. 
 
 3"^So also he made for the door of the large room" posts of olive wood, 
 four square, '^^and two folding leaves of cypress-wood: the two leaves of the 
 one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. 
 ^■^And he carved cherubim and palm trees and opening flowers, and over- 
 laid them with gold a{)plied evenly to the carving. '^''And he built the inner 
 court with three courses of hewn stone and a course of cedar beams. 
 
 ' I Kgs. 629. 30 So Gk. Heb., within and without, but without would have no meaning in ^. 
 A slight revision gives the reading followed above. 
 
 '' IT Chr. 3'° The meaning of the word translated, image, is very doubtful. 
 
 ' I Kgs. fr" The ob.scuritics of ■* are removed by the restoration of the verse to what was 
 clearly its original po.«ition. 
 
 '" I Kgs. fr' An e.xceedingly difficult passage. The current tran.slation, lintel, is untenable 
 in the light of the usage of the term in I^zek. 41-' and 40". Posts seems to have been added in 
 Heb. as an explanatory gloss, or from '•°. The door appears to have been of this shape: 
 
 " I Kgs. &" So Gk. and restored Heb. 
 
 Ll 
 
 183
 
 I Kgs. G^i] SOLOMON'S BUILDING ENTERPRISES 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 Com- ''And the word of Jehovah came to Solomon, saying, '-Concerning this temple which 
 
 pletion thou art building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and 
 of the keep all my commandments by walking in accordance with them, then will I redeem 
 temple ^j^j^ ^j^^^ ^^ promise, which I gave to David thy father, '^^nd I will dwell among 
 the Israelites and will not forsake my people Israel. "So Solomon completed the 
 building of the temple." ^"In the fourth year was the foundation of the tem- 
 ple of Jehovah laid, in the month Ziv.P ^^And in the eleventh year, in the 
 month BulP (that is the eighth month), was the temple completed in all its 
 parts, and according to all the specifications. Thus he was seven years in build- 
 ing it. 
 
 § 52. Ornamentations and Furnishings of the Temple, I Kgs. 713-51, H Chr. 
 
 3^5-51, Jer. 59?'-^^ 
 
 Teinple Records 
 The I Kgs. 7 ^"^Then King Solomon sent and brought Hir9,m-abi from Tyre, 
 
 at'the "H*^ '*^'^^ *'^® ^°^ °^ ^ widow of the tribe of Naphtali, an Aramean worker in 
 en- brass ;^ and he was gifted with skill, understanding, and knowledge to 
 made carry on all kinds of work in brass. And he came to King Solomon and 
 ram^abi ^^'^ ^^^ ^^^ work. ^^For he casf the two pillars of brass for the porch of 
 the temple.^ Eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and its circum- 
 ference measured twelve cubits; the thickness of the pillar was four fingers — 
 it was hollow. And the second pillar was similar.* ^^And he made two 
 capitals of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars; the height of 
 the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five 
 cubits. ^''And he made" two nets (woven work, festoons, chain-work)^ for the 
 capitals which were on the top of the pillars; a net^ for the one capital, and a 
 net^ for the other capital. ^^'^And he made the pomegranates;^ and two 
 
 o I Kgs. 611-1* These verses are not found in Gk. and Luc. They have no real connection 
 with their context and their language and thought, as well as their absence in the Gk. and Luc, 
 confirm the conclusion that they were added to the Heb. by a late priestly editor. 
 
 p I Kgs. 6"' ^ The foundation therefore was laid in Apr.-May and the work was com- 
 pleted in Oct.-Nov. The names of the months are those of the old Canaanitish calendar. 
 Cf. Appendix XIII. 
 
 § 52 The prominence given in I Kgs. T^^-si to the temi)le in comparison with the brief de- 
 scription in 711- of the building of Solomon's palace and other extensive buildings strongly 
 suggests that the latter was taken from the annals, while the more detailed account of the orna- 
 mentation and furnishings of the sanctuary came from the temple records. The nature of the 
 subject-matter also confirms this inference. 
 
 Again the Chronicler has a briefer and somewhat magnified parallel version. Thus accord- 
 ing to him the pillars in front of the temple were thirty-five, 31^, instearl of eighteen cubits in 
 height, as in I Kgs. 71^. Also probably having in mind the furnishings of the second temple, he 
 introduces a brazen altar and golden candlesticks not found in the parallel passage in Kgs. 
 and probably not known to the Hebrews until after their contact with the Assyrians and 
 Babylonians. Cf. the brazen altar erected by Ahaz after paying homage to Tiglath-Pileser 
 at Damascus, II Kgs. 16^18, § 119. 
 
 q 713. 11a According to II Chr. 212. 13 tj^e workman's name was Huram-abi and he was the son 
 of a Danite mother. Vs. "^ seems to have been added, like the variant reading in Chr., to 
 make him of part Israelitish origin. The original text probably read, Hiram-abi, an Aramean 
 worker in brass. 
 
 ' 71^ So Gk. and Luc. An apparent error in Heb. gives the reading, fashioned. 
 
 ' 715 So Gk. and Luc. Heb. omits, for the porch of the temple. 
 
 * 715 So Gk., confirmed by Jer. 522', Luc, and in part by the Syr. The last three clauses 
 have been almost entirely lost in the Heb. 
 
 " 71' So Gk. and Luc. 
 
 ^ 71^ This explanatory note is found in none of the versions and parallel passages. 
 
 " 71' So Gk. and Luc in accord with i"". Heb., seven. 
 
 » 71*'' So certain Heb. manuscripts confirmed by the parallel passage, Jer. 5222. Other 
 Heb. manuscripts read, pillars. 
 
 184
 
 ORNAMENTATIONS OF THE TEMPLE [I Kgs. Ti^b 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 rows of pomegranates in brass were upon the one network,'* ^Obm^j there 
 were two hundred pomegranates — two rows around about the one capital. 
 ^^''And he did the same to the other capital. i^And the capitals that were upon 
 the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily-work — four cubits. ^And tliere were cap- 
 itals above also upon the two pillars, in connection with the bowl-shaped'' part of the 
 pillar wliich was beside the network."^ -^And he set up the pillars at the porch 
 of the temple: and he set up the pillar at the right and called it Jachin;*^ 
 and he set up the pillar at the left and called it Boaz. -l^j ^po^ the top of 
 the pillars was hly-work. So was the work of the pillars finished. 
 
 -^And he made the molten sea ten cubits in diameter from brim to brim. Molten 
 and five cubits high, and its circumference measured thirty cubits. ^^And *^^ 
 under its brim on the outside were gourds which encircled it, for thirty® 
 cubits, encircling the sea on the outside ;f the gourds were in two rows, cast 
 when it was cast. -"^And it was a handbreadth thick;*? and its brim was 
 wrought like the brim of a cup, similar to the flower of a lily. It held about 
 sixteen thousand gallons.^ 25j^ stood upon twelve oxen, three looking 
 toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking 
 toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the .sea was set 
 down upon them, and all their hinder parts were turned inward. 
 
 2' And he made the ten stands of brass: each stand was four cubits long, Mov- 
 four cubits broad, and three cubits high.i -^And the stands were made as brazen 
 follows: they had border-frames, and the border-frames were between the stands 
 upright supports; -^and on the border-frames that were between the up- 
 right supports were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and upon the upright sup- 
 ports likewise; and above and beneath the lions and oxen and cherubim 
 was bevelled work.J ^Oa^j^^j every stand had four wheels of brass and axles 
 of brass. ^ ^-And the four wheels were underneath the border-frames; and 
 the axles and the wheels were cast as a part of the stand. And the height of 
 
 a 7isb xhe Syr. order, which is probably original, has been followed. In Heb., -'"> has been 
 transposed. 
 
 b 720a i^it., belly. The exact meaninft is not entirely clear. 
 
 c 719. 20a The account of tlie construction of the pillars is apparently completed in i^b to 
 which -' is the natural .sequel. This is the order in the Gk. and Luc. The a<l(liti(>nal notes 
 regarding the appearance of the pillars in ''■*■ -"■ -- are evidently from a later hand and were intro- 
 duced into the te.xt differently in the (ik. and Heb. versions. Furthermore in the recapitulation 
 in ^'' '- there is no reference to the lily-work and bowl-shape<l part of (he pillars. It may well 
 have been suggested to a later scribe by the I^gyptian temples in which the motif was common. 
 
 "^ 7-' The meanings of the names is obscure. Jnchin may mean, he (Jeltovah) establishes. 
 They probably represented the .sacred pillars which were set up before e\ery ancient Canaanite 
 sanctuary. 
 
 ' T^* Heb., ten, but this must be the mistake of a scribe who confused the diameter and 
 the circumference. 
 
 ' 72* Probably a gloss, as is indicated by the use of a different word for encircling. 
 
 ' T^' Gk. order ^' '^. This is undoubtedly original. 
 
 I" 7^ Heb., two thousand baths. 
 
 \ 7" Gk. and Luc. make the entire dimensions including the stand, 5x4x6. 
 
 > 7^' FoUowing Gk. and Luc. 
 
 k 730a From this point on the description of the stands is confusing. Those recently dis- 
 covered in Cyprus at Larnaka and Enkomi were probably u.sed for the same purpose and were 
 of similar construction. Of. Murray in Journ. of Roi/al Inst, of lirit. Architects, 1899, \TI, 
 pp. 20 ff.; Stade in ZATW., 1901, "pp. 14.5 ff. In •'"I'. ■" the top of the stand is described, and 
 these vss. logically follow •"'• •«. Transposing tliem, the accounts of llic wliccl.s beginning in •'"» 
 is continued in •f- •''. The resulting order in which the- stands are described is (1) their bases 
 with the engravings of lions, oxen, and cherubim on the outside framework, (2) the wheels and 
 axles beneath, and C-i) the opening at the top (into which were set the pots ^") and the orna- 
 mentaiioD of the outside framework. 
 
 185
 
 IKgs. 7^2] SOLOMON'S BUILDING ENTERPRISES 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 each wheel was a cubit and a half, ^s^j^^j ^^ construction of the wheels 
 
 was like that of a chariot wheel: their axles, their felloes, their spokes, and 
 
 their hubs, were all cast. 34^j^(j 3^^ ^}jg fQ^J, corners of each stand were four 
 
 shoulder-pieces; the shoulder-pieces were cast as part of the stand. ^5^^^^ 
 
 in the top of the stand was a round opening,^ half a cubit high, and on the top 
 
 of the stand were its stays and its border-frames, ^e^j^^j ^j^ ^j^g g^^ surface 
 
 of the stays and border-frames, he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, 
 
 according to the space on each, with wreaths round about. 20b\j^f} ^j^g 
 
 four corners'^ had shoulder-pieces: beneath the bowl the shoulder-pieces 
 
 were cast, with wreaths at the side of each. ^^And its opening within the 
 
 shoulder-pieces^ was a cubit and more: and its opening was round after the 
 
 form of a pedestal (a cubit and a half) and also upon its opening were gravings, 
 
 and its° border-frames were square, not round. ^''Thus he made the ten 
 
 stands: all of them had one casting, and were of the same measure and form. 
 
 Posi- 28\jjfl i^g made ten lavers of brass: one laver contained three himdred 
 
 ofThe ^^*^ twenty gallons, p and each laver measured four cubits; and on each one 
 
 stands of the ten stands was a laver. -^^And he set the stands, five on the right 
 
 their side of the temple and five on the left side of the temple: and he set the sea 
 
 la\ers ^^^ ^|^g right side of the temple eastward toward the south. 
 
 Altar of II Chr. 4 'Moreover he made an altar of brass — twenty cubits long, and twenty 
 brass cubits broad, and ten cubits high. 
 
 ^And he made the ten candlesticks of gold according to the directions concerning 
 Candle- them; and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand and fi\e on the left. *He 
 sticks made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on 
 the left. And he made a hundred golden bowls. 
 
 Com- I Kgs. 7 ^"^And Hiram <i made the lavers and the shovels, and the bowls. 
 
 of^tJae" ^'^ Hiram completed all the work that he wrought for King Solomon in the 
 
 work temple of Jehovah: "^^the two pillars and the two bowl-shaped capitals that 
 
 were on the top of the pillars, '*2and the four hundred pomegranates for 
 
 the two networks to cover the two bowl-shaped capitals that were on the 
 
 top of the pillars, '*^and the ten stands and the ten lavers on the stands, 
 
 '^"^and the one sea with the twelve oxen under the sea. 
 
 Vast ^^And the pots, the shovels, and the bowls, and all these vessels which 
 
 o"brass Hiram made for King Solomon in the temple of Jehovah, were of burnished 
 
 ^^'. , brass. ^"There w^as no weighinjj the brass from which he made all these 
 
 quired , o o 
 
 vessels, because it was so very much, the weight of the brass could not be 
 
 determined. ^ ^°In the Plain of the Jordan he cast them, in the clay ground 
 
 between Succoth and Zarethan. 
 
 Ar- ■^^And Solomon placed all the vessels which he had made in the temple 
 
 ment ^f Jehovali: the golden altar and the golden table on which was the showbread; 
 
 of the ^^and the candlesticks, five on the right side, and five on the left before the inner 
 
 vessels 
 
 in the '- 
 
 temple ' 7^ Unfortunately the subject has fallen out of the text. It must be supplied from so. 
 
 m 730b Heb., feet, but this is probably a scribal error for, corners. 
 
 " 7^' Again some Heb. scribe apparently misread a letter giving, capital, instead of shoulder- 
 ■pieces. 
 
 0731 Heb., their. 
 
 P738 Heb., forty baths. 
 
 5 7'"' So Gk., Luc, and Ijat., confirmed by the summary in ■'5 and the parallel in II Chr. 4". 
 
 r 746-48a go Qjj ^jj^j Luc, which introduce ''* in its natural place after ■*" and preserve a 
 much better reading for " and ^'^. 
 
 186
 
 FURNISHINGS OF THE TE^IPLE [I Kgs. 7^9 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 room, of pure gold; and the flowers, the lamps, and the golden tongs; ^and the cups, 
 the snuffers, basins, bowls, and fire-pans, of pure gold; and the golden hinges, both 
 for the folding doors of the inner room (the most holy place) and for the folding doors 
 of the temple (the large room).' ^^Thus all the work that Kins Solomon wrouorht 
 in the temple of Jehovah was finished. And Solomon brought in the things 
 which David his father had dedicated, even the silver and the gold and the 
 vessels, placing them in the treasuries of the temple of Jehovah. 
 
 § 53. Dedication of the Temple, I Kgs. 8, 9' »• « n Chr. 5-7'°, 8''-'« 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 I Kgs. 8 ^Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of Trans- 
 
 the tribes, the princes of the fathers' houses of the Israelites in Jerusalem to brine Uie ark 
 
 up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the citv of David, which is in i"*"^' V'® 
 
 ' temple 
 
 Zion. ^And all the men of Israel assembled about King Solomon at the feast, in the 
 
 month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month.' ^And all the elders of Israel came, 
 and the priests took up the ark. ^And the.y brought up the ark of Jehovah, and 
 the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; even these 
 did the priests and Le\'ites bring up. ^Then King Solomon and all the congrega- 
 tion of Israel, who were assembled to liim, were with him before the ark sacrific- 
 ing so many sheep and oxen, that they could neither be counted nor numbered. 
 ^So the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah to its place in 
 the inner room of the temple (in the most holy place) under the wings of the 
 cherubim. 'For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of 
 the ark, so that the cherubim formed a covering above the ark and its staves. 
 ^And the staves were so long that the ends of the staves were seen from the 
 place before the inner room;" but further out they could not be seen. And 
 there they are to this day. ^There wa.s nothing in the ark except the two 
 tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when Jehovah made a covenant 
 with the IsraeUtes as they came from the land of Egypt. ^^And when the priests 
 
 ■ 7*^^-^" These verses by their awkward constructions, late terms (such as most holy place), 
 and contents are clearly marked as later additions. The golden altar and candlesticks are not 
 mentioned in the original narrative and first appear in the writings of the Chronicler. Cf. the 
 introd. note to this section. 
 
 § 53 The temple records, and probably also the annals of Solomon, had an account of the 
 dedication of the temple. It was, however, a theme which lent itself readily to later e.\|)an.sion. 
 Succeeding generations pictured the act as it would have been performed in their own day. 
 The original kernel of the narrative is represented by the nnich briefer ver.sion of S''', i>re.served 
 by the Ok. and Luc. This appears in the Heb., supjilemented by the expressions and ceremonial 
 usages characteristic of tlie priestly writers who flourished during and after the Babylonian 
 exile. 
 
 Beginning with ", a very late prophetic editor, who evidently lived in the shadow of the 
 exile, adds a majestic, spiritual address, prayer, and blessing, embodying tlie lofty .sentiments 
 which seemed appropriate at the deflication of the temple, which was regarded l)y iiim and Ids 
 contemporaries as the one legitimate sanctuary. Cf. '". The prayer in ---'"' was clearly .suggested 
 by the curses in Dt. 28'^-"*. The peculiar expressions and ideas are tho.se of tiie late prophetic 
 school. Such passages as 8*'-'3 and a"'-* reflect the exilic background. In the account of tiio 
 festival in ''--'^ he perhaps incorporates earlier material. 
 
 The Chronicler for the most part reproduces the address in I Kgs., but at certain ixiints 
 he introduces the singers and other data calculated further to adapt it to the peculiar views of 
 his own age. 
 
 ' 82 The seventh month (Bab., Tishri), Sept.-Oct. 
 
 " 8' Heb., holy place. 
 
 187
 
 Solo- 
 mon's 
 hymn 
 of dedi- 
 cation 
 
 I Kgs. 8">] SOLOMON'S BUILDING ENTERPRISES 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 had come from the sanctuary,'^ the cloud filled the temple of Jehovah, ^^so 
 that the ])riests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the 
 glory of Jehovah filled the temple of Jehovah. 
 ^-Then Solomon said, 
 
 Jehovah liatli set the sun in the heavens, 
 But he hath himself determined to dwell in thick darkness. 
 '^So I have built thee a temple as a place of abode, 
 A dwelling for thee to abide in forever. 
 
 Is it not written in the Book of Jashar ?" 
 
 His 
 
 address 
 to the 
 people 
 
 His 
 
 dedi- 
 catory 
 prayer 
 ff.r the 
 reign- 
 ing 
 house 
 
 Later Prophetic (Exilic) Addition 
 
 ^^Then the king turned about and blessed all the assembly of Israel; and 
 all the assembly of Israel stood up. ^^He said. Blessed be Jehovah, the 
 God of Israel, who has with his own hand fulfilled what he spoke with his 
 mouth to David my father, saying, ^*'' Since the day that I brought forth 
 my people Israel from Egypt, I chose no [other] city out of all the tribes of 
 Israel to build a temple, that my name might be there ;-"^ but I have chosen 
 Jerusalem that my name might be there, and I have chosen David to be 
 over my people Israel.' ^^Now it was in the heart of David my father to 
 build a temple for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel. ^^But Jehovah 
 said to David my father, 'Whereas it was in thy heart to build a temple for 
 my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart; ^^nevertheless thou shalt 
 not build the temple; bat thy son, who shall come forth out of thy loins, 
 he shall build the temple for my name.' ^ojsjy^y Jehovah has fulfilled his 
 promise that he made: for I have risen up in the place of David my father and 
 sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and have built the temple 
 for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel. 2i^\^ii(j there have I set a place 
 for the ark in which is the covenant of Jehovah, which he made with our 
 fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 
 
 ^-^Then Solomon stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all 
 the assembly of Israel and spread forth his hands^ toward heaven, 23and said, 
 O Jehovah, the God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above or 
 on earth beneath, who keepest the covenant and showest kindness to thy 
 servants who walk before thee with all their heart, ^^who hast kept with 
 
 ^ gi"*, II Chr. 5"'' In the following long parenthesis, here inserted by the Chronicler into 
 the older source, the musicians in which he was so deeply interested were made to have a part 
 in the dedication of the temple: '"> (for all the priests that u'ere present had sanctified themselves, 
 it being impossible to arrange them in divisions; ^'and all the Levites who icere singers, even 
 Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their so7is and their clansmen, arrayed in fine linen, with 
 cymbals and tyres and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and 
 twenty priests blowing on trumpets; ^^and the trumpeters and singers miited in one harmonious 
 sound of praise and thanksgiving to Jehovah, and they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and 
 cymbals and musical instruments and praised Jehovah, saying, For he is good, for his loving- 
 kindness endureth forever). 
 
 w gi2. 13 Restoring on the basis of Gk. and Luc, which, however, place the quotation later 
 in the context (8^). Book of Jashar, i.e., the Righteous One (Israel). C'f. Vol. I, p. 16. 
 
 =■ 8'^ So Gk. and II Chr. 6^'. The abbreviation of the Heb. is due to a scribal error. 
 
 y 8-- II Chr. 6'3 adds the characteristic parenthetic note: (for Solomon had made a brazen 
 scaffold, five cubits long and five cubits broad and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst 
 of the court; and upon it he stood and. kneeled doivn upon his knees before all the assembly 
 of Israel and spread forth his hands toward heaven). 
 
 188
 
 DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE [I Kgs. 824 
 
 Later Prophetic (Exilic) Addition 
 
 thy sen-ant David mv father the promise that tliou didst make to him: yea, 
 thou spakest witli thy mouth and hast fulfilled it with thy IuukI, as it is this 
 day. -^Now therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, keep with thy servant 
 David my father the promise that thou hast made to him, saying. 'There 
 shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israc-l. if onlv 
 thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me as thou hast w alkcd 
 before me.' 20\j^Q^y therefore, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, 
 be verified, which thou hast spoken to thy servant David my father. 
 
 -"But can God actually dwell with men'^ on the earth ? Indeed heaven For 
 and the highest heaven cannot contain thee; how much less this temple that ^j^'g. 
 I have built ! -*Yet have respect to the prayer of thy servant and to his nf"ss 
 supplication, O Jehovah, my God, listening to the cry and to the ]:)rayer sins 
 which thy servant offereth before thee this day, -^that thine eyes may be 
 open toward this temple night and day, even toward the place of which 
 thou hast said, 'My name shall be there,' to listen to the prayer which thy 
 servant shall offer toward this place. 3*^And hear thou the supj)licalion of 
 thy servant and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place; 
 yea, hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place; and when thou hearest forgive. 
 
 2^ If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause Of the 
 him to swear, and he come and swear before thine altar in this tcTuple.'^ ^'Idual 
 2-then hear thou in heaven, and act and judge thy servants, condenming 
 the wicked, to bring the consequences of his conduct upon his own head 
 and justifying the righteous, to recompense him according to his righteousness. 
 
 ^^When thy people Israel are smitten down before the enemy because Of the 
 they have sinned against thee, if they turn again to thee and coTifcss thy "^''"° 
 name and pray and make supplication to thee in this temple, "^^then hear 
 thou in heaven and forgive the sin of thy people Israel and bring them 
 again to the land which thou gavest to their fathers. •^'When heaven is 
 shut up and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they 
 pray toward this place and confess thy name and turn from their sin. \\hcn 
 thou doest humble them, ^^'then hear thou in heav(Mi atid forgive the sin of 
 thy servants and of thy people Israel, when thou teachest them the good 
 way in which they should walk, and send rain upon thy land, which thou 
 hast given to thy people for an inheritance. -^'If there be in the lane! fann'ne, 
 if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar, if 
 their enemy besiege them in any of their gates;'' whatever plague, whatever 
 sickness there be, ^^whatever prayer and .supj)lication be made by any man," 
 who knows his own personal affliction,® and spreads forth his hands toward 
 this temj)le, -^^then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place and forgive and 
 act and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart thou 
 knowest (for thou, even thou only, knowest llic hearts of all the children of 
 
 » 8" Supported by Gk., Luc, and Targ. 
 bgs' Cf. K.\. 22'". 
 
 ' 8" Supported bv flk., Luc, and Syr. Heb., in the land of their cities. 
 <iH^ So (;k. and Luc. . 
 
 ' 83» Heb. lit., u-ho shall know each the platjue of his own heart. The Gk. and Luc. suggest 
 the rendering given above. 
 
 189
 
 IKgs. 839] SOLOMONS BUILDING ENTERPRISES 
 Later Prophetic {Exilic) Addition 
 
 men), ^Othat they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which 
 thou fjavcst to our fathers. 
 Of the ^^AIso to the alien, who is not of thy people Israel, but comes from a 
 repent- ^^^ country for thy name's sake — '^-iov they shall hear of thy great name 
 alien and of thy mighty hand and of thine outstretched arm — when he shall come 
 and pray toward this temple, "^^wilt thou listen in heaven thy dwelling place, 
 and do all things as the alien requests of thee, that all the peoples of the 
 earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and that 
 they may know that this temple which I have built is called by thy name. 
 For '*"*If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way 
 
 fn'bat- thou shalt send them, and they pray to thee^ in the direction of the city 
 tie which thou hast chosen and the temple which I have built for thy name, 
 ^^then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication and uphold 
 their cause. 
 For •^sif they sin against thee — for there is no man that sinneth not — and thou 
 
 erance ^'^ ^ngry with them and deliver them to their enemy, so that they carry them 
 ^'""■^. away captive to the land of the enemv. far off or near; ^''vet if thev shall be 
 ity, if converted in the land to which they are carried captive and turn again and 
 people iiiake supplication to thee in the land of their captivity, ^ saying, 'We have 
 repent ginned, and have acted perversely and wickedly;' "^^if they return to thee 
 with all their heart and with all their soul while yet in the land of their ene- 
 mies, who carried them captive, and pray to thee in the direction of their 
 land, which thou hast chosen and the temple which I have built for thy 
 name, "^^then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy 
 dwelling place, and uphold their cause, ^ ^"^and forgive thy people who have 
 sinned against thee, and all their transgressions with which they have trans- 
 gressed against thee, anJ give them compassion with those who carried 
 them captive, that they may have compassion on them — ^^for they are thy 
 people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, 
 from the midst of the iron furnace — ^-that thine eyes may be open to the 
 supplication of thy servant and to the supplication of thy people Israel, to 
 listen to them whenever they cry to thee. ^^Pq^ thou didst separate them 
 from all the peoples of the earth to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by 
 Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord 
 Jehovah. 
 Con- ^"^After Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to 
 
 blessing Jehovah, he arose from kneeling on his knees before the altar of Jehovah 
 horta-^' ^^^^^^ ^^^^ hands spread forth toward heaven, ^'^and stood, and with a loud 
 tion voice blessed all the assembly of Israel, saying, ^^Blessed be Jehovah who 
 hath given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. 
 One word hath not failed of all his good promise, which he made by INIoses 
 his servant. ^^Jehovah our God be with us, as he was with our fathers; 
 let him not leave us nor forsake us, ^*that he may incline our hearts to him, 
 
 '8^ Heb., to Jehovah, probably due to a copyist's error. 
 
 8 8^7 So Gk., Luc. and II Chr. 6". 
 
 h 849b Qii_ and Luc. omit, perhaps correctly. 
 
 190
 
 DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE [I Kgs. S^s 
 
 Later Prophetic (Exilic) Addition 
 
 to walk in all his ways and to keep his commands and his statutes and his 
 ordinances, which he commanded our fathers. '^'-'And let these my words, 
 wherewith I have made supplication before Jehovah, be near to Jehovah, 
 our God, day and night, that he uphold the cause of his servant and the 
 cause of his people Israel, as each day shall require, ^'''that all the peoples 
 of the earth may know that Jehovah is God alone. ^'Ux't your heart there- 
 fore be perfect with Jehovah our God, to walk in his statutes and to keep 
 his commandments, as at this day. 
 
 II Chr. 7 'Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down The 
 from heaven, and consumed the burnt -offering and the sacrifices. And the glorj^ of fhvine 
 Jehovah filled the temple, -so that the priests could not enter into the temple of Je- gp^jjse 
 hovah, because the glorj^ of Jehovah filled Jehovah's temple. '.Vlso all the Israelites 
 looked on, when the fire came down, and the glory of Jeliovahwas upon the temple. 
 And they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement and 
 worshipped and gave thanks to Jehovah, saying, For he is good; for his lovingkind- 
 ness endureth forever. 
 
 I Kgs. 8 *^-Both the king and all Israel offered sacrifice before Jehovah. Feast 
 ^^Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace-oiferings, which he offered to ^"^^j. 
 Jehovah, twentv-two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twentv thousand fjce? of 
 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of Jehovah.' tion 
 ^"^The same day the king hallowed the middle of the court that was before 
 the temple of Jehovah; for there he offered the burnt-offering and the cereal- 
 offering and the fat pieces of the peace-offerings, becau.se the brazen altar 
 that was before Jehovah was too small to receive the burnt-offering and the 
 cereal -offering and the fat of the peace-offerings. ^•'^So Solomon held the 
 feast at that time and all Israel with him — a great assembly, from the en- 
 trance to Ilamath to the brook of Egypt— before Jehovah our God, seven 
 days.J ^^But on the eighth day he sent the people away; and receiving a 
 blessing from the king,*^ they went to their homes, joyful and glad of heart 
 for all the goodness that Jehovah had showed to David his .servant, and to 
 Israel his people. 
 
 9 ^Xow when Solomon had finished the building of the temple of Jehovah, Jeho- 
 and the royal palace, and all Solomon's plans' which he wi.shed to carry out, p,om- 
 2Jcli()vah ai)j)eared to Solomon the .second time, as he had appeared to him '^'i^^^,^"'^ 
 at (iibeon. -^And Jehovah said to him, I have heard thy j)rayer and thy .sup- ings in 
 plication, that thou hast made before me."* I have hallowed this temple gponse 
 which thou hast built to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and my \^^^f^^°' 
 heart shall be there perpetually. '^If indeed thou wilt walk before me, as prayer 
 
 i g03b This is lacking in Gk. The Chronicler in II Chr. T" furthermore aiUls, And the 
 priests stood, according to their otjiccs: the Levites (dso with instruments for the tniisic of 
 Jehovah, which David the kino had made to dive thanks to Jehovah {for his lovuif/kuidness 
 endureth forever), by means of rrhom David gave praise. And the priests sounded trumpets be- 
 fore them; and all Israel stood up. . ■ ,• 
 
 J 8«^ The shorter text is supi)ortecl by the Ok., and required by the introductory conjunction 
 of 68, And on the eighth day. So Gk., Luc, and Lat. Heb. adds, and seven days, even four- 
 teen days. . , , • 1 n- r »i 
 
 !> 8W' The present Ilch. is due to an early scribe who mistook the singular suthx for the 
 plural en. ling. It then became nece.ssary to supply an object. The Gk. translators .support 
 a-s original the above reading, .though ncjt understanding il. , . , . . i . n /-.i 
 
 ' 9' A slight change in the Heb. gives the above rendering which is supported by the uk. 
 
 and Luc. , . , ,, , i • i i „ 
 
 mf^ta Ok. and Luc. add, / Itave acted in accordance with all thy prayer, which may bo 
 
 original. 
 
 191
 
 iKgs. 94] SOLOMON'S BUILDING ENTERPRISES 
 
 Later Prophetic (Exilic) Addition 
 
 David thy father walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do accord- 
 inof to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and mine 
 ordinances, ^ihen I will establish the throne of thy kingdom over Israel for- 
 ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, 'There shall not fail thee a 
 man upon the throne of Israel.' '^But if ye shall turn away from following me, 
 ye or your children, and shall not keep my commands and my statutes which 
 I have set before you, but shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 
 '^then I will take away Israel from the land, which I have given them; and 
 this temple which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast away from me, 
 and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. ^Moreover 
 this temple shall become ruins, ° every one that passeth by it shall be aston- 
 ished and shall hiss, and they shall say, 'Why hath Jehovah done thus to this 
 land and to this ])eople.'' ^And they shall answer, 'Because they forsook 
 Jehovah their God, who brought forth their fathers from the land of Egypt, 
 and took up with other gods, w orshipping and serving them ; therefore Jeho- 
 vah hath brought all this evil upon them.' 
 
 Institu- 
 tion of 
 the 
 
 regular 
 service 
 of the 
 temple 
 
 2^ And three 
 times in the year 
 Solomon used 
 to offer burnt- 
 offerings and 
 peace - offerings 
 upon the altar 
 which he built 
 to Jehovah, and 
 he used to cause 
 the savor of the 
 sacrifice to rise 
 before J e h o - 
 vah. ° So he fin- 
 ished the tem- 
 ple. 
 
 Chronicle/s Ecclcsiasticcd History 
 
 IT Chr. 8 ^-Then Solomon offered burnt-offerings to 
 Jehovah on the altar of Jehovah, which he had built be- 
 fore the porch, ^'^even as the service of each day required, 
 offering according to the command of Moses, on the sab- 
 baths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three 
 times in the year, even at the feast of unleavened bread 
 and at the feast of wrecks and at the feast of tabernacles. 
 ^■^And he appointed, according to the ordinance of Da- 
 vid his father, the courses of the priests to their service 
 and the Levites to their offices, to praise and minister 
 before the priests, as the service of each day required; the 
 doorkeepers also by their courses at every gate, for so 
 had David the man of God commanded. ^-^And they 
 departed not from the king's command to the priests and 
 Levites concerning any matter or concerning the treasures. 
 i^Now all the work of Solomon was completed to the day 
 of the foundation of the temple of Jehovah and until it 
 was finished. So the temple of Jehovah was completed. 
 
 " 9* Heb. lit., And this house shall be most high, which is contrary to the idea of the con- 
 text. Gk. and Luc. seem to have had the present Heb. Lat., And this house shall be for an 
 example. A slight change in Heb. gives the above rendering, which the Sjt. supports. 
 
 o 925 xhe present Heb., by inserting it which, has become meaningless. The shorter read- 
 ing is supported by Gk., Luc, and Lat. 
 
 192
 
 PLAN OF SOLOMON'S PALACE 
 
 (ACCORDING TO STADE)
 
 SOLOMON'S PALACE [I Kgs. 7^ 
 
 § 54. Solomon's Palace, 1 Kgs. 7'-'% 9^*% 11 Chr. 8*^ 
 Annals of Solotnon 
 
 I Kgs. 7 ^And Solomon was building his palace thirteen years, until he House 
 had completely finished his palace. ^There also he built the Forest of aLVn'^ 
 Lebanon .p its length was a hundred cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and '^["' 
 its height thirty cubits, upon three'J rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams'" Judg- 
 upon the pillars. "^And it was covered with cedar above over the forty-five "^^"'^ 
 beams, that were upon the pillars; and the number of the pillars'^ was fifteen 
 in a row. "^And there were window-frames in three rows, and window was 
 over against window in three tiers. ^And all the doors and windows Avere 
 made with square frames: and door was over against door in three tiers.*- 
 ^And the hall of pillars he made fifty cubits long and thirty cubits broad; 
 and a porch before them and pillars and a threshokl'* before them. "And 
 he made the throne-hall where he was to judge, even the Hall of Judgment ; 
 and it was covered with cedar from floor to ceiling. 
 
 ^And his palace, where he was to dwell, in another court farther in from Private 
 the Hall of Judgment, was of the same workmanship. He also made a of Sj'jfo. 
 palace for Pharaoh's daughter (whom Solomon had taken as wife), similar to mo" . 
 his hall. 9 ^^a^jj^j Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David Kgyp- 
 to her palace which Solomon had built for her. queen 
 
 7 ^AU these were of costlv stones, hewn according to measurements, sawed ,, 
 
 ' . . . Mate- 
 
 w ith saws, both on the interior and on the exterior, even from the foundation rials 
 to the coping, and from the exterior to the great court. ^°And the foundation "^^t^ "* 
 was of costlv great stones — stones of ten cubits and stones of eight cubits, struct- 
 
 *' inff the 
 
 ^^And above were costly stones, hewn according to measurements, and cedar palace 
 wood. ^-And the great encircling court had three courses of hewn stone 
 and a course of cedar beams; even so it was round about the inner court of 
 the temple of Jehovah and the court of the porch of the palace.^ 
 
 %55. Solomon's Resources and Wealth, I Kgs. Q'O'^. i7b-23. 20-28^ iqu, 12, 14.29^ 
 
 II Chr. S''"' "• "* O^"- '^' ^^'^^ 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 I Kgs. 9 '"Now at the end of twenty years, during wliicli Solomon liad built the Solo- 
 two buildings : the temple of Jehovah and the king's palace, "Iliram tlie king of Tyre "ion's 
 having furnished Solomon with cedar and cypress wood and with gold as much as he ^^^^\ 
 
 ■ — for the 
 
 5 .54 This narrative appears to have been the conclusion of the original account of Solomon's • "i j- 
 building enterprises. In the Gk. text it stands at the end of 7, hut the fact that '-'' has beoii left „ij^|,g,i " 
 behind indicates that it was the work of a later editor. The ilescription is so brief that it is at ^^, ^i^^ 
 points scarcely intelligible and the statistical element is i)rominent. It has all the characteristics • 
 of a |>assage taken directly from the original annals of Solomon. With this the do) ached passage, 
 9-'^», logically beltjngs. Cf. 7*. For the jdan of Solomon's palace, cf. accomi)anying diagram. 
 
 >■ 7- Doubtless so named because the four rows of supporting cedar of bebanon pill.ars gave 
 the effect of a forest or else because the wood came from bebanon. 
 
 •i 7^ So Gk. and buc. Heb., four. 
 
 ' 7^ Gk. and buc, shoulder-pieces. 
 
 •7'' So Gk. Ileb. ornits, find the numher of the pillarit. 
 
 ' 7^^ So Cik. and buc. The Ileb. is but a dittography of ''•'. 
 
 "7" The meaning of this word is doubtful. Projecting roof and cornice have been sug- 
 gested, but all are only conjectural. 
 
 " V Incorporating two words which have been preserved in the Gk. and Luc. 
 
 J .5.5 J'olltiwing tlie account of Solomon's liuilding enteriirises are a series of miscpjlanooua 
 notices intended further to iihistratf his resources, wealth, and wisdom. The order is far from 
 logical. The Gk. and Chr. each differ from the Ileb. The Gk. on the whole has the best order 
 
 193 
 
 ram
 
 IKgs. 910] SPLENDORS OF SOLOMON'S REIGN 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 ■wished, King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.'' 
 l^But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had 
 given him, he was displeased with them. I3\jj(j jjg sg^j^j^ What sort of cities 
 are these which you have given me, my brother ? So they are called the 
 land of Cabul [Good for nothmg]'^ even to the present day. ^^But Hiram 
 sent to the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold. 
 His ad- i^And this is the way it was with the levy which King Solomon raised to 
 buUd°^ build the temple of Jehovah, his own palace, Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, 
 ing Hazor, Meggido, Gezer, ^'^^lower Bethhoron,^ ^^Baalath, and Tamar in 
 prises the wildemess in the land of Judah, ^^and all the store-cities that Solomon 
 forced ^^'i^ and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and that 
 levies which Solomon was pleased to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, in Leb- 
 anon, and in all the land over which he ruled. =".411 the people who were left 
 of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not 
 of the Israelites, ^'their children who were left after them in the land, whom the 
 Israelites were not able utterly to destroy, of them did Solomon raise a forced levy 
 of bondmen, even to this day. ^^But of the Israelites Solomon made no bondmen, 
 for they were the warriors and his servants, his generals, his captains," liis officers over 
 his chariots, and his horsemen. 
 
 Offi- 23^}^ggg were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work, five hun- 
 
 o'^^gy dred and fifty, who directed the people who did the work, 
 the 26\jj(j King Solomon made a fleet of ships in Ezion-geber, which is near 
 
 Elath on the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom. 27^^^(j Hiram sent 
 His with the fleet his subjects — seamen, who had knowledge of the sea, together 
 fleet with the servants of Solomon, ^s^j^^j tijgy ^ent to Ophir, and took from 
 there gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to King Solomon. 
 Prod- 10 11 And Hiram's fleet of ships, that bore gold from Ophir, also brought 
 
 brought a great amount of red sandal wood^ and precious stones. i-And the king 
 by Hi- made of the sandal wood from Ophir pilasters'' for the temple of Jehovah, 
 fleet and for the royal palace, and lyres and harps for the singers. There came 
 
 no other such sandal wood nor has the like been seen to the present day. 
 Solo^ i^Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hun- 
 
 income dred and sixty-six talents of gold, i^besides what came from the traffic of 
 in gold the merchants'^ and from all the kings of the Arabians® and from the gov- 
 ernors of the country. 
 
 and this has been followed, except in one or two cases where a more logical arrangement is pos- 
 sible. Like the notices in 4, 5, most of these appear to have been taken from the annals of Solo- 
 mon. They have, however, been supplemented by later notes embodying current traditions 
 and intended still further to glorify Solomon's reign. With the exception of lO-'^' -'', which ar 
 clearly late generalizations, these supplementary notices seem to embody earlier data. draw. 
 from the annals, so that it is difficult to distinguish with assurance between the original and thti 
 later expansions; but a later hand is clearly discernible in the introductory words, 9'"- "'^ and 
 in 20-22 (where the theory is expressed that only the older inhabitants were enlisted in the forced 
 levy), and perhaps in 10"- ^^- -K 
 
 w gio, n xhe Chronicler could not be reconciled to the idea of Solomon's having ceded 
 Israelitish territory, so he has, 8^, But the cities which Huram had ceded to Solomon, Solomon 
 fortified and settled Israelites there. 
 
 ' 9'^ A popular etymology based simply on the sound of the word. 
 
 y QW-is cf_ map opp p 49 ^nj Ezek. 47i«, 48^^. 
 
 » 9- The exact meaning of this word is not known. Lat. as abovs. 
 
 ■' 10" Heb., almug wood. The exact meaning of the word has not been determined. 
 
 e lO^^ The meaning is doubtful. The above is suggested by the Gk., Luc, and Lat. 
 
 " 10^* Emending what is otherwise untranslatable. 
 
 • lO" So II Chr. 919 and many Gk. texts.
 
 >n income 
 
 SOLOMOX'b WEALTH [I Kgs. IQi^ 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 ^''And King Solomon made two hundred bvieklers of beaten gold — six His 
 hundred shekels^ of gold went on one buckler — ^"and three hundred shielcLs {^"g^' 
 of beaten gold — three minahs^ of gold went on one shield — and the king f^i'ie'lds, 
 put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. ^^The king also made a throne 
 great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold. ^^The throne had "^ ^"^"^ 
 six steps and behind the throne were heads of calves, and on both sides of 
 the seat were arms, and beside the arms stood two lions, ^Oon the six steps 
 stood twelve lions on each side. The like was not made in any kingdom. 
 
 2iAnd all King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold : none were of His 
 silver; it was accounted of no value in the days of Solomon. 22poj. (],p ]^j„„. P>'^'^^ 
 had at sea a fleet of Tarshish ships with the fleet of Hiram. Once every 
 three years the fleet of Tarshish ships came bringing gold, silver, ivory, 
 apes, and peacocks. -^So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in 
 riches and in wisdom. -■•And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his 
 wisdom, with which God had endowed his mind. ^^And they brought each a pres- 
 ent: vessels of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, 
 year by vear. 
 
 2^And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen; and he had His 
 one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that anfl"° ^ 
 he stationed in the chariot cities and with the Idng at Jerusalem, ^v^^^j |in> trade 
 king made silver in Jerusalem as common as stones, and cedars he made as plentiful horses 
 as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland. -^^Solomon's import of horses 
 was from Mu^ri^ and Kue; the king's traders received them from Kue at 
 a price, -^^so that a chariot could be imported from Mu9ri for six hundred 
 shekels of silver and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Even so through their 
 agency these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the Arameans. 
 
 § 56. Visit of the Queen of Sheba, I Kgs. 10' '«■ '^ II Chr. G'-^' >^ 
 Pojndar Solomon Traditions 
 
 I Kgs. 10 ^Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon impres- 
 through the name of Jehovah, > she came to test him with riddles. -So she n,?i"e 
 came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices hySolo- 
 and very much gold and precious stones. And as soon as she came to Solo- wo.ilth 
 mon, she told him all that was on her mind. '^And Solomon answered all ^^l-^. 
 her questions; there was nothing hid from the king which he could tioI ''"ii" 
 answer her. '^And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of the 
 Solomon, the house that he had built, ^the food of his table, the seating' ^f"'**" 
 of his courtiers, the attendance of his waiters, their clothing, his cup- Sheba 
 
 ' 10"> Probably between twenty and twenty-five pounds. 
 
 K IC About three and one-half pounds. 
 
 ^ 10^' The horse does not seem to have been known in Egypt until about 1600 B.C. and 
 after that time was probably imported rather than exported, so that the current translation, 
 Egypt, has little probability. Mu^ri, however, in Northern Syria had fine pasture lands, and 
 Ezek. 27'< refers to the importation of horses into Israel from that region. Dt. 17'", however, 
 indicates that Egypt was also later regarded as a source of supply for horses. Kue is identified 
 with the plain ofCilicia, cf. .\ppendix V, note ''. 
 
 ' 10' Many emend bo as to read, and the report of the house which he had built to the name 
 of Jehovah. 
 
 > 10* I.e., at his royal table. The context does not favor the other possible meaning, 
 dwellingB. 
 
 195
 
 I Kgs. 105] SPLENDORS OF SOLOMON'S REIGN 
 
 Popular Solomon Traditions 
 
 bearers, and his burnt-offering which he used to offer at the temple of 
 Jehovah, there was no more spirit in her.'' ^And she said to the king. True 
 was the report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom. 
 "But I would not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; 
 the half was not told me; you exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report 
 which I heard. ^Happy are your wives !^ Happy are these your courtiers 
 who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom ! ^Blessed be 
 Jehovah your God who delighted in you and has set you on the throne of 
 Israel ! Because Jehovah loved Israel forever, he has made you king that 
 you may do justice and righteousness. ^'^Then she gave the king a hundred 
 and twenty talents of gold and a very great store of spices and precious 
 stones; never again came so many spices as these which the queen of Sheba 
 gave to King Solomon. 
 His ^3\nd King Solomon gave to the queen all that she wished and asked, 
 
 fo her ^-side from that which she had brought to Solomon, accortling to his royal 
 bounty. So she returned and went to her own land, together with her 
 servants. 
 
 § 57. Solomon's Idolatry, I Kgs. IV-'^ 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 Solo- I Kgs. 11 ^^Now King Solomon was a lover of women; and he took many 
 
 Foreign foreign wives — Moabites, Canaanites, Edomites, Sidonians, Hittites, and 
 
 mar- Ammonites — ^From the nations concerning which Jehovah had said to tlie Israehtes, 
 
 ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for otherwise they 
 
 will turn away your heart after their gods; Solomon clung to these in love. 
 
 His ^And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred con- 
 
 fasy' cubines; and his wives turned away his heart.™ *Now when Solomon was old 
 in wor- J^fg heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David 
 ring his father; and his wives turned away his heart after their gods. 'But Solomon 
 gods of built a high place for Chemosh the god of Moab, in the mount that is be- 
 
 '^'s fore Jerusalem, and for Milcom the god of the Ammonites,'^ ^and also for 
 
 wives . . c ... 
 
 Ashtarte the goddess of the Sidonians. ° ^And so he did for all his foreign 
 wives, burning incense and sacrificing to their gods.P 
 
 '' 10' I.e., she was completely overwhelmed. 
 
 ' 108 So Gk., Luc, Syi-., and II Chr. 9". Heb., 7nen. 
 
 § 57 At least two distinct stages are represented in the literary history of this passage. 
 The original is represented by the brief extracts from the annals to the effect that Solomon made 
 many alliances, sealed by marriages with foreign princesses, and that, as the international law of 
 his day demanded, he reared shrines in Jerusalem in honor of the gods of the allied peoples. 
 These acts the original annalist doubtless regarded as only further evidence of Solomon's glory. 
 
 The late prophetic editor, whose peculiar ideas and expression are found in a majority of 
 the verses, enjoyed much greater religious enlightenment and therefore found in these foreign 
 marriages and the toleration of heathen worships the direct cause of the rebellions which dark- 
 ened the closing years of Solomon's reign. ' 
 
 The section has been much recast and supplemented. The Gk., which has a briefer, more 
 logical, and doubtless more original reading, has been followed in most cases. 
 
 ™ 11^ So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. awkwardly transposes the order of the clauses. 
 
 ° IP With the aid of the Heb. inland the Gk., it is possible to reconstruct the original. 
 For god, the latter scribes have in the Heb. substituted, abomination. Cf. ^ where the Heb. has 
 retained, (7od, while the Gk. has in one case, abomination. 
 
 ° 11= So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. reads. And Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of 
 the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 
 
 pll^* So Luc. The present Heb. text delivers Solomon from the curse of idolatry by 
 making his wives perform the heathen sacrifices. 
 
 196
 
 SOLOMON'S IDOLATRY [I Kgs. lie 
 
 Annals of Solcnnon 
 
 Mnd Solomon did that wliich displeased Jehovah and did not faithfully follow 
 Jehovah, as did David his father. ^Aj^^j Jehovah was angry with Solomon, because his 
 heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel,' who had appeared to him 
 twice, '"and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after 
 other gods; but he did not take care to do" that wliich Jehovah had commanded. 
 
 "Therefore Jehovah said to Solomon, Inasmuch as this is thy character and thou Jeho- 
 hast not kept my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will sureh^ rend'' the king- vah's 
 dom from thee, and will give it to thj^ servant.' ^^Notwithstanding in thy days I '^J^'^- 
 will not do it, for David thy father's sake; but I will rend it out of the hand of thyson. ^^^^^ 
 '^However I will not rend away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to thy son, 
 for the sake of David mv servant and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosea. 
 
 nation 
 
 §58. Solomon's Adversaries and Death, I Kgs. \V**\ II Chr. 9=9-3i 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 I Kgs. 1 1 i^Then Jehovah raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad, 
 the Edomite Hadad, of the race of Edomite kings; ^^^' ''for when David Ec?om- 
 smote the Edomites, he smote every male in Edoni. ^"'^Biit Hadad being a i*® 
 child, one of his father's servants brought liim to Egypt. ^^'^\nd he found 
 great favor in the eyes of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to his chief wife, 
 20band she brought him up in Pharaoh's palace among the sons of Pharaoh. 
 2lBut when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, he 
 said to Pharaoh, Let me depart that I may go to my own cotintrv. 22'^ij(>^ 
 Pharaoh said to him, What do you lack with nie that you are now seeking 
 to go to your own country ? And he said to him. Nevertheless you must let 
 me go. . . . ^obfjjjs jg t}jg gyji ti^ai Hadad did; and he abhorred Israel 
 and ruled in Edom. 
 
 '■'''^Also when Joab the commander of the army went up to bury the slain — Adad, 
 •^^for Joab and all Israel remained there six months — ^'^Adad fled and ^n'^iian- 
 certain Edomites with him. ^^And they set out from Midian and came to ^^^ 
 Paran and took men with them out of Paran and came to Egypt to Pharaoh 
 king of Egypt, who gave him a house and land. ^'-"^Ile also gave him as 
 
 1 llio So Gk. and Luc. Heb., kept. 
 
 Ml". « Gk. and Luc, take. So also in Heb. »*• ^, but cf. ^i. 
 
 ■ 11" Lat., u-ith thee. . . 
 
 § 58 Four distinct rebellions against the authority of Solomon appear to have been origi- 
 nally recorded. The hi.story and state of the accounts favor the conclusion that the first three 
 were found in the annals of Solomon, where tiiey would naturally belong. Probably because 
 of the similarity of the names of the chief actors and because they both found refuge in '"e-VPt. 
 two of these accounts have been closely combined, as is frequently the case with the parallel 
 stories in Gen., Ex., Num., and Judg. The resulting confusion is apparent in \\^\---- Two 
 names, Hadad and Adad, recur. As the narrative reads in Kgs., Hadad, a little child, heuig 
 carried as a refugee to ICgvpt, is at once Ki\en an I'.gvptian princess as wife and his son Cicnu- 
 bath is reared in the palace as a son of I'haraoli. The original character of the two stones i.s 
 revealed bv the analysis, and with this the inconsistencies (lisaj)pear. One tells of an Kdomite 
 prince, Hadad. who as a child wa,s brought to Kgypt and .adopted by Pharaohs queen; the 
 other of Adarl. a .Midianite chief, who, as a refugee in Egypt, was given as wife an Egyptian 
 princess, who in turn bore to him a son named (ienuhath. , ii • . i i 
 
 The brief account of Hezon in 23-2-^ is not found in the Ok. and was probably introduced 
 at a very late date into the Heb. text. It clearly comes, however, from an early source, wlucn 
 may originally have been the annals of Solomon. . i i t 
 
 Einally in ^I'f- appears the first extract from what was prf)bably once an independent Jero- 
 boam history. In ■=>'-•*'■' the oracle of Ahij.ih is cxpan.lcd by a late proi>helic eilitor. .\ some- 
 what briefer version is preserved in the (ik.. while in 12-'-' (S«elc) the apparently later and 
 wi.lely variant version is ff)und. In this there is no mention of Alujali, suggeslmg that pos- 
 sibly this was not found in the original story. In "« appears the late prophetic editor a regular 
 formulas.
 
 Rezon 
 the 
 Ara- 
 mean 
 
 I Kgs. 1119b] SPLENDORS OF SOLOMON'S REIGN 
 
 Annals of Solomon 
 
 wife the sister of Tahpenes.* 20a, c^j^jj ^\^q sister of Tahpenes bore to 
 him Genubath his son, and Genubath lived in Pharaoh's house. Bid xvhen 
 he heard that David slejd tvith his fathers, he returned to his land and like- 
 uise became an adversarij to Solomon. 
 
 2^God also raised up as an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, 
 who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah. -^And he gathered 
 men about him and became commander of a marauding band," and they 
 went to Damascus, and dwelt there and reigned in Damascus, ^oa^j^j jjg 
 was an adversary to Israel as long as Solomon lived. 
 
 Jero- 
 boam's 
 early 
 history 
 
 Ahi- 
 jah's 
 predic- 
 tion 
 that 
 he 
 
 should 
 rule 
 over 
 ten 
 tribes 
 
 Jeroboam History 
 
 2^And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, an official 
 of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his 
 hand against the king. 2*^ And this was the reason why he lifted up his 
 hand against the king: Solomon built Millo and closed up the exposed place 
 in the city of David his father, ^s^j^^j Jeroboam was a man of great ability.'^ 
 And when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, he placed .him 
 over all the forced levy of the house of Joseph. 
 
 29Now it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went away fronj 
 
 Jepjsalem, that the prophet Ahijah of Shilo found him in the way and 
 
 turned him aside from the way. Now Ahijah had clad himself with a 
 
 new garment;^ and they two were alone in the field. ^^Then Ahijah took 
 
 hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces. 
 
 ^^And he said to Jeroboam, Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus saith 
 
 Jehovah, the God of Israel, ' Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand 
 
 of Solomon and will give ten tribes to thee, ^-but he shall have one tribe, 
 for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have 
 chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, ^^because he'' has forsaken me and worshipped 
 Ashtarte, the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh, the god of Moab, and Milcom, the 
 god of the Ammonites, and has not walked in my ways to do that which is pleasing to 
 me, and to act in accordance with my statutes and mine ordinances, as David his father. 
 '■'However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will surely uphold 
 him all the days of his life,'' for David my servant's sake whom I chose, who kept my 
 commandments and my statutes. ^53^^ j ^^w take the kingdom out of his son's 
 hands and will give it to thee, even ten tribes. ^^And to his son will I give one tribe, 
 that David my servant maj^ have a lamp ever before me in Jerusalem, the city where I 
 have chosen to put my name. 'Tj^i^^i j -^wi take thee and thou shalt reign over all 
 that thou desirest, and shalt be king over Israel. '^And if thou wilt hearken to all 
 that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways and do that which is pleasing to me, 
 in keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, then I 
 
 t 1119b The Gk. and Luc. in 12-4'', jn a closely parallel passage associated with Jeroboam, 
 state that the king gave him Anoth the oldest sister of Tahpenes as wife. It is probable that the 
 two traditions have there been confused and that Anoth was the name of the princess given not 
 to the Hebrew refugee but to the Midianite prince. 
 
 " IV* So Gk. and Luc. A scribe, reminded by the reference to Zobah in 23, of David's 
 victory over the king of Zobah (II Sam. 8) added, when David sleir them. 
 
 " 1128 Cf. I Chr. 913, 268, but also Ruth 2' and I Sam. 9', where the possession of wealth 
 and reputation rather than personal skill seems to be intended. 
 
 " 1129 So Gk. and Luc. This clause is omitted in the Heb. through a scribal error. 
 
 ^ 11^3 So Gk., Luc, Lat., and Syr. Heb. has by mistake introduced a plural in the first 
 part of the verse. 
 
 * 11** Following the original which appears to have been before the Gk. translators. Heb., 
 make or appoint him prince, but Solomon had already long reigned as king. 
 
 198
 
 SOLOMON'S ADVERSARIES AND DEATH [I Kgs. 1138 
 
 Jeroboam Hist or y 
 
 Till be with thee and will build thee an enduring house, as I built for David, and mil 
 give Israel to thee. ^^And I will for this afflict the descendants of David, but not for- 
 ever.' 
 
 ^oSolomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. Then Jeroboam arose and His 
 fled to Egj^t, to Shishak [Sheshonk I] king of Egj'pt, and was in Egypt ^^^ * 
 until the death of Solomon. i^gypt 
 
 ■•iXow the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all tliat he did, and his wisdom, are they Solo- 
 not already recorded in the Historj- of the Acts of Solomon?'' ^-And tlic time during mon'e 
 which Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. ■'^Then Solomon death 
 slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam 
 his son became king in his place. ■= 
 
 •> 11" II Chr. 9^9 gives as additional sources, the history of Nathan the prophet, the prophecy 
 of Ahijah the Shilonite and the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat, 
 CI. Introd., p. 25. 
 
 e 1142, 43 Paralleled by II Chr. Q'o. ^K 
 
 199
 
 B.C. 
 
 940 
 
 920 
 900 
 880 
 860 
 
 840 
 820 
 800 
 780 
 760 
 740 
 720 
 
 700 
 680 
 
 660 
 640 
 620 
 
 600 
 
 580 
 ^60 
 
 Ea.YPT 
 
 JUDAH 
 
 Sioshenk I 
 (Shlshak) ~~wvASioi? 
 
 Osorkon I 
 
 TiKelot I 
 
 DIVISION OF THE HEBREW EMPIF 
 
 OF ' ' S 
 
 Rehoboam 
 
 Abijah . I'S?? 
 (Abijaiu) "" 
 
 OsorKon.II 
 
 Shoslienk: II 
 
 /rikeloUI 
 
 A a 
 
 WAR 
 
 B ■ 
 E 
 T 
 W 
 E 
 E 
 N 
 ISRAEL 
 
 B76 
 
 Jebosnapliat 
 
 AND JUOAH 
 
 ALLIANCE 
 A 
 G 
 A 
 I 
 N 
 
 ghoshenklll 
 
 Peiiial 
 
 851. 
 Jehoram 
 
 .V. I V, 843 
 
 Abazlah ^42 
 
 Atbaliab 
 ■ 836 
 
 s 
 
 T 
 DAMASCUS 
 
 H 
 
 E> 
 
 Jo tsb 
 
 Shoshenk IV 
 
 1 '^ "T80 ^ 
 
 I 
 • PetuDastis 
 
 Ama !iah 
 
 810 JOASH PAYS 
 .TRIBUTE TO HAZAEL 
 
 •796 
 
 782 
 
 Osorl on HI 
 
 Psammus 
 
 Zfet 
 
 7:;i 
 
 Azaffiab 
 
 (Uzziah) 
 
 751 
 Jothani 
 
 (Co-Eegeiit) 
 
 i "*'7737 * 
 
 735 
 
 Ataz 
 
 Bocchoris 
 
 715 
 
 Shabako 
 703 
 
 ASSYRIA 
 M M 
 
 M 
 HI. Ze 
 
 — CA 
 
 715 
 Hezekiah 
 
 S 
 
 T 
 
 -E- 
 
 R 
 
 CAF 
 
 GREAT \ 
 — ■% <- 
 
 Sliabatako 
 
 691 < <- 
 
 Taliarko 
 
 (Xlrhakah) 
 
 , . 665 • Necho I«- <- 
 
 Taiiut Amnion 664 
 
 662 ■«— ^- — < <- 
 
 ASSYRIAN RULE 
 
 CAMPAIGN , 
 
 , - 686 
 
 Psan etlkl 
 
 608 
 
 TXfiaHion. 
 
 MauasseU 
 
 641^ 
 
 L- 
 
 E 
 
 S« 
 
 -I- 
 N 
 
 E 
 
 ..610 
 
 639 
 
 Ji> lah 
 
 N 
 
 A 
 
 ±. 608. 
 
 Necho II 
 594 
 Psametlk II 
 
 588 
 Apries 
 (Hophra) 
 
 569 
 
 Aniasis 
 
 JeUoiakim 
 037 
 
 FIRST 
 
 Jehuiakin 
 
 Zedekiab 
 
 ..^FINAU •■* CAPTIVITY 
 
 _ BABYLONIAN 
 E 
 X. 
 I 
 
 H o 
 
 B~ 
 
 A 
 O 
 I 
 
 A 
 M 
 
 UEBREW AND CONTEMPORARY CHRON^OIOGY FROM THE DIl
 
 ISRAEL 
 
 Jeroboam I 
 
 fadab 915 
 913 
 
 aatba 
 
 DAM ASCUS 
 
 ' Eezon I • 
 
 HejioQ 
 
 I 
 
 Tabrilnmou 
 
 ASSYRIA 
 
 Baatl 
 
 889 
 ah 887 
 
 uri 
 - — Omrl 
 
 ^ 875 
 
 Abab 
 
 ^ab 
 
 WARS 
 
 B 
 
 E 
 T 
 W 
 E 
 E 
 N 
 
 .930 
 . AshtirdaD II 
 
 . 9tl 
 Adad-nlrarl n 
 
 Beu-badad I 
 
 • 891 
 Xiglath-Adar H 
 
 885 
 
 aziah |?2 
 
 Jehoram 
 
 r 842 
 
 Jebu 
 
 814 
 
 boaliaz 
 797 
 
 i'loasb 
 78L 
 
 )bDam II 
 
 R 
 A 
 
 E 
 L 
 
 A 
 N 
 D 
 
 HaJadezer battle of 
 XBeinia<ladIir*'<A*"<AR 83-» 
 
 ^ « * < 4 
 
 < ■* 876 
 
 Ashurna^irpal n 
 
 860- 
 
 Ha ael 
 
 
 - * A^ — 
 
 M 
 A 
 
 ■— «. 
 
 
 C 
 U 
 
 s 
 
 1—- 
 
 Ben-baUad III 
 
 (Mari) 
 
 K 
 
 Shalnianeser. II 
 825 
 
 Sbainsbi-Adad 
 
 --i - 812 
 
 - < — «— 803 
 — « — «— 797 
 Adad-nirari HI 
 
 -;-- 783 
 Shalmaneser III 
 i — «- 773 
 
 Asburtaa III 
 
 Re! »u.II 
 
 740 
 em*— 138 
 ah 136 
 
 ah 134 
 
 Hosliea 
 
 ■■*—«- 
 
 1^ OF SAMARIA 722-1 
 
 TY OF ISRAEL 72 1 
 
 *-FINAL <-CONQUEST 732, 
 
 - * * « <; < 
 
 Ashurn 
 
 -■738 
 .734 
 
 755 
 rari 
 745 
 
 Tiglath-Pilesei- III 
 
 727 
 ier 
 722 
 
 i2J 
 
 "Shalmaneser IV 
 
 _ ^ ^ ^ CAM PAIG N AG AINST ASHDOD 71 1 Sargon 
 
 fERN CAMPAIGN OF 701 4-705 
 
 - ■« * <— — - < < < < < < «- 
 
 -P 
 
 NST THE ARABIANS AND EGYPTIANS ABOUT 690 Sennacherib 
 ■" « •» * « < < <; ■« < « < . 
 
 (URE OF THEBES 660 
 
 _,.- 681 
 
 EsarbacVdcm. 
 
 — « ^67i 
 
 i <- 662 
 
 Asbui i)auipal 
 
 ^TION OF JOSIAH 621 
 
 BABYLONIA 
 626 
 
 BATTLE OF 
 
 ► CARCHEMISH 605-4 < < ■, -■, •< < «- 
 
 QUEST OF JUDAH BY NEBUCHADREZZAR ABOUT 600 
 
 626 
 Ashiaetlllli 
 
 Stiishilshkeuijjabololassac. 
 
 T 
 
 }ObOl 
 
 DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM 586 
 
 <- cnr, 
 [597 
 
 588 
 
 « * ; 
 
 NEBUCHADREZZAR 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 6S2 
 
 lt»' OF THE HEUKEW EMPIKE TO THE BAIiVLO.MAX EXlLfi
 
 HISTORY OF NORTHERN ISRAEL 
 
 I Kgs. IS^-II Kgs. 1811 {exclusive of data 
 relating to Juclah), II Chr. 10
 
 HISTORY OF NORTHERN ISRAEL FROM 
 
 THE DIVISION OF THE EMPIRE TO 
 
 THE FALL OF SAMARIA 
 
 FROM JEROBOAM TO OMRI, I Kgs. 12i-U20, 152M020, II Chr. 10 
 
 § 59. Rejection of Rehoboam by the Northern Tribes and the Election of 
 
 Jeroboam, I Kgs. 12'", II Chr. 10 
 
 Jeroboam History 
 
 I Kgs. 12 2Xo\v as soon as Jeroboam the son of Xebat heard [that Sol- Jero-^ 
 omon was deadj^for he was still in Egypt, whither he had fled from the retu'rn 
 presence of King Solomon, and he dwelt in Egypt — he returned at once to fc™ ^ 
 his native town, Zeredah in Mount Eplu-aim.^ 
 
 ^And Rehoboam w^ent to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem Popu- 
 to make him king. 'And they sent and called Jeroboam, and he, with all the niaiKl 
 assembly of Israel, came. And they said to Rehoboam, '^Your father made ^^^^^ 
 our yoke intolerable. Now therefore make the intolerable ser\'ice of your boam 
 father and the heavy yoke he laid upon us lighter, and we will serve you. hfs "^ 
 ^And he said to them, Go away for three days, then come again to me. So po^'^y 
 the people went away. 
 
 ^And Kins; Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had stood Coun- 
 before Solomon his father during his lifetime, saying, ^Vhat answer do you |o1ch- 
 advise me to give this people ? 'And they replied to him saying. If now you "Jj"°g^ 
 will be a sen'ant to this people, and will serve them, and give them a favor- ers 
 able answer, then they will be your servants forever. ^But he rejected the 
 
 From Jeroboam to Omri. — The importance of the rlivision of the kinKdoro led the editor 
 of Kgs. to quote at length from the source that recorded this. Ci)nsidcral)le space is also given to 
 the reign of Jeroboam, the first king of Northern Israel, for to the religious iiolicy inaugurated 
 by him the editor traced the series of calamities that overtook the Northern Kingdom. The 
 remaining reigns of this epoch are dismi.s.sed with a few brief citations from the annals of Israel, 
 usually set in the formulas of the editor. For the Chronicler, whose interest was centred m 
 Judah and the temple, events in the North had no significance beyond the fatal act of division. 
 
 § .59 The record of the division of the Helirew empire was apparently taken from the his- 
 tory of ,Jeroboam, which the late prophetic editor may have found incorporated as a section 
 in the royal chronicles of Israel. The tik. aii<l Luc. have preserved a more logical and probably 
 a more original order and reafling for the opening ver.ses. The ICphraimite point of view la 
 prominent in '-". V'ss. -'-^^ were probably added by a later .ludean editor, but otherwise the unity 
 of the section is complete anrl it is unsurpas.sed as a vivid piece of early historical writing. It 
 evidently comes from about the .same period as the Saul and David narratives of Sam. 
 
 » 122 So practically Gk. and Luc. The Heb. omits the hwt clause, substituting^" for it. 
 But this implies that .leroboam was sumtnonod from I'.gypt and arrived at Shechem, •", before 
 the expiration of the three da.vs, ■'', which was an obvious impossibilit.y. The (!k. order fol- 
 lowed above removes this and other diflicultics. According to the original narrative Jero- 
 boam was not at Shechem until after Rehoboam was rejected, 2". 
 
 203
 
 I Kgs. 128] FROM JEROBOAM TO OMRI 
 
 Jeroboam History 
 
 Coun- counsel which the old men had given him, and took counsel with the young 
 
 ^^g°^ men who had grown up with him and had stood before him. ^And he said 
 
 young tQ them, What answer do you advise us to give to this people, who have spoken 
 
 to me, saying, ' Make the yoke that your father put upon us lighter ' ? 104^^^ 
 
 the young men who had grown up with him replied to him, saying. Thus 
 
 must you answer this people who have said to you, ' Your father made our 
 
 yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us'; thus must you say to them, 
 
 ' My little finger is thicker than my father's loins ! ^^And now whereas my 
 
 father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will make your yoke heavier; my 
 
 father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges.' 
 
 Reho- ^-So when Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third 
 
 tvran-^ day, as the king bade, saying. Come to me the third day, ^^the king answered 
 
 nical the people harshly, and did not follow the counsel which the old men had 
 
 to the given him, ^'^but spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, 
 
 demand raying. My father made your yoke heavy, but I also will make your yoke 
 
 still heavier; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with 
 
 scourges. ^'^So the king gave no heed to the people; for it was a thing brought 
 
 about of Jehovah to confirm his word, which Jehovah spoke by Ahijah the 
 
 Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.^ 
 
 Rejec- ^^And when all Israel saw that the king gave no heed to them, the people 
 
 Rfiho*- answered the king, saying, 
 
 boam 
 
 ^J^, What share have we in David ? 
 
 ern We have no claim in the son of Jesse ! 
 
 tribes To your tents, O Israel ! 
 
 Now care for your own house, O David ! 
 
 So the Israelites went to their homes. "But over the Israelites who dwelt in the 
 
 cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned. >= ^^Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, 
 
 who was over the men subject to forced labor; but all Israel stoned him to 
 
 death. Thereupon King Rehoboam quickly mounted his chariot in order 
 
 to flee to Jerusalem. ^^So Israel rebelled against the house of David to the 
 
 present day. 
 
 Elec- 20^j^(j a^g soon as all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent 
 
 je°ro-° and called him to the assembly of the people and made him king over all 
 
 boam Israel. None remained loyal to the house of David except the tribe of 
 
 Judah. 
 
 The ^'Now when Rehoboam had arrived at Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of 
 
 divine Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors, 
 ^P' ^ , to fight against the house of Israel in order to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the 
 of The ^^'^ °^ Solomon. -^But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, as follows, 
 act ^^Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah 
 
 and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, -^ ' Thus saith Jehovah, " Ye shall 
 
 b 12G-15 The secondary Gk. version in 12 24q. r (Swete's text) is briefer, and possibly the 
 original: And Rehoboam said, Bring the elders in to me that I may take counsel with them as 
 to the answer I should give the people on the third day. And trhen Rehoboam told them the 
 message that the people had sent to him, the elders of the people replied. So have the people said 
 to you. But Rehoboam cast their counsel to the winds, for it pleased, him not. Then he sent 
 and summoned those who had grown up with him, and said the same to them, These terms have 
 the people sent me. 
 
 "= 12'^ Not in the Gk., and evidently not found originally in the present context. 
 
 204
 
 ELECTION OF JEROBOAM AS KING [I Kgs. 1224 
 
 Jeroboam History 
 
 not go up to fight against your kinsmen the Israelites; go back home all of j'ou, for 
 this thing has come to pass at my instigation." ' So they listened to the word of Jeho- 
 vah, and departed according to the word of Jehovah."* 
 
 ^''Then Jeroboatn fortified Shechein in the hill country of Ephraim, and Fortifi- 
 
 dwelt there. Aften\-ards he went out from there and fortiiSed Penuel. of She- 
 
 chem 
 
 g 60. Jeroboam's Institution of the Calf Worship at Bethel and Dan, 
 
 I Kgs. I'i-^-^'^ 
 
 Jeroboam History 
 
 I Kgs. 13 -*^Then Jeroboam said to himself. Now the sovereignty will Estab- 
 revert to the house of David, -"li this people go up to offer sacrifices in Jjfe^t 
 the temple of Jehovah at Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people turn "f 
 again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and 
 and return to Rehoboam king of Judah." ^Sg^ ^J^g J^j^^g ^-q^j^ counsel with himself, J^yai^ 
 and made two calves of gold, and said to the people,^ You have gone up to sanct- 
 Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, which brought you 
 up from the land of Egypt ! -^And he set up the one in Bethel, and the 
 other in Dan. ^^And this thing became a sin to Israel, ^ for the people 
 went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. 
 
 ^'And he made houses of high places, and made priests from among all Ap- 
 
 the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. 32\j^(^ Jeroboam ordained a [j^ent' 
 
 feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast ofadis- 
 
 that is in Judah, and he went up unto the altar; so he did in Bethel, sacri- priest- 
 
 ficing to the calves that he had made; and he placed in Bethel the priests g°"i^ 
 
 of the high places that he had made. feast- 
 
 '■ clay 
 
 § 61. The Prophecy against the Altar at Bethel, I Kgs. la^'-lS^* 
 Very Late Popular Prophetic Story 
 
 I Kgs. 12 ^"^And Jeroboam went up to the altar which he had made in Jem- 
 Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month,^ which he had arbitrarily p'uiVl'ic^ 
 ■ — — ■ sacrifice 
 
 d 12^1-24 According to the early source quoted in 145", (/igj-e was constant war belveen 
 Eehoboam and the son of Rehoboam. 12'-' seems to have been the later Judean explanation 
 of why Rehoboam failed to compel the Northerners to submit to his rule. It also introduces 
 the motive of direct divine intervention which characterizes the later narratives. The refer- 
 ence to Benjamin in -' (cf. -'") confirms this conclusion. 
 
 § 60 It is generally helfl that the material in this passage has been recast by a later editor, 
 but that the main facts are from an older source. There are, however, no strong grounds 
 against regarding it as an extract from the Jcrol)oam history. In the days of Amos (7'''^) Bethel 
 was a royal sanctuary, and Dan was from the da.\s of the judges a famous shrine. Jeroboam 
 in making them royal sanctuaries was but following the e.xample of (iideon and Havid. Kven 
 though the centralization of all sacrificial worship in Jerusalem belongs to a later time, the 
 temi>le of Soloinon with its glories irnist then have been a dangerous rival to the older local 
 sanctuaries. It is also significant that none of the expressions that characterize all of the work 
 of the late prophetic author is found in the .section. 
 
 e 122? fsj^t found in the Ok. and probably an editorial addition. 
 
 ' 12^" So Ok. Owing to a scribal misreading the Ileb. has, to them. 
 
 z jOM Following I.uc. in adding. In Israel. 
 
 5 (\\ The reference in W to the iconocla.«tic reformation of Josiah recorded in 11 Kgs. 2.3 
 indicates that this strange story is very late. The conception of the prophet as a womlcr-worker 
 is also another of the indices of its late origin. Its entire atmosphere is that of pr)st-e\ilio 
 Juflaism. The mission of .-Xmos to Northern Israel during the days of Jeroljoam II and his 
 forced flciiarture (Am. 7) may be the nucleus of fact alif)ut which it grew up. The jHiint of view 
 is Judean, the date possibly after the days of Nehcmiah and llzra. Cf. the post-exilic concep- 
 tion of .Samaria a.s a r>rovince, •''■'. ' 
 
 '' 12" So I.at. The Heb. a<Ids in the month. The eighth month wa.s Oct. -Nov., while in 
 Judah the corresi>onding fea-st of tabernacles was held in the seventh month. Cf. Lev. 2;P'. 
 
 205
 
 I Kgs. 1233] FROM JEROBOAM TO OIVIRI 
 
 Veri/ Late Popular Prophetic Story 
 
 chosen; and he ordained a feast for the Israelites and went up to the altar 
 to offer sacrifice. 
 Mes- 13 ^At that time a man of God came from Judah at the command of 
 
 ®^f Jehovah to Bethel. And Jeroboam was standing by the altar to offer sacri- 
 sign gee 2'phen [the man of God] cried against the altar at the command of 
 un-*"^ Jehovah and said, O altar, altar, thus saith Jehovah: 'Behold, a son shall be 
 mTiT'^ born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on thee shall he sacrifice 
 of God the priests of the high places who offer sacrifices on thee, and he^ shall burn 
 men's bones on thee.' 3\nd he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the 
 sign which Jehovah hath spoken, 'Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the 
 ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.' ^jsj^ow when the king heard the 
 saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, Jero- 
 boam put forth his hand from the altar, saying. Take hold of him. But 
 his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not 
 draw it back again to himself. ^The altar also was rent, and the ashes 
 poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had 
 given at the command of Jehovah. ^And the king answered and said to 
 the man of God, Now intercede with Jehovah thy God, and pray for me, 
 that my hand may be restored me again. So the man of God interceded 
 with Jehovah, and the king's hand was restored to him again and became 
 as it was before. '^And the king said to the man of God, Come home with 
 me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward. ^But the man of 
 God said to the king. If you were to give me half your house, I would not 
 go with you, nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place; ^for it was 
 commanded meJ by the word of Jehovah, saying, 'Thou shalt eat no bread 
 nor drink water, nor return by the way that thou earnest.' ^*^So he went an- 
 other way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel. 
 The i^Xow a certain old prophet dwelt in Bethel; and his sons^ came and 
 
 wo?ds told him all the deeds that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; 
 of the they also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king. ^2 \nd 
 et™^f " their father said to them, \^^lat way did he go ? Then his sons showed^ him 
 Bethel ^^.}^jp]^ ^y^y t^^e j^^^^ of Qo^j ^.Jjq came from Judah had gone. I3\n(i lie said 
 
 to his sons. Saddle for me an ass. So they saddled for him the ass, and he 
 rode on it. ^l\nd he went after the man of God, and found him sitting under 
 an oak; and he said to him. Are you the man of God who came from Judah ? 
 And he said, I am. iS'pijen he said. Come home with me and eat bread. 
 ^^But he said, I may not return with you, nor go in with you,°^ neither will 
 I eat bread nor drink water in this place ;° ^''for it was commanded me by 
 the word of Jehovah, 'Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor 
 
 ' 132 The Heb. has the plural, but Gk., Luc, Lat., and Syr. presuppose the singular. 
 Both Gk. and Heb., however, admit of the rendering, the bones of men shall bum. 
 
 ' 139 An impersonal construction, or with a slight change in Heb., / was commanded. 
 Gk., he commanded me by the word of Jehovah. 
 
 ^ 13" Heb., one of his sons. But Gk., Luc, Lat., Syr., and "*> support the plural. 
 
 ' 1312 So Gk., Luc, Lat., S>t., and the Heb. after a slight change in the pointing. 
 
 ™ 131^ Gk. and Luc. omit, nor go in with you; Syr., and enter your house — a probable 
 reading, cf. 2^^. 
 
 " I316 So Gk., Luc, Lat., and Sjt. 
 
 206
 
 PROPHECY AGAINST BETHEL [I Kgs. 13i7 
 
 Verij Late Popular Prophetic Story 
 
 depart by the way that thou earnest.' ^^And he said to him, I also am a 
 prophet as you are; and a INIessenger spoke to me by the word of Jehovah, 
 saying, 'Bring him back with thee to thy house, that he may eat bread and 
 drink water !' (But he was lying to him.) ^^So he went back with lum,o 
 and ate bread in his house and drank water. 
 
 20But while they were sitting at the table, the word of Jehovah came to the Death 
 prophet who brought him back, ^i \jid he cried to the man of God who "^J:^^ 
 came from Judah, saying. Thus saith Jehovah, 'Since thou hast disobeyed known 
 the word of Jehovah, and hast not kept the command p which Jehovah thy et as a 
 God commanded thee, 22bvit camest back and hast eaten bread and drimk nXT''' 
 water in the place of which he said to thee, "Eat no bread, and drink no f;?'" '"s 
 
 fllSOOG'" 
 
 water," thy body shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.' -^^^j^j dience 
 after he had eaten bread and drunk water, he saddled for him*! the ass, and 
 he again departed. 24j3,^j^ g^ ]Jqj^ jj^^^ }^Jj^^ \)y jj^g ^y^y and slew him, and his 
 body was cast upon the highway, and the ass stood by it; the lion also stood 
 by the body. ^^And just then men passed by and saw the body cast in the 
 highway, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in 
 the city where the old prophet dwelt. 
 
 26 And when the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of Burial 
 it, he said. It is the man of God who disobeyed the word of Jehovah; there- „„. ^ 
 fore Jehovah hath delivered him to the lion, which has torn him, and slain known 
 him, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spoke to him. 27^Ynd he et 
 commanded his sons, saying. Saddle for me the ass. And they saddled it.'" 
 2^So he went and found his body thrown down in the highway, and the ass 
 and the lion standing by the body; the lion had not eaten the body nor 
 torn the ass. 29'p']^pj^ ^]JQ prophet took up the body of the man of God and 
 laid it on the ass, and brought it back to the city^ to mourn and to bury him. 
 ^^And he laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, 
 Alas, my brother! ^^And when he had buried him, he spoke to his sons, 
 saying, When I die, bury me in the sepulchre in which the man of God is 
 buried; lay my bones beside his bones: ^-ior the saying which he cried by the 
 word of Jehovah against the altar in Bethel, and against all the temples of the 
 high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass. 
 
 ■^•^ After this event Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made Jero- 
 again from all the people priests of the high places. Whomsoever he would baneful 
 he consecrated* to be a priest of the high places." ^^ \nj f^js thing became reJ^'R- 
 a source of sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off and to destroy it policy 
 from the face of the earth. 
 
 ° 13" Gk. and Luc. sueeest, "o he caused him to turn back, as the original. Cf. ^■^. 
 
 P 1.3^' Heb., rebelled nqainM the mouth. So •*. 
 
 q 1323b, 2Ja So Ok. and Luc. Heb., for the prophets who had hroupht bnck. "And he de- 
 parted, which i."! unintelliRible. The sentence is wholl.v or in part the result of the in.sertion of a 
 marginal note. This is suggested by Svr., for the prophet of God, and again he departed. 
 
 r i32fib, 27 xhe Gk. omits this sentence. 
 
 • 1329 The cumbersome Heb. is corrected on the basis of the Gk. and Luc. 
 
 ' n'a Heb., he would fdl his hand. „ , . , ^ . , 
 
 " 1.3*^ So Gk,, Luc, Lat., S.vr. The Heb. is impos.sible, and he will be priests of hinii 
 places. The above rendering results from a .slight change in the Heb. 
 
 207
 
 I Kgs. 141] FROM JEROBOAM TO OMRI 
 
 § 62. Ahijah's Prophecy against Jeroboam, I Kgs. 14' -^^ 
 
 Late Prophetic Narrative 
 
 The I Kgs. 14 ^At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. ^And Jero- 
 
 mission Ijqjj^j^ gajj ^^Q ijjg wife. Arise, 1 pray you, and disguise yourself, that you may 
 jero- not be known'^ to be the wife of Jeroboam, and so to Shiloh. There is Ahijah 
 wife the prophet who predicted that I should become king"^ over this people. 
 Ahijah ^And take with you ten loaves and cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him; 
 he will tell you what shall become of the child. "^And Jeroboam's wife did 
 so; arising, she went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah 
 could not see, for his eyes had become dim because of his age. ^But Jehovah 
 had said to the aged Ahijah, The wife of Jeroboam cometh now to inquire 
 of thee^ concerning her son, for he is sick; thus and thus shalt thou say to 
 her. And when she came in,y she pretended to be another woman. 
 His ^But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, 
 
 Uon'of ^^^ said, Come in, wife of Jeroboam; why do you pretend to be another? 
 the seeing that I am sent to you with heavy tidings. "Go, tell Jeroboam, 'Thus 
 throw saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: "Because I exalted thee from among the 
 Jero- people and made thee prince over my people Israel, ^and rent the kingdom 
 boam's away from the house of David and gave it to thee, and yet thou hast not 
 been as my servant David, w^ho kept my command and followed me with 
 all his heart to do that only which was right in mine eyes, %ut hast done 
 evil more than all that were before thee, and hast gone and made thee other 
 gods and molten images to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind 
 thy back: ^''therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, 
 and will cut off from Jeroboam every male child — him that is shut up and 
 him that is left at large^ in Israel — and will utterly sweep away the house of 
 Jeroboam, as a man sweepeth away refuse, until it is gone. i^Him that 
 dietli of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat, and him that dieth in the 
 field shall the birds of the heavens eat; for Jehovah hath spoken it." ' ^^Xow 
 rise up, go to your house; and when your feet enter the city, the child shall 
 die. i^And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him; for he only of Jer- 
 oboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good 
 thing toward Jehovah, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. ^^More- 
 over Jehovah will raise up for himself a king over Israel, who shall cut off 
 the house of Jeroboam that day. But even now^ ^^Jehovah will smite Israel, 
 and they shall be shaken^ as a reed is shaken in the water, and he will root 
 
 § 62 The lanjjuage and point of view of this story is that of the late prophetic editor of 
 Kgs. In 1= the exile of the Northern Israelites is preSieted. The data in i'- '"■ ", however, 
 were probably drawn by the editor from older sources to which he had access, and therefore the 
 narrative probably has certain historical as well as religious value. 
 
 ^' 14- Heb., th<it they shall not knoiv. i.e., the impersonal verb equivalent to a passive. 
 
 '^ 14- Following a pointing suggested by the versions. Heb., he spoke of me for king. 
 
 ^ 14^ Heb., to seek an oracle. 
 
 y 14^ So the versions. In the Heb. the words are spoken by Jehovah, but they more natu- 
 rally come from the narrator. The difference in the Heb. is merely one of pointing. 
 
 ^ 14'" I.e., everyone. The exact application of the phrase is in doubt. Under and over 
 age, botid and free, or married and celibate have been suggested. 
 
 *> 141^ The Heb. is doubtful and the versions are obscure. The above rendering preserves 
 the original thought. 
 
 •= 14'= Moflern commentators generally agree that Heb. has lost a clause needed as the 
 ground of comparison. 
 
 208
 
 PROPHECY AGAINST JEROBOAM [I Kgs Uis 
 
 Late Prophetic Narrative 
 
 up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter 
 them beyond the River [Euphrates], because they have made their Ash- 
 tartes, provoking Jehovah to anger. ^^And he will give up Israel because 
 of the sins of Jeroboam which he has committed, and with which he has 
 made Israel sin. 
 
 ^'Then Jeroboam's wife arose and departed and came to Tirzah. And Death 
 as she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. ^^And all Israel jero- 
 buried him and mourned for him, according; to the word of Jehovah which hoam's 
 
 SOU 
 
 he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet. 
 
 § 63. Death of Jeroboam and Reign of his Son Nadab, I Kgs. 14'«. ^o, is^s" 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 I Kgs. 14 "Now the other acts of Jeroboam, how he carried on wars, how he Jero- 
 ruled, they are already recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. ^And the bqam's 
 time during which Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years. Then he slept with his ""^'sn 
 fathers, and Nadab his son became king in his place. fleath 
 
 15 "And Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king in the second year of Asa king Na- 
 of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. -''And he did that which displeased 'lab's 
 Jehovah, and followed in the way of his father, and in his sin whereby he made Israel sin. """'^ 
 
 -'And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, cons{)ired against assas- 
 him, and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, ^'^a*'OD 
 while Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. -^So in the Baasha 
 third year of Asa king of Judah Baasha slew him, and became king in his 
 place. -^But as soon as he became king, he smote all the house of Jero- 
 boam. He did not leave of Jeroboam's house a single .soul which he did 
 
 not destrov. According to the word of Jehovah, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah 
 the Shilonite, ^"because of the sins which Jeroboam committed and by which he made 
 Israel to sin, so that he provoked Jehovah,'' the God of Israel, to anger, ^ijvjow the 
 other acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of 
 the Kings of Israel? 
 
 § 64. Baasha's Reign, I Kgs. W^-W 
 Late Prophetic Editorial Summary 
 
 I Kgs. 15 "^^In the third year of Asa king of Judah Baa.sha the son of jcho- 
 Ahijah became king over e\\ Israel in Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years. ^1^,^ 
 ^-And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their davs. provia 
 ^*.\nd he dis{)leased Jehovah, and followed in the way of Jeroboam and in lia.a- 
 his sin with which he nuide Israel to sin. 16 '.Vnd the following word of p"|\gy 
 Jehovah came to Jehu the son of Ilanani against Baasha, ^Forasmuch as I 
 have raised thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel, 
 
 5 0.3 In 1.5^7 -29a a brief extract from the annals is found. Otherwi.sc the record is cast in the 
 familiar languaKe of the late prophetic editor. 
 
 '' X')'*' \ Ileb. scribe has added the awkward rIoss, by his pmvora/ion. 
 
 i 04 The fact that .Ichii pri)i)hcsie<l aKaiii.st Haa.slia may liavc- Ix-cn derived from an onrlior 
 source, but all of the data in the present .section is cast in the language of the late prophetic 
 editor. 15* is clearly out of its logical position, which is after **. 
 
 209
 
 I Kgs. 162] FROM JEROBOAM TO OMRI 
 
 Late Prophetic Editorial Summary 
 
 and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam and hast made my people 
 
 Israel to sin, so that they have provoked me to anger with their sins, "^I will 
 
 utterly sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make thy house like the 
 
 house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. "^Whoever belonging to Baasha dies 
 
 in the city, him shall the dogs eat, and whoever of his dies in the field, him 
 
 shall the birds of the heavens eat. 
 
 His ^Now the other acts of Baasha, and what he did and his mighty deeds, 
 
 denina- ^^^ ^^^7 ^^^ recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel ? ^Moreover, 
 
 tion bj t}ie prophet Jehu the son of ITanani the word of Jehovah came against 
 
 death Baasha and against his house, both because of the evil that he did in the 
 
 sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, in being 
 
 like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he smote him. ^And Baasha 
 
 slept with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah, and Elah his son became 
 
 king in his place. 
 
 § 65. Elah's Reign, I Kgs. IG^-" 
 An7ials of Israel 
 
 Zimri's I KgS. 1 6 *In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah Elah the son of Baasha 
 
 sniracv became king over Israel in Tirzah, and reigned two j'cars. ^And his servant Zimri, 
 
 against commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. While he was in 
 
 and his Tirzali drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, the royal chamberlain 
 
 house jj^ Tirzah, ^^Zimri went in and smote and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year 
 
 of Asa king of Judah, and became king in his place. ^^But as soon as he became 
 
 king and had seated himself on the throne, he smote all the house of Baasha; he 
 
 left him not a single male, either of his kinsfolks or of his friends, ^^^hus Zimri 
 
 destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Jehovah, which he 
 spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, ''for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of 
 his son Elah, which they committed and with which they made Israel sin, to provoke 
 Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities. '''Now the other acts of Elah, 
 and all that he did, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 
 
 § 66. Brief Reign of Zimri, I Kgs. IG'^-^o 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 Elec- I Kgs* 16 ''In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned 
 
 Ornri° seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were besieging Gibbethon, which be- 
 
 king longed to the Philistines. ^^And the people who were engaged in the siege 
 
 over- heard the report, Zimri has conspired and has also smitten the king; therefore 
 
 q{^°'" all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day 
 
 Zimri in the camp. i"So Omri went up from Gibbethon and all Israel with him, 
 and they besieged Tirzah. ^^When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he 
 
 § 6.5 The account of the conspiracy of Zimri, which is taken from a primitive source, well 
 illustrates the orientalism of the age and the civil dissensions which during this epoch wasted 
 the rich resources of the northern kingdom. 
 
 § 66 Although Zimri reigned only seven days, the editor of Kgs. pronounces upon him the 
 same formal condemnation as upon all the kings of Israel. Into his epitome he has introducer 
 a brief rjuotation telling of the overthrow of the conspirator. 
 
 210
 
 BRIEF REIGN OF ZOIRI [I Kgs. 16i8 
 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 went into the castle of the royal palace, and burnt the royal palace over him. 
 Thus he died "for his sins which he committed in doing that which displeased Jcliovah, 
 in following in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin whicli he did, to make Israel sin. 
 ^Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his conspiracy which he made, are they not re- 
 corded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 
 
 II 
 
 RULE OF THE HOUSE OF OMRI AND THE WORK OF ELIJAH 
 I Kgs. 1621-22^0, 51-53^ II Kgg 1^ 31-3 
 
 § 67. Omri's Accession and Reign, I Kgs. IG-'-^ 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 I Kgs. 16 -'Then the people of Israel were divided.*^ Half of the people Omri's 
 followed Tibni the son of Ginath and made him king, and the other half oveV"hT 
 followed Omri. 22^1^,^ ^j^^ people with Omri were stronger than the people ""iyal. 
 with Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni and his brother Joram died,'' and 
 Omri became king. -^In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah Omri began to 
 reign over Israel, and reigned twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. 
 
 ^'^Then he bought the hill Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; Estab- 
 and he built on the hill and named the city which he built Samaria, after Jj^^g,'^ ^^f 
 the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill. Sama- 
 
 ^^And Omri did that which displeased Jehovah, and was more wacked than all his ult^ 
 predecessors. -Tor he followed altogether in the steps of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, capital 
 and in that with which he made Israel to sin, so that by their heathen practices'' they 
 angered Jehovah the God of Israel. -"Now the rest of the acts of Omri, and ail His 
 that he did and his mighty deeds, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the f}'^} re- 
 Kings of Israel? -^So Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And hgious 
 Aliab his son became king in liis place. l^oncj 
 
 Rule of the House of Omri and the Work of Elijah and Elisha. — Five primary sources 
 are represented in the subsequent sections. From the annals of Israel the editor of Kgs. made 
 a few brief quotations. The longer extracts in I Kgs. 20, 22 he apparently drew from an early 
 Ahab history, and in II Kgs. 9"-i0-"from a Jehu history. These citations he sui>t>!emented by 
 the long and valuable extracts from the early Elijah stories, I Kgs. 17-19, 21, II Kgs. l'-"; •"" 
 and by the stories taken from the ijopular F.lisha cycles, II Kgs. 2'-9'3. Excepting a few notices 
 regarding Judah in I Kgs. 22"-''<' and II Kgs. S^^--'\ the attention of the reader is entirely fixed 
 in these sixteen chapters upon the important events in Northern Israel. 
 
 The eijoch is cliielly imi)ortant because ui the person of the great lUijah the prophets began 
 to assume an active and conunanding i)osition in the social and religious life of the jiorioil, and 
 that open struggle with the native religions of Canaan was inaugurated which was destined to 
 end in the complete separation of the Israelitish race and the victory of the exalted ethical con- 
 ceptions of Jehovah and his demands, which were so courageously advocated by his prophets. 
 
 § 67 The references to the conquest of Moab by Omri in the Mesha in.scription (cf. .Appen- 
 dix IX), and the fact that even after his family had ceased to rule over Israel, the Assyrians 
 referred to the northern kingdom as the honse of Omri, indicate the importance of the man and 
 his reign. What David did for united Israel, Omri appears to have done in a lesser degree for 
 his kingdom. Instead of weakened by war and subject to the .Arameans, he left it uniteil and 
 organized, thus i)rei)aring the wav for the lirilliant reign of .\hab. 
 
 These facts were either not recorded in tlie Chronicles of the Kings of Israel or did not seem 
 important to the editor; for, aside from two brief Ijut significant quotations, he simply gives hia 
 usual adverse judgment regarding Omri and his reign. 
 
 " HF' So (ik. and Luc. The Heh. through ditlography a<lds, into two jvirts. 
 
 '' 10'=' So Ok. an<i Luc. It is so circumstantial that it ai)pears to be original, although not 
 found in the Ileb. 
 
 ' !(>""' ileb., vanities. 
 
 211
 
 IKgs. 1629] RULE OF THE HOUSE OF OINHII 
 
 § 68. Ahab's Accession and Policy, I Kgs. le^^-^* 
 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 Ahab's I Kgs. 16 ^"Now in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah Ahab the son of 
 
 ^^'"' Oinri began to reign over Israel; and Aliab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in 
 
 ^\^Fu Samaria twenty-two j-ears. ^"And Ahab the son of Omri did that which displeased"* 
 
 Jezebel Jehovah more than all his predecessors. ^^Furthermore, as if it had been a sliglit thing 
 
 and his for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the 
 
 sane- daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and turned them to serve Baal and wor- 
 
 Baal-^ shipped him. ^2 ;^j^(j |jg erected an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which 
 
 ism he had built in Samaria. ^3 \,^(j Ahab also made the Asherah;® and Ahab did yet 
 more to anger Jehovah the God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who preceded him. 
 Re- ^^In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. He laid its foundation 
 
 ing of ^'ith the loss of Abiram his eldest, and set up the gates with the loss of his 
 
 J^icho youngest son Segub, as Jehovah had spoken by Joshua the son of Nun. 
 
 § 69. The Drought Announced by Elijah the Tishbite, I Kgs. 17 
 
 Earb/ Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 An- I Kgs. 17 ^Now Elijah the Tishbite of Tishbe^ in Gilead, said ~lo Ahab, 
 
 ment^of ^^^ Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, whom I serv^e, there shall be neither 
 
 the (Jew nor rain these years, s except according to my word. . . . 
 
 p,.. , ^Xhen the word of Jehovah came to him, saying, ^Depart from here and 
 
 by the turn eastward and hide thyself by the Brook Cherith, that is east of Jordan. 
 
 Cherith ^Then thou shaJt drink out of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens 
 
 to feed thee there. ^So he went and obeyed the command of Jehovah and*^ 
 
 dwelt by the Brook Cherith that is east of Jordan. ^And the ravens brought 
 
 him bread every' morning and flesh' every evening, and he used to drink out 
 
 of the brook. ^But after a while the brook dried up, because there was no 
 
 rain in the land. 
 
 § 68 The editor introduces the history of Ahab with a review of his reign and two extracts 
 from the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. Cf. .Josh. G-" for the prediction referred to in **. 
 
 <* 16^" So Gk. and Luc. and the stereotyped idiom elsewhere. A word has by mistake 
 fallen out of the Heb. ~ 
 
 e 1Q33 Probably a more elaborate representation of the deity than the sacred poles referred 
 to in 14'^ and frequently elsewhere. In II Kgs. 23^, as in Judg. 3^ Asherah seems to be equiva- 
 lent to the female goddess Asbtarte. 
 
 § 69 The characteristics and approximate date of the early Elijah stories which are here 
 introduced, have already been considered in the Introd.. pp. 17, 18. The abruptness with which 
 Elijah is ushered into the history in Kgs. is in perfect keeping with his character, but it is 
 doubtless due to the fact that we have here only a torso. The complete Elijah biography 
 probably localized the opening scene (cf. ^, from here) and told of the persecution of the prophets 
 by Jezebel, which is merely alluded to in IS'^, and of the fulfilment of the di\-ine command to 
 anoint Hazael (19'''). 
 
 No critical reader of these stories would maintain that they present a contemporary por- 
 trait of the great prophet. They have all the characteristic marks of popular stories. It would 
 be remarkable if oral transmission dtiring seventy or eighty years had not obscured certain facts 
 and introduced some unhistorical elements. Even the latter, however, are significant, for they 
 are the concrete testimony of later generations to the unquestioned greatness of the mau and his 
 work. Their courageous, uncompromising spirit, the dramatic incidents, and the vi^^d, forcible 
 literary_style place these stories among the masterpieces of the O.T. 
 
 ' 17' So Gk. and Luc. The Heb., of the sojourners in, is clearly due to a slight scribal 
 error. • -^ 
 
 e 171 Jo.sephus, Ant. VIII, 13-, quotes from Meander the statement that this famine occurred 
 during the reign of Ittobaal of Tyre and lasted one full year. 
 
 i' 17= So Gk. The Heb. adds, cnul he went, but this is probably a scribal repetition of the 
 preceding expression. 
 
 ' 17« So Gk. and Luc. 
 
 212
 
 DROUGHT ANNOUNCED BY ELIJAH [I Kgs. 17^ 
 
 Early Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 ^Then the woM of Jehovah came to him, saying. ^Arise, go to Zarepl'iath, Miracu- 
 which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a 1°"! 
 widow there to provide for thee. I'^'So he arose and went to Zarephath. And vision 
 when he came to the gate of the city a widow was there gathering sticks; at Za- 
 and calling to her, he said. Bring me, I pray, a little water in a vessel, that ""^p*^^*^ 
 J may drink. ^^And as she was going to bring it, he called after her, Brino- 
 also. I pray, a bit of bread with you. ^-And she replied. As Jeho\ ah your 
 God liveth, I have nothingj but a handful of meal in the jar and a little oil 
 in the cruse; and now I am gathering a few^ sticks, that I may go in and 
 prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and then die. ^-^But 
 Elijah said to her. Fear not; go and do as you have said, but first make me 
 from it a little cake, and then make for yourself and your son. ^'*For thus 
 saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, 'The jar of meal shall not be used up, 
 neither shall the cruse of oil become empty, until the day that Jehovah sendeth 
 rain upon the earth.' ^^And she went and did as Elijah directed. So she 
 and he and her household had food to eat.' ^^From that day the jar of meal 
 was not used up, neither did the cruse of oil become empty, just as Jehovah 
 had said by Elijah. 
 
 ^'Now after this the son of the mistress of the house fell sick; and his sick- Re- 
 
 ness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. ^^Then she said to th^^on 
 
 Elijah. What have I to do with you,"^ O man of God ? You have come to me "^.'^^^ 
 \ ' widow 
 
 to remind me of my sin by slaying my son ! ^^And he said to her. Give me 
 your son. And he took him out of her bosom and carried him up into the 
 upper chamber, where he was staying, and laid him u{)on his own bed. 
 ^^And he cried to Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah, my God, hast thou also 
 brought evil upon this widow, whose guest I am, by slaying her son ? -^And 
 he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to Jehovah and said, 
 O Jehovah, my God, I j)ray thee, let this child's life come back to him again. 
 ^^And Jehovah hearkened to the voice of Elijah; and the life of the child came 
 back to him again, so that he revived. ^^Then Elijah took the child and ^ 
 brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and gave him to 
 his mother. And Elijah said. See, your son lives ! -^And the woman said 
 to Elijah, Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of Jeho- 
 vah in your mouth is truth. 
 
 §70. Jehovah's Vindication on Mount Carmel, I Kgs. 18 
 
 Early Ephraimite ElTjah Stories . 
 
 I Kgs. 18 'Now^ a lone: time after this the word of Jehovah came to EH- 
 
 ^ • 1 inn s 
 
 Elijah, in the third year, saying. Go, show thyself to Ahab; and I will send e„iito 
 rain upon the earth. ^So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. '''-■""° 
 
 ' 17'2 So Syr. and Targ., supported by the context. The lleb. has a very unusual word 
 possibly meaning, cake. Ok., baked tii the ashes. 
 
 ^ 17'^ Heb., two, the •oiicrete equivalent of a fetr. 
 ' ' 17''' So Symmachus, Theodotion, and Gk.A. Heb., some days, joining it td the preceding 
 
 S6Ilt/6ncC 
 
 ■" 17'8 I.e., What have you to do with mv affairs? Cf. .3'-'. Mt. 8-'». . ,, . 
 
 § 70 This is the direct continuation of the i)nccedinK section. The explanatory notes in ■"'• 
 are probably from the e>li((\>r ami are ba.sed on '■'. (Ilherwise the section as a whole was appar- 
 ently quoted without alteration from the original |)rophctic .source. 
 
 213
 
 I Kgs. 182] THE WORK OF ELIJAH 
 
 Early Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 Sever- And the famine was severe in Samaria. ^And Abab had called Obadiah, 
 the° the prefect of the palace. Now Obadiah revered Jehovah greatly. -Tor when Jeze- 
 famine bel tried to exterminate the prophets of Jehovah Obadiali took a hundred prophets, 
 and liJd them bj^ fifty in a cave and fed them continually with bread and water. 
 ^And Ahab had said to Obadiah, Up ! let us" go through the land to all 
 the springs of water and to all the brooks; perhaps we may find grass so 
 that we can save the horses and mules alive and not lose all the beasts.^ 
 ^So they divided the land between them to pass through it: Ahab went in 
 one direction by himself and Obadiah went in another direction by himself, 
 Elijah's "And while Obadiah was on the way, Elijah met him suddenly. When 
 ^!-g^y' he knew him, he fell on his face and said, Is it you, my lord Elijah ? ^And 
 ^it'i he answered him, It is I; go, tell your lord, 'Elijah is here.' ^And he said, 
 diah Wherein have I sinned, that you would deliver your serv^ant into the hand 
 of Ahab, to slay me ? ^^As Jehovah your God liveth, there is no nation or 
 kingdom, whither my lord has not sent to seek you; and when they said 
 ' He is not here,' he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that no one had 
 found you. ^^And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Elijah is here."' 
 ^^And as soon as I am gone from you the spirit of Jehovah will carry you 
 to a place unknown to me, and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can- 
 not find you, he will put me to death, although I, your servant, have feared 
 Jehovah from my youth. ^"^Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel 
 slew the prophets of Jehovah, how I hid a hundred of Jehovah's prophets 
 by fifty in a cave and fed them continually with bread and water ? I'^And 
 now you say, ' Go, tell your lord, Elijah is here,' that he may put me to death ! 
 i^But Elijah said, .\s Jehovah of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will 
 surely show myself to him to-day. 
 His ^^So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him, and Ahab went to meet 
 
 mMd Elijah. ^"And as soon as Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, Is it you, 
 to Ahab you who have brought misfortune to Israel ? ^^And he answered, I have 
 not brought misfortune to Israel, but you and your father's house, in that 
 you have forsaken the commands of Jehovah and have run after the Baals. 
 ^^Now therefore send and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, together 
 with the four hundred and fifty prophets of the Baal and the four hundred 
 prophets of the Asherah,p who eat at Jezebel's table. 
 Elijah's 20gQ Ahab sent to all the Israelites and gathered the prophets together 
 To'thi" to Mount Carmel. -^Then Elijah came near to all the people and said, 
 people How long are you going to limp between the two sides ?^ If Jehovah be God, 
 follow him, but if the Baal, then follow- him. But the people gave him no 
 
 " 18^ So Gk. and the implication of succeeding context. Heb., go through. 
 
 ° 18^ The context demands and Luc. supports this reading. The Heb. is obscure. 
 
 p igi9 Xhis appears to be a later insertion, for the expression, prophets of the Asherah, is late, 
 and in the subsequent context, ^o. w^ only the prophets of Baal are mentioned. As in II Kgs. 
 23*, Asherah probably stands for, Ashfarte. 
 
 q ig2i xhe word occurs only here. It comes from a root meaning to divide, and the phrase 
 may be translated lit., on two dii^isions, i.e., on two legs or opinions, as unequal as faith in Jehovah 
 and faith in Baal. Gk. and Luc, knee-cavities. Slightly emending the text the passage may 
 also be read leap over two thresholds. In the light of Zeph. 1' and the common Semitic idioms 
 this would be equivalent to worship in two sanctuaries, i.e., of Jehovah and Baal. This mean- 
 ing would perfectly fit the context. The saying was evidently a popular proverb current in 
 Elijah's day. 
 
 214
 
 JEHOVAH'S VINDICATION ON CAR^IEL [I Kgs. 1821 
 Early Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 answer. 22f j^^j^ Elijah said to the people, I, even I only, am left as a prophet 
 of Jehovah, but the Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. ^^j^g^ 
 them therefore give us two bullocks, and let them choose one bullock for 
 themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wootl without putting on 
 any fire, and I will dress the other bullock and lay it on wood without putting 
 on any fire. -^Then you call on your god and I will call on Jehovah; and 
 the God who answers by fire, he is the God. And all the people answered 
 and said, It is well spoken. 
 
 2° And Elijah said to the prophets of the Baal, Choose one of the bullocks for Failure 
 yourselves and dress it first, for you are many, and call on your god, without ]\a.,r 
 putting on any fire. -^So they took the bullock he gave them and dressed it, I'mph- 
 and called on the Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. to meet 
 But there was no voice nor answer. And they lim{)ed about the altar which * '® *^® 
 they had erected.'' -"But when it was noon, Elijah mocked them, saying, 
 Cry aloud; for he is a god; either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is 
 on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened ! ^S'pj^gjj 
 they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with swords and 
 lances until the blood gushed out upon them. ^Q^j^j ^hen midday was ])ast, 
 they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening oblation; but 
 there was neither voice nor answer nor heed paid to their cry. 
 
 ^^Then Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people Elijah's 
 came near to him. And he repaired the altar of Jehovah which had been rations 
 thrown down. ^'And Elijah took twelve stones corresponding to the number of for the 
 tribes of the sons of Jacob to whom the word of Jehovah came, saying, Israel shall be 
 thy name. '^And with the stones he built an altar in the name of Jehovah.' Then 
 he made a trench about the altar of about the capacity of two seahs*^ of 
 seed. ^3 And he laid the pieces of wood in order, cut up the bullock, and 
 laid it on pieces of the wood. And he said. Fill four jars with water and 
 pour it on the burnt-offering and on the pieces of wood. ^^And he said. Do 
 it the second time; and they did it the second time. And he said. Do it the 
 third time; and they did it also the third time," ^Sg^ tJiat the water ran round 
 the altar; and he also filled the trench with water. 
 
 3*^But when it was time to ofter the evening olilation, Elijah the prophet The 
 came near and said, O Jehovah, God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of from 
 Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel and that I am |;<;;iyen 
 thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy command. •'^"Hear <j',Y.".''nK 
 me, O Jehovah, hear me, that this pe()j)le may know that thou, Jehovah, words 
 art God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again, ^sxhen the 
 fire of Jehovah^ fell and consumed the burnt-oftering and the wood, the 
 
 'IS* So Gk., Luc, S>T., and L.at. Ileb., was erected. • i .i t 31 32. 
 
 • igM. 32a Vs. 32b js thc natural se<iucl of ■*". Tlie Gk. translators also recoRnizeil that ^i. ■«• 
 were awkward after m». and so put ™' last. The reference to twelve tribes, when only the north- 
 ern tribes were represento-l, and thc lanRuaKC of ^"s which redocis the priestly passage, C.en. 
 3.5'", confirm the conclusif)ii that lhe.se verses are from a late priestly editor. r ,1 
 
 I 18'' About five gallons. Thc ground which would be sown with one and one-louith 
 bushels of seed, is perhaps intended. 
 
 " lX"-< So Gk. The last clause is lacking in thc llcb. 
 
 " 18'" Gk. and I^uc., fire from God. 
 
 215
 
 I Kgs. 1838] THE WORK OF ELIJAH 
 
 Earli/ Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. ^^And 
 when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and cried, Jehovah, he is 
 God; Jehovah, he is God. '*'^But Ehjah commanded them, Take the prophets 
 of the Baal ; let not one of them escape ! So they took them down to the 
 Brook Kishon and slew them there. 
 Com- ^^Then Elijah said to Ahab, Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound 
 the rain of a heavy downpour of rain. '^^So Aliab went up to eat and drink. But 
 Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, and crouched down upon the earth, 
 with his face between his knees. '^^And he said to his servant. Go up now, 
 look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked and said, There is nothing. 
 And he said. Now go again seven times.^ So the servant went back seven 
 times.-'' "^But the seventh time he said, There is a cloud arising out of 
 the sea as small as a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, ' Make 
 ready your chariot, go down, that the rain may not stop you.' '^^ And the 
 next instant the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a 
 great rain. And Aliab rode toward Jezreel. "^^And the hand of Jehovah 
 was on Elijah, so that he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the en- 
 trance of Jezreel. 
 
 § 71. Revelation to Elijah at Horeb, I Kgs. W-^» 
 
 Early Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 Elijah's I Kgs. 19 ^Now when Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and 
 Horeb ° ^H the details of his slaying the prophets with the sword, ^Jezebel sent a 
 messenger to Elijah, saying, As surely as you are Elijah and I am Jezebel,^ 
 may the gods do to me what they will, if I do not make your life as the life 
 of one of them by to-morrow about this time. ^Xhen he was afraid and 
 arose and went for his life. And he came to Beersheba, which belongs to 
 Judah; and there he left his servant. ^But he himself went a day's journey 
 into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree,^ and he 
 asked that he might die, saying. It is enough; now, O Jehovah, take my life, 
 for I am not better than my fathers \'^ ^Then he lay down and slept under 
 the broom tree. Thereupon a divine Messenger touched him and said to 
 him, Rise, eat ! ^And when he looked, he saw there at his head a cake, 
 baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay 
 
 " ] 8''' Slightly reconstructing the text in harmony with a suggestion in the Gk. 
 
 ^ 18« The Gk. adds the last clause. 
 
 § 71 The passage sb-H" appears to be a later expansion of the story. Vs. i" anticipates ]* 
 and is almost word for word the same. The entire account of the revelation in sb-na aigo antici- 
 pates and weakens the impressiveness of the vision recorded in nb-H Not until in '^ is Elijah 
 represented as coming forth from the cave. Otherwise the graphic narrative is the immediate 
 sequel of the preceding story. 
 
 The Assyrian inscriptions record a victory over Hazael of Damascus in 842 B.C. This was 
 probably soon after the revolution whereby Hazael attained to the Aramean throne. The in- 
 scriptions also state that in the same year Jehu paid tribute, probably to establish himself on 
 the throne of Israel. Cf. Appendix V. 
 
 » 19^ Gk. and Luc. have preserved the characteristic opening words of Jezebel. 
 
 *> 19< The Retama roetam, a shrub growing from eight to twelve feet hiigh and possessing a 
 dense foliage. 
 
 <= 19* I.e., since I must some time die, let it be now. 
 
 216
 
 REVELATION TO ELIJAH AT HOREB [I Kgs. 19^ 
 
 Early Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 down again. "But the Messenger of Jehovah came again the second time 
 and touched him and said, Rise, eat, or else the journey will be too long 
 for you. ^So he arose and ate and drank and went in the strength of that 
 food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the Mount of God. '-'And there 
 he came to a cave and lodged therein. 
 
 Thereupon the word of Jehovah came to him. And he said to him, What doest thou His 
 here, Elijah? '"And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; com- 
 for the Israelites have forsaken thee,"* thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets pliiint 
 with the sword; and I only am left, and they seek to take mj^ life from me. "Then 
 he said. Go forth and stand on the mount before Jehovah. 
 
 Thereupon Jehovah passed by, and a great and violent wind rent the Reve- 
 mountain and broke in pieces the rocks before Jehovah ; but Jehovah was not Jf/jp" 
 in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake; but Jehovah was not in hovah's 
 the earthquake. ^-And after the earthriuake a fire; but Jehovah was not charac- 
 in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low, soft*' whisper.^ ^'^And ^*"^ 
 as soon as Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out 
 and stood at the entrance of the cave. And then there came a voice to him 
 and said. What doest thou here, Elijah ? ^'^And he said, I have been very 
 jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken thee, 
 thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword, and I only 
 am left, and they seek to take away my life from me. 
 
 ^^Then Jehovah said to him. Go, return on thy way to the Wilderness of Direc- 
 Damascus, and when thou comest anoint Ilazael to be king over Aram. f','r"he 
 ^^And Jehu the son of Niinshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel. And o,^^""- 
 
 throw 
 
 Elisha the son of Shaphat of x\bel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet of Baal- 
 in thy place. ^''And it shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, '^'" 
 Jehu shall slay; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall slay. 
 ^^Yet will I spare seven thousand in Israel — all the knees which have not 
 bowed to Baal and every mouth which hath not kissed him, 
 
 § 72. Call of Elisha, I Kgs. 19'»-2i 
 
 Early Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 I Kgs. 19 ^^Now when he had departed from there he found Elisha Selec- 
 the son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he was a disci- 
 with the twelfth. And Elijah went over to him and cast his mantle upon him. p'e and 
 '^'^And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said. Let me, I pray you, sor 
 kiss my father and my mother and then I will follow you. And he said to 
 him, Go back again, for what have I done to you ? ^i^o he turned from 
 following him and took the yoke of oxen and slew them and boiled their 
 flesh^ with the instruments of the oxen and gave to the people to eat. Then 
 he arose and went after Elijah and entered into his service. 
 
 <• 19'" So Gk. and Luc. Here and in '■• a scribe has added, covenant, in the Heb. 
 
 « 1912 Lit., thin, fine. 
 
 ' 19'2 Cf. Ps. 107^', Job 4'", a gentle breeze or a low murmur. 
 
 5 72 OriKinally '•* was probably followed hy an account of the anoint inp; of Hiizaol, ns rom- 
 mandeil in ''', for AV)el-nrieholah is not on the liiKhway from Horeh to Darna.scus and the anointiriK 
 of Ilazafl was to precede that of I'.lislia. The omission appe;irs to he ilue In the fj^ict that it is 
 recouritfil at length and attiiliiitc-d to I'^lisha in the hiter narratives. Cf. II l\Ks. S" "•. 
 
 K I'J'-' Flesh, wliich i.s omitted in Gk. and Luc, may be a scribal addition to the Hob.
 
 IKgs. 2li] THE WORK OP ELIJAH 
 
 § 73. Murder of Naboth and Elijah's Condemnation of Ahab, I Kgs. 21 
 
 Earlij Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 Na- I Kgs. 31 ^Now^^ Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard beside the palace 
 
 refusal ^^ Ahab king of Samaria. 2\nd xVhab spoke to Naboth, saying, Give me 
 to sell your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near 
 vine- my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it is more sat- 
 Ahab*° isfactory to you, I will give you the value of it in money. ^But Naboth 
 answered x\hab, Jehovah forbid me, that I should give to you the inheri- 
 tance of my fathers. *And Ahab came into his house in ill-humor' because 
 of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had 
 said, I will not give to you the inheritance of my fathers. And he lay down 
 on his bed and covered^ his face and would eat no food. 
 Jeze- ^But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him. Why are you so out 
 
 meir-- *^f humor that you eat no food ? ^And he replied to her, Because I made a 
 uresto nroposi*^ion to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vine- 
 Na- vard for money; or else if it is more satisfactory to you I will give you an- 
 death other vineyard for it'; and he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.' 
 '^Then Jezebel his wife said to him, Is it you who now holds sway in Israel? 
 Arise, eat, and let your heart be cheerful. I will give you the vineyard of 
 Naboth the Jezreelite. ^So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed 
 them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who 
 were in his city who presided with Naboth. ^And she wrote in the letters. 
 Proclaim a fast and also place Naboth in a prominent place among the 
 people. ^''Then place two base men before him and let them bear witness 
 against him, saying, 'You have cursed**^ God and the king.' And then 
 carry him out and stone him to death. 
 Reali- ^^And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who presided in his 
 of he? <^ity, did as Jezebel had ordered them. As it was prescribed in the letters 
 designs which she had sent to them, ^^jhey proclaimed a fast, and put Naboth in a 
 prominent place among the people. ^^And two base men came in and sat 
 before him, and the scoundrels bore witness against him (Naboth) in the 
 presence of the people, saying, Naboth cursed God and the king. Then 
 they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death with stones.' ^^And 
 they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth has been stoned and is dead. ^^And 
 as soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel 
 said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, 
 which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive but dead. 
 ^''And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go 
 down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 
 
 § 73 In introducing 21 immediately after 19 the Gk. has undoubtedly preserved the original 
 order. Not only is the literary style the same here, as in 19, but Elijah occupies the same 
 prominent position, while Ahab appears in a much less favorable light than in 20. 
 
 h 211 So Gk. and Lat. A later scribe has endeavored to connect this story with the inci- 
 dents in the preceding chapter by adding the introductory phrase now it came to pass after 
 these things. This was probably copied from 17'''. 
 
 ' 21'' Following the Gk. in reconstructing the Heb. 
 
 J 21* So Gk. Heb., turned away. 
 
 '' 21'" Lit., bles-ied. The word is apparently used euphemistically with the implication 
 that Naboth had committed an unspeakable crime, probably that of blasphemy. 
 
 1 21'^ The later law regarding the punishment of blasphemy is found in Lev. 24''' i*. 
 
 218
 
 ne 
 
 ELIJAH'S CONDEMNATION OF AHAB [I Kgs. 21i7 
 
 Early Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 I'But the word of Jehovah came to Ehjah the Tishbite, saying, i^Arise, Klijah'i 
 go down to meet Ahab the king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria; he is just ™pe„f 
 now in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he has gone down to take possession *''^'^>'" 
 of it. I'-^And thou shalt speak to him, saying, "Thus saith Jehovah. "Hast d"mi 
 thou killed and also taken possession ? " ' Moreover thou shalt sjjeak to a ""in^t 
 him, saying, ' Thus saith Jehovah, " In the j)lace where the dogs licked the -'^'i^'^" 
 blood of Naboth will the dogs lick thy blood also.'" 20.^,jfj j^^^^^^ ^^-^^ ^^ ^;j;|J^is 
 
 Elijah, Have you found me,'" O mine enemy ? And he answered, I have. 
 
 Because" thou hast sold thyself to no purpose," to do tliat which is displeasing to 
 Jehovah, -^I will bring evil upon thee, and will utterlv sweep tliee away and willcut 
 off from Ahab every male and him that is shut up and him that is left at large in Israel. 
 2-And I will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam t])e son of Nebat and like 
 the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the anger which thou hast aroused 
 and because thou hast made Israel to sin. -"^And of Jezel)el also Jehovah has 
 spoken, saying, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the district'^ of Jezreel. 
 ^^Whoever of Ahab's house dieth in the fields, the birds of the heavens shall eat.' 
 
 -"There was absolutely none who sold himself to do that which was displeasing to Ahab's 
 Jehovah, as did Ahab, because Jezebel his wife incited him. -'Tor he beha\ed most guilt 
 abominably in following idols, as did all the Amorites, whom Jehovah hail dri\en out 
 before the Israelites. 
 
 2' Now when Ahab heard those words he tore his clothes and })ut sack- His 
 cloth on his flesh and fasted, he also slept on sackcloth anfl went about quietly, ancl"*^' 
 ^*Then the word of Jehovah came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, =^IIast thou seen 
 how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has lumihlod himself before 
 me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son's daj's will 1 bring the evil upon 
 his house.i 
 
 § 74. Deliverance of Samaria from the Arameans, I Kgs. 20^-^*. 
 Ahab History 
 
 I Kgs. 30 ^Then Ben-hadad"" the king of Aram gathered all his host Ren- 
 together, and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots, unrea-^ 
 And he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it. --'.\nd he sent ^""a- 
 messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city and said to him, Thus says nuuuis 
 
 ■n 2120 I.e., some act to be condemned. 
 
 n 2120b-22 -phg original words of Elijah have been here expanded by the late prophetic 
 editor, whose language and ideas are readily recognized. The oracle in M'"' " is repeated 
 almost word for word. Vs. •■^, however, may have belonged to tlic (original speech. If not, it 
 was probably added to the text by an early editor, familiar with II Kgs. 9*'. 
 
 ° 21-" So Gk. and Luc. The Ilel). omits the pregnant phra.'^o, li> ni> purpose. 
 
 p 2123 So Syr., Lat., and Targ. The Heb. is doubtful. RV, mmixirt. but cf. 11 Kgs. O'"' ^' ". 
 
 1 2128. -'J The.se verses assume, not the older prediction in '■', but tiie broader judgment in 
 the secondary passage, 21, go that they also are probably secondary. Moreover, they refer to 
 events peculiar to the later Elisha stories. 
 
 § 74 That the incidents recorded in this chapter and its natural .sequel, 22'-^', belong to the 
 latter years of .\haV)'s reign is indicated by 22' and by the fact that .\ramean aggressions became 
 especially active at this time. 
 
 The evidence that these were not taken from the same source as the preceding Elijah 
 stories is conclusive. Elijah is nowhere mentioned, but instead Micaiah appears as the repre- 
 sentative of the true prophets, 22^* 2ci; Ahal> is viewed in a mucli more favorable light, an<l he is 
 here called the kinq of Israel — not prevailingly by his given name as in the ICIijah stories, or as 
 the king of Saniarui. The narratives also deal with political rather than social and religious 
 questions. The vividness and fidelity witli which .Vhab's character and acts are portrayed are 
 only paralleled by the early Saul and David histories. He apjiears as a brave warrior, a wise, 
 patriotic ruler and a gracious conqueror (20'''0. Nothing is said of his apostasy. Instead he is 
 a ruler who listens to the advice of the prophets of Jehovah, 202228; although the victim of Iho 
 
 ■• 20' Ben-hadad II, whose name appears on the Assyrian inscrmtioiis as Dadda-idri. The 
 original Heb. transcription was ijrobably, Uadader or lladadezcr. Cf. chronological chart after 
 p. I'jy.
 
 IKgs. 202] RULE OF THE HOUSE OF OMRI 
 
 Ahab History 
 
 Ben-hadad, ^Your silver and your gold are mine; your wives also and your 
 children, ^ are mine. '*And the king of Israel answered and said, As you say, 
 my lord, O king: I am yours with all that I have. ^And the messengers 
 came again and said, Thus says Ben-hadad, 'I sent to you, saying, "You 
 shall deliver to me your silver and your gold and your wives and your chil- 
 dren"; %ut to-morrow I will send my servants about this time and they 
 shall search your house and the houses of your servants; and \vhatever is 
 attractive to them,* they shall take in their hands and bear it away.' 
 Ahab's "Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, Mark, 
 to^"^m- ^ P^^J' ^^d s^^ how this man is seeking to make trouble, for he sent to me 
 ply for my wives and my children and for my silver and gold, and I did not 
 refuse him. ^And all the elders and all the people said to him, Do not hearken 
 nor consent ! ^Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my 
 lord the king, 'All that you demanded of your servant at the first I will do, 
 but this I cannot do.' So the messengers departed and brought him word 
 again, ^^xhen Ben-hadad sent to him and said. Let the gods do to me 
 what they will, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the 
 people who follow me ! ^^And the king of Israel answered and said. Tell 
 him, ' Let not him who is girding on his sword boast himself as he who is 
 putting it off.' ^^Now when Ben-hadad" heard this message — he was drink- 
 ing together with the kings in the pavilions — he said to his servants. Set 
 yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city. 
 His vie- ^^But just then a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, 
 P°g^ Thus saith Jehovah, ' Hast thou seen all this great multitude ? Behold, I 
 the Ar- will deliver it into thy hand to-day, and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.' 
 ^%nd Ahab said. By whom ? And he said. Thus saith Jehovah, ' By the 
 young men under the provincial commanders.'^ And he said, Who shall 
 begin the battle? And he answered, Thou.^ ^^Then he mustered the 
 young men under the provincial commanders, and they were two hundred 
 and thirty-two. And after them he mustered all the people, even all the 
 Israelites'^ — seven thousand. I'^And at noon they made the attack, while 
 
 false representatives of the order, 22. He dies fighting bravely for his people and is buried at 
 Samaria, 22**' ^> 37. While each history doubtless presents sides of Ahab's character and policy 
 not inconsistent with each other, they cannot possibly be from the same source. Chaps. 20 and 
 22 may have been included in the Chronicles of the King.s of Israel, but they were probably 
 taken originally from an independent Ahab history, which was written before the early Elijah 
 stories and therefore between 850 and 800 b.c. This is confirmed by the presence of many 
 linguistic peculiarities found nowhere else. 
 
 The historical value of these narratives is very great. They reveal the political problem 
 of Northern Israel during one of its most important epochs and throw clear light upon the 
 character and work of Ahab. 
 
 » 20^ So Gk. In the Heb. a scribe has awkwardly added after children, the fairest. 
 
 ' 20" So Gk., Luc, Syr., and Lat. Heb., your eyes. 
 
 " 2012 Heb., that one. 
 
 V 20" I.e., not the soldiers of the standing army, but the warriors furnished in time of war 
 by the local feudal lords. A similar system was in force among the Babylonians and Assyrians. 
 Cf. Johns, Bab. and Assyr. Laws, Contracts, and Letters, pp. 76, 77, 200, 201. 
 
 w 20'3, 14 These verses are not absolutely required by the context and may have been added 
 later — as certain scholars have urged — to show that Ahab's victories as well as disasters were 
 meted out directly by Jehovah; but the role assumed by the prophet here is the same as in the 
 oldest narratives and their attitude toward Ahab appears to have been favorable, as is that of 
 the author of the section. So also ^2. 
 
 ^ Gk. and Luc, all the mighty warriors. The reference is evidently to the standing army 
 as contrasted with the militia. 
 
 220
 
 hatlad's 
 prep- 
 
 DELBT:RANCE of SAMARIA [IKgs.2016 
 
 Ahab History 
 
 Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, together with the 
 thirty-two kings who had come to help him. ^"And the young men under 
 the provincial commanders went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out mes- 
 sengers and they reported to him saying, Men have come out from Samaria. 
 ^'^And he said, Whether they have come out with peaceful intent, take them 
 alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive. ^^So these 
 (the young men under the provincial commanders) went out of the city, 
 and the army which followed them. -^"^And they slew each his man, .so that 
 the Arameans fled. And the Israelites pursued them, but Ben-hadad, the 
 king of Aram, escaped on a horse with horsemen, ^ifj^e^ jjjg j^j^g ^f Israel 
 went out and captured ''^ horses and chariots, and slew a great number of 
 the Arameans. 
 
 22And the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, Go, Ben 
 strengthen thyself, and mark and see what thou wilt do, for a year from 
 now the king of Aram will come up against thee. -^And the servants of the awa- 
 king of Aram said to him, Their gods are hill-gods, therefore they were too for a 
 strong for us; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall c^m"'^ 
 be stronger than they. 24;Yj^(J ^Jq this: take the kings away each from his pa'gn 
 place, and put commanders in their place, -'^and assemble an army, like the 
 army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot; then we will 
 fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. 
 And he listened to their advice and did so. 
 
 § 75. Ahab's Victory over the Arameans at Aphek, I Kgs. 20^«-34 
 Ahab History 
 
 I Kgs. 20 26Now when the year had come around Ben-hadad mustered Ahab's 
 the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. 27\j,(j ^j,^ ^^^"^""^ 
 Israelites were mustered and provided with provisions,*^ and went against victory 
 them. And the Israelites encamped before them hke two sniall (locks of 
 goats, while the Arameans filled the country, ^syj^^jj ^ j^^n of God came 
 near and said to the king of Israel, Thus saitli Jehovah, ' Because the Ara- 
 means think, "Jehovah is a hill-god but not a god of the valleys," therefore 
 I will deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, that ye may know that I 
 am Jehovah.' ^ogo t^gy encamped oppo.site each other seven days. But 
 on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the I.sraelites .slew of the .Vra- 
 means a hundred thou.sand footmen in one day. -^"But the rest fled to Aphek, 
 into the city; and the wall fell upon twenty-seven thousand of the men who 
 were left. Ben-hadad also fled, and came into the city, into an innermost 
 chamber. 
 
 • 20^1 So Gk. and I,uc. The Heb. has the less probable readinR, KlfiiK . , ., 
 
 § 7.5 This is tiie imme<iiate seftuel of the preoeilinR narrative. The story ha.<i evulently 
 grown <hirin<? transmission, e.g., ^uh, m,^ ijut these elements may well be from the author who 
 wrote thfi present narrative. ... . ■ 
 
 ^ 20" So Gk., I.uc., Syr., Lat., and Targ. The lleb. word is otherwise unknown. 
 
 221
 
 I Kgs. 2031] RULE OF THE HOUSE OF OMRI 
 
 Ahab History 
 Liberal ^1 \i^fl his servants said to Mm, Behold now, we have heard that the kings 
 Offered of the housc of Israel are merciful kings; let us therefore put sackcloth about 
 to Ben- Qiij. loins and ropes about our heads and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps 
 by ^ he will save your life. "-So they girded sackcloth about their loins and put 
 ^"^^ ropes about their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, Your ser- 
 vant Ben-hadad says, 'Let me live.' And he replied, Is he yet aUve? He 
 is my brother. 33>yow the men began to divine his thought and quickly 
 caught it up from him'' and said, Ben-hadad is your brother. Then he said, 
 Go, bring him ! And when Ben-hadad came out to him he took him up to 
 himself in the chariot. ^^And Ben-hadad said to him. The cities which 
 my father took from your father, I will restore, and you may establish streets'^ 
 for yourself in Damascus as my father established in Samaria. And Ahab® 
 said, I will let you go with this agreement. So he made an agreement with 
 hitn and let him go. 
 
 §76. Messages of the Unknown Prophet, I Kgs. 20^5-43 
 
 Very Late Popular Prophetic Story 
 
 The I Kgs. 20 35Xow a certain man of the sons of the prophets at the com- 
 
 ^ro*^ h- niand of Jehovah said to his fellow, Smite me, I pray. But the man refused 
 
 ecy to smite him. 36'j'hgj^ he said to him. Since you have not obeyed the voice 
 
 appli-^ of Jehovah, as soon as you have gone away from me, a lion shall slay you. 
 
 cation Accordingly, as soon as he had gone away from him, a lion found him and 
 
 slew him. ^/'phen he found another man, and said. Smite me, I pray. And 
 
 the man smote him so as to wound him. ^S'ph^j^ ^h^ prophet departed and 
 
 waited for the king by the way and disguised himself with a covering over 
 
 his eyes, ^o^nd as the king was passing by, he cried to the king and said. 
 
 Your servant had gone out into the midst of the battle, when suddenly a man 
 
 turned aside, and brought a man to me and said, 'Watch this man; if by 
 
 any means he be missing, then must your life be for his life, or else you must 
 
 pay a talent of silver ! ' '*^And as your servant was looking here and there,^ 
 
 he was gone. And the king of Israel said to him. Such is your verdict: you 
 
 yourself have decided it. '^iThen he quickly took the covering away from 
 
 his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets. 
 
 <: 2033 The Heb. as it reads is untranslatable. The reading above is based on the text re- 
 constructed with the aid of the Gk. which has, and they took up the icord from his mouth. 
 
 d 203-' I.e., streets with bazaars for the Israelitish traders, who perhaps were under the 
 direct protection and jurisdiction of their native government. This arrangement corresponds 
 to the commercial clause in a modern treaty. In 854 b.c. Ahab and the Aramean king fought 
 against Shalmanezer II. 
 
 " 2031 As often in the Heb., the change of subject is probably implied by the context. 
 Otherwise it is necessary radically to change the text so as to read. You may let me go. 
 
 § 76 The language and atmosphere of this strange tale are entirely different from the sober 
 narrative to which it is attached. It is closely akin to the very late tradition in 1233-13^, § 61. 
 The extraordinary and inexplicable appear alike in both. In each a lion is the agent of divine 
 judgment. The conception of the prophets is that of a very late and unhistorical period. The 
 real point of the story is obscure. It seems to be a condemnation of Ahab's lenient policy 
 toward his beaten foe. Like 1233-1334, it may have been added after the late prophetic com- 
 pilation of Kgs. had been made. 
 
 f 20« So Gk., Luc, and Targ. The Heb., was a doer of hither and thither, is an exceedingly 
 awkward, if not impossible construction. 
 
 222
 
 MESSAGES OF THE UNKNOWN PROPHET [I Kgs. 20^* 
 
 Very Late Poimlar Prophetic Sforij 
 
 "^-And he said to liim, Thus sailh Jehovali, 'Because thou hast let go out of 
 thy hand the man whom I had condemned to destruction, s therefore tliy 
 hfe shall go for his life and thy people for his people.' ^"^And the king of 
 Israel went homeward in ill-humor and sullen, and came to Samaria. 
 
 § 77. Predictions of Micaiah and the Four Hundred False Prophets, 
 
 I Kgs. 221-28, II Chr. 18'" 
 
 Ahah Hisfori/ 
 
 I Kgs. 32 ^Then for three years they remained at peace, without there The 
 being war between Aram and Israel. "But in the third year, when Jehosha- ^^gg 
 phat the king of Judah had come down to the king of Israel, "^the king of against 
 Israel said to his servants. Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead belongs to 
 us, yet we sit still instead of taking it from the king of Aram ?'' "*And he 
 said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth in Gilead ? 
 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as you, my people as your 
 people, my horses as your horses. 
 
 ^Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, Inquire at this time, I pray, En- 
 for the word of Jehovah, ^xhen the king of Israel gathered the prophets fng""^^" 
 together, about four hundred men, and asked them. Shall I go to fight against "'es- 
 Ramoth in Gilead or shall I forbear.? And they said. Go up; for Jehovah' tiieof- 
 will dehver it into the hand of the king. ^But Jehoshaphat said. Is there proph- 
 no other prophetJ of Jehovah, that we may inquire of him ? ^And the king ets 
 of Israel said, There is another by whom we may inquire of Jehovah, Micaiah 
 the son of Imlah, but I hate him; for he prophesies for me nothing good, 
 but only evil. And Jehoshaphat said. Let not the king say so. 
 
 ^Then the king of Israel called an eunuch and said, Bring quickly Micaiah Their 
 the son of Imlah. ^"Now while the king of Israel and Jch<)shai)hat the king phatic 
 of Judah were sitting each on his throne, clad in his robes of state at the {^ons*'" 
 entrance*^ of the gate of Samaria, and all the proj^hets were prophesying of vie- 
 before them, i^Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of 
 iron and said. Thus saith Jehovah, ' With these shalt thou ])ush the Ara- 
 means until you have destroyed them ! ' i-And all the prophets ])r()phesied 
 the same saying. Go up to Ramoth in Gilead; for Jehovah will deliver it 
 into the hand of the king. 
 
 " 20'^ TIeb., the man of my ban. , , 
 
 § 77 Tliis is the immefiiate sequel of the victory over the Arameans recorded in 20™-*'.. J he 
 portrait which it sives of the early prophets, and especially those associated tofiether in the 
 prophetic guilds and probably in part supported from the royal treasury, is nio.st viilua No and 
 explains the indignant declaration of Amos that he was no son of a prophet, T". It also first 
 introduces the idea of a lying spirit which perhaps later developed into the Jewish behef in 
 Satan, the Adversary. , , . ■ i j 
 
 >' 22^ The parallel in II Chr. 18^ TC:i<h. ami Ah<ib Hlled sheep ami o.rcu for him in abrnidance, 
 and for the people who were with him, and influenced him to no up to Uamoth m Gilead. 
 
 '22« So certain codices. Cf. "• '2. A scribe haa in the received lleb. text substituted, 
 
 f /n*/7 
 
 i 22' Ok., Luc. Syr., and T-at., /« there not here a prophet of Jehovahf This implies that 
 the four hunrlred were not .lehov.ah i)rophots. Hut cf. "• ". 
 k 22'*' .Making a necessary correction in the lleb. 
 
 223
 
 IKgs. 2213] RULE OF THE HOUSE OF OMRI 
 
 Ahab History 
 
 Mica- I3^\nd the messenger who went to call Micaiah said to him, See, now the 
 ^^edic- prophets have with one consent promised good fortune' for the king; there- 
 tion of fore speak the same as they all do and prophesy good fortune. ^^But Micaiah 
 ^ ^^^ said, As Jehovah liveth, I will speak what Jehovah saith to me. ^^And 
 when he came to the king, the king said to him, INIicaiah, shall we go to 
 Ramoth in Gilead to fight or shall we forbear ? And he answered him, Go 
 up and prosper; and Jehovah will dehver it into the hand of the king ! i*^But 
 the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you that you speak 
 to me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah ? ^'^And he said, I 
 saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. 
 And Jehovah said, ' These have no master; let each of them go home in 
 peace ! ' 
 The i^And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he 
 
 smrU ■«ould prophesy no good concerning me, but evil ? ^^And Micaiah said, 
 within Therefore hear the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne 
 official and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 
 proph- 20\nd Jehovah said, ' Who shall delude Ahab so that he will go up and fall 
 at Ramoth in Gilead ? ' And one proposed one thing and another another, 
 ^^until there came forth a spirit and stood before Jehovah and said, ' I will 
 delude him.' 22 \j^(j Jehovah said to him, ' By what means ? ' And he 
 said, ' I will go forth and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' 
 Thereupon he said, ' Thou shalt delud'e him and shalt succeed also ! Go 
 forth, and do so.' ^sg^ behold, Jehovah hath now put a lying spirit in the 
 mouth of all these your prophets, since Jehovah hath determined to bring 
 evil upon you. 
 Mica- 24'phen Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah 
 im-^ on the cheek and said, Which way did the spirit of Jehovah go from me 
 prison- to speak to you.'^™ 25 ^^d Micaiah said. Indeed, you shall see on that day, 
 when you shall go from one chamber to another to hide yourseK. ^CThen 
 the king of Israel said. Take Micaiah and carry him back to .:\jnon the gov- 
 ernor of the city and to Joash the king's son, ^"and say, ' Thus the king com- 
 mands, " Put this fellow in prison and feed him with a scanty fare of bread 
 and water ° until I return in peace." ' 28^\n(j Micaiah said. If you indeed 
 return in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me.° 
 
 ' 22'^ So Gk. and Luc. Heb., the words of the prophets are good. 
 
 m 222^ The Gk., partially supported by Luc, has a smoother reading, where is the spirit of 
 Jehovah that speaks in you? 
 
 n 222' Heb., bread-affliction and water-affliction. As in Is. SO^", this is the idiomatic desig- 
 nation of prison fare. 
 
 o 2228 So Gk. and Luc. In the Heb., a scribe has added from Mi. 12, and he said, Hear 
 O people, all of you, mistakenly identifying the present prophet with a contemporary of Isaiah. 
 
 224
 
 DEATH OF AHAB [I Kgs. 2229 
 
 § 78. Death of Ahab at Ramoth in Gilead, I Kgs. Q2-^-^°, II Chr. IS-*-^* 
 Ahab History 
 
 I Kgs. 23 29Then the king of Israel and Jehoslia])]iat tlie king of Judah Ahab's 
 went up to Ramoth in Gilead. ^'^And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, '^'^•g 
 I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you can put on your robes. an<f 
 So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle. ^^Now the aphal's 
 king of Aram had given orders to the thirty-two commanders of his char- ''^'^'^ 
 iots, saying. Fight with neither small nor great, except only with the king 
 of Israel. 32^p(,Qj.jj„„]y ^yji^n tj^g commanders of the chariots saw Jehosh- 
 aphat, they said, Surely it is the king of Israel, and they surrounded him 
 to fight against him,'' but Jehoshaphat cried out. ^^Xherefore, as soon as 
 the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they 
 turned back from pursuing him. 
 
 ^^But a certain man drew at a venture and smote the kine: of Israel be- Ahab's 
 
 tween the attachments and the coat of mail. Therefore he said to the driver wound 
 
 of his chariot. Turn about and carry me out of the army; for I am severely 
 
 wounded. ^^And the battle increased that day, and the king was propped 
 
 up in his chariot against the x\rameans until evening,^ and the blood ran 
 
 out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. But at evening he died. 
 
 ^''And toward sunset the cry went throughout the army, Each to his city 
 
 and each to his land, ^^for the king is dead!"" so they^ came to Samaria 
 
 and buried the king in Samaria. ^^And when they washed the chariot by the 
 pool of Samaria, the dogs hcked up his blood, and tlic harlots washetl themselves in it,* 
 just as Jehovah had declared. 
 
 ^^Now the other acts of Ahab, and all that he did and the ivorj^ house which he R^sumS 
 built and all the cities that he built, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the of his 
 Kings of Israel? ^"So Ahab slept with liis fathers and Ahaziah liis son became king r^ign 
 in his place. 
 
 § 79. Ahaziah 's Reign and Fatal Illness, I Kgs. 2251-53^ jj j^gg. i 
 
 Early Ephraimitc Elijah i^torics 
 
 I Kgs. 22 5'Aliaziah the son of Ahab liecamc king over Israel in Samaria in the -^1"^: 
 seventeenth j'ear of .lohoshaphat king of Judah, and lie reigned two years ox'er Israel. '^ |.' f^ 
 '-And he did that wliicii displeasetl Jehovah, antl walked in the way of his father and ^ 
 
 in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wiio iuul led 
 Israel into sin. '^■^And he served Haal and worsliipi)od him, anil provoked to anger 
 Jehovah, the God of Israel, just as his father had done. 
 
 § 78 This section contains the conclusion of the Ahab history. To the end of the quotation 
 from the Ahab history some editor has added the note in •*, which reflects .on entirely ditTcrent 
 r-oiiception of the kinK- It is evidently haseil on the prediction in the i:iijah stories, 2 1''',_ al- 
 though it overlooks the fact that iNaljoth's vineyard was not in Samaria but in Jezrcel. The 
 conclu<ling verses contain a resume oi Ahab's reign in the familiar terms of the late prophetic 
 editor. 
 
 p 2232 go Qk j^uc, anfl the parallel in II Chr. ITeb., Then turned aside anainst him. 
 
 1 22M So Gk. and Luc, supported by II Chr. 18'". In the lleb. a .scribe l)y mistake has in- 
 troduceil here the phrase, the king died, instead of in its loRical place at the end of the ver.se. 
 
 ' 22''" So C!k. and Luc. Tlie Hel). connects this first clause with the followinn. 
 
 "22" So C;k. and Luc. Hob., he came. 
 
 •22''8 Gk. and Luc, in his hlond. 
 
 § 79 In addition to his familiar ju'lgment upon the roiKii of Ahiiziah, the editor has mtro- 
 duced in II Kgs. 1' (cf. I Krs. 22'^') a reference to the rel)eHion of Mesha, which is well aiitlienti- 
 cated by the contemporary inscription of that king liimself. Cf. .\|)peiiilix IV. In the older 
 source — probably the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel — from which the editor takes his data 
 
 225
 
 II Kgs. li] RULE OF THE HOUSE OF OIVIRI 
 
 Moab's 
 rebel- 
 lion 
 Aha- 
 ziah's 
 embas- 
 sy to 
 Ekron 
 
 Elijah's 
 mes- 
 sage 
 
 Report 
 of the 
 embas- 
 sy 
 
 De- 
 struc- 
 tion of 
 the la- 
 ter em- 
 bassies 
 and re- 
 itera- 
 tion of 
 the 
 doom 
 
 Death 
 of 
 
 Aha- 
 ziah 
 
 Earhj Ephraimite Elijah Stories 
 
 II Kgs. 1 ^And after the death of Ahab Moab rebelled against Israel. 
 
 ^Now Ahaziah fell out through the lattice in his upper apartment in 
 Samaria, and lay sick. Then he sent messengers and commanded them, 
 Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether or not I shall recover 
 of this sickness. 
 
 ^But the messenger of Jehovah said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up 
 to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, ' Is it because 
 there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of 
 Ekron?' '*Now therefore thus saith Jehovah, 'Thou shalt not come down 
 from the bed whither thou hast gone up, but thou shalt surely die.' Then 
 Elijah went away. 
 
 ^And when the messengers came back to him, he said to them. Why have 
 
 you returned ? ^And they said to him, A man came up to meet us and said 
 
 to us, ' Go back again to the king who sent you and say to him, "Thus saith 
 
 Jehovah : Is it because there is no God in Israel that thou sendest to inquire 
 
 of Baal-Zebub the god of Ekron ? Therefore thou shalt not come down 
 
 from the bed whither thou hast gone up, but shalt surely die."' "And he 
 
 said to them. What kind of man was he who told you these things ? ^And 
 
 they answered him, A man clad in a skin and girt with a leather girdle about 
 
 his loins. Then he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite ! 
 
 ^Thereupon he sent against him a commander of fifty with his fifty. And when he 
 went up to him — for lie was sitting on the top of the hill — he said to him, O man of God, 
 the king said, ' Come down.' i°And Ehjah answered and said to the commander of 
 fifty, If I be a man of God, let fire conae do'mi from heaven and consume you and your 
 fifty. Then there fell fire from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. "And again 
 he sent to him another commander of fift^^ with his &hy. And he answered and said 
 to him, O man of God, thus has the king said, 'Come down quickly.' i-And Ehjah 
 answered and said to them. If I be a man of God, let fire come do%\Ti from heaven and 
 consume you and your fifty. And the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him 
 and his fifty. ^^And again he sent a third commander of fifty with his fifty. But 
 when the third commander of fifty went up, he came and fell on his knees before Elijah 
 and besought him, saying to him, O man of God, I praj^ you spare my hfe and the Ufe 
 of these fifty your servants. '^Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed 
 the two former commanders of fifty -uith their fifties; but now spare my life. '"And 
 the Messenger of Jehovah said to Elijah, Go down with him; do not be afraid of him. 
 So he arose and went down with him to the king. '^And he said to him, Thus saith 
 Jehovah, ' Because thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron 
 — is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?" — therefore thou shalt 
 not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.' 
 
 ^'So he died according to the word of Jehovah which Elijah had spoken. 
 And in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoram 
 his brother became king in his place, because he had no son. '^Now the other acts 
 which Ahaziah did, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 
 
 there may have followed a further account of the rebellion. 3^ reiterates the fact and the sub- 
 sequent verses contain a popular tradition of an unsuccessful attempt to reconquer Moab. 
 
 The chief quotation regarding Ahaziah appears to come from the early Elijah stories. As in 
 I Kgs. 17^ 'Iiy, the prophet is introduced as Elijah, the Tishbite, 3. s. The forms of the divine 
 address to Elijah in 3. i recall the corresponding expressions in I Kgs. 21''' ■ '9. The Messenger 
 of Jehovah in 3 appears elsewhere in these chapters only in the Elijah stories of I Kgs. 19". Above 
 all the Elijah, who in l'-^ suddenly arises to rebuke Ahaziah, is the same as he who figures in 
 I KgS; 17-19, 21, and his words reveal the same passionate zeal for Jehovah. 
 
 Vss. 5-'^ are little more than repetitions of the preceding. Cf. ^^^. The literary style and 
 spirit are radically different. No ethical motive is evident for the wanton destruction of the 
 two companies of fifty. The story strongly recalls the fate of the messengers of Saul in Samuel's 
 presence, I Sam. 19'*--*. If not modelled after that late tale, this insertion is closely related to 
 It. It cannot be earlier than the popular Elisha stories (cf. especially 2-^-''), and does not reflect 
 the older and nobler conception of the prophet. Cf. Introd., p. 18. 
 
 " 1" The interjected question is lacking in the Gk. and Luc. 
 
 226
 
 JEHOTIAM'S REIGN [U Kgs. 31 
 
 § 80. Jehoram's Reign, 11 Kgs. S'-^ 
 
 Late Prophetic Sxtmmary 
 
 II Kgs. 3 ^Xow Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Jeho- 
 Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judali, and he reigned reiig! 
 twelve years. ^Xnd he displeased Jehovah, but not as did lus father and ious 
 mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made, ^jjo^y. p° "^ 
 ever he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat with which he made 
 Israel sin and he did not depart from them. 
 
 ni 
 
 POi»ULAR TRADITIONS ABOUT ELISHA, II Kgs. 2i-8i5, 1314-27 
 
 § 81. Translation of Elijah and Consecration of Elisha, II Kgs. 2 
 Gilgal Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 II Kgs. 2 ^Now at the time when JehoA-ah was about to cause Elijah to Eli- 
 go up by a whirlwind to heaven, Elijah was going with Elisha from Gilgal. persist- 
 ^And Elijah said to Elisha, Remain here, I pray, for Jehovah hath sent me ^"^^ ^J^ 
 as far as Bethel. And Elisha said. As Jehovah liveth and as you live, I ing 
 will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel. ^And the sons of the ^"J'*'* 
 prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him. Do you 
 know that to-day Jehovah will take away your master from being over you ? 
 And he said, Yes, I know it; only keep silent. ^And Elijah said to him, 
 Elisha, tarry here, I pray, for Jehovah hath sent me to Jericho. And he 
 said, As Jehovah hveth and as you live, I will not leave you. So they came 
 
 § 80 This editorial summary of Jehoram's reign naturally follows immediately after 1, 
 and finds its direct continuation in 8"'". Into this editorial framework has been fitted the 
 large group of Elisha stories, which are written from an entirely different point of view and can 
 best be studied as a unit. Cf. §§ 81-92. 
 
 Popular Traditions about Elislia. — The origin and history of this group of stories have 
 already been considered in the Introd., pp. 18-20. That they were great favorites with the 
 common people is demonstrated by their general character. They illustrate that personal and 
 pastoral side of the prophetic activity which is often overlooked. All the traditions which 
 gathered about Klisha represent him as a benignant prophet, in close touch with court and peo- 
 ple. Their number and striking character testify to the greatness of his |)ersonality and work, 
 for there is never smoke without some fire. Even though popular tradition associates with 
 Elisha stories which appear originally in connection with lOIijah, they contain so many original 
 and realistic elements that it is impossible to regard their hero as a mere product of the imagina- 
 tion. Unfortunately he liveil just before the beginning of Israel's great literary age, so that his 
 words and acts were first recorded only in the popular memory, but back of the stories stands 
 the man, identified by birth and training with the agricultur.al civilization of Northern Israel 
 and tlius fitted personally to direct the life and thought of his peopk", and to realize in the his- 
 tory of his race the principles and ideals proclaimed by his master lllijaii. Ditleriiig radically 
 in character and method from his great predecessor, he appears to have been the (irst of that 
 new type of prophets, represented by .-Vmos, Isaiah and their successors, who stood not apart 
 from but in the midst of the peofde whom they addressed. 
 
 § 81 This story fittingly introduces those which follow. While it records the close of 
 Elijah's life, its real purpose is to indicate the source of Elisha's supernatural nowor. His per- 
 si.stency in following F.lijah, his words, and the wonder-working mantle, which foil down upon 
 his shoulders, are more prominent than (he great jirophet of Gilead himself, (iilgal is con- 
 ceived of as Elisha's home. The description of tiie journey from (Iilgal by Hethol ( Own to the 
 Jordan indicates that the town in question was iicjl tiie more famoua one near Jericho, but the 
 (iilgal a little southwest of Shiloh, which appears to have early inlierilod tiio triulitions of that 
 ancient .sanctuary. Cf. Introd., pp. 18, 19. The prominence of the sons of the prophets alBO 
 indicates that this story is from tno Gilgal cycle. 
 
 227
 
 n Kgs. 24] POPULAR ELISHA TRADITIONS 
 
 Gilgal Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 to Jericho. ^Then the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near 
 
 to EHsha and said to him, Do you know that to-day Jehovah will take your 
 
 master from being over you ? x\nd he answered. Yes, I know it; only keep 
 
 silent. S^nd Elijah said to him. Remain here, I pray, for Jehovah hath 
 
 sent me to the Jordan. And he said. As Jehovah liveth and as you live, I 
 
 will not leave you. So they two went on. 
 
 Elisha's ^And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them 
 
 \f^^^^ at a distance, while they stood by the Jordan. ^Then Elijah took his mantle 
 
 Elijah's a,^(j rolled it up and smote the waters; thereupon they were divided on 
 
 phetic both sides so that they two could go over on dry ground. ^And when they 
 
 might had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I 
 
 rest ill ani taken from you. And Elisha said, I pray, let a double portion of your 
 
 meas- Spirit be upon me.^ i^And he said, You have asked a hard thing; neverthe- 
 
 hitn"" '^ss, if you see me when I am taken from you, so shall it be with you; but 
 
 if not, it shall not be so. 
 
 De- ^^Now as they were still going on their way conversing, a chariot of fire 
 
 EHjah°s with horses of fire suddenly came and separated the two; and Elijah went 
 
 mantle up by a whirlwind to heaven, ^^^nd when Elisha saw it, he cried. My fa- 
 
 Elisha ther, my father!*^ the chariots of Israel and its horsemen ! And he saw him 
 
 no more, but he took hold of his own robes and tore them in two pieces. 
 
 i^Then he took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went 
 
 back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. ^4^\^nd he took the mantle of 
 
 Elijah that had fallen from him and smote the waters, and said, Where now 
 
 is Jehovah, the God of Elijah ? And when he had smitten the waters, tliey 
 
 were divided on both sides, so that Elisha could go over. 
 
 Fruit- ^^And when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho" opposite 
 
 search ^^^^ ^^^ him, they said, The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. And they 
 
 fo":. , came to meet him and bowed to the j^round before him, ^''and said to him, 
 
 Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men ; let them go, we 
 
 pray, and seek your master, lest the spirit of Jehovah has taken him up and 
 
 cast him on some mountain or into some valley. And he said. Do not send.*^ 
 
 ^'^But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said. Send. They 
 
 accordingly sent fifty men; and they sought three days, but did not find 
 
 him. ^^And when they came back to him, while he was still at Jericho, he 
 
 said to them, Did I not say to you, ' Do not go ' ? 
 
 Elisha's ^^And the men of the city said to Elisha, See, the situation of this city 
 
 cation i^ pleasant, as my lord observes; but the water is bad, and the people of the 
 
 of the land*^ have untimely births. 20\jjfj \^^^ said. Bring me a new flask, and put 
 
 spring , , -^ ' o '1 
 
 at.Ieri- salt in it. And thev brought it to him. -^And he went out to the source of 
 
 oho . ^ 
 
 * 23 Lit., let there be a share of two of your spirit upon me, i.e., the especial rights of a first- 
 born son. 
 
 ^ 212 Q{ J3i4_ Father was probably the term by which the sons of the prophets addressed 
 the prophet whom they recognized as their leader. It is equivalent to master in 3. 5. 
 
 " 2'^ The preceding context suggests that they were not at Jericho, but near the Jordan. 
 The words, at Jericho, were probably addeil from ^^ ^. 
 
 d 2W Gk. adds, to the Jordan. 
 
 " 2' J Lit., the land casts her younq. But in ^i the spring is the cause of this trouble. The 
 only satisfactory explanation is that land, as in I Sam. 142', 17* and often, is equivalent to the 
 inhabitants. 
 
 228
 
 CONSECRATION OF EIJSHA [11 Kgs. 221 
 
 Gilgal Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 the waters and cast salt into it and said, Thus saith Jehovah, 'I have made 
 these waters wholesome; death shall no longer come from them nor un- 
 timely births.' --So the waters were made wholesome to this day, just as 
 Elisha had said. 
 
 2^ And he went up from there to Bethel. And while he was going up by Fate of 
 the way, young lads came out of the city and mocked him with the cry. Go boys of 
 up, you baldhead. -^And he looked behind him. and when he saw them, Bethel 
 he cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And tliere came forth two she- 
 bears out of the wood and tore forty-two of the lads. -^And he went from 
 there to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria. 
 
 I 8^2. The Widow's Oil, II Kgs. 4'-' 
 
 Gilgal Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 II Kgs. 4 ^Now one of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried to Klisha'a 
 Elisha, saving. Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your J/ons 
 servant feared Jehovah ; but now the creditor is come to take my two children 
 to be his slaves. -And Elisha said to her. What shall I do for you ? Tell 
 me; what have you in the house? And she said. Your maid-servant has 
 nothing in the house except a flask of oil.^ ^Then he said. Go, borrow ves- 
 sels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels, '^and you shall go in, 
 shut the door upon yourself and your sons, and pour out into all the vessels, 
 and when one is full, you shall set it aside. 
 
 ^So she went from him and shut the door upon herself and her .sons; and The 
 while they brought the vessels to her, she poured out. ^When the vessels u|"„s' 
 were full, she said to her son. Give still another. But he said to her. There flow of 
 is not another vessel! Then she ceased. "When she came and told the man 
 of God, he said. Go, sell the oil, and pay your debts, and from what remains 
 you, with your sons, can live. 
 
 § 83. Miraculous Provision of Food for the Sons of the Prophets, 
 
 II Kgs. 4^8-" 
 
 Gilgal Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 II Kgs. 4 38Xow Elisha came again to Gilgal while there was a famine -Death 
 in the land. And when the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. he jJJ,*"^ 
 said to his servants. Set on the great pot and boil i)ottage for the sons of the 
 prophets. ^Qxhen one went out into the field to gather herbs and found a 
 wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds and came and cut 
 them up into the dish of pottage, for he^ did not know what they were. '^^So 
 
 § 82 The prominence of the sons of the prophot<. .Ih- Hppanni .l.|..-ndence of this story 
 on the earlier Klijah narrative in I Krs. 17. an.l the fact lliul it relates not <. i;"l"c but to 
 private events, strongly suRgest that it was taken from the CilRal cycle. (. t. Introd., p. i». 
 
 ' 42 Or, enough oil for nnointinn. . , , ., , . , „ „i„„, 
 
 § 83 The reference to GilEal in 's an.l the prominence of the .wns of the pronhets make clear 
 the classification of this story. The picture which it gives of a proi.hetic guil.l is certainl.\ one 
 of the most distinct in the O.T. 
 
 « 43^ So Luc, Syr., ami Targ. Heb., they. 
 
 ^229
 
 IIKgs. 4^0] POPULAR ELISHA TRADITIONS 
 
 Gilgal Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 they poured out for the men to eat. But as they were eating of the pottage, 
 
 they cried out and said, O man of God, there is death in the pot. And they 
 
 could not eat of it. ^ixhen he said, Bring meal. And he east it into the 
 
 pot and said. Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no 
 
 harm in the pot. 
 
 Miracle ^-And there came a man from Baal-shalishah and brought the man of 
 
 bread Grod bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and garden fruit'^ in 
 
 P4 his sack. And he said. Give the people something to eat. '^^And his 
 
 servant said. What, should I set this before a hundred men ? But he said, 
 
 Give the people that they may eat; for thus saith Jehovah, They shall eat 
 
 and shall leave some over. "^^So he set it before them, and they ate and left 
 
 some over just as Jehovah had said. 
 
 § 84. Recovery of the Lost Axe, II Kgs. 6'-^ 
 Gilgal Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 The II Kgs. 6 ^Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, See now, the 
 
 ii^g place where we dwell before you is too contracted for us. ^L,ei us go, we 
 "■°° pra}', to the Jordan and each take from there a beam and let us make a 
 place for ourselves there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go. ^And 
 some one said, Consent, I pray, to go with your servants. And he an- 
 swered, I will go. ^So he went with them. And when they came to the 
 Jordan, they cut down wood. ^But as one was felling a beam, the axe- 
 head fell into the water. Then he cried, and said, Alas, my master ! for it 
 was borrowed. ^And the man of God said, Where did it fall ? And when 
 he showed him the place, he cut down a stick, and threw it in, and made 
 the iron swim. ^Then he said. Take it up. So he reached out his hand and 
 took it. 
 
 §85. Restoration of the Shunammite's Son, II Kgs. 4'-" 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 The II Kgs. 4 ^Now one dav Elisha went over to Shunem, where dwelt a rich 
 
 nam- woman; and she constrained him to eat food. And afterward, whenever he 
 
 mite's passed by, he turned in there to eat food. ^And she said to her husband, 
 
 tality Behold, now I perceive that this is a holy man of God who is continually 
 
 sha ' passing by us. ^°Let us make a little walled-in roof-chamber, and let us 
 
 •> 4^ Lat., Syr., and Targ., followed by RV, fresh ears of corn. 
 
 § 84 The same geographical setting aad point of view appear in this, as in the immediately 
 preceding stories. 
 
 § 85 The probable influence ^\'hich the early Elijah stories in 17 exerted upon this story 
 have already been noted. Cf. Introd., p. 19. The dependence upon the same early source is 
 also suggested by similarity in language, cf. 3i and I Kgs. 18-°' -'^- *•. 35 and I Kgs. 18^. Several 
 phrases found in 2 here recur: cf., e.g., 3" and 2-- *■ '^, indicating possibly that this belongs to the 
 Gilgal cycle. Not Gilgal. however, but Mount Carmel apj^ears to be the home of the prophet. ^. 
 The story and its sequel in 8'-^ may be from still a third Mount Carmel cycle, but the familiar 
 references to the king in i3 and 8^-^ and the prominence of Gehazi suggest that they probably 
 came from the Samaria cycle. 
 
 The story throws much light upon social and domestic life in Northern Israel and justly 
 merits the popularity which it has always enjoyed. 
 
 230
 
 THE SHUNAMMITE'S SON [II Kgs. 410 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 place for him there a bed, a table, a seat, and a candlestick, so that, when- 
 ever he comes to us, he can turn in. 
 
 ^^Now one day he came there and turned into the chamber and lav there. His 
 ^-And he said to Gehazi his servant. Call this Shunammite. And when he {^^"t'hat 
 had called her, she stood before him. ^^And he said to him. Say now^ to her, she 
 'See, you have been so anxious to care for us; what is to be done for you? have a 
 Might we commend you to the favor of the king' or to the commander of ®°° 
 the army ?' And she answered, I dwell in the midst of my own clan.J ^"^And 
 he said. What then is to be done for her ? And Gehazi answered. Verily 
 she has no son, and her husband is old. ^^And he said. Call her. And 
 when he had called her, she stood in the door. ^''And he said. At this time 
 a year hence you shall embrace a son. And she said. No, my lord, O man 
 of God, do not deceive your maid-servant. 
 
 ^"But the woman conceived and bore a son about the same time the next Death 
 year"^ as Elisha had said to her. ^^And when the child was grown, he went ^^^ ® 
 out one day to his father to the reapers. ^^And he called to his father. My 
 head, my head ! And [liis father] said to his servant. Carry him to his 
 mother. 20\jj(j ^hen he had taken and brought him to his mother, he sat 
 on her lap until noon, and then died. 2i^\n(l she went up and laid him 
 on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him and went out. 
 
 22Then she called to her husband and said. Send me, I pray, one of the The 
 ser\'ants and one of the asses, that I may go quickly to the man of God and ^^?g 
 come again. -'^And he said. Why w'ill you go to him to-day since it is neither |°"^J^®y 
 new moon nor sabbath ? And she said. It is well. 24'pijgj^ gjjg saddled an sha 
 ass and said to her servant, Drive on fast, do not .stop my riding, until I 
 bid you. ^^So she went and came to the man of God on Mount Carmel. 
 But when the man of God saw^ her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his ser- 
 vant. See, there is the Shunammite! ^ej^^n now to meet her and say to 
 her, Is it well with you ? Is it well with your husband ? Is it well with the 
 child ? And she answered. It is well, ^rgyt when she came to the man of 
 God to the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. And when Gehazi came 
 near to thrust her away, the man of God said. Let her alone, for she is deeply 
 troubled and Jehovah hath hidden it from me and hath not told me. -^Then 
 she said. Did I desire a son of my lord ? Did I not say, Do not deceive me? 
 
 29Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up your loins, take my staff in your hand, Geha- 
 and go ! If you meet anyone, do not salute him, and if any salute you do fruit- 
 not answer him, and lay my staff on the face of the child, ^qjut the mother J^?|,i^„ 
 of the child said. As Jehovah liveth and as you live, I will not leave. So he to the 
 arose and went with her. ^^And Gehazi had gone on before them and had °^ 
 laid the staff upon the face of the child, but there was neither sound nor 
 sign. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, saying. The child 
 has not awakened. 
 
 ' 4*3 Heb., la it to speak for you to the kingf 
 
 i 4'3 HavinK the support of a powerful clan, she had no need of royal patronage. 
 
 k 4">. " Cf. the close parallel in Gen. 18'-". 
 
 231
 
 IIKcxS. 43-^] POPULAR ELISHA TRADITIONS 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 Resto- 32 And when Elisha came into the house, there was the child lying dead on 
 of the ^^is bed. ^Hie went in, therefore, and shut the door behind them two, and 
 boy to prayed to Jehovah. 34^Ynd he went up and lay upon the child and put his 
 mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his 
 hands, and, as he lay upon^ him, the flesh of the child became warm. ^S'pjjgj^ 
 he returned and walked backward and forward in the house, and went up 
 and lay upon him, and the child sneezed seven times; thereupon the child 
 opened his eyes, ^o^j^fj }jg called Gehazi, and said. Call this Shunam- 
 mite. So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said. Take up 
 your son. 37^]^pj^ gj^g went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground, 
 after that she took up her son and went out. 
 
 § 86. Restoration of the Shunammite's Land, II Kgs. 8'" 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 The II Kgs. 8 ^Now Elisha spoke to the woman, whose son he had restored 
 
 nam- to life. Saying, Arise, go forth with your household, and sojourn wherever 
 mite's you can, for Jehovah hath ordered a famine; and moreover, it shall come 
 dence upon the land seven years. ^So the woman arose and acted according to 
 foreign tlie advice of the man of God: and she went with her household and so- 
 yy}] ^* journed in the land of the Phihstines seven years, ^^nd at the end of seven 
 advice years the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went 
 
 forth to petition the king for her house and her land. 
 
 Resto- *Now the king happened to be saying to Gehazi the servant of the man 
 
 of he" of God, Tell me, I pray, all the wonderful things that Elisha has done. ^And 
 
 fei'ted '"^'^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ telling the king how he had restored to life the dead, the 
 
 lands ivoraan, whose son he had restored to life, petitioned the king for her house 
 
 and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman 
 
 and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. ^And when the king asked 
 
 the woman, she told him. So the king appointed for her a court-official,"" 
 
 saying, Restore all that was hers, together with the produce of the fields 
 
 since the day that she left the land until now. 
 
 § 87. Healing of Naaman the Leper, II Kgs. 5 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 De- II Kgs. 5 ^Now Naaman the commander of the army of the king of 
 
 ^ the Aram was a man prosperous and highly esteemed by his master, because by 
 Arim^ him Jehovah had given victory to Aram;" but the man was a leper. 2\n(j 
 
 ' 4^ Lit., crouched. The Heb. verb means not stretched, as in the current translations, but 
 rather that he drew up his limbs to correspond to the shorter limbs of the child. 
 
 § 86 Cf. note § 85. 
 
 ™ 8^ Heb., eunuch. 
 
 § 87 Here Elisha is the prophet of Samaria, ', is in close touch with the court and is at- 
 tended not by the sons of the prophets but by Gehazi. The identification of the story with the 
 Samaria cycle is assured. As in the case of most of these popular stories, it is impossible to 
 determine unrler whose reigns the events took place. 
 
 ° 5\ So Luc. Into the Heb. has crept the marginal note, o 7nan of ability, intended probably 
 to e.xplain the preceding descriptive adjective. 
 
 232
 
 HEALING OF NA.\^L\N THE LEPER [H Kgs. 52 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 the Arameans had gone forth in marauding bands and had brought away 
 captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden, who became the servant of 
 Naaman's wife. ^And she said to her mistress, Would that my lord were 
 with the prophet that is in Samaria ! Then he would relieve him of his lep- 
 rosy. *And one went in and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the 
 maiden from the land of Israel. ^And the king of Aram said. Go now, and 
 I will send a letter to the king of Israel. So he departed and took with him 
 ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and ten festal ear- 
 ments. °And he brought to the king of Israel the letter which ran: Now 
 when this letter comes to you, be informed that I have sent Naaman my 
 ser\'ant to you, that you may relieve him of his leprosy. "When, however, 
 the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said. Am I a god 
 who can kill and make alive, that this man sends to me to relieve a man of 
 his leprosy ? But consider and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me ! 
 
 ^But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn Elisha's 
 his clothes, he sent to the king, saying. Why have you torn your clothes ? t'/^ng" 
 Let him come now to me and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel I ^V*^ 
 ^So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots and stood at the man's 
 door of Elisha's house. ^''And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying. Go and '^^^^ 
 wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall again be well and clean. 
 ^^But Naaman w-ent away in a rage and said, I expected that he would come 
 out to me and stand and call on the name of Jehovah his God, and wave 
 his hand over the place, and relieve the leper. ^-Are not Amana" and 
 Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel ? Could 
 I not wash in them and be clean.'' So he turned and went away in a rage. 
 ^^But his sers'ants came near and spoke to him and said, If'^ the prophet had 
 bidden you do some great thing, would you not have done it ? IIow nnich 
 rather then, when he says to you, 'Wash and be clean!' ^^hen he went 
 down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the com- 
 mand of the man of God, and his flesh became again like the flesh of a little 
 child, and he was clean. 
 
 ^^And he returned to the man of God, together with all his retinue. And Naa- 
 when he arrived, he stood before him and said, Behold now, I know that gr?i',\f 
 there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; therefore, I pray, take a present ♦"'.'p ♦" 
 from your servant. ^^But he said. As Jehovah liveth, before whom I stand, and his 
 I will take nothing. And although he urged him to take it, he refused. 
 ^''Then Naaman said. If not, at least let there be given to your servant a 
 load of earth, what two mules can draw, for your seryant will hereafter offer 
 neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Jehovah. ''^In this 
 thing may Jehovah pardon your servant, when my master goes into the temple 
 of Riinmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself*' in the 
 temple of llimmon, when he bows himself in the temple of Rimmon— may 
 
 ° 5"^ So Syr., Tare., and marKinal reading of Heb. , • , 
 
 p. 5'' The present Heb., my jalhcr. is in all i)ri)l);il)ility a corruption of, ?'/, for the singular 
 does not fit the context ami m.v jiUlicr is mnitteil in the Gk. 
 "> 5" So Gk. and Luc. lleb., when I bow. 
 
 233
 
 IIKgs.518] popular ELISHA TRADITIONS 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stones 
 
 Jehovah pardon your servant in this thing. ^^And he said to him, Go in 
 
 peace. 
 
 Geha- But when he had gone from him a Httle way, -^Gehazi, the servant of 
 
 f^ilg EHsha the man of God, thought to himself. There my master has spared 
 
 repre- this Naaman the Aramean without accepting from him what he brought ! As 
 
 tions' Jehovah Hveth, I will run after him and take something from him. ^igQ 
 
 Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw one running 
 
 after him, he alighted from the chariot to meet him and said. Is all well ? 
 
 22And he said. All is well. My master has sent me, saying, 'Just now two 
 
 young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill-country 
 
 of Ephraim. Give them, I pray, a talent of silver and two festal garments.' 
 
 23And Naaman said. Consent to take two talents. And he urged him, and 
 
 bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two festal garments, and laid 
 
 them on two of his servants, and they bore them before him. 24g^t when 
 
 he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and stored them in the 
 
 house and let the men go on their way. 
 
 His 25'phg^ hg went in. But when he stood by his master, Elisha said to him, 
 
 demna- Where do you come from, Gehazi ? And he said, Your servant has not been 
 
 tio" anywhere at all. ^^And he said to him. Was I not in spirit with you when 
 
 punish- the man turned from his chariot to meet you ? Is it a time to receive money 
 
 ™^" and to receive garments,'' and oliveyards and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, 
 
 and men-servants and maid-servants ? ^y'p'jje leprosy therefore of Naaman 
 
 shall cleave to you and to your descendants forever. Then he went from 
 
 his presence a leper, as white as snow. 
 
 § 88. The War with Moab, U Kgs. 3^", of. II Chr. gQi-^o 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 Mesha's II Kgs. 3 ^Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster;^ and he ren- 
 lioiT dered regularly to the king of Israel a tribute of a hundred thousand lambs 
 
 and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. ^But after Ahab died, the king 
 
 of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 
 Per- ^And King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and mustered all 
 
 otthe^ Israel. ''Then he proceeded at once to send to Jehoshaphat the king of 
 invad- Judali, saying. The king of Moab has rebelled against me; will you go with 
 kings me to fight against Moab ? And he replied, I will come up ; I am as you, 
 
 ' 5^6 Gk., Luc, and Lat. suggest as possibly original the reading, And now you have taken 
 the money and you may take the garments. 
 
 § 88 The preceding stories illustrate Elisha's activity in private life. These which follow 
 were intended to present his public services. The later Ephraimite conception of the authority 
 and role of the prophets, which appears in certain stories regarding Moses (Vol. I, §§ 82, 83) and 
 especially in the closely related Samuel stories (§§ 6-8) is again prominent. Elisha's authority 
 completely overshadows that of the king. By supernatural means he delivers the nation 
 from its great crisis and calls to the kingship, not only Jehu, but also the heathen usurper 
 Hazael. Many of the elements which characterize the Elijah stories reappear, indicating that 
 they are not from the same writer but from a later age and school, strongly influenced by the 
 older prophetic traditions and probably also acquainted with the Ahab history. 
 
 The present story is doubtless based on an older historical source from which *-^ may have 
 
 » 3* I.e., breeder of a kind of small sheep, highly esteemed for their wool. Cf. Am. 1'. 
 
 234
 
 THE WAR WITH MOAB [H Kgs. 3^ 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 my people as your people, my horses as your horses. ^And he incjuired, 
 Which way shall we go up ? And he answered, By the way of the Wilderness 
 of Edom. ^So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king 
 of Edom. And when they made a circuit of seven days' journev, the army 
 and the beasts that followed them had no water. i*^And the kin<>- of Israel 
 said, Alas ! for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver 
 them into the hand of Moab ! ^^But Jehoshaphat said, Is tliere no ])rophet 
 of Jehovah here that through him we may inciuire of Jehovah ? And one 
 of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Elisha the son of Shaphat 
 is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah. ^-And Jehoshaphat said, 
 The word of Jehovah is with him. So the Idng of Israel and Jehoshaphat 
 and tlie king of Edom went down to him. 
 
 i^And Elisha said to the king of Israel, What have I to do with you ? Go Eiisha's 
 to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother ! But 'Ytfn "'' 
 the king of Israel said to him. No; for Jehovah hath called these three kings audits 
 together to deliver them into the hand of Moab. ^^And Elisha said, As zaiion 
 surely as Jehovah of hosts liveth, whose servant I am, were it not that I have 
 regard for the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would pav no 
 attention to you.* ^^But now bring me a minstrel. And whenever the minstrel 
 played, the power" of Jehovah came upon him. ^^And he said, Thus .sailh 
 Jehovah, 'I will make this torrent-bed full of cisterns.'^' ^"For thus saith Je- 
 hovah, ' Ye shall not see wind neither shall ye see rain ; yet this torrent-bed shall 
 be filled with water, so that ye yourselves together with your army" and your 
 beasts shall drink. ^^But since this is only a slight thing in the sight of Jeho- 
 vah, he also will deliver the Moabites into your hand. ^^And ye shall smite 
 every fortified city^ and fell all the good trees and stoji up all the springs of 
 water and destroy with stones all the good cultivated land.' -'^Accordingly in 
 the morning, about the time when the offering is presented, water came sud- 
 denly from the direction of Edom, so that the country was filled with water. 
 
 21X0W when all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to The 
 fight against them, they gathered together all who were able to bear arm.s o^^r'"^^ 
 and upward, and stood on the border. '^~^\xi in the morning early, when jj^^^u 
 the sun had risen on the water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them ites 
 
 been quoted verbatim. The probability that it embodies reliable historical data is strengthened 
 by the testimony of the Moabite stone. Cf. Appendix IV. By many scholars it is assigned to 
 the Ahab history represented in I Kgs. 20, 22, but the evidence is very strong that it comes 
 from the Samaria cycle of the i:iisha stories, in the midst of which it is found. The dependence 
 :'pon I Kgs. 22 is marked, cf. '" and I Kgs. 22'-'. The attitude of Elisha the one true prophet, 
 in", is very similar to that of Micaiah in I Kgs. 22i'-'o. The reference in" to Elisha as the 
 disciijle of Elijah and in " to the Baal cult introducetl by .lezebel, fmthermore indicates depemi- 
 ence ur)on the IClijah stories. Above all, while in I Kgs. 22 the chief interest is in Ahab and 
 political events, here the house of Ahab is viewed with dis|ileasure and the central (igiire is 
 Elisha the prophet. Also instead of being a natural historical record, the inar\ cllous element 
 is very prominent, as in the other popular Elisha stories. In II Chr. 20 what_ appears to have 
 originally been the same story has undergone still further transformation. Cf. § 110. 
 
 ' ,'i'* Heb., / would not look lowurrl i/oii nor sec j/ou. 
 
 " 3'^ Heb., hand, u.«ed here as fretiuently for power imparted. Luc. ad<ls. ntid they look a 
 minstrel for him. Possibly part of the te.\t has here fallen out through a scribal error, llie 
 meaning, however, is clear. . , ... 
 
 /.3"; I.e.. every hollow in this dry wady shall be filled with water. Another possible 
 reading is, make thin lorrent-hed full of trenches. 
 
 "3'' So Liic. The Heb., cattle, is a .scribal variant. Of. «'•. 
 
 "S'" So (;k. and I-uc. The Heb. adds, and every choice city. 
 
 235
 
 iikgs.322] popular elisha traditions 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 as red as blood. 23And they said, This is blood ! The kings have surely 
 fought together^ and they have smitten one another. Now therefore, Moab, 
 to the spoil! 24^nd when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israehtes 
 rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they 
 went forward smiting the Moabites as they went.^ 25 ^^d they kept on de- 
 stroying the cities; on all the good cultivated land they cast each his stone, 
 until they filled it; all the springs of water they stopped up, and felled all 
 the good trees, and they harried Moab until her sons were left in Kir-har- 
 eseth,'= and the slingers surrounded and smote it. 
 The 26j5ut vvhen the king of INIoab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, 
 
 desper- j^^ ^^^j^ ^j^j^ ^jjjj ggven hundred men, armed with swords, to break through 
 
 straits against the king of Edom, but they could not. 27xhen he took his eldest 
 king of son, who was to reign in his place, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon 
 ^°*^ the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel, so that they departed 
 from him and returned to their own land. 
 
 § 89. The Deception of the Arameans, II Kgs. 6^"^^ 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 Elisha's II Kgs. 6 *Once while the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he took 
 
 skill as counsel with his servants, saying. In such and such a place shall we lie in 
 
 ambush.'^ 9\,^(j the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware 
 
 that you do not pass that place, for there the Arameans are concealed.® ^*^So 
 
 the king of Israel .sent to the place of which the man of God had told him. 
 
 Thus he used to warn him, so that he could there be on his guard, not once 
 
 merely nor twice. 
 
 Resent- ^^4nd the mind of the king of Aram was greatly disturbed by this. And 
 
 ^®tfjg he called his servants and said to them, Will you not show me who has be- 
 
 kingof trayed us to the king of Israel ?f i^'ph^n one of his servants said. No, my 
 
 ' ^^"^ lord, O king ! but Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the 
 
 words that you speak in your bedchamber. ^^And he said. Go and see 
 
 where he is, that I may send and get him. And it was told hun, saying. 
 
 Behold he is in Dothan. 
 
 Elisha's ^^'pherefoj.g ]^q gent there horses and chariots and a great army: and they 
 
 Sous' came by night, and surrounded the city. I'^And when the man of God^ on 
 
 capt- the next day rose early in the morning and went forth, there was an army 
 
 the Ar- — "^"^ ' 
 
 amean. a 323 gg Gk., Luc, and Targ., and a possible rendering of the present Heb. 
 
 army b324 go Gk. and Luc. and corrected Heb. text. 
 
 <: 325 Reconstructing the Heb., with the aid of Luc. The present Heb. reads, until in 
 Kir-hareseth they left its stones. 
 
 § 89 This story bears on its face the evidence that it is a popular tale intended to illustrate 
 Elisha's miraculous power. Details, such as the name of the kings of Lsrael and Aram and the 
 exact place and nature of the war, are conspicuously lacking. The prophet by his potent 
 prayer leads an army helplessly captive and dictates to the king of Israel, as to a servant, what 
 shall be done with the captives. Again the story centres about Samaria, so that its classifica- 
 tion is reasonably certain. It was, however, probably at first current in a somewhat different 
 circle from the succeeding tradition. 
 
 d 6^ Reconstructing the doubtful Heb., with the aid of Luc, Syr., and Lat. 
 
 " 6' So Gk. and the corrected Heb. 
 
 ' 6" So Gk., Luc, and Old Lat. Present Heb., who oj ours is for the king of Israel. 
 
 E 6" Restoring the confused Heb. text. 
 
 236
 
 DECEPTION OF THE ARAMEANS [II Kgs. G^s 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Eli^ha Stories 
 
 with horses and chariots about the city, so that his servant said to him, Alas, 
 my master! What shall we do? ^^^And he answered, Fear not; for they 
 who are with us are more than they who are with them. ^"And Elisha 
 prayed and said, Jehovah open his eyes, that he may see. Then Jehovah 
 opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw how the mountain around 
 about Elislia was full of horses and chariots of fire. is^\^j^j ^yj^^j^ ^j^^y came 
 down to him, Elisha besought Jeho\ah, saying, Smite this jic-oplc, I pray, 
 with blindness; And he smote them with blindness according to Elisha's 
 petition, ^^^nd Elisha said to them, This is not the way nor the city. Fol- 
 low me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek ! So he led them 
 to Samaria. 
 
 20But as soon as they came to Samaria, Elisha said, Jehovah, open the Mag- 
 eyes of these men, that they may see. And Jehovah opened their eyes, so JJf"J' 
 that they saw, and there they were in the midst of Samaria, ^i \n(} \\^^ libera- 
 king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, INIy father, shall I smite thecap- 
 them .' shall I smite them P^ --But he answered. You shall not smite them; "^^^ 
 would you smite those whom you have not' taken captive with your sword 
 and with your bow ? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat 
 and drink and go to their master. ^Sg^ |^g prepared a great feast for them. 
 And when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them back to their master. 
 And the marauding bands of Aram came no more into the land of Israel. 
 
 § 90. The Siege and Deliverance of Samaria, II Kgs. 6^^-7^" 
 Samaria Cycle of Eliisha Stories 
 
 II Kgs. 6 24>Jow it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram Hor- 
 assembled all his army and went up and besieged Samaria. "^^Then there [j]g®°^ 
 was a great famine in Samaria, while they were besieging it, until an ass's faniipe 
 head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a pinfj of dove's dung*' for the 
 five shekels of silver. ^^And as the king of Israel was once passing by ujjon *^''^ 
 
 *■ 6^' Or interpreting the Heb., according to Gk., and Syr., shall I completely cut them 
 down? 
 
 ' fl-2 So Luc., who inserts the negative demanded by the context. 
 
 § 90 The overshadowing importance of Elisha in this story which records national events, 
 leaves little doubt that it belongs to the groiii> of pro])hotic stories in which it is embedded. 
 It also centres in .Samaria. The statement in G-' that the maramling liaiuls of tlio Arameans 
 came no more into the l;ind of Israel is h.anll*- consistent with the i)resent story, but this fact 
 simply indicates that these stories have little real connection with each other and are topically 
 ratiier than chronologically arranged. As with the other traditions, however, there are no 
 clear data from which to determine the exact date of the events recorded. The Hen-hadad 
 mentioned in fr^ may either have been the second or the third .\rainean ruler bearing that name. 
 The name of the king of Israel also is not given, except by implication, since the story is found in 
 a group which the editor evidently assigned to the reign of .Jehoram. The mention of a famine, 
 
 Ferhaps, connects it with the one referred to in 4''** and 8' ". .Vt tlie close of .lehoram's reign the 
 sraelites and Arameans were at war, 9"- ''. but hostilities appear to have been conlincd to the 
 east of .Jordan. The two periods, wlien the .Vrameans completely' ovorran Israel, were during 
 the earlier years of Ahab and during the years following the revolutidu of .leliu. If historical, 
 the incident, therefore, probably belongs to the reign of Hen-hadad 111 and .Ichoahaz or .Joa,sh 
 of Israel. Or possiblv — .xs ha.s been strongly urged —the tradition ha.s combined the poi>ular 
 version of the famine in the days of Elijah (I Kgs. 17) with that of the defeat of the .Vrameans 
 in the days of Ahab M Kgs. 20), and a,Msociated both with Ii^lisha. 
 ' 6^^ Heb., the fourth part of a kah, about a pint. 
 ■■ &" Various emendations have been suggested: carob pods, or, sour ivitic. 
 
 237
 
 IIKgs. 626] POPULAR ELISHA TRADITIONS 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. ^^And he 
 said, li Jehovah does not help you, whence can I help you ? Out of the 
 threshing-floor or out of the winepress ? ^SjjQ^gygj.^ Ijjg king said to her, 
 What is the trouble with you ? And she answered, This woman said to me, 
 ' Give your son, that we may eat him to-day, and we will eat my son to-mor- 
 row! ' 29go ^yg })oiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next 
 day, ' Give your son, that we may eat him; ' but she has hidden her son. 
 The 2°And when the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes — 
 
 resolve ^^^ ^^ he was passing by upon the wall, the people looked and saw that he 
 tokiu wore sackcloth within on his naked flesh— ^^and he said, may God do to me 
 whatever he will, if to-day the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains 
 on his shoulders ! 
 Elisha's ^-Now Elisha was sitting in his house with the elders beside him. And 
 tionof" the king sent a man from before him. But before the messenger came to 
 plenty him, he said to the elders, See how this murderous villain has sent to take 
 off my head. Look ! when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the 
 door fast against him ; is not the sound of his master's feet behind him .'* 
 ^^And while he was .still talking with them, the king^ came down to him 
 and said, See, this is the evil that comes from Jehovah ! Why should I wait 
 for Jehovah any longer? 7 ^But Elisha said. Hear the word of Jehovah; 
 thus saith Jehovah, ' To-morrow about this time shall a peck™ of fine meal be 
 sold for a shekel and two pecks of barley for a shekel in the gate of Samaria.' 
 ^Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God 
 and said, Behold, if Jehovah himself should make windows in heaven, could 
 this thing be ? And he said. You yourself shall see it with your own eyes, 
 but shall not eat of it. 
 The ^Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they 
 
 discov- ^^^^ °^^ t^ another. Why do we sit here until we die ? '*If we say, ' We will 
 ery enter into the city,' then famine is in the city, and we shall die there; but if 
 besieg- we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come and let us go over to the 
 means^' ^^^Y of the Arameans. If they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill 
 had us, we shall but die. ^So they rose up at twilight to go over to the camp of 
 the Arameans. And when they came to the outermost part of the camp of 
 the Arameans, there was no man there, ^for the Lord had made the army 
 of the Arameans hear a noise of chariots and of horses and of a great army, 
 so they said to one another. Surely the king of Israel has hired against us 
 the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Mu^ri^ to come upon us. "There- 
 fore they arose and fled in the twilight and left their tents, and their horses 
 and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. *And when 
 these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, 
 and ate and drank and carried away silver and gold and clothing and went 
 
 1533 Translating according to the demands of the context. A scribe has mistaken the 
 original for the very similar Heb. word, messenger. 
 
 ™ 71 Heb., seah. 
 
 ° 7* A later scribe has read for MuQri the more familiar MiQraim (Egypt). The people of 
 Mu^ri, however, were near neightjors of the Hittites in Northern Syria, while the Egyptians 
 were too distant for practical alliance. 
 
 238
 
 THE DELIVERANCE OF SAMARIA [II Kgs. 7S 
 
 Sarnaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 and hid it. Then they came back and entered into another tent, and car- 
 ried away its contents al§o and went and hid it. 
 
 ^Then they said to one another. We are not doing right; this day is a day incre- 
 of good news, wliile we are keeping still. If we wait until morning light, oUhe 
 punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and inform king 
 the palace. ^^So they came and called the watchmen° at the city gate and 
 told them, saying. We came to the camp of the Arameans, and behold there 
 was no one there and no voice of man, but the horses had been tied and 
 asses were tied and theirP tents were as they had been. ^^And the watch- 
 men at the city gate'i called and announced it to the palace within. ^-And 
 the king arose in the night, and said to his servants, I will now tell you what 
 the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore 
 they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, thinking, 
 ' When they come out of the city we shall take them alive and get into the 
 city.' 
 
 ^^But one of his servants spoke and said. Let some men take five of the Confir- 
 remaining horses which survive in the city; if they live, they are as all the Cnhe° 
 multitude of Israel that survive here; if they perish, they are as all the mul- report 
 titude of Israel that are consumed. "" Therefore let us send and see. ^'^So 
 they took two mounted men,^ and the king sent them after the army of the 
 Arameans, saying. Go and see. ^^And they went after them to the Jordan, 
 and behold all the way was full of garments and vessels which the Arameans 
 had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the 
 king. 
 
 ^^And the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. Reali- 
 So a peck of fine meal was sold for a shekel, and two pecks of barley for a ^f iVJi. 
 shekel, just as Jehovah had said. ^''And the king appointed the captain ^^H'^-^^. 
 on whose hand he leaned to take charge of the gate; but the peo{)le trod tion 
 upon him in the gate so that he died, just as the man of God had said, when 
 the king came down to him. i^Also it came to pass as the man of God had spoken 
 to the king, saying, Two pecks of barley will be sold for a shekel and a peck of fine 
 meal for a sliekel, to-morrow about this time at the gate of Samaria; "and the captain 
 answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if Jehovah himself should make 
 windows in heaven, could this thing be? and he said, You yourself shall see it with 
 your own eyes, but shall not eat of it. -°So it came to pass to him ; for the people trod 
 upon him at the gate so that he died.* 
 
 » 7'" Heb., watchman, but the plural is dem.anded by the subsequent context. 
 
 p 7'" So Gk. and Luc. The Heh. has simply, the. 
 
 1 7" So Gk., Luc, Svr., and Targ. Ileb., he called. 
 
 ' 7''' The construction is broken and the sense very obscure. The above reconstruction 
 at lea.st brings out the i)rol)able meaning of the i)assace. 
 
 "7" Restoring the original text. The present Heb. is tautological. 
 
 t 718-20 The original narrative evidently ends with ''. Vss. '*<■-'" are later editorial additions. 
 "• ''■• repeating in expanded form what has already been stated in '<>, and ^^ being but a repetition 
 of i'". 
 
 2S9
 
 IIKgs.87] popular ELISIL\ TRADITIONS 
 
 § 91. Elisha and Hazael, II Kgs. 8"-'* 
 Sumaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 Elisha's II Kgs. 8 ^Now Elisha came to Damascus. And Ben-hadad" the king 
 ™®^' of Aram was sick. And when it was told him, saying, The man of God 
 to'feen- has come here, ^the king said to Hazael, take a present in your hand and 
 and^ go to meet the man of God and inquire of Jehovah through him whether or 
 Hazael ^^^ j shall recover of this sickness ? ^So Hazael went to meet him and took 
 a present with him, all kinds of precious things from Damascus, forty camel 
 loads. When he came he stood before him and said. Your son Ben-hadad 
 king of Aram has sent me to you to inquire, ' Shall I recover of this sick- 
 ness ? ' ^^And Elisha said to him, Go, say to him, ' You shall surely re- 
 cover!' but Jehovah hath showed me that he will nevertheless die. ^^And 
 he looked intently at him, until he was ashamed;^ and the man of God wept. 
 ^^And Hazael said. Why does my lord weep ? And he answered. Because 
 I know the evil that you will do to the Israelites: their strongholds will you 
 set on fire, their young men will you slay with the sword, their little ones 
 will you dash in pieces, and their women with child will you rip up. ^^And 
 Hazael said, But what is your servant, the dog, that he should do this great 
 thing ? And Elisha answered, Jehovah hath showed me that you shall be- 
 come king over Aram. 
 Assas- ^'^And when he departed from Elisha and came to his master, he asked, 
 of"Ben-° ^^'hat did Elisha say to you ? And he answered. He told me that you would 
 hadad recover. ^^But the next day he took the coverlet, dipped it in water, and 
 zael spread it over his face, so that he died. And Hazael became king in his 
 place. 
 
 § 92. Elisha's Farewell Blessing and Death, U Kgs. 13i*-2i 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stories 
 
 Elisha's II KgS. 13 ^^Now when Elisha fell sick of the sickness of which he was 
 predfc- *° ^^^' Joash the king of Israel came down to him, wept over him and said, 
 tion of My father, my father ! the chariots of Israel and its horsemen ! ^^And Elisha 
 victo- said to him, take bow and arrows; and he took bow and arrows. ^^And he 
 "®® said to the king of Israel, Lay your hand upon the bow. And when he had 
 laid on his hand, Elisha laid his hands upon the king's hands. ^'And he 
 
 § 91 Elisha figures here in the same commanding role as in the preceding stories. He is 
 represented as in fact, although not in the letter, carrying out the divine command to Elijah, 
 recorded in I Kgs. 19. Cf. note § 71. Like all the Elisha stories this tradition has no real con- 
 nection with those which precede and follow, and it leaves out many details which an historian 
 would deem important, as for example, a more detailed description of Hazael and the events 
 preceding this incident. 
 
 " 8" Ben-hadad II. Cf. chronological chart after p. 199. 
 
 ^' 8'' Heb., And he steadied his countenance mid set (it) until he icas ashamed. The mean- 
 ing apparently is that he stared Hazael out of countenance. Otherwise it may be translated, 
 And he stared immovably before him and became horrified in the extreme. In this case the refer- 
 ence would be to the prophet's ecstasy. 
 
 § 92 This section has no real connection with its immediate context in II Kgs., for it is 
 inserted after the death of Joash (who figures in it) has been recorded. It is evidently a passage 
 taken by the editor from the Samaria cycle of Elisha stories, and placed in 13 because of its 
 reference to Joash. Originally it doubtless stood at the end of the group of stories in 2^-8'°, of 
 which it is the natural conclusion. 
 
 240
 
 ELISHA'S DEATH [II Kgs. 13i7 
 
 Samaria Cycle of Elisha Stones 
 
 said, Open the window toward the east. And when he opened it, EHsha 
 said. Shoot; and he shot. And he said, Jehovah's arrow of victory, even 
 the arrow of victory over Aram; for you should have smitten the Arameans 
 in Aphek until you had destroyed them. ^^Thereupon he said. Take arrows. 
 And when he had taken them, he said to the king of Israel, Smite on the 
 ground; and he smote three times and then ceased. ^^And the man of God 
 was angry with him and said. You should have smitten five or six times; 
 then you would have smitten Aram until you had destroyed it, but as it is 
 you will smite Aram but three times. 
 
 20And when Elisha died they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites The po 
 were wont to invade the land each year. ^^And while they were burying a qNi^s 
 man, they suddenly spied a marauding band. And they cast the man into healing 
 the sepulchre of Elisha and went on their way,^' but as soon as the man 
 touched the bones of EHsha, he revived and stood on his feet. 
 
 IV 
 FROM JEHU TO THE FALL OF SAMARIA, II Kgs. 9, 10, 13213, 
 
 22-25, 148-29^ 158-81^ I7 
 
 § 93. The Prophetic Revolution Led by Jehu, II Kgs. 9'-10" 
 
 Prophetic Jehu History 
 
 II Kgs. 9 ^Now Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets Anoint- 
 and said to him. Gird up your loins, take this flask of oil in your hand and jehuat 
 go to Ramoth in Gilead. ^^nd when you arrive there look for Jehu** the Eiisha's 
 son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from mand 
 among his kinsmen and bring him into an inner chamber, -^^rhen take the 
 flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ' Thus saith Jehovah, " I have 
 
 " 13-1 Making a slight correction demanded by the text. , • , 
 
 From Jehu to the Fall of Samaria.— As far as II Kgs. 17 the larger northern kingdom 
 receives the greater attention. The narrative, however, is disjomtcil and fragmentary. No 
 one source except the .Jehu historv is quoted at length. For the majority of the reigns the 
 eilitor only epitomizes the data which he drew from his older source, occasionally e.xpaniling 
 or supplementing his summaries with quotations from the state annals, which probably were 
 known to him only through the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel to which he constantly refers 
 his readers for further information, ('f. Introd., pp- 10, 17. ,. • c iu ■ ■ 
 
 The period is significant because it witnessed the grimly pr.actieal application ot the princi- 
 ples laifl down by Elijah, the appearance of the new school <>( the prophets reprcsenteil by .Vmoa 
 and Hosea, the final ilownfall of the proud northern kingdom, and the amalgamation ol those 
 diverse racial elements which later reai)peareil a.s the Samaritans. •, 11 j-a- 
 
 $ 93 Regarding the classification of this imi)ortant narrative there is considerable cliHerence 
 of opinion. 9'-'3 may come from the Elisha stories and const itute a companion i)icce t o the account 
 of Eiisha's interview with Hazael, § 91 ; but the subsequent record of Jehu's revolutionary mea-s- 
 ures implies that he was supported by the proi)hets of .lehovali, ami .lohu's wortis in ' " hrul tlicir 
 natural preface in '-'3. It is also characterize.l by a dirocliicss and cxpiicitneHS regarding <lotiul.s 
 which are lacking in the lOlisha .stories. On the other hand, there are many points of contact 
 between these chapters and the lOlijah stories. The kings are designated in both, not by their 
 
 • 92 The Jaua son of Ilumri, twice mentioned on the inscriptions of Shalmane.scr II among 
 the Palestinian rulers who brought tribute to the .\ssyrians. Cf. for the Assyrian record. Appen- 
 dix V. 
 
 241
 
 II Kgs. 93] FROM JEHU TO THE FALL OF SAMARL\ 
 
 Prophetic Jehu History 
 
 anointed thee king over Israel." ' Then open the door and flee without delay. 
 
 ^So the young man (the servant of the prophet)t> went to Ramoth in Gilead. 
 
 ^And just as he arrived, the commanders of the army were sitting together. 
 
 And he said, I have a word for you, O commander. And Jehu said, To 
 
 which of us all .^ And he said, To you, O commander. ^Then he arose 
 
 and went into the house. And [the young man] poured the oil on his head 
 
 and said to him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, ' I have anointed 
 
 thee king over Jehovah's people Israel. ^And thou shalt cut off-^ the house of 
 
 Ahab th}^ master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the 
 
 blood of all the servants of Jehovah upon Jezebel. *For the whole house of Ahab 
 
 must perish ; and I will cut off from Ahab every male, and him who is kept in and 
 
 him who is at large in Israel. 'And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of 
 
 Jeroboam the son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. ^^And 
 
 the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the field of Jezreel and none shall bury her.'"* Then he 
 
 opened the door and fled. 
 
 Proc- i^Vhen Jehu came out to the servants of his lord, they asked^ him, Is all 
 
 tton^of ^'^11 "^ Why did this insane fellow come to you ? And he said to them, 
 
 Jehu as You know the man and his talk. ^^ \nd they said, It is false ! Tell us now. 
 
 And he said, Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, ' Thus saith Jehovah, 
 
 " I have anointed thee king over Israel."' ^^Then they quickly took each his 
 
 garment^ laid it at his feet and on the bare stairs,^ and blew the trumpet, 
 
 crying, Jehu is king ! 
 
 His ^*So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against 
 
 ^/ay *° Joram. Now Jehu,^ together with all Israel, was defending Ramoth in 
 
 Jeho- Gilead against Hazael king of Aram, ^-^but King Jehoram had returned to 
 
 be healed in Jezreel of the Avounds which the Arameans had given him, when 
 
 he fought with Hazael king of Aram.'^ And Jehu said, If it be in your mind,^ 
 
 then let none escape from the city to go to tell it in Jezreel. ^^Then Jehu 
 
 titles, as in the Ahab history, but by their names. The persecutions instigated by Jezebel, the 
 prevalence of Baalism, and the predicted fate of the house of Ahab are alone referred to in the 
 Elijah stories. The events recorded in this section are the natural sequel to I Kgs. 18 and 21. 
 
 On the other hand, the interest in II Kgs. 9, 10, is primarily political. Ahab and his 
 house are not viewed as adversely as in I Kgs. 17-19, 21. While there is a prophetic flavor 
 to the present narrative, its point of view resembles most clearly that of the Ahab history in 
 I Kgs. 20 and 22. They also share certain peculiar idioms in common. For these reasons 9'-10-' 
 are by many classified with I Kgs. 20 and 22. Their many variations, as well as their close 
 relation with the Elijah stories, point, however, to an originally independent source, which may 
 be designated, the prophetic Jehu history. The author appears to have been acquainted, 
 either in oral or written form, with both the Ahab history and the Elijah stories. Being a 
 prophet he is in general in sympathy with the movement inaugurated by Jehu, but to all the 
 usurper's bloody acts he does not give his full approval. The revolution proved an important 
 turning-point in Israel's history, for it brought not only the overthrow of Baalism, but a series 
 of political rlisasters which nearly proved the ruin of the northern kingdom. 
 
 *> 9* Evidently an explanatory scribal note. 
 
 <= 9' So Gk. and Luc. Heb., smite. 
 
 d gs-ioa xhe characteristic idioms (cf. I Kgs. 2P'"'-22) and the variations from the explicit 
 command in ^ indicate that this expansion of the original brief oracle is from the late prophetic 
 editor. 
 
 " 9" So aU the versions except the Heb., which has a singular verb. 
 
 '9'3 Cf. Mt. 21'. The apparent meaning is that Jehu was standing upon the stairs which 
 probably led to the inner chamber. 
 
 K 9''' Heb., Joram, probably a scribal error for, Jehu. 
 
 h QHa. 15b xjje contents of this explanatory note are again inserted very awkwardly in 
 g28. 29 Xhe present context appears to contain the original quotation from what was probably 
 a stUI older source, as is shown by the name Jehoram instead of Joram. 
 
 ' 9'-'' I .e., to make me king, as the anointing by a prophet and their act in acclaiming 
 him king implied. 
 
 242 
 
 ram
 
 JEHU'S REVOLUTIOX [II Kgs. QIG 
 
 Prophetic Jehu History 
 
 mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Aliaziah 
 king of Judah had come down to see Joram. 
 
 ^'Xow the watchman was standing on the tower of Jezreel, when he saw Hisap- 
 the cloud of dustJ about Jehu, as he came, antl said, I see a cloud of dust, fo Jez- 
 And Joram said. Take a horseman and send him to meet them that he mav ""p^I 
 inquire whether all is well f^ ^^So one went on horseback to meet him 
 and said. Thus saith the king, ' Is all well ?' And Jehu replied, ^Yhat have 
 you to do with welfare ? Turn about and follow me. So the watchman re- 
 ported. The messenger came to them, but comes not back. ^^Then he 
 sent out a second horseman who came to them and said, Thus saith the 
 king, ' Is all well ? ' And Jehu answered. What have you to do with welfare ? 
 Turn about and follow me. ^OgQ tJie watchman reported. He also came to 
 them but comes not back; however, the driving is like the driving of Jehu 
 the son of Nimshi, for he is wont to drive furiously. 
 
 2iThen Joram said, jNIake ready. And as soon as they had made ready joram-a 
 his chariot, Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, eacli {J^.^/he 
 in his chariot, and they went to meet Jehu and found him in the field of ha"'' "^ 
 Naboth the Jezreehte. 22 \nj when Joram saw Jehu, he said. Is all well Jehu.'^ 
 And he answered, How can all be well, as long as the whoredoms of your 
 mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many ? -"^Then Joram turned 
 about to flee and said to Ahaziah, Treachery, Ahaziah ? 24j}y|^ Jehu, being 
 already armed, shot his bow and struck Joram between his shoulders, so 
 that the arrow went through his heart and he sank down in his chariot. 
 2°Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, Take him up and cast him in the 
 field of Naboth the Jezreclite; for I remember how that, when I and you 
 rode together after Ahab his father, Jehovah pronounced this judgment upon 
 him: ^6 'Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and his sons,' saith 
 Jehovah; ' and I will requite thee in this plot,' saith Jehovah. Now there- 
 fore take and cast him into this plot, according to the word of Jehovah. 
 
 2^But when Ahaziah the kins «f Judah saw this, he fled in the direction Aha- 
 of Beth-gannin. And Jehu followed after him, with the command, Him deVth 
 also ! Smite him in the chariot ! And they smote' him at the ascent of 
 Gur, which is by Ibleam. But he fled to ]\Iegiddo and died there. -'^And 
 his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried liim in his 
 sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.™ 
 
 ^^Then Jehu came to Jezreel. And as soon as Jezebel heard of it, she .Icze- 
 painted her eyes," attired her head, and looked out at the window. -^'And as f!|t/ 
 Jehu came in at the gate, she said, Is all well, you Zimri, your master's 
 murderer? ^^jj^t he looked up to the window and saiil. Who is on my 
 side? who? And two or three eunuchs looked at him. •^'^And he said. 
 Throw her down. And they threw her down so that some of her blood 
 
 i 9" So Gk. The Heb. is doubtful. The current translation is, company or muUitude. 
 
 k Q" Heb., whether it is peace; but this was the ordinary Semitic salutation. Cf. 4'" ana 
 Johns, Bab. and Asuyr. Laws, Conlracls, and Letters, p. 309. ^ , ,. , » 
 
 1 9" So Syr. In the Heb. the words. And then smote him, have fallen out of the text. 
 
 ■"O^s The editor here inserts, '^^, the synclironisrn of Aha/.iah's siiccfs.sion. 
 
 " 9W /.e., priinted hore.vela.Mhes and brows to beautify herself, as do modern .\rnb women 
 with a pulverized bulphide tif antimony, mixed with oil. 
 
 243
 
 II Kgs. 933] FROM JEHU TO THE FALL OF SAMARIA 
 
 Prophetic Jehu HistQnj 
 
 was spattered on the wall and on the horses, and he° trod her under foot. 
 
 34Then he went in and ate and drank. Thereupon he gave the command, 
 
 See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter. 
 
 35But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull, 
 
 the feet, and the hands. 36'yyr}^(.ij^ therefore, they came back and told him, 
 
 he said, This is the word of Jehovah, which he spoke by his servant Elijah 
 
 the Tishbite, saying, ' In the plot of Jezreel shall the dogs eat Jezebel's flesh, 
 
 37 and the body of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the plot 
 
 of Jezreel, so that they cannot say, " This is Jezebel."' 
 
 Jehu's 10 ^Now Ahab had seventy descendants'^ in Samaria. And Jehu wrote 
 
 sti-uc- letters and sent to Samaria,'! to the rulers of the city, to the elders, and those 
 
 tions vvho had charge of the descendants of Ahab, saying, ^Now as soon as this 
 
 ing letter comes to you, since you have with you your master's sons, and chariots 
 
 Ahabs g^j^j horses, fortified cities'" and arms; 3choose the best and mo.st capable of 
 
 scend- your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne and fight for your 
 
 master's house. *But they were exceedingly afraid and said. Behold, the 
 
 two kings could not stand before him, how then shall we stand ? ^And he 
 
 who was over the household and he who was over the city, together with the 
 
 elders and the guardians, sent to Jehu, saying. We are your servants and 
 
 we will do all that you bid us; we will not make any one king; do what you 
 
 please. ''Then he wrote a second letter to them, saying. If you are on my 
 
 side and if you wish to obey me, then take each of you the head of your 
 
 master's son^ [entrusted to you], and meet me at Jezreel to-morrow at 
 
 this time. Now the king's sons, seventy in all, were with the great men of 
 
 the city, who brought them up. 
 
 Slaugh- ''And as soon as the letter came to them, they took the king's sons and 
 
 alfthe s'*^w them, seventy in all, and put their heads in baskets and sent them to 
 
 de- him to Jezreel. ^And when the messenger came and told him, saying, They 
 
 ants have brought the heads of the king's sons, he said. Lay them in two heaps 
 
 friends ^t the entrance of the gate until the morning ! ^And in the morning he went 
 
 of Ahab out and stood and said to all the people, You are fair-minded: to be sure I 
 
 conspired against my master and slew him, but who smote all these ? ^^Know 
 
 now that of the word of Jehovah, which Jehovah spoke against the house of 
 
 Ahab by liis servant Elijah, nothing shall fail of fulfilment. ^^Thereupon Jehu 
 
 smote all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, together with all his 
 
 great men and his kinsmen* and his priests, until he left him none remaining. 
 
 Slaugh- ^-Then Jehu set out on the way to Samaria. And as he was at Beth-eked" 
 
 the Ju- of the shepherds on the way, ^3Jehu met with the kinsmen of Ahaziah king of 
 
 dean Judah, and said. Who are you ? And they answered. We are the kinsmen 
 
 of Ahaziah, and we have come to visit the children of the king and the chil- 
 
 " 9^ So Heb., but the other versions read, they. 
 
 p 10' Heb., sons. Vss. -■ ^ imply that they were sons of Jehoram. Ahab is mentioned 
 because the revolution was directed against practices instituted by him. 
 1 10' So Luc. and Lat. Heb., Jezreel. 
 ' 10- So all versions except the Heb., which has, city. 
 ' 10' Slightly reconstructing the text by the aid of Luc. 
 ' 10" So Luc. Heb., familiar friends. 
 " 10'^ Following a slightly corrected text. 
 
 244
 
 JEHU'S REVOLUTION [II Kgs. 1013 
 
 Prophetic Jehu History 
 
 dren of the queen-mother. ^^And he said, Take them ahve. And they 
 took them alive and slew them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two men, so that 
 not one of them was left. 
 
 i^And when he had departed from there he found Jehonadab the son of Com- 
 Rechab coming to meet him. And he saluted him and said to him. Is your ^^^J',* 
 heart in sincere sympathy with my heart, ^' as mine is with yours.' And J^"''""^- 
 Jehonadab answered. It is. Then Jehu said. If it be, give me your hand, ifecha-^ 
 And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot. ^"'^ 
 ^^And he said. Come w ith me, and see my zeal for Jehovah. So he^' made 
 him ride in his chariot. 
 
 ^'And when he came to Samaria, he smote all who remained to Ahab Dc-' 
 in Samaria, until he had destroyed all, according to the word of Jeliovah tlon'of 
 which he spoke to Elijah. ^^Then Jehu gathered all the people together '''^ 
 and said to them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will .serve him much, ship- 
 ^^Now therefore call all the prophets of Baal, all his worshippers^ and all a^j 
 his priests; let none remain behind; for I will make a great sacrifice to Baal; '^",P!^, 
 whoever shall remain behind shall not live. But Jehu did it with the secret 
 purpose of destroying the worshippers of Baal. -"'I'lien Jehu said. Pro- 
 claim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. -^And Jehu 
 sent through all Israel, and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there 
 was not a man left who did not come. And when they had come into the 
 temple of Baal, so that the temple of Baal was filled from one end to the 
 other, 2-he said to the one who was in charge of the wardrobe. Bring out 
 garments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought out garments 
 for them. 23'p}jgj^ Jehu, with Jehonadab the son of Rcchab, went into the 
 temple of Baal and said to the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that 
 there may not be here with you any of the servants of Jehovah, but only 
 worshippers of Baal. ^^Thereupon he^ went in to offer sacrifices and burnt- 
 offerings. Now Jehu had appointed eighty men outside with the command. 
 The man who allows any of the men, whom I entrust into your hands, to 
 e.scape, his life shall be fcjr the life of him. -''And as soon as he had finished 
 offering the burnt-offering, Jehu said to the runners and to the captains. 
 Go in, and slay them, let none come forth. And they put them to the sword, 
 and the runners and the ca[)tains cast them^ out, and went into the sanctuary'^ 
 of the temj)le of Baal. 2(iX]^.„ tJ^.y brought out the ashcrali'' from the temple 
 of Baal anil burned it, '^'^and broke down the pillar of Baal and destroyed 
 the temple of Baal and made it a draught-house to this day. 
 
 V 10" Following the Ok. and Luc. 
 
 " !()"■' 80 Gk., Luc, and Syr. Ileb., theu. 
 
 » 10''' Pos.sihly a .scril)e first added in the niarRin, (lU his vorshippera, for this has been in- 
 corporated into the text of the Hob. and Luc, in (lifTorent order. 
 
 y 10-< So Gk. Heb., they, evidently refcrrinn to .lelni ami .lehonarlab, but cf. '". 
 
 * 10^ The object of the verb is wantiiiK and tlie constructioii of the Ileb. is awkward. The 
 plausible emendation ha-s been suggested which gives the reading, iind they cast the ashcrnha 
 to the (irourul. 
 
 '' 10^^ Heb., into the city. But this gives no sense. A probable emendation gives the above 
 reading 
 
 "^ U)'^' Heb., macceholh, pillars; but the versions have a .singular ami the .statement that 
 it was burned implies that it was not stone but wood. The reference to the pillars in -'" favors 
 the conclusion that this originally read aa above. 
 
 215
 
 II Kgs. 1028] FROM JEHU TO THE FALL OF SA]VL\RIA 
 
 § 94. Jehu's Reign, II Kgs. lO^* ^e 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 Jehu's II Kgs. 10 28Thiis Jehu put an end to Baalism in Israel; ^Qonly from 
 
 [ouf t^^ ^"^^ ^^ Jeroboam the son of Nebat with which he led Israel into sin, 
 
 ■■e- from these, the golden calves in Bethel and in Dan, Jehu did not depart. 
 
 ^^x\nd Jehovah said to Jehu, Because thou hast done well in carrying out 
 
 my will, and hast done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my 
 
 heart, thy sons even to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. 
 
 ^^But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Jehovah, the God of Israel, 
 
 with all his heart : he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam with which he 
 
 led Israel into sin. 
 
 Politi- ^-In those days Jehovah began to loathe Israel,*^ and Hazael smote them 
 
 tory ^' ^" ^^^ ^^^^ territory of Israel, ^"^from the Jordan toward the east, all the land 
 
 of Gilead,^ the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer 
 
 by the valley of the Arnon, including Gilead and Bashan. ^^Now the other 
 
 acts of Jehu and all that he did, and all his brave deeds, are they not recorded 
 
 in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel ? ^^And Jehu slept with his fathers, 
 
 and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son became king in 
 
 his place. ^^And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was 
 
 twenty-eight years. 
 
 § 95. Jehoahaz's Reign, II Kgs. IS'-b 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 The II Kgs. 13 'In the twenty -third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king 
 
 trous' of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria; 
 Ara- and he reigned seventeen years. 2\n(j \^q djd ^j^^t which displeased Jehovah, 
 inva- and the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat with which he led Israel into sin — • 
 ^'^'^^ he did not depart from them. ^And the anger of Jehovah was kindled 
 against Israel and he delivered them continually into the hand of Hazael 
 king of Aram, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael. ^Then 
 Jehoahaz besought Jehovah, and Jehovah hearkened to him ; for he saw the 
 oppression of Israel, how that the king of Aram oppressed them. ^There- 
 fore Jehovah gave Israel a saviour,^ so that they escaped from the hand of 
 the Arameans, and the Israelites could dwell in their homes as formerly. 
 ^Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, 
 with which he led Israel into sin, but walked therein. Also the asherah in 
 Samaria remained standing. ^And he left to Jehoahaz of the people not 
 
 § 94 This section throug-'iout is cast in the language and reflects the point of view of the 
 late prophetic editor. The statement in ^2 is probably based on information drawn from an 
 earlier source. 
 
 ''10*- So Lat. 'Reh., to cut off in Israel. The error probably arose because of the similarity 
 of the two Heb. words, the scribe adopting the more familiar. 
 
 e lo*- The older source probably read, all Gilead. The later editor has added the territory 
 which he conceived of as belonging to Israel, with the result that Gilead is mentioned twice. 
 
 § 95 With the possible exception of ^, all of the data in this section are recast in the words 
 of the late prophetic editor. It records in general terms the disastrous period of Aramean domi- 
 nance to which the prophet Amos refers in his opening address. 
 
 '135 I.e., the Assyrians, whose attacks from the east broke the power of the Arameans. 
 Cf. chron. chart after p. 199. 
 
 246
 
 REIGN OF JEHOAHAZ [II Kgs. IS^ 
 
 Late Prophetic Summarij 
 
 more than fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the 
 king of Aram destroyed them and made them hke the dust in the threshing, s 
 ^Now the other acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did and his brave deeds, 
 are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel ? ^And Je- 
 hoahaz slept with his fathers and they buried him in Samaria. And Joash 
 his son became king in his place. 
 
 § 96. Events of Jehoash's Reign, II Kgs. 13'»-'3. "-25^ j^s-u^ jj q\^^ 2517-24 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. 13 ^^in the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash Partial 
 the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned six- erance 
 teen years. ^^And he did that which displeased Jehovah; he did not depart ^^^^ 
 from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Xebat with which he led Israel into Ara- 
 sin, but he walked therein. --Now Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel ™^'*°^ 
 all the days of Jehoahaz. -"^But Jehovah was gracious to them and had 
 compassion on them, and turned again to them, because of his covenant 
 with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them nor as yet cast 
 them from his presence. 
 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 2^But when Hazael king of Aram died, Ben-liadad his son became king Recov- 
 in his place, ^s^pj^^j^ Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben- il^ 
 hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken in war from Jehoahaz c^pt- 
 his father. Three times Joash smote him and thus recovered the cities of cities 
 Israel. 
 
 14 ^Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, Ama- 
 son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, Come, let us measure strength with each luack 
 other.'' ^But Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, V'!"" ,, 
 saying. The thistle in Lebanon sent to the cedar on Lebanon, saying, 'Give and his 
 your daughter to my son as wife.' But a wild beast on I>ebanon passed by asti-ous 
 and trod down the thistle. ^"^You have indeed smitten Edom and your head defeat 
 has been turned.' Enjoy your honor and stay at home, for why should 
 you plunge yourself into trouble, so that you and Judah with you will fall ? 
 
 e 137 Lit., for treadinq. The fiKure is that of the rocky oriental threshing-floor on which 
 the fjrain was thrown and then trainr)led to tlu.st by oxen drawing lieavy sledges. Luc. inserts ^ 
 after ''. The deliverance from the Aramean attacks according to - did not, however, come untJ 
 after the reign of Jehoahaz. 
 
 §96 The editor's summary appears in IS'". "• =2. » and 14'5. '6. In 13'-" (or m Luc. 
 more appropriately at the end of the chapter) a concluding summary is given of Jehdiush's 
 reign, although important events in which he participated are given in the pa.ssagcs whicii follow. 
 Furthermore, in M'i- "' practically the .sairie formula.s reappear. The slight variations in the 
 first pa.ssage from the editor's usual form confirm the other indications that it is a re|)etition due 
 to the error of a scribe who overlooked the passage 14'''. ». In IS^^- ^'* and 148-" is found a 
 brief, direct account of the chief wars in the reign of Jehoash. 
 
 The record of .\maziah's unsuccessful attack on .lehoa.sh is written from the Northern 
 I.sraelitish pr)int of view and probably comes from the annals of Isr.ael. In his summary, 14 . 
 the editor refers to the record, which he found incorporated in the Chronicles of the Kings of 
 Israel and which he apparently (|U(jtPs almost in its entirety. 
 
 '■ 14" Heb., look each other in tlie face. 
 
 ' 14" Heb., your heart (or mind) Ims lifted you up. 
 
 2i7
 
 II Kgs. 1411] FROM JEHU TO THE FALL OF SAMARIA 
 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 liBut Amaziah would not hear. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and 
 he and Amaziah king of Judah measured strength with each other at Beth- 
 shemesh, which belongs to Judah. i-And Judah was defeated by Israel, 
 so that they fled each to his home. i^And Jehoash king of Israel took Ama- 
 ziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah, captive at Beth- 
 shemesh. And he brought him downJ to Jerusalem and tore down the wall 
 of Jerusalem to the distance of four hundred cubits, from the Gate of Ephraim 
 to the Corner Gate. i*And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels 
 that were found in the temple of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the king's 
 
 palace, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. 
 
 End of '^Now the other acts of Jehoash which he did and his mighty deeds, and how he 
 Jeho- fought witli Amaziali king of Judah, are tliey not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings 
 ash's of Israel? '''And Jolioasli slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the 
 reign kings of Israel. And Jeroboam liis son became king in his place. 
 
 §97. Jeroboam II's Reign, II Kgs. W^-^o 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 Exten- II Kgs. 14 ^"^In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of 
 
 the" °^ Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel became king of Israel in 
 
 boun- Samaria and reigned*^ forty-one years. 24^jjj jj^ ^jj^j ^j^g^j. -which displeased 
 
 of Is- Jehovah: he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat 
 
 ^^^^ with which he led Israel into sin. ^^He restored the boundary-line of Israel 
 
 from the entrance to Hamath to the sea of Arabali, according to the word of 
 
 Jehovah, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son 
 
 of Amittai, the prophet who was of Gath-hepher. ^ep^j. Jehovah saw the 
 
 very bitter affliction of Israel, that none was shut up nor left at large, and 
 
 that there was no helper for Israel. 27j3y^ Jehovah had not determined to 
 
 blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them through 
 
 Jeroboam the son of Joash. 
 
 Conclu- 2^Now the other acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his brave deeds, 
 
 ^^°^ how he carried on war and how he recovered Damascus and Hamath for 
 
 Israel,^ are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel ? ^^And 
 
 Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel. And Zecha- 
 
 riah his son became king in his place. 
 
 J 1413 So X.UC., Lat., and the parallel in II Chr. 25=3. Heb., came. 
 
 § 97 Again the editor dismisses an important reign with a brief summary of the chief events. 
 The reign of Jeroboam II was signalized by the appearance of the two prophets Amos and Hosea 
 during the last decade of his long and prosperous rule. In many ways it was the most significant 
 epoch since the days of David and Solomon. The sermons of Amos and Hosea give a vivid 
 picture of its social and religious conditions. Cf. Vol. Ill in loco. 
 
 ^ 14=3 go Luc. and the usual formula elsewhere. Certain words have fallen out of the Heb. 
 
 ' 14=8 So Syr. The Heb., for Judah bij Israel, makes no sense and is manifestly corrupt. 
 Burney's reconstruction (Notes on Kings, p. 320) is simple and gives a good reading, and how he 
 fought with Damascus and how he turned away the wrath of Jehovah from Israel. 
 
 248
 
 REIGNS OF ZECHARIAH AND MENAIIEM [II Kgs. IjS 
 
 § 98. Reigns of Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, and Pekahiah, II Kgs. Ij^-^* 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 II Kgs. 15 sin the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Jiidah, Zecliariah the Zecha- 
 son of Jeroboam began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned six months. "And he did riah's 
 that which displeased Jehovah, as liis fathers liad done; he did not depart from the P^'j^y 
 sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat with whicli he led Israel into sin. ^^And Shallum death 
 the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and put him to death in Ibleam'" 
 and became king in his place. 
 
 I'Xow the other acts of Zechariah are already recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings Realiza- 
 of Israel. '-This was the word of Jehovah wliich he spoke to Jehu, saying, Thy sons tion of 
 to the fourth generation shall sit upon the throne of Israel. And so it came to pass. proph- 
 
 "Shallum the son of Jabesh, began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king ^^^ 
 of Judah; and he reigned one month in Samaria. ^^Then JNIenahem the Mena- 
 son of Gadi went up from Tirzah and came to Samaria and ])ut Shal-p,^^"^ 
 lum the son of Jabesh to death in Samaria, and became king in his place, spiracy 
 '^Now the other acts of Shalhnn and his conspiracy wliich he made, are already 
 recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 
 
 ^'^Then Menahem smote Tappuah," and all who were in it and in its entire Cruelty 
 territory from Tirzah on; because they did not open the gates to him he cit'ljfns 
 smote it, and all the women in it with child he ripped up. of I'ap- 
 
 *'In the thirty-ninth j^ear of Uzziah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became ^"^ 
 king over Israel and reigned ten years in Samaria. "*And he did that which displeased Evil 
 Jehovah: he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat with which policy 
 he led Israel into sin. 
 
 ^^During his days° PuIp [Tiglath-Pileser III], the king of Assyria, invaded Trib- 
 
 the land. And Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that he Tig-*° 
 
 might help him to establish his sway over the kingdom.*! 20\j^(| Menahem ''Jth- 
 
 commanded'' all Israel, even all the men of wealth, to give to the king of ill 
 
 Assyria each fifty shekels of silver. So the king of Assyria turned back and 
 
 remained no longer in the land. 
 
 2'Now the other acts of Menahem and all that he did, arc they not recorded in the Con- 
 Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? '-And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Peka- clu.sion 
 hiah his son became king in his place. 
 
 ^^In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem Pe- 
 became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years. ^■'And he displeased kah'a 
 Jehovah, he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with wliich he ''""" 
 led Israel into sin. -^^And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his caj)tain,^ c()ns])ire<l aty 
 against him and smote him in Samaria in the castle of the royal palace;' and jv'j^',"'' 
 with him were fifty Gileadites; and he .slew him and became king in his place, liii'li 
 2'^Xow the other acts of Pekahiah and all that he did are already recorded in the 
 Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 
 
 § 98 Into his framework the late prophetic editor has introduced certain brief but important 
 notices which probably came originally from the annals of Israel. 
 ■"1.5'" So Luc. The Heb. gives no sense. 
 " 1.5"! So Luc. A town of Mana-sseh, Josh. 16«, W- K Heb., Tipsah on the Euphrates. 
 
 1518, lu <jf, (Jit and I^uc. The Heb. text is corrupt. 
 
 p IS''-- The Assyrian king PuL officially known a-s Tiglath-Pileser III. For his own account 
 of this expeilition. cf. Ai)penilix \T. 
 
 1 1.5''-' Heb., thai hU hand mi(/lit he irilh him to slrenolhcn the kingdom in his hand. 
 ' L5-" Slightly correcting tfie text in conformity with Heb. idiom. 
 
 " 15^'' (Jr, adjutant. Cf. I Kgs. 9~'. , .... 
 
 t 1.5^ The Heb. adds two untranslatable words, possibly proper names, Argob and Arieti. 
 The Lat. has, near Argob and Arte. It has been plausibly conjectured that they have been 
 introduced by mistake from ^*. 
 
 249
 
 II Kgs. 1527] FROM JEHU TO THE FALL OF SAMARIA 
 
 Ve- 
 
 Bvil 
 policy 
 
 Con- 
 quests 
 of Tig- 
 lath- 
 Pileser 
 III 
 
 Ho- 
 
 shea's 
 con- 
 spiracy 
 
 § 99. Reign of Pekah and the Invasion of Tiglath-Pileser III, 
 
 II Kgs. 15" -31 
 
 Annals oj Israel 
 
 II Kgs. 15 ^'In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son 
 of RemaUah began to reign ovei Israel in Samaria and reigned twenty years, ^s^nd 
 he displeased Jehovah : he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat 
 with which he led Israel into sin. 
 
 29During the days of Pekah king of Israel Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria 
 came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, 
 and Galilee," all the land of Naphtali, and carried their inhabitants captive 
 to Assyria. 
 
 30Then Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the 
 son of Remaliah and put him to death and became king in his place 
 in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. ^'Now the other acts of Pekah 
 and all that he did are already recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 
 
 § 100. Reign of Hoshea and the Fall of Samaria, II Kgs. IT^-", IS'-'^ 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 Ho- 
 shea's 
 sub- 
 mission 
 
 II Kgs. 17 'In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah 
 began to reign in Samaria over Israel and reigned nine years. ^And he displeased 
 Jehovah, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him. ^Against him came 
 
 to As- Shalmaneser kins: of Assyria; and Hoshea became subject to him and 
 syna ,,,.., 
 
 brought hmi tribute. 
 
 Later ^But when the king of Assyria found Hoshea guilty of conspiracy — for he 
 
 and had sent messengers to Sewe^ king of Egypt and brought no tribute to the 
 
 king of Assyria, as he had done each year before — the king of Assyria shut 
 
 ment him up and confined him in prison. 
 
 Trea 
 son 
 im- 
 prison- 
 
 Final 
 capt- 
 ure of 
 
 Sa- 
 maria 
 and 
 depor- 
 tation 
 of its 
 inhab- 
 itants 
 
 ^Then the king of Assyria 
 came up against all the land, 
 and went up to Samaria, 
 and besieged it three years. 
 ^In the ninth year of Ho- 
 shea, the king of Assyria" 
 took Samaria, and carried 
 the Israelites away captive 
 to Assyria and placed them 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 II Kgs. 18 9In the fourth year of Hezekiah — that 
 is the seventh year of king Hoshea the son of Elah of 
 Israel — Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up 
 against Samaria and besieged it. ^^At the end of 
 
 three years they conquered it; in the sixth year 
 of Hezekiah — that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of 
 Israel — was Samaria captured. ^^And the king of 
 
 § 99 Again the brief account of the campaign of Tiglath-Pileser III was evidently taken 
 by the editor from his older source. For the Assyrian record, cf. Appendix VI. Is. 7^-^ also 
 supplements the meagre records of this reign. 
 
 " 15'-'' Gilead and Galilee may have been added by a later hand, for they are territorial 
 divisions, while the preceding names are those of towns in Naphtali. Cf. map opp. p. 255. 
 
 § 100 Vss. 3. ■! are the direct sequel of 15^". Vss. ^' ''', however, in view of the statement in ' 
 that Samaria fell in the ninth year of Hoshea and of the parallel in 18*", are not the sequel to^. ■<, 
 but record different events in the same campaign. Therefore they are probably from different 
 sources. The account of Samaria's capture seems to have been drawn by the editor from the 
 annals of Judah, and slightly recast by him, and then introduced here to supplement the meagre 
 record found in the northern annals. This conclusion is strengthened by the fact that the 
 original parallel to*- •* in 18*-" was clearly taken from the Judean source. For the Assyrian 
 account of the conquest of Samaria in 722 b.c, cf. Appendix VII. 
 
 " 17^ Heb., .So. Probably to be identified with Shabako or else with an Egyptian general, 
 Sib'u, defeated by Sargon in 720 B.C. 
 
 " 17* I.e., Sargon. 
 
 250
 
 II Kgs. 176] 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 in Halah and on the Habor, 
 the river of Gozan, and in 
 the cities of the Medes. 
 
 THE FALL OF SAMARIA 
 
 [II Kgs. 1811 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 Assyria carried the Israelites away captive and 
 placed them in Halah anil on the Habor, the river 
 of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, >-because 
 they obeyed not the- voice of Jehovah their God, but 
 transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the ser- 
 vant of Jehovah commanded, and would not heed nor 
 do it. 
 
 § 101. Causes of the Downfall of Northern Israel, U Kgs. IT^-^ 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. 17 'Now this came to pass because the Israelites had sinned Israel's 
 against Jehovah their God, who had brought them up from the land of Jry'and 
 Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, apos- 
 ^and followed the customs of the nations whom Jehovah had cast out from 
 before the Israelites, and the kings of Israel, which they had appointed. 
 ^And the Israelites devised things'^ that were not right against Jehovah their 
 God and built for themselves high places in all their cities, from the watch- 
 tower even to the fortified city, i*^and set up for themselves pillars and asherahs 
 on every high hill and under every green tree, ^and offered sacrifices there 
 (on all the high places) as did the nations whom Jehovah had carried away 
 before them, and they did wicked things to provoke Jehovah to anger. i-They 
 also served idols, in regard to which Jehovah had saitl to them, Ye shall not 
 do this thing. i"^Yet Jehovah gave warning to Israel and Judah by all his 
 prophets and seers, saying. Turn from your evil ways and keep my com- 
 mands and my statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fa- 
 thers and which I imparted to you by my servants the prophets. i^However, 
 they would not hear, but were wilful,'^ as were their fathers, who did not 
 believe in Jehovah their God. ^^.\nd they rejected his statutes and his cove- 
 nant that he had made with their fathers, and his warnings that he had 
 given them, and followed vanity and became vain, and imitated the ex- 
 ain[)le of the nations about them, concerning whom Jehovah had charged 
 them that they should not do like them. l^And they neglected all the com- 
 mands of Jehovah their God and made for themselves molten images, even two 
 calve-s and made an asherah and worshipped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 
 '^And they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and used divi- 
 nation and sorcery, and sold themselves so that they did that which displeased 
 
 § 101 To the brief account of Israel's downfall the editors of KinRS hsive appropriately ap- 
 pended an epiloRue emphasizinK the moral lessons illustrated by that sipcnificant event. Vss. -'-^ 
 reiterate the familiar judKiiieiit of the editor upon the history of Isriiel a.s a wlu.lc. In '-'««• ''■'■ '», 
 Israel's sins are recapitulated in greater detail. The languaRe throufiliout is that of the late 
 prophetic school, but it is also strikinsly similar at many points to the sermons of .Icreininh, 
 cf. '■' and Jer. 18", 2.5''. 3.5'^; " and Jer. 2\ This perhaps indicates that the.se openinK vorsps are 
 from a still later hand. .\t least "•''• "" are later additions, for not only do they assign to Israel 
 the sins peculiar to Judah in the days of .Manas.seh, but they describe types of idolatry difTerent 
 from those already Riven in 'J-'^. The immediate .sequel of "' is -'. V.ss. ''J- -» are clearly a later 
 addition from the period of the Babylonian exile, when Judah was suffering a like penalty with 
 
 » 17" The IIV, did secretly, is not tenable. Gk., clad themselves in. A change of one letter 
 gives the above reading. 
 
 • 17'* lieb., hardened their neck like the neck of their fathers. 
 
 251
 
 II Kgs. 1717] FROM JEHU TO THE FALL OF SAMARIA 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 Jehovah to provoke him to anger. ^^Therefore Jehovah was very angry 
 with Israel and removed them out of his sight; there was nothing left ex- 
 cept the tribe of Judah. 
 
 Ju- '8,\igo Judah did not keep the commands of Jehovah their God, but followed thecus- 
 
 dah's toms of Israel which they had introduced, ^"so that Jehovah rejected the entire Israel- 
 apos- itish race and afflicted them and gave them up to those who plundered them until he 
 ^^^ had cast them from liis sight. 
 
 Jero- 2lj^nd when he had torn Israel from the house of David and they had made 
 
 evilTe- Jeroboam the son of Nebat king, Jeroboam drove Israel from following 
 
 ligjous Jehovah and made them commit OTeat sin. 22'pj^^g tj^g Israelites walked in 
 policy 
 
 all the sins of Jeroboam which he committed : they departed not from them, 
 
 23until Jehovah removed Israel from his sight, as he spoke by all his servants 
 
 the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria 
 
 to this day. 
 
 § 102. Origin and Religion of the Samaritans, II Kgs. 172*-" 
 
 Annals of Israel 
 
 Foreign II Kgs. 17 24Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, 
 n?sts Cuthah,^ Avva,'' Hamath, and Sepharvaim,<^ and settled them instead of 
 the Israelites in the cities of Samaria. And they took possession of Sa- 
 maria and dwelt in its cities. 
 Their ^Sjs^q^, 3^^ ^]ig beginning of their dwelling there they did not revere Je- 
 
 ious' hovah. Therefore Jehovah sent lions among them, which were continually 
 ^or- killing some of them. ~^Qo when it was told the king of Assyria, saying, 
 The nations which you have carried away and settled in the cities of Samaria 
 do not know the law of the god of the land; therefore he hath sent lions 
 among them, and now they are slaying them because they do not know the 
 law of the god of the land, -^"the king of Assyria gave command, Carry thither 
 one of the priests whom I® brought from there; and let him^ go and dwell 
 there and let him teach them the law of the god of the land. ^SgQ q^^ (,£ 
 the priests, whom they had carried away from Samaria, came and dwelt in 
 Bethel and taught them how they should revere Jehovah. 
 
 § 102 This section is generally recognized to be composite. Vss. ~*-^^ contain a straight- 
 forward statement of the political and religious fortunes of tlie people transported from different 
 parts of the Assyrian empire to take the place of the exiled Israelites. There is no condemnation 
 of the resulting religious practices. The facts are simply stated as in the annals. The point 
 of view (cf. 2' '• ^5) is in general that of an early rather than a later age. The same is true of 
 29-34a, 4i_ although by some these verses are assigned to a later editor. At least they embody 
 older data. In ^, however, the statement that they revered Jehovah is reversed, and the 
 thought and literary style of 34b-4o a,re those of an exilic editor. The reference also is not, as in 
 24-34a. 4i_ ^Q ^^g foreign colonists, but apparently to the later Samaritan people, the lineal descend- 
 ants of the Israelites. The author also alludes to the later written law and is greatly influenced 
 by priestly ideas and language. 
 
 •> 17-* The Kutu of the Assyrian inscriptions. It is identified with Tell-Ibrahim, northeast 
 of Babylon. 
 
 "= 172* Not yet definitely identified. Probably a town in Northern Syria. Cf. 19'^ and the 
 Iwa of 183*. 
 
 d 1724 xhe context suggests that this also was a Syrian town. Cf. 18". Otherwise it may 
 be the Heb. designation of the two Sippars: Sippar of Shamash and Sippar of Anunitum. The 
 latter hypothesis is supported by ^i. 
 
 "= 17-^ So Luc. Heb., you. 
 
 ' 1727 So Luc, Syr., and Lat. 
 
 252
 
 RELIGION OF THE SA^L\RITAXS [II Kgs. 1720 
 
 Annuls of Israel 
 
 29But each of the peoples had made gods of their own and set them np Their 
 in temples of the high places which the Samaritans had made, each people hea-^'^ 
 in their cities in which they dwelt: ^'^the men of Babylon had made an image *hen 
 of Succoth-benoth,^ and the men of Cuth had made Nergal,'* and the men Jeho- 
 of Hamath had made Ashima,* "^^and the Avvites had made Nibhaz and li^^ 
 Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adram- 
 melech [Adar is king] and Anammelech [Anu is king] the gods of Sepharvaim. 
 ^-But when they began to revere Jehovah they made for themselves from 
 their own number priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the 
 temples of the high places. •^•^Thus, while they revered Jehovah, they also 
 ser\'ed their own gods, after the manner of the nations from which they had 
 been carried away. ^^To this day they do according to the earlier custom. 
 They do not revere Jehovah nor do they act according to their statutes or their ordi- 
 nances or the law or the command which Jehovah commanded the children of Jacob, 
 whom he named Israel, 'Hvith whom Jehovah made a covenant and charged them 
 saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor 
 sacrifice to them; '^but Jehovah, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with 
 great power and with an outstretched arm, him shall ye fear, and to him shall ye bow 
 j-ourselves and to him shall ye sacrifice; ^"and the statutes and the ordinances, and 
 the law and the commandment which he wrote for you, ye shall faithfully observe 
 forever, and ye shall not revere other gods; ^^and the covenant that 1 have made 
 with you, ye shall not forget, neither shall ye revere other gods, ^'-'but Jehovah j^our 
 God shall ye revere; and he will deliver j'ou from all your enemies. ■'"However, they 
 did not hearken, but rather they did according to their earlier customs. ^-^So wliile 
 these peoples revered Jehovah, they also served their graven images; their 
 children likewise, and their children's children — as did their fathers, so do 
 they to this day. 
 
 « 17^" Apparently the title of a Babylonian deity. The identification is still uncertain: 
 Marduk, the consort of Marduk, Ishtar, and Saturn (revising the text) have each been sugRcsted. 
 
 h 1730 xhe god of war, of pestilence, and of the lower world, es))ecially worshipped at Kutu. 
 
 ' 17'" Marginal reading of the Heb., god of Scpharvaim. The expression may be a scribal 
 addition. 
 
 253
 
 ISRAEL AND JUDAH AFTER THE DIVISION OF 
 THE HEBREW E3IPIRE.
 
 HISTORY OF JUDAH 
 
 I Kgs. 1421 — II Kgs. IS^'' {exclusive of data relating 
 to Xorthern Israel), II Chr. 115-27«
 
 HISTORY OF JUDAH FROM THE DIVISION 
 
 OF THE EMPIRE TO THE FALL 
 
 OF JERUSALEM 
 
 FR0:M REHOBOAM to AHAZ, I Kgs. I42I-1524, 224 29-3G. 41-50^ 
 
 II Kgs. 3^-27, 816-29^ 929^ 11, 12^ 141-22^ 151-7. 32-38^ n Chr. 115-279 
 
 § 103. Rehoboam's Reign, I Kgs. 14=1-2^ II Chr. lP-23 
 
 Late Prophetic 
 Summary 
 
 I Kgs. 14 
 
 21N0W Rehoboam, 
 the son of Solo- 
 mon, became king 
 in Judah. Reho- 
 boam was forty- 
 one years old when 
 he began to reign, 
 and he reigned sev- 
 enteen years in Je- 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 1 1 ^Now Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, Reho- 
 and built cities for defence in Judah. ^'Ile bnilt Beth- f'oHifi? 
 lehem. Etam, Tekoa, "Bethzur, Soco, Adullani, ^Gath, cations 
 iVIareshah, Ziph, ^Adoraim, Lachish, xVzekah, ^^'Zorah, 
 Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Ben- 
 jamin — fortified cities. ^^And he fortified the strong- 
 holds and put commanders in them and stores of pro- 
 visions and oil and wine. ^2^\^]so in each city he put 
 shields and spears and thus made them exceedingly 
 strong. And Judah and Benjamin belonged to him. 
 
 History of Judah. — For two centuries, until the Assyrians came into direct contact with 
 Judah, its national life ran on uneventfully. One dynajity occupied the throne continuously 
 and its crises and religious movements were of secondary maRnitude and importance compared 
 with those of the greater Northern Kingdom. The editor of Kgs. simply gives brief epitomes 
 of eventr, introducing occasionally short quotations from the annals, or from the expanded 
 Chronicles of the Kings of .Judah. One event, the revolution and repair of the temple in (he 
 days of Joash, receives fuller notice. Here the quotation appears to have been from tlic temple 
 records. 
 
 Since the direct interests of the Chronicler are all centred in Judah, he naturally seeks 
 to supi)lement the meagre record of Kgs. This he does apparently by drawing from (he .Midrash 
 of the Kings of .Iu<lali and possii)ly from older annalistic sources which tnay have Ijeen at 
 his command. In general the f)ic(ure which he gives is traditional rather (han historical, didac- 
 tic rather than exact, although at certain points he seems to have preserved some important 
 facts. 
 
 § 103 The late prophetic edi(or of Kgs. simply gives in his own language a chronological 
 statement and his usual general estimate of the reign. The Chronicler, however, appears to 
 have quoted at length from some earlier post-exilic source, which, like (he book of Kgs. (f.f/., 
 I Kgs. 14^'), represented Rehoboam as king simply of Judah, cf. ''■ "• ". The awkward aildi(i(>n<4 
 of Benjamin in ""'• '2i>. zn. are j^ accord with tlm l;i(er theory of (he Chronicler. The (pio(a(iiin 
 is probably from the Midrash of the Book of the I<ings, but in •''-'-»• "'-^' s(ill older dii(a seem (o 
 have been incorporated, which may have been derivcil from (he pre-exilic Chronicles of the 
 Kings of Judah. 
 
 257
 
 I Kgs. 1421] 
 
 Late Prophetic 
 Summary 
 
 rusalera, the city 
 which Jehovah 
 had chosen out of 
 all the tribes of 
 I rael to put his 
 name there. And 
 his mother's name 
 was Naamah the 
 Ammonitess. ^ 
 
 22And Judahb 
 did that which dis- 
 pleased Jehovah, 
 and they aroused 
 his anger with the 
 sins which they 
 committed, more 
 than all that their 
 fathers had done. 
 23They also built 
 for themselves high 
 places, pillars, and 
 asherahs, on every 
 high hill and under 
 every green tree. 
 2*There were also 
 temple prostitutes'^ 
 in the land. They 
 did according to 
 all the abomina- 
 tions of the nations 
 which Jehovah 
 drove out before 
 the Israelites. 
 
 FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ [II Chr. 1113 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 i^And the priests and the Levites who were in all 
 Israel resorted to him out of all their different localities. 
 i^For the Levites left their common pasture-lands 
 and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusa- 
 lem, because Jeroboam and his sons declared them 
 ineligible as priests to Jehovah. ^'^And he appointed 
 for himself priests for the high places, for the he-goats, 
 and for the calves which he had made. ^^And after 
 them there came from all the tribes of Israel such as 
 had set their hearts on seeking Jehovah, the God of 
 Israel, to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Jehovah the God 
 of their fathers. ^^So they .strengthened the kingdom 
 of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon 
 strong for three years, for they walked three years in 
 the way of David and Solomon. 
 
 i^And Rehoboam took as wife, INIahalath, the daugh- 
 ter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail*' the 
 daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse. ^^And she bore him 
 sons: Jeush, Shemarlah, and Zaham. 20^^^^ after her 
 he married Maacah the daughter of Absalom. And 
 she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 \nd 
 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom 
 more than all his wives and his concubines (for he 
 married eighteen wives and sixty® concubines and be- 
 got twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters). ^'~\nd. 
 Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah at 
 the head as the crown prince among his brothers, for 
 he purposed^ to make him king. 23 jj^ g^jgQ -^^isely dis- 
 tributed all his sons throughout the different districts of 
 Judah and Benjamin, to the different cities, and gave 
 them provisions in rich abundance and secured for 
 them many wives. 
 
 Popu- 
 larity 
 of the 
 sanct- 
 uary 
 at Je- 
 rusalerc 
 
 Reho- 
 boam 'g 
 family 
 
 » I Kgs. 14^' The Gk. in 122** (Swete) reads, the daughter of Nahash the king of Ammon. 
 b I Kgs. 14~ Gk. and Luc, Rehoboam. 
 
 ' II Chr. 1118 So Gk. The Heb. makes Abihail the second \*ife of Rehoboam, but indicates 
 that but one is intended. 
 
 d I Kgs. 1424 Cf. Vol. I, § 44, note >. 
 
 e II Chr. 1121 Gk., Lat., and Jos., thirty. 
 
 ' II Chr. 1122 So Gk. The verb has fallen out in the Heb. 
 
 258
 
 I KgS. U25] 
 
 SIIISHAKS INVASION 
 
 [II Chr. 121 
 
 § 104. Shishak's Invasion, I Kgs. U-*", II Clir. 12 
 
 shak's 
 plun- 
 der of 
 teniple 
 and 
 palace 
 
 War 
 with 
 Jero- 
 boam 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 I Kgs. 14 25Now 
 in the fifth year of 
 King Rehoboam 
 Shishak king of 
 Egypt came up 
 against Jerusalem. 
 2*^ And he took away 
 the treasures of the 
 temple of Jehovah 
 and the treasures of 
 the royal palace^ — 
 he took all away. 
 He also took away 
 all the shields of 
 gold which Solomon 
 had made. 2/\n(j 
 King Rehoboam 
 made in their place 
 shields of brass and 
 gave them into the 
 charge of the com- 
 manders of the 
 guards, who kept 
 the door of the roy- 
 al palace. -^And as 
 often as the king 
 went into the tem- 
 ple of Jehovah, the 
 guards took them 
 and brought them 
 back into the 
 guard-room. 
 
 -'Now the other 
 acts of Rehoboam and 
 all that he did, are 
 they not recorded in 
 the Chronicles of the 
 Kings of Judah? 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 13 ^Now when the rule of Rehoboam was Shi- 
 established and he was strong, he forsook the law of ad-^' 
 Jehovah and all Israel with him. -Thereupon Shishak vance 
 king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem in the 
 fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had acted 
 falsely toward Jehovah, '^with twelve hundred chariots, 
 and sixty thousand horsemen. And the j)eoj)le were 
 without number, who came with him out of Egypt: 
 Lybians, Sukkites, and Ethiojoians. *And he took 
 the fortified cities of Judah, and came to Jerusalem. 
 
 ^Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam She- 
 and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered to- f^^^'g 
 cether to Jerusalem because of Shishak. and said to I'roph- 
 
 c> GCV 
 
 them. Thus saith Jehovah, 'Ye have abandoned me, 
 therefore I have also abandoned you to Shishak.' 
 ^Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled 
 themselves and said, Jehovah is righteous. "And \\ hen 
 Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves, the word 
 of Jeho\ ah came to Shemaiah, saying. They have hum- 
 bled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will 
 grant them a partial deliverance and my wrath shall 
 not be poured out upon Jerusalem through Shishak. 
 ^Nevertheless they shall become subject to him, that 
 they may know how to distinguish between my ser- 
 vice and the service of the earthly kingdoms. 
 
 ^So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jeru- Plunder 
 salem and took away the treasures of the temple of {'empie 
 Jehovah and the treasures of the royal palace— he took 
 all away. He also took away the shields of gold 
 which Solomon had made. ^^^Vud King Rehoboam 
 made in their place shields of brass, and gave them in- 
 to the charge of the commanders of the guards, who 
 kept the door of the royal palace. ^^And as often as 
 the king went into the "temple of Jehovah, the guards 
 came and took them and brought them back into the 
 guard -room. 
 
 § 104 The short account of Shishak's invasion in I Krs. U«-f and probably the note roKMrd- 
 the war with Jeroboam in "> were clearly taken from an older source wlueh was d.niM loss 
 annals of Judah. This brief record has been expan.ie.l m II Chr. 12 into a typical nu.lia.Kh. 
 
 ing tr 
 
 possibly derived 'bv the "chmnicfer" from hi.^Vni'drakhic source. The outcome tu"!'^ ""'"';;•" 
 the ordinary fortunes of war. but upon the guilt and rei)entance of Relioboam "">' '''^' l^^; '^ 
 and the favor of Jehovah, secured through the mediation of a prophet. Per the l,gM)tian 
 record of Shishak's invasion, cf. .\ppendix III. , • . r> j , i t,^^ th^ .,.r 
 
 « I Kes. 14=« Gk. and Luc. add here, and the qolden shields which David took from Ihrj'-'-- 
 vants of Hadadezer king of Zobah and brought to Jerusalem. It may represent the original 
 text. Cf. II Sam. 8'. 
 
 259
 
 I Kgs. 1430] 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 30And there was 
 war between Reho- 
 boam and Jero- 
 boam continually- 
 ^lAnd R e h o b o a m 
 slept with his fatliers 
 and was buried with 
 his fathers in tlie city 
 of David.'' And Abi- 
 iani liis son became 
 king in his place.' 
 
 FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ [II Chr. 12i2 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical Historij 
 
 i^But because he humbled himself, the wrath of Judah 
 Jehovah turned from him, so as not to destroy him Keho- 
 completely — also in Judah things were found in good ^°^^ 
 condition, ^^go King Rehoboam strengthened him- 
 self in Jerusalem and reigned, for Rehoboam was forty- 
 one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 
 seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Jehovah 
 had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his 
 name there. And his mother's name was Naamah 
 the Ammonitess. ^^And he did that which was evil, 
 because he set not his heart to seek Jehovah. 
 
 i^Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they 
 not written in the histories^ of Shemaiah the prophet 
 and of Iddo the seer if^ 
 
 105. Abijah's (Abijam's) Reign, I Kgs. IS^-^, II Chr. W-W' 
 
 Late Prophetic 
 Summary 
 
 Abi- I Kgs. 15 
 
 P'pol-iNowintheeigh- 
 icy teenth year of 
 King Jeroboam, 
 thesonof Nebat, 
 Abijam began 
 to reign over Ju- 
 dah. 2Three 
 years he reigned 
 i n Jerusalem ; 
 and his mother's 
 name was Maa- 
 cah the daugh- 
 ter of Abisha- 
 lom.^ ^And he 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 13 ^In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam Abi- 
 Abijah began to reign over Judah. ^He reigned three (var^ 
 years in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Micaiah J^'*^^ 
 the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war be- boam 
 tween Abijah and Jeroboam. 3\nd Abijah began the 
 war with an army of brave warriors, consisting of four 
 himdred thousand picked men, and Jeroboam set the bat- 
 tle in array against him with eight hundred thousand 
 picked men, who were brave warriors. 
 
 ^And Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in His 
 the hill-country of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, O Jero- ^e'' 
 boam and all Israel : ^Ouglit you not to know that Je- ^j^^^°^ 
 hovah, the God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to beam's 
 David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant [^Jf" 
 of salt .?™ ^Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of policy 
 
 con- 
 inna- 
 
 h I Kgs. 1431 So Gk., Luc, Syr., and Chr. parallel. The Heb. adds from W\ And his 
 mother's 7iame was Naamah the Ammonitess. 
 
 ' I Kgs. 14-^1 So 15'' ". Luc. and Chr., Abijah. The latter appears to have been the origmal 
 form. The alteration may have been made by a scribe to distinguish it from the name of Jero- 
 boam's son. Cf. 141. 
 
 i II Chr. 121s Or, words. 
 
 ^ II Chr. 12'5 The Heb. adds the meaningless phrase, entered in the genealogies. The Gk., 
 and his deeds, is more intelligible but it perhaps simply indicates that the text was corrupted 
 at an early date. 
 
 § 105 Again the brief facts given by the late prophetic editor of Kgs. have in Chr. been 
 expanded into a long didactic story in which the numbers are astonishingly large and the re- 
 ligious purpose and ritualistic motives are the more prominent. Some of the literary peculiar- 
 ities of the Chronicler are wanting; Judah figures alone, and the priests, not the Levites, play the 
 more important role, indicating that this midrash was probably taken from the older source to 
 which he so often refers. 
 
 ' I Kgs. 15- II Chr. 11=0, Absalom. Maacah was probably daughter of Tamar and there- 
 fore Absalom's granddaughter. 
 
 '^ II Chr. 135 Cf. W. R. Smith, Religion of the Semites, pp. 206 ff. 
 
 260
 
 War 
 with 
 Jero- 
 boam 
 
 I Kgs. 153] 
 
 Late Prophetic 
 Summary 
 
 walked in all the 
 sins of his father 
 which he had 
 committed be- 
 fore him; and 
 his heart was not 
 perfect with Je- 
 hovah his God, 
 as the heart 
 of David his 
 father. ■*Never- 
 theless for Da- 
 vid's sake Je- 
 hovah his God 
 gave him a lamp 
 in Jerusalem, in 
 that he raised up 
 his sons" after 
 him and pre- 
 served Jerusa- 
 lem, because 
 David did that 
 which pleased 
 Jehovah and 
 turned not aside 
 from anything 
 that he com- 
 manded him all 
 the days of his 
 life, except oiily 
 in the affair of 
 Uriah the Hittite." 
 
 "And the other 
 acts of Abijam 
 and all that he 
 did, are they not 
 recorded in the 
 Chronicles o f 
 the Kings of Ju- 
 dah ? And there 
 was war between 
 Abijam and Jer- 
 
 ABIJAH'S REIGN 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 [II Chr. 136 
 
 Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against 
 his lord, "and base scoundrels gathered about him, and 
 worthless men strengthened themselves against Reho- 
 boam the son of Solomon. But Rehoboam was still young 
 and inefficient, and could not withstand them. ^And now 
 you think you can withstand the rule of Jehovah in the 
 hand of the sons of David, because you are a great multi- 
 tude, and there are with you golden calves which Jero- 
 boam made for you as gods. ^Mave you not driven out 
 the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, the Levites, 
 and made for yourselves priests like the heathen peoj)les ? 
 Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bid- 
 lock and seven rams, the same may become a priest of 
 the no-srods ! ^^^\\\ as for us, Jehovah is our God, and 
 we have not forsaken him, and the sons of Aaron are 
 ministering to Jehovah as priests, and the Levites are 
 doinff their work; ^^and thev burn to Jehovah every morn- 
 ing and every evening burnt-offerings and sweet incense 
 and the bread is set in order on the clean taljles, and the 
 candlestick of gold with its lamps to burn every evening, 
 for we keep the command of Jehovah our God; but you 
 have forsaken him. ^^Yes, and God is with us at our 
 head and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound 
 alarm against you. O Israelites, fight not against Jeho- 
 vah, the God of your fathers; for you will have no success ! 
 
 ^^But Jeroboam brought around an ambu.sh behind His 
 them, so they were before Judalu and the ambush was u'lous' 
 behind them'. i^^Vnd when Judah looked back, there ^|cjorv 
 they were being attacked in their front and in their rear. Jero- 
 Then the priests sounded with the trumpets, ^•''and the 
 men of Judah gave a shout. And as .soon as the men of 
 Judah shouted, God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before 
 Abijah and Judah. ^^^nd when the Israelites fled before 
 Judah, God delivered them into their hand, '"so that 
 Abijah and his people slew a great many of them, and 
 there fell slain of Israel five hundred thousand picked 
 men. iS^Fhus the Israelites were humbled at that lime 
 and the Judahites prevailed, because they 
 Jehovah, the God of their fathers. ^^And 
 sued after Jeroboam, and took cities from 
 with its low lis. Jeshanah with its towns, and 
 
 relied upon 
 Abijah pur- 
 hini. Bethel 
 iMiIiniii with 
 
 » I Kes. 1.5* So Gk. and Luc. Heb., xon. , , , , , , >i i„ 
 
 "I Kks. 1.5s Not foun.l in Ok. mi.l l-uc. Apparently a note a.l.lcl by a later scribe In 
 
 the Heb. a scribe ha.s also ir.corroody a.l.l.Mi from H''" vs. ". Now there was war between lieho- 
 
 boam and Jeroboam nil the daijs oj hin iije. 
 
 261
 
 Asa's 
 relig- 
 ious 
 re- 
 forms 
 
 I Kgs. 157] 
 
 Late Prophetic 
 Summary 
 
 oboam. ^A n d 
 Abijam slept 
 with his fathers, 
 and they buried 
 him in the city 
 of David. And 
 Asa his son be- 
 came king in his 
 place. 
 
 FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 [II Chr. I3I9 
 
 its towns. 20]sje;ther did Jeroboam recover his strength 
 again in the days of Abijah, and Jehovah smote him and 
 he died. 
 
 2iBut x\bijah grew more powerful, and look to himself Abl- 
 fourteen wives and begot twenty-two sons and sixteen jfros- 
 daughters. 22^nd the other acts of Abijah, and his ways Parity 
 and his words, are recorded in the Midrash of the Prophet 
 Iddo. 
 
 § 106. Asa's Piety and Might, 
 
 Annals of Jndah 
 
 I Kgs. 15 ^In the twentieth year 
 of Jeroboam king of Israel Asa began to 
 reign over Judali. '"And he reigned forty- 
 one years in Jerusalem; and his mother's 
 name was Maacah — the daughter of Abi- 
 shalom." I'And Asa pleased Jehovah, as 
 did David his father. l^^j^d ]ie put 
 away the sacred prostitutes from the 
 land, and removed all the idols that 
 his fathers had made. ^^And he 
 also removed Maacah his mother 
 from being queen-mother, because 
 she had made a horrible image as 
 an asherah. And Asa cut down her 
 horrible image, and burnt it in the 
 Kidron Valley. "But the high places 
 were not taken away: nevertheless the 
 heart of Asa was perfect with Jehovah 
 all his days. ^^Also he brought into 
 the temple of Jehovah the votive 
 gifts his father consecrated and his 
 own votive gifts — silver, gold, and 
 vessels. 
 
 15 
 
 II Kgs. 159-15, II Chr. ^^-15 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 14 ^'^In Asa's days the Asa's 
 land was quiet ten years. -And Asa forms 
 did that which was good and right f^^-^^j. 
 in the eyes of Jehovah his God, ^for ing 
 he put away the foreign altars and prises 
 the high places and broke down the 
 pillars and hewed down the asherahs, 
 ^and commanded Judah to seek Je- 
 hovah, the God of their fathers, and 
 to fulfil the law and the command- 
 ment. ^Also he took away from all 
 the cities of Judah the high places and 
 the sim-images, so that the kingdom 
 had rest under his rule. ^And he 
 built fortified cities in Judah, for the 
 land was at rest, and lie had no war 
 in those years because Jehovah had 
 given him rest. ^For he said to Ju- 
 dah, Let us build these cities and 
 make about them walls with towers, 
 gates, and bars ; the land is at our dis- 
 posal because we have sought Jeho- 
 vah our God; we have sought him, 
 and he hath given us rest on every 
 side. So they built and prospered. 
 
 § 106 A few facts are taken by the editor of Kgs. from his earlier annalistic spurce. The 
 Chronicler, however, has substituted a long narrative which has all the characteristics of the 
 midrash: the huge numbers, the supernatural victory and the prophetic exhortation. From 
 14" and a subsequent reference in 211'' Jt seems clear that the Cushites were the Arabian peoples 
 bearing that name, not the Ethiopians. The story in H^-'-' probably incorporates some earlier 
 historical data. Judah is the designation of the southern kingdom, indicating that the mid- 
 rash is comparatively early. The use of Judah and Benjamin in 15'''' strongly suggests that 
 this is a later addition from the Chronicler, although it may possibly be from a later midrash of 
 the Book of the Kings. 
 
 p I Kgs. I51" Probably a mistaken repetition of -. The error makes it impossible to de- 
 termine what was the original. Possibly Asa's mother and grandmother both bore the name, 
 Maacah. 
 
 262
 
 ASA'S PIETY AND MIGHT [II Cur. U8 
 
 Chronicler'' s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 ^And Asa had an army that carried shields: out of Judah three hundred Vic- 
 thousand, and out of Benjamin, that carried sliields and drew bows, two Q°e^ 
 hundred and forty thousand — all these were brave warriors. ^But Zerah 7>erah 
 the Cushite came out against them with an army of a milHon men and three Cuslute 
 himdred chariots, and he came to Mareshah. ^^Then Asa went out to meet 
 him, and they drew up for battle in the valley of Zejihathah at Mareshah. 
 i^And Asa cried to Jehovah his God and said, Jehovah, there are none be- 
 sides thee to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help 
 us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee and in thy name have we come 
 against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our (iod; let not man prevail 
 against thee. ^-Then Jehovah smote the Cusliites before Asa and before 
 Judah so that the Cushites fled. ^'^And Asa and the people who were with 
 him pursued them to Gerar, so that there fell of the Cushites so many that 
 none of them remained alive; for they were shattered before Jehovah and 
 before his army. So they carried away very much booty. ^^And they con- 
 quered the cities about Gerar, for a terror from Jehovah came upon them, 
 and they plundered all the cities, for there was much spoil in them. ^^They 
 smote also the tents of cattle and drove away .sheep in abundance and re- 
 turned to Jerusalem. 
 
 15 ^And the spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, ^so that he Aza- 
 went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear me, Asa and all Judah and p,o. 
 Benjamin: Jehovah is true to you while ye are true to him, and if ye seek ^jj'j."'gg 
 him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. 
 ^Now for a long time Israel has been without the true God and without 
 priestly teaching and without the law; ^but when in their distress they turned 
 to Jehovah, the God of Israel, and sought him, he let himself be found by 
 them. ^And in those times no one could in peace go out or come in; but 
 great disturbances came upon all the inhabitants of the diflerent lands. 
 ^And one nation broke in pieces another nation, and one city another city, 
 for God terrified them, with all kinds of adversity. 'But be strong and do 
 not lose courage, for your work shall be rewarded. 
 
 ^And when Asa heard these words and the proj)hecy of Oded the prophet,*" The 
 he took courage, and put away the abonu'nations from all the land of Judah outhto 
 and Benjamin, from the cities which he had taken from the hill-country of '^^^^^ 
 Ephraim, and set up again the altar of Jehovah that was before the porch v:ih^ 
 of Jehovah. ^Xhen he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, together with fuliy" 
 those who .sojourned with thcin out of Ei)hraim, Manasseh, and Simeon; 
 for a great number came over to him out of all Israel, when they .saw that 
 Jehovah his God was with him. ^^go |i,ey gathered themselves together 
 at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 
 l^And they sacrificed to Jehovah on that day of the spoil which they had 
 brought, .seven humlrcd oxen and .seven thou.sand .sheep. 12'^),,.,, ji^.y 
 entered into a covenant to .seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, with all 
 
 '1 IT Clir. ].'.« Tho impossible Heb. construction shows that these words have crept into the 
 text frorn a marginal note.
 
 II Chr. 1412] FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 their heart and with all their soul, ^^but that whoever would not seek Jehovah, 
 the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether 
 man or woman. ^'^And they took an oath to Jehovah with a loud voice and 
 amidst shouting and the blast of trumpet, and rams' horns. ^^And all Judah 
 rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him 
 with all their will, so that he let himself be found by them. And Jehovah 
 gave them rest on all sides. 
 
 § 107. Asa's War with Baasha, I Kgs. IS^s", II Chr. 15i»-16i* 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 Asa's I Kgs. 15 i*^And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel 
 
 chase ^'^ their days. ^^And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and 
 
 of the fortified Ramah, so as not to allow anyone to go out or in to Asa king of 
 
 Aram Judah. ^^Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the 
 
 treasures of the temple of Jehovah and the treasures of the royal palace, and 
 
 entrusted them to his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the 
 
 son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion king of Aram, who dwelt at Damascus, 
 
 with the statement, ^^There is a league between me and you and between 
 
 my father and your father; herewith I send you a present of silver and gold. 
 
 Break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from 
 
 me. 20^,^(j Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of 
 
 his armies against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth- 
 
 Maacah, and all Chinneroth, together with all the land of Naphtali. 
 
 Forti- 2i^Q^ as soon as Baasha heard of it, he abandoned the fortifying of Ramah 
 
 oFgc-" 3^rid returned to'' Tirzah. 22'p'|^gpg^pQj^ King Asa made a proclamation to all 
 
 ba and Judah — none was exempted — that they must carry away the stones of Ramah 
 
 pah and the timber with which Baasha had fortified it. Then with these King 
 
 Asa fortified Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 Hana- II Chr. 16 ^And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah 
 
 con. and said to him. Because you have relied on the king of Aram, and have not 
 
 '^^n?- relied on Jehovah your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has 
 
 of the escaped from your hand. ^Were not the Cushites and the Lybians a great 
 
 mean army, with very many chariots and horsemen ? Yet, because you relied on 
 
 s^Ui- Jehovah, he delivered them into your hand. ^For the eves of Jehovah 
 
 Q.riC6 
 
 sweep here and there over the whole earth to show his strength in behalf 
 
 § 107 The account in Kgs. of Asa's war with Baasha and his short-sighted policy, which 
 brought the Arameans into Palestine, was probably taken originally from the state annals and 
 has the value of a contemporary record. To this account, which the Chronicler reproduces 
 verbatim, he adds what is apparently a quotation from his later source. After the manner of 
 the midrash. the condemnation of Asa's alliance with Aram is put in the mouth of Hanani the 
 seer, doubtless identified in this later tradition with the father of the prophet Jehu, mentioned 
 in I Kgs. 16^ 
 
 ■■ I Kgs. 15-' So Gk., Luc, and Lat. Heb., dwelt in. The difference in the Heb. is only a 
 question of vocalization. 
 
 264.
 
 ASA'S WAR WITH BAASHA [II Ciiu. 169 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 of those whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have acted fool- 
 ishly, for from henceforth you shall have wars. ^^Then Asa was angry 
 with the seer and put him in the house of the stocks, for he was in a rage 
 with him because of this thing. And at that time Asa also oppressed some 
 of the people. 
 
 L(de Prophetic Summary 
 
 I Kgs. 15 23Now the 
 other acts of Asa and all 
 his brave deeds and the 
 cities which he built, are 
 they not recorded in the 
 Chronicles of the Kings of 
 Judah ? But in his old 
 age he became diseased 
 in his feet. -^And Asa 
 slept with his fathers and 
 was buried with his fa- 
 thers in the citv of David 
 his father. And Jehosha- 
 phat his son became king 
 in his place. 
 
 II Chr. 16 i^Now the acts of Asa, the earlier 
 and the later, are already recorded in the Book 
 of the Kings of Judah and Israel. ^-And Asa 
 became diseased in the feet in the thirty-ninth 
 year of his reign, so that he became very ill. But 
 in his sickness he did not seek help from Je- 
 hovah, but from the physician. ^^And Asa slept 
 with his fathers and died in the forty-first year 
 of his reign. ^^And thev buried him in his 
 sepulchre, which he had hewn out in the city of 
 David, and laid him on the bed, which they had 
 filled with all kinds of spices, skilfully mixed; 
 and they burned in his honor an exceedingly 
 great pyre. 
 
 § 108. The Benign Rule of Jehoshaphat, I Kgs. 22"", II Chr. 17, 19<-iS 2(fi 
 
 U4 
 
 Late Prophetic Sum- 
 mary 
 
 I Kgs. 22 4iAnd 
 Jehoshaphat the son 
 of Asa began to reign 
 over Judah in the 
 fourth year of Ahab 
 king of Israel. "^-Je- 
 hoshaphat was thirty- 
 five years old when he 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 17 ^And Jehoshaphat Asa's .son became His 
 king in his place and strengthened himself against caHon" 
 Israel. ^And he placed troops in all the fortified ^^"'J^ , 
 cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah ing 
 and in the cities of Ephraini, which Asa his father '^'^'^^ 
 had taken. -^And Jehovah was with Jehoshaj)hat, 
 because he walked in the earlier ways of his ancestor 
 David, and did not resort to the Baals, "^but sought 
 
 § 108 I Kgs. 22^ was probably taken directly from the annals, but the rest of the passaRe 
 is from the editor. The parallel in Chr. is expanfled and devoted to a didactic end in the spirit 
 of the early midrashes. The earlier desifrnaf ion Judah is used throuRhout instead ol Judah and 
 Benjamin. 17' '^ like the kindred passage, 19'", however, has none of the characteristics of 
 a midrash. Later institutions are evidently here in p.art reliocted; but tlie biusis of the tradition 
 appears to have been certain definite mea-sures intended to iin|)rove the judicial ornanization. 
 
 The existence of brief coilcs correspondinR to those found in V.\. 20-2.5. .'{4, and a s.Nstotn of 
 local judges with the central court at .Jerusalem is implied by Is. ID' and many passiiRCs in Dt. 
 Of. especially I)t. 17. An enterprising king like .lelioshaphat, who was in do.se alliance with 
 Northern Israel ami through it witli the high Semitic civilization repro.scnle<l by the I'liifiiiciuns, 
 would naturally take the initiative in these reforms. A brief record of tlii.s work may have 
 been found in tlie royal .ludean chronicles and later in an exilic liook of the Kings of .Judah and 
 Israel which was in turn nither (juoted directly by the Chronicler or el.se was already incorporated 
 in the Midrash of the Book of the Kings to which he refers. The noble exhortation to tho 
 judges is one of the cla.ssical pa.ssages in Chr. 
 
 26L
 
 I Kgs. 2242] 
 
 PROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ [II Chr. 17^ 
 
 Late Prophetic Sum- 
 mary 
 
 began to reign, and he 
 reigned twenty - five 
 years in Jerusalem. 
 And his mother's 
 name was Azubah, 
 the daughter of Shilhi. 
 43And he walked alto- 
 gether in the way of 
 Asa his father; he did 
 not turn aside from 
 it, doing that which 
 pleased Jehovah. Only 
 the high places were 
 not taken away, but 
 the people still sacri- 
 ficed and burnt their 
 offerings^ on the high 
 places. 44\nd Jehosh- 
 aphat made peace 
 with the king of Is- 
 rael. 
 
 4-5Now the other 
 acts of Jehoshaphat 
 and his brave deeds, 
 that he did, and how 
 he made war, are they 
 not recorded in the 
 Chronicles of the 
 Kings of Judah ?* 
 46A1so the rest of the 
 temple prostitutes, 
 who remained in the 
 days of his father Asa, 
 he expelled from the 
 land. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 the God of his ancestor, and w^alked in his com- 
 mands and not according to the deeds of Israel. 
 ^Therefore Jehovah established the kingdom in 
 his hand, and all Judah brought Jehoshaphat trib- 
 ute, so that he had riches and honor in abundance. 
 ^Then his heart was exalted in the ways of Jehovah, 
 so that he also abolished the high places and the 
 asherahs out of Judah. 
 
 ^'^And the terror of Jehovah fell on all the king- Jehosh- 
 doms of the lands that were round about Judah, stxength 
 so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. ^""^ 
 ^^And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat perity 
 presents and a silver tribute; the Arabians also 
 brought him flocks: seven thousand, seven hundred 
 rams, and seven thousand, seven hundred he-goats. 
 ^-So Jehoshaphat gradually grew stronger, so that 
 he built in Judah castles and store-cities. ^^He 
 also had many stores in the cities of Judah, and 
 soldiers, brave warriors, in Jerusalem. ^4\]2(j Q^g 
 was the number of them according to their fam- 
 ilies: of Judah, the commanders of thousands, Ad- 
 nah the commander, and with him three hundred 
 thousand brave warriors; ^^and next to him Jeho- 
 hanan the commander, and with him two hundred 
 and eightv thousand; ^^and next to him Amasiah, 
 the son of Zichri, who had willingly placed himself 
 at the command of Jehovah, and with him two hun- 
 dred thousand brave warriors. ^"And of Benja- 
 min: Eliada a brave Avarrior, and with him two 
 hundred thousand armed with bow and shield; ^^and 
 next to hun Jehozabad, and with him a hundred 
 and eighty thousand, equipped for war. ^^These 
 were those who were in the service of the king, be- 
 sides those whom the king put in the fortified cities 
 throughout Judah. 
 
 "In the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-hail, Obadiah, 
 Zechariah, Nethanel, Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah, ^and with 
 tionin them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah. Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, 
 Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, the Levites; and with 
 them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests, ^that they should teach in Judah, 
 having the book of the law of Jehovah with them. So they went about 
 tjiroughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. 
 
 " I Kgs. 22« Cf. § 48. notek. 
 
 ' I Kgs. 22^5 xhe parallel passage in II Chr. 20** reads, in the addresses of Jehu the swi of 
 Hanani, ivhich are incorporated in the history of the kings of Israel. 
 
 266
 
 BENIGN RULE OF JEIIOSIIAPHAT [II Chr. 194 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 19 ^And Jehosliaphat dwelt at Jerusalem. And he went out again among Ap- 
 the people from Beerslieba to the hill-country of Ephraim and brought them i^fj"'' 
 back to Jehovah, the God of their fathers. ^Ile also appointed judges in »"<' >"- 
 the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, ^'and said to the judges, tiontf 
 Consider what you do, for you are to render judgment not for man but for j^j-ggg 
 Jehovah, and he will be with you when you render judgment. ^Now there- 
 fore let the fear of Jehovah be upon you. Take heed in whatever you do, for 
 with Jehovah our God there is no injustice or partiality or acceptance of 
 bribes. 
 
 ^Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests Estab- 
 and the heads of the families of Israel to render the judgment of Jehovah \^^^^^ ^f 
 and to decide controversies for the hihabitants^ of Jerusalem. ^And he asu- 
 charged them saying. Thus shall you do in the fear of Jehovah, faithfully coui'rof 
 and with sincere purpose. ^"^And whenever any controversy comes to you al'ie-' 
 from your kinsmen who dwell in other cities, between blood and blood, ^' rusa- 
 between law, commandment, statutes, and ordinances, you shall warn them 
 that they be not guilty toward Jehovah, and so wrath come upon you and 
 upon your kinsmen; this must you do, that you may not be guilty. ''And, 
 behold, Amariah the chief jiriest shall be at your head in all matters of Je- 
 hovah, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in 
 all the king's matters. Also the Levites shall be at your disposal as scribes. 
 Do your work courageously; Jehovah be with those who do what is right. 
 
 § 109. Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab against the Arameans, I Kgs. 
 
 204, 29-36^ U Q,r_ 18'-193 
 
 Chronicler s Version of I Kgs. 224' 29-36 
 
 II Chr. 18 ^Now when Jehoshaj)hat had attained riches and honor in The 
 abundance, he allied himself by marriage with Ahab. -And after some a„Jre 
 years he went down to Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen "j"» 
 in abundance for him and for the people who were with him, and iiifhienced 
 him to go up with him to Raniolh in Giload. '^And Ahab king of Israel 
 said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth in Gilead ? 
 And he answered him, I am as you are and my people as your people; and 
 we will go with you to the war. ... 
 
 2^So the king of Israel and Jehosha])hat the king of Judah went up to Almb's 
 Ramoth in Gilead. ^^And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will go \^^\^ 
 into the battle disguised, but you put on your robes. So the king of Israel ""|',',,^,j. 
 disguised himself, and they went into the battle. ^^Now the king of Aram aphnt's 
 
 peril 
 
 " II Chr. 19* So the Gk., which has evidcnily Uic oi iKinal text, lleb., And they relumed 
 to J eruHalem. 
 
 •' II Chr. 19'" I.e., to decide who is guilty and the extent of the guilt in a case of man- 
 elaughter. 
 
 § 109 At this point the histories of .Judah and Israel touch very closely. Already in con- 
 nection with the history of tlie nortliern kinKdoin llio incidoiil lias hncn nivoii in full in iS§ 77, 78. 
 Here simply the Chronicler's sliglitly variant vcr.sion of tlic cxciits which (lircctly concerned 
 Judah arc rei>roduccd in order to give a complete view of Jeliosiuiphat's reign. 
 
 267
 
 II Chr. 1830] FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ 
 
 Chronicler's Version of I Kgs. 22^' 29-36 
 
 had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small 
 nor great, except only with the king of Israel, ^i^herefore when the cap- 
 tains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat they said, It is the king of Israel, and 
 lurned about to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out and Jehovah 
 elped him, in that God lured them from him. ^^^nd when the captains 
 of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from 
 pursuing him. 
 Ahab's 33^j^(] a^ certain man drew his bow at a venture and smote the king of 
 wound Israel between the girdle and breastplate; then he cried to the driver of the 
 chariot. Turn about, and carry me out of the army, for I am severely wounded. 
 ^'^And the battle increased that day, but the king of Israel held himself up 
 in his chariot against the Arameans until evening; then about sunset he ukvl. 
 Jehu's 19 ^But Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned home to Jerusalem in 
 dem- peace, ^^^d Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said 
 "?^J[on to King Jehoshaphat, Should you help the wicked and love those who hate 
 alii- Jehovah ? For this wrath has come upon you from Jehovah, ^jv^gyerthe- 
 '^°°® less some good things are found in you, in that you have put away the asherahs 
 from the land and have set your heart on seeking God. 
 
 § 110. Jehoshaphat's War against the Moabites, the Ammonites, and 
 their Allies, II Chr. 20' -^o, cf. II Kgs. 3^" 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 Ad- II Chr. 30 ^Now after this the Moabites and the Ammonites and with 
 
 of "he them some of the Meunites^ came against Jehosha{)hat to battle. ^Xhen 
 
 invad- some came and informed Jehoshaphat, saying, A great multitude is coming 
 
 against you from the other side of the sea, from Edom;'^ and they are already 
 
 in Hazazontamar (that is En-gedi). ^Xhen Jehoshaphat feared and devoted 
 
 himself to seeking Jehovah and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 
 
 *And Judah gathered together to seek help of Jehovah, even out of all the 
 
 cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah. 
 
 Jehosh- ^And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the 
 
 praye/ temple of Jehovah, before the new court, *^and said, O Jehovah, the God of 
 
 for de- our fathers, art thou not God of heaven ? and art thou not ruler over all the 
 
 liv6r~ 
 
 ance kingdoms of the nations ? And in thy hand is power and might, so that 
 none is able to withstand thee. "Didst not thou, O our God, drive out the 
 inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and give it to the descend- 
 ants of Abraham thy friend forever ? ^So they dwelt therein and built thee 
 
 § 110 Again all the characteristics of the late Jewish midrash reappear. The literary 
 style and the absence of any reference to Benjamin point to an older source rather than to the 
 original work of the Chronicler. The same tradition may possibly be the basis both of the pres- 
 ent story and of the Elisha narrative in II Kgs. 3. In the case of both the original has evidently 
 been greatly transformed and embellished during the long process of oral transmission and 
 ultimate adaptation to the final didactic purpose. For the tradition of Jehoshaphat's joint 
 campaign with Jehoram against Moab, cf. § 88. 
 
 ™ 20' So Gk. The impossible Heb., Ammonites, arose from a transposition of two letters. 
 In 1°. 23 and I Chr. 4" they are designated as inhabitants of Mount Seir. 
 
 » 20^ As often elsewhere, a scribe has mistaken Edom for Aram. The sea is the Dead Sea. 
 
 268
 
 JEHOSHAPHAT'S FOREIGN WAR [II Chr. 208 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, ^ ' If evil comes upon us, the avengino' 
 sword, pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this temple and before 
 thee (for thy name is in this temple) and cry to thee in our affliction and 
 thou wilt hear and save.' ^'^And now, behold, the Ammonites and Moabitcs 
 and the inhabitants of Mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel attack, 
 when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned aside from them 
 without destroying them* — ^'now see how they reward us, in that they come 
 to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us as an inheritance. 
 ^-O our God, wilt thou not judge them ? For we have no strength against 
 this great multitude that is coming against us, nor do we know what to do, 
 but our eyes are turned to thee ! ^-^And all Judah stood before Jehovah, 
 with their children. 
 
 ^^Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son Jaha- 
 of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, came the |Jf_ ^ 
 spirit of Jehovah in the midst of the assembly; ^^and he said, Hearken, all cour- 
 Judah and ye inhabitants of Jerusaleiji and thou King Jchoshaphat: Thus ines- 
 saith Jehovah to you, ' Fear not nor be dismayed before this great multitude; ^^^^ 
 for the battle is not yours, but God's. ^^To-morrow go down against them. 
 See they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz, and you shall find them at the 
 end of the valley before the Wilderness of Jeruel. ^"In this battle it is not 
 your part to fight; put yourselves in array, stand still, and see the deliverance 
 which Jehovah will accomplish for you, O Judah and Jerusalem ! Fear not, 
 nor be dismayed; to-morrow go out against them, for Jehovah is with you.' 
 ^^And Jchoshaphat bowed his head to the ground, and all Judah and the 
 inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Jehovah, worshipping Jehovah. 
 ^^Then the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of 
 the Korahites, stood up to praise Jehovah the God of Israel, with an e.\- 
 ceeding loud voice.'' 
 
 20And on the following day they rose early and went Forth into the Wilder- The 
 ness of Tekoa. And as they went forth, Jchoshaphat stood and said. Hear 
 me, O Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem ! Believe in Jehovah your God, victory 
 so shall you live and be established. Believe his prophets, so shall you 
 prosi)er. ^^And when he had taken counsel with the people, he ap])ointed 
 singers to give praise to Jehovah in holy array, as they went out before the 
 army, and say. Give thanks to Jehovah; for his kindness endnreth forever. 
 22And as soon as they began to sing and to sing praises, Jehovah sent .secret 
 enemies'' against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount 
 Seir, who had come ag-ainsl Judah, so that thev dest roved llieinsrivcs. 
 23For the Ammonites and the Moal)ites .set themselves against the inhabitants 
 of Mount Seir, to root out and completely destroy them. And when they 
 had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, each helped to destroy the other. 
 
 mirac- 
 ulous 
 
 • 20"' Cf. Dt. 2»->o. , . . , . , ., 
 
 •> 20" Here the Chronicler apparently himself introduces the I-evitical singers. In tlio 
 
 orii^inal narrative the singers seem to be first introduced in-'. , , , , , ■• 
 
 ' 2022 Heh., Liers-in-wait. The rei>rcscntation of tlie story leaves IitUe doubt that nngoho 
 
 messengers are intended and that they stirred u|i the different hostile nations against each other. 
 
 269
 
 The 
 
 great 
 spoil 
 
 II Chr. 2024] FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ 
 
 Chroniclers Ecclesiastical History 
 
 24And when Jiidah came to the Watch-tower of the Wilderness and looked 
 toward the multitude, there they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and 
 none had escaped ! -^And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take 
 the spoil from them, they found cattle in abundance and personal property,"^ 
 garments and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, until 
 they could carry away no more; and they were three days in taking the spoil, 
 it was so much. 
 
 26And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there 
 they blessed Jehovah ; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley 
 of Beracah^ [Blessingl to this dav. ^/Xhen they returned, all the men of 
 
 trip DGO— OJ "^ «^ , . 1 • 
 
 pie of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head to go agam with ]oy 
 Judah ^^ Jerusalem, for Jehovah had made them rejoice over their enemies. "^And 
 they came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets to the temple of 
 Jehovah. 29^j^f[ a fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the earth, 
 when they heard that Jehovah had fought against the enemies of Israel. 
 20So the realm of Jehoshaphat enjoyed quiet, for his God gave him rest ou 
 all sides. 
 
 Joy 
 and 
 pres- 
 tige of 
 
 111. Jehoshaphat's Disastrous Commercial Enterprises and Death, 
 I Kgs. aa^-so, II Chr. 2035-211 
 
 The 
 wreck 
 of Je- 
 hosha- 
 phat's 
 ships 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 I Kgs. 33 47]S[q^ there was no 
 king in Edom. But the deputy of 
 King Jehoshaphat ^Smade ships of 
 Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold.^ 
 But they did not go ; for the ships were 
 wrecked at Ezion-geber. 49'pj^gj^ 
 Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Je- 
 hoshaphat, Let my servants go with 
 your servants in the ships. But Je- 
 hoshaphat would not. 5o\^(^ Jehosh- 
 aphat slept ^N-ith his fathers, and was 
 buried with his fathers in the city of Da- 
 vid his father; and Jehoram his son be- 
 came king in his place. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 30 35Xo^ later Jehosha 
 phat king of Judah allied himself 
 with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did 
 very wickedly. ^*^And he bound 
 himself by a contract with him to 
 build ships to go to Tarshish, so they 
 made the ships in Ezion-geber. ^'^But 
 Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of INIar- 
 eshah prophesied against Jehosha- 
 phat, saying, Because you have allied 
 yourself with Ahaziah, Jehovah will 
 surely tear your work in pieces. Ac- 
 cordingly the ships were broken, so 
 that they were unable to go to Tar- 
 shish. 
 
 ^ 2025 Correcting the Heb. with the aid of the Gk. 
 
 « 20^6 Identified with the Wadi Rereikut near Tekoa. 
 
 § 111 The citation by the late prophetic editor of Kgs. from this earlier source, is supple- 
 mented in the parallel in Chr. by a brief prophetic warning added by the Chronicler or already 
 found in his midrashic source. The descrintive epithet, Tarshish ship, was also interpreted 
 to mean that their destination was Tarshish. 
 
 ' I Kgs. 22"- ^s The current translation is untenable. The lucid translation given abm-e 
 is based on a slight emendation of the Heb. text. The Gk., favored by the marginal reading 
 of the Heb., has, ship, not ships. This may well have been the original text, although the Chron- 
 icler's parallel supports the plural. 
 
 270
 
 II Kgs. 81G] 
 
 JEHORAMS REIGN 
 
 [II Chr. 212 
 
 § 11^2. Jehoram's Reign, II Kgs. S'^-'-\ II Chr. 212=0 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. 8 if'And in the fifth year 
 of Joram, the son of Ahab king of 
 Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king 
 of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehosh- 
 aphat king of Judah began to reign. 
 ^'He was thirty-two years old when 
 he began to reign, and he reigned 
 eight years in Jerusalem. ^^And he 
 walked in the way of the kings of Is- 
 rael, as did the house of Ahab, for 
 he had married the daughter of Ahab, 
 and he did that which displeased Je- 
 hovah. ^^However, Jehovah would 
 not destroy Judah for the sake of 
 David his servant, since he had prom- 
 ised to give him a lamp before him^ 
 alwavs. 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 21 2Now Jehoram had 
 brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: 
 Azariah, Jehiel, Alichael, and She- 
 y)hatiah; all these were the sons of 
 Jehoshaphat king of Israel. -^And 
 their father gave them great gifts of 
 silver, of gold, and of precious things, 
 with fortified cities in Judah, but the 
 kingdom he gave to Jehoram, be- 
 cause he was the eldest. "*Now when 
 Jehoram had taken over the kingdom 
 of his father and had strengthened 
 himself he slew his brothers with the 
 
 sword, 
 nobles. 
 
 together with cerlaiu of the 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 20In his days Edom revolted from 
 the rule of Judah and established a 
 king over themselves. ^iXhen Joram 
 passed over to Zair, and all his char- 
 iots^ with him.^ And he rose U{) by 
 night and smote through the Edom- 
 ites who had surrounded him and the 
 captains of the chariots were with him, 
 but the people fled to their tents. ^^So 
 Edom revolted from under the rule 
 of Judah to this day. Then Libnah 
 
 revolted at the same time. -^Aiul the 
 other acts of Joram and all that he did are 
 they not recorded in the Chronicles of the 
 Kings of Judali? '^'And Joram slept wilh 
 his fathers and was buried with his fathers 
 in the city of David, and Aliaziah his son 
 became king in his place. 
 
 § 112 To the Keneral statements of the late prophetic editor of Krs. the Chronicler adds 
 certain facts in 212", which seem to be authentic and which are apparently derived from one of 
 his older non-canonical sources. Vss. '■' are but a verbatim quotation from Kgs. Ihe Btory 
 in "-20 is evidently a later raidrash. . ., „, „., „ , . ,■ i u 
 
 " ri Kgs. 81' So Luc, Lat., Targ., and the parallel in IT Chr. 217. Heb., for Ins children; 
 but they were the Inmv. . , , .. 
 
 h II Kgs. 821 The ITeb.is difficult anrl the context not cnmi>lete. Apnarentlv some of the 
 text has been lost, especially the account of the ambush into which the Hebrews fell and wlucli 
 is implied in 21 h 
 
 ' 11 KgH. 821 Supplying, irilh him. from the parallel passage in Chr. 
 
 ' II Chr. 21" Restoring the original text of Kgs- Heb., unth his captains. 
 
 ■' II Chr. 21' Restoring, with him, from Kgs. 
 
 ^In his days Edom revolted from 
 the rule of Judah and established a 
 king over themselves. ^Then Je- 
 horam passed over to Zair, and all 
 his chariotsJ with him. And he rose 
 up by night and smote through the 
 Edomites who had surroinidcd him 
 and the captains of the chariots were 
 with him.*^ ^°So Edom revolted from 
 the rule of Judah to this day. Then 
 Libnah revolted at the same time 
 from his rule, because he had for- 
 saken Jehovah, the God of his 
 fathers.
 
 II Chr. 2111] FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 Elijah's iiMoreover he made high places in the cities^ of Judah, and led the inhab- 
 ctm-"^ °^ itants of Jerusalem into apostasy ,'^ and led Judah astray. i-Then there 
 demna- came a writing to him from EUjah the prophet, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, 
 the God of David your ancestor, ' Because thou hast not walked in the ways 
 of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, l^but hast 
 walked in the way of the kings of Israel and hast led Judah and the inhab- 
 itants of Jerusalem into apostasy, as did the house of Ahab, and also hast 
 slain thy brothers of thy father's house, who were better than thyself; l^ow 
 Jehovah will smite with a great plague thy people, thy children, thy wives, 
 and all thy possessions; i^and thou thyself shall become very sick with a 
 disease of thy bowels, until, because of the disease, thy bowels shall waste 
 away day by day. 
 Jeho- i^Then Jehovah stirred up against Jehoram the Philistines and the Ara- 
 mis-^ bians, who live beside the Cushites," ^''so that they came up against Judah, 
 f(jrt- an(j invaded it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the 
 and royal palace, together with his son and his wives. Thus not a single son 
 some' was left to him, except Jehoahaz his youngest. i^And after all this Jehovah 
 eiid smote him in the bowels with an incurable disease, l^so that in process of 
 time, at the end of two years, ° his bowels wasted away because of his sick- 
 ness, and he died in great pain. And his people made no such funeral 
 pyre for him as they did for his fathers. ^^He was thirty-two years old 
 when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. And he 
 departed without being missed, p and they buried him in the city of David, 
 but not in the sepulchre of the kings. 
 
 § 113. Ahaziah's Brief Reign, II Kgs. 8«-29, 927.29^ jj c^j. ggi.o 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 Aha- II Kg s . 8 25ln the twelfth year 
 
 ev^il ^ of Joram the son of Ahab king of 
 policy Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jeho- 
 
 and al- 
 liance ram kmg of Judah began to reign. 
 
 ^^Ahaziah was twenty-two years 
 
 old when he began to reign, and 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 33 lAnd the inhabitants of 
 Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest 
 son, king in his place; for the hordes that 
 came with the Arabians to the camp had 
 slain all the older sons. So Ahaziah the 
 son of Jehoram became king of Judah. 
 
 I II Chr. 21" So Gk. Heb., mountains. 
 
 ■n II Chr. 21" Heb., play the harlot. So also, as in the prophets, it is used primarily in the 
 figurative sense. Cf. Hos. 2'". 
 
 ° II Chr. 211'^ Probably the Arabian Cushites, although in the O.T. the Heb. word also 
 designates the Ethiopians. 
 
 ° II Chr. 2V^ The Gk., two days, makes better sense and may be original. 
 
 PlI Chr. 2120 Heb., desired. 
 
 § 113 Ahaziah's reign of probably less than one year is treated by the editor of Kgs. in the 
 usual manner. Another editor, remembering that Jehoram reigned twelve years and Ahaziah 
 one, and that both died at the same time by the hand of .lehu, reckoned that .4.haziah's accession 
 must have been in the eleventh, not the twelfth (as in 8-=) year of Jehoram. Accordingly in 8^', 
 immediately after the account of the death of Ahaziah, he adds, in the eleventh year of Joram 
 the son of Ahab Ahaziah became king over Judah. The editor in 8-' is probably correct, since 
 Ahaziah's reign appears to have been limited to months and reckoned as a year only in round 
 numbers. 
 
 The source followed by the Chronicler was in part dependent upon Kgs., but regarding the 
 manner of Ahaziah's death it preserves a variant tradition. 
 
 272
 
 1 Kgs. 826] 
 
 AHAZIAH'S BRIEF REIGN 
 
 [II CiiR. 222 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 he reigned one year in Jerusalem. 
 And his mother's name was Atha- 
 Hah the granddaughter'^ of Omri 
 king of Israel. 27^^^^ j^g walked 
 in the way of the house of Ahab 
 and did that which displeased Je- 
 hovah, as did the house of Ahab ; 
 for he was related by marriage to 
 the house of Ahab. 28And he went 
 with Joram the son of Ahab to 
 make w-ar against Hazael king of 
 Aram at Ramoth in Gilead. But 
 the Arameans wounded Joram. 
 29^hen King Joram returned to 
 be healed in Jezreel of the wounds 
 which the Arameans had given 
 him at Ramah. when he fought 
 against Hazael king of Aram. 
 
 Prophetic Jehu History 
 
 His 8 29b\nd Ahaziah the son of 
 
 "y^"^ ^ Jehoram king of Judah went down 
 Jehu ^Q visit Joram the son of Ahab 
 to Jezreel because he was sick. 
 9 -''And u'hen Jehu slew Joram, 
 Ahaziah king of Judah saw it 
 and fled in the direction of Beth- 
 gannim. Then Jehu pursued 
 after him with the words, Ilim 
 also ! Smite him in the chariot. 
 And they smote him in the ascent 
 of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And 
 he escaped to Megiddo and died 
 there. 28j3y^ ]^\^ servants carried 
 him to Jerusalem and buried him 
 there in his sef)ulchre with his 
 fathers in the city of David. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 2Forty-two years old was Ahaziah, when 
 he began to reign, and he reigned one 
 year in Jerusalem. And his mother's 
 name was Athaliah the granddaughter 
 of Omri. ^Ile also walked in the ways 
 of the house of Ahab, for his mother was 
 his counsellor to do wickedly. ^And he 
 did that which displeased Jehovah, as 
 did the house of Ahab, for they were his 
 counsellors after the death of his father, 
 to his destruction. ^Ile also followed 
 their advice and went with Jehoram the 
 son of Ahab king of Israel, to make war 
 against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth 
 in Gilead. But the Arameans w-ounded 
 Joram. '^And he returned to be healed 
 of the wounds which they had given him 
 at Ramah, when he fought against Ha- 
 zael king of Aram. 
 
 And Azariah the son of Jehoram king 
 of Judah went down to visit Jehoram 
 the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he 
 was sick. ^Now the destruction of Aha- 
 ziah was of God, in that he went to 
 Joram, and after his arrival he went out 
 with Jehoram against Jehu the son of 
 Nimshi, whom Jehovah had anointed to 
 cut off the house of Ahab. ^Now when 
 Jehu was executing judgment upon the 
 house of Ahab, he found the princes of 
 Judah and the sons of the brothers of 
 Ahaziah, ministering to Ahaziah, and 
 slew them. ^Then he sought Ahaziah. 
 And they caught him while he was hiding 
 in Samaria, and llicy brought him fo Joiui 
 and he slew him. But they buried Iiim, 
 for they said. He is the son of Jehoslia- 
 phat, w-ho sought Jehovah with all his 
 heart. -Xnd tlic house of Ahaziah had no 
 one who hud the strength necessary to rule. 
 
 1 II Kg8. 8^ Heb., daughter, used in tlic .sciiho of doscondant. 
 
 273
 
 11 Kgs. Ill] 
 
 FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ [II Chr. 22io 
 
 § 114. Overthrow of Athaliah and Accession of Joash, II Kgs. IV-", 
 
 II Chr. 22'«-23=i 
 
 Atha- 
 liah's 
 seizure 
 of the 
 throne 
 
 Jehoi- 
 ada's 
 con- 
 spir- 
 acy 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 II Kgs. 11 iNow when Atha- 
 liah, the mother of Ahaziah, 
 learned that her son was dead she 
 arose and destroyed all the royal 
 family. -But Jehosheba, the 
 daughter of King Joram and sis- 
 ter of Ahaziah, took Joash, the 
 son of Ahaziah, and stole him 
 away from among the king's sons, 
 who were about to be slain, and 
 puf him in the bedchamber. Thus 
 she hid him from Athaliah, so 
 that he was not slain. ^And he 
 was with her, hid in the temple of 
 Jehovah, six years while Athaliah 
 reigned over the land. 
 
 ^But in the seventh year 
 Jehoiada sent and brought 
 the military commanders® 
 of the Carites and of the 
 guards* and brought them 
 to him into the temple of 
 Jehovah. Thereupon he 
 showed them the king's son. 
 ^And he commanded them 
 saying. This is what you 
 shall do : a third part of you, 
 who go in on the sabbath 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 22 lOXow when Athaliah, the 
 mother of Ahaziah, learned that her son 
 was dead, she arose and destroyed all the 
 royal family of the house of Judah. ^^But 
 Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, 
 took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole 
 him away from among the king's sons, 
 who were about to be slain, and put him 
 and his nurse in the bedchamber. Thus 
 Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Je- 
 horam, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for 
 she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him 
 from Athaliah, so that she did not slay 
 him. i-And he was with her, hid in the 
 temple of God, six years while Athaliah 
 reigned over the land. 
 
 23 ^But in the seventh year Jehoiada took 
 courage and entered into a covenant with the 
 military commanders, Azariah the son of Je- 
 horam, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Aza- 
 riah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of 
 Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. 
 ^And they went about Judah and gathered 
 Levites from all the cities of Judah and the 
 heads of the Israelitish families, and they came 
 to Jerusalem. ^Then all the assembly made 
 a covenant with the king in the house of God. 
 And he said to them. Behold, the king's son 
 
 § 114 The interest in this and its sequel, II Kgs. 12, centres about the temple and the re- 
 ligious revolution effected through the activity of Jehoiada the priest. The narrative is straight- 
 forward and circumstantial — evidently from a writer acquainted with the facts and with the 
 details of the sanctuary. Joash plays a secondary role. The character and contents of the 
 narrative strongly support the conclusion that it was taken from the temple records and there- 
 fore ranks as practically contemporaneous testimony regarding the important events recounted. 
 
 By many i^-isa are regarded as a duplicate of '" and from a different source, but the evidence 
 adduced is far from conclusive. The execution of Athaliah and the priests of Baal and the 
 removal of. the symbolism of the cult, fostered within the temj^le precincts by the queen, were 
 the natural preliminaries to the introduction of the young king to the palace and vacant throne. 
 The care taken that Athaliah shall not be slain in the temple court. », and the prominence given 
 to the covenant and to the overthrow of Baalism, "• "*, all point to the temple records as 
 likewise the source from which these verses were taken. The recapitulation in 20 seems to antici- 
 pate " and i". It may have been added by the editor, although there is nothing in it to indicate 
 that it is not a concluding summary from the original author of the section. 
 
 The Chronicler substitutes the Levites for the captains of the guard and the Carites. thus 
 protecting the temple from all pollution by the common people. He also introduces the singers 
 at the crucial moment, when Athaliah appears; otherwise he follows the narrative of Kgs. 
 
 ■■ II Kgs. 11- Restoring the original Heb. by the aid of the parallel in II Chr. 22". 
 
 •II Kgs. 11^ Heb., commanders of hundreds. 
 
 '11 Kgs. ll* Heb., runners.
 
 II KgS. 11'5] 
 
 OVERTHROW OF ATHALIAII 
 
 [II Chr. 233 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 and keep guard over the 
 royal palace, ''and a third part 
 shall be at the gate Sur; and a 
 third part at the gate behind 
 the guards, that you may keep 
 watch" over the royal palace.^' 
 
 "^And the two divisions of 
 you, even all who go forth 
 on the sabbath to keep 
 guard over the temple of Je- 
 hovah about the king, ^shall 
 surrotuid the king, each 
 with his weapons in his 
 hand. And whoever comes 
 within the ranks, let him be 
 slain. Thus yoti shall be 
 with the king, when he goes 
 out and when he comes in. 
 
 ^And the military commanders 
 did just as Jehoiada the priest 
 had commanded: each brought 
 his men, both those who were to 
 come in on the sabbath and 
 those who were to go out on the 
 
 sabbath, to Jehoiada the priest. 
 '"And the priest delivered to tlie mil- 
 itary commanders the spears and 
 shields that had been King David's, 
 which were in the temple of Jeho- 
 vah." ^^And the guards stood 
 each with his weapons in his 
 hand, from the south side of the 
 temple to the north side of the 
 temple, before the altar and be- 
 fore the temple, around the king.^ 
 ^•^Then he brought out the king's 
 son and ])ut the crown upon him 
 and the ornaments, and tlievy)ro- 
 claimed him king and anointed 
 him, and clapjjed their hands 
 and said, May the king live ! 
 
 Chrotiicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 shall reign, as Jehovah hath spoken concern- 
 ing the sons of David. '^This is what you 
 shall do: A third part of you, the priests and 
 Levites, who come in on the sal)bath, shall 
 be porters at the thresholds; '^and a third par\ 
 shall guard the royal palace; and a third {)art 
 the Gate Jesod; and all the people shall be in 
 the courts of the temj^le of Jehovah. *^But let 
 none come into the temple of Jehovah except 
 the priests and the ministering Levites; they 
 shall come in, for they are ceremonially clean; 
 but all the people shall observe the command 
 of Jehovah. "And the Levites shall surround 
 the king, each with his weapons in his hand; 
 and whoever comes into the temple, let him be 
 slain. Thus you shall be with the king when 
 he comes in and when he goes out. 
 
 ^So the Levites and all Judah did just 
 as Jehoiada the priest commanded: each 
 brought his men, both those who were to 
 come in on the sabbath and those who 
 were to go out on the sabbath; for Je- 
 hoiada the priest had dismissed the divis- 
 ions. ^And Jehoiada the priest delivered 
 to the military commanders the spears, 
 bucklers, and shields that had been King 
 David's, which were in the house of God. 
 ^•^And he set all the ])eople, each with his 
 weapon in his hand, from the south side 
 of the temple to the north side of the tem- 
 ple, even to the altar and the temple, 
 around the king. iiTlien tliey brought 
 out the king's son and put the crown and 
 the ornaments upon him, and proclaimed 
 him king, and Jehoiada and his .sons 
 anointed him, and cried, May the 
 live ! 
 
 mg 
 
 " JI KgS. ll* So the free paraphrase in II Chr. 235. supported by a scholia cited by Field. 
 
 The same is obtained by a simple correction of the present untranslatable Heb. 
 
 Kes. 11'- This verse has either been misplaced or else is a rIoss, for ' is the direct 
 
 con- 
 
 II Kes 
 tinualion of '■' 
 
 » 11 Kes - --„ ... 
 
 It is probable that a scribe introfluced this verse from II ( hr. 
 
 supports this conclusion. It may also be .secondary in f'hr. ^ 1 1 • 
 
 » II Kes. 11" The awkward form of the Heb. an.l the fact that .loash was not yet king 
 i»dicate that these words are also from a later scribe who recalled the comman<l iti \ 
 
 while '■ introduces hopeless confusion. , , , , .1 1 
 
 11"* But cf 1 Kes 14*' -". The temple Euanls were also iloubtless already nriued. 
 ' 2;j". ' 
 
 Its awkward form likewise 
 
 275
 
 II Kgs. 1113] FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ [II Chr. 2312 
 
 Death 
 
 of 
 
 Queen 
 
 Atha- 
 
 liah 
 
 Cove- 
 nant 
 with 
 Jeho- 
 vah and 
 over- 
 throw 
 of 
 
 Baal- 
 ism 
 
 Estab- 
 hsh- 
 ment of 
 Joash 
 on the 
 throne 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 i^But when Athaliah heard 
 the cry'* of the people, she came 
 to the people into the temple of 
 Jehovah. i"^Then she looked and 
 there was the king standing by 
 the pillar, as was the custom, and 
 the commanders and the trum- 
 peters by the king, and all the 
 people of the land rejoicing and 
 blowing trumpets. Then Atha- 
 liah tore her clothes and cried, 
 Treason ! Treason ! ^'^And Je- 
 hoiada the priest gave command 
 to the military commanders who 
 were over the army and said to 
 them. Bring her out between the 
 ranks ; and whoever follows her, 
 slay with the sword ! for the 
 priest said, Let her not be slain 
 in the temple of Jehovah. ^^So 
 they laid hands on her, and, as 
 she went through the horses' 
 entry to the royal palace, she was 
 slain. 
 
 I'^And Jehoiada made a cov- 
 enant between Jehovah and the 
 king and the people, that they 
 should be Jehovah's people; 
 likewise between the king and 
 the people. ^^And all the peo- 
 ple of the land went to the tem- 
 ple of Baal and destroyed it. His 
 altar and his images they broke 
 completely in pieces, and they 
 slew Mattan the priest of Baal 
 before the altars. 
 
 Then the priest ap- 
 pointed watchmen over 
 the temple of Jehovah. 
 i^And he took the mili- 
 tary commanders and the 
 Carites, and the guards 
 and all the people of the 
 land, and they brought 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 i-^But when Athaliah heard the cry of 
 the people running and praising the king, 
 she came to the people into the temple of 
 Jehovah, ^^fhen she looked and there 
 was the king standing by his pillar at 
 the entrance, and the commanders and 
 the trumpeters by the king, and all the 
 people of the land rejoicing and blowing 
 trumpets, and the singers with musical 
 instruments leading the songs of praise. 
 Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, 
 Treason ! Treason ! ^^But Jehoiada the 
 priest brought out the military command- 
 ers who were over the army, and said to 
 them. Bring her out between the ranks; 
 and whoever follows her, let him be slain 
 with the sword; for the priest said. Slay 
 her not in the temple of Jehovah. ^^So 
 they laid hands on her, and, as she went 
 to the entrance of the horse-gate which 
 led to the royal palace, they slew her there. 
 
 i^And Jehoiada made a covenant be- 
 tween himself and all the people, and the 
 king, that they should be Jehovah's peo- 
 ple. i''And all the people went to the 
 temple of Baal and destroyed it. And 
 they broke completely in pieces his altars 
 and his images, and Mattan the priest of 
 Baal they slew before the altars. 
 
 i^And Jehoiada appointed the watchmen over 
 the temple under the direction of the levitical 
 priests, whom David had distributed in the tem- 
 ple of Jehovah, to offer the burnt-offerings of 
 Jehovah, as it is prescribed in the law of Moses, 
 with rejoicing and with singing, according to the 
 regulation of David. ^^And he placed the por- 
 ters at the gates of the temple of Jehovah, that 
 
 » II Kgs. ll's A scribe has added, of the guard. It is not found in the parallel in Chr. 
 
 276
 
 II KgS. 1119] 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 down the king from the 
 temple of Jehovah and 
 entered tlirough the gate 
 of the guards to the royal 
 palace. And he sat on 
 the royal throne. -^^So all 
 the people of the land re- 
 joiced and the city was 
 quiet. Thus they slew 
 Athaliah with the sword 
 in the royal palace. 
 
 ACCESSION OF JOASH 
 
 [II Chr. 2319 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 none who was at all unclean should enter. ^OThen 
 he took the military commanders and the nobles 
 and those who ruled the people of the land, and 
 brought down the king from the temple of Je- 
 ho\ah. And when they had come through the 
 upper gate to the royal palace, they placed the 
 king upon the royal throne, ^i^hen all the peo- 
 ple of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. 
 Thus they slew Athaliah. 
 
 § 115. Joash's Reign and Repair of the Temple, II Kgs. IV^-W\ II Chr. 24 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 II IvgS. 11 ^iJehoash was seven 
 years old when he began to reign. 12 'In 
 the seventh j-ear of Jehu Johoash be- 
 gan to reign, and he reigned fort3' years 
 in Jerusalem. .\nd his mother's name 
 was Zibiah of Beersheba. -And Jehoash 
 did that wliich pleased Jehovah just as 
 long as Jehoiada the priest instructed 
 him. ^Only the high places were not 
 taken away; the people still sacrificed and 
 burnt their ofTerings on the liigh places. 
 
 ■*And Jehoash said to the priests, 
 All the money, which in the form of 
 consecration gifts is brought into the 
 temj)le of Jehovah, the money which 
 comes from each man's assessment, 
 the money from the persons wdiose 
 value is estimated, and all the money 
 which the people bring of their own 
 free will into the temple of Jehovah,^ 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 24 iJoash was seven years 
 old when he began to reign, antl he 
 reigned forty years in Jeru.salem. 
 And his mother's name was Zibiah, 
 of Beersheba. -And Joash did that 
 which pleased Jehovah all the days 
 of Jehoiada the priest. "^And Jehoiada 
 took for himself two wives, and he 
 begot sons and daughters. 
 
 ^Now after this it occurred to Joash 
 to restore the temple of Jehovah. 
 "^And he gathered together the priests 
 and the Lcvites and said to them. 
 Go out to the cities of Judah and 
 gather of all Israel money to rej)air 
 the temple of your God from year to 
 year; but you must hasten the matter. 
 However, the Levites did not hasten 
 
 § 11.5 The narrative of Kgs. continues the prece<Hng and is clearly froTn the sanio source. 
 The eriitor has intioducerl it by his usual synohroiiistic formula. The laiiKiiuKC of 12'"' '■'* is 
 closely parallel to the citation from the annals of Judah in 1 Kgs. 16"' "* and they are probably 
 from the same source, although their present connection and the i)arallel references in II Kns. 
 IG'^. '1 and 18"' to the robbery of the temple in order to pay tribute, both of which are from the 
 tem|»le records, tend to connect them with the latter source. The brief quotation in -".'•''> is 
 evidently from the annals of Jud.ih. 
 
 The Chronicler ha.s an expanded and much revised version of the narratives. The I.ovites 
 appear, aa well as the priests, and the Aramean inv:ision is interpreted as a divine judgment 
 upon Joash for a sin — tiie murder of the son of Jehoiada — to which no reference is made in Kgs. 
 The parallel passages illustrate most vividly the older aii<l the later concc|)tion.s of the history. 
 At the same time it is probable that the later, through the medium of oral priestly trailition, 
 has preserved facts not recorded in the older, although, where there are direct contrailictions, 
 the authority is clearly with tlie older and more natural narrative of Kgs. 
 
 ''11 Kgs. 12' The passage is exceechngly difficult. The translation aims to l)ring f)ut the 
 meaning of the text. 'I'liree sources of income appear to be suggcsteil: (1) the poll-tiix for the 
 temple, (2) the eiiuivalent values for persons consecrated tr) .lehovah -the later usage is outlined 
 in iletail in Lev. 27, (.3) the regular vows and frc-ewill offerings. IJy the majority of scholars (2) 
 is regardcfl as a scribal note intended to explain (1), but the lw<j peculiar iili<jms do not appear 
 to be equivalent to each other. 
 
 277
 
 II Kgs. 125] FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ 
 
 [II Chr. 245 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 ^let the priests take that for them- 
 selves each from his acquaintances. 
 They must, however, repair the 
 breaches in the temple, wherever any 
 breach is found. "^But it transpired 
 that in the twenty-third year of Je- 
 hoash the priests had not yet repaired 
 the breaches of the temple. ^Then 
 King Jehoash called for Jehoiada the 
 priest and for the other priests and 
 said to them. Why have you not re- 
 paired the breaches of the temple ? 
 Now therefore take no more money 
 from your acquaintances, but turn it 
 over for the repair of the breaches 
 of the temple. ^And the priests 
 agreed that they should take no more 
 money from the people nor repair 
 the breaches of the temple. 
 
 ^Then Jehoiada the priest took a 
 chest, boi'ed a hole in its cover and 
 sions placed it beside the doorposf^ at the 
 ex- right of the entrance of the temple of 
 and^re- Jehovali. And the priests, who kept 
 pair of watch at the threshold, put therein 
 temple all the money that was brought into 
 the temple of Jehovah. ^"^And as 
 soon as they saw that there was much 
 money in the chest, the king's scribe 
 and the high" priest came up, and 
 they put up in bags and counted the 
 money that was found in the temple 
 of Jehovah. ^^Then they gave the 
 money that was weighed out into the 
 hands of those who had the over- 
 sight of the temple of Jehovah; and 
 they paid it out to the carpenters and 
 the builders, who worked on the tem- 
 ple of Jehovah, ^^and to the masons 
 and the stone-cutters, and for the 
 buying of timber and hewn stone to 
 repair the breaches of the temple of 
 
 De- 
 tailed 
 provi 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 it. ^Then the king summoned Je- 
 hoiada the chief and said to him. Why 
 have you not recjuired the Levites to 
 bring in from Judah and Jerusalem 
 the tax of Moses, the servant of Je- 
 hovah, and of the assembly of Israel 
 for the tent of the testimony ? ^For 
 the wacked Athaliah and her sons" 
 had wrought devastation in the house 
 of God, and had employed all the 
 objects consecrated to the temple of 
 Jehovah for the Baals. 
 
 ^So the king commanded, that they 
 should prepare a chest and place it 
 outside at the gate of the temple of 
 Jehovah. ^And they made a proc- 
 lamation through Judah and Jeru- 
 salem to bring in for Jehovah the tax 
 that Moses, the servant of God, laid 
 upon Israel in the wilderness. ^'^x\nd 
 all the princes and all the people re- 
 joiced, and brought in and cast into 
 the chest, until it was full. ^^And 
 each time, when the chest was brought 
 to those appointed by the king by the 
 hand of the Levites and they saw 
 that there was much money, the 
 king's scribe and the one appointed 
 by the chief priest came and emptied 
 the chest and took it and carried it 
 again to its place. Thus they did 
 day by day and gathered money in 
 abundance, ^^^nd the king and Je- 
 hoiada gave it to the master workmen 
 in the construction of the temple of 
 
 ■^ II Chr. 24' So Gk. and Lat. Heb., sons of Athaliah that wicked woman. 
 
 <^ II Kgs. 12^ Heb., altar. Gk., maq^ehah; but the context indicates that it was beside the 
 entrance. A slight emendation gives the above. 
 
 ■^ II Kgs. 12"* Elsewhere in 11 Jehoiada is called simply, the priest. Furthermore he 
 lived in the temple. High is evidently from a later scribe ; possibly also, priest. 
 
 278
 
 II Kgs. 1212] 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 Jehovah, and for all for which outlay 
 should be made upon the temple for 
 its repairs. ^^However, there were 
 not made for the temple of Jehovah 
 silver cups, basins, trumpets, or any 
 vessels of gold or vessels of silver 
 from the money that was brought 
 into the temple of Jehovah, ^^but 
 they gave that to those who did the 
 work and repaired the temple of Je- 
 hovah. i^Moreover they reckoned 
 not with the men, into whose hand 
 they delivered the money to give to 
 those who did the work, for they 
 dealt faithfully. ^^The money from 
 the trespass-offerings and the money 
 from the sin-offerings was not brought 
 into the temple of Jehovah; it be- 
 longed to the priests. 
 
 REPAIR OF THE TEMPLE 
 
 [II Chr. 2412 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History , 
 
 Jehovah. And they hired masons 
 and carpenters to restore the temple 
 of Jehovah, and also those who 
 wrought iron and brass to repair the 
 temple of Jehovah. ^'^So the work- 
 men toiled, and thus the work went 
 forward rapidly in their hands. And 
 they set up the house of God accord- 
 ing to the plan, and strengthened it. 
 I'^And when they had finished, they 
 brought the rest of the money before 
 the king and Jehoiada, and he caused 
 to be made from it vessels for the 
 temple of Jehovah, even vessels for 
 the service and for offering the sacri- 
 fice, and spoons and vessels of gold 
 and silver. So they ofi'ered burnt- 
 offerings in the temple of Jehovah 
 continually as long as Jehoiada lived. 
 
 i^But when Jehoiada was old and satisfied with living he died. A hundred 
 and thirty years old was he when he died. ^^And they buried him in the 
 city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel and 
 toward God and his temple. 
 
 I'But after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and made 
 obeisance to the king. Then the king gave heed to them. ^^And they for- 
 sopk the temple of Jehovah, tlie God of their fathers, and served the asherahs 
 and the idols. But wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for their guilt. 
 i^Yet he sent jirophets to them, to bring them back to Jehovah, who testified 
 against them; but they would not heed. 
 
 ^f^hen the spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the 
 priest, so that he stood before the temple and said to them. Thus sailh God, 
 ' Why do ye transgress the commands of Jehovah, so that ye cannot pros- 
 per? Because ye have forsaken Jehovah, he hath also forsaken you.' -^But 
 they conspired against him and at the command of the king stoned him to 
 death in the court of the temple of Jehovah. --Thus Joash the king did not 
 remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done him, but slew 
 his son ! And when he died, he said. May Jehovah see and j)unish ! 
 
 Death 
 of Je- 
 hoiada 
 
 Later 
 apos- 
 tasy of 
 king 
 and 
 people 
 
 Mar- 
 tyrdom 
 of Zech- 
 ariah 
 the son 
 of Je- 
 hoiada 
 
 Annuls of Judah 
 
 I'Then Hazael king of Aram went ^S^^j n came to pass at the end 
 
 up and fought against Gat'n, and took of a year, that the army of the Ara- 
 
 it. But when Ilazael set out togoup means came up against him. And 
 
 to Jerusalem, ^^Jehoash king of Ju- thev came to Judah and Jerusalem 
 
 dah took all the consecrated gifts and d(>stroved all the princes of the 
 
 that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and people from among the people and 
 
 279
 
 II Kgs. 1217] FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ [II Chr. 2423 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 Ahaziah, his ancestors the kings of 
 Judah, had dedicated, and his own 
 consecrated gifts, and all the gold 
 that was found in the treasures of 
 the temple of Jehovah and of the roy- 
 al palace, and sent it to Hazael king 
 of Aram. Then he went away from 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 Fatal 
 con- 
 spiracy 
 against 
 Joash 
 
 20But his servants arose 
 
 and made a conspiracy 
 
 and smote Joash at the 
 
 house of Millo, that go- 
 
 eth down^ to Silla, ^ifor 
 
 his servant Jozacar the 
 
 son of Shimeath and Je- 
 
 hozabad the son of Shom- 
 
 er put him to death. And 
 they buried him with his 
 fathers in the city of David; 
 and Amaziah his son became 
 king in his place. ^'Nowthe 
 other acts of Joash and all 
 that he did — are they not re- 
 corded in the Chronicles of 
 the Kings of Judah? 
 
 Chronicler''s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 sent all the spoil taken from them to 
 the king of Damascus. 24'pjjg army 
 of the Arameans, indeed, came with 
 a small body of men ; but Jehovah de- 
 livered a very great army into their 
 hand, because the Judeans had for- 
 saken Jehovah the God of their fa- 
 thers; so that they executed judg- 
 ment upon Joash. 
 -^And when they departed from him — for they 
 left him very sick — his own servants conspired 
 "against him, on account of the bloodguilt of the 
 son^ of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his 
 bed. So he died and they buried him in the 
 city of David, but they buried him not in the 
 sepulchres of the kings, ^o^j^j these are those 
 who conspired against him: Zacar^ the son of 
 Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabal the 
 son of Shimrith the Moabitess. 27]\Jq^ jjjg gQj^ 
 and the many divine utterances against him, 
 and the rebuilding of the house of God — they 
 have already been recorded in the Midrash of 
 the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son 
 became king in his place. 
 
 Sum- 
 mary of 
 Ama- 
 ziah's 
 reign 
 
 Execu- 
 tion of 
 his fa- 
 ther's 
 assas- 
 sins 
 
 § 116. Amaziah's Reign, II Kgs. W-^\ II Chr. 25 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 II Kgs. 1 4 'In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah 
 the son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. -He was twenty years old when he 
 began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's 
 name was Jelioaddin of Jerusalem, ^^nd he did that which pleased Jehovah, yet not 
 like David his ancestor — he did just as Joash his father had done. ■'However, he 
 did not take away the high places; the people still sacrificed and burnt their offer- 
 ings on the high places. 
 
 ^Now as soon as the kingdom was firmly established in his hand, he slew 
 
 his servants who had slain his father. ^^But the children of the murderers 
 
 he did not put to death, according to that wliich is written in the book of the law 
 
 « II Chr. 2425 So Gk. and Lat. Heb., sons. 
 
 e II Kgs. 122" xhe passage is obscure. The original may have read, as he was going down 
 to the house of Millo. 
 
 *> II Chr. 2426 Heb., Zabad, but the original probably had a shortened form of the corre- 
 sponding, Jozacar, cf. II Kgs. 122i. 
 
 § 116 Into his usual formulas the editor of Kgs. has introduced two brief citations from the 
 Judean annals, 5.6a. 7_ xhe reference in ^b jg to the late prophetic law-book, Dt. 24i6. The 
 precedent established at this time may well have formed the basis of the later law. As has al- 
 ready been noted, the account of the war with Israel in «-» is from the annals of Israel, cf. note 
 §96. 
 
 For the brief account of this war with Edom in II Kgs. 14' the Chronicler has substituted 
 a story probably drawn from his other main source. Possibly "-"' are from the same. The 
 account of the war with Joash of Israel is taken from the canonical book of Kgs. (148-16) ^^^ jg 
 slightly e.x;panded in i^. 20. 
 
 280
 
 AI^L\ZIAH'S REIGN [II Kgs. U^ 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 of Moses, as Jehovah commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the 
 cliildren nor the children be put to death for the fathers, but every man shall die for 
 his own sin.' 
 
 "He slew of 
 Edom in the val- 
 ley of Salt ten 
 thousand, and 
 took Sela [the 
 Rock] by storm, 
 and named it 
 JoktheeP to this 
 day. 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical Histor)/ 
 
 II Chr. 25 ^Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah to- 
 gether, and ordered them according to their families, 
 under commanders of thousands and commanders of 
 hundreds, even all Judah and Benjamin, and numbered 
 them from twenty years old and upward, and found them 
 to be three hundred thousand picked men, able to go forth 
 to war and who could handle spear and shield. ^He also 
 hired a hundred thousand brave warriors from Israel for 
 a hundred talents of silver. "But a man of God came to 
 him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with you, for Jehovah is 
 not with Israel, that is, with all the Ephraimites. ^But if you think that you 
 will become strong in this way, God will cast you down before the enemy, 
 for God hath power to help and to cast down. ^But Amaziah said to the 
 man of God, But what shall I do for the hundred talents I have given to the 
 troops of Israel ? And the man of God answered, Jehovah is able to give 
 you much more than this. ^^Then Amaziah separated them (the troops 
 who had come to him out of Ephraim) to go home again. But their anger 
 was greatly aroused against Judah and they returned home in fierce anger. 
 ^^Amaziah, however, took courage and led forth his people to the Valley 
 of Salt and smote ten thousand of the children of Seir. ^-And ten thou- 
 sand the Judahites carried away alive, brought them to the top of a 
 crag, and cast them down from the top of the crag, so that they all were 
 dashed to pieces. ^^j^^,)^ ^he troops whom Amaziah sent back without 
 allowing them to go with him to battle fell upon the cities of Judah, from 
 Samaria to Bethhoron, and smote of them three thousand, and took much 
 spoil. 
 
 ^^Xow after Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he His 
 brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, 'J,"i're'?' 
 and bowed down himself to them, and offered sacrifices to them. ^^Therefore f''/^'^^ to 
 the anger of Jehovah was aroused against Amaziah, and he sent to him a toJe- 
 pro[)het, who said to him, Why have you sought after the gods of the people, J°opijet 
 which have not delivered' their own people out of your hand ? ^*'And it 
 came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said to him. Have we ap- 
 pointed you the king's counsellor.' Desist; why should you be cut down? 
 Then the prophet desisted and said, I know that God has determined to 
 destroy you, because you have done this and have not hearkened to my 
 counsel. 
 
 ' II Kks. 14" Under Ahab the unjust ancient custom was still in force, IT Kgs. 9™. The 
 present pa-ssage records one of the earliest precedents which in time save rise to the law of 
 Dt. 24'" referred to by the late prophetic editor. 
 
 ' II Kks. 14' The usual identification with Petra, the capital of Edom, is by no means cer- 
 tain. It is nowhere el.se known as Jokthcel. Am. !"• " implies that Edom was independent. 
 
 281
 
 [II Chr. 2517 FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 His I'^Tlien Amaziah kinsj of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash the son of 
 
 Fenge Jelioahaz, the son of Jehu the king of Israel saying, Come, let us meet face 
 
 °?'^h®j, to face. i^But Joash kmg of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, 
 
 Israel The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, 
 
 saying, ' Give your daughter to my son as wife.' But a wild beast of Lebanon 
 
 passed by and trod down the thistle. ^^You think, you have indeed smitten 
 
 Edom; and now your heart impels you to win renown. Remain at home; 
 
 why should you court misfortune, so that you will fall and Judah with you ? 
 
 His 20]3^^ Amaziah would not hear. It was God's doing, that he might de- 
 
 ana * liver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the 
 
 immil- gods of Edom. "^So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king 
 
 of Judah met face to face at Bethshemesh, which belongs to Judah. ^^And 
 
 Judah was defeated by Israel, so that they fled each to his home. 23 \jjj 
 
 Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son 
 
 of Jelioahaz, at Bethshemesh and brought him down to Jerusalem and broke 
 
 down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate — - 
 
 four hundred cubits. -^And he took all the gold and silver and all the vessels 
 
 that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, together with the treasures 
 
 of the royal palace and the hostages, and returned to Samaria. 
 
 Late Prophetic Suvimary 
 
 His II Kgs. 14 i^And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after 
 
 ^^ the death of Jehoash son of Jelioahaz king of Israel fifteen years. ^^Now 
 the other acts of Amaziah, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the 
 Kings of Judah .^ ^^And*' they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. 
 And he fled to Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish and slew him 
 there, ^o^j^^j Ij^gy brought him upon horses, and he was buried at Jeru- 
 salem with his fathers in the city of David. ^^And all the people of Judah 
 took Azariah,^ who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of 
 his father Amaziah. 
 
 § 117. Reign of Azariah (Uzziah), II Kgs. 14", \o^-\ 11 Chr. 26 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 Sum- II Kgs. 15 ^In the twenty-seventh 
 
 of^\z- year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Aza- 
 
 ariah's x'lab. SOU of Amaziali king of Judah 
 
 and began to reign. ^gjxteen years old 
 
 po icy ^^^^g 1^^ when he began to reign, and 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 26 lAnd all the people of 
 Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen 
 years old, and made him king in the 
 place of his father Amaziah. ^He 
 built Elath, and restored it to Judah 
 
 •= II Kgs. 14" The Chronicler adds, II Chr. 25^7, at the beginning of this verse, Now since 
 the time that Amaziah turned from following Jehovah, thus attributing a moral cause to the 
 calamity that overtook the king. 
 
 ' II Kgs. 1421 go in 151. 7, 17. 23, 27^ and the longer form Azariyahu, in ISf' 8. In IS^^. " the 
 form Uzziyahu occurs, and in 15'^' ^" in Gk. and Luc, Azariah. Otherwise in the O.T. the 
 shorter form. Uzziah, is used. 
 
 § 117 The long and significant reign of Azariah is passed over by the editor of Kgs. with 
 only a surprisingly brief mention. The two important facts that he cites from the older sources 
 
 282
 
 II Kgs. 152] REIGN OF AZARIAH [II Chr. 262 
 
 Late Prophetic Summari/ 
 
 he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusa- 
 lem. And his mother's name was 
 Jeeohah of Jerusalem. ^And he did 
 that which pleased Jehovah, just as 
 his father Amaziah had done "^How - 
 ever the high places were not taken 
 away; the people still sacrificed and 
 burnt their offerings on the high 
 places. 1 4 2-He built Elath and re- 
 stored it to Judah after King Amaziah 
 slept with his fathers. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 after the king slept with his fathers. 
 "^Sixteen years old was Uzziah when 
 he began to reign, and he reigned 
 fifty-two years in Jerusalem. And 
 his mother's name was Jechiliah of 
 Jerusalem. ^And he did that which 
 pleased Jehovah just as his father 
 Amaziah had done. ^And he was 
 ready to seek God during the life- 
 time of Zechariah, who instructed 
 liim 'n the fear"* of God; and as long 
 as he sought Jehovah, God gave him 
 prosperity. 
 
 ^And he went against the Pliilistines, and broke down the wall of Gath His 
 and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod and built cities near Ashdod riei°" 
 and among the Philistines. "And God helped him against the Philistines 
 and against the Arabians who dwelt in Gur-baal, and the ]\Ieunites." ^And 
 the Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah; and his reputation spread abroad 
 even to the entrance of Egypt; for he became exceedingly strong. 
 
 ^Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at His 
 the Valley Gate and at the corner of the wall and fortified them, ^"^nd he jnl; 
 built towers in the wilderness and hewed out many cisterns, for he had enter- 
 many herds, in the lowland and husbandmen in the plain and vinedressers 
 in the mountains and in the fruitful fields, for he loved agriculture. 
 
 i^Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, ready to take the field. His 
 divided into companies according to the number of their reckoning made ^m\^ 
 by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, ™'l'- 
 one of the king's generals, ^^^he whole number of the heads of families, equip- 
 even the brave warriors, w-as two thousand, six hundred. ^^^And under ™®" 
 their command was an army of three hundred and seven thousand, five 
 hundred, ready for war with complete equipment, to help the king against 
 the enemy. ^^And Uzziah equipped them, even all the army, with coats of 
 mail, bows, and stones for slinging. ^^Also he made in Jerusalem skilfully 
 invented machines, which were set upon the towers and on the battlements, 
 with which to shoot arrows and great stones. 
 
 are that Azariah restored Elath, which had probably been reconquered by his father Amaziah, 
 and that he was a leper. 
 
 The material prosperity of Judah reflected in Is. 2, was due to his constructive aggressive 
 policy. The Chronicler, therefore, doubtless gives not only a fuller, but also a truer picture 
 of this important reign, especially in 20'-''''', wiiere he ajjpears to have quoted from his non- 
 canonical source. Whether in ^■'^'■-'> he simplv sought, according to the religious ideas of his age, 
 to explain Uzziah's strange fate, or had earlier data at his command, cannot be definitely de- 
 termined. . , -- , 
 
 "11 Chr. 26* So the versions and certain Heb. MSS. Received Heb., vision. 
 
 • II Chr. 26' Cf. also I Chr. 4". 
 
 283
 
 His 
 
 leprdsy 
 and 
 death 
 
 II Kgs. 155] FROM REHOBOAM TO AHAZ [II Chr. 26^^ 
 
 Annals oj Judah Chronicler's Ecclesiastical Historij 
 
 IIKgs.l5 5.\nd 
 
 Jehovah smote the 
 
 king, so that he 
 
 was a leper to the 
 
 day of his death. 
 
 And he dwelt in 
 
 his house without 
 
 restraint, while 
 
 Jotham, the king's 
 
 son, was at the 
 
 head of the royal 
 
 household, ruling 
 
 the people of the 
 
 land. ''Now the oth- 
 er acts of Azariah 
 and all that he did, 
 are they not record- 
 ed in the Chronicles 
 of the Kings of Ju- 
 dah? ^And Azariah 
 slept with his fa- 
 thers; and they bur- 
 ied him with his 
 fathers in the city of 
 David, and Jotham 
 his son became king 
 in his place. 
 
 And his name spread far abroad, for he was mar- 
 vellously helped until he became strong. ^^But when 
 he was strong, his heart was so lifted up, that he acted 
 corruptly. And he trespassed against Jehovah his God 
 by going into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense. 
 ^'^And Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty 
 priests of Jehovah, men of ability. ^^And they with- 
 stood Uzziah the king and said to him. It is not your 
 part, Uzziah, to burn incense to Jehovah, but that of 
 the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to 
 burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have 
 trespassed, and that shall not be to your honor in the 
 sight of Jehovah God. ^^Then Uzziah was angry and 
 he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And 
 while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy broke 
 out on his forehead before the priests in the temple 
 of Jehovah beside the altar of incense, ^o^j^j when 
 Azariah the chief priest looked upon him, there he was 
 leprous on his forehead. So they thrust him out quickly 
 from there, and he himself hastened to go out, because 
 Jehovah had smitten him. ^^Xnd. Uzziah the king was 
 a leper to the day of his death, and dwelt in his house 
 without restraint, being a leper, for he was cut off from 
 the temple of Jehovah; while Jotham his son was at 
 the head of the royal household, ruhng the people of the land. ^^Now the 
 other acts of Uzziah, first and last, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, 
 has recorded. ^^So Uzziah slept w'ith his fathers; and they buried him 
 W'ith his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they 
 said. He is a leper. And Jotham, his son, became king in his place. 
 
 § 118. Jotham's Reign, II Kgs. IS^^-^^ 11 Chr. 27 
 
 Jo- 
 
 thani's 
 policy, 
 build- 
 ing en- 
 ter- 
 prises 
 and 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. 15 ^^in the second 
 year of Pekah the son of Rema- 
 liah king of Israel, Jotham the 
 son of Uzziah king of Judah be- 
 gan to reign. ^^He was twenty- 
 five years old when he began to 
 reign, and he reigned sixteen 
 years in Jerusalem. And his 
 mother's name was Jerusha the 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 3 7 ^Jotham was twenty-five years 
 old when he began to reign, and he reigned 
 sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his moth- 
 er's name was Jerushah the daughter of 
 Zadok. ^And he did that which pleased 
 Jehovah, just as his father Uzziah had 
 done, only he did not enter into the tem- 
 ple of Jehovah. And the people acted 
 ever more corruptly. ^He built the upper 
 
 § 118 In 15'*'' ■ 3" the late prophetic editor of Kgs. has incorporated two brief statements 
 drawn from the annals of Judah. Likewise the Chronicler in 3i>-5 has also drawn what appears to 
 be authentic data from his non-canonical source. The amount of the tribute, however, in 27*, 
 is probably dus to the Chronicler's well-kmown fondness for large numbers. 
 
 284
 
 n KgS. 1532] 
 
 JOTHAM'S REIGN 
 
 [II Chr. 273 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 daughter of Zadok. 34^^nd he 
 did that which pleased Jehovah ; 
 he did just as his father Uzziah 
 had done. ^oj^Q^ygyei- i\iq high 
 places were not taken away ; the 
 people still sacrificed and burnt 
 their offerings on the high places. 
 He built the upper gate of the 
 temple of Jehovah. "^'In those 
 days Jehovah began to send 
 against Judah Rezin the king of 
 Aram and Pekah the son of Re- 
 mahali. 36>^Q^y ^}jg other acts 
 of Jotham and all that he did, are 
 they not recorded in the Chron- 
 icles of the Kings of Judah ? 
 ^^And Jotham slept with his fa- 
 thers and was buried with his 
 fathers in the city of David his 
 father; and Ahaz his sou became 
 long in his place. 
 
 Chroniclers Ecclesiastical History 
 
 gate of the temple of Jehovah and on the 
 wall of Ophel he built much. '^Moreover 
 he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, 
 and in the forests he built castles and 
 towers. ^He fought also with the king 
 of the Ammonites and conquered Amraon. 
 And the Ammonites gave him that year 
 a hundred talents of silver and two 
 hundred thousand bushels" of wheat and 
 ten thousand of barley. The same amount 
 did the Ammonites render to him in the 
 second year and in the third. ^So Jotham 
 became mighty, because he ordered his 
 wavs according to the will of Jehovah his 
 God. "Now the other acts of Jotham 
 and all his wars and his undertakings, 
 they are indeed already recorded in the 
 Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 
 ^He was twenty-five years old when he 
 began to reign, and he reigned sixteen 
 years in Jerusalem. 
 
 II 
 
 THE ASSYRL\N PERIOD: FROM AHAZ TO JOSIAH, II Kgs. 16, 
 
 18-21, Is. 36-39, II Chr. 28-33 
 
 § 119. The Reign of Ahaz and h 
 n Kgs. 16, Is. 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. 16 *In the seventeenth 
 S-""^ year of Pekah the son of Remaliah 
 Ahaz the son of Jotham became king 
 of Judah. -Twenty years old was 
 Ahaz when he began to reign, and he 
 reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 
 
 Reac- 
 
 10U8 
 policy 
 
 is Homage to Tiglath-Pileser III, 
 28 
 
 7'-l^ II Chr 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 28 ^Ahaz was twenty years 
 old when he began to reign and he 
 reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 
 And he did not do that which j)leased 
 Jehovah, as did David his ancestor, 
 ^but he walked in the ways of the 
 
 " II Chr. 27' Heb., ten thousand cars. 
 
 The Assyrian Period. — The folly of Ahaz in seeldnR aid from Assyria ag.ainst his northern 
 nfit'hljors eave that stronc. ambitious world-power its title to interfere in the politics of .Iiidaii. 
 Until Assyria bcEan to fall into decay in the days of Josiah, it never ce.ased enerKCtically to 
 maintain that title. The result was that it determined tlie political history of tiie .surviving 
 
 5 119 FoUowinR the usual editorial introduction are two citation.s, apparently from dis- 
 tinct sources. In ''-" the designation of the kinc is simply Ahaz. but in '"i'* it is always Kitifj 
 Ahaz. Moreover '•'-^ recount in the brief annalistic style political facts, l)Ut in '"in )1,o important 
 details of Ahaz's journey to Damascus and the far-reacliiuK sitinificancc of the act are iKiiored and 
 the narrative simply tells of the innovati.ns introduced in the temple and its ritual by the king 
 
 285
 
 II Kgs. 162] 
 
 THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD 
 
 [II Chr. 282 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 And he did not do that which pleased 
 Jehovah his God, as did David his 
 ancestor, ^but walked in the way of 
 the kings of Israel. He also made his 
 son to pass through fire according 
 to the abominations of the nations, 
 whom Jehovah drove out before the 
 Israelites. ^And he sacrificed and 
 burnt their offerings on the high 
 places and on the hills and under 
 every green tree. 
 
 Attack 
 of the 
 Ara- 
 means 
 and 
 North- 
 ern Is- 
 raelites 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 ^Then Rezin king of 
 Aram and Pekah son of Re- 
 maliah came up to attack 
 Jerusalem; and they be- 
 sieged Ahaz, but could not 
 overcome him. ^At that 
 time the king of Edom re- 
 covered Elath for Edom^ 
 and drove the Judahites 
 from Elath; and the Edom- 
 ites came to Elath and have 
 dwelt there until the present 
 day. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 kings of Israel and made molten 
 images for the Baals. ^Moreover he 
 offered sacrifices in the valley of Ben- 
 Hinnom, and burnt his sons in the 
 fire according to the abominations 
 of the nations whom Jehovah drove 
 out from before the Israelites. ^And 
 he sacrificed and burnt offerings on 
 the high places and on the hills and 
 under every green tree. 
 
 ^Therefore Jehovah his God delivered him 
 into the hand of the king of Aram, and they 
 smote him and carried away from him a great 
 multitude of captives and brought them to 
 Damascus. And he was also delivered into 
 the power of the king of Israel, who smote 
 him with a great slaughter. ^For Pekah the 
 son of Remaliah slew in Judah a hundred and 
 twenty thousand in one day, all of them val- 
 iant warriors, because they had forsaken Je- 
 hovah the God of their fathers. ''And Zichri, 
 a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah, the 
 king's son, and Azrikam, the commander of 
 the palace, and Elkanah, who was next to 
 the king. 
 
 Hebrew state. Most of its crises came tlirough its relations to Assyria. It was a period of 
 severe political and religious trial. 
 
 Fortunately it is possible to view the period from many different sides. The citations 
 from the annals of Judah are brief and few. The late prophetic editor usually adds only the 
 bare facts or else gives his general estimate of each reign; but he also draws at length from what 
 appear to have been three distinct sources: the temple records, a Hezekiah history, and a 
 collection of Isaiah stories. These are richly supplemented by the contemporary addresses of 
 the prophets of the period (cf. Vol. Ill), which constitute the best possible historical sources. 
 In addition the Assyrian monumental literature contains detailed accounts of the campaigns 
 of the kings who invaded Palestine. Cf. Appendices VI-VIII. At certain points the later 
 Jewish stories in Chr. furnish further data. These combined sources give an unusually clear 
 picture of what was one of the most important periods in the literary and religious history of the 
 Hebrew race. 
 
 as the result of his visit to the heathen capital. It seems clear, therefore, that ^-^ are from the 
 annals and i^-is from the temple records. 
 
 Is. 7'"'^ supplements the meagre records of the annals regarding the early stages of the con- 
 flict. The parallel version in II Chr. 28 departs widely from the brief narrative of Kgs. which 
 it incorporates. Again the huge numbers and the role of the prophet indicate that the story 
 has been freely adapted to the religious teaching which the author sought thus to imijress. It 
 may be the work of the Chronicler, but, more probably was taken from his midrashic source. 
 The data in '' jirobably came from a still older source. The natural sequel of ^'^ is -°. Vss. -'^' ^^ 
 contain the Chronicler's usual concluding formula. For the contemporary record of the cam- 
 paigns of Tiglath-Pileser III, cf. Appendix VI. 
 
 ^ II Kgs. 16° So marginal reading of Heb. Clearly Edom was mistaken for the very similar 
 Heb. word Aram, and Rezin was adcled from 5, giving the reading, Rezinking of Aram recovered 
 Elath for Aram, But Elath originally belonged not to Aram but to Edom. Cf. map opp. p. 49. 
 
 286
 
 REICxN OF AHAZ 
 
 [II Chr. 28« 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 ^And the Israelites carried away captive of their kinsmen two hundred 
 thousand, women, sons, and daugliters, and also took away much spoil 
 from them and brought it to Samaria. ^But a prophet of Jehovah was 
 there, by the name of Oded. And he went out to meet the armv that came 
 to Samaria, and said to them, See, because Jehovah, the God of your fathers, 
 was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand. But ye 
 have slain them in a rage which hath reached up to heaven. ^^And now 
 you purpose to enslave the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem that they 
 may be bondmen and bondwomen to you; but are there not even with you 
 crimes of your own against Jehovah your God ? ^^Now hear me, therefore, 
 and send back the caj^tives, whom you have taken of your kinsmen, for the 
 fierce wrath of Jehovah is upon you. 
 
 i-Then certain heads of the Ephraimites, Azariah the son of Johanan, 
 Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizikiah the son of Shallum, and 
 Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, 
 ^^and said to them, You shall not bring in the captives here, for you pur- 
 pose that which will bring us guilt against Jehovah to add to our sins and 
 to our guilt, for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. 
 ^^So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all 
 the assembly. ^°And the men who have been mentioned rose up and took 
 the captives, and with the spoil clothed all who were naked among them, 
 and after they had clothed them, they provided them with sandals and gave 
 them to eat and to drink and anointed them and carried all the feeble among 
 them on asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm-trees, to their 
 kinsmen. Then they returned to Samaria. 
 
 Pro- 
 phetic 
 com- 
 mand 
 tore- 
 turn 
 the 
 cap- 
 tives 
 from 
 Judah 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 "But Ahaz sent messengers to 
 Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, 
 saving, I am vour servant and 
 your son; come up and deliver 
 hfs^foes ™^ from the power of the king 
 of Aram and from the power of 
 the king of Israel, who have at- 
 tacked me. ^Tlien Ahaz took the 
 silver and gold that were found 
 in the temple of Jehovah and in 
 the treasures of the royal palace, 
 and .sent it as a present to the 
 king of Assyria. ^And the king of 
 Assyria listened to him. So the 
 king of Assyria went up against 
 Damascus and took it and car- 
 ried its inhabitants captive to 
 Kir'^ and put Rezin to death. 
 
 Return 
 of the 
 cap- 
 tives 
 
 ^^At that time King Ahaz sent to the 
 kings of Assyria to help him. ^"For the 
 Edomites had come again and smitten 
 Judah and carried away captives. ^^The 
 Philistines also had invaded the cities of 
 the lowland and of the South Country of 
 Judah and had taken Bcthsliemesh, Aija- 
 lon, Gederoth, Soco with its dependent 
 towns, and Timnath with its dependent 
 towns, (jimzo also with its dependent 
 towns, and they dwelt there. ^^For Je- 
 hovah brought Judah low because of Ahaz 
 king of Lsrael, because he had acted 
 waiitonlv with Judah and had behaved 
 very faithlessly with Jehovah. -"And Tig- 
 lath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, 
 but j)roved to be his enemy and did not 
 strengthen him. 
 
 ^ II Kgs. 16" Pos-sibly Kir is added from Am. l". It is not found in the Gk. 
 
 287
 
 II Kgs. 1610] 
 Temjde Records 
 
 THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD 
 
 The 
 
 heathen 
 altar 
 and 
 other 
 inno- 
 vations 
 intro- 
 duced 
 by 
 Ahaz 
 
 Other 
 chan- 
 ges in 
 the 
 temple 
 
 i^Now when King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet 
 Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, he saw there the altar 
 that was at Damascus. Then King Ahaz sent to Urijah 
 the priest a model of the altar and a pattern of all the 
 details of its construction. ^^And Urijah the priest 
 built an altar, exactly corresponding to what King Ahaz 
 had sent from Damascus, even thus Urijah the priest 
 made it before King Ahaz returned from Damascus. 
 l-And when the king returned from Damascus and saw 
 the altar, the king drew near to the altar, went up on it, 
 i^and burnt his burnt-offering and his cereal-offering, 
 and poured out his libation on the altar. i'*And the 
 brazen*^ altar, which stood before Jehovah, he brought 
 from the front of the temple, from between his altar 
 and the temple of Jehovah, and put it on the north side 
 of his altar. ^^And King Ahaz commanded Urijah the 
 priest, saying. On the great altar burn the morning 
 burnt-offering and the evening cereal -offering and the 
 king's burnt-offering and his cereal-offering, with the 
 burnt-offering of all the people of the land," and their 
 cereal-offering and their libations, and sprinkle upon 
 it all the blood of the burnt-offering and all the blood 
 of the sacrifice; but the brazen altar shall be for me to 
 inquire by.^ ^''Thus did Urijah the priest, just as 
 King Ahaz commanded. 
 
 I'^King Ahaz also cut off the bor- 
 der-frames of the stands and removed 
 the laver from them; he also took 
 down the sea from the brazen oxen 
 that were under it, and put it upon a 
 stone pedestal. ^^And the covered 
 way for the sabbath, that they had 
 built in the temple, and the outer en- 
 trance for the king, he sent away from 
 the temple of Jehovah for the sake of 
 the king of Assyria. 
 
 [II Chr. 2821 
 
 Chronicler's Eccle- 
 siastical History 
 
 "lAnd Ahaz plun 
 dered the temple c 
 Jehovah, and the 
 palace of the king 
 and of the princes 
 and gave it to the 
 king of Assyria; 
 but it helped him 
 not. 22^j^(j [^ j^i^g 
 
 time of his distress*' 
 he committed still 
 more crimes against 
 Jehovah — this 
 same King Ahaz. 
 ^^For he sacrificed 
 to the gods of Da- 
 mascus, which 
 smote him, and he 
 thought, Because 
 the gods of the 
 kings of Aram 
 helped them, there- 
 fore, I will sacri- 
 fice to them, that 
 they may help me. 
 But they were the 
 ruin of him and of 
 all Israel. 
 ^^And Ahaz gathered together the 
 vessels of the house of God and shut 
 up the doors of the temple of Jehovah ; 
 and he erected altars in every corner 
 of Jerusalem, ^s^j^^j jj^ every city of 
 Judah he made high places to offer 
 sacrifices to other gods, and thus pro- 
 voked to anger Jehovah, the God of 
 his fathers. 
 
 26Now his other acts, and all his 
 ways, first and last, are already writ 
 
 " II Chr. 2822 The Gk. corrects the awkward Heb. text by joining ^'^ to the preceding verse, 
 but distressed him. 
 
 <* II Kgs. 16^* Brazen was probably added by mistake from ^^^. 
 
 " II Kgs. 16'* Gk. and Luc. omit, of the land — a later phrase. 
 
 ' ^I Kgs. 16'* I.e., by examining the parts of the sacrifice. The exact meaning of the Heb. 
 is not certain. It may be, to think of, i.e., to decide later what to do with it, but the above 
 interpretation is in closer keeping with the use of the verb elsewhere. 
 
 288
 
 II Kgs. 1619] REIGN OF AHAZ [II Chr. 2826 
 
 Temple Records Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 ten in the Book of the Kings of Judah 
 and Israel, ^'^j^^j \haz slept with 
 his fathers and they buried him in the 
 city, even in Jerusalem; for they 
 brought him not into the sepulchres 
 of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah 
 his son became king in his place. 
 
 "Now the other acts of Ahaz which he 
 did, are they not recorded in the Cliron- 
 icles of the Kings of Judah? -"And Ahaz 
 slept with his fatliers and was buried 
 with his fathers in the city of David. 
 And Hezekiah his son became king in his 
 place. 
 
 § 120. The Reign of Hezekiah and his Reforms, II Kgs. 18'-s, II Chr. 29- 
 
 31, 32"-3i 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. IS ^Xow in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah king of Heze- 
 Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. ^He was good^ 
 twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine policy 
 years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijahs the daughter of 
 Zechariah. ^And he did that which pleased Jehovah, just as David liis 
 ancestor had done. 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 29 -^He also in the first year of his reign in the first month opened His 
 the doors of the temple of Jehovah and repaired them. '^And he brought in tat'ion 
 the priests and the Levites and gathered them together into the open space to the 
 on the east, ^and said to them. Hear me, O Levites; now sanctify yourselves 
 and make ceremonially clean the temple of Jehovah, the God of your fathers, 
 
 § 120 Hezekiah was approved by later generations because of the reputation that he en- 
 joyed as a religious reformer. That it rested u)3on a real basis of fact is coiifinned by the state- 
 ment in .Jer. 2(5'"-"*' to the effect that he and all Judah hSeded the earnest reform sermons of the 
 I)ri)phet Micah. The subsequent reaction under Manasseh also strongly suggests that Hezekiah 
 had introiluced certain innovations which struck at popular religious practices. I niess it be a 
 later interpolation, 18-- confirms the general statement in ■* and indicates that his reforms were 
 introduced in the earlier part of his reign. Amos and Hosea viewed the high places with disfavor, 
 although they did not demand their abolition. Isaiah attacked tree and idol worship (!-■'• 28' 
 18. 20) There is every reason to believe that the reference to the destruction of the brazen 
 serpent which the tradition, preserved in Num. 21S' 'J, had associated with Moses, is authentic. 
 Certain other heathen s.vmbols still connected with the religion of Jehovah were probably also 
 placed under the ban by the reffirmers. It is by no means imjiossible that the movement was 
 inaugurated which later found prominent expression in the Deutcronomic code and application 
 in connection with Josiah's reform, and which resulted in the abolition of all heathen shrines 
 outside of Jerusalem. The account in '" was, however, probably written by one w'ho had in 
 mind the more sweeping reforms of 021 n.c. 
 
 The later tendency to magnify the reforming work of Hezekiah is strikingly illustrated b.y 
 the parallels in Chr. Later priestly tradition ref)resented him as cleansing the temple, institut- 
 ing special sacrifices, and celebrating a great passover feast in strict accord with the laws and 
 usages which did not tjecome firmly established until centuries later. These narratives are akin 
 to the priestly precedents in V.x. anil Num., associated with Moses and intended to illustrate the 
 ceremonial institutions which grew up about the second temple. Regarded from this point of 
 view their real value becomes apparent. 
 
 The account of the great passover in the days of Hezekiah in 30 is not strictly consistent 
 with the one attributed to Josiah in ,3.5 (cf. especially 35'**) and ma.v have been modelled after it 
 by a later midra«hist. It seems probable that both were found by the Chronicler in the non- 
 canonical source from which he derived so much of his material. In 20-''-'"' he introduces his 
 favorite levitical singers. Cha|). 31 also appears to cf)me from his hand. The important fact 
 in 32''" wa-* r>r'>bal)lv derived from his non-canonical source. 
 
 « II Kgs. 18- So the parallel II Chr. 29'. The Ileb. has the shortened form, Abi. 
 
 289
 
 II Chr. 295] THE ASSYRL\N PERIOD 
 
 Chronicler^s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 and carry out the filth from the holy place. ^For our fathers have acted 
 faithlessly and done that which displeased Jehovah our God and forsaken 
 him and turned away their faces from the habitation of Jehovah and turned 
 their backs upon him. '^Also they have shut up the doors of the porch and 
 put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt-offerings 
 in the holy place to the God of Israel. ^Therefore the wrath of Jehovah 
 was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to be an object 
 of horror, astonishment, and contempt, as you see with your own eyes. 
 ^For now our fathers have fallen by the sword and our sons and our daughters 
 and our wives are in captivity for this. ^^Now it is in my heart to make a 
 covenant with Jehovah, the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn 
 away from us. ^^My sons, do not now be negligent, for Jehovah hath chosen 
 you to stand before him to minister to him, and that you should be his min- 
 isters and offer sacrifices. 
 CTeans- ^^Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, of the sons of the 
 t^|° Kohathites; and of the sons of jNIerari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah 
 temple t}jg sqjj Qf Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and 
 Eden the son of Joah; ^^and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; 
 and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; ^^and of the sons of 
 Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and 
 Uzziel. I5^nd they gathered their kinsmen and sanctified themselves and 
 went in, according to the commands of the king by the words of Jehovah, 
 to cleanse the temple of Jehovah. ^*^And the priests went into the inner 
 part of the temple of Jehovah to cleanse it and brought out all the unclean- 
 ness that they found in the temple of Jehovah into the court of the temple of 
 Jehovah. And the Levites took it, in order to carry it out to the Brook 
 Kidron. ^''Now they began on the first day of the first month to make 
 ceremonially clean, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the 
 porch of Jehovah, and they made the temple of Jehovah ceremonially clean 
 in eight days; and on the sixteenth day of the first month they completed 
 their work. ^^Then they went into Hezekiah the king within the palace 
 and said. We have cleansed all the temple of Jehovah and the altar of burnt- 
 offering, with all its vessels, and the table of showbread, with all its vessels. 
 i^Moreover all the vessels, which King Ahaz in his reign had cast away, 
 when he acted faithlessly, we have again made ceremonially clean, and there 
 they are before the altar of Jehovah. 
 Offer- ^^Then Hezekiah the king early in the morning assembled the princes of 
 belialf the city and went up to the temple of Jehovah. -^^And they brought seven 
 of the bullocks and seven rams and seven lambs and seven he-goats for a sin- 
 offering in behalf of the king and the sanctuary and Judah. And he com- 
 manded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of Jehovah. 
 ^^So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled 
 it on the altar, and they killed the rams and sprinkled the blood upon the 
 altar; they also killed the lambs and sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 
 2^x\nd they brought near the he-goats for the sin-offering before the king 
 and the assembly, that they might lay their hands upon them. ^^Then the 
 
 290
 
 HEZEKIAH'S REFORMS [II Chr. 2924 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 priests killed them and they brought the blood as a sin-offering upon the 
 altar, to make atonement for all Israel; for the king ordered the burnt-offer- 
 ing and the sin-offering for all Israel. 
 
 -^And he set the Levites in the temple of Jehovah with cymbals, harps, Service 
 and lutes, according to the command of David and of Gad the king's seer ° ^°'^^ 
 and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from Jehovah by his 
 prophets, ^e^jj^j ^}jg Levites stood with the instruments of David and the 
 priests with the trumpets. -"And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt- 
 offering upon the altar. And when the burnt-offering began, the song in 
 honor of Jehovah also began, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instru- 
 ments of David king of Israel. -^Then all the assembly worshipped, and 
 the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the 
 burnt-offering was finished. -^.Vnd when they had made an end of offering, 
 the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and wor- 
 shipped. ^"^Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the 
 Levites to sing j>raises to Jehovah with the words of David and of Asajih 
 the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and 
 worshipped. 
 
 ^^Then Hezekiah spoke up and said. Now you have consecrated your- Public 
 selves again to Jehovah; come near and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings fi^e" 
 into the temple of Jehovah. And the assembly brought in sacrifices and ^'\'' '3'^ 
 thank-offerings, and as many as were of a liberal heart burnt-offerings, tion 
 ^-And the number of the burnt-offerings which the assembly brought was temple 
 seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were 
 for a burnt-offering to Jehovah. ^^And the consecrated things were six 
 hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. -^^But the priests were too few 
 to flay all the burnt-offerings. Therefore their kinsmen the Levites helped 
 them, until the work was ended and until the priests had sanctified them- 
 selves. The Levites, however, were more faithful in sanctifying themselves 
 than the priests. ^^And there were also burnt-offerings in abundance, to- / 
 gether with the fat of the peace-offerings and with the drink-offerings for every 
 burnt-offering. So the service of the temple of Jehovah was set in order. 
 ^And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of that which God had 
 prepared for the people, for the thing was done quickly. 
 
 30 ^And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Sum- 
 Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the temple of Jehovah [""i^eep 
 at Jerusalem, to keep the passover to Jehovah, the God of Israel. -For tiie 
 the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to over 
 keep the passover in the second month. -^For they could not keep it at 
 that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, 
 neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. '^And 
 the thing seemed right to the king and all the assembly. ^So they deter- 
 mined to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even 
 to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover to Jehovah, the God of 
 Israel, at Jerusalem; for they had not kept it in such great numbers as is pre- 
 scribed. 
 
 291
 
 II Chr. 306] THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 The 6go the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes through- 
 
 mation out all Israel and Judah and proclaimed the command of the king, saying, 
 Israelites ! turn again to Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, 
 that he may turn to the remnant which is left of you from the hand of the 
 kings of Assyria. ^And be not like your fathers and your kinsmen, who were 
 faithless toward Jehovah, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up 
 to destruction, as you see. ^Now be not obdurate, as were your fathers, 
 but yield yourselves to Jehovah*^ and enter into his sanctuary which he has 
 sanctified forever, and serve Jehovah your God, that his fierce anger may 
 turn away from you. ^For through your returning to Jehovah, your kins- 
 men and children shall find compassion in the presence of those who led 
 them captive so that they shall come back into this land; for Jehovah your 
 God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if 
 you return to him. 
 Atti- ^^So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Eph- 
 
 the^ °^ raim and Manassch, even to Zebulon. But they laughed them to scorn and 
 north- mocked them. ^^Nevertheless some people from Asher and Manasseh and 
 tribes Zebulon humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. ^^^Jso upon Judah 
 came the hand of God to give them one heart to do the command of the 
 king and of the princes by the word of Jehovah. 
 Cele; ^'^So a great crowd of people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of 
 
 of the" unleavened bread in the second month — a very great assembly. ''*And they 
 pass- arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem and all the altars for 
 incense they took away and cast into the Brook Kidron. i°Then they killed 
 the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests 
 and the Levites were ashamed and sanctified themselves and brought burnt- 
 offerings into the temple of Jehovah, ^^^nd they stood in their place, as 
 was their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of God : the priests 
 sprinkling the blood which they received from the hand of the I^evites. ^"Fcr 
 there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; there- 
 fore the Levites had the charge of killing the passover lambs for every one 
 who was not clean in order to consecrate them to Jehovah. ^^For a ma- 
 jority of the people, most from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulon, 
 had not kept themselves ceremonially clean, yet they ate the passover other- 
 wise than is prescribed, for Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying. The good 
 Jehovah pardon every one ^^wlio setteth his heart to seek God, Jehovah, 
 the God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purifica- 
 tion of the sanctuary. ^''And Jehovah listened to Hezekiah and healed the 
 people. -^^So the Israelites, who were present at Jerusalem, kept the feast 
 of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness. And the Levites 
 and the priests praised Jehovah day by day with all their might. --^And 
 Hezekiah spoke reassuringly to all the Levites who had demonstrated their 
 skill in serving Jehovah.' So they ate throughout the feast for the seven 
 
 I'll Chr. 30** Heb., give your hand. 
 
 ' II Chr. 30-- Slightly correcting the Heb. text. 
 
 292 
 
 over
 
 HEZEKIAH'S REFORMS [II Chr. 3022 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 days, oiTering sacrifices of peace-offerings and making confession to Jehovah, 
 tlie God of their fathers. 
 
 23'p'jjgjj ^}jg whole assembly decided to keep another seven days; and so they The 
 kept another seven days with gladness. -^For Ilezekiah king of Judah dis- fi^T^^fJ^of 
 tributed to the assembly a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep, feast- 
 and the princes distributed to the assembly a thousand bullocks and ten 
 thousand sheep, and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 2o.^j^j 
 all the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites and all the as- 
 sembly, that came out of Israel, and the sojourners, who came out of the 
 land of Israel and who dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. 26gQ there was great joy 
 in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel 
 there was nothing like it in Jerusalem. 2<'p}|gj^ \\yq priests and' the Levites 
 arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer 
 came up to this holy habitation, even unto heaven. 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 Heze- II KgS. 18 ^He removed the high 
 
 kiah s places and broke in pieces the pillars and 
 
 ious cut down the asherah. And he broke 
 
 forms ^" pieces the brazen serpent that 
 
 INIoses had made ; for up to that time 
 
 the Israelites had oft'ered sacrifices 
 
 to it; and they called it Nehushtan 
 
 II Chr. 31 iNow when all this 
 was finished, all Israel, who were 
 present, went out to the cities of Ju- 
 dah and broke in pieces the pillars 
 and hewed down the asherahs, and 
 broke down the high places and the 
 altars in all Judah and Benjamin, in 
 [The Brazen One].k ^He trusted in Ephraim also and Manassch, until 
 Jehovah, the God of Israel; so that after i ,, i i j x i xi 11 t'i 
 
 him was none like liim among all the kings t'ley had destroyed them all. Then 
 of Judah, nor among those who were be- all the Israelites returned to their 
 fore him «For he held fast to Jehov-ah ^.j^j^ g^^.}^ ^^ l^jg ^wn possession, 
 he departed not from lollowing him, but • 
 
 kept his commands, wliich Jehovah had 
 commanded Moses. 
 
 '^And Hezekiah appointed divisions of the priests and the Levites after Provi- 
 their divisions — each of the priests and the Levites according to his ser- fo^^the 
 vice — for burnt-ofTerin<fs and for neace-oftVrinjrs, to minister and to oive main- 
 thanks and praise in the gates of the »..'amp of Jehovah. -^Tlie contribution of the 
 of the king from his possessions was for burnt-offerings, for the morning and service 
 evening burnt-offerings, as well as the burnt-ofl'erings for the sabbaths, for 
 the new moons, anrl for the set feasts, as it is prescribed in the law of Jehovah. 
 ^Moreover he conunanded the j)eople who dwelt in Jerusalem to provide 
 the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves 
 to the law of Jehovah. •''And as soon as the command was known, the 
 Lsraelites gave in abundance the first-fruits of grain, new wine, oil, and honey, 
 as well as the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things they also brought 
 in abundantly. '^And the Israelites and Judahites who dwelt in the cities of 
 
 ' II Chr. 30" So the versions and many lleb. manuscripts. The accepted Heb. omits 
 the and. 
 
 I* II Krs. is* The word may be connecterl cither with the Heb. word for brass or for ser- 
 pent. Probably a play on these double meanings was intended.
 
 II Chr. 316] THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 Judah, also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep and the tithe of dedicated 
 things, which were consecrated to Jehovah their God, and laid them by 
 heaps. '^In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps 
 and finished them in the seventh month. ^And when Hezekiah and the 
 princes saw the heaps, they blessed Jehovah and his people Israel. ^Then 
 Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. ^'^And 
 Azariah the chief j^riest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, 
 Since the people began to bring the oblations into the temple of Jehovah, we 
 have eaten and had enough and have left plenty, for Jehovah has blessed his 
 people; and we have left' this great store. 
 Provi- ^'^Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the temple" of Je- 
 for'the hovah; and they prepared them. ^^Then they conscientiously brought the 
 support oblations and the tithes and the dedicated things; and Conaniah the Levite 
 Levites acted as steward in charge of them, and Shimei his brother was second in 
 charge. ^^And Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, EHel, 
 Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the direction of 
 Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, 
 and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. ^^And Kore the son of Imnah 
 the Levite, the porter at the east gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings of 
 God, to distribute the oblations of Jehovah and the most holy things. ^^And 
 under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, 
 in the cities of the priests, faithfully to distribute to their kinsmen by divisions, 
 to the great and small alike, ^''to each with liis male descendants™ from three 
 years old and upward — that is, to every one who entered the temple of Jehovah, 
 as the duty of each day recjuired for their service in their respective offices ac- 
 cording to their divisions. ^^And this is the hst of the priests, and that of the Levites 
 included the people from twenty years old and upward, in their office by their divisions. 
 i^And in the list were reckoned all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their 
 daughters through all the congregation ; for thej' devoted themselves faithfully to the 
 holy things. ^^But for the sons of Aaron, the priests who were in the territory of the 
 conxmon pasture-lands of their cities — in every city there were men who were desig- 
 nated by name to assign portions to all the males among the priests and to all among 
 the Levites who were" on the lists." 
 
 His ^^Thus Hezekiah did in all Judah; and he did that which was good and 
 
 in the^ right and faithful before Jehovah his God. 21 ^j^j every work that he began 
 work of J [J ^}je service of the house of God and on the basis of the law and com- 
 mandments, in order to seek his God, he did with all his heart. 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 His II Kgs. 18 
 
 mate- 7 \nd Jehovah was 
 
 "f^. with him; in all 
 
 perity that he undertook 
 
 he prospered; and 
 
 he rebelled against 
 
 32 27A.nd Hezekiah had riches and honor in fullest 
 measure; and he provided for himself treasuries for silver 
 and gold and precious stones, and for spices and for 
 shields and for all kinds of valuable objects, ^Sstore- 
 houses also for the increase of grain and new wine and 
 
 ' II Chr. 311° gQ Q]j The Heb. has an impossihle construction. 
 
 ^ II Chr. 31" Restoring the Heb. by the aid of the Gk. 
 
 ■> II Chr. 31'^ Again followin? the Gk. 
 
 ° II Chr. 31'^-i5 This rather obscure note was evidently appended later and was intended 
 to reconcile the statement in "^ with later current usage and to supply the details which were 
 not furnished in the original record. 
 
 294.
 
 II Kgs. 18~] 
 
 REIGN OF HEZEKIAH 
 
 [II Chr. 3^28 
 
 Annals of Judah | Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 the king of Assj'ria 
 and was no longer 
 subject to him. 
 
 ^He drove back 
 the Philistines to 
 Gaza and con- 
 quered its terri- 
 t o r y from the 
 watch - tower to 
 the fortified city. 
 
 oil, and stalls for all kinds of animals, and folds for flocks. p 
 ^^Moreover he provided for himself cities and abundant 
 possessions of flocks and herds, for God had given him 
 very much property. ^^This same Ilezekiah also stopped 
 the upper spring of the waters of Gihon and brought 
 tjiem straight down on the west side of the city of David. 
 And Hezekiah prospered in all his undertakings. ^^How- 
 ever in the matter of the ambassadors of the princes of 
 Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that 
 was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he 
 might know all that was in his heart. 
 
 § 121. Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery, II Kgs. 20'-i^ Is. SS^-*' ". 
 
 n Chr. 32=1-26 
 
 22 
 
 Heze- 
 kiah's 
 prayer 
 and 
 Jeho- 
 vah's 
 mes- 
 sage 
 through 
 Iraiah 
 
 Isaiah Stories 
 
 II Kgs. 30 ^In those days Hezekiah was mor- 
 tally ill. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, 
 came and said to him. Thus saith Jehovah, ' Set thy 
 house in order; for thou wilt die and not recover.' 
 -Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to 
 Jehovah, saying, ^Remember now, O Jehovah, I 
 beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in 
 truth and with a perfect heart and have done that 
 which pleaseth thee. And Hezekiah wept loudly. 
 ■^Now before Isaiah had left the courtyard'^ the 
 word of Jehovah came to him, saying, ^Turn back 
 and say to Ilezekiah the prince of my people, ' Thus 
 saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, " I 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesias- 
 tical History 
 
 II Chr. 33 24ln those 
 days Hezekiah was mor- 
 tally ill, and he prayed 
 to Jehovah. And he 
 answered him and gave 
 him a sign. -'^But Heze- 
 kiah rendered not again 
 according to the benefit 
 done to him, for his 
 heart was lifted up with 
 pride, and so wrath came 
 upon him and upon 
 Judah and Jerusalem. 
 
 p II Chr. 322« So Gk. Heb., flocks for folds. 
 
 § 121 The various events recounted in ll Kgs. 20 are practically contemporary, for accord- 
 ing to '- the embassy of Merodach-Baladaii was sent at the time of Hezekiah's illness. Its object 
 was evidently to induce Hezekiah to join him in a coalition against Assyria. Three times this 
 Babylonian prince conspired against tlie common foe: in 721-0, 711-0 and 702 u.r. The third 
 revolt was put down in a few months, but it is possible tliat the embassy was sent to kindle 
 the general insurrection which liroke out in 702 in the cast and west. At least it is certain that 
 the events recorded in 20 antedated those in 18" 19'", which belong to the years 701 or (iOO n.c. 
 The reference in ''al.so implies that Hezekiah's ilhie.ss antedated the deliverance of 701 n.r. The 
 promi.se of fifteen more years accords best with the date 702-1 (701-15 = G8C, the close of 
 Hezekiah '.s reign; cf. .\ppendix, IX). 
 
 The chronological note in 18"-' in its present position dates Hezekiah's accession 71.') n.r., 
 while 181" distinctly states that it was 727. The former date is best supported by the liiblical 
 and contemporary evidence. For a detailed discussion of the problem here presented, cf. Ap- 
 pendix II. 
 
 The prophet Isaiah, not Hezekiah, is the hero of these stories. He figures in very much 
 the same role as Elijah and Elisha in the cycles of stories that in later generations were associated 
 with their names. They probably come from the same prophetic circles. Cf. Introd., p. 20. 
 Another story from the same cycle is apparently found in '-''■'. Cf. note § 122. 
 
 The account of the sign in II Kgs. 20"" has Iteen greatly revised, or else is entirely second- 
 ary. The version in Is. 38'' * is briefer and probably original. Tlie insertion in 38-' • ^- appears 
 to be later. 
 
 ''II Kgs. 20* Following the marginal reading of the Heb., which is supported by all the 
 versions. 
 
 295
 
 II Kgs. 205] 
 
 THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD 
 
 [II Chr. 3226 
 
 Isaiah Stories 
 
 have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears; 
 now I will heal thee: on the day after to-morrow 
 thou canst go up into the temple of Jehovah. ^And 
 I will add to the length of thy life fifteen years, and 
 I will deliver thee and this city from the hand of 
 the king of x\ssyria, and I will defend this city for 
 mine own sake and for the sake of my servant Da- 
 vid." ''■ ''Then Isaiah said, Let him take a cake of 
 figs, and place it on the boil, that he may recover. ^ 
 
 The 
 
 sign 
 that he 
 should 
 be 
 healed 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesias- 
 tical Historij 
 
 26Notwithstanding Hez- 
 ekiah humbled himself 
 as regards the pride of 
 his heart, together with 
 the inhabitants of Jeru- 
 salem, so that the wrath 
 of Jehovah came not 
 upon him in the days 
 of Hezekiah. 
 
 Is. 38 ^And this shall 
 be your sign from Jeho- 
 vah, that Jehovah will do 
 this that he hath prom- 
 ised; behold, I will bring 
 back the shadow as many 
 steps as the sun has gone 
 down* on the step-clock 
 of Ahaz, even ten steps. 
 So the sun turned back 
 ten steps upon the steps* 
 by which it had gone 
 down. 
 
 Secondary Version of Isaiah Stories 
 
 II Kgs. 30 ^And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, 
 What shall be the sign that Jehovah will heal 
 me and that I will go up into the temple of Je- 
 hovah the day after to-morrow ? ^And Isaiah 
 said, This shall be the sign from Jehovah, that 
 Jehovah will do the thing that he has promised: 
 shall the shadow go forward ten steps," or back 
 ten steps ? , ^''And Hezekiah answered, It is an 
 easy thing for the shadow to go ahead ten steps; 
 rather let the shadow turn back ten steps. ^^Then 
 Isaiah the prophet cried to Jehovah; and he 
 brought back the shadow ten steps on the steps 
 by which it had gone down on the step-clock 
 of Ahaz. 
 
 Heze- 
 kiah's 
 
 § 122. The Embassy of Merodach-Baladan, II Kgs. 20^'^-^\ Is. 39 
 Isaiah Stories 
 
 II Kgs. 20 i^At that time Merodach-Baladan^ the son of Baladan king 
 recep- of Babylon sent eunuchs^ with a present to Hezekiah ; for he had heard that 
 tionof Hezekiah had been sick. ^^And Hezekiah was glad^ because of them, and 
 bassy showed them all his treasure-house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the pre- 
 cious oil, and his armory and all that was found among his treasures; there 
 
 •■11 Kgs. 20^ The parallel in Is. SS" omits, for mine own sake and for the sake of my ser- 
 vant David. 
 
 = II Kgs. 20'' So Gk., Luc, Lat., and the parallel in Is. SS^i, which was probably originally 
 taken from the Heb. The present Heb. reads, and Isaiah said, Take a cake of figs. And they 
 took and laid it on the boil and he recovered. 
 
 ' Is 38* Correcting two minor errors in the Heb. 
 
 "II Kgs. 20'' Heb., The shadow has gone forivard, but'" implies an alternative, and the 
 Targ. supports the slight emendation of the Heb. which is followed above. 
 
 § 122 This incident is closely connected with the preceding narrative and evidently comes 
 from the later Isaiah stories, for it reflects the age when not the Assyrians but the Babylonian; 
 were the world-conquerors. Cf. Introd., p. 20. 
 
 " 20''^ So Gk., Luc, Syr., Targ., anfl several Heb. codices. Received Heb., Berodach. 
 The Bab. form of the name is, Marduk-abal-iddina. 
 
 w 20'- Heb., letters. But the next vs. indicates that persons were sent, and a probable 
 correction of the Heb. gives the above reading. 
 
 ^ 20'3 So Gk., Luc, Syr., Lat., several codices, ana ttie parallel, Is. 39-. 
 
 296
 
 EMBASSY OF MERODACH-BALADAN [II Kgs. 2013 
 Isaiah Stories 
 
 was nothing, in his palace nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah did not 
 show them. 
 
 ^^Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, \Miat Isaiah's 
 did these men say ? and from whence, pray, do they come to you ? And '^^n of" 
 Hezekiah said. They have come from a far country, from Babylon. ^^And ^^ 
 he said. What have they seen in your palace .' And Hezekiah answered, iancap- 
 They have seen all that is in my palace; there is nothing among my treas- ^-'^'^^ 
 ures that I did not show them. ^^Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, Hear the 
 word of Jehovah: ^''The days are quickly coming, when all that is in 
 your palace and that which your fathers have stored up to this day shall be 
 carried to Babylon — nothing shall be left,' saith Jehovah. ^^And of your 
 sons who shall issue from you, whom you shall beget, shall they take away, 
 to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. ^^Then Hezekiah said 
 to Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah which you have spoken. For he 
 thought, As long as I live there shall be peace and stability ! ^ 
 
 § 123. Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah, II K<rs. 18'-' '«, II Clir. 32^-8 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 II Kgs. 18 i3Xow 
 in the fourteenth year 
 of King Hezekiah,'' Sen- 
 nacherib king of Assyria 
 came up against all the 
 fortified cities of Judah 
 and took them. ^^And 
 Hezekiah king of Judah 
 sent to the king of As- 
 syria to Lachish, saying, 
 I have offended; with- 
 draw from me; whatever 
 you lay on me I will 
 bear. And the king of 
 Assyria made Hezekiah 
 king of Judah pay three 
 hundred tulcuts of silver 
 and thirty talents of 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 33 ^After these things and this evi- 
 dence of fidelity, Sennacherib king of Assyria 
 came, entered into Judah, and besieged the for- 
 tified cities and thought to conquer them for him- 
 self. ^\nd when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib 
 had come and that his purpose was to attack 
 Jerusalem, ^he took counsel with his generals 
 and his mighty warriors to stop up the waters of 
 the fountains which were outside the city. And 
 they helped him, *and many people were detailed 
 to stop up all the fountains and the brooks, that 
 flowed through the midst of the land, for they 
 said, Why should the kings of Assyria come 
 and find much water ? ^Ile also took courage 
 and built up all the wall that was broken down 
 and on it reared towers. « and also outside the 
 second wall, and strengthened IVIillo in the city 
 of David, and made weapons and shields in abun- 
 
 " 20" So Gk. and tlie parallel, Is. 39^. The concluding explanatory clause is pryobabl 
 from a later editor. 
 
 § 12li This brief .section gives a very different impression of the history during Hezekiah's 
 reign from that presented by the editor in '. In conci.«e, annalistic form it tells of the (hs.istrous 
 effects of Hezekiah's rebellion against Assyria. The representation is in close agreement with 
 the testimony of Sennacherib's inscription. Cf. Appendix IX. It is undoubtedly historical 
 and is in all probaV)ility a verbatim quotation from the .Judean annals. 
 
 The later tradition preserved by the Chronicler transforms this disaster into brave resist- 
 ance, insuired by the courageous words of Hezekiah. All references to the humiliating tribute 
 are omitted. Evidently it is idealized rather than real history that is iierc recorded. 
 
 ''II Kgs. 18'^ This ohroiiological note may ha\e been adde I by tiie late prophetic editor 
 but it a|)pears to be based on earlier authentic fiata. Cf. .Appendix II. 
 
 ■^ II Chr. 32'' So Lat. Heb., he went up on the towers. 
 
 297
 
 II Kgs. 18^4] 
 
 THE ASSYRL\N PERIOD 
 
 [II Chr. 325 
 
 Annals of Judoh 
 
 gold. ^^And Ilezekiah 
 gave him all the silver 
 that was found in the 
 temple of Jehovah and 
 in the treasures of the 
 royal palace. ^^At that 
 time Hezekiah stripped 
 the doors of the temple 
 of Jehovah and the pil- 
 lars, which Hezekiah*^ 
 king of Judah had over- 
 laid, and gave [the gold] 
 to the king of Assyria. 
 
 § 124. Sennacherib's Demand and Isaiah's Prophetic Counsel, 11 Kgs. 18"- 
 19^', 20=°=', Is. 36, 37, U Chr. 32^-'^- ^^- ^3 
 
 Sen- 
 nache- 
 rib's 
 arro- 
 gant 
 de- 
 mand 
 that 
 Jeru- 
 salem 
 be sur- 
 ren- 
 dered 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 dance. ^And he set military officers over the 
 people and gathered them together to him in the 
 broad place at the gate of the city, and spoke re- 
 assuringly to them, saying, ^Be strong and cour- 
 ageous; do not be afraid nor terrified in the pres- 
 ence of the king of Assyria nor of all the multitude 
 that is with him, for a greater is with us than with 
 him. ^With him is an arm of flesh, but with us 
 is Jehovah our God to help us and to fight our 
 battles. And the people rested themselves upon 
 the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 
 
 Hezekiah History 
 
 II Kgs. 18 i"Then 
 the king of Assyria sent 
 the commander - in - 
 chief, and the chief of 
 the eunuchs, and a high 
 oflicial*' from Lachish 
 with a great army to 
 King Hezekiah at Jeru- 
 salem. And they went 
 up, and when they ar- 
 
 Isaiah Stories 
 
 IIKgs. 199bThen 
 Sennacherib sent 
 messengers again to 
 Hezekiah, saying, 
 ^^T h u s shall you 
 speak to Hezekiah 
 king of Judah, ' Let 
 not your God in 
 whom you trust de- 
 ceive you with the 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical 
 History 
 
 II Chr. 32 9After this 
 Sennacherib king of As- 
 syria sent his servants to 
 Jerusalem, while he him- 
 self with all his forces lay 
 before Lachish, to Heze- 
 kiah king of Judah and to 
 all Judah who were at Jeru- 
 salem, saying, ^^Thus saith 
 Sennacherib king of As- 
 
 •* II Kgs. 18^^ Probably in the original the name of some other king was found here. 
 
 § 124r II Kgs. IS'' introduces a quotation from a source distinct from the annals. Not 
 only does another spelling of the king's name appear throughout, but the representation and 
 style are very different. Furthermore the passage, IS^-IS*^, contains what seems to be ex- 
 tracts from three sources. The natural sequel to IS'^-IQ'*^ is 19'*'' 3". Sennacherib's letter in 
 1910-13 ig simply an epitome of the message already delivered more effectually by the high official, 
 182S-35 piig threat, in almost the same terms, is repeated three times in 19'' -*''• ^. "The second 
 extract is found inl 9*33, tjje taunt-song and sign in 2i-3i being probably a prophecy of Isaiah 
 inserted here from some other source. The therefore at the beginning of ^ finds its natural 
 antecedent in 20b. 
 
 The two narratives of the message of Sennacherib, of Hezekiah's dismay, of Isaiah's in- 
 spiring counsel, and of the great deliverance have so many points in common that they are prob- 
 ably duplicate versions of the same incident. It has been urged, however, that they refer to 
 distinct events: 199b-2o. 32-S5 jg Sennacherib's sudden retreat in 701 B.C., and 18'"-199^' ^- 3? 
 to a later expedition, not long before 681, when he was murdered by his son. 'The first nar- 
 rative, however, does not fit naturally into the situation in 701 B.C. A recently discovered in- 
 scription confirms the evidence already published that between 691 and 689 Sennacherib made a 
 second western campaign with a view to conquering Egypt, and that these two variant narra- 
 tives relate to an incident in that expedition. Cf. Appendix IX. 
 
 The narrative in 18''-19'^*' 38. 37 ijg^ many more details and is in accord with the historical 
 situation implied by the contemporary annals and by the inscriptions of Sennacherib. Heze- 
 kiah is the central figure. Isaiah is only introduced briefly at the close. The names of Heze- 
 kiah's ministers, in 183', and of the As.syrian officials and many circumstantial details are given. 
 
 " II Kgs. 18^' Heb., the tartan and rabsaris and rahshakeh. The first and third of the titles 
 appear to be of Assvrian origin. The first, tarlanu, is the regular title of the commander of an 
 Assyrian army. In the parallel in Is. 36 only the rabshakeh is mentioned. The other titles may 
 have been added in Kgs. by a later scribe inspired by antiquarian interest, but the parallel in 
 Chr. is e\-idently based on the present text of Kgs. 
 
 298
 
 II Kgs. IS^s 1910] SENNACHERIB'S DEMAND 
 
 [II Chr. 3210 
 
 Hezckiah History 
 
 r i V e d ^ at Jerusalem, 
 they came and stood by 
 the conduit of the upper 
 pool, which is on the 
 way to the fuller's field. 
 i^And when they called 
 for the king, Eliakini 
 the son of Hilkiah, who 
 was prefect of the pal- 
 ace, and Shebnah the 
 scribe, and Joah the 
 son of Asaph the chan- 
 cellor came out to them. 
 i^And the high oflScial 
 said to them. Say now 
 to Hezekiah, ' Thus 
 saith the great king, the 
 king of Assyria, "What 
 confidence is this which 
 you cherish .'' " ^oyou 
 indeed think, " A sim- 
 ple word of the lips is 
 counsel and strength 
 for the war ! " Now 
 on whom do you trust, 
 that you have rebelled 
 against me ? -i Indeed 
 you trust on the staff of 
 this bruised reed, even 
 upon Egypt which, if 
 a man lean on it, will 
 go into his hand and 
 pierce it. So is Pharaoh 
 king of Egypt to all who 
 trust in him. "^-^But if 
 you say to me, " We 
 trust in Jehovah our 
 
 Isaiah Stories 
 
 thought, " Jerusalem 
 shall not be given into 
 the hand of the king 
 of Assyria." HYou 
 have already heard 
 what the kings of As- 
 syria have done to all 
 lands in destroying 
 them completely, and 
 shall you be deHv- 
 ered? l-Have the 
 gods of the nations 
 w h i c h my fathers 
 have destroyed deliv- 
 ered them — Gozan, 
 Haran, Rezeph, and 
 the people of Eden 
 who were in Telas- 
 sar ? i"^Where is the 
 king of Hamath, and 
 the king of Arpad, 
 and the king of Seph- 
 arvaim, of H e n a , 
 andlvvahP'g i^And 
 Hezekiah received the 
 letter from the hand 
 of the messengers and 
 read it. Then Heze- 
 kiah went up to the 
 temple of Jehovah 
 and spread it out be- 
 fore Jehovah i^and 
 said, O Jehovah the 
 God of Israel who 
 dwellest above the 
 cherubim, thou art 
 the God, even thou 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical 
 History 
 
 Syria, ' On what are you 
 trusting that you are 
 awaiting the siege in Jeru- 
 salem ? 11 Does not Heze- 
 kiah mislead you in order 
 to give you over to die by 
 famine and by thirst, say- 
 ing, " Jehovah our God 
 will deliver us out of the 
 hand of the king of As- 
 syria " ? i-Has not the 
 same Hezekiah taken away 
 his high places and his al- 
 tars and commanded Judah 
 and Jerusalem, saying, "Ye 
 shall worship before one 
 altar and upon it shall you 
 offer sacrifice ? " i^Do you 
 not know what I and my 
 fathers have done to all the 
 gods of the peoples of the 
 lands ? Were the gods of 
 the nations of the lands at 
 all able to deliver their land 
 out of my hand ? i^Who 
 was there among all the 
 gods of those nations on 
 which my fathers laid their 
 ban who could deliver his 
 people out of my hand, that 
 your god should be able to 
 deliver you out of my hand ? 
 i^Now therefore let not 
 Hezekiah deceive you in 
 this way nor mislead you 
 nor believe him, for no god 
 of any nation or kingdom 
 
 The passage was prc)bal)ly taken from the oriRinal Hezekiah history, quoted in tlie Judean 
 royal chronicles. On the other hand, the spirit of the second narrative, the larjie numbers in^s 
 and the prominence of letters and public prayer here and in 20 (cf. 19"' " and 20'"^) connect it 
 with the cycle of Isaiah stories. 
 
 An editor of the book of Isaiah liaM also taken these passages and introduced them in Chaps. 
 36 and .37. That they, like the contents of 38, were suVj.sequently inserted into the book of 
 Isaiah is demonstrated by the fact that the late prophetic editorial additions were likewise 
 transferred. 
 
 'l"he Chronicler's parallel is a very free parai)hrase of the two versions in Kga. and is adapted 
 to the didactic ends whic4i characterize tlie midrash. 
 
 ' II Kks. 18'^ So Ck., Luc, Syr., and Lat. I'he Ilcb. adds, and came up. 
 
 « II Kg.'j. IQ"^' ^ For the places mentioned, cf. map opp. p. 248. 
 
 299
 
 II Kgs. 1822, igi5] THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD 
 
 [II Chr. 3215 
 
 Hezekiah History 
 
 God," is not he the one 
 whose high places and 
 altars Hezekiah has 
 taken away and has 
 said to Judah and Jeru- 
 salem, " You shall wor- 
 ship before this altar in 
 Jerusalem ? " ^^N o w 
 therefore give pledges 
 to my master the king 
 of Assyria and I will 
 give you two thousand 
 horses, if you are able 
 on your part to set rid- 
 ers upon them. 24]^Q-yy 
 then can you repulse 
 one^ of the least of my 
 master's servants ? And 
 yet you trust in Egypt 
 for chariots and for 
 horsemen ! 25]SJow have 
 I come up against this 
 place to destroy it 
 without Jehovah's ap- 
 proval ? Jehovah it was 
 who said to me, " Go 
 up against this land 
 and destroy it." ' 
 
 Isaiah Stories 
 
 alone, over all the 
 kingdoms of the 
 earth. ^^Inchne thine 
 ear, O Jehovah, and 
 hear ; open thine eyes, 
 O Jehovah, and see 
 and hear the words of 
 Sennacherib, w h i c h 
 he has sent to defy 
 the living God. ^'It 
 is true, O Jehovah, 
 the kings of Assyria 
 have laid waste the 
 nations and their 
 lands i^and have cast 
 their gods into the 
 fire; for they were no 
 gods, but the work of 
 men's hands, wood 
 and stone ; therefore 
 they have destroyed 
 them. l^But now, O 
 Jehovah our God, 
 save thou us, that all 
 the kingdoms of the 
 earth may know that 
 thou Jehovah art God 
 alone. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical 
 History 
 
 was able to deliver his peo- 
 ple from my hand and from 
 the hand of my fathers. 
 How much less shall your 
 gods deliver you out of my 
 hand ? ' 
 
 I'^And his servants spoke 
 yet more against Jehovah 
 God, and against his ser- 
 vant Hezekiah. ^^He also 
 wrote letters, railing against 
 Jehovah, the God of Israel, 
 and speaking against him 
 to this efl'ect, Just as the 
 gods of the nations of the 
 lands, who have not de- 
 livered their people out of 
 my hand, so shall not the 
 God of Hezekiah deliver 
 his people out of my hand. 
 i^And they cried with a 
 loud voice in the Jewish 
 language to the people of 
 Jerusalem who were on the 
 wall to frighten and terrify 
 them, that they might take 
 the city. ^^And they spoke 
 of the God of Jerusalem, as 
 of the gods of the peoples 
 of the earth, which are the 
 work of men's hands. 
 
 Further 
 threats 
 of Sen- 
 nache- 
 rib's 
 official 
 
 2'5Tlien Eliakim the son of Hilkiah and 
 Shebnah and Joali said to the high official, 
 Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the 
 Aramaic language, for we understand it; 
 but do not speak with us in the Jewish lan- 
 guage in the hearing of the people who are 
 on the wall. 27j3y^ ^}^g ]jig|^ official said to 
 them. Has my master sent me to your mas- 
 ter and to you to speak these words ? Is it 
 not rather to the men who sit on the wall, 
 that they shall eat their own dung and drink 
 
 20Tlien Isaiah the son of Jeho- 
 Amoz sent to Hezekiah saying, ^^g.^ 
 Thus saith Jehovah, the God of sage 
 Israel, ' What thou hast asked earning 
 of me regarding Sennacherib ^^^'''^ 
 king of Assyria, I have heard.' 
 2iThis is the word that Jehovah 
 hath spoken concerning him: 
 
 ' Thee she despises, at thee is 
 laughinfj — 
 The virgin, daughter of Zion ! 
 
 •" II Kgs. 18^* Heb. adds, satrap, but the construction is impossible and the word was prob- 
 ably added by a later scribe. 
 
 300
 
 II Kgs. 1827] ISAL\H"S PROPHETIC COUNSEL [II Kgs. I921 
 
 Hezekiah History 
 
 their own water together witli you ? ^SXhen 
 the high official stood and cried with a loud 
 voice in the Jewish language and spoke, 
 saying, Hear the message of the great king, 
 the king of Assyria, ^oxhus saith the king, 
 ' Let not Hezekiah deceive you ; for he will 
 not be able to deliver you out of myj hand. 
 ^^Xeither let Hezekiah make you trust in 
 Jehovah, saying, " Jehovah will surely de- 
 liver us, and this city shall not be given into 
 the power of the king of Assyria." ' ^^Heark- 
 en not to Hezekiah, for thus says the king 
 of Assyria, ' ]Make your peace with me and 
 come over to me; thus shall each one of 
 vou eat from his own vine and his own fig- 
 tree and drink the waters of his own cis- 
 tern, ^^until I come and take you away to 
 a land like your own land, a land full of 
 grain and new wine, a land full of bread 
 and vineyards, a land full of olive-trees and 
 honey, that you may live and not die. But 
 hearken not to Hezekiah, when he misleads 
 you, saying, " Jehovah will deliver us." 
 ^^Has any of the gods of the nations ever 
 delivered his land out of the power of the 
 king of Assyria ? -^^Where are the gods of 
 Hamath and Arpad ? Where are the gods 
 of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah ? Where 
 are the gods of the land of Samaria" that 
 they have delivered Samaria out of my 
 power ? •^•^Who are they among all the gods 
 of the countries, that have delivered their 
 country out of my power, that Jehovah 
 should deliver Jerusalem out of my power ? ' 
 
 Isaiah Stories 
 
 Behind thee she is wagging her 
 head'— 
 The daughter of Jerusalem ! 
 ^^Whom hast thou reviled and 
 blasjjhemed ? 
 Against whom raised thy 
 voice ? 
 Yea, and Hfted up thine eyes on 
 high ? 
 Against Israel's Holy One ! 
 ^^By thy minions hast'' thou reviled 
 the Lord ; 
 And hast said, " With my 
 many chariots, 
 I, even I, ascended the mountain 
 heights. 
 The ravines of Lebanon ; 
 And I have cut down its tallest 
 cedars, 
 Its choice cypresses. 
 And I press into its farthest halt- 
 ing-place. 
 Into its densest thickets. 
 -^I, even I, dig wells [in the desert]. 
 And drink strange waters. 
 And with the soles of my feet 
 have I dried up 
 AH the rivers of Egypt." 
 ^^Hast tiiou not heard, I prepared 
 it long ago. 
 In the days of old I formed it ; 
 now I have brought it to pass; 
 Hence thy task is to turn fortified 
 cities into ruined heaps, 
 2* And their inhabitants, helpless, 
 are terrified and put to shame. 
 They are like the wild plants, the 
 tender grass, and the blades 
 on the roofs and the ujilands,' 
 Before me is thy rising uj)"' -'and 
 thy lying down, thy going 
 out and thy coming in, 
 I know tiiy raging against me" 
 -''*and thine arrogance has 
 come to my ears. 
 Therefore I will put my ring 
 tiirough tiiy nose, and my 
 bridle between thy lips. 
 And will make \hcc return by the 
 way in wiiicii thou hast come. 
 
 r.-. 
 
 1092'', 
 
 ' II Kgs. 19-' A Kcsture of mockery. Cf. Lain. 2''', .Job Hi 
 i II Kgs. 1829 So Luc. Svr., Lat.," and Tarn. Heb.. Iris. 
 '' II Kgs. 19^ So Ck., Luc, and Lat. Heb. has the tenses of the future. 
 ' II Kgs. 19^' Making a [jlausible correction. Heb., blasted corn. 
 ™II Kgs. 19''* Slightly re\-ising the Heb. 
 
 ■ II Kgs. IH^ So Luc, and demanded by the context. The Heb. has lost the first part 
 of the .sentence. 
 
 " II Kgs. 19^^ Omitting the dittography, becnu.ie thou ragcst against me. 
 
 301
 
 II Kgs. 1836] 
 
 THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD 
 
 [II Kgs. 1929 
 
 Heze- 
 kiah's 
 mes- 
 sage to 
 Isaiah 
 ami the 
 proph- 
 
 Hezekiah History 
 
 ^^Then the people were silent and answered him 
 not a word; for the king's command was, Answer 
 him not. 37J3^^ Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, the 
 prefect of the palace, and vShebna, the scribe, and 
 Joah the son of Asaph, the chancellor, came to Hez- 
 ekiah with torn clothes and told him the words of 
 the high official. 19 ^x\nd as soon as King Heze- 
 kiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered him- 
 self with sackcloth and went into the temple of 
 Jehovah. ^And he sent Eliakim, who was prefect 
 of the palace, and Shebna the scribe and the eldest 
 of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the 
 prophet the son of Amoz. ^^^nd they said to him. 
 Thus saith Hezekiah, ' This is a day of trouble and 
 of discipline and of contumely ; for the children are 
 come to birth and there is no strength to her who 
 is in travail. P ^It may be Jehovah thy God will 
 hear all the words of the high official, whom his 
 master the king of Assyria has sent to defy the liv- 
 ing God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah 
 your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer 
 for the remnant that is left.' ^And when the ser- 
 vants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, ^Isaiah 
 said to them, The following answer shall you take to 
 your master, ' Thus saith Jehovah, " Be not afraid 
 of the words that thou hast heard, with which the 
 servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed 
 me. "Behold I will put a spirit in him so that he 
 shall hear tidings and shall return to his own land, 
 and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own 
 land." ' ^So the high official returned and found 
 the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for 
 he had heard that he had departed from Lachish. 
 9aBut that one had heard regarding Tirhakah king 
 of Ethiopia, Behold, he has come out to fight against 
 you 
 
 ^^Then Sennache- 
 rib king of Assyria 
 went away and re- 
 turned and dwelt at 
 
 Isaiah Stories 
 
 29And this shall be 
 your sign: you shall eat 
 this year that which 
 grows of itself, and in 
 the second year that 
 which springs from the 
 same, but in the third 
 year you can sow and 
 reap and plant vine- 
 yards and eat the fruit. 
 30And the remnant that 
 escapes of the house 
 of Judah shall again 
 take root downward 
 and bear fruit upward. 
 3iFor out of Jerusalem 
 shall go forth a remnant 
 and from Mount Zion a 
 band who shall escape; 
 the zeal of Jehovah of 
 hosts shall accomplish 
 this.' 32'j'jjgj.gfQj.g thus 
 
 saith Jehovah concern- 
 ing the king of Assyria, 
 ' He shall not come into 
 this city, nor shoot an 
 arrow therein; neither 
 shall he come before it 
 with shield nor cast up 
 a mound against it. ^Sfiy 
 the same way that he 
 came shall he return, 
 but he shall not come 
 into this city,' saith Je- 
 hovah. 34' YoT I will 
 defend this city to save 
 it for mine own sake, 
 and for the sake of Da- 
 vid my servant.' 
 
 35Now that 
 night the 
 Messenger of 
 Jehovah went 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 33 20And Hezekiah the 
 king and Isaiah the prophet, the son 
 of Amoz, prayed because of this and 
 cried to heaven, ^i^nfj Jehovah sent 
 
 The 
 divine 
 assur- 
 ance 
 that 
 Jeru- 
 salem 
 would 
 be de- 
 livered 
 and As- 
 syria 
 over- 
 thrown 
 
 p II Kgs. 193 So Gk., Luc, Syr., and Lat. 
 
 302 
 
 Heb., to bring forth.
 
 n Kgs. 1936 35] SENNACHERIB'S INVASION 
 
 [II Chr. 3221 
 
 Hezekiah History 
 
 Nineveh. 3" And once 
 while he was wor- 
 shipping in the tem- 
 ple of Nisroch his 
 god, his sons, Adram- 
 melek and Sharezer, 
 smote him with the 
 sword; and they es- 
 caped into the land 
 of Ararat. And Esar- 
 haddon his son be- 
 came king in his 
 place. 
 
 Isa iah 
 Stories 
 
 forth and 
 smote in the 
 camp of the 
 Assyrians, a 
 hundred and 
 eighty thou- 
 sand. And 
 when people 
 arose early 
 the next 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 20 20N0W the other acts 
 of Hezekiah, and all his 
 bra\-e deeds and how he 
 made tlie pool, and the 
 conduit, and brought 
 water into the city, are 
 they not recorded in the 
 Chronicles of the Kings of 
 Judah? 2'And Hezekiah 
 slept with his fathers ; and 
 Manasseh his son became 
 king in his place. 
 
 a Messenger, who cut off all the 
 mighty warriors, with the leaders and 
 generals in the army of the king of 
 Assyria. So he returned with shame 
 to his own land. And when he en- 
 tered the temple of his god, his own 
 offspring slew him there with the 
 sword. --Thus Jehovah saved Heze- 
 kiah and the inhabitants of Jerusa- 
 lem from the hand of Sennacherib 
 the king of Assyria and from the hand 
 of all others and gave them resf^ on 
 every side. -3\n(j many brought 
 gifts to Jehovah, to Jerusalem and 
 precious things to Hezekiah king of 
 Judah, so that from that time on he 
 was highly esteemed by all peoples. 
 32Now the other acts of Hezekiah and his good 
 deeds are recorded in the vision of Isaiah the 
 prophet the son of Amoz'" in the Book of the Kings 
 of Judah and Israel. 33\j)(i Hezekiah slept with 
 his fathers and they buried him in the ascent to 
 the sepulchres of the sons of David, and all Judah 
 and the inhabitants of Jerusalem showed him honor 
 at his death. And Manasseh his son became king 
 in his place. 
 
 morning, 
 there were 
 only dead 
 bodies. 
 
 § 125. Reactionary Reigns of Manasseh and Amon, 11 Kgs. 21, II Chr. 33 
 
 Late Prophetic Narratives 
 
 II Kgs. 21 ^Manas-seh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and 
 he reigned fifty -five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Heph- 
 zibah. -And he did that which displeased Jehovah, according to the abom- 
 inable practices of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the Israelites. 
 ^For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, 
 and he erected altars for Baal and made an asherah, as Ahab king of Israel 
 had done, and worshipped all the host of heaven and served them. ^And 
 
 Hea- 
 then 
 sym- 
 bols 
 and 
 cults 
 intro- 
 duced 
 by Ma- 
 nasseh 
 
 n Chr. 3222 So Gk. and Lat. Heb., ffuided them. 
 
 ' n Chr. 3232 The title of Isaiah's prophecies. Cf. Is. V. 
 
 5 12.5 The allusions to the Chronicles of Judah in "^' -^ indicate that the author of this sec- 
 lion had earlier sources before him. The facts in 3''' were floiibtless taken from them or from 
 the .ludean annals. The section '■«, however, as a whole, is clearly from tiie late prophetic 
 editor. From this time on he stood so ne.ar the facts that his testimony is almost equivalent 
 to that of a contemporary witness. Vss. "''', on the other hand, reflect the e.vilic point of view. 
 Cf. Introd.. p. 21. They were evidently added by the latest editor of Krs. 
 
 The Chronicler quotes the first nine verses practically verbatim. To these he adds a tradi- 
 tion regarding Manasseh 's captivity and certain other facts about his building enterprises which 
 appear to be derived from some earlier source. 
 
 303
 
 II Kgs. 21^] THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD 
 
 Late Prophetic Narratives 
 
 he built altars in tlie temple of Jehovah, of which Jehovah said, In Jerusalem 
 will I put my name. ^And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two 
 courts of the temple of Jehovah.^ ^And he made his son to pass through the 
 fire and practised augury and witchcraft and appointed mediums and 
 wizards; he did much evil in the sight of Jehovah to provoke him to anger. 
 
 Late Prophetic, f Exilic J Addition 
 
 Dese- "And he set the graven image of an asherah, that he had made, in the 
 
 of^the" temple of which Jehovah said to David and to Solomon his son. In this house 
 
 temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I 
 
 put my name forever, ^and I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any 
 
 more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will faithfully 
 
 do as I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant 
 
 Moses commanded them. ^But they did not hearken, and Manasseh seduced 
 
 them to do more evil than did the nations which Jehovah destroyed before 
 
 the Israelites. 
 
 Jeho- i^And Jehovah spoke by his servants the prophets, saying, ^^Because 
 
 vah s Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done more 
 
 nounce- wickedly than all that the Amorites have done, who were before him, and 
 
 the hath made Judah also sin with his idols; ^-therefore thus saith Jehovah the 
 
 captJA'- ^o*^ o^ Israel, I am now about to bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah, 
 
 ityof that whoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. ^^And I will stretch 
 
 Judah 
 
 over Jerusalem the measuring line, as over Samaria, and tlie plummet,* 
 as over the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a 
 dish, wiping and turning it upside down. ^^And I will cast off the remnant 
 of mine inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, that 
 they may become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, ^^ecause they have 
 done that which is displeasing to me, and have provoked me to anger, since 
 the day their fathers came forth from Egypt, even to the present. 
 
 ^^Moreover Manasseh shed much innocent blood until he had filled Jeru- 
 salem from one end to the other, besides his sin with which he made Judah 
 sin, in doing that which displeased Jehovah. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 His II Chr. 33 ^^And Jehovah spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but 
 
 ity, re-" they gave no heed. ^ ^Therefore Jehovah brought against them the com- 
 pent- manders of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains 
 and res- and bound him with fetters and carried him to Babylon, ^^g^t when he 
 t°on" was in distress, he besought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly 
 before the God of his fathers. ^^And he prayed to him, and he was entreated 
 
 " n Kgs. 215 cf J Kgs. 63G^ 20'*, where the temple appears to have had but one court. Vs. ^ la 
 a duplicate of * and clearly comes from an exilic or post-exilic writer. 
 
 ' II Kgs. 21'^ Symbols of a divine judgment, executed in accord with the strict principles 
 of justice. Cf. Am. 7^- *. 
 
 304
 
 REACTIONARY REIGN OF MANASSEH [II Chr. 33i3 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 of him and heard his supphcation and brought him back to Jerusalem into 
 his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Jehovah was indeed God. 
 
 ^^Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west 
 side of Gihon in the valley, even to the entrance at the Fish Gate, so that 
 he encircled Ophel ; and he made it very high. lie also placed vahant 
 commanders in aU the fortified cities of Judah. 
 
 ^°And he took away the foreign gods and the idol out of the temple of 
 Jehovah and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the temple of 
 Jehovah and in Jerusalem and cast them out of the city. ^"^And he rebuilt 
 the altar of Jehovah and offered on it sacrifices of peace-offerings and of 
 thank-offering, and commanded Judah to serve Jehovah, the God of Israel. 
 ^"Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only to Je- 
 hovah their God. 
 
 His 
 build- 
 ing 
 enter- 
 prises 
 
 His 
 
 later 
 relig- 
 ious 
 re- 
 forms 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. 21 i"Now the 
 other acts of Manasseh and 
 all that he did, and his sin 
 that he committed, are 
 they not recorded in the 
 Chronicles of the Kings of 
 Judah t ^^And Manasseh 
 slept with his fathers and 
 was buried in the garden 
 of his own palace, in the 
 garden of Uzza; and Amon 
 his son became king in his 
 place. 
 
 i^Now the other acts" of Manasseh and his 
 prayer to his God, as well as the words of the 
 seers who spoke in the name of Jehovah, the 
 God of Israel, are already recorded in the his- 
 tory of Israel. ^^His prayer also and how it 
 was heard and all his sin and his guilt and the 
 sites on which he built high places and set up 
 the asherahs and the graven images, before he 
 humbled himself, are already recorded in the 
 history of his seers. '^' -'^So Manasseh slept with 
 his fathers and they buried him in the garden 
 of his palace;^ and Amon his son became king 
 in his place. 
 
 Late Prophetic Narratives 
 
 '^Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned Amon'a 
 
 two years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter rei'ig. 
 of Ilaruz of Jotbah. 20.Yj^^| jjg (]jj \\x^\^ which displeased Jehovah, as did '"'!? 
 Manasseh his father. 2i\nfJ he walked in all the way in which his father 
 had walked and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them, 
 22and he forsook Jehovah, the God of his fathers, and walked not in the way 
 of Jehovah. 
 
 ^•Wnd the servants of Amon cons})ired against him and put the king to His 
 death in his palace, ^'^^ui the people of the land slew all who had conspired s^atfon 
 against Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his 
 place, '^^^ow the otluT acts of Amon which he did, are they not recorded 
 in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah .^ 20^\,i,l 1,^ ^y^s; buried in his 
 sepulchre in the garden of Uzza; and Josiah his son became king in his place. 
 
 "11 Chr. 33'8 Heb., amono the acts. 
 
 •' II rhr. .33'' Making a slight correction in the Heb. Gk., seera. 
 
 " II Chr. 33-" So Gk. and the parallel in Kgs. 
 
 305
 
 II Kgs. 221] 
 
 THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 III 
 
 THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD: FROM JOSIAH TO THE RISE OF 
 CYRUS, II Kgs. 22I-2530, II Chr. 34"^-362i, Jer. 26, 34, 36-3914, 40-44, 52 
 
 Jo- 
 
 siah's 
 
 benign 
 
 policy 
 
 § 126. Discovery of the Book of the Law in the Days of Josiah, II Kgs. 
 
 22'-2°, II Chr. 341-28 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. 23 1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he 
 reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jedidah 
 the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. '^Xud he did that which pleased Je- 
 hovah "and walked in all the way of David his father and turned not aside 
 to the right or to the left. 
 
 His 
 
 early 
 relig- 
 ious 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 34 ^Now in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, 
 
 he began to seek after the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year 
 
 , he beffan to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high lilaees and the asherahs 
 rci oriD s ~ * ^ ~ I 
 
 and the graven and molten images, ^^nd they broke down the altars of the 
 Baals in his presence, and the sun-images that stood above them he hewed 
 down, and the asherahs, and the graven and molten images he broke in 
 pieces and made dust of them and strewed it on the graves of those who had 
 sacrificed to them. ^And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars 
 
 The Babylonian Period. — The history of the earlier part of this most important period 
 is recorded in greater detail than that of any other in the life of the Israelitish race. Regarding 
 the great reformation of Josiah, the temple records quoted in Kgs. are the chief source, supple- 
 mented by the contemporary sermons of Zephaniah and Jeremiah. For the remainder of the 
 period the citations from the annals of Judah and the historical statements of the late prophetic 
 editor are richly supplemented by the biography of Jeremiah, which has been combined with 
 his prophecies. Many contemporary data are also found in his addresses and those of his 
 younger colleagues, Habakkuk and Ezekiel. Cf. Vol. III. The Babylonian inscriptions, and 
 especially those of Nebuchadrezzar, make it possible for the historian also to study the events 
 from the point of view of the conquerors. Regarding the period of the Babylonian exile Israel's 
 historians are silent, because there were few events and because they were too tragic to be recorded. 
 
 § 126 Vss. '■ - are clearly from the late prophetic editor, but with ^ begins a narrative in 
 which the style and interest are very similar to those in the citation from the temple records 
 in 12. The theme, the discovery of the book of the law in connection with certain repairs of 
 the temple, would appeal most naturally and the details in ^-" would be familiar to one connected 
 with the temple. Most of the narrative has the characteristics of a jiractically contemporary 
 record. At the same time the events recorded are so important that it was almost inevitable 
 that the account should be much revised and supplemented by later editors. The character 
 and language of many clauses and verses indicate that this has been done. It must, however, 
 be remembered that the original narrative was also written under the influence of the newly 
 discovered book of the covenant, which powerfully influenced and largely determined the style 
 of the later editors, so that the presence here of late prophetic or Deuteronomic expressions is 
 not conclusive evidence that the passages containing them are later editorial additions. For 
 this reason a definite analysis is especially difficult and there is room for considerable difference 
 of opinion. Fortunately the editorial additions also have almost the value of contemporary 
 authority, so that we may feel confident that we have on the whole a faithful record of the way 
 in which the new law-book, represented by the body of our present book of Dt., was brought to 
 the attention of *the king and made the basis of the great reformation. The Chronicler has re- 
 vised and expanded the original narrative of Kgs. by introducing tiie Levites as the collectors 
 of the money for the repair of the temple, and also by placing them at the head of the commis- 
 sion which directed the work. He moreover introduces into the eighth year of Josiah's reign 
 the iconoclastic reformation which the narrative of Kgs. places after the discovery of the book 
 of the law in his eighteenth year. 
 
 306
 
 DISCOM^RY OF THE BOOK OF THE LAW [H Chr. 345 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 and purged Judah and Jerusalem. ^Also in the cities of Manasseh and 
 Ephraim and Simeon, even to Xaphtali, in their ruins round about, ~he 
 broke down the altars and beat the asherahs and the graven ima<Tes into 
 powder, and hewed down all the sun-images throughout all the land of Israel, 
 and then returned to Jerusalem. 
 
 Deliv- 
 ery of 
 the new 
 book of 
 tlie law 
 to .lo- 
 31 ah 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 II Kgs. 33 ^Now in the 
 eighteenth year of King Jo- 
 siah, the king sent Shaphan 
 the son of Azaliah, the son of 
 Meshullam, the scribe, to the 
 temple of Jehovah saying, 
 *Go up to Hilkiah the high 
 priest, that he may return the 
 full amount^ of the money 
 which is brought into the 
 temple of Jehovah, which the 
 keepers of the threshold have 
 gathered from the people 
 ^and let them dehver it into 
 the hands of the workmen 
 who have the oversight of 
 the temple of Jehovah; that 
 they may give it to the work- 
 men who are in the temple 
 of Jehovah, to repair the de- 
 cayed parts of the temple — • 
 ^to the carfjenters and the 
 builders and the masons — as 
 well as to buy timber and 
 hewn stone to repair the tem- 
 [)le. '^However, there was no 
 reckoning made with them 
 regarding the money that 
 was delivered into their 
 hands, for they dealt faith- 
 fully. 
 
 ^Then Hilkiah the high 
 priest said to Shaphan the 
 scribe, I have found the book 
 of the law in the temple of 
 Jehovah. And Hilkiah de- 
 livered the book to Shaphan, 
 
 ^Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, 
 in order to purge the land and the temple, he 
 sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maase- 
 iah the governor of the city, antl Joah the 
 son of Joahaz the chancellor to repair the 
 temple of Jehovah his God. ^And they came 
 to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the 
 money that was brought into the house of 
 God, which the Levites, the keepers of the 
 threshold, had gathered from Manasseh and 
 Ephraim and from the rest of Israel, and from 
 all Judah and Benjamin, and returned to 
 Jerusalem, i^xhey in turn delivered it into 
 the hand of the workmen who had the over- 
 sight of the temple of Jehovah ; and the work- 
 men who worked on the temple of Jehovah 
 gave it to mend and repair the temple — ^Ho 
 the carpenters and to the builders they gave 
 it, that they might buy hewn stone and tim- 
 ber for binders and to make beams for the 
 buildings which the kings of Judah had de- 
 stroyed. i^And the men did the work faith- 
 fully; and the overseers over them were Ja- 
 hath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons 
 of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of 
 the sons of the Kohathites, to direct the work. 
 And tlie Levites — all who were skilful with 
 instruments of music — ^^were over the bur- 
 den-bearers, and directed all the workmen 
 who did any kind of service; and some of the 
 Levites were scribes, officers, and porters. 
 
 ^■^And when they brought out the money 
 that had been brought into the temple of Je- 
 hovah, Hilkiah the priest found the book of 
 the law of Jehovah given by Moses. ^"'And 
 Hilkiah spoke and said to Shaphan the scribe, 
 I have found the book of the law in the tem- 
 
 • II Kgs. 22^ Heb., bring to an end. 
 
 307
 
 II Kgs. 228] 
 
 THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 [II Chr. 3415 
 
 His re- 
 ception 
 of it 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 and he read it. ^And Sha- 
 phan the scribe went to the 
 king and also brought the 
 king word, saying, Your ser- 
 vants have emptied out the 
 money that was found in the 
 temple and have dehvered 
 it into the hands of the 
 workmen who have the over- 
 sight of the tem])le of Jeho- 
 vah. ^^And Shaphan the 
 scribe told the king, saying, 
 Hilkiah the priest has given 
 me a book. And Shaphan 
 read it before the king. 
 
 11 But when the king had heard the 
 words of the book of the law, he tore 
 his clothes, ^^^j^j |y,g ^ing com- 
 manded Hilkiah the priest and Ahi- 
 kam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor 
 the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the 
 scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, 
 saying, ^^Go, inquire of Jehovah for 
 me and for the people and for all 
 Judali, concerning the words of this 
 book that is found; for great is the 
 wrath of Jehovah that is kindled 
 against us, because our fathers have 
 not hearkened to the words of this 
 book, to do just as is written in it° 
 concerning us. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 pie of Jehovah. And Hilkiah delivered the 
 book to Shaphan. ''^And Shaphan carried 
 the book to the king, and also reported to 
 the king, saying, All that was committed to 
 your servants, they are doing. ^''And they 
 have emptied out the money that was found 
 in the temple of Jehovah, and have delivered 
 it into the hands of the overseers and into 
 the hands of the workmen. ^^And Shaphan 
 the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the 
 priest has delivered to me a book. And 
 Shaphan read out of it before the king. 
 
 ^^But when the king had heard the 
 words of the law, he tore his clothes. 
 ^^Then the king commanded Hil- 
 kiah, and Ahikam the son of Sha- 
 phan, and Achbor the son of Mi- 
 caiah,^ and Shaphan the scribe, and 
 Asaiah the king's servant, saying, 
 "^Go, inquire of Jehovah for me and 
 for those who are left in Israel and 
 in Judah concerning the words of 
 the -book that has been found; for 
 great is the wrath of Jehovah that is 
 poured out upon us, because our fa- 
 thers have not kept the word of Je- 
 hovah, to do just as is written in this 
 book. 
 
 Hul- ^'^So Hilkiah the priest and Ahikam and Achbor went to Huldah the 
 
 pre-^ prophetess the wife of Shallum, the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper 
 
 diction of the wardrobe, who dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter,^ and they 
 
 ingJu- conversed with her. ^^And she said to them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God 
 
 Josiah of Israel: ' Tell the man who sent you to me, ^^" Thus saith Jehovah: I am 
 
 now about to bring evil upon this place and upon its inhabitants, even all 
 
 the threats of the book which the king of Judah hath read. ''Because they have 
 
 forsaken me and have offered sacrifices to otlier gods, tliat they miglit provoke me to 
 
 anger with all tlie work of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against 
 
 this place and it shall not be quenched." '"^ 
 
 ^ II Chr. 34-" Restoring the text by the aid of tlae parallel in Kgs. Heb., Abdor the son 
 of Micah. 
 
 c II Kgs. 22>3 So Luc. The Heb. omits, in it. 
 
 d II Kgs. 2214 Cf. Zeph. I'o and Neh. IP. 
 
 « II Kgs. 22"' This verse abounds in the characteristic expressions of the late prophetic 
 school. 
 
 308
 
 DISCOVERY OF THE BOOK OF THE LAW [H Kgs. 22i8 
 Tem^ole Records 
 
 ^^But to the king of Jiidah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah, this shall 
 you say to him, ' Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, " As regards the 
 words which thou hast heard — ^^because thy heart was penitent,^ and thou 
 didst humble thyself before Jehovah, when thou heardest what I spoke 
 against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become an 
 object of dread and execration, and hast torn thy garments and wept before 
 me, I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah. ^O'pjjgj.efore I will gather thee 
 to thy fathers and thou slialt be borne to thy grave in peace, neither shall 
 thine eyes see all the evil which I will bring upon this place." ' So they 
 brought back word to the king. 
 
 § 127. The Great Reformation under Josiah, H Kgs. 23'", 11 Chr. 34-^-35'9 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 II Kgs. 23 ^And the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders Public 
 of Judah and of Jerusalem. '^Xnd the king went up to the temple of Jehovah, aml'"'^ 
 and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, r'ro- 
 as well as the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and tionof 
 great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant gofie'®^^ 
 which was found in the temple of Jehovah. ^And the king stood by the 
 
 Eillar and made a covenant before Jehovah to walk after Jehovah and to keep 
 is commands and his testimonies and liis statutes, with all his heart and all his soul,e 
 to establish the words of this covenant that were written in his book. And 
 all the people confirmed the covenant.*^ 
 
 ' II Kgs. 2218. 19 Luc. has the more fluent reading. Because thou hast heard my words and 
 thy heart was penitent (lit., tender). 
 
 § 127 Again there is a great difficulty in distinguishing with assurance between the original 
 narrative and the late prophetic additions. Vss. ^'- ■'' clearly reflect the exilic point of view and 
 are intended to harmonize the subsequent calamity, which overtook .ludah, with the reforming 
 work of .Josiah. The allusion in "'-"* to the very late prophetic tale in I Kgs. 13 is also probably 
 from a later hand. To the late prophetic editor may well be due the succeeding account of the 
 extension of the iconoclastic work of .Josiah from Bethel to the high jjlaces of Samaria. As in 
 later Jewish times the name of the northern capital has here become the designation of a province. 
 The statement in -" that .Josiah slew the priests of the high places is also not consistent with the 
 general permission in ** for them to come and minister at the Jerusalem sanctuary. The move- 
 ment, however, was in accord with the spirit of tlje Dculeronomic code and in keeping with the 
 fierce reforming zeal of Josiah and the reformers who gathered about him. Vss. ^' ^ anticipate the 
 variant account of the cleansing of the temple in "■ " and the treatment of the priests recorded 
 in *• '■•. Otherwise the bulk of this important narrative appears to have been taken from the 
 temple records already quoted. It is most fortunate that this event, in many ways the most 
 significant in Judah's religious history, is so fully recorded. Cf. for the character, history, and 
 content of the Deuteronomic code then iiromulgatod. Vol. IV, Intro<l. 
 
 The Chronicler reproduces the account in Kgs. of the public promulgation of the new-found 
 code with practically no changes, excei)t that he expands the account of its formal ratification. 
 Itegarding the fletaile<l reforms he makes only a brief general statement, for the jjicture which 
 the original account gives of the idolatry of the Judahites w;is repulsive to him. 
 
 The brief account in Kgs. of the passover did not satisfy the ritualistic taste of later gen- 
 erations. Therefore the original version was expanded into a midrash, which represents it as 
 having Vieen kept not acconling to the newly jiromulgated law of l)t. or the late priestly codes, 
 but much as in the passover described in Ezra G''-*-, in which the Levitcs also played a very im- 
 portant role. 
 
 " II Kgs. 2.3' The characteristic expressions of the late projihetic editor. 
 
 '■ II Kgs. 233 The Chronicler's version is, II Chr. 34''-, And he enured all those who were 
 found in Jerusalem and lienjamin to confirm it; and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according 
 to the covenant of God, the God of their jatherK.
 
 II Kgs. 234] THE BABYLONL\N PERIOD 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 Josiah's *And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the second priest' and the 
 prac- keepers of the threshold to bring out from the temple of Jehovah all the vessels that 
 tical were made for Baal and for Asherah' and for all the host of heaven; and he burned 
 forms them without Jerusalem in the lime-kilns'' by the Kidron, and carried their ashes to 
 inJu- Bethel. ■''He also deposed the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had or- 
 dah and dained to offer sacrifice at the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places around 
 Jeru- about Jerusalem; those also who offered sacrifices to Baal, to the sun, the moon, and 
 salem ^j^^ planets,' and all the host of heaven. *^And he brought the asherah from the 
 temple of Jehovah outside Jerusalem to the Prook of Kidron and burned it 
 at the Brook Kidron, beat it to dust, and cast its dust upon the graves of 
 the common people.™ ''And he broke down the houses of the sacred prosti- 
 tutes who were in the temple of Jehovah, where the women wove tunics'^ for 
 the asherah. ^And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah and 
 defiled the high places, where the priests had offered sacrifices, from Geba to 
 Beersheba. And he broke down the high places of the satyrs °, that stood 
 at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were 
 on the left as one enters the gate of the city. ^Nevertheless the priests of 
 the high places did not come up to the altar of Jehovah in Jerusalem, but 
 ate unleavened bread among their kinsmen. ^^He also defiled Topheth, 
 which is in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, that no man might make his son or 
 his daughter to pass through the fire to Moloch. ^^And he took away the 
 horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entrance of the 
 temple of Jehovah, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain 
 (which was in the Parwarim),p and he burned up the chariots of the sun. ^^And 
 the altars that were on the roof (the upper chamber of Ahaz) which the kings 
 of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made (in the two 
 courts of the temple of Jehovah)<5 the king broke off and beat down'" from there 
 and cast the dust from them into the Brook Kidron. ^^And the high places 
 that were east of Jerusalem, to the south of the hill of the destroyer,^ which 
 Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtarte,* the abomination of the 
 Sidonians, and for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom, the 
 abomination of the Ammonites, the king defiled. "And he broke in pieces the 
 pillars, and cut down the asherahs and filled their places with the bones of men. " 
 
 ' II Kgs. 23* Heb., priests, but in the light of 251^ and the Targs., the reading above seems 
 to have been original. 
 
 i II Kgs. 23' Here the asherah appears to represent a female deity corresponding to Baal 
 {i.e., Ashtarte), but in <> the reference is as usual to the sacred poles. 
 
 ''II Kgs. 2.3* So Luc, and the corrected Heb. text. The present Heb. has, fields, but the 
 word is never used elsewhere in prose. 
 
 ' II Kgs. 23-5 The word probably means, lit., heavenly mansions. The same root is found 
 m the fifth tablet of the Babylonian Creation Epic, He made mansions of the great gods. These 
 mansions appear to have been identified with certain planets. The identification accords per- 
 fectly with the present context. 
 
 "II Kgs. 23'5Cf. Jer. 26-3. 
 
 ° II Kgs. 23' So Luc, and the transliteration of the Gk. Heb., houses. 
 
 ° II Kgs. 23« Slightly emending the Heb. 
 
 p II Kgs. 23'^ Possibly a Persian word meaning, open kiosk. It was doubtless identical 
 ■with the Parbar, mentioned in I Chr. 26'^, and located to the west of the temple. Cf. Ezek. 
 4]^ 12, 15 'Yhe clause is probably a later note. 
 
 ill Kgs. 23'2 The reference to the two courts rather than the one of the pre-exilic temple, 
 indicates that this also, like the other topographical notes, is a later addition. Cf. § 125, note *. 
 
 ■■ II Kgs. 23'- Or, banished them. The exact meaning is in doubt. 
 
 = II Kgs. 23'3 Or, destruction. Possibly the name arose in connection with the incident 
 recorded in II Sam. 24'«. Cf. also I Kgs. IF. It was later identified with the Mount of Ohves. 
 
 *■ II Kgs. 23'3 Heb., as elsewhere, Ashtoreth. 
 
 " II Kgs. 23'* This verse repeats 2, ?. 
 
 310
 
 GREAT REFOR^L\TIOX UNDER JOSIAH [II Kgs. 23i5 
 
 Temple Records 
 
 ^^Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jero- 
 boam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made, even that altar and 
 the high place he tore down, and broke in pieces its stones^ and beat it to 
 
 dust and burned the asherah. i<'And when Josiah turned and saw the sepulchres 
 that were there on the mount, he sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, 
 burned them upon the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of Jehovah which 
 the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. "Then he said, What is 
 yonder tomb-stone which I see ? And the men of the city told him. It is the sepul- 
 chre of the man of God, who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you 
 have done agamst the altar of Bethel. '*And he said, Let him be; let no man move 
 his bones. So they left his bones undisturbed, together with the bones of the prophet 
 who came from Samaria. 
 
 '^Also all the temples of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the 
 kings of Israel had made to provoke .lehovah to anger, .losiah took away and did to them 
 just as he had done at Bethel. -"And all the priests of the high places, who were there, 
 he slew upon the altars and burned men's bones upon them. Then he returned to 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 De- 
 struc- 
 tion of 
 the al- 
 tar and 
 tombs 
 at 
 Bethel 
 
 Of the 
 north- 
 ern 
 shrines 
 
 2^And the king com- 
 manded all the people, 
 saying. Keep the pass- 
 over to Jehovah your 
 God, as it is prescribed 
 in this book of the cove- 
 nant. 22por such a pass- 
 over as this had not been 
 kept from the days of 
 the judges who judged 
 Israel, and during the 
 days of the kings of Is- 
 rael and the kings of 
 Judah; -%ut in the eigh- 
 teenth year of King Jo- 
 siah this j)assover was 
 kept to Jehovah in Jeru- 
 salem.'' 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 35 ^Josiah kept a passover to Jehovah 
 in Jerusalem; and they killed the passover on 
 the fourteenth of the first month. ^Xnd he set 
 the priests in their offices and encouraged them 
 to perform the service of the temple of Jehovah. 
 ^And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel, 
 who were holy to Jehovah, Put the holy ark in 
 the temple which Solomon the son of David king 
 of Israel built. It shall no more be a burden upon 
 your shoulders. Now serve Jehovah your God 
 and his people Israel, ^and prepare yourselves 
 after your fathers' houses by your divisions ac- 
 cording to the directions^' of David king of Israel 
 and according to the directions'' of Solomon his 
 
 son. ^And stand in the holy place according to 
 the divisions of the families of your kinsmen, the 
 laity, and let there be for each a part of a levitical 
 family. ®Thus kill the passover and keep your- 
 selves holy and prepare it for your kinsmen that 
 they may keep it as Jehovah commanded through 
 Moses. 
 
 '''And Josiah distributed to the laity flocks, lambs and kids — all of them Public 
 for the passover ofi"erings — to all who were present, to the number of thirty \\omoi 
 thousand, and three thousand bullocks — these were from the king's pos- ^he^ 
 .sessions. ^And his princes distributed as a voluntary gift to the people, and 
 to the f)riests, and to the Levites Ililkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, the rulers p""<=^^ 
 of the house of God, gave to the j)riests for the passover-offerings two thousand 
 six hundred lambs and three hundred oxen. ^Conaniah also and Shemaiah 
 
 " II Kgs. 23" So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. has the impossible, burned the high place. 
 "11 Chr. .3.5' Heb., writing. 
 
 » II Kks. 23-"' 23 Possibly these verses are secondary additions, for they seem to reflect a 
 late point of view. 
 
 311
 
 over 
 sacri 
 fices 
 
 II Chr. 359] THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 and Netlianeel his kinsman, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the 
 chiefs of the Levites, distributed to the Levites for the passover-offerings 
 five thousand lambs and five hundred oxen. 
 Prepa- ^^So the service was instituted and the priests stood in their place and 
 oUhe the Levites by their divisions, according to the king's command. ^^And 
 pass- ti^gy killed the passover and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, 
 while the Levites took off the skins, ^^^^j they removed the burnt-offerings, 
 that they might give them according to the divisions of the families of the 
 laity, to offer to Jehovah, as it is prescribed in the book of Moses. And 
 thus they did with the oxen. ^^And they roasted the passover on the fire 
 according to the ordinance; while they boiled the holy offerings in pots, in 
 caldrons, in pans, and carried them quickly to all the laity. ^^And after- 
 ward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, 
 the sons of Aaron, were busied in offering the burnt-offerings and the fat 
 pieces until night; therefore the Levites prepared it for themselves and for 
 the priests, the sons of Aaron. 
 Manner ^^And the singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place according to the 
 serving Command of David and Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun the king's seer. 
 ^he And the porters were at each gate; they did not need to depart from their ser- 
 vice, for their kinsmen the Levites prepared it for them. ^^So all the ser- 
 vice of Jehovah was instituted the same day, so that they kept the passover, 
 and offered burnt-offerings on the altar of Jehovah according to the com- 
 mand of King Josiah. ^'^And the Israelites who were present kept the pass- 
 over at that time and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. ^^And 
 there was no passover Hke that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the 
 prophet; neither did any of the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah 
 kept; and the priests and the Levites and all Judah and Israel were present, 
 together with the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ^^i^ \]iq eighteenth year of the 
 reign of Josiah was this passover kept. 
 
 Late (Exilic) Prophetic Summary 
 
 Josiah's II Kgs. 33 24]\/[QpgQver the mediums, the wizards, the idols, and all 
 
 tothe^ the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, 
 
 '^^ Josiah put away, that he might establish the words of the law which were 
 
 written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the temple of Jehovah. 
 
 2^And before him there was no king like him who turned to Jehovah with 
 
 all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might according to all the 
 
 law of Moses; neither after him did any arise like him. 
 
 ^^Notwithstanding, Jehovah did not turn from the fierceness of his great 
 wrath, since his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provo- 
 cations with which Manasseh had provoked him. ^^Qo Jehovah said, I will 
 remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast 
 off this city which I have chosen, even Jerusalem, and the temple of which 
 I said, ' My name shall be there.'^ 
 
 a II Kgs. 23-'--'' Not only is the general point of view late, but the idioms are those peculiar 
 to the late prophetic school. The references in -' to the exile indicate that this summary is 
 from the exilic editor of the book of Kgs. Cf. Introd., p. 21. 
 
 312
 
 II Kgs. 2329] 
 
 JOSIAH'S DEATH 
 
 [II Chr. 3520 
 
 § 128. Josiah's Death, II Kgs. <2S'~«-^'>, II Chr. 35-'>-3(i^ 
 
 Annals oj Judah 
 
 Josiah's II Kgs. 23 -Hn 
 
 Iftack the days [of Josiah] 
 Necho Pharaoh- necho'^ 
 king of Egypt went 
 up against the king 
 of Assyria to the 
 River Euphrates. 
 And King Josiah 
 went against him; 
 and Pharaoh-necho 
 slew him at Me- 
 giddo, as soon as he 
 confronted® him. 
 ^''And his servants 
 carried him in a 
 chariot from Me- 
 giddo and brought 
 him to Jerusalem, 
 and buried him in 
 his own sepulchre. 
 
 Chrou icier" s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 II Chr. 35 20After all this, when Josiah had set the 
 temple again in order, Necho king of Egypt went Tip to 
 fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates. And Josiah 
 went out against him. ^igyt \^q ggnt ambassadors to 
 him, saying. What have we to do with each other, 
 king of Judah ? I come not against you this day, 
 but against my ancestral enemy, ^ and God has com- 
 manded me to make haste; do not interfere with God, 
 who is with me, that he destroy you not. --Neverthe- 
 less Josiah would not turn away his face from him, 
 but presumed to attack him^ and gave no heed to the 
 words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he ad- 
 vanced to the attack in the valley of Megiddo. ^S'p'i^gji 
 the archers shot at King Josiah, so that the king had 
 to say to his servants. Take me away; fori am severely 
 wounded. -"^So his servants took him from the char- 
 iot and put him in the second chariot that he had 
 and brought him to Jerusalem. There he died and 
 was buried in the sepulchres of his fathers. And all 
 Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. ^5 \n(j Jere- 
 miah sang a song of lamentation for Josiah; and all the 
 singing men and singing women speak of Josiah in 
 their lamentations to this day. And they made them 
 a custom in Israel; and now they are written in the 
 lamentations. 
 
 hi 
 
 reign 
 
 Rec- ''Now the other acts of Josiah and 
 
 ords of all that he did, are they not recorded 
 in the Clironicles of the Kings of Judah? 
 
 "^"^And the people of the land took 
 
 Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and 
 
 anointed him and made him king in 
 
 place of his father. 
 
 26Now the other acts of Josiah and 
 his good deeds, according to that 
 which is prescribed in the law of Je- 
 hovah, 27 and his earlier, as well as 
 his later acts, are recorded in the 
 Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 
 
 § 128 The account of the tragic death of Judah's reforminK king was doubtless found in 
 the annals of Judah and is quoted by the editor of Kgs. lie lias prefaced his citation witli liis 
 usual formula, which, however, logically follows ™". The (Chronicler's version endeavors to ex- 
 plain why the goori king was cut off in his full vigor and gives the earliest trace of the late Jewish 
 traditions that Jeremiah wrote Lamentations. The story is so vividly told and with so many 
 details that it seems probable that it was derived from the oft-quoted source which he mentions 
 in 27. The fact that the death of .Josiah was still r)ublicly celebrated also confirms the conclusion 
 that the story took form not long after the events recorded. 
 
 b II Kgs. 2.3-' Necho II, the second king of the twenty-sixth dynasty. In Kgs. the name 
 is spelled, Nechoh. Cf. Chron. chart after p. 199. 
 
 « II Chr. .3.5-' Heb., the house vilh which I am at war. The Heb. text appears to be defec- 
 tive. Possiblv the Gk. has the original, / have come to light. 
 
 •1 II Chr. '3.>" So Gk. ami many of the versions. The Heb. reading, (lUf/uised himself, is 
 probably due to the error of a copyist who had in mind Ahab's end, 1 Kgs. 22. 
 
 -Il Kgs. 2329 Heb., saw. 
 
 313
 
 II Kgs. 2331] 
 
 THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 Evil 
 
 policy 
 of Je- 
 hoahaz 
 
 Terms 
 im- 
 posed 
 by the 
 con- 
 queror, 
 Necho 
 
 § 129. Jehoahaz's Reign, II Kgs. 23"", H Chr. SG^-* 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 II Kgs. 23 ^ijehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign and 
 he reigned three montlis in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the 
 daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. ^a^nd he did that which displeased Jehovah 
 just as his fathers had done. ^S^j^j Pharaoh-Necho put him in bonds at 
 Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem/ and 
 imposed on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and tens talents 
 of gold. 34^n(j Pharaoh-Necho made EHakim the son of Josiah king in 
 place of Josiah his father and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took 
 Jehoahaz away with him, and he came to Egypt and died there. 35\j^(j 
 Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh. He had to tax the land, 
 however, to give the money demanded by Pharaoh: each according to his 
 taxation, exacted the silver and the gold from the people of the land** in order 
 to give it to Pharaoh-Necho. 
 
 Evil 
 policy 
 of 
 
 Jehoia- 
 kim 
 Con- 
 quest 
 of Ju- 
 dah by 
 Neb- 
 uchad- 
 
 § 130. Jehoiakim's Reign, II Kgs. 233«. ^\ 24»-', II Chr. 365-8 
 
 Annals of Judah 
 
 II Kgs. 23 30 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king and he 
 reigned eleven j'ears in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebidah' the daughter 
 of Pedaiah of Rumah. ^^And he did that which displeased Jehovah just as his fathers 
 had done. 
 
 24 i^In his days NebuchadnezzarJ king of Babylon came up, and Jehoia- 
 kim became subject to him for three years. '^And the king of Egypt came no 
 more out of his land; for the king of Babylon had taken, from the Brook of 
 Egypt to the River Euphrates, all that had belonged to the king of Egypt. '^ 
 
 I'^Then [Jehoiakim] again rebelled against him. ^^jid Jehovah sent against 
 him guerilla bands of the Chaldeans, of the Arameans, of the Moabites, and of the Am- 
 monites; these he sent against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of Jehovah, 
 which he had spoken by his servants the prophets. ^Surely at the conunand of Jeho- 
 vah' this came upon Judah that he might remove it out of his sight, because of the sins 
 of Mana&seh, according to all that he had done, ^and also because of the innocent 
 blood; and Jehovah would not pardon. *Now the other acts of Jehoiakim and all that 
 he did, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? *So Jehoiakim 
 slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son became king in liis place.m 
 
 § 129 As usual the quotations from the state annals are prefaced with the formula of the 
 late proi^hetic editor. The Chronicler has simply abridged the narrative of Kgs. 
 
 f 2333 xhat he mir/ht 7iot reign in Jerusalem is perhaps a gloss added from the parallel in 
 II Chr. 36'. The first part of ** is, however, lacking in Chr. 
 
 8 2333 So Luc. and Syr. Heb., one. 
 
 b 233s The meaning of the Heb. appears to be that the landed proprietors were assessed 
 according to the valuation of their property and then collected it from the peasants who worked 
 their land. 
 
 § 130 III 242 material apparently taken from the state annals is epitomized by the late 
 prophetic editor. The quotation in ^ probably originally followed '". The Chronicler confuses 
 Jehoiakim and his son Jehoiachin, and represents the former as carried away captive to Babylon, 
 II Chr. 36''. He also adds in ^ that, Nebuchadnezzar also carried away some of the vessels of 
 the temple of Jehoi'ah and put them in his temple at Babylon. 
 
 i 2S» Or, Zebuddah. Cf. I Kgs. A\ 
 
 > 24[ Heb., in Kgs. and Dan., N ebnchadnezzar, but the more exact form, Nebuchadrezzar, 
 appears in Jer. The original Bab. is Nabu-kudur-ufur. 
 
 ^ 24'' The conquest of all Palestine here recorded was soon after the great victory at 
 Carchemish in 604 b.c. Vs. '' logically follows immediately after '". The rebellion recorded 
 in "^ probably occurred in 600 B.C. 
 
 ' 243 Gk., Luc, Syr., and Targ. read, on account of the anger of. 
 
 •^ 246 The Gk. of the parallel in II Chr. 368 adds what may have been struck out of Kgs. 
 because of Jer. 22'', and buried him in the garden of Uzza. 
 
 314-
 
 JEREMIAH'S PREACHING [Jer. 26i 
 
 § 131. Jeremiah's Preaching and Trial, Jer. SG'-'^ 
 BarucJis Biographij of Jeremiah 
 
 Jer. 36 ^In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, Jere- 
 king of Judali, this word came from Jehovah, saying, ^Thus saith Jehovah : prejlc!. 
 ' Stand in the court of Jehovah's house, and speak to all the people" of Judah. t'"" "^ 
 who come to worship in Jehovah's house, all the words that I command you struc- 
 to speak to them, Uo not take away a word. ^Perhaps they will hearken tLTcity 
 and turn each from his wicked way, that I may repent of the evil which I and 
 purpose to do to them because of the wickedness of their deeds. '^And thou 
 shalt say to them, " Thus saith Jehovah: If ye will not listen to me, to walk 
 in my law which I have set before you, ^to hearken to the words of my ser- 
 vants the prophets, whom I send to you, sending them constantly although 
 you do not heed, "^then will I make this temple like Shiloh, and will make 
 this city an object of execration to all the nations of the earth." ' ^And 
 the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these 
 words in the temple of Jehovah. 
 
 ^And then when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that Jehovah had com- Popu- 
 manded him to speak to all the people, the priests and prophets and all the mmc- 
 people took hold of him, saying. You must die. ^Why have you prophesied ment 
 in the name of Jehovah, saying, ' This temple shall be like Shiloh, and this him to 
 city shall be desolate, without habitation ? ' And all the people were gathered ^'^^ ^ 
 about Jeremiah in the temple of Jehovah. 
 
 ^•^And when the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from His 
 the king's palace to the temple of Jehovah; and they sat at the entrance of gponse 
 the new gate of the temple of Jehovah. ^^Then the priests and the prophets t"|'i.e 
 spoke to the princes and to all the people saying, This man is guilty of a ar- 
 capital offence, for he has prophesied against this city as you have heard"' ment' 
 with your own ears. ^"Then Jeremiah addressed the princes and all the 
 people, saying, It was Jehovah who sent me to prophesy against this temple, 
 and against this city all the words that you have heard. ^^Now therefore 
 reform your ways and your acts, and obey the voice of Jehovah your God; 
 and Jehovah will repent of the evil that he has pronounced against you. 
 ^*But as for me, see, I am in your hand; do with me as appears to you to 
 be good and right. ^^Only be assured that, if you put me to death, you will 
 bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and upon its in- 
 habitants, for assuredly Jehovah hath sent me to you to speak all these 
 things in your ears. 
 
 § 1.31 This is the first of those important incidents in the life of .Tcremi ah recorded in the 
 book of Jeremiah, the basis of which proljahly came directly from the pen of his faithful scribe 
 Baruch. Not only do they clearly and vividly present the experiences and trials of the |)atriotic 
 prophet, but they also supplement the meaRre narrative in Kgs. at certain of the most important 
 epochs in .ludah's history. Cf. 7'''' for the fuller versif)n of .leremiah's sermon. 
 
 The Gk. has a much briefer version of the extracts from the hioKraphy of .lorcmiah.^ In 
 many ca.ses this doubtless approximates more closely to the oricinal than the fuller lleb. Where 
 the Gk. is obviously correct or is strongly .supported by the context, it has been followed and 
 the reasons briefly indicated in the notes. Otnerwi.se where the evidence is not conclusive the 
 Heb. text has been adopted. For a fuller discussion of the text of .)er., cf. \'ol. Ill in toco. 
 
 " 26'^ So Gk. Heb., cities, was i)robably introduced by a scribe familiar with 11". 
 
 " 20" So Gk. The Heb. adds, all. 
 
 315
 
 Jer. 2616] THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 Baruclis BiograjjJvj of Jeremiah 
 
 Cita- I6f hen the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, 
 
 tioji of rpj^jg j^g^j^ jg j^^Q^ guilty of a capital offence, for he has spoken to us in the name 
 prece- of Jehovah our God. i"Thereupon certain of the elders of the land arose 
 estab- and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, ^^Micah the Morashite 
 by'di'e prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the 
 prophet people of Judah, saying, ' Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: 
 
 " Zion shall be plowed as a field, 
 And Jerusalem shall become stone-heaps. 
 And the temple-momit wooded heights." 'p 
 
 i^Did Hezekiah <i and all Judah indeed put him to death ? Did they not 
 fear Jehovah and appease Jehovah, so that Jehovah repented of the evil 
 which he had pronounced against them ? But we are on the point of doing 
 great injury to ourselves. 
 
 § 132. Martyrdom of the Prophet Uriah, Jer. 262»-2* 
 
 BanicJis Biography of Jeremiah 
 Fate of Jer. 26 20Now there was also a man who prophesied in the name of 
 who*^ Jehovah, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath-jearim; and he prophe- 
 proph- sigj aeainst this citv and against this land in the same terms as did Jere- 
 
 GSlGcl O » O 
 
 the miah. ^l^nd wdien Jehoialdm the king'" and all the princes heard his words, 
 same as ^j^^ j^j^^^ sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it he was afraid 
 i^iah and fled and went to Egypt. 22^j^(j Jehoiakim the king sent men to Egypt, 
 Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men vnth him to Egypt.' ^"^And they 
 brought Uriah from Egypt, and took him to Jehoiakim the king, and he 
 slew him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the com- 
 mon people. 24}3^t the influence of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was in 
 favor of Jeremiah that they should not give him into the hands* of the people 
 to put him to death. 
 
 § 133. First and Second Collections of Jeremiah's Sermons, Jer. 36 
 
 Baruclis Biography of Jeremiah 
 The Jer. 36 ^Now in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of 
 
 com- Judah, the following message came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, ^Take a 
 mand book-roU and write on it all the words that I have spoken to thee regarding 
 cord his Jerusalem and Judah^ and all the nations, since the day I spoke to thee, 
 
 earlier _^___ 
 
 proph- 
 ecies P 26'* Cf. the prophecy quoted in Mic. S^^. 
 
 1 26'^ So Gk. The Heb. adds the unnecessary, kino of Judah, probably from '8. 
 § 132 This exceedingly suggestive incidental note was probably also taken from Baruch's 
 biography of Jeremiah, and was intended to illustrate the martyr's fate which Jeremiah so nar- 
 rowly escaped. 
 
 ^ 26-' So Gk. The Heb. adds, and all his mighty warriors. 
 
 s 26-'- Not found in the Gk. and evidently a later addition. In 36'^. 25 Elnathan appears 
 as a friend of Jeremiah, 
 t 26" Heb., hand. 
 
 § 133 This valuable account of the origin and fate of the first and second editions of Jere- 
 miah's work is also probably from the pen of his faithful scribe. It is really the only detailed 
 bit of literary history in the O.T., and for that reason is exceedingly illuminating. The im- 
 mediate motive which influenced the prophet to this act was probably the appearance of the 
 Chaldeans (about 604 b.c.) on the political horizon. 
 " 362 gQ Qji_ xhe Heb. has, regarding Israel. 
 
 316
 
 COLLECTION OF JEREML\H'S SERMONS [Jer. 36^ 
 Baruch's Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 from the time of Josiah, even to this day. ^Perhaps the liouse of Judah will 
 give heed to all the evil which I purpose to do to them, so that they will 
 turn each from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. 
 
 "^Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote at the His 
 dictation of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken to him, ^^^nd 
 upon a roll of a book. ^And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am t" 
 prevented, I cannot go to the temple of Jehovah. ^Therefore you go and to read 
 read in the roll, which you have written at my dictation, the words of Jehovah ijef,'"^ 
 in the hearing of the people in Jehovah's house upon the fast-day. And tiie 
 also you shall read them in the hearing of all the people of Judah who have 
 come from their cities. "Perhaps they will present their supplication before 
 Jehovah^' and will turn each from his evil course, for great is the anger and 
 the wrath that Jeliovah has pronounced against this people. ^And Baruch 
 the son of Neriah did just as Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading 
 out of the books the word of Jehovah in the temple of Jehovah. 
 
 ^Now in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in The 
 the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came J-eaJi. 
 from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before Jehovah, ing 
 ^^hen Baruch read in the hearing of all the people out of the book the 
 words of Jeremiah in the temple of Jehovah in the chamber of Gemariah 
 the son of Shaj)liau, the chancellor in the upper court at the entry of the new 
 gate of Jehovah's house. 
 
 ^^And when Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard The 
 all the words of Jehovah out of the book, ^"he went down into the royal [fef'ore*^ 
 palace to the chancellor's chamber and there were sitting all the princes, j^'''^'!"" 
 Elishama the chancellor, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, Elnathan the the 
 son of Achbor, Gemariah the. son of Shaphan, Zedekiah the son of Ilananiah, ^^^'-^^^ 
 and all the princes. ^'^Then Micaiah made known all the words that he 
 had heard, when Baruch read the book in the liearing of the people. ^^Then 
 all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the 
 son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying. Take in your hand the roll from which you 
 have read in the hearing of all the people, and come here. So Baruch the 
 son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came to them. ^''Then they 
 said to him, Sit down now and read it in our hearing. So Baruch read it in 
 their hearing. ^'''But when they had heard all the words, they turned in 
 alarm to one another, and said to Baruch, We nuist surely (ell the king of all 
 these words. ^''And they asked Baruch, saying. Tell us now, ' Plow did 
 you write all these words ? '^'^ ^^Then Baruch answered them, Jeremiah 
 dictated^ all these words to me and I wrote them with ink-'^ in the book. 
 I'-'Then the princes said to Baruch, Go, hide yourself, you and Jeremiah, 
 and let no man know where you are. 
 
 V 3fl' Heb., their supvh'rnlion will fall before Jehovah, i.e., they will approach Jeliovah 
 in a penitent, humble atlitiide. 
 
 " '.W So Ok. A scribe has added in the Heb., at his dictation. 
 
 ' '.W* Helj., adlitil did irilh. Iiin i/ioiith-. 
 
 • .'iO"* The exact irieaniriK of the phrase translated, with ink, is doubllul. The ongmal text 
 may have read, with my hand. The Gk. omits. 
 
 317
 
 Jer. 3620] THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 Baruch's Biogra'phi/ of Jeremiah 
 
 The 20j3yt tijpy ^ent in to the king in his apartment,^ after they had laid 
 
 ^^^^'^ up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the chancellor, and they told all 
 tempt these ^ words in the hearing of the king, ^i^hen the king sent Jehudi to 
 profit bring the roll, and he brought it out of the chamber of Ehshama the chan- 
 and^ cellor. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and of all the princes 
 com- who stood beside the king. '^'^Now the king was sitting in the winter house^ 
 toTr- with a heated brazier'' burning before him. ^s^^j ^.^gn Jehudi had read 
 "^ro het three or four double columns, the king cut it with the paperknife,^ and threw 
 it into the fire that was on the brazier, until the entire roll was consumed 
 in the fire that was on the brazier, ^igut they were not alarmed nor tore 
 their garments — neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these 
 words. 25]yi;Qreover, although Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah be- 
 sought the king not to burn the roll, he would not hear them. 26'p]^gn the 
 king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son and Seraiah the son of Azriel 
 and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah 
 the prophet, but Jehovah kept them concealed. 
 Com- 27xhen after the king had burned the roll, that is, alls the words which 
 
 mand^ Baruch wrote at the dictation of Jeremiah, the word of Jehovah came to 
 pare Jeremiah as follows, ^STake again another roll and write in it all the words 
 enroll' that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah burned. 
 Proph- 29^nd concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah thou shalt say, ' Thus saith 
 thedi- Jehovah, "Thou hast burned this roll saying: Why hast thou thus written 
 struc- therein : The king of Babylon shall assuredly come and destroy this land and 
 Judah shall remove from there^ man and beast ? " ^^xherefore thus saith Jehovah 
 rdgn-^^ concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah, " He shall have none left to sit upon 
 ing the throne of David and his dead body shall be exposed to the heat by day 
 and to the frost by night. ^^And I will visit upon him and his descendants 
 and his servants their iniquity, and I will bring upon them and the inhabi- 
 tants of Jerusalem and the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced 
 against them, but which they heeded not." ' 
 Prepa- ^^-phen Jeremiah took another roll and gave it to Baruch the scribe the 
 of an"^ son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of 
 en- the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. x\nd there 
 second were also added to them many other similar words. 
 
 edition 
 
 »> 362" Heb., court; but from 22 it would appear that the place originally designated was the 
 inner apartment of the palace. 
 
 <= 36-" So Gk. and Targ. Heb. omits, these. 
 
 <* 36- So Gk. Heb. adds from ", in the ninth month, i.e., December. 
 
 " 36-- Correcting the corrupt Heb., with the aid of the Gk. 
 
 '36-3 Heb., knife of the scribe or chancellor. 
 
 K 36^^ So Gk. which adds, all, and omits the awkward, and, of the Heb. 
 
 •>362^ Heb., cause to rest from there. 
 
 318
 
 THE FIRST CAPTIVITY [II Kgs. 248 
 
 § 134. The First Captivity (597 b.c), H Kgs. 2¥-^\ 11 Chr. 36" ■ i" 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. 24 ^Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, Evil 
 and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was ofj'g^ 
 Nehushta the daucrhter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. ^And he did that which h"ia- 
 displeased Jehovah just as his father had done. 
 
 I'^At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came Capture 
 up against Jerusalem, and the city was besifeged. ^^And Nebuchadnezzar "usalem 
 kine of Babvlon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it; ^-and °-^'^ ^^^ 
 
 o • *' ^ o o ' ucpor- 
 
 Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, together with tation 
 his mother, and his servants, his princes, and his chamberlains. And the hoia-' 
 king of Babvlon took him captive in the eighth year' of his reign. "\nd lie ^^''^.i^ 
 carried away from there all the treasures of the house of Jehovah and the treasures of ruling 
 the royal palace and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had classes 
 made in the temple of Jehovah, as Jehovah had said. '^And he carried away as captives 
 all Jerusalem and all the princes and all the mighty warriors, even ten thousand, and 
 all the craftsmen and the smiths; none remained, except the poorest people of the land. 
 
 ^^.Vnd he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon; and the king's mother and 
 the king's wives, and his chamberlains, and the chief men of the land, he 
 carried into captivity from Jeru.salem to Babylon. ^^And all the men of 
 ability, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths a thousand, 
 all of them strong and ready for war; these the king of Babvlon took captive 
 to Babylon. ^"xV.nd the king of Babylon made ]Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, 
 king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah. 
 
 § 135. Zedekiah's Reign and Rebellion against Babylon, II Kgs. 24'8-25-, 
 
 Jer. 52' \ U Chr. SG"'" 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. 24 ^^Zedekiah was twenty-one 
 years old when he began to reign, and he 
 reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his 
 mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of 
 Jeremiah of Libnah. ^^And he did that 
 which displeased Jehovah, just as Jehoiakim 
 had done. ^Op^j. through the anger of Jeho- 
 vah it came over Jerusalem and Judah until 
 he had cast them out of his presence. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical 
 History 
 
 II Chr. 36 "Zedekiah 
 was twenty-one years old 
 when he began to reign, and 
 lie reigned eleven years in 
 Jerusalem. ^-And lie did 
 that which displeased Jeho- 
 vah his God ; lie<lid not hum- 
 ble himself before Jeremiah 
 the projihet who spoke the 
 wordsJ of Jehovah. 
 
 § 1.34 The remainder of II Kgs. is from the late prophetic historian who was himself prob- 
 ably a witness of many of the events. Vss. "• " and ■''■ "' contain two variant accounts of the 
 first deportation. The oricinal continuation of '^ was clearly '^ The larger round number 
 in '* also indicates that this is the latei popular version of the event. The event it.self was so 
 repugnant to the Chronicler, loyal as he was to Jerusalem and to the temple, that he gives only 
 a very brief summary of the main facts. . , 
 
 ' 2412 According to Jer. 5228, in the seventh year of Nebuchadrezzar, i.e., 598, instead of 
 697, B.C. , , . ,_ , . 
 
 $ 1.3.T The late prophetic editor's summary in Kgs. has been quoted verbatim by a 'ate 
 editor of .Jer. (.52' '). The Chronicler again improves the occasion to point out the sins which 
 re8ulte<l in the final great national disaster. 
 
 > II Chr. 30'^ lleb., from the mouth of. 
 
 319,
 
 II Kgs, 2420] 
 
 THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD [II Chr. 36i3 
 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 And Zedekiah rebelled 
 against the king of Bab- 
 ylon. 2 5 ^ Then in the 
 ninth year of his reign, in 
 sI'egiT the tenth day of the tenth 
 month, Nebuchadnezzar 
 king of Babylon came, 
 together with all his army, 
 against Jerusalem and 
 besieged it and they 
 erected a siege wall about 
 it. ^So the city was be- 
 sieged to the eleventh 
 year of King Zedekiah. 
 
 His 
 
 rebel- 
 lion 
 afiainst 
 Baby- 
 lon and 
 
 siege 
 .Jeru- 
 salem 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 ^^And he also rebelled against King Nebu- 
 chadnezzar, who had made liim swear by God. 
 But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart 
 against turning to Jehovah, the God of Israel. 
 ^^Moreover all the chiefs of the priests and the 
 people proved utterly faithless after the manner 
 of all the abominations of the nations, and they 
 polluted the temple of Jehovah which he had hal- 
 lowed in Jerusalem. ^^And Jehovah, the God 
 of their fathers, constantly sent to them by his 
 messengers, because he had compassion on his 
 people and on his dwelling-place. ^*^But they 
 mocked the messengers of God, despised his 
 words and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath 
 of Jehovah was aroused against his people so 
 that there w^ as no remedy. 
 
 § 136. Perfidy of the Hebrews During the Siege, Jer. 34 
 Baruch's Biography of Jeremiah 
 Pre- Jer. 34 ^The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, while Nebuchad- 
 
 d'ction nezzar king of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms of the earth that were un- 
 Jeru- '^^^^ '^^^ ''"^^^ ^^^^ ^ *''^ peoples were fighting against Jerusalem and against all its cities,'' 
 salem saying, -Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, ' Go, and speak to Zedekiah 
 FauVut khig of Judah and tell him, " Thus saith Jehovah: Behold I will give this city 
 ^?'}®r into the power of Babylon that he may burn it with fire. ^And thou shalt not 
 life be escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken and delivered into his hand, 
 ^^^'^^ and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak 
 with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon." ' ^Yet hear the 
 word of Jehovah, O Zedekiah king of Judah; ' Thus saith Jehovah concern- 
 ing thee, " Thou shalt not die by the sword. ^Peacefully shalt thou die and 
 like^ the funeral pyres™ for thy fathers, the" kings before thee, so shall they 
 make a funeral pyre for thee; and they shall lament thee, saying: Alas, 
 O Lord ! for I have spoken the word," saith Jehovah.' ^Tl^gn Jeremiah 
 the prophet spoke all these w^ords to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem, 
 "while the king of Babylon's army w^as besieging Jerusalem and all the cities 
 of Judah that were left, namely Lachish and Azekah, for these remained 
 among the cities of Judah as fortified cities. 
 
 § 136 This chapter was doubtless taken from the biography of Jereniiah which is attributed 
 to Baruch. The original text has probablv been expanded at certain points. 
 
 k 34'b The original chronological statement is found in \ Vs. ^^ is a later addition, as the 
 later spelling, Nebuchadnezzar, and the inflated style indicate. 
 
 ' 34s So Gk. and Syr. The Heb., with, is clearly an error. 
 
 ™ 345 Heb., burnings. 
 
 ■> 345 So Gk. The Heb. adds, former, which is tautological and e^-idently due to a later 
 scribe. 
 
 320
 
 PERFIDY OF THE HEBREWS [Jku. 348 
 
 Baniclis Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 ^The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, after King Zedekiah Re-en- 
 had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem, to proclaim ^i',e,irof 
 a general liberation, ° ^that each should let his male and female slaves so the llb- 
 
 . erated 
 
 free in case they were Hebrews or Hebrewesses; that none out of Judah should Hebrew 
 be a slave. P I'^And all the princes and all the people who had entered into '^'^^'^^ 
 the covenant — that each should let his male and female slaves go free, that 
 none should make slaves of them any more — obeyed and let them go. ^^But 
 afterward they changed their minds and made the male and female slaves, 
 whom they had let go free, return, and brought them into subjection as male 
 and female slaves. *i 
 
 ^-Therefore the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying. The 
 ^^Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel; ' I made a covenant with your ji'Ji'j^i" 
 fathers in the day that I brought them forth from the land of Egypt, out of ment 
 the house of bondage, saying, ^4" At the end of seven years ye shall each ingtiie 
 set free his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to thee and has jegg r'ui- 
 served thee six vears, and thou shalt let him m free from thee," but vour eis of 
 
 • ^ Judah 
 
 fathers neither hearkened to me nor inclined their ear. ^^And ye had 
 now turned and done that which is pleasing to me, in proclaiming freedom 
 each to his neighbor, and ye made a covenant before me in the temple which 
 is called by my name. ^^But ye have changed your mind and profaned my 
 name, and made each his male and female slaves, whom ye had let go free 
 at their pleasure, return; and have brought them into subjection, to be male 
 and female slaves again.' ^''Therefore thus saith Jehovah, ' Ye have not 
 hearkened to me, to proclaim freedom, each to his brother and to his neigh- 
 bor — now I proclaim to you a freedom,' saith Jehovah, ' to become the prey 
 of the sword, the pestilence, and the famine; and I will make you an object 
 of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth. ^^And I will deliver over the 
 men who have transgressed my covenant, ■■ who have not performed the words 
 of the covenant which they made before the calf which they cut in two and 
 passed between its parts:^ ^^the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jeru- 
 salem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, who 
 passed between the parts of the calf — -"I will even give them into the hand 
 of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life, and their 
 dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the heavens and the beasts of • 
 the earth. -'And I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes into 
 the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life, 
 and into the power of the king of Babylon's forces who have gone away 
 from you. —j^^.i^f^^i^j^ j ^.ju command,' saith Jehovah, ' and cause them 
 to return to this city, and they shall besiege it and take it and burn it with 
 fire; and I will make the cities of Judah an uninhabited desolation.' 
 
 " 34» So Ok. The Hcb. adds, lo them. The liberation, as in Kzek. 46", means the freeing 
 of all slaves after six years of service. 
 
 p 34'-> So f !k. The Heb. is very awkward and makes little sense. 
 
 1 .34"n. " The Ok. has a mueh briefer an<l sitntilor text, oinittinR '"'>• "». Its brevity ap- 
 pears to be chiefly due to a copyist's error, while the Ileb., owing to another mistake, repeats, 
 obeyed, in ""■. 
 
 '.34'" This verse is tautolopiical; the second relative clause may well be an addition. 
 
 • 34'8 Cf. Geo, 2P« '<' and especially 15»-". 
 
 321
 
 Jer. 37I] THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 § 137. Jeremiah's Imprisonment and Deliverance, Jer. 37, 38'-^'% SO^^-is 
 BarucJis Biographij of Jeremiah 
 
 Popu- Jer. 37 ^So Zedekiah the son of Josiah became king in the place of Coniah 
 regard" the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king 
 of Jere- jj^ ^j^g land of Judah; "but neither he nor his servants nor the people of the 
 warn- land hearkened to the words of Jehovah, which he spoke by the prophet 
 ^^^^ Jeremiah. 
 
 Zede- ^And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah 
 
 reqiwst the SOU of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now 
 
 ^°^ to Jehovah our God for us. '^Now in that time Jeremiah went in and out 
 
 miah's among the people, for they had not put him in prison. ^And Pharaoh's 
 
 prayers ^^.^^y j^^^j come forth from Egypt, and the Chaldeans who were besieging 
 
 Jerusalem had received a report regarding them, and had abandoned the 
 
 siege of Jerusalem. 
 
 His pre- ^Then the word of Jehovah came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, ^Thus 
 
 of'^the saith Jehovah the God of Israel, ' Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, 
 
 t^int ^^^ ^^^^ y^^ ^'^ °^^ ^^ inquire of me, " Behold, Pharaoh's army, which has 
 
 of Je- come out to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land. ^Then 
 
 [em's the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city and shall take it 
 
 '^^' _ and burn it with fire." ' ^Thus saith Jehovah, ' Do not deceive yourselves 
 
 tion with the idea that the Chaldeans will depart from you; for they shall not 
 
 depart. ^^For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans 
 
 that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, 
 
 yet would these* rise up each in his tent, and burn this city with fire.' 
 
 Jere- ^^But when the army of the Chaldeans had abandoned the siege of Jeru- 
 
 f^iseiy salem for fear of Pharaoh's army, ^^Jeremiah went forth from Jerusalem 
 
 accused ^q gQ j^^q ^jjg land of Benjamin to receive his inheritance there among the 
 
 tempt- people. ^^And when he was in the Gate of Benjamin, a captain of the 
 
 desert guard was there, by the name of Irijah the son of Shelemiah, the son of 
 
 Hananiah. And he laid hold on Jeremiah the prophet, saying, You are 
 
 going over to the Chaldeans. ^^Then Jeremiah said, It is false; I am not 
 
 going over to the Chaldeans. He, however, paid no heed to Jeremiah but^ 
 
 brought him to the princes. ^^And the princes were angry with Jeremiah 
 
 and smote him and put him^ in the house of Jonathan the chancellor, for 
 
 they had made that the prison. 
 
 His ^^And thus Jeremiah came into the house of the cistern and into the 
 
 fnter- cells; and Jeremiah remained there many days. ^''Then Zedekiah the king 
 
 wuS ^^"* ^^^ summoned him; and the king questioned him secretly in his palace 
 
 the and said, Is there any word from Jehovah ? And Jeremiah said, There is, 
 
 '°* and added. You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon. 
 
 ^^Moreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, What crime have I commit- 
 
 § 137 The chief source of these, narratives is the biography already frequently quoted 
 Possibly the speeches in 37*-'" and 39'^-'* are later additions. Coiiiah in 37' is the private name 
 of Jehoiachim. 
 
 ' 37"' So the Gk. The Heb. has lost the, these. 
 
 u 3714 xhe Heb. repeats, took hold of, by mistake from ". 
 
 ■^ 37'^ So Gk. A later scribe has added, in prison, but this anticipates the latter part of the 
 verse. 
 
 322
 
 JEREMIAH'S IMPRISONMENT [Jeh. 37I8 
 
 Bamch's Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 ted against vou or your sen-ants or this people, that you have put me in 
 prison? ^^Where now are your prophets, who prophesied to you. saying, 
 'The king of Babylon shall not come against you nor against this land?' 
 20And now hear, O my lord the king; let my petition, I pray, be presented 
 before you, that you may not let me be taken back to the house of Jona- 
 than the chancellor, lest I die there. 
 
 -^Then Zedekiah the king commanded and they committed Jeremiah in the 
 to the court of the guard, and they gave him daily a loaf of bread from the \y^^^ ° 
 bakers' street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah re- guard 
 mained in the court of the guard. 
 
 38 iRut when Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedahah the son of The 
 Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah, oHhe^ 
 heard the words that Jeremiah spoke to all the people, saying, ^Thus saith nobles 
 Jehovah, ' He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, 
 and by the pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live and 
 his hfe shall be to him as booty ,^ and he shall hve ' ; ^also, Thus saith Jehovah, 
 ' This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Bab- 
 ylon and he shall take it,' ^the princes said to the king. Let this man be put 
 to death, since he weakens the hands of the soldiers who remain in this city 
 and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them; for this 
 man seeks not the welfare of this people but the hurt. 
 
 ^Then Zedekiah the king said. See, he is in your hands, for the king was Jere- 
 not able to do anything against them.^ ^Thereupon they took Jeremiah "'f^^ 
 and cast him into the cistern of jNIalchijah the king's son, that was in the 1"?^ " ^ 
 court of the guard, and let Jeremiah down with cords. And in the cistern to die 
 there was no water, but mire, and Jeremiah sank in the mire. 
 
 'Now when Ebed-melech the Cushite, a eunuch, who was in the royal His 
 palace heard that they had put Jeremiah in the cistern, while the king was ^y*'"® 
 sitting in the gate of Benjamin, ^Ebed-melech went out of the royal palace ^'^\'^\ 
 and spoke to the king, saying, ^INIy lord the king, these men have done wrong 
 in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast 
 into the cistern; and he must soon die in the place where he is, because of 
 the famine, for there is no more bread in the city. ^*^Then the king com- 
 manded Ebed-melech the Cushite, saying. Take from here three^ men with 
 you and draw up Jeremiah the prophet from the cistern before he dies. 
 ^^So Ebed-melech took the men with hi;n and went into the royal palace 
 below the treasury and took from there rags and worn-out garments, and 
 let them down by cords to Jeremiah in the cistern. i2\n(l Ebed-melech 
 the Cushite said to Jeremiah, Put now these rags and worn-out garments 
 below your armpits under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. ^■'Then they 
 
 " 38^ Cf. 21', which contains the same prediction. 
 
 » 38' So Gk. and Luc. The Heb. has, you, but the words are very unnatural on the lips 
 of the king. 
 
 y .38'" Heb., thirtu, but there is no reason why so many should be detailed at a time when 
 the city was greatly in need of defenders. The thirty, instead of three, is apparently due to a 
 natural copyist's error. 
 
 323
 
 Jer. 3813] THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 Baruch's Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 drew up Jeremiah with the cords and took him out of the cistern. And 
 Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard. 
 The i^Then Zedekiah tlie king sent and took Jeremiah the prophet to him into 
 
 inqm^- the third^ entry which leads into the temple of Jehovah. And the king 
 ries and gaid to Jeremiah, I should like to ask you something, conceal nothing from 
 anceof me. ^^Theu Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, If I declare it to you, will you 
 tion^''" promise not to put me to death ? And if I give you counsel, you will not 
 hearken to me. ^^Then Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, say- 
 ing. As Jehovah liveth, who has given us this life, I will not put you to death, 
 neither will I give you into the hand of these men who are seeking your life. 
 Jere- ^"Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, 
 
 reiter- the God of Israel, ' If thou wilt give thyself up to the princes of the king of 
 ated Babylon, then thy life shall be preserved and this city shall not be burned 
 tion with fire, and thou shalt live, together with thy household. ^^But if thou 
 surren- '^ilt not give thyself up to the princes of the king of Babylon, then this city 
 del" shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, who will burn it with fire, 
 would and thou shalt not escape from their hand. ^^Then Zedekiah the king 
 the° said to Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews who have gone over to the Chal- 
 king deans, lest they deliver me into their hand and they mock me. ^^But Jere- 
 city miah said, They shall not deliver you. Obey, I beseech you, the voice of 
 Jehovah, in that which I speak to you; so it shall be well with you. 2lJ3^^; 
 if you refuse to give yourself up, tliis is the revelation that Jehovah has showed 
 me: ^^BeJ^old, all the women who are left in the king of Judah's palace 
 shall be brought forth to the princes of the king of Babylon, singing, 
 
 They have betrayed thee; they have overcome thee, 
 
 Thy familiar friends ! 
 They have caused thy feet to sink in the mire. 
 
 They turn back l''^ 
 
 ^^They shall also bring out^y all your sons to the Chaldeans. You yourself 
 
 shall not escape out of their hand, but shall be taken by the hand of the king 
 
 of Babylon; and this city shall be burned*'^ with fire. 
 
 Secrecy ^^Theu said Zedekiah to Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, 
 
 hil^'iie ^^ y^^^ may die. ^'^But if the princes hear that I have talked with you, and 
 
 inter- couie to you, and say to you, ' Declare to us now what you have said to 
 
 the king — hide it not from us, otherwise we will put you to death — also what 
 
 the king said to you,' ^'^then say to them, ' I presented my petition before 
 
 the king, that he would not make me return to Jonathan's house, to die 
 
 there.' 2' Then all the princes came to Jeremiah and inquired of him; and 
 
 he told them these words just as the king had commanded. So they ceased 
 
 2 38" Or slightly revising the text, of the thirty. Of. § 34. 
 
 ==' 38-- This is the song of lamentation which the women are graphically represented as sing- 
 ing over Zedekiah, who was led on by his princes and advisers to rebel against liabylon and then 
 abandoned by them to his tragic fate. The metre is the familiar three beats followed by two, 
 which gives the effect of a final sob. 
 
 yy 38-3 Heb. adds, your wives, but these have already been included in the stateinent in '^. 
 
 ^ 38^ So Gk., Syr., and ^arg. Heb., vou shall cause to be burned. 
 
 324 
 
 view
 
 JEREMIAH'S DELIVERANCE 
 
 [Jer. 3827 
 
 Baruch's Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 questioning him, for the matter was not reported. SSajj^t Jeremiah remained 
 in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was captured. 
 
 39 ^^Now the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah, while he was shut up in The 
 the court of the guard, saying, ^'^Go, and speak to Ebed-melech the Cushite. ^^Zm^ 
 saying, ' Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, " Behold, I will 'seJ 
 bring my words upon this city for evil and not for good; and they shall be senicei 
 fulfilled before your eyes in that day. ^"But I will deliver thee in that day," pbed- 
 saith Jehovah, " and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of nielech 
 whom thou art afraid. ^^For I will surely save thee and thou shalt not fall 
 by the sword, but thy life shall be as booty to thee, because thou hast put 
 thy trust in me," saith Jehovah.' 
 
 138. The Final Capture of Jerusalem and the Deportation of its Inhab- 
 itants (586 B.C.), II Kgs. 253-21, jej. 3828b_39io^ gge-so^ U Chr. 36"-' 
 
 Flight, 
 capt- 
 ure, 
 and fi- 
 
 BarucJis Biography of Jere- 
 miah 
 
 Jer. 38 28bXowwhen Je- 
 rusalem was taken, 39 '{'m 
 the ninth j'ear of Zedekiah king 
 '^fy'^Y^ of .ludah, in the tenth month, 
 ekah Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon 
 and all his armj' came against 
 Jerusalem and besieged it. -'In 
 the eleventh year of Zedekiah on 
 the ninth day of the fourth 
 month, a breach was mads in the 
 
 city) -^all the princes of the 
 king of Babylon came and 
 sat in the middle gate, Ne- 
 bushazban the chief of the 
 eunuchs, and Nergal-shar- 
 ezer the chief of the magi- 
 cians,*^ with all the rest of the 
 
 Late Prophetic Sum- 
 mary 
 
 II Kgs. 2o 30n the 
 
 ninth day of the fourth^ 
 month, when the fam- 
 ine was severe in the 
 city, so that there was 
 no bread for the people 
 of the land, "^a breach 
 was made in the city, 
 and the king and all the 
 warriors fled" by night 
 through the gate be- 
 tween the two walls, 
 which was by the king's 
 garden, while the Chal- 
 deans were besieging 
 
 Chroiiicler's Eccle- 
 siastical History 
 
 IIChr.36i"Then 
 
 [Jehovah] brought 
 against them the 
 king of the Chal- 
 deans, who slew 
 their young men 
 with the sword in 
 their holy temple, 
 and had no com- 
 passion on young 
 man or virgin, old 
 man or hoar y - 
 headed — he gave 
 them all into his 
 hand. ^^And all 
 
 138 The late prophetic editor's account of the final events in the history of .Jerusalem is 
 found in II Kgs. 2.5'-'. This has been quoted with one or two minor expansions in Jer. ,')2'-30. 
 Vss. '•'• " of II Kgs. 25 depart from the narrative style, which characterizes tiie rest of the descrip- 
 tion, and manifest an interest in the details of the temple ornamentation, which indicates that 
 they were added by a priestly scribe, who had in mind the descriptions of the temple found in 
 I Kgs. 7, and especially 13-20. '40-44 Another scribe has on the basis of the same earlier pa-'ssages 
 still furtiier expanded the parallel in Jer. r>2-o--^. The parallel passage in Baruch's biography 
 of Jeremiah has been .supplemented by a chronological note in .39' • -', which interrupts the co:u- 
 nectif)n between 38-'*'^ and 39^ and bv an abridgment in .'^9''" of the parallel narratives of 1 1 Kgs. 
 2.5-^-'- and Jer. .52. To the quotation in Jer. .52 from 1 1 Kirs. 25 the editor of I he book of Jereiniah 
 has added in -^-^o a .summary of tliose carried away in connection with the final captivity. The 
 numbers are given in such detail and the account is so independent of the narrative in Kgs. that 
 it is probable that it represents an authentic, although distinct tradition. 
 
 The Chronicler simjjly makes a general statement which reveals his peculiar interest in the 
 temple and in the moral lessons which this tragic chaiiter of Israel's history forcibly illustrates. 
 
 ''II Kgs. 2.5'' Restoring, the lourth. from the parallel in Jer. .'JO-. 
 
 •= II Kgs. 2.5' Restoring the defective Mel), text by the aid of the parallel in Jer. .39'. 
 
 ''Jer. .39'' The Heb. text evidently sutTcred greatly in transmission. Nergal-sharezer is 
 found at the beginning of the list anrl again at the end. \'s. '■' evidently ret .ains t lie original 
 reading which ha-s been followed above. Nphosarxrchim is restored to Nchiisluizlmn. Sniiifiar 
 may be .-i scribal error for Hab-mag (chief of the magicians). The Gk. hay, on the whole, a better 
 text than the Heb. 
 
 325
 
 Jer. 393] THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD [II Kgs. 2.54, u Qhr. 3G18 
 
 De- 
 struc- 
 tion of 
 Jeru- 
 salem 
 and de- 
 porta- 
 tion of 
 many 
 of its 
 inhabi- 
 tants 
 
 Baruclis Biograj)hy of Jere- 
 miah 
 
 princes of the king of Baby- 
 lon. 
 
 *And when Zedekiah the king 
 of Judah and all the warriors saw 
 them, they fled and went forth 
 out of the city by night by 
 the way of the king's garden, 
 through the gate between the 
 two walls, and went out toward 
 the Arabah. *But the army of 
 the Chaldeans pursued after 
 them and overtook Zedekiah in 
 the plains of Jericho. Then they 
 took and brought him up to 
 Nebuchadrezzar king of Baby- 
 lon to Riblah in the land of 
 Hamath; and he passed judg- 
 ment upon him. ''And the king 
 of Babylon slew the sons of Zed- 
 ekiah in Riblah before his eyes; 
 also the king of Babylon slew 
 all the nobles of Judah. 'More- 
 over he put out Zedekiah's eyes 
 and bound him in chains, to 
 carry him to Babylon. 
 
 * And the 
 Chaldeans 
 burned the roy- 
 al palace and 
 the houses o f 
 the people with 
 fire and tore 
 down the walls 
 o f Jerusalem. 
 ^Then Nebuza- 
 radan the com- 
 mander of the 
 body-guard 
 carried away 
 captive to Bab- 
 ylon the rest of 
 the people who 
 remained in the 
 city, the desert- 
 ers also who 
 had gone over 
 to him, and the 
 rest of the ar- 
 chitects. ' 10 But 
 Nebuzaradan 
 the commander 
 of the body- 
 guard left some 
 
 Late Prophetic Sum- 
 mary 
 
 the city round about, 
 and went in the direc- 
 tion of the Arabah. ^But 
 the army of the Chal- 
 deans pursued after the 
 king and overtook him 
 in the plains of Jericho, 
 after all his army had 
 scattered from him. 
 ^Then they took the 
 king and carried him 
 up to the king of Baby- 
 lon to Riblah; and he 
 passed judgment upon 
 him. "And they slew 
 the sons of Zedekiah 
 before his eyes, and 
 put out Zedekiah's eyes 
 and carried him, bound 
 in chains, to Babylon.® 
 
 ^But on the seventh day of the 
 month, which was in the nine- 
 teenth year of King Nebuchadnez- 
 zar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan 
 the commander of the body-guard, 
 a servant of the king of Babylon, 
 came to Jerusalem. ^And he burnt 
 the temple of Jehovah and the roy- 
 al palace and all the houses of Je- 
 rusalem, even every great house 
 he burnt with fire. ^^And all the 
 troops of the Chaldeans, who were 
 with the commander of the body- 
 guard, broke down the walls round 
 about Jerusalem. ^^And the rest 
 of the people who were left in the 
 city and the deserters who had gone 
 over to the king of Babylon and 
 the rest of the architects, s Ne- 
 buzaradan the commander of the 
 
 Chronicler's Eccle- 
 siastical History 
 
 the vessels of the 
 house of God, great 
 and small, and the 
 treasures of the 
 temple of Jehovah, 
 and the treasures 
 of the king and his 
 princes, all these 
 he brought to Bab- 
 ylon. 
 
 ^^And they burnt 
 the house of God and 
 tore down the wall of 
 Jerusalem, and burnt 
 the palaces with tire 
 and destroyed all its 
 precious vessels. -^And 
 those who escaped 
 from the sword he car- 
 ried away captive to 
 Babylon, and they be- 
 came slaves to him and 
 to his sons until the 
 rule of the kingdom 
 of Persia, 2ito fulfil 
 the word of Jehovah 
 by the mouth of Jere- 
 miah. Until the land 
 had enjoyed its sab- 
 baths, as long as it lay 
 
 « II Kgs. 25' The parallel, Jer. 5210, reads. And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zede- 
 kiah before his eyes; he also slew all the princes of Judah. Cf. Jer. 39^. 
 f Jer. 399 So the parallel II Kgs. 25" (Gk., cf. note g). 
 e II Kgs. 25" So the Gk. and the parallel, Jer. 52i5. 
 
 326 
 
 Heb., people who remained. 
 Heb., crowd, or rabble.
 
 Jer. 3910, II Kgs. 25II] FINAL CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM [II Chr. 3621 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 Baruch's Bi- 
 ography of 
 Jeremiah 
 
 of the poor of 
 the people, who 
 had nothing, in 
 the land of Ju- 
 dah and gave 
 them at that 
 time vineyards 
 and fields. 
 
 body-guard carried away captive. 
 ^-But the commander of the body- 
 guard left some of the poorest of 
 the land as vinedressers and farm- 
 
 ers. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesi- 
 astical History 
 
 desolate, it rested un- 
 til the seventy years 
 were complete.*^ 
 
 ^^But the pillars of brass that were in the temple of Jevhoah, and the Plunder 
 stands and the brazen sea that were in the temple of Jehovah the Chaldeans "imple 
 broke in pieces, and carried the brass from them to Babylon. ^'^Also the 
 pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the bowls, and all the vessels of brass, with 
 which the temple service was conducted, they took away. ^^And the fire- 
 pans and the basins, that which, was of gold, the commander of the body- 
 guard took away in gold and that which was of silver, in silver. i^The two 
 pillars, the one sea, and the stands which Solomon had made for the temple of .Jehovah — 
 the brass of all these vessels could not be weighed. '^The height of the one pillar was 
 eighteen cubits, and a capital of brass was above it; and the height of the capital was 
 five' cubits, with network and pomegranates round about the capital, all of brass; and 
 like these had the second pillar, with network. 
 
 ^^And the commander of the body-guard took Seraiah the chief priest Public 
 and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold, tim^^of 
 ^^And from the city he took an officerJ who was set over the troops; and certain 
 five men who stood close to the king,*^ who were found in the city, and the cap- 
 scribe of the commander-in-chief, who mustered the people of the land, and '^^^ 
 sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the city. ^'^And 
 Nebuzaradan the commander of the body-guard took them and brought 
 them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 2i\nd the king of Babylon smote 
 them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah 
 was carried away captive from its native land. 
 
 Editorial Summary 
 
 Jer. 52 28Xhis is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away cap- 
 tive: in the seventeenth' year, three thousand and twenty-three Jews; ^^in 
 the eighteenth year, of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jeru- 
 salem eight hundred and thirty-two persons; -^"in the twenty-third year of 
 Nebuchadrezzar, Nebuzaradan the commander of the body-guard carried 
 away captive of the Jews seven hundred and forty-five persons.™ The 
 total number of persons was four thousand, six hundred. 
 
 Num- 
 bers 
 carried 
 awav in 
 tlic " 
 tlirce 
 depor- 
 tations 
 
 "> II Chr. 36=1 The allusion is to .Jer. 25" • ", 29", Lev. 2&»' 3«. The exact worda are not 
 found in Jer. The remaininK ver.ses of Chr. are taken from Ezra 1'-^". 
 
 ' II Kgs. 2.5'^ Ileh., Ihrec, but the parallel, Jer. 52-'-, has, live. So also I Kgs. 7'*. 
 
 ' II Kgs. 2.5'' Heb., eunuch. 
 
 ^ II Kgs. 2.5" Ileb., who nmr the kino's face. .Jer. .52-'' reads, seven, instead of, five. 
 
 ' .Jer. .52'"' Heb., seven. If this is correct this verse would refer to the first captivity re- 
 corded in II Kgs. 24'''; but the niuubcrs arc so much smaller tli.at it .seems probable that-* 
 refers to a later deportation. The difTiculty prohabl.y aro.sc because a scribe, having in mind the 
 first captivit.y, read, seven, for an original seventeen. The reference would then be to an early 
 deportation in .587 11. c. of the .lows outside .Jerusalem. 
 
 ■" Jer. 52'"' Probably this third d('p()rtation was after the murder of Gedaliah, § 140. 
 
 327
 
 Jer. 391 1] THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 § 139. Jeremiah's Liberation, Jer. 39"-408 
 Midrash Regarding Jeremiah 
 
 Special Jer. 39 ^^Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had given the following 
 sioiis' command concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the commander of the body- 
 ?"?^'j® guard, ^^Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do to 
 emiah him as he shall direct you. ^^So Nebuzaradan the commander of the body- 
 guard, and Nebushazban the chief of the eunuchs, and Nergal-sharezer 
 the chief of the magicians, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon 
 ^^sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard and gave him into 
 the charge of Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should 
 carry him home; so he dwelt among the people. 
 Set 40 ^The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah after Nebuzaradan 
 
 aUowed the commander of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had 
 t° ''"' taken him bound in chains among all the captives who were carried away 
 Gee la- to Babylon. ^^Yjjfj llig commander of the guard took Jeremiah and said to 
 '^' him, Jehovah your God pronounced evil upon this place; ^and Jehovah 
 hath brought it and done just as he said, for you have sinned against Jehovah 
 and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. '^And 
 now behold, I loose you this day from the chains which are upon your hand. 
 If it seem good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look 
 out for you. But if it seem undesirable to you to come with me to Babylon, 
 do not come;'^ ^but go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Sha- 
 phan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, 
 and dwell with him among the people, or go wherever it seems right to you 
 to go. So the commander of the body-guard gave him provisions and a 
 present, and sent him away. *^So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of 
 Ahikam to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people who were left 
 in the land. 
 
 § 140. Brief Rule and Death of Gedaliah, 11 Kgs. 2522-26^ jer. 40^-4118 
 Baruclis Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 Ap- II Kgs. 35 22]sfQ^ over the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom 
 
 P°i"*" , Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the 
 Ged -° ®°'^ °^ Shaphan, governor. 
 
 liah Jer. 40 ''Then all the commanders of the forces that were in the fields, 
 
 Gath- together with their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah 
 the io-" the son of Ahikam governor in the land and had committed to him men, 
 
 eal , . 
 
 chiefs 
 
 § 139 39'*^ is the natural sequel of 3, and, as Duhm has acutely noted (Jeremia, 313), this 
 was probably ori<;inally in Baruch's biography of Jeremiah immediately followed by 40''. The 
 rest of the section has the marked characteristics of a later Jewish midrash. It presents quite a 
 different picture from that in 39^*'^, 40". Jeremiah's deliverance is due to a special decree of 
 Nebuchadrezzar, and instead of being placed at once in the care of Gedaliah, he is rescued at 
 Ramah from the midst of the chained captives bound for Babylon. The pious words of the 
 Babylonian general also recall similar speeches in the midrashes of Chr. The midrash was 
 probably originally independent and was later joined to Baruch's brief record. 
 
 ° Jer. 40^- ^^ So the Gk. The Heb. has a gloss at the end of * which is a practical duplicate 
 of*'' and four words at the beginning of ■'' which make no sense. 
 
 § 140 This long section in Jer. from the hand of Baruch is one of the best historical passages 
 in the O.T. The parallel passage in II Kgs. 2.J-''"-'' is an abridgment of the same. This the 
 editor of Kgs. has prefaced with a statement regarding the appointment of Gedaliah. 
 
 328
 
 BRIEF RILE OF GEDALIAU [Jer. 407 
 
 BanicK's Biographij of Jeremiah 
 
 •women, and children, and of the poorest of the land, such as Wv're not car- 
 ried away captive to Babylon. ^And they came to Gedaliah at ^Nlizpah, 
 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan,o tlie son of Kareah and Seraiah 
 the sou of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai tha Netoj)hathite, and Jezaniah 
 the son of the Maacathite, together with their men. ^And Gedahah the 
 sou of Aliikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying. 
 Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans, settle down and be subject to the 
 kiufi: of Babvlon, and it shall be well with you. ^^As for me, I will dwell at 
 Mizpah, as your representative to receiveP the Chaldeans who shall come to 
 us, but you gather for yourselves wine and fruits and oil, and put them in your 
 vessels and dwell in your cities of which you have taken possession. ^^Like- 
 wise when all the Jews, who were in Moab and among the Ammonites and 
 in Edom and in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a 
 remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, 
 the son of Shajjhan, ^-all the Jews returned out of all the ])laces whither 
 they had been driven, and came to the land of Judali to Gedaliah at Mizpah, 
 and gathered wine and fruits in great abundance. 
 
 i^But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces iiis dis- 
 that were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, i*and said to him. Do [^f^{\^^ 
 von know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son con- 
 
 •/ " spirjicy 
 
 of Nethaniah to take your life ? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not to take 
 believe them. ^^Then Johanan the son of Kareah .spoke to Gedaliah in '"'* ''^^ 
 Mizpah secretly, saying. Let me go and slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah 
 without any one's knowing it. Why should he take your life with the result 
 that all the Jews wdio are scattered and the remnant of Judah should perish ? 
 l^But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, You 
 shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely regarding Ishmael. 
 
 41 ^But afterwards in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Ish- 
 the son of Elishama, of the royal line,i with ten men, came to Gedaliah "reach- 
 the son of Ahikam at :Mizpah; and there they were eating together in :Mizpah. Jj^'^;^^^^^ 
 2Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with hini of (jed- 
 rose up and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the and his 
 sword and thus slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor '"^n 
 over the land. •"^Ishmael also slew all the Jews who were with [Gedaliah] at 
 Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there. *■ 
 
 ^But on the day after he had slain Gedahah, when no one yet knew it. l^lassa- 
 ^there came men from Shecliem, from Shiloli, and from Samaria, eighty tJ^g" 
 men with shorn beards and with their clothes torn, and with self-inflicted ^^'.-^^ 
 cuts bearing cereal-offerings and frankincense in their hand, to bring them 
 to the temple of Jehovah. ^^And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth 
 from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went, and when he met them, 
 
 o Jer. 40« So Gk. and the parallel II Kgs. 25». A scribe in t lie lleb. has rewritten. Jofuiiuuu 
 in the form, Jonathan. 
 
 p W> So Gk. , , , , • ,1 II 1 
 
 '141' So Gk. and the iiarallel in II Krs. 2.5-'. A scribe appears to have added iii the lleb., 
 
 and the prince of the l;in(i. 
 
 ' 4P I.e., the boldier.s left as a guard. 
 
 329
 
 Jer. 416] THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 BarucWs Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 he said to them, Come to GedaUah the son of Ahikam. ^However, when 
 they came into the midst of the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, 
 and cast them into the midst of the cistern with the aid of the men who were 
 with him. ^But ten men were found among them who said to Ishmael, 
 Slay us not; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, barley, oil, and 
 honey. So he stopped and did not slay them together with their kinsmen. 
 ^Now the cistern into which Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men 
 whom he had slain^ is the great cistern, which Asa the king had made on 
 account of the attack of Baasha king of Israel.* Ishmael the son of Neth- 
 aniah filled it with the slain. 
 Depart- ^^Then Ishmael carried away captive the rest of the people who were in 
 ^"jth Mizpah, even the king's daughters and all the people in Mizpah, whom 
 cap- Nebuzaradan the commander of the body-guard had placed under the 
 
 tlVGS i' o 1 
 
 charge of Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah" 
 
 arose and set out to go over to the Ammonites. 
 
 Their ^^But when Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the 
 
 u^e^by' forces who were with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Neth- 
 
 ^- aniah had done, ^-they took all the men and went to fight with Ishmael 
 
 the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great pools that are in Gibeon.^ 
 
 ^^And when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of 
 
 Kareah and all the commanders of the forces who were with him, they were 
 
 glad. ^*So all the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from 
 
 Mizpah turned about and came back and went to Johanan the son of Kareah.^ 
 
 ^^But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, 
 
 and went to the Ammonites. ^^Xhen Johanan the son of Kareah and all 
 
 the commanders of the forces, who were with him, took the remnant of the 
 
 people whom he had recovered from Ishmael,^ the men (soldiers), the women, 
 
 the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon. 
 
 Prepa- ^^And they went further and dwelt in Gedroth* Chimham, which is near 
 
 for'the Bethlehem, in order to set out on the way to Egypt ^^on account of the Chal- 
 
 flight deans, for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah 
 
 Egypt had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made 
 
 governor over the land. 
 
 ' 41' So Gk. The Heb., hy the side of Gedaliah, is clearly due to a mistaken reading of a 
 scribe. 
 
 t 419 cf. I Kgs. 1522. 
 
 " 411" go Luc. and certain codices. The Heb., carried them away captive, is tautological. 
 
 V 411-' Cf. II Sam. 2^\ 
 
 " 41'^ The Gk. has a much briefer text. The Heb. may well have been expanded. 
 
 == 41"> So Gk. The Heb. adds the awkward phrase, the son of Nethaniah from Mizpah, 
 after he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. It is in all probability a later scribal addition 
 as well as the explanatory word, soldiers, which also is not found in the Gk. 
 
 » 4117 Following the Gk., Heb., Geruth. 
 
 330
 
 THE JE^YISH REFUGEES IN EGYPT [Jer. 42i 
 
 § 1-11. The Jewish Refugees in Egypt, Jer. 42-44 
 Baruch's Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 Jer. 42 ^Then all the commanders of the forces and Johanan tlie son of The 
 Kareah and Azariah*^ the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people small and 0^11?* 
 great came near, -and said to Jeremiah the prophet, Permit us to bring our people 
 petition before you that you may supplicate Jehovah your God for us, even 
 for all this remnant, for we are left but a few out of many — you yourself see 
 us here — "^that Jehovah your God may show us the way wherein we should 
 walk, and the thing that we should do. •*Then Jeremiah the prophet said 
 to them, I have heard you; behold I will pray to Jehovah your God according 
 to your words, and whatever Jehovah shall answer you, I will declare it to 
 you; I will keep nothing back from you. ^Then they said to Jeremiah, 
 Jehovah be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not according 
 to all the word with which Jehovah your God shall send you to us. ^Whether 
 it be good or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of Jehovah our God, 
 to whom we send you, that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice 
 of Jehovah our God. 
 
 "And after ten days the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah. ^And he The 
 called together Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the ^0^-'' 
 forces that were with him and all the people small and great, ^and said to mand 
 them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present main in 
 your supplication before him: ^0' If ye will still abide in this land, then will \:^^^^ 
 I build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck 
 you up; for I am sorry for the evil that I have done to you. '^Be not afraid 
 of the king of Babylon,*' for I am with you to save you and to deliver you 
 from his hand. ^-And I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy 
 upon you and let you return to your own land.' ^^But if ye say, ' We will 
 not dwell in this land; so that ye obey not the voice of Jehovah your God,' 
 ^^thinking, ' No; but we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall see no 
 war nor hear the sound of the trumpet nor be hungry, and there will we re- 
 main; ' ^'^then hear the word of Jehovah, O remnant of Judah: Thus saith 
 Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, ' If ye have indeed determined to enter 
 into Egypt and go to sojourn there, ^*^then shall the sword, which ye fear, 
 overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine, of which ye are 
 afraid, press hard upon you there in Egypt, so that ye shall die there. ^'Thus 
 all the men who have determined to go into Egypt to sojourn there, shall 
 die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, and none of them 
 shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.' 
 
 ^*For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, ' As mine anger and Certain 
 my wrath have been poured out upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall |,\';,'^,' 
 my wrath be poured out upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt; and ye ^^^'"'l 
 
 ohe- 
 
 § 141 This section is the immediate sequel of the preceding and from the same source- ' 'q" i„ 
 42'-^^ may be due to a later hand, but 4.'}'-' assumes its contents, and the reasons for rcRarding ' ^^^ ° 
 it and 4.'{"-'' as midrashic expansions of tlie original are too subjective to be a('C('|>t('d as conclu- 
 sive. The (Ik. has here preserved a briefer and, in some cases, doubtless the original text. 
 
 ''42' So (ik., confirmed by 4.'i-. Ileb., Jeznnidh. 
 
 42" Eliminating the repetitious phra-se, oj whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith 
 Jehovah. 
 
 331
 
 Jer. W»] the BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 Barudis Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 shall be an object of execration, of astonishment, of cursing, and of reproach, 
 
 and ye shall never see this place again.' ^^Jehovah hath spoken concerning 
 
 you, O remnant of Judah, ' Go ye not into Egypt.' Know certainly that I 
 
 have testified to you this day. -^op^j, yQ^ have deceived yourselves, for you 
 
 sent me to Jehovah your God, saying, ' Pray for us to Jehovah our God, 
 
 and just as Jehovah our God shall say, so declare to us, and we will do it.' 
 
 2iAnd I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice 
 
 of Jehovah your God in anything for which he hath sent me to you. ^-^Now 
 
 therefore know certainly that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and 
 
 by pestilence, in the place whither you desire to go to sojourn. 
 
 Depart- 43 ^But when Jeremiah had ceased speaking to the'i people all the words 
 
 alUhe of Jehovah their God, with which Jehovah their God had sent him to them, 
 
 people gygj^ all tliese words, ^Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son 
 
 Egypt of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, You speak 
 
 falsely; Jehovah our God hath not sent thee to say, ' Ye shall not go into 
 
 Egypt to sojourn there.' ^But it is Baruch the son of Neriah who stirs you 
 
 up against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put 
 
 us to death, and carry us away captives to Babylon. "^So Johanan the son of 
 
 Kareah and all the commanders of the forces and all the people did not obey 
 
 the voice of Jehovah, to dwell in the land of Judah. ^But Johanan the son 
 
 of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took all the remnant of 
 
 Judah, who had returned from all the nations whither they had been driven 
 
 to sojourn in the land of Judah, *^the men, the women, the children, the 
 
 king's daughters, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the commander of 
 
 the body-guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, 
 
 and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah, ''and they came 
 
 into the land of Egypt; for they did not obey the voice of Jehovah; and they 
 
 came to Tahpanhes. 
 
 Pre- ^Then the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 
 
 fiction 9'pa^i.g great stones in thy hand, and bury them in the loose foundation^ 
 
 Egypt's in the brick-covered place before Pharaoh's palace door in Tahpanhes in 
 
 quest the sight of the men of Judah; ^^and say to them, 'Thus saith Jehovah of 
 
 Nebu- hosts, the God of Israel, " Behold, I will send and bring Nebuchadrezzar the 
 
 chad- king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that 
 
 you^ have buried, and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. ^^And 
 
 he shall come and shall smite the land of Egypt; such as are for death shall 
 
 be given to death and such as are for captivity shall be given to captivity, and 
 
 such as are for the sword shall be given to the sword. ^2\nd he^ will kindle 
 
 a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt, and will burn them and carry them 
 
 away.'^ And he shall wrap himself in the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts 
 
 d 431 Omitting the all of the Heb. in accord with the Gk. 
 
 " 43' The Heb. word occurs only here. It is apparently connected with the root, to slip 
 away. This suggests not the current rendering, mortar, which would make Jeremiah's task an 
 almost impossible one, but the loose bed of sand on which was laid the brick pavement, which 
 covered the rai.sed platform which strood before the ancient Egyptian houses and palaces. 
 
 I 431° So Gk. Heb., /. 
 
 6 4312 So Gk. and the context. Heb., /. 
 
 •" 4312 Or following an emendation suggested by Duhm, and they will stand desolate. 
 
 332
 
 THE JE^YISH REFUGEES IN EGYPT [Jkr. 4312 
 
 Baruch's Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 on his mantle, and shall go forth from there in peace. ^^He shall also break 
 the obelisks of lleliopolis (that is in the land of Egypt)' and the temples of 
 the gods of Egypt shall he burn with fire." ' 
 
 44 ^The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who dwelt Failure 
 in the land of Egypt, who dwelt at Migdol, Tahjianhes, ^Memphis, and in jews^to 
 upper Eg\-pt,^ saying, -Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, ' Ye '^'"'" • 
 have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the sons 
 cities of Judah; and there they are this day a desolation, and no man dwclleth [he'past 
 in them, "^because of their wickedness which they have committed to jjrovoke 
 me to anger in that they went to offer sacrifices'^ to other gods, that they 
 knew not, neither they nor ye, nor your fathers. '^However, I constantly 
 sent to them' all my servants the prophets, saying, " O, do not this abomina- 
 ble thing that I hate." °But they neither hearkened nor inclined their ear to 
 turn from their wickedness, to oft'er no sacrifice to other gods. *^And so 
 my wrath and mine anger was poured forth and was kindled against the 
 cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, and they were wasted and deso- 
 late, as is now the case.' "Therefore now thus saith Jehovah, the God of 
 hosts, the God of Israel, ' Why do ye commit a great crime against your- 
 selves to cut off from you man and woman, infant and sucking child, out of 
 the midst of Judah so that ye leave none remaining, ^in that ye provoke 
 me to anger with the work of your hands, oft'ering sacrifice to other gods in 
 the land of Egypt, whither ye have gone to sojourn, that ye may be cut 
 off, and that ye may be an object of cursing and a reproach among all the 
 nations of the earth.' ^Have ye forgotten the crimes of your fathers, 
 and the crimes of the kings of Judah, and the crimes of their princes,™ 
 which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem ? 
 i^They are not humbled even to this day, neither have they feared nor 
 walked in my law nor in my statutes that I set before you and before your 
 fathers.' 
 
 ^ ^Therefore thus .saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I set Fate 
 my face against you for evil to cut off ^-fhe remnant of Judah in the land of hi^^lie 
 Egypt, and they shall fall by the sword and by famine; they shall die, small [.gg"'i,j 
 and great, and they shall be an object of execration, of astonishment, of Egypt 
 cursing, and of reproach." ^'^For I will punish those who dwell in the land 
 of Egypt, as I have j)unished Jerusalem, by the sword, by famine, and by 
 pestilence, ^^so that none of the renuiant of Judah, who have gone into the 
 land of Eg\'pt to sojourn there, shall e.scape or be left to return to the land 
 of Judah, to which they have a desire to return ;" for none shall return except 
 fugitives. 
 
 I 43" This explanatory note is not found in the Gk. and is doubtless due to a later scribe. 
 i 44' Heb..</ip countru of Pathros. 
 
 ■< 44' So Ck. Tlie Ileb. adds the awkward gloss, to serve. 
 
 ' 44' So Svr. Heb., you. . ^ 
 
 » 44' So Ok. Ileb., drives. The Heb. also adds, and your wickedness and the mckednesa 
 of your vivcH. It is probably due to a scribe who recalled l^^'-K It ill accords with the context, 
 o 44", 12 FollowinE the briefer C;k. text, the Ileb. is very repetitious. 
 ° 44'* Omitting with the Gk. the clause, to dwell. 
 
 333
 
 Jer. 4415] THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD 
 
 Banicli's Biography of Jeremiah 
 
 Their ^'^Then all the men who knew that their wives offered sacrifices. to other 
 
 mYna- g^^^ ^^^ ^^' *^^ women who stood by, a great assembly (even all the people 
 tion to who dwelt in the land of Egj-pt and in upper Egypt)p answered Jeremiah, saying, 
 in their ^*^In regard to the demand that you have made upon us in the name of Je- 
 prac!^^° hovah, we will not hearken to you. ^''But we will rather fulfil every word 
 tices that is gone forth from our mouth, to offer sacrifices to the queen of heaven 
 and to pour out libations to her, as we have done, along with our fathers, 
 our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusa- 
 lem; for then we had plenty of food and were well and experienced no mis- 
 fortune. ^^But since we left off offering sacrifices to the queen of heaven, 
 and pouring out libations to her, we have wanted all things and have been 
 consumed by the sword and by the famine. ^^And when we offered sacrifices 
 to the queen of heaven, and poured out libations to her, did we make cakes'^ 
 and pour out libations to her without the approval of our husbands ?'^ 
 Calam- ^O'pj^g^ Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and to the women, 
 the past even to all the people who had given him that answer, saying, ^iDid not 
 in pun- Jehovah remember the savor of the sacrifices that vou burned in the streets 
 
 ishment 
 
 of their of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your princes, and the 
 I o a ry pg^pjg ^jf ^]^g land, and did it not come to his mind ? 2- And so Jehovah 
 could no longer endure, because of the evil of your doings and because of 
 the abominations which you have committed ; therefore has your land become 
 a desolation and an object of astonishment, and of cursing, without inhab- 
 itant, as it is to-day. ^^Because you have offered sacrifices and because you 
 have sinned against Jehovah and have not obeyed the voice of Jehovah nor 
 walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this 
 calamity has overtaken you, as is now the case. 
 The 24^jQj.gQygj. Jeremiah said to all the people, and to all the women. Hear 
 
 ment the word of Jehovah, all Jews^ who are in the land of Egypt; ^^' Thus saith 
 "pojj Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, " You* and your wives have spoken with 
 fiaut your mouths, and with your hands have carried out this resolution: We will 
 ^^°^ ® surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to offer sacrifices to the queen 
 of heaven, and to pour out libations to her. Confirm then and perform 
 your vows ! " ' ^^^Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, all Jews who dwell 
 in the land of Egypt, ' I have sworn by my great name,' saith Jehovah, ' that 
 my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any Jew in all the land of 
 Egypt, in the oath, " As the Lord Jehovah liveth." ^/ggi^Qj^j^ j ■^r[]\ ^atch 
 over them for evil and not for good, and all the men of Judah who are in 
 the land of Eg>^t shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until 
 there is an end of them. ^^And they that escape the sword shall return 
 from the land of Eg\'pt to the land of Judah, few in number, and all the 
 
 p 4415 Apparently a later explanatory note. 
 
 I 44^' So Gk. and Syr. In the Heb. a scribe has added an archaeological note which prob- 
 ably means, to mould them, i.e., in some symbolic form. 
 
 r 4419 xhe verse indicates that the women were the real speakers in '^-'8. Possibly the 
 men were only introduced later in i*. 
 
 » 4424 Heb.. all Judah. So also in 26. 
 
 1 4425 xhe Gk. omits, you, thus making the wives the speakers in **. 
 
 334-
 
 THE JEWISH REFUGEES IN EG\TT [Jer. 4428 
 Banich's Biographij of Jeremiah 
 
 remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there 
 shall know whose word shall be confirmed, mine or theirs.' 
 
 -^' And this shall be the sign to you,' saith Jehovah, ' that I will punish Hoph- 
 you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely be confirmed f^te to 
 against you for evil.' ^O'pi^^jg yaJth Jehovah, 'Behold, I will give Pharaoh- he a 
 hophra king of Eg}'pt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of 
 those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of 
 Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and sought his life.' 
 
 § 142. Jehoiachin's Liberation, II Kgs. 25"-3o, Jer. 5231-34 
 Late Prophetic Summary 
 
 II Kgs. 25 27Now it came to pass in the thirty -seventh year of the cap- Honors 
 tivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth fg^^ed 
 month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year in which he became "P°n. 
 king, lifted up Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison to a position of honor, chin in 
 28And he spoke kindly to him and placed his seat above the seats of the kings f^^^' 
 who were with him in Babylon, -^and changed his prison garments. And 
 Jehoiachin ate with him continually as long as he lived. ^^And for his sup- 
 port" a continual allowance was given him by the king, each day a portion, 
 as long as he lived. 
 
 § 142 The one political event during the Babylonian exile deemed worthy of record by the 
 late i)rophetic erlitor was the liberation of Jehoiachin in connection with the favors granted his 
 subjects by Amil-marduk on the occasion of his accession in 561 b.c. It is a fitting close to the 
 books of the Kings, for not only does it mark the close of the history of the Hebrew kings, 
 but it also suggests the greater liberation and restoration which awaited the captive people. 
 Jer. 5231 ■*! jg ^ verbatim quotation from Kgs 
 
 " 25'" Heb., allowance. 
 
 335
 
 ec 
 
 6REECE 
 
 EGYPT 
 
 TMIE 
 
 COMMUNITY 
 
 PERSIA 
 
 P.ll liulik tl 
 
 Ilophr a 
 
 
 ii or LvouM «'.» Am usia 
 
 Zedc 
 
 kluh 
 
 _/ 1I1(;H PRIKS 
 
 ) IV «EC»»''.''!.5 
 
 ; ho Of PtL : 
 
 Tacho«[ 
 
 Phil 
 
 Ip 
 
 Mec'tuiieb 
 
 >\'buc 
 
 hadrezzar 
 
 ■ c ' 
 r T 
 
 Evil- . , 
 Blerodac-hUiiftislUsur 
 
 Mubonldu 
 
 Cy 
 
 I'ROPHKTS 638) EDICT OF CVRUS CONCERNING TEMPUE 
 VZERUBBABEL GOVERNOR OF JUDAH 
 
 .r aiub.y 
 
 &20) BEGINNING OF TEMPLE BUILDING 
 516 COMPLETION OF TEMPLE 
 
 Dart 
 
 us I 
 
 Xc rxeo I. 
 
 445 1 W 
 432) Nl 
 
 WALLS OF JERUSALEM REBUILT 
 
 NEUEJUIAII GOVERNOR — 
 
 EHEMIAH'S SECOND VISIT TO JERUSALEM 
 
 Artaxe 
 
 398 (t) EXPEDITION OF EZRA 
 3y7(T) THE GREAT ASSEMBLY 
 
 INSTITUTION OF THE PRIESTLY LAW 
 
 Ar 
 
 Alexaiid cr 
 
 • ATTi r r\e i»4li« 
 
 Ptoleiuy 
 
 Ptolemy II. 
 
 "OAK tCACuC 
 
 I.Soter 
 
 Phlladelphutt 
 
 Ptolemy III. 
 
 'to KOHhV, 
 
 Eucrsctes 
 
 Ptuleni.v IV.PIilloj>iit«r 
 
 I'toUiny V, 
 
 Plolimy VI.i 
 
 Ptulfni} 
 
 Kplpbaiieit 
 
 Vll.Phllumrlrr 
 
 rxe8 I. 
 
 Xerxes II. 
 
 Dari usil. 
 
 taserxcg II< 
 
 34T(A80UT) JEWS JOIN SYRIAN REBELLION 
 
 346 THIRD DEPORTATION OF JEWS. DESECRATION 
 
 Artaxe 
 
 (Oe 
 
 OF THE. TEMPLE 
 
 dITh^^ih 
 
 rxes III. 
 
 PTOLEMY MASTER OF JUDAH 
 ANTIGONUS MASTER OF JUDAH 
 
 237 INVASION OF DEMETRIUS SeleU 
 
 cusl. 
 
 Antlochus I. 
 
 r Ml 
 1 1 
 
 WAR BETWEEN PTOLE- 
 lES AND SELEUCIDS 
 
 Anttoc 
 
 Sotcr 
 
 hus II.TheoB 
 
 Seleucus II 
 Seleuciis III. I 
 
 218 ANTIOCHUS III. CONQUERS 
 
 PALESTINE AlllloollllS III, 
 
 517 BATTLE OF RAPHIA 
 
 1 96 FINAL CONQUEST OF 
 
 PALESTINE BY SELEUCIDS 
 
 170 TEMPLE PLUNDERED 
 168 PERSECUTION OF JEWS 
 167-6 VICTORIES OF JUDAS 
 165 REPEDICATION OF TEMPLE 
 
 (.'iiUiiilcUH 
 
 The Greut 
 
 Scleii nis IV.I'lillopnlor 
 
 Anllorliiif 
 
 lV,K|tlplianet 
 
 ji.\vi.-5U A:\ii cu.Mi. iJ i>i-\^i-^ (.iiiiu^oi.ociv ii;o.>i 
 
 iO J'j 
 
 r..i
 
 THE UE-ESTABLISHMEXT OF THE JEWISH 
 COMMUNITY IN PxVLESTINE 
 
 Ezra-Nehemiah
 
 THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JEWISH 
 COMMUNITY IN PALESTINE 
 
 THE REBUILDING OF THE TEIVIPLE, II Chr. 3622. 23^ Ezra 1, 32- 
 
 622, Hag. 1, I Esdr. (2), 448-56. 62, 63^ 5I-6 (47_715) 
 
 § 1-13. Cyrus's Decree Regarding the Temple at Jerusalem, II Chr. 36". ^^ 
 
 Ezra V-\ 6'-^ (I Esdr. 1'-', C-'^-") 
 
 Com- 
 mand 
 to re- 
 build 
 the 
 
 cemple 
 and 
 take 
 back 
 its ves- 
 sels 
 
 Aramaic Document 
 
 Ezra 6 ^In the first year of 
 Cyrus the kmg, Cyrus the king 
 made a decree: Concerning the 
 house of God in Jerusalem — 
 this house shall be rebuilt, 
 where they offer sacrifices and 
 bring him offerings made by 
 fire.'^ Its height shall be sixty 
 cubits and its breadth sixty 
 cubits, '^ ^It shall he constructed 
 with three layers of huge stones 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 1 ^Now in the first year of Cyrus king of 
 Persia, that the word of Jehovah bv the 
 mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, 
 Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king 
 of Persia, to make a proclamation through- 
 out all his kingdom, and also in writing, 
 as follows, 2Thus saith Cyrus king of Per- 
 sia: All the kingdoms of the earth hath 
 Jehovah the God of Israel,'^ the God of 
 heaven, given me; and he hath charged me 
 to build him a temple in Jerusalem, which 
 
 The Rebuilding of the Temple. — The first six chapters of Ezra cover a period of only 
 twenty-two years from 538-516 b.c. and, with the exception of 2 and 4'-», all relate to the 
 rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of its worship. The centre and nucleus of the whole 
 is the Aramaic account of the experiences of the builders, found in 5^-6'3. This the Chronicler 
 has expanded in 1 and 3. The manv vexed problems of these chapters are illuminated by the 
 valuable contemporary testimonv found in the books of Hag. anil Zech. From these and from 
 the other evicience in Ezra-Neh. it seems clear that there was no general return of Jews from 
 Babylon before 520 n.r., and that the rcbuihling of the temple was first seriously begun at that 
 time by the Jews who had remained in .ludah and the few who had returned from the lands where 
 they had found temporary rcfugo. None the less noble and significant was the restoration of 
 the sanctuary and service because accomplished amid great discouragements by (he struggling 
 little Judean'communitv. On the other hand, in the light of the subsequent glory and veneration 
 which centred about the temple, it was not strange that this act should be idealized in accord 
 with ideas peculiar to the later age. 
 
 § 143 If the Aramaic temple records in .3--6'5 contained a continuous history of the Judean 
 community, from 6''-'' may be inferred what was its version of the decree of Cyrus. It is impor- 
 tant because it represents the oldest fijrm of the tradition. This is again given by the Chronicler, 
 with his characteristic modifications in 1'-^. 
 
 » 6' Following the rendering of Ilaupt {Ezra-Neh. SHOT, p. 36). This is supported by 
 I Esdr. 6^ anrl the corresponding expressions of the Chronicler in ICzra .3-". The .\ram. of 6'' is 
 currently translated, the place where thexi offer sacrifices, and let its foundation be slronyli/ laid. 
 But this is only a conjectural reading. The variations in the Gk. versions indicate that the cor- 
 ruption of the text was early. 
 
 ''6'' The proportions are unusual. The Ijroadth of Solomon's temple was twenty cubits 
 and the height thirty. Nothing is here said of the length. P ssibly this is due to textual cor- 
 ruption. 
 
 V So in 32 and the parallel I Esdr. 2^. The Aram, omits, the God of Israel.
 
 Ezra 6^] THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE [Ezra 1^ 
 
 Aramaic Document Chroniclers Ecclesiastical Hislortj 
 
 is in Judah. ^wi^Qgyer there is among you 
 of all his people who desires to go,^ let his 
 God be with him, and let him go up to 
 Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build 
 the temple of Jehovah, the God of Israel 
 (he is God),'' which is at Jerusalem. "^And 
 whoever is left, in any place where he 
 now resides as an alien, let the men of 
 his place assist him^ with silver, with gold, 
 with goods, and with beasts, besides the 
 freewill offering for the house of God which 
 is at Jerusalem. 
 
 and one*^' layer of timber. And 
 let the expenses be paid out of 
 the king's treasury.® ^Also let 
 the gold and silver vessels of 
 the house of God, Avhich Nebu- 
 chadnezzar^ took from the tem- 
 ple at Jerusalem and brought 
 to Babylon, be restored and 
 brought again to the temple 
 which is at Jerusalem, each to 
 its place, and you shall put 
 them in the house of God. 
 
 The 
 volun- 
 teers 
 
 § 144. The Return of Certain Jews with the Vessels of the Temple, 
 
 Ezra 15", 5'*. ^\ I Esdr. 4*'^. ^^- si-se, 02, es^ 51-6 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical Historij 
 
 Ezra 1 ^Then the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, 
 and the priests and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go 
 up to build the temple of Jehovah which is at Jerusalem arose. "^And all 
 those who were about them supplied themJ with silver vessels, with gold, 
 with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was 
 voluntarily offered. 
 
 ^ & So Gk. Aram., new. The two Aramaic words are easily confused. 
 
 « Q^ Aram., house. 
 
 f 13 So I Esdr. 25, Gk., and Luc. 
 
 E 6' The more nearly correct spelling of this word is found in Jer. and Ezek. Cf. § 130, 
 note '. The form Nebucliadnezznr is used in Kgs., Ezra-Neh., Dan., and Esther. 
 
 '' 1^ Apijarently a gloss, added by a jtious scribe, which has been awkwardly inserted. In 
 Luc. it is found at the end of the verse. 
 
 ' 1'' I.e., to return to Jerusalem. 
 
 § 144 It is significant that, not only do Haggai, Zechariah, and Nehemiah bear testimony 
 that there was no general return of the Jews from Babylon during the earlier part of the Persian 
 period, but even the comparatively late Aramaic temple records are completely silent regarding 
 it. They know only of the return of a certain Sheshbazzar with the vessels of the temple, 5^^- '^. 
 Their version of the viecree of Cyrus speaks only of the rebuilding of the temple, not of the 
 return of the exiles. That a few did come back is shown by the presence of Zerubbabel of the 
 royal house and of Joshua the priest, as well as by the direct reference in Zech. b'" to three men 
 who had come from Babylon, bringing the gifts of the Jewish exiles who remained behind. 
 
 As has been already recognized, I Estlr. contains the Gk. translation of what is manifestly 
 at many points a superior text of Ezra. Cf. Introd., p. 44. In 3-5 an older account of the 
 return of the Jews under Cyrus has been combined with the later .story of the Three Young 
 Men. Professor Torrey in the Jour, of Bib. Lit., XXL, ]5p. 169, 170, has called attention to the 
 fact that the Chronicler's account of the return in Ezra 1 stops abruptly and is obviously in- 
 complete. Also in Ezra 3' it is stated that cedar wood for the temple was brought from Lebanon 
 according to the command of Cyrus the king, but our Hebrew book of Ezra contains no such 
 command. This missing conclusion, with the specific command referred to in the Heb. ^•ersion 
 of Ezra, is found in the composite narrative of I Esdr. 4^''-5". It also records the return of Jeshua 
 and Zerubbabel, which is assumed by the Chronicler in I^zra 3^ and 5'- -. The characteristic 
 language of the Chronicler is readily recognized and renders easy its separation from the very 
 different story of the Three Young Men. The name C;/rus, for which Darius has been sub- 
 stituteil, as a result of the combination with the later story, must, of course, be restored. This 
 missing fragment was doubtless taken from our present received Heb. text of Ezra when the 
 story of tlie Three Young Men, with which it was clo.sely welded, was removed. The fact that 
 in his Gk. column Origen followed I Esdr. (cf. the Syro-Hexaplar) indicates that the present 
 accepted Heb. text was not established until a comparatively late date. 
 
 J 1 Heb strengthened their hands. 
 
 540
 
 Ezra 5^'^] 
 
 RETURN OF CERTAIN JEWS 
 
 [EZR.A. 1' 
 
 Aramaic Temple Records 
 
 Ezra 5 ^"^Now the gold 
 and silver vessels of the 
 house of God which Nebu- 
 chadrezzar took from the 
 temple at Jerusalem and 
 brought to the temple 
 in Babylon, those Cyrus 
 the king took out of the 
 temple in Babylon, and 
 they were delivered to one 
 by the name of Sheshbaz- 
 zar, whom he had made 
 governor. ^^And he said 
 to him, Take these vessels; 
 go, put them in the tem|)le 
 at Jerusalem, and let the 
 house of God be rebuilt in 
 its place. 
 
 Deliv- 
 ery of 
 the ves- 
 
 Chroniclcr's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 ''Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels 
 of the temple of Jehovah, which Nebuchad- 
 nezzar had brought from Jerusalem, and had seisof 
 put in the temple of his gods. ^Those Cyrus teiii|)le 
 king of Persia brought forth under the charge ^° ^^'^^ 
 of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them 
 out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. ^And 
 this is the number of them : thirty^ golden plat- 
 ters, a thousand^ silver platters, twenty-nine 
 censers, ^*^thirty golden bowls, two thousand,'" 
 four hundred and ten silver bowls, and a thou- 
 sand other vessels. ^^All the vessels of gold 
 and of silver were five thousand, four hundred 
 and sixty-nine.'^ All these Sheshbazzar brought 
 up, with those of the captivity" from Babylon 
 to Jerusalem. 
 
 I Esdr. 4 '*'''* And Cyrus the king wrote letters ^^to all the governors of 
 the province beyond the River,'' and also to those in Lebanon he sent written 
 commands to brine: cedar wood from Lebanon to Jerusalem to rebuild the 
 city. ^^And for the rebuilding of the temple he ordered that twenty talents 
 should be given yearly until it should be built; ^-and that ten other talents 
 should be given yearly for the altar, "^ that whole burnt-offerings might be 
 offered day by day, according to the command; ^''further, that all those going 
 up from I3abylon to build the city, should have their freedom, both they 
 and their children. And to all the priests who went up, ^'^he commanded 
 to give portions, and the priestly garments in which they minister. ^^Fur- 
 thermore to the Levites he conunanded to give portions until the day when 
 the temple should be finished and Jerusalem rebuilt. •'''He also conunanded 
 to give to all those guarding the city allotments and wages. 
 
 6-Then they all praised the God of their fathers, because he had given 
 them "■'^permission and freedom^ to go up and rebuild Jerusalem and the 
 temple that is called by his name. And they exulted seven days with music 
 and rejoicing. 
 
 5 ^After this the chief men of the fathers' houses, according to their tril>es, 
 were chosen to go up, together with their wives and their son and their 
 daughters and their men-servants and their maid-servants and their cattle. 
 
 Cyrus's 
 
 piovi- 
 
 sions 
 
 for the 
 
 re- 
 
 build- 
 
 infr .and 
 
 service 
 
 of the 
 
 temple 
 
 ■Toy of 
 
 tlie 
 
 exiles 
 
 Their 
 depart- 
 ure for 
 Jeru- 
 salem 
 
 k 19 So I Esdr. 2'2 (Swete's text). Heb., thirtu- But compare the total in ». 
 ' P So I Esdr. 2'-. Heb., four hundred and ten. 
 
 m 1'" So I Esdr. 2'-. The Heb. is unintelliKible. ,, , , 
 
 n 1" The total of the numbers given in the Heb. of »• '" is but 2,499, while the Heb. liere 
 reads .5,400. I i;sdr. 2'-- ", however, is consistent and doubtless original. 
 
 1" Again following I Es<lr. 2'-', which ha,s a superior tc\t. 
 
 r>4"' This is the translation of the A.ssyro-Mabylonian name of the provinces west of the 
 middle i:u|)hrates. The (ik. (-(luivalent here, as in i:zra 5'- ", ()''• '■', is, Cwlesuria and Phoenicia. 
 
 1 4''2 The Gk. adds what appears to be an obscure glo.s9, to bring fijleen. 
 ' 4"^ Torrey suggests, a remnant and residue. 
 
 341
 
 I EsDR. 52] THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 ^And Cyrus sent a thousand horsemen to go with them until they had brought 
 
 them back to Jerusalem in peace. Then with musical instruments, drums 
 
 and flutes, ^and loud rejoicing, all their kinsmen sent them on their way,^ 
 
 as they went up. 
 
 List of ^These are the names of the men who went up, according to their tribes, 
 
 turnTng by their genealogy. ^Of the priests the sons of Phinehas, the son of Aaron: 
 
 exiles Jeshua the son of Jozadak, the son of Seriah. And there rose up* with him 
 
 Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel of the house of David, of the family of Peres, 
 
 of the tribe of Judah ; '^in the second year of Cyrus king of Persia in the first 
 
 day of the month Nisan. 
 
 § 145. Re-establishment of Worship at Jerusalem and the Laying of the 
 Foundation of the Temple, Ezra S'-i". ^i (I Esdr. 5<s-73) 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 Renew- Ezra 3 ^Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his kinsmen the priests, 
 
 alt'aV'^^ and Zerubbabel" the son of Shealtiel and his kinsmen arose and built"^ the 
 
 service ^Itar of the God of Israel, to oifer burnt-offerings on it, as prescribed in the 
 
 serva- law of Moses the man of God. ^And they set up the altar in its place; for 
 
 ofThe fear, because of the peoples dwelling in the land, had come upon them, but 
 
 feasts ii^Qj plucked up courage^ and offered burnt-offerings to Jehovah, even 
 
 burnt-offerings morning and evening. ^And they kept the feast of booths 
 
 as it is prescribed, and offered the fixed number of daily burnt-offerings 
 
 according to the direction for each day;'' ^and aftenvard the continual burnt- 
 
 » 5^ The Gk. text is not grammatical, and is evidently corrupt. Gk. A 3b reads, he (Darius) 
 made them go up with them. The above restoration by Torrey at least reproduces the original 
 sense. 
 
 t 55 Following Torrey's restoration of the original Heb., which is mistakenly read, Joachim, 
 in the Gk. 
 
 § 145 Ezra 3' is but the Chronicler's variant of Neh. 7''^^, 8^, and was transferred by him 
 from Neh. 7 with the section in Ezra 2. For the original place of meeting, the broad space 
 before the Water Gate (Neh. 8'), confirmed by the parallel in I Esdr. 5^', he substituted, to Jeru- 
 salem, remembering that the walls had not been rebuilt in 538 b.c. Also the reference in \ to 
 the seventh month and the implication that the Jews were already living in the cities outside 
 Jerusalem have no meaning except in their original context in Neli. From 3 it is clear that the 
 Chronicler intended to represent the altar as having been erected in 538 B.C., immediately after 
 the return. From Jer. 41'' it would appear that a form of worship was observed at the temple 
 site even after the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. Hag. 2'< also 
 implies that sacrifices were offered on the sacred si>ot. This section, as a whole, is characterized 
 throughout by the peculiar ideas and expressions of the Chronicler. Into 4 he has introduced 
 the .Aramaic account of the interruption of the building of the city walls, cf. § 149. Vs. -< is in 
 Heb., has the Chronicler's usual term, king of Persia, and was clearly added by him to connect 
 his quotation in '--^ with the interruption of the rebuilding of the temple. The Aramaic docu- 
 ment evidently had a variant version of the laying of the foundation of the temple, for it states 
 in 5"^, after the account of Cyrus's decree to build the temple, thereupon this Sheshbazzar came 
 and laid the foundations of the house of God at Jerusalem, and since that time even until now 
 it has been in building and has not yet been completed. From the contemporary testimony of 
 Haggai it appears that practically nothing had been done before 520 B.C. Cf. Hag. 2'". 
 
 " 32 The mention of Jeshua and Zerubbabel as the leaders in the restoration of the worship 
 of the temple instead of Sheshbazzar, as in the Aramaic records 'S'*), suggests that the Chronicler 
 is here simply projecting backward and idealizing the account of the building of the temple 
 recorded in Hag. 1. 
 
 ^' 3- I Esdr. 5^*, made ready. 
 
 « 33 The Heb. text is evidently corrupt, but the parallel in I Esdr. S'" is not altogether clear 
 and the variations in the Gk. versions of the latter testify that it also is corrupt. Many con- 
 jectural translations have been offered. The above practically follows the Heb. of Ezra 3', 
 adding from the Luc. of I Esdr. 5°° the evidently original phrase, plucked up courage. 
 
 '^ 3* Evidently the Chronicler had in mind the law in Num. 29^^^-^*. 
 
 342
 
 RE-ESTABLISHMENT OP WORSHIP [Ezra 35 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the sacred feasts of 
 Jehovah,^ and for every one who offered a freewill offering to Jehovah.** 
 ^From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt-offerings 
 to Jehovah; but the foundation of the temple of Jehovah was not yet laid. 
 
 'They also gave money to the masons and to the carpenters, and food, Prepa- 
 and drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar-trees forThe 
 from Lebanon on the sea to Joppa,'' according to the grant that they had temple 
 from Cyrus king of Persia. 
 
 ^And in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Laying 
 in the second day of the month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua founda- 
 the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their kinsmen the priests and the Levites, tion 
 and all who had come from the captivity to Jerusalem, began and laid the 
 foundation of the house of God on the first day of the second month of the 
 second year'^ after they had come to Judah and Jerusalem. And they ap- 
 pointed the Levites, who were twenty years old and over, to have the over- 
 sight of the work of the temple of Jehovah. ^Then Jeshua arose with his 
 sons and his kinsmen, and Kadmiel his brother and the sons of Judah and 
 the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their kinsmen the Levites, to have 
 toofether the oversitrht of the workmen in the house of God.® ^*^And when 
 the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, the priests 
 stood^ in their official robes with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, 
 with cymbals to praise Jehovah, according to the directions of David king 
 of Israel. ^^And they sang responsively songs of praise and thanksgiving 
 to Jehovah, saying, For he is good, for his loving-kindness is ever over Israel. 
 And all the people raised a great shout of rejoicing, because the foundation 
 of the temple of Jehovah had been laid. ^^But many of the priests and 
 Levites and heads of fathers' houses and the old men, who had seen the 
 first temple, when the foundation of this temple^ was laid before their eyes, 
 wept loudly, while many shouted aloud for joy, ^^so that the people could 
 not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping 
 of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was 
 heard afar off. 
 
 4 ^Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the Inter- 
 children of the captivity were building a temple to Jehovah, the God of oftiie 
 Israel, -they drew near to Zerubbabel and to Jeshua^ and to the heads of {^^Ij'ji.® 
 fathers' houses, and said to them. Let us build with you; for we worship ing 
 your God, as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of 
 
 » 3'' Following the shorter text of I Esdr. 5^^. The Heb. is exceedingly repetitious. 
 
 bS'' Cf. Lev. G'-", Kx. 29^s-'-, Num. 28. I l':sdr. 5-''' adds before the offering.s of the new 
 moons, that of the sabbath as prescribed in Num. 28"'. 
 
 "= y The Chronicler here evidently follows the account of the building of Solomon's temple. 
 Cf. I Kgs. 57-11, II chr. 2«-i«. 
 
 •' 3' Adding a statement regarding the exact date of the laying of the foundation from 
 I Esdr. .5^*. Without the statement that the foundation was laid the Heb. is incomplete. 
 Vs. 1" refers to this act. 
 
 •^ 3'J Correcting the Heb., which is obviously corrupt, by tlic aid of the parallel in I l.sdr. 
 5'*. Any reconstruction i.s doubtful. 
 
 ' 3'" So Gk., I Esdr. S''", Lat., and many Heb. manuscripts. 
 
 « 312 I Esdr. 5'^ omits, temple. 
 
 i* 42 So I Esdr. 5"" and demanded by '. In the Heb. to Jeshua has dropped out. 
 
 313
 
 Ezra 42] THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 Esarhaddon^ king of Assyria, wlio brought us here. ^But Zerubbabel and 
 Jeshua and the rest of the fathers' houses said to them, You have nothing 
 to do with us in building a temple to Jehovah our God; but we ourselves 
 will build to Jehovah the God of Israel, as Cyrus the king of Persia has com- 
 manded us. ^Then the peoples of the land continually weakened the en- 
 ergies of the people of Judah, and frightened them out of building, ^and 
 kept hiring counsellors against them to frustrate their plan, all the days of 
 Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. J ^'^So 
 the work on the house of God at Jerusalem ceased; and it ceased until the 
 second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.^ 
 
 § 146. Beginning of the Rebuilding of the Temple in the Days of Darius, 
 
 Hag. 1, Ezra 5^-^ (I Esdr. GL 2) 
 
 Prophecy of Haggai 
 
 Jeho- Ha&:. 1 'In the second year of Darius the king, 
 
 dfsap- ^^ the first day of the sixth month, the word of 
 proval Jehovah came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 
 delay in Speak' to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, gov- 
 [ng the ernor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehoza- 
 temple ^l^k the high priest, saying, 2' Thus saith Jehovah 
 
 of hosts, " This people say: The time has not yet 
 
 comeo to rebuild the temple of Jehovah." ' ^'phg^ 
 
 the word of Jehovah came by Haggai the prophet, 
 
 saying, *Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in 
 
 your own ceiledP houses, while this temple lies in ruins ? ^Now therefore, 
 
 thus saith Jehovah of hosts, ' Consider your past experiences. ^ ^Ye sow 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesias- 
 tical History 
 
 Ezra 5 'Now the 
 prophets, Haggai,"^ and 
 Zechariah, the son 
 of Iddo," prophesied 
 to the Jews who were 
 in Judah and Jerusa- 
 lem, in the name of the 
 God of Israel who was 
 over them. 
 
 ' 42 Neither the O.T. nor the Assyrian inscriptions record a transfer of foreigners into 
 Samaria by Esarhaddon. Of the events in Israelitish history immediately after 090 b.c, 
 the O.T., however, says little, so that it is by no means impossible. Otherwise the event re- 
 ferred to was the deportation in the days of Sargon, II Kgs. 17-^. 
 
 14" The Heh. also adds, '', Atid in the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they wrote an ac- 
 cusation against the inhabitants of Judah and J erusalem. Its aim is clearly to trace the Samar- 
 itan hostility throughout the Persian period. Whether it was original with the Chronicler or 
 added by a later scribe, as the fact that it is not found in I Esdr. suggests, cannot be definitely 
 determined. 
 
 ^ 42'' I Esdr. S'^ conriects Ezra 4-^ immediately with "■> as above. 
 
 § 146 The brief and fragmentary account of the beginning of the temple building, given by 
 the Chronicler in his introduction to the quotation from the Aramaic document in Ezra 5 and 6 
 is supplemented by the contemporary sermons of Hag. and Zech. From these it is evident that 
 Haggai by his direct, practical exhortations influenced the Jews to begin the work, and then he 
 and his colleague Zechariah by their repeated addresses kept alive the enthusiasm and devotion 
 of the temple builders. The historical element is so prominent and important in Hag. 1, that 
 this chapter is here given. The first address of Haggai was in September of 520 b.c. when the 
 Persian empire was all aflame with rebellions against the new king Darius. Early in the follow- 
 ing October the work was begun. A month later Haggai delivered the message of encourage- 
 ment in 2'-s. In the same month of December Zechariah gave his first address, Zech. 1'-'*. Just 
 at the close of the year 520 b.c. the founrlation of the temple was laid (Hag. 2'8) and in con- 
 nection with this ceremony Haggai delivered his last recorded sermon, 2'"-23. Zechariah's next 
 address was in February of 519 B.C., and the visions in 2-0 appear to come from the period pre- 
 ceding the completion of the temple, which is dated by the Chronicler in 516 b.c. 
 
 •Hag. 11 So Gk. The Heb. omits, sayinry, SpeaA. But cf. 2i. 10. -». 
 
 n> Ezra 5' So I Ivsdr. 6. The Aramaic adds, the prophet. 
 
 » Ezra 5' In Zech. Wthe son of Berechiah. the son of Iddo. Cf. Neh. 12i8. 
 
 » Hag. 12 So Gk. The Heb. text is confused. 
 
 P Hag. 1^ Or simply, covered, roofed. 
 
 1 Hag. 1^ Heb., your ways. 
 
 344
 
 ITS BEGINNING IN THE DAYS OF DARIUS [ILvg. l^ 
 
 Prophecy of Haggai 
 
 much, but bring in little; ye eat, but _ve do not have enough; ye drink, but 
 ye are not filled; ye clothe yourselves, but not so as to be warm; and he that 
 earneth wages, earneth wages in a bag with holes.' 
 
 "Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, ' Consider your experiences. *■ ^Go up to Rebuild 
 the mountains, and bring wood and rebuild the temple; then I will be pleased temple 
 with it, and I will reveal mv jjlorv,'® saith Jehovah. ^' Ye looked for -*"*' 
 
 ' . o «, ' ^ ^ pros- 
 
 much, and it came to little;* and when ye brought it home, I blew upon it. iserity 
 Why ? ' saith Jehovah of hosts. ' Because of my temple that lieth in ruins, follow 
 while ye are running each to his own house." ^"^Therefore^ the heavens 
 withhold the dew, and the earth withholdeth its fruit. ^kVnd I have called 
 forth a drought upon the land and upon the mountains, and upon the grain 
 and the new wine and the oil and upon that which the ground bringeth 
 forth, and upon men and animals, and upon all the labor of the hands.' 
 
 Chronicler's Eccle- 
 .siasticnl Ilistori/ 
 
 -Then Zerubba- 
 bel the son of Sheal- 
 tiel and Jeshua 
 the son of Jozadak 
 arose and began to 
 build the house of 
 God which is at 
 Jerusalem; and 
 with them were the 
 j)rophets of God, 
 supporting them. 
 
 ^-Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua 
 the son of Jehozadak the high priest, with all the rest of 
 the people, obeyed the command of Jehovah their God 
 and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their 
 God had sent him to them.^ The people also feared 
 before Jehovah."^ ^^And Jehovah stirred up the spirit 
 of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, 
 and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high 
 priest, and the spirit of all the rest of the people, so that 
 they came and worked on the temple of Jehovah of 
 hosts, their God, ^^in the twenty-fourth day of the sixth 
 month, in the second year of Darius the king. 
 
 § 147. Unsuccessful Opposition to the Building of the Temple, Ezra 5^-6'^ 
 
 (I Esdi-. G-^-7'0 
 Aramaic Document 
 
 Ezra 5 ^M that time Tattenai,''' the governor of the province beyond inqui- 
 tlie River, and Shcthar-bozenai and their associates came to them, and spoke [ifePer- 
 thus to them, Who gave you permission to build this temple and to fuiish ^^V^^" 
 
 ■■ Has. 1'' It is possible that this clause has crept into the text through a scribal error from*. 
 It certainly interrupts the direct eoninuind. 
 
 " Hag. l** I.e., inaugurate the Messianic era for which they longed. 
 
 t Hag. V So Gk. Heb., behold. 
 
 "Hag. I'J I.e., solely intent on building. 
 
 " Hag. 1'° So Gk. The Heb. adds, over you. 
 
 * Hag. 1'= So Gk., Syr., and Lat. The Heb. lacksj to them. 
 
 » Hag. 1'2 The literary stvle and idioms of the first half of '•'' are foreign to Hag. and the 
 second has apparently been taken from 2"'. Since the context is consistent without it, it has 
 here been omitted. It reads, Then Ilnfjrjni, Jehovah's messenger, spoke Jehovah's message 
 to the people, sai/inq, '/ am uith nou,' saith Jehovah. 
 
 § 147 Peculiarities in point of view, literary style, and vocabulary, as well as the f.act that 
 it is written in Aramaic conclusively demonstrate that this section was quoted by the Chronicler 
 from the earlier Aramaic document, cf. Introd., p. 30. These he ha.s slightly expanded in G". 
 and possibly in G"' '", although a comparison of their contents with " and II Chr. 29-' ■ " reveal 
 
 » S' This name appears in various forms in the different versions. Luc, Thananai, 
 I Esdr. C-', and Josephus, Sisinnes. 
 
 315
 
 Ezra 53] THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE 
 
 Aramaic Document 
 
 this wall ?^ ■*And" who are the builders who are carrying this through ? 
 
 ^But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they did 
 
 not make them cease, until a report should come to Darius and a written 
 
 decision concerning it be returned. 
 
 Their ^The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond 
 
 report ^^^ River, "^ and Shethar-bozenai, and his associates the rulers^ of the province 
 
 Darius bevoud the River, sent to Darius the king: 
 
 'To Darius the king, greeting. ^Be it known to the king that we have 
 gone into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, and this was 
 built with huge stones and timber laid in the walls ;^ and this work is being 
 carefully done and is prospering in their hands. ^Then we asked those 
 elders, saying,^ ' Who gave you permission to build this temple and to finish 
 this wall ? ' ^^We also asked them their names, in order to inform you, 
 that we mieht record the names of the men Avho were at their head. ^^And 
 they gave us the following answer, ' We are the serv^ants of the God of heaven 
 and earth and are building the temple that was built many years ago, which 
 a great king of Israel built and finished, ^^gut after our fathers had pro- 
 voked the wrath of the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebu- 
 chadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and 
 carried the people away to Babylon. ^^Ry^ j^ the first year of Cyrus king of 
 Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. ^^And 
 the wold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took 
 from the temple at Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon, those 
 Cyrus the king took out of the temjile in Babylon, and they were delivered 
 to one by the name of Sheshbazzar,^ whom he had made governor. ^^And 
 he said to him, " Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple at Jerusalem, 
 and let the house of God be rebuilt in its place." ^^Then this Sheshbazzar 
 came, and laid the foundations of the house of God at Jerusalem. And 
 since that time even until now it has been building, and it is not yet com- 
 pleted.' i~Now therefore if it please the king, let search be made in the 
 king's archives^ at Babylon,J whether it be so, that a decree was made by 
 
 variations from his usual representation. While these chapters contain the most reliable and 
 valuable historical data in the book of Ezra, it must be recognized that at least the decrees have, 
 like the others found in Ezra, been recast in .Jewish moulds. Cf., e.g., the distinctively late 
 prophetic expression in 6'-, God who hath caused his name to dwell there (in Jerusalem). On 
 the other hand, the favorable attitude of the Persian kings toward the religions and sanctuaries 
 of subject peoples is well established. Cf. Appendices XI, XII. There is excellent ground, 
 therefore, for regarding these decrees as in spirit authentic, although the language and pomt of 
 view of the Aramaic document in which they were found do not justify us in dating it before the 
 middle or close of the Persian period. 
 
 ^ 53 Or, sanctuary; I Esdr. 6^- 9, these works. Syr. and Targ., walls. Cf., for the same 
 idiom, 4^. 
 
 •=5* So I Esdr. 6*. The Heb. has at the beginning a gloss, uTid we (Gk., they) told them as 
 follows, which was probably originally intended for 9, where the same expressions recur. 
 
 d 5*^ 1 Esdr. 6", of Syria and Phcenicia, which is a more exact definition of the province 
 beyond the River Euphrates. Cf. § 144, note p. 
 
 " 5*^ Cf . 49. The exact meaning of the Aram., Apharsachites, is unknown. It is probably a 
 foreign word. I Esdr. 6'' has, governors or rulers. 
 
 '5* Or, its tcalls were covered with timber. 
 
 K 59 So I Esdr. 6". Aram., and said to them thus. 
 
 •> 5" Slightly correcting the Aram, by the aid of Luc. and I Esdr. 6I'. 
 
 ■ 5" So I Esdr. 6-', and in the parallel to 6'. Aram., treasure-house. 
 
 ' 5'^ At Babylon, here and in 6S may be a scribal addition. Cf. 6^. 
 
 Sid
 
 UNSUCCESSFUL OPPOSITION [Ezka 5i7 
 
 Aramaic Document 
 
 Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his 
 pleasure to us concerning this matter. 
 
 6 ^Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the Result 
 archives where the official documents from Babylon had been deposited.*^ -n^^pf. 
 ^And at Ecbatana,' the royal palace™ in the province of Media, a roll" was tigation 
 found and in it was thus written: A record :° ^In the first year of Cyrus the Darius 
 king, Cyrus the king made a decree: ' Concerning the house of God at Jeru- 
 salem, let the house be rebuilt, where they offer sacrifices and bring him 
 offerings made by fire; its height shall be sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty 
 cubits. ^It shall be constructed with three layers of huge stones and one layer 
 of timber; and let the expenses be paid out of the king's treasury. ^Also 
 let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar 
 took from the temj)le at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and 
 brought to the temple Avhich is at Jerusalem, each to its place; and you shall 
 put them in the house of God.' 
 
 *^Xow therefore,!^ Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the River, His 
 Shethar-bozenai, and the rulers of the province beyond the River, go away n"and 
 from there; ''let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the t"aiJ 
 Jews andi the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God in its place. ^More- re- 
 over I make a decree in regard to what you shall do for these elders of the J^g'^of" 
 Jews'" for the building of this house of God: that out of the kind's wealth f'e , 
 from the tribute of the province beyond the River the expenses be exactly 
 paid to these men, and that without delay. ^ ^And whatever is needed, 
 both young bullocks and rams and lambs for burnt-offerings to the God of 
 heaven, also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the direction of the 
 priests at Jerusalem, let it be given to them day by day without fail, ^*'that 
 they may regularly offer sacrifices of sweet savor to the God of heaven, and 
 pray for the life of the king and of his sons. ^^Also I have made a decree, 
 that whoever shall make this command invalid, a beam shall be pulled out 
 from his house, and he shall be imf)aled upon it,* and his house .shall for 
 this be made a refuse-heap. ^-And the God who hath caused his name to 
 dwell there shall overthrow all kings and peoples who .shall put forth their 
 
 ^ 6' Changing the order of the .Xrani., which reads, house of the official documents where 
 the treasures have been deposited at Babylon, and following the parallel in 1 Esdr. Cf. 5'^ and 
 noteJ. 
 
 ' & Aram., Achmetha. The later equivalent of the old Persian, Hangmatana, the Ekbatana 
 of the Greek writers. 
 
 "' & The royal palace, lit., castle, is not found in the parallel in I Esdr. 6^^ and may be a 
 later aridition. 
 
 " (i- The Jewish point of view is here clearly revealed. The document would naturally 
 be a cuneiform tablet. 
 
 " G^ This appears to have been the title which stood at the head of the memorandum wliicli 
 follows. 
 
 " G" I Esdr. 0^', But he commanded Sisinnes (Tattenai). This introduction to the coinniand 
 of Darius, which is introduced abruptly at this point, may be original, hut more probably the 
 abruptness is due to the author's desire to present in briefest form the vital facts. 
 
 'I 6' Governor of the Jews is probably a later addition from 5'-, for elsewhere simply the 
 elders are mentioned a.s the builders, 5^' "■ ". 
 
 ' 0" I ]''sdr. G'' further adds, the servant of Jehovah, Zerubbabel, the governor of the Jcirs. 
 So also in '<. 
 
 ■ G'* I Esdr. G^^' 2" has what appears to bo a later exiianded |)araphrasc of this passage. 
 
 ' G" Aram., as one impaled shall he fastened to it. According to Herodotus (111, 159) 
 this form of punishment was characteristically Persian. 
 
 317
 
 Ezra 0^2] THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE 
 
 Aramaic Document 
 
 hand to make invalid the command or to destroy the house of God at Jeru- 
 salem. Exactly will it be executed. 
 Com- ^^Then Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and 
 
 of tJie"^ Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did exactly as Darius the king had 
 temple given command. ^'*And the elders of the Jews built and prospered, through 
 the prophesying of the prophets" Haggai and Zeehariah the son of Iddo.^ And they 
 finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and 
 according to the decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia.™ 
 ^^And tliis temple was finished on the third day of the month Adar,'' which was in the 
 sixth year of the reign of Darius the king." 
 
 § 148. Dedication of the Temple and the Observation of the Passover, 
 
 Ezra 6"-22 (I Esdr. T-'^) 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 Derli- Ezra 6 ^"^Then the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the 
 of the' returned exiles,*^ celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 
 temple i"And they offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bul- 
 locks, two himdred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve he-goats for a 
 sin-offering for all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 
 ^^And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses,^ 
 for the service of God at Jerusalem, as is prescribed in the book of Moses. 
 The i^And the returned exiles kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of 
 
 pass- the first month. ^op'Qj. ^jjg priests and the Levites had every one of them 
 over purified themselves; all of them were ceremonially clean. And they killed 
 the passover for all the returned exiles, and for their brethren the priests, 
 and for themselves. ^^And the Israelites who had come back from the 
 captivity,- and all those who separated themselves from the uncleanness of 
 the peoples of the land,*^^ to seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, ate ^-and kept 
 the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; for Jehovah had made 
 them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria^ to them, to 
 strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. 
 
 " 6" So .51 and I Esdr. 1^. 
 
 v 6" Evidently added by the Chronicler or a later scribe. Cf. 5^ The entire verse may 
 be from the same hand. 
 
 "" 6" This error is also probably due to the Chronicler who appears to have regarded Artax- 
 erxes as the predecessor of Darius I, under whom the temple was completed. Cf. § 144. 
 
 ^ 6" March-Apiil, 516 b.c. 
 
 a 6'^ This chronological note was probably added by the Chronicler, but he may well have 
 had authentic data at his command. It is not improbable tliat he derived it from the Aramaic 
 document itself. Four years was an ample allowance of time for the rebuildhig of the temple. 
 
 § 148 Although the Aram, continues to be used through i**, it is clear that this section is from 
 the Chronicler. The elders suddenly vanish from the story, and the priests and Levites and a 
 great assembly made up, as alone seemed to the Chronicler fitting, of the children of the captiv- 
 ity 16, 19, 2i_ take their place. In addition to the animal offerings in s", twelve he-goats are 
 offered as a sin-offering in accordance with the very late law in Lev. 4'''-2i. The Chronicler's 
 peculiar ideas and expressions also abound. Cf. '« and I Chr. 23'-27-, II Chr. 35^ ■ *. As in II 
 Chr. 3.5'-'^, he introduces in conclusion a solemn passover feast, observed in accordance with the 
 ritualistic ideals of his own day. 
 
 b gi6. 19 Aram., children of the captivity. 
 
 <= 6^8 I Esdr. 7^ adds, likeirise the porter at each door. This may possibly be original. 
 
 d 6-' Here the Chronicler projects back the work and standards of a later age. These in- 
 cluded not proselytes but Jews who had remainerl in ,judah. Cf. § 162. 
 
 * 6~ This historical slip is doubtless due to the fact that to students of the earlier prophecies 
 Assyria figured still as the ancient foe and master of Israel — of course, the Chronicler meant to 
 say, king of Persia. 
 
 348
 
 THE JEKUSALEm 
 OF NEHEMIAH.
 
 NEHEMIAH'S INTEREST IN JERUSALEM [Neh. li 
 
 II 
 
 THE ^yORK OF NEHEMIAH IN RESTORING THE WALLS OF 
 
 JERUSALEM AND IN REFORMING THE JUDEAN 
 
 COMMUNITY, Ezra 47-23, Neh. li-7-5b, n^ 2, i227_i33i 
 
 (lEsdr. £16-30, Qi. 2) 
 
 § 149. Nehemiah's Interest in the Afflicted Judean Community, Neh. V-^^^ 
 Nehemiah's Memoirs 
 
 Neh. 1 ^Now it transpired in the month of Chislev,^ in the twentieth year'' The 
 [of Artaxerxes], as I was in Shushan the royal palace,*^ 2tijat Hanani,<^ one j^^^^g 
 of my kinsmen came, together with certain men from Judah, and I asked ^f""' 
 tlrem concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left from the cap- salem 
 tivity, and concerning Jerusalem. ^And they said to me, The survivors who 
 are left from the captivity there in the provinces are in great misfortune and 
 reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have 
 been destroyed by fire. 
 
 ■^Now when I heard these statements I sat down and wept and mourned Nehe- 
 certain days; and I fasted and made supplication before the God of heaven, ?^j!.^y^f 
 ^and I said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great and tor his 
 terrible God, who keepeth the covenant and showeth kindness to them .and pe- 
 who love and keep his commands;^ ^let thine ears^ now be attentive and f''"*" 
 thine eyes open, to hear the supplication of thy servant, which I am now tielp 
 making before thee, day and night, for the Israelites thy servants, while I 
 confess the sins of the Israelites, which we have siimed against thee, as I 
 also and my father's house have sinned. '^We have dealt very wickedly 
 
 The Work of Nehemiah.- — For the first time in Israel's history, it is possible to study an 
 important epoch in the light of a contemporary record written by the most prominent man in 
 the life of his ane. Cf. Introd., pp. 30, 31. With the first chaiitcr of Neh. the ])eciiliar exi>rcs- 
 sion and conceptions of the later Jevvisfi traditions foiiiul in l'>,ra disappear and a straiRlit- 
 forwarcl narrative, abound ing in exact details, takes their place. That Nehemiah was the pioneer 
 who pre))ared the way for a seneral return of the .lews from Babylon and for the institution of 
 the new priestly law in .Judah. which is Ijv tradition associated with Kzra, is demonstrated by a 
 great variety of evidence. With .Jeremiah, I'.zekiel, and the author of Isa. 4()-.'J.5 he ranks as 
 one of the chief makers of .Judaism. I'atri(jtic, enerpcetic, and pr,acticai, he was supremely 
 fitted to lift the .Judean community out of the slough of corruption and dcs|)ondency into which 
 it ha<l fallen and to prepare the wa.v for that close union between the reliKLous le;iders in Hal)ylon 
 and the .lews of I'alestine, wliich was necessary before there could be any general return, and to 
 blaze the way for tho.se fundamental reforms which transformed tlie life and religion of tlie race. 
 
 § 149 The superscriijtion was either added by the Chronicler (cC 10-), or else originally 
 stood at the head of Nehemiah's memoirs which arc here quoted verbatim, as the vocabulary 
 and literary style, very different from those of the Chronicler, clearly testif.v. Cf. Introd., p. 30. 
 The chapter well illustrates that rare union of piety and patriotism which was the dominant 
 influence in Nehemiah's life. 
 
 » 1' November- December. 
 
 '' 1' Probably thoughtlessly added by a scribe from 2', for Nisan precedes instead of follows 
 Chislev. 
 
 <^ 1' Lit., castle. Cf. Dan. 8-, Esth. 1'. Susa was the winter residence of the Persian kings. 
 
 ■' r^ Cf. 7'-. Probably ll.inani was an own brother who.sc house was in .Jerusalem. If .so 
 this would explain in part Nelieniiah's interest in the Judean community and why the deputation 
 appealed directly to him. 
 
 " I- Cf. Dt. 72' • ".'2. 
 
 ' 1'' Luc. rea<l8 consistently with the context, ears. But cf. ". 
 
 349
 
 Neh. 17] THE WORK OF NEHEMIAH 
 
 NehemiaJis Memoirs 
 
 against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor 
 the ordinances, which thou didst command thy servant Moses. ^Remem- 
 ber, I beseech thee, the word which thou didst command thy servant 
 Moses, saying, " If ye trespass I will scatter you abroad among the peoples;^ 
 ^but if ye return to me, and keep my commands and do them, then, though 
 your outcasts were at the ends of the earth,!' yg^ yy[\\ j gather them thence 
 and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, there to cause my name 
 to dwell." ^^Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast 
 redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand. HabQ Lord, I 
 beseech thee, let thine ear be attentive to the supplication of thy servant, 
 and to the supplications of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name; and 
 give success to thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of 
 this man.' 
 
 § 150. Nehemiah's Leave of Absence and Arrival at Jerusalem, Neh. I'l^-a^o 
 Nehemiah's Memoirs 
 
 Nehe- Neh, 1 ^^^^ow I was cupbearer to the king. 2 ^And it came to pass in 
 recTuest t^^ month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when I 
 and the had charge of the wine,J that I took up the wine and gave it to the king, 
 re- Now I had not befo retime been sad.'' -And the king said to me, ' ^\1iy is 
 spouse yQuj. countenance sad, since you are not sick ? This is nothing else but 
 sorrow of heart.' Then I was greatly afraid, ^and I said to the king, ' Let the 
 king live forever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, 
 the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lies in ruins, and its gates have been 
 destroyed by fire ? ' "^And then the king said to me, ' For what do you 
 make request ? ' So I prayed to the God of heaven. ^And I said to the 
 king, ' If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor in your 
 sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' sepulchres, 
 that I may rebuild it.' ^And the king said to me (and the queen' was also 
 sitting by him), ' For how long will your journey be .'' And when will you 
 return ? ' Then it pleased the king to send me; for I set him a time. ''More- 
 over I said to the king. If it please the king, let official letters be given me 
 
 8 18 Cf. Dt. 301-'. It jg suggestive that this prayer throughout shows great famiharity 
 with Dt. and no acquaintance with the late priestly code and narratives. 
 
 ^ 1^ So Eng. idiom. Heb., in the uttermost part of the heavens. Cf. the corresponding 
 Bab.-Assyr. expression, the four quarters of the heavens. 
 
 ' I'l I.e., Artaxerxes. 
 
 § 150 In determining the exact chronology of this period the most important and also un- 
 fortunately the most difficult question to answer is, Which one of the three Persian kings who 
 bore the name of Artaxerxes was Nehemiah's patron? The probabilities lie between Artaxerxes 
 I, 464-424 B.C., and Artaxerxes II, 404-358. If Neh. 12io is reliable, the Eliashib, who was high- 
 priest in 432 B.C. (Neh. 1.3<- -'S)_ was the grandson of Joshua, who was high-priest in 520 B.C. 
 This would, therefore, point to the first Artaxerxes. His general character would also favor 
 this conclusion. If the Chronicler or a late scribe had definitely associated Nehemiah with the 
 second or third Artaxerxes, they would probably have noted the fact. 
 
 ' 2' So Gk., lit., u'ine ivas before me. Heb., wine icas before him. 
 
 ^ 21 Making a slight correction required to bring out the sense evidently required by the 
 context. The Heb., / ^ras not sad in his presence, is contradicted by "-. 
 
 ' 2fi The wife of Artaxerxes, Damaspia, was probably here mentioned because of the powerful 
 influence which women were known to exert over the king. 
 
 ' 350
 
 HIS LEAVE OF ABSENCE [Neh. 2^ 
 
 Nehemiah's Memoirs 
 
 to the governors of the province beyond the River, tliat they may let me 
 pass through until I come to Judah, ^and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the 
 king's park,™ that he may give me the timber to make beams for the gates 
 of the castle, ° which belongs to the temple, and for the wall of the city, and 
 for the house that T shall enter. And the king granted me this, according 
 to the hand of my God which kindly cared for me.° 
 
 ^Then I came to the governors of the province beyond the River, and Nehe- 
 gave them the king's official letters. p Now the king had sent with me IJ^rh-al 
 military officers and horsemen. ^"^And when Sanballat the Horonitei and inJe- 
 Tobiah, the Ammonite slave, heard of it, it troubled them exceedingly, lem and 
 that one had come to seek the welfare of the Israelites. ^^So I came to t?onof" 
 Jerusalem and was there three davs. I2\n(j j arose in the night, together condi- 
 with a few of my followers, and I told no man what my God had put into my 
 heart to do for Jerusalem, neither was there any beast with me, except the 
 beast upon which I rode. ^^And I went out by night through the Valley 
 Gate, toward the Dragon's Well and to the Dung Gate,^ and investigated 
 carefully the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and where its 
 gates had been destroyed by fire. ^^Then I went on to the Fountain Gate^ 
 and to the King's Pool, but there was no place for the beast that was under 
 me to pass. ^^Then I went up in the night by the Brook Kidron and in- 
 vestigated carefully the wall, then I turned back and entered by the Valley 
 Gate, and so returned. ^^And the rulers did not know where I went or 
 what I did, neither had I as yet told it to the Jews nor to the priests nor to 
 the nobles nor to the rulers nor to the rest who did the work. 
 
 i^Then I said to them, ' You see the bad condition in which we are, how Re- 
 Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates are destroyed by fire. Come and let onhT 
 us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more an object of reproach.' peoi.^le 
 l^And I told them of the hand of my God, which had kindly cared for me, call and 
 as also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. And they said, ' Let -^^,.3 ^f 
 us rise up and build.' So they strengthened their hands* for the good work. th||r 
 l^But when Sanballat, the Horonite and Tobiah, the Ammonite slave, and 
 Geshem the Arabian heard it, they jeered at us and despised us, and said, 
 ' What is this thing that you are doing ? Will you rebel against the king ? ' 
 20Then I answered and said to them, ' The God of heaven, he will give us 
 success, for we his servants will proceed to build; but you shall have no 
 portion nor right nor memorial in Jerusalem.' 
 
 " 28 Probably the so-called, Garden of Solomon, south of Jerusalem near Etam. Cf. 
 Josephus Ant VIII 7^ 
 
 " 2s 'Cf. 72 and I Mac. 1.3'2, Acts 213'. It was probably erected in connection with the re- 
 buildinK of the temple in .520-316 B.C. 
 
 " 2"* Heb., the uood hand 0/ m.i/ God over me. Cf. also '». . ^ • r .u nu 
 
 p 2S. 'J" These verses are not indispensable to the context and contam certain of the Chron- 
 icler's idioms which sugRest that they may have been added by him. . , 
 
 •I 2'" Probably Bothhoron, northwest of Jerusalem, Iloronaim m Moab has also been 
 BUggested. Cf. Appendix IV'. 
 
 ' 2'^ For the course of the ride, cf. map opp. p. 349. i- . • tt t-~, 
 
 • 2^ Probably the Gate of the King's Garden between the two walls, mentioned in li ivgs. 
 2h\ Jer. 39', .52'. Cf. map. 
 
 ' 2'* I.e., look courage. 
 
 351
 
 Neh. 3I] THE WORK OF NEHEMIAH 
 
 § 151. The Rebuilding of the Walls, Neh. 3 
 
 Chronicler's Version of the List of Builders 
 
 Build- Neh. 3 ^Then Eliasliib the high priest rose up with his kinsmen the priests 
 
 the°^ and built the Sheep Gate; they laid its beams" and set up the doors, even to 
 
 north- ^i^e Tower of the Hundred,^' and to the Tower of Hananel. ^And next to 
 
 wall liim the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri 
 
 gaJe built. 
 
 North- ^And the Fish Gate the sons of Hassenaah built; they laid its beams, and 
 
 em waU set Up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. •*\nd next to them Meremoth the 
 
 aid son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired [the wall]. And next to them 
 
 ^^ ^ MeshuUam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezebel, repaired. And 
 
 next to them Zadok tlie son of Baana repaired. ^And next to them the 
 
 Tekoites repaired; but their nobles did not bend their necks in the service 
 
 of their lord. 
 
 West- ^And the Old Gate, Joida the son of Paseah and MeshuUam the son of 
 
 ernwall ggsQ^giah repaired; they laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and 
 
 its bars. "And next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the iVlerono- 
 
 thite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah,^ which belongs to the jurisdiction 
 
 of the governor of the province beyond the River, repaired. ^Xext to him 
 
 Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths,^ repaired. And next to 
 
 him Hananiah, one of those who prepare sweet ointments, repaired. And 
 
 they^ fortified'^ Jerusalem even to the broad wall. ^And next to them 
 
 Rephaiah the son of Ilur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired. 
 
 ^OAnd next to them Jedaiah the son of Ilariunaph repaired opposite his 
 
 house. And next to him Hattush the son of Ilashabneiali repaired. ^^Mal- 
 
 chijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired 
 
 another section even to^ the Tower of the Furnaces, ^^^^d next to him 
 
 § 151 In this section a somewhat different style and vocabulary appear. Instead of the 
 vivid narrative of Nehemiah, stereotyped formulas and a long detailetl list of names in which 
 the genealogical element is prominent, take their place. The repeated statements that the 
 different builders set up the doors of the city gates, ^- 3. '"'. is. 14. io_ also anticipate Nehemiah's 
 assertion in 6^ 7' that he himself set them up. In fact, the sudden and complete disappearance 
 of Nehemiah from the narrative and the corresponding prominence of the Chronicler's favorites, 
 the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants, the goldsmiths, and those wlio prepared sweet 
 ointments, are strongly significant. As Torrey has shown {Comp. and Hist. Value of Ezra-Neh., 
 pp. 37, 38), certain idioms and words of the Chronicler are also prominent. 
 
 On the other hand, the theme is one which naturally calls for a different literary style. 
 41 implies that Neherniah"s memoirs contained some account of the progress of the work. If 
 so, this was doubtless incorporated by the Chronicler. The e.xact details also favor the conclu- 
 sion that he drew his facts either from an older written document or from a well-established 
 oral tradition. 
 
 In determining the topography of Jerusalem this is the most important chapter in the O.T. 
 For the location of the different places mentioned, cf. map opp. p. 349. 
 
 u 31 Heb., sancHfied it, but the sanctifying of a gate is unprecedented. This act is also 
 represented as preceding its completion. The original probably read, Inid its beams, as in 3. 6. 
 The formal act of consecration follows the completion of the walls, 12-' **. 
 
 "•■' 3' Omitting, sanctified, which is but a repetition of the preceding scribal error. 
 
 w 37 xhe men of Mizpah are represented by their ruler in '*. It has been conjectured that 
 instead of Mizpah, the original here read, M erenoth. 
 
 ^ 3s The Heb. text which reads, goldsmiths, has evidently suffered in transmission. Cf. 
 the following, son of those who prepare sweet ointments, i.e., one who belonged to the guild, 
 etc. Cf. further 31. 
 
 » 3* The plural suggests that a proper name has dropped out of the preceding context. 
 
 !> 3* A technical word, the exact meaning of which is doubtful. It may mean, plaster or 
 complete. 
 
 C311 SoGk. lieh.,and. 
 
 352
 
 THE REBUILDING OF THE WALLS [Neh. 312 
 
 Chronicler'' s Version of the List of Builders 
 
 Shallum the son of Ilallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, 
 together with its dependencies/^ repaired. 
 
 i^The Valley Gate, Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired; thev South- 
 built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and also built a thousand and"'^" 
 cubits of the wall to the Dung Gate. ^*And the Dung Gate, Malchijah s^tes 
 the son of Ilechab, the ruler of the district of Beth-hacchereni, together with 
 his sons^ repaired; they built it, and covered it,^ and set up its doors, and 
 its bolts, and its bars. 
 
 ^■''And the Fountain Gate Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of the South- 
 district of ^lizpah, repaired; and he built it, and covered it, and set u{) its tN^aTl'"^'^ 
 doors, its bolts, and its bars, and he also built the wall of the Pool of SiloaniS and 
 by the King's Garden, even to the stairs that go down from the city of David. 
 ^•^ After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of 
 Bethzur, repaired to the place opposite the Sepulchres of David, even to 
 the pool that was made and to the House of the Warriors. ^~After him 
 the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani repaired. Next to him Hashabiah, the 
 ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. ^'^After him 
 their kinsmen, Bennui'^ the son of Henadad the ruler of half the district of 
 Keilah, repaired. ^^And next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of 
 !Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the 
 bend' in the wall. ^'^After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired from 
 the bend in the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high j)riest. 
 ^^After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another 
 section, froiu the entrance to the house of Eliashib even to the end of the 
 house of Eliashib. "-And after him the ])riests, the men of the Plain of the 
 Jordan repaired. -'^After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite 
 their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, 
 repaired beside his own house. ^^After him Binnui the son of Henadad 
 repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the bend in the wall 
 and to the corner. ^-^After him Palal the son of Uzai repaired' opposite 
 the bend and the upper tower that stands out from the royal palace of the 
 king, which is toward the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son 
 of Parosh repaired, ^^''^to the place opposite the Water (iate toward the 
 east and the tower that .stands out. ^''After him the Tekoites repaired 
 another section, opposite the great tower that stands out and to the wall of 
 Ophel. 2Ga^^,„i ti,(. temple servants'^ dwelt in Ophel.^ 
 
 ^ y^ Heb., daughters. It appears to be equivalent to dependent villages, as in Ips. =? and 
 often in the late priestly narratives. 
 
 « .3" So Gk. The Ileb. omits, together with his sons, and has the following verbs in the 
 singular. 
 
 f .3'* So Gk. The Heb. omits, and covered it, but cf. "^. 
 
 K S'-'i Heb., Shelah. Cf. Is. 8'', John 9'. 
 
 h 3"* .So Gk. and '■'^. Heb., liavvai. 
 
 ' S'" The tran.slation of these words is very doubtful. 
 
 i 3" Sut)piyiriK the words which have fallen out of the Hebrew and which are required by 
 the siereotyped idiom. 
 
 k .3-'"" Heb., Nethinim. 
 
 ' 3*'" This note interrupts the context and has been restored to its logical position. 
 
 353
 
 Neh. 328] THE WORK OF NEHEMIAH 
 
 Chronicler s Version of the List of Builders 
 
 East- 28\|3Qyg ^}jg Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own 
 
 north- house. 29\fter theiu Zadok the son of Irumer repaired ojjposite his own 
 
 eastern house. After liim Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East 
 
 and Gate, repaired. ^^After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanum 
 
 gates i^j^g sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam 
 
 the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber. Sl^Yf^^p hjuj Malchijah 
 
 one of the goldsmiths repaired as far as the house of the temple servants 
 
 and of the merchants, opposite the Gate of the Watch Tower and to the 
 
 ascent of the corner. ^-And between the ascent of the corner and the Sheep 
 
 Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired. 
 
 § 152. Hostile Opposition and Nehemiah's Precautionary Measures, Neh. 4 
 NehemiaJis Memoirs 
 
 Taunts Nch. 4 ^Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, 
 heathen his anger w^as aroused and he w^as very indignant, and mocked the Jews.™ 
 foes of 2 ,^mj ]^g spoke before his kinsmen and the army of Samaria and said, ' What 
 Jewish are these feeble Jews doing .'' Will they leave it to God "t^ Will they sacri- 
 m^ity fice? Will they complete it in a day.^ Will they revive the stones out of 
 the heaps of rubbish, although they are burned ? ' ^Now Tobiah the Am- 
 monite was with him, and he said, ' Even that which they are building, if 
 a fox should go up on it, he would break down their stone wall ! ' '^Hear, 
 O our God — for we are despised — and turn back their reproach upon their 
 own head and give them up as an object of spoil in a land of captivity, '^and 
 cover not their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out from thy sight, 
 for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. 
 Their ^So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height, 
 stop^ ^° for the people were eager to work. ''But° when Sanballat and Tobiah and 
 ^^^ , the Arabians and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites,p heard that the restora- 
 tion of the walls of Jerusalem was progressing, '3 so that the breaches began 
 to be stopped, they were very angry. ^Xnd they all conspired together to 
 Fears of come and fight against Jerusalem and to produce a panic therein. ^But 
 build- ^^ made supplication to our God, and set a watch as a protection against 
 ers and them day and night. ^'^Then the Judean communitv'' said, ' The strenp-th 
 
 Nehe- ./ o , ' o 
 
 miah's of the burden-bcarcrs is broken, for there is much rubbish; so that we shall 
 
 work° '^ot be able to rebuild the wall. ^^And our adversaries have said, "They 
 
 shall neither know nor see, until we come into their midst and slay them 
 
 and bring the work to a standstill." ^2\nd it came to pass that when the 
 
 § 152 This section contains a straightforward narrative in the vivid style of Nehemiah. 
 It reveals the discouraging problems which confronted him and the energetic way in which he 
 solved them. 
 
 "^ 41 In the Heb., 323. 
 
 ° 42 Making a slight change in the Heb. to bring it into harmony with the succeeding 
 context. 
 
 ° 4' In the Heb. 4', with a corresponding change in the numbering of the remaining verses 
 of the chapter. 
 
 p 4^ The Gk. omits, AshdodUes, which, perhaps, was taken from 13^. They are nowhere 
 else mentioned in the present context. 
 
 1 4' Heb., a healinij of the walls of Jerusalem went up. 
 
 ■•4"> Heb., Judah. 
 
 354
 
 HIS PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES [Neh. 4^2 
 
 Nchemiak's Memoirs 
 
 Jews who dwelt by tliem came, they said to us ten times, ' From all the |)laces 
 where they dwell they will come up against us.'^ iS'pi^gj.j.fyj.^, j stationed 
 in tlie lowest parts of tlie space behind the wall, in the protected places,* I 
 set there the people by their families with their swords, their spears, and 
 their bows. ^"^And when I saw their fear, I rose uj) and saitl to the nobles 
 and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, ' Be not afraid of them. Re- 
 member the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your kinsmen, 
 your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.' 
 
 ^^And when our enemies heard that their plan was known to us and God Rapid 
 had brought it to nought, we all of us returned to the wall, each to his own ^1°^^^ 
 work. ^*^And from that time on, while half of my servants were engaged ^^}^ , 
 in the work, half of them held the lances, the shields, the bows, and the and 
 coats of mail; and the rulers stood behind all the house of Judali." ^"Those ,Vethod 
 who built the wall and those who bore burdens were also arme<l,''' each with of ''e- 
 
 XGI1C6 
 
 one of his hands engaged in the work, and with the other was ready to grasp 
 his spear; ^^and each of the builders had his sword girded by his side, and 
 so builded. And he who sounded the trumpet was by me. ^^And I said 
 to the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, ' The w ork is 
 great and extensive, and we are separated upon the wall far from each other. 
 20ln whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather there to us; 
 our God will fight for us.' -^So we were active in the work, while half of 
 them held the lances from the appearance of the gray of morning until the 
 stars came out. 22^]gQ j gg^jj ^^ ^\^^^ iivaQ to the people. Let each man with 
 his ser\ant lodge in Jerusalem, that they may be a guard to us by night and 
 may labor by day. -^So neither I, nor my kinsmen, nor my servants, nor 
 the men of the guard who accompanied me, not one of us took off our clothes, 
 each had his spear in his hand.^^ 
 
 § 153. Nehemiah's Social Reforms, Neh. 5 
 
 Nehemiah's Memoirs 
 
 Neh. 5 ^Then there was a loud complaint from the common people and Com- 
 their wives against their fellow-countrymen the Jews. '^Yov there were o[Vhe* 
 those who were saying, ' We must give our sons and our daughters in pledge^ P"or 
 to secure grain that we may eat and live.' ^Some also there were who were of the 
 saying, ' We must mortgage our fields and our vineyards and our houses, ^j-'J^^q 
 
 IlCll 
 
 and 
 
 " 4'2 Restorinpc the corrupt Ileb. with the aid of the Gk. ruling 
 
 » 4« The translation of the first part of the verse is exceedingly doubtful and the Gk. c''*^* 
 versions afford little aid. 
 
 " 4i» The Gk. joins the first word to ^^ and reads, the rulers were behind all the house of 
 Judah, who were engaged in the work. 
 
 V 4" So Gk. 
 
 " 423 Following a slightly corrected text. The Gk. omits the last clause. 
 
 § 153 As a reformer of speoi.il evils, Nehemiah showeil himself a true successor of the 
 prophets am) a pioneer in establishing precedents which later ai^ijear as laws in the r>riestly 
 code. Lev. 2535-^'. In the earlier codes the enslaving of a Hebrew for a debt which he was unable 
 to pay was taken for granted. Cf. Ex. 212-'*, Dt. LO'-'*, although the taking of interest or usury 
 wa.s strictly forbidden, at least in loans to the poor, F.x. 22", Dt. ^S'"' ^o. In •'■ for the first time 
 perhaps in literature the cry of modern socialism finds impassioned expression. 
 
 "52 Correcting an obvious error in the Ileb. Giving a child in pledge was equivalent to 
 slavery. Cf. *. 
 
 355
 
 Neh. 53] THE WORK OF NEHEMIAH 
 
 Nehemiah's Memoirs 
 
 that we may get grain because of the dearth.' ^f h^re -^-ere also those who 
 were saying, 'We have borrowed money for the king's tribute.^ ^Yet now 
 our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children; but 
 now, we must bring our sons and our daughters into slavery, and some of 
 our daughters have already thus been brought into bondage, neither is it in 
 our power to help it, for our fields and our vineyards belong to the nobles.'^ 
 Nehe- '^Then I was very angry when I heard their complaint and these statements. 
 remon- ^And I took counscl with myself, and contended with the nobles and rulers, 
 strance ^nd said to them, ' You exact usury each of his brother.' And I held a great 
 com- assembly against them. ^And I said to them, ' We ourselves have, according 
 ™^° ® to our ability redeemed our fellow-countrymen the Jews, who have been 
 sold to the heathen ; and would you yourselves sell your fellow-countrymen, 
 and should they sell themselves to us .' ' Then they were silent and coidd 
 not find a word to say. ^Therefore I said, ' The thing that you are doing 
 is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the 
 reproach of the heathen our enemies ? ^^For I also, my kinsmen and my 
 servants, lend them money and grain. I.iet us, therefore, leave off this usury. 
 ^ ^Restore to them this day their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, 
 and their houses, also the usury ° of the money and of the grain, the new 
 wine, and the oil, that you exact from them.' 
 Re- ^2'pjjen they said, ' We will restore them and will demand nothing from 
 
 an?l'^^^ them; we will do just as you say.' Then I called the priests and took an 
 prom- oath of them, that they would do according to this promise, ^^^jgo j shook 
 those out the fold of my garment,*^ and said, ' So may God shake out every man 
 ^ere from lus house and from the fruit of his labor, who does not fulfil this promise; 
 guilty even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.' And all the assembly said, 
 ' So may it be.' And they praised Jehovah. And the people did according 
 to this promise. 
 Nehe- i^^Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in 
 gener- tlie land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year® 
 °1i^r ^^ Artaxerxes the king, that is for twelve years, I and my brethren had not 
 gov- eaten the bread which was due me as governor. ^^But the former governors 
 who were before me were a source of expense to the people, and took of 
 them bread and wine, and also forty shekels of silver each day; and further- 
 more their servants oppressed^ the people. But I did not so, because of the 
 fear of God. ^^I also devoted myself to this work on the wall, and we did 
 not buy any land; and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 
 ■'^'^Also the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those who 
 came to us from among the surrounding nations, were at my table. ^*Now 
 that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and 
 
 » 5* Through a scribal error in the Heb., our fields and vineyards, has been repeated from '. 
 *> 5= So Gk. Heb., to others. But cf. ^ 
 
 " S'^ Heb., hundredth. But a scribe has apparently mistaken this for the similar Heb. word 
 for, usury. 
 
 ^ 5'3 For this characteristic oriental ceremony, cf. Acts 18", also Job 38i^. 
 « 5" I.e., if under Artaxerxes I, from 44.5-433 B.C. Cf. 13^ 
 ' 5'^ So Lat. The Heb. makes no sense. 
 
 356 
 
 ernor
 
 HIS SOCIAL REFORMS [Neh. S^s 
 
 Nchemiah's Memoirs 
 
 foAvls. These were prepared at my expense, and once in ten days wine in 
 abundance^ for all the people. Yet with all this I did not demand the 
 bread which was due me as governor, because the public service rested 
 heavily upon this people. ^^Remember to my credit, O my God, all that I 
 have done for this people. 
 
 § Ij-i. Unsuccessful Plots against Nehemiah, Nch. 6 
 Nehemialis Memoirs 
 
 Xeh. 6 ^Xow when it was reported to Sanballat and to Tobiah and to Charge 
 Geshem the Arabian and to the rest of our enemies, that I had rebuilt the Nehe- 
 wall and that there was no breach left in it — though even to that time I had ""'^'i 
 not set up the doors in the gates — -Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, plotting 
 ' Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.' fjjn ®" 
 But they planned to do me injury. ^So I sent messengers to them, saying, 
 ' I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down ; why should the work 
 cease, while I leave it and come down to you .'' ' ^And they sent to me in 
 this way four times, and I gave them the same answer. ^Tlien Sanballat 
 sent his servant to me in the same way the fifth time with an open letter in 
 his hand, ^in which was written, ' It is reported among the nations, and 
 Gashmu confirms it, that you and the Jews plan to rebel, and that this is the 
 reason you are building the wall, and that you would be their king,^ '^and 
 that you also have appointed pro{)liets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, 
 " There is a king in Judah." And now it will be reported to the king to 
 this effect. Come now, therefore, and let us take counsel together.' ^Then 
 I sent to him, saying, ' Xo such things have been done as you say, but }ou 
 have devised them in your own mind.' ^For they all would have made us 
 afraid, thinking, ' Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it 
 may not be done.' But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands. 
 
 ^^And when I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son Shem- 
 of Mehetabel, who was shut up at home,' he said, ' Let us meet together in ^t- *^ 
 the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: tempt 
 for tliey are coming to slay you in the night; yes, in the night they are coming fiiKht- 
 to slay you ! 'J ^^And I said, 'Should .such a man as I flee? And how ^g^^^ 
 could anyone like me [a layman] enter the chief room of the temple and still 
 live? I will not enter.' ^^Xhen I perceived and it was clear that God had 
 not sent him; V)ut he pronounced this prophecy against me. because Tobiah 
 and Sanballat had hired him, ^'^that'^ I should be alarmed and act accord- 
 
 * 5'* So Luc. The Heb. is doubtful. It may possibly mean, all kinds of xnne. 
 
 ^ 6" So Gk. The Heb. ailds, to this effect (lit., to these words), which has no place in the 
 context. They were probably introduced here by mistake from ^. 
 
 ' 6'" Perhaps to emphasize his advice to Nehemiah to .seek refuge in the temple. His 
 proposal to go to the temple seems to indicate that he was not confined by ceremoidal un- 
 cleanness. 
 
 ' 6'" The Gk. floes not repeat the last clause. It is possibly a scribal error, although the 
 repetition may well have been intended to carry conviction. 
 
 I" 0'-'' Following Luc. in omitting the unintelligible won Is found in the Hel). at the beginning 
 of this verae. They are evidently due to a scrilnil repetition of the last words of '-. 
 
 357
 
 Neh. G13] 
 
 THE WORK OF NEHEMIAH 
 
 Com- 
 pletion 
 of the 
 walls 
 
 Con- 
 spira- 
 cies of 
 the 
 
 friends 
 ofTo- 
 biah 
 
 Nehemiah's Memoirs 
 
 ingly and sin; and it would have given them occasion for an evil report, that 
 they might reproach me. ^'*Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat 
 according to these their acts, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest 
 of the prophets who would have made me afraid. 
 
 l^So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul,^ in 
 fifty-two days. ^®And when all our enemies heard, all the surrounding 
 nations feared and fell in their own esteem,"^ for they perceived that this 
 work had been done by our God. 
 
 ^"^loreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, 
 and those of Tobiah came to them. ^^For many in Judah had taken oath 
 to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah and 
 his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Bere- 
 chiah, as wife. ^^Also they praised his good deeds befoi'e me and reported 
 my words to him. Then'^ Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid. 
 
 The 
 accu- 
 sation 
 of the 
 local 
 Persian 
 ofBcials 
 
 § 155. An Appeal to Artaxerxes to Stop the Rebuilding of Jerusalem, 
 
 Ezra 4'-" (I Esdr. 2 is- 22) 
 
 Aramaic Document 
 
 Ezra 4 ^Now in the clays of Artaxerxes,° Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabce!, and the rest 
 of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. p ^^And Rehum the com- 
 mander*^ and Shimshai the recorder ^and the rest of their associates, the 
 judges, the rulers,"" the scribes,'' the Archevaites,* the Babylonians, the 
 men from Susa, that is^ the Elamites, ^^and the rest of the peoples whom 
 the great and noble Ashurbanipal'^' transported and settled in the city of 
 Samaria and in the rest of the province beyond the River, ^^wrote the letter 
 against Jerusalem to i\rtaxerxes, as follows: 
 
 1 6'° August-September. 
 
 ™ 6'^ Or, were filled with u'onder. 
 
 " 6'^ So Gk. and Luc. The Iieb. omifs the introductory conjunction. 
 
 § 155 Nehemiah 6'=-'^ tells of the many letters written by the enemies of the .Judean com- 
 munity to frighten Nehemiah and put a stop to the work. .4fter speaking of the letters sent 
 to himself and to other Jews, Nehemiah's account ends abruptly with the statement, Tobiah 
 sent letters to make me afraid. It seems probable that the Chronicler has here cut his source 
 short, for in 7' the theme is the careful measures instituted to guard the city permanently from 
 attack. Nehemiah also lea\-es the trusty men in charge of the city, implying that he found it 
 necessary to depart. To whom were Tobiah's letters sent? In their efforts to check the building 
 of the walls, the enemies of the community certainly would not fail to invoke the authority of 
 Persia. In all probability the sequel in Nehemiah's memoirs recorded such an attempt. Nehe- 
 miah's extreme haste in pushing the work of rebuilding the walls to completion would suggest 
 that he feared an interruption. His implied departure in 7'-^" may well have been because he 
 found it necessary to answer the charge before the king. The Chronicler's omission of this 
 incident is most naturally explained, because ho had already introduced the account of it in an 
 entirely different setting. As has already been shown (note § 145), the Aramaic section in 
 Ezra l''-2^ has no real connection with its context. Not only does it relate solely to the re- 
 
 " 47 Heb., Arthrisastha. 
 
 p 47 The Heb.. but not the Gk., has the explanatory gloss, the writing of the letter was 
 in Aram, and it was translated into Aramaic (Persian?). It was probably added by a scribe 
 to introduce the .A.ramaic section which follows. 
 
 q 4Sa Probably a Persian title. It was the policy of the Persian rulers to send to each 
 province a military commander and a civil governor, each personally responsible to the king. 
 
 ■■ 49 Cf. § 147, note ". 
 
 ' 49 The exact meaning of these titles can only be conjectured. They apparently designate 
 minor Persian officials. 
 
 >■ 49 Perhaps the colonists from the southern Babylonian city of Uruk. 
 
 " 4" Or, the Dehaites. 
 
 V 410 Aram., Osnappar. 
 
 358
 
 AN APPEAL TO ARTAXERXES [Ezra 411 
 
 Aramaic Document 
 
 ^^This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Thy Letter 
 sen-ants the men of the province beyond the River. And now ^^be it known taining 
 to the kinfj, that the Jews who have come up from vou to us, liave arrived "^efor- 
 at Jerusalem. This rebelhous and bad city they are rebuilding and have cusa- 
 finished its walls and repaired the foundations. ^^And now be it known ''"'^ 
 to the king, that, if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, they will not 
 pay custom or toll, and it will impair the royal income.^^ ^^Now because 
 we eat the salt of the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king sufl'er 
 loss, therefore have we sent and informed the king, ^^ihat search may be 
 made in the books^ of the records of your fathers; then will you find in the 
 books of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city and one that 
 brings harm to kings and provinces and that the Jews^ have been rebellious 
 in it from ancient times, for which cause this city was laid waste. ^^There- 
 fore now'' we declare to the king that, if this city is rebuilt, and its^ walls 
 finished, you will have as a result no portion iu the lands beyond the River. 
 
 ^'Then the king sent a message to Rehum the commander and to Shim- The 
 .shai the scribe and to the rest of their associates who dwelt in Samaria and cmn-^ 
 in the rest of the province beyond the River: Greeting, and as follows:^' mand 
 ^'^The letter which you sent to us has been plainlv read before me. ^^And there- 
 
 build- 
 
 I gave command and search has been made, and it has been found that this in"gof 
 city from ancient times has been rebellious against kings and that rebellion J*^.™- 
 and sedition have been stirred up in it. ^cpj^gj-g have been mighty kings 
 also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; 
 and tribute, custom, and toll was paid to them. ^'Now give conunand 
 
 building of the walls, but it plainly and repeatedly states, 8. n. 23_ that it belongs to the reign of 
 Artaxerxes. If not so stated originaUy, it is incredible that tlie Chronicler would have changed 
 it and put it in its present context. Since Nehemiah's words in 1 and 2 strongly suggest that 
 no recent attemt)t had been made to rebuild the walls, Ezra 4"-^ must refer to his own work. 
 This is confirmed by the plain statements in the letter itself, '-', that the Jews, who had come up 
 from Artaxerxes to .Jerusalem, had already fimshed the icalls and repaired the foundations and 
 were going on to rebuild the city. The king's reply says nothing about the walls, presumably 
 because they had been practically completed, but simply commands that further rebuilding, of 
 the city cease until he should issue a decree, •". The first i)art of the section is in confusion. 
 Vs. '' being in Heb., antl, unlike the rest of the section using the term kMg of Persia, is evi- 
 dently the Chroniclei''s epitome of the introduction to the .\ramaic document. 
 
 Many have been the reconstructions offered. The jirobability is that ^ contains the list of 
 local Palestinian officials who ai>pealeil to Artaxerxes. Their appeal would naturally be tran.s- 
 mitted through the Persi.an rulers of the province beyond the River. The names of these are 
 given in >*• '■'. This conclusion is confirmed by '", for the king's reply is addressed to the two 
 officials who wrote the letter and to the rest of their associates who dwelt at Samaria and in the 
 rest of the province beyond the River. Of the names of the oflicials who appealeil to .'Arta- 
 xerxes, one, Bishlam, is of doubtful derivation. Some have even regarded it as a title. Mith- 
 redath is a Persian name, probably of the local governor of Samaria. 'I'dbecl appears to be the 
 Aram, equivalent of I'obiah (el = jah), conlirming still further the assignment of this chapter to 
 the days of Nehemiah. The parallel in I I'^sdr. 2''' "' is much simpler and combines the names in ^. *. 
 It certainly in<licates that the repetition in '*• '-> of the Heb. is due to the error of a copyist who 
 apparently omitted in " part of his list of names anfl then added them in '•'■ '", repeating the entire 
 li.st. Possibly the additional names and lists of officials and peoples in »■ '" are tliem.selvea 
 secondary. A certain formal and re[)etitious element, however, characterizes the document, 
 and the greater brevity of I l')sdr. may be due in part to abridgment. 
 
 " 4'-' Or ileriving the word from a Babylonian or Persian root, in the future or, finally. 
 
 ^ 4'; So Gk.,-Luc., an.l I ICsdr. 2-''. 
 
 " 4''' I j-'.sdr. 2-* sup|)lies the subject required in the Aram. 
 
 '' 4"' Itestoring the lost introduction found in I Esdr. ^*. 
 
 <= 4"' So I lOs.lr. 2^> and Syr. 
 
 d 417 This re|)resents an epitome of the address and introductory worda which is character- 
 istic of every oriental letter.
 
 Ezra 421] THE WORK OF NEHEMIAH 
 
 Aramaic Document 
 
 that these men cease and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree shall be 
 
 made by me. 22 4,^(j j^g careful to make no mistake in the matter, that great 
 
 harm may not be done, to the injury of the kings. 
 
 Inter- ^s^hen when the copy of King Artaxerxes's letter had been read to Rehum 
 
 of the"^ the commander® and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in 
 
 work haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and by force and might made them cease. 
 
 1. 2 
 
 § 156. Measures to Insure the Protection of Jerusalem, Neh. 7'-^", 11 
 
 NehemiaJis Memoirs 
 
 The Neh. 7 ^Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, 
 
 fng^of" ^^^ the porters and the singers and the Levites' had been appointed, ^1 placed 
 the city jjiv brother Hanani and Hananiah the commander of the castle in charge 
 of^ Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and more God-fearing than many. 
 ^And I said to them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun 
 is hot;^ and while watchmen are still on guard, let them shut^ the doors 
 and bar them. Also appoint watches consisting of the inhabitants of Jeru- 
 salem, every one in his watch and each opposite his own house. 
 Need of '^Now the city was wide and large; but there were few people in it, and the 
 dt"izens households were not large. ^ ^^Therefore my God put it into my mind to 
 gather together the nobles and the rulers and the people. 
 
 Meas- 
 ures to 
 in- 
 crease 
 the 
 pop- 
 ulation 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical Historrj 
 
 11 ^And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem, and the rest of the 
 people cast lots, to bring one out of every ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy 
 city, while nine-tenths remained in the villages. ^Xnd. the people blessed 
 all the men who volunteered to dwell in Jerusalem. 
 
 * 4-' So Luc. The commander has been lost from the Aram. 
 
 § 1.56 Not only does the use of the direct address, but the straightforward nature of the 
 narrative and the presence of Nehemiah's characteristic tides for the leaders of the people in 'a^ 
 of. 2"', 4'^, indicate that 7'-^^, excepting one or two slight additions, was taken from the memoirs. 
 The assembly of the people, however, and the general theme gave the Chronicler an opportunity 
 to introduce the census which follows in T'"'''". The reasons why it is not in its original or logical 
 position are given in note § 14.5. The immediate and logical sequel to 7^-'-'^ is found in II'. 2. 
 Its facts were probably taken from Nehemiah's memoirs, but the language is that of the Chron- 
 icler. 
 
 f 7' The context concerns only the provisions for the guarding of the city gates. The in- 
 troduction of tlie singers and Levites is due to the Chronicler or a scribe familiar with his stereo- 
 typed formula. 
 
 e 72 Torrey, on the basis of ' and in view of the reference in the Talmud to the officer in 
 charge of the gate-service, has suggested that the words, gates of, have fallen out of the present 
 text. 
 
 h 7^ The tran.slation of the clause is difficult and doubtful. The above probably represents 
 the idea. The original may have read, while it is still hot. 
 
 ' 73 The Heb. has the imperative form of the verb and the Gk. the passive. 
 
 ' 7* Usually translated, the house had not been built, but this is contradictory to the con- 
 text and especially to Hag. 1*. The above translation suggested by Haupt is supported by the 
 context and by a similar use of the same idiom in Dt. 25^. 
 
 360
 
 DEDICATION OF THE WALLS [Neh. 1227 
 
 § 157. Dedication of the Walls of Jerusalem, Neh. 12-'" 
 
 Nefwmiah's Memoirs 
 
 Neh . 1 3 2'' And at the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites Assem- 
 from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication wilh o-lad- blyof 
 ness, with hymns of thanksgiving, and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and zithers. ^V^ 
 ^''And the members of the Levitical guilds,'' the singers, assembled, both from the Plain ^'ndTl^ 
 of the Jordan and' round about Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathite-: coiLse-^^ 
 2'and from Beth-gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; fortlie singers had cration 
 built themselves villages round about Jerusalem. '"And the priests and the Levites of the 
 purified themselves; and they purified the people and the gates and the wall. city 
 
 "^^Then I had the rulers of Judah take their pcsition upon tlie wall, and I March 
 appointed two great companies that gave thanks, and the first went™ to the '^^^^ 
 right hand upon the wall toward the Dung Gate, ^^^nd behind them went band 
 Hoshaiah and half of the nobles of Judah, ''and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, the 
 '^ Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, '''and certain of the priests' sons with trum- south- 
 pets: Zeehariah the son of .Jonathan, the sou of Shemaiah, tlie son of Mattaniah. the ^'"^ /"^d 
 son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph; "^and his kinsmen, Shemaiah, ^faU^™ 
 Azarel," Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Jud.ah, and Hanani, with the masical instruments 
 of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe was before them. "^'And bv the 
 Fountain Gate, they went straight up the stairs of the city of David, at the 
 ascent of the wall, above the house of David, even to the Water Gate on 
 the east. 
 
 ^^And the other company of those who gave thanks went to the left," March 
 and I after them, with the half of the nobles'' of the people, upon the wall, second 
 above the Tower of the Furnaces, even to the broad wall, ^^and above the band 
 Gate of Ephraira and by the Old Gate and by the Fish Gate and the Tower the 
 of Ilananel and the Tower of the Hundred, even to the Sheep Gate; and they Xnd*^™ 
 stood in the Gate of the Guard. "^ **^So the two companies of those who north- 
 
 cm 
 
 gave thanks in the house of God took their position, and I, and the half wall 
 
 of the rulers with me;'" <'and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, 
 Elioenai, Zeehariah, and Ilananiah, with trumpets; '•-and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Elo- 
 azar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loudly with 
 
 § 1.57 The de<licati()n of the walls naturally followed soon after their completion, although 
 the Chronicler's supplements to the original Nehemiah memoirs have widely separated the ac- 
 counts of the two events. The section viviiily illustrates the very different points of view of the 
 Chronicler and of Nehemiah. In a definite, detailed narrative in which the nobles oj Judah, •^^- '•'^, 
 and the rulers, ■"' (cf. 2"', 4'^, 7'"^). and he him.self are the chief actors, Nehemiah in the first 
 person tells his storj'. Fortunately in 'i. s;, 37-10 (jig Chronicler quotes it almost in tola, ns would 
 appear from the comi)letene.ss of the account. At the beginning, at the middle and at the end 
 he supplements it by long sections in which his favorites, the Levites, the singers, and a variety 
 of musical instruments, songs and great sacrifices are introduced that the ceremony might be 
 made to conform to his ideal of the way in which it should have been performed. Cf. II Chr. 
 52-14^ 7'-">, Ezra 3'"", 0"'—, for hi.s accounts of similar ceremonies. The artificiality of his lists 
 is revealed by the fact that Lzra, Judah, and Benjamin are rei)resented as marching in the pro- 
 cession. In '* he places Ezra the scribe at the head of the first procession. 
 
 '' 12-* Luc, sons of Levi. Cf., sons of the prophets. Levi appears from 2? and "> to have 
 dropped out of the Ileb. text. 
 
 1 i2r-». 30 So f;k, and Luc. The Heb. has lost, OTid. 
 
 "D 12'" Slightly correcting the Ilcb., as'** demands. 
 
 " l?*"' Omitting wilh the Gk. and Luc, Mihdni. which probably was introduced as the result 
 of a scribal error. This conclusion is confirmed by the number in *-. 
 
 " 12'"' Slightly correcting the fleb. text in accordance with ■". 
 
 p 12^" Cf. ■'2. Nobles has evidently droppe<l out of the text. 
 
 1 12''" This last .sentence is nf)t found in the (ik. It has been in-gcd tliat it is not original 
 becau.se it rei^resents the second company as extending southward beyond the temple. In the 
 ab.sence of an exact identificatirm of the Gate of the Guanl, a fin;il decision is impossible. 
 
 ' 12'" Originally instead of the Chronicler's addition there i)robably followed a statement 
 as to what Nehemiah anil the |)rinces did. 
 
 3Gl
 
 NeH. 1242] 
 
 THE WORK OP NEHEMIx\H 
 
 NehemiaJis Memoirs 
 
 Jezrahiah their leader. ■'^And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced; for 
 God liad made them exceeding joyful;' and the women also and the children rejoiced, 
 so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off. 
 
 Ejec- 
 tion of 
 To- 
 
 biah's 
 
 § 158. Nehemiah's Later Religious Reforms, Neh. 12"-13" 
 
 NehemiaJis Memoirs 
 
 Nell. 13 ^Now before my return from the king,* Eliashib the priest, who 
 was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to 
 Tobiah, ^had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they had 
 sessions stored the cereal-offerings, the incense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, 
 the the new wine, and the oil, which were given by command to the Leiites, the singers, 
 
 temple ^j^g porters, and the gifts for the priests. ^But during this time I had not been 
 ber at Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes. king of Babylon I 
 went to the king. Then after some time I asked leave of the king, "and I 
 came to Jerusalem and discovered the crime that Eliashib had committed 
 for the sake of Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the court^' of the 
 house of God. ^And it displeased me greatly; therefore I cast all the house- 
 hold possessions of Tobiah out of the chamber. ^Then I gave command 
 that they should cleanse the chambers, and I brought there again the vessels 
 of the house of God, with the cereal-offerings and the incense. 
 
 Pro- 
 viding 
 for the 
 
 support them 
 
 of the 
 
 ^•^And I perceived that the portions 
 of the Levites had not been given 
 so that the Levite-s and the 
 Levites singers, who performed the service 
 had each fled to his field.^ ^Then I 
 contended with the rulers and said, 
 ' Why is the house of God forsaken ? ' 
 And I gathered them together and 
 placed them at their posts. ^-Aud all 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical Historij 
 
 Neh. 13 44\nfi ii^ ti^at day^' men 
 were appointed in charge of the cham- 
 bers for the storehouse, for the gifts, 
 for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, 
 to gather into tliem, according to the 
 fields of the cities, the portions ap- 
 pointed by the law for the priests and 
 the Levites; for Judah had joy in the 
 priests and the Levites who attended 
 
 s 12^3 Yoy similar characteristic expressions of the Chronicler, cf. Ezra S^^, 6^. 
 
 § 158 With 13* Neliemiah's vigorous literary style and courageous, assertive srnrit reappear. 
 Since the themes treated concern the temple and the ritual, the Chronicler has been led to take 
 greater liberties with his text. As Torrey, who maintains that the entire chapter is from the 
 Chronicler, has pointed out {Comp. and Hist. Value of Ezra-N ehemiah, pp. 44-49), it has 
 many jjhrases and words characteristic of the editor of Ezra-Neh. Since Nehemiah passes for 
 the first time into the latter's peculiar field, more points of similarity are to be anticipated. 
 Certain passages, as for example, ^''' '-"■ --, abound in the Chronicler's expressions and peculiar 
 ideas. Their loose connection with the context confirms tlie impression that they are later ad- 
 ditions. On the other hand, it is almost incredible that the Chronicler could have so far imitated 
 the language and spirit of Nehemiah as to have written the chapter as a whole. A comparison 
 of the Chronicler's parallel in 12''*-1.3'' reveals the widely different conception of the cour.se of 
 the history which he entertained. Also it is far more natural to conclude that he here reproduces 
 the older source than that he deliberately made Nehemiah the layman do the work of reform 
 which his school had already attributed to Ezra and the assembly. Cf. further Introd., pp. 31-34. 
 
 t 13* Heb., ajter this, but ^ indicates what was probably the event to which reference is made. 
 
 " 137 So Gk. and Luc. Heb., courts. 
 
 V 12M The Chronicler's general introductory formula. It would connect the act with the 
 dedication of the temple, cf. ^^. 
 
 w ]^3io Poj. a similar neglect of the temple service, cf. the Gadatas inscription, Appendix 
 
 362
 
 Neh. I312] 
 
 LATER RELIGIOUS REFORMS 
 
 [Xkh. 1244 
 
 Nehemiah's Memoirs 
 
 Judali brought the tithe of the grain 
 and the new wine and the oil into the 
 store-i'ooms.^ ^^And I appointed in 
 charge of the store-rooms : Shelemiah 
 the priest and Zadok the scribe, and 
 
 of the Levites Pedaiah; and next to them 
 was Hanan, the son of Zaccur the son of 
 Mattaniah; for they w^ere considered 
 faithful, and their business was to 
 distribute to their kinsmen, ^^j^g. 
 member me, O my God, concerning 
 this and forget not*^ all my good 
 deeds that I have done for the house 
 of my God, and for its services. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 to the service. ^^Xnd they took 
 charge of the service of their God and 
 of the purification, and so did the 
 singers and the porters, according to 
 the command of David and of Solo- 
 mon his son. ■^bj-'oj. j^ ^\^q days of 
 
 David and Asaph were the leaders* 
 of the singers appointed, and songs 
 of praise and thanksgiving lo God. 
 "^'And all Israel in the days of Zerub- 
 babel and in the days of Nehemiah 
 gave the portions of the singers and 
 the porters, as each required; and 
 they delivered the sacred otterings to 
 the Levites the sons of Aaron. 
 
 ^^At that time I saw in Judah some men treading wine-presses on the sab- 
 bath and bringing in heaps of grain and loading asses, as also wine, grapes, 
 figs, and all kinds of burdens, and that they were bringing them into Jeru- 
 salem on the sabbath; and I warned them when they sold provisions. ^^Tyr- 
 ians also dwelt therein, who brought in fish and all kinds of wares, and 
 sold on the sabbath to the inhabitants of Judah and in Jerusalem. ^"Theu 
 I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, ' What evil thing is 
 this that you are doing, and tlierebv profaning the sabl)ath ? ^^Did not your 
 fathers do thus and did not our God bring all this calamity upon them and 
 "upon us° and u})on this city ? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by 
 profaning the sabbath.' ^^Accordingly when it began to be dark, the gates 
 of Jerusalem were shut before the sabbath; and I gave command that they 
 should not be opened until after the sabbath. And I placed some of my 
 servants in charge of the gates, and commanded*^' that no burden should be 
 brought in on the sabbath. ^OgQ jijg merchants and sellers of all kinds of 
 wares spent the night without Jerusalem once or twice. -^Then I warned 
 them and said to them, ' Why do you spend' the night before the wall ? If 
 ye do so again, I will lay hands on you.' From that time forth they came 
 no more on the sabbath. "^AxiA I commanded the Levites that they should purify 
 themselves and that tlioy should come and guard the gates, to keep the sabbath holy. 
 Remember, O my God, this also to my credit and show me mercy according 
 to the greatness of thy loving-ldndness. 
 
 Pro- 
 visions 
 to 
 
 guard 
 the ob- 
 serva- 
 tion of 
 the sab- 
 bath 
 
 » 13'2 So Luc. and Gk. 
 
 " 12"' Slightly restoring what is obviously a defective text, 
 b 13" Heb., wipe not out [0/ thy ynemory]. 
 <: 13'8 So Gk. and Luc. Heb. lacks, ui>on them and. 
 
 <i 13'9 So Gk. In the Heb., / nave command, has been inserted wrongly in the first part of 
 the verse and is lacking in the latter part. 
 
 363
 
 NeH. 1323] 
 
 THE WORK OF NEHEMIAH 
 
 [Neh. I3I 
 
 NehemiaJis Memoirs 
 
 Ener- 
 getic 
 protest 
 
 mixed 
 mar- 
 riages 
 
 23At that time also I saw the Jews who had mar- 
 ried women of Ashdod, of .Vmmon, and of Moab. 
 ag.aiiist 24^mj their children spoke half in the language of 
 Ashdod, but none of them could speak in the Jews' 
 language, but according to the language of each 
 people.^ "^And I contended with them and cursed 
 them and struck some of them and pulled out their 
 hair and made them swear by God, saying, ' You 
 shall not give your daughters to their sons nor take 
 their daughters as wives for your sons or for your- 
 selves. 26j)j(| jjQj. Solomon king of Israel sin by 
 these acts ? Yet among many nations there was 
 no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, 
 and God made him king over all Israel; neverthe- 
 less foreign women led him into sin. 27g}iaii \i also 
 be reported of you that you do all this great evil, 
 to trespass against our God in marrying foreign 
 women ? ' 
 
 Chronicler^s Ecclesias- 
 tical History 
 
 13 ^On that day^ it 
 was read from the book 
 of Moses in the hearing 
 of the people, and it 
 was found written there 
 that an Ammonite and 
 a Moabite should never 
 enter into the assembly 
 of God, 2for they did 
 not meet the Israelites 
 with bread and water 
 but hired Balaam^ 
 against them to curse 
 them; but our God 
 turned the curse into a 
 blessing. 3\n(j when 
 they had heard the law, 
 they separated from Is- 
 rael all the mixed mul- 
 titude, l^ 
 
 28And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was 
 a guilty the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I chased him from me. 
 priest 29]^gjjjgjjj|3gj. them, O my God, because they have defiled the covenant of 
 the priesthood^ and of the Levites. 
 
 ^^Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners and fixed the duties for the 
 priests and the Levites, each for his appointed task,^ ^^and the bringing of 
 ah'sre- ^ood for the service at appointed times, and the first-fruits. Remember it, 
 O my God, to my credit. 
 
 Ejec 
 tion of 
 
 Resume 
 
 ofNe- 
 
 hemi- 
 
 « 131 Cf. note V. 
 
 f 13-* This last awkward clause is omitted in the Gk. and perhaps is an explanatory gloss. 
 
 8 13^ a. Dt. 233-'i. 
 
 '' 13-* I.e., all those who had contracted foreign marriages. Cf. Ex. 12^*. 
 
 ' 1323 So Luc. The priesthood has been awkwardly repeated in the Heb. 
 
 J 133" Gk. and Luc, a man according to his work. 
 
 364
 
 return 
 f lOzra 
 
 EZRA'S COMMISSION [Ezka 7^ 
 
 III 
 
 THE WORK OF EZRA AND THE INSTITUTION OF THE 
 PRIESTLY LAW, Ezra 7-10, Neh. 770-io39 
 
 § 159. Artaxerxes's Commission to Ezra, Ezra 7'--*' (I Esdr. 8'-*) 
 Chronicler s Introdudion to the Ezra Narrative 
 
 Ezra 7 ^Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, The 
 there went up* Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, tlie son of Hil 
 kiah, -the son of Shalhim, tlie son of Zadok, the son of Ahitiib, ^the son of and his 
 Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, ^the son of Zerahiali, the jeru- 
 son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, ^the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the ^^''^"^ 
 son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest. ^This Ezra went up from 
 Babylon; and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, 
 the God of Israel, had given. And the king granted him all his request, 
 inasmuch as the hand of Jehovah his God was upon him. "And some of 
 the Israelites, and of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the porters, and 
 the temple servants w^ent up to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes 
 the king. ^And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month,'' which was in the 
 seventh year of the king. ®For on the first day of the first month he began 
 the journey*^ from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came 
 to Jerusalem, since the good hand of God was with him. ^^For Ezra had 
 set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to observe it and to teach in 
 Israel statutes and ordinances. 
 
 The Work of Ezra and the Institution of the Priestly Law. — Nehemiah's work was that 
 of a pioneer. His unique positi(jn at the Persian court opened for him the door l>y whieli alone 
 the favor of the absolute despot who ruled the empire oould be won. Faithfully iinproving the 
 rare opportunity thus given him, he prepared the way and established the ])re<'cdents for the 
 fundamental transformation in the domestic, social, ceremonial, and religious life of the .lews 
 of Palestine. This fruition of Nehemiah's work the later tradition preserved in Ilzr-a 7-10, Neh. 
 1~0-Hyvj associates with l^zra the priest and .scribe. As has been shown in the Introd. (pp. 31- 
 34), its language, peculiar idioms, i)oiiit of view and contents all demonstrate its clo.se relation- 
 ship with the midrashes of Chr. t'nlike Nehemiah's memoirs, it is not a mere record of facts, 
 it is idealized history. Probably embodying histori(^al data, it represents, however, the tradition 
 current in the very late priestlv school, of which the Chronicler was the final editor, reganhng 
 the way in which the law and institutions of his day were put into force in Palestine. It pos- 
 sesses a great and permanent value because it makes concrete and vivid that movement which 
 made the .Jewish race what it wa.s in New Testament times. It also reveals most clearly the 
 interests and ideals which henceforth moulder! .Judaism. 
 
 § 159 Vss. '-'" contain the Chronicler's introduction to the Iszra narrative which follows. 
 In "-'J he briefly er)itornizes the older source which he begins to quote in ". His love of svnunetry 
 led him to state that on the first day of the first month lizra began the journey from Babylon, 
 although the I'^zra narrative dates it on the twelfth day. 8-". In 8'' •■" we also anticipate from 
 all analogies that the year of .Artaxerxes's reign in which the events took place will l>egi\on. It 
 is almost incredible that they were not found in the original. The simi)lest explanation is, 
 perhaps, that the Chronicler suppressed them that he might ilate them in thr scvnilh near of 
 Artaxerxes, as he does with great elaboration in '• **, tlius gixing V./.va tlie precedence before 
 Nehemiah. Cf. Introd., p. .32. If the date was not found in the original, he was left to his own 
 conjectures. As in the Aram, document in .5'-G''', the decree is in Aram. It may be from the 
 Chronicler, but more probaljly belonged to the original l'>.ra narrative. 
 
 • 7' So Gk. and I Esdr. 8'. The verb is lacking in the Heb. 
 
 ^ 78 .July-August. 
 
 = 7" Heb., laid the foundation {of the journey). 
 
 2Q5
 
 Ezra 7"] THE WORK OF EZRA 
 
 Ezra Narrative ■' • 
 
 Artax- ^^Now this is tlic copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra 
 decree '^^^ pHest, the scribe, who copied the words of the commands of Jehovah*^ 
 CO"-. and of his statutes to Israel: 
 
 Ezra's ^-Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of 
 author- ^^^ q^^ ^j heaven, greeting.^ ^^And now I make a decree that anyone 
 of the people of Israel, or their priests or Levites in my realm, who is willing 
 to go to Jerusalem, shall go with you. ^"^Because you have been sent by 
 the king and his seven counsellors, to institute an inquiry concerning Judah 
 and Jerusalem on the basis of the law of your God which is in your hand 
 i^and to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counsellors have 
 freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, ^^with 
 all the silver and gold that you shall receive in all the province of Babylon, 
 with the contributions of the people and priests, who contribute for the house 
 of their God which is in Jerusalem, ^''therefore you shall carefully buy 
 with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their cereal-offerings and their 
 libations, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which 
 is in Jerusalem. ^^And whatever shall seem good to you and to your kins- 
 men to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, so do according to the 
 will of your God. ^^And the vessels that have been given you for the ser- 
 vice of the house of your God, deliver them all before your God at Jeru- 
 salem.^ 20\j^(j whatever more shall be needed for the house of your God, 
 which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasury. 
 -^^And the decree is given by me, Artaxerxes the king, to all the treasurers 
 of the province beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe 
 of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, let it be carefully done, 
 22up to a hundred talents of silver, a thousand bushels^ of wheat, eight 
 hundred gallons^ of wine, eight hundred gallons^ of oil, and salt to any 
 amount. 23\ii \}c\2X is commanded by the God of heaven must be exactly 
 done for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath 
 against the realm of the king and his sons ? ^^Also be it known to you that 
 it is not lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any priests, Levites, 
 singers, porters, temple-servants, or servants of this house of God. 25\j^(j 
 you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in you, appoint mag- 
 istrates and judges to judge all the people beyond the River, all such as 
 know the laws of your God, and teach such as do know them, ^e^j-^^j who- 
 ever will not obey the law of your God, and the law of the king, let strict 
 justice be executed upon him, whether it be death, or banishment, or con- 
 fiscation of goods, or imprisonment. 
 
 ^ 7" Gk., reader of the law of God. 
 
 •= 7^2 So I Esdr. 8'. The usual word for, peace or greeting, has apparently fallen out of the 
 Heb. 
 
 f 7'9 So Luc. Heb.. before the God of Jerusalem. 
 « 7-~ Heb., one hundred cars. 
 ^ 722 Heb., one hundred baths. 
 
 366
 
 HIS RETURN TO JERUSALEM [Ezra 7^7 
 
 § 160. Return of Ezra and- his Company, Ezra 7='-8^«, Neh. T'""* 
 
 (I Esdr. 825-10, 93'») 
 
 £^~ra Xorrative 
 
 Ezra 7 ^"Blessed be Jehovah the God of our fathers, who hath put such Ezra's 
 a thing as this into the king's heart, to beautify the temple of Jehovah which fuje'to 
 is at Jerusalem, -*and hath granted me favor before the king and his coun- Jeho- 
 
 . Villi 
 
 sellers and before all the king's high officials. And I was strengthened, 
 since the hand of Jehovah my God was with me, and I gathered chief men 
 from Israel to go up with me. 
 
 8 ^Xow these are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the gene- List of 
 alogy of those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of Artaxerxes ^h'o're- 
 the king: ^Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, turned 
 
 • Willi 
 
 Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush ^the son of Shecaniah.^ Of the Kzra 
 sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were reckoned by genealogy a 
 hundred and fifty men.J ^Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son 
 of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred men. °Of the sons of Shecaniah, 
 the son of Jahaziel, and with him three himdred men. *^And of the sons 
 of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty men. '^And of the 
 sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy men. 
 ^And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of ^Michael, and with him 
 eighty men. ^Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and v.:i.h 
 him two hundred and eighteen men. ^^And of the sons of Banias,*^ Shelo- 
 mith the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and sixty men. ^^And 
 of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight 
 men. ^-And of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Ilakkatan, and ^\ ith 
 him a hundred and ten men. ^^And the sons of Adonikam, the last,^ and 
 these are their names: Eli))helet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty 
 men. ^'^And of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur,™ and with them 
 seventy men. 
 
 ^^And I gathered them together to the river that flows toward Ahava." Assem- 
 And there we encamped three days, while I reviewed the j)eople and the ^ifp re- 
 priests; I found there none of the sons of Levi. ^'^Thcn I sent for Eliezer, turning 
 Ariel, Shemaiah, Ehiathan, Jarib, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, chief 
 men;° also for Joiarib, and Elnathan,^ who were teachers. ^'^And I sent 
 
 5 160 Nehemiah's memoirs were probably kept in the temple at Jerusalem and were 
 doubtless accessible to the school of the Chronicler. Their tendency to present their teachings 
 in tlie form of dialogues is ami)Iy illustrateil in Chr. Cf. Introd., p. 4. It was natural lliat. in- 
 fluenced by the example of such an epoch-making man as Nehemiah, they should add to their 
 literary equipment, not only the royal decree, but also the personal memoir. That it was 
 merely a literary form is strongly suggested by the abrujifness anri facilit.y witli which the nar- 
 rative passes from the first person singular to the thirfl. and in Neh. 10 to the first person plural 
 without any apparent reason. The account of the arrival ends abruptly in H*. On the other 
 hand, Neh. 7'"-"'' has no connection with its context. .Joined together, these two torsos, with 
 the .sequel of Neh. ?''•''', make a complete and consistent narrative. . • -i i tt u 
 
 ' 8' Following I Esdr. 8^9 in combining and correcting the otherwise unintelligible Ileb. 
 text. 
 
 i 8'' Lit., males. 
 
 ^ 81° Completing the Heb. from the parallel, I Esdr. 8*>. 
 
 ' 8'''' The text is unintelhgible. Po.ssibly it is due to an early scribal error. 
 
 " 8" The versions and the marginal reading of the Heb. give but one son of Bigvai, 
 Zakkur. 
 
 " 8'* The identification is unknown. 
 
 » 8" I Esrir. 8" completes its list of ten men with, leaders and men of understanding. 
 
 p 8'" In the Heb. Elnathan is introduced twice. 
 
 3()7
 
 Ezra 81'] THE WORK OF EZRA 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 them out to^ Iddo, the chief of the place Casiphia. And I instructed them 
 
 what they should say to Iddo and his kinsmen at the place Casiphia, namely, 
 
 that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God. ^^And 
 
 since the good hand of our God was with us, they brought us a man of 
 
 discretion, of the sons of iNIahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel:' Shere- 
 
 biah, with his sons and his kinsmen, eighteen; ^^and Hashabiah and^ Je- 
 
 shaiah of the sons of Merari, their* kinsmen and their* sons, twenty; ^"and of 
 the temple servants, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the 
 Levites, two hundred and twenty; all of them were mentioned by name." 
 
 Prelim- ^ifheu I proclaimed a fast there at the River Ahava, that we might humble 
 
 fast^^ ourselves before our God to seek of him a fortunate journey^ for us and for 
 
 our little ones and for all our possessions. 22pQp j ^^^g ashamed to ask of 
 
 the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy 
 
 on the journey, because we had spoken to the king, saying, ' The hand of our 
 
 God is with all who seek him for good, but his power and his wrath is against 
 
 all them who forsake him.' ^^So we fasted and besought our God for this, 
 
 and he was entreated by us. 
 
 Depart- "^Theu I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, and Sherebiah, Hash- 
 
 with abiah,^ and ten of their clansmen with them, "^^and weighed to them the 
 
 the gifts silver and the gold and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our 
 
 for the . . . . 
 
 temple God, which the king and his coimsellors and his princes and all Israel there 
 present had offered. -*^I weighed into their hands six hundred and fifty 
 talents of silver, and silver vessels, a hundred talents, of gold a hundred 
 talents;^ ^T^nd t^\'enty bowls of gold of a thousand darics;^ and ten^ vessels 
 of fine bright brass, precious as gold, ^s^j^^j j gg^jj j-q them. You are holy 
 to Jehovah, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a con- 
 tribution to Jehovah, the God of our° fathers. ^^Guard and keep them 
 until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites and 
 the heads'^ of the fathers' houses of Israel at Jerusalem in the chambers of 
 the temple of Jehovah. ^^^So the priests and the Levites received the weight 
 of the silver and gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house 
 of our God. ^^Then we departed from the River Ahava on the twelfth 
 day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. 
 Arrival And the hand of our God was upon us and he delivered us from the hand 
 rusalem ^^ ^he enemy and the lier-in-wait by the way. ^^^nd when we arrived at 
 and the Jerusalem, we remained there three days. ^^And on the fourth day the silver 
 ery of and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the 
 
 the 
 gifts 
 
 1 8^^ Following I Esdr. 8^ in restoring the unintelligible Hebrew. 
 
 ' 818 So Gk. and I Esdr. 8". 
 
 " 8^'' Correcting the Heb. by the Gk. and Luc. 
 
 ' 8^' Heb., his, but Luc. in I Esdr. 8^* supports the above, which accords with the context. 
 
 u g2o This verse is characterized by the expressions and ideas peculiar to the Chronicler. 
 Its construction is also different from that of the preceding verses. 
 
 ■'^ 8-' Heb., straight tray. 
 
 "■ 8^* According to '^' ^'■> Sherebiah and Hashabiah were not priests but Levites. Two groups 
 of twelve, therefore, are to be distinguished, following I Esdr. 8^. 
 
 ^ 8-'' Amounting to over a million dollars. 
 
 ^ 8-" About five thousand, eight hundred and sixty dollars. 
 
 ''8" So I Esdr. 8" (Luc, twelve). Heb., two. 
 
 <: 828 So Gk. and I Esdr. 8'S. Heb., your. 
 
 d 829 So 1 Esdr. 8=9. Heb., 7iobles. 
 
 368
 
 ARRIVAL OF EZRAS EXPEDITION [Ezra 833 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 hands of ^Nleremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar 
 the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua and 
 Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levites. 34'pi^g whole w-as dehvered by 
 number and by weif^ht, and the weight of everything was recorded. 
 
 At that time^ ^Hhe people who had returned from exile offered burnt- Gifts of 
 offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety-six rams, lurile^i 
 seventy-seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering; all this was a burnt- exiles 
 offering to Jehovah. 36\j^(j ^]^^y delivered the king's commissions to the temple 
 king's satraps and to the governors of the province beyond the River. And 
 they aided the people and the house of God. Nell. 7 '''^And some from 
 among the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work.^ The governor gave 
 to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred minas 
 of silver and thirty^ priests' garments. '^And some of the heads of fathers' 
 houses gave into the treasury for the work, twenty thousand darics of gold 
 and two thousand, two hundred minas^ of silver. '^^And that w^hich the 
 rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold and two thousand 
 minas of silver and sixty-seven priests' garments. 
 
 '^So the priests and tlie Levites and the porters and the singers and the common Loca- 
 people,' and the temple servants, and all Israel dwelt in their cities. J tionof 
 
 the 
 temple 
 
 § 161. Public Reading of the Law and the Observation of the Feast of ters "" 
 Tabernacles, Neh. 7"''-8'8 (I Esdr. Q^'b-ss) 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 Neh. 7 ^3b\jj(j when the seventh month drew near, the Israelites were Read- 
 settled in their cities,'' 8 ^all the people gathered themselves together as one "xpia- 
 man to the broad place that was before the Water Gate. And they spoke nation 
 to Ezra the priest^ and scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which law to 
 Jehovah had commanded Israel. ^And Ezra the priest brought the law pie''^°" 
 before the assembly of men and women, and all who could hear with under- 
 standing, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 \ji(j jjg read from it 
 before the open place that was before the Water Gate from early morning 
 until mid-day, in the presence of the men and women and of those wdio could 
 
 " H^ The Gk. unites these words with ^ as above. . 
 
 ' Neh. 7™ The parallel Ezra 2''''*' '''^ has a variant text which has been adapted to its changed 
 context. The present text of Neh. is clearly the more original. 
 
 « Neh. 7'" FollowiiiK a better reading suggested by the parallel Ezra 2*". 
 
 l" Neh. 7"' About 1,750 pounds. 
 
 ' Neh. 7"" Heb., sons of the people. 
 
 i Neh. 7"^ Again the di.slinctive e.xpressions and ideas of the Chronicler indicate that this 
 verse must be from him. 
 
 § 161 Restoring the separated members of the Ezra narrative, its unity is demonstrated. 
 According to I'".zra 8" the expedition left the River Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month 
 and arrived in .Jerusalem in the fifth mf)nth ("''). Two months were devoted to finding homes 
 for the new arrivals. Then on the .se\-enth month at the feast of the new moon the people as- 
 semble for the reading of the law by Ezra the priest and scribe. 8'. Then follows the earliest 
 extant record of a synagogue service. Vss. '• •* were probably later added by the Chronicler, 
 for they are not exactly in harmony with the context and duplicate, "". They also contain one 
 of his favorite lists. 
 
 k 77.11, Tiiiy clause not only disturbs the context but also introduces one of the Chronicler's 
 characteristic concept ions. 
 
 I 8' So the parallel 1 Esdr. 9''7. The Ileb. omits, priest, but cf. '• ", where the title, priest, 
 occurs.
 
 Neh. 83] THE WORK OF EZRA 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. ^And 
 
 Ezra the priest and scribe"^ stood upon a wooden pulpit, which they made 
 
 for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattitliiah, Shema, Anaiah, Azariah,'^ 
 
 Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand, and on his left, Pedaiah, 
 
 Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 
 
 ^And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people — for he was above 
 
 all the people — and when he opened it all the people stood up. ^And Ezra 
 
 blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, 
 
 Amen, while they lifted up their hands and bowed their heads and wor- 
 
 ship})ed Jehovah with their faces to the ground. ''Also Jeshua, Bpni, Sherebiah, 
 
 Janain, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pe- 
 
 laiah,° the Levites, instructed the people in- the law, and the people remained in their 
 
 place. *And they read in the book of the law of God by sections,p and made the sense 
 
 so clear that they understood the reading. 
 
 Com- "And Nehemiah, who was the governor," and Ezra the priest, the scribe, 
 
 to^re- a^i^fl tlie Levites who taught the people said to all the peo])le. This day is 
 
 joice lioly to Jehovah your God; mourn not, nor weep; for all the people wept 
 
 give when they heard the words of the law. ^^xhen he"" said to them, Go away, 
 
 each ^° eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing 
 
 other is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be troubled, for the 
 
 joy of Jehovah is your bulwark. ^^So the Levites quieted all the people, 
 
 saying. Be still, for the day is holy, and do not be troubled. ^-^And all the 
 
 people went away to eat and drink and to send portions and to make a great 
 
 rejoicing, for they had imderstood the words which had been made known 
 
 to them. 
 
 Cele- ^3 And on the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, 
 
 of the" the priests and the I^evites were gathered together to Ezra the scribe,^ in 
 
 feast of order to g'ain an insirfit into the words of the law. ^^x\nd they found written 
 
 nacles in the law, how Jehovah had commanded by INIoses that the Israelites should 
 
 fngto ti"'ell in booths at the feast in the seventh month; ^^and that they should 
 
 the new proclaim aloud in all their cities and in Jerusalem: Go forth to the mount and 
 
 bring olive branches and branches of wild olive and myrtle and palm branches 
 
 and branches of thick trees to make booths, as it is prescribed. ^^So the 
 
 people went out and brought them, and made themselves booths, each man 
 
 upon the roof of his house and in their courts and in the courts of the house 
 
 of God and in the open space at the Water Gate and in the open space at 
 
 the Ephraim Gate. ^"And all the assembly of those who had come back 
 
 from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths; for since the days 
 
 of Joshua the son of Nim to that day the Israelites had not done so. And 
 
 ™ 8* I Esdr. 9^ reads consistently, priest and scribe. 
 
 " 8* Adding Azariah from the parallel I Esdr. 9^^. This is confirmed by Luc. and the fact 
 that this gives seven on each side. 
 
 ° 8'' PVjllowing I Esdr. 9^** in omitting, and, before Levites. 
 
 p 8* So Gk. 
 
 1 8' Gk. and I Esdr. 9^' do not have Nehemiah. The words, and Nehemiah irho was the 
 governor, were i;)robably adiled by the Chronicler, who again in 123'^ brings Nehemiah and I'^zra 
 together. The absence of Nehemiah in the rest of the narrative, e.xcept in another secondary 
 passage, 10', confirms this conclusion. 
 
 ■■SI" Luc. they. 
 
 » 8'^ Following the Gk. in omitting, and. 
 
 370
 
 PUBLIC READING OF THE LAW [Neh. 8^7 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 tliere was very great gladness. ^^And day by day, from the first to the 
 last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they celebrated the 
 feast seven days, and on the eighth day, as was the custom, there was a con- 
 cluding solemn assembly. 
 
 § 162. Ezra's Crusade against Mixed Marriages, Ezra 9, 10, I Esdr. 8''^-9^' 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 Ezra 9 ^Now when these things had been done, the nobles* drew near Discov- 
 to me and said, ' The people of Israel and the nobles and the priests and ^^xed 
 the Levites have not kept themselves apart from the peoples of the lands, "lar- 
 from^ their abominations, even from the Canaanites, the Hittiles, the Periz- and 
 zites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Earvptians, and the lfJ^„^ 
 Amorites. -For they have taken of their daughters wives for themselves ishment 
 and their sons, so that they, the holy race, have mixed themselves with the grief 
 peoples of the lands, and the hand of the nobles^' and rulers has been most 
 prominent in this impiety.' ^And when I heard this, I tore my inner-garment 
 and my robe, and pulled the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down 
 dumbfounded. "^Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, 
 because of the impiety of those who had returned from the ca])tivity, gathered 
 about me as I sat dumbfounded until the evening oblation.^^' 
 
 ^And at evening I arose from my self-humiliation, and I tore my inner- His 
 garment and my robe, and fell upon my knees and spread out my liands to ^l^oa- 
 Jehovah^ *^and said, ' O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my fession 
 face to thee, my God, for our inicjuities have risen higher than our head'* half of 
 and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. '^Since the days of our fathers gitity 
 to this day we have been implicated in great guilt; and for our iniquities com- 
 we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hands of the 
 kings of the lands, by the sword, captivity, plunder, and confusion of face, 
 as it is this day. ^And now for a brief moment grac-e hath been showed from 
 Jehovah our God, in that he has left us a remnant to escape, and given us 
 a respite^ in his holy place that our God may lighten our eyes,*' and give us a 
 little renewal of life in our bondage. ^For we are bondmen; yet our God 
 hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended to us favor in the 
 sight of the kings of Persia to give us a renewal of life, to .set up the house 
 
 § 162 It was only after the preliminary work had been done and the consciences of the 
 people had been touched, as recorded in Neh. 8. that thev would be ready for the supreme test 
 imposed in Ezra 9. 10. Neh. 9- also appears to contain a direct reference to the act of separation, 
 the enforcement of which is recorded in Ezra 9. 10. 
 
 I 9' Addiniz, the nobles, required by -'■ and found in the parallel I Esdr. 8"*. 
 
 " 9' So 1 Esdr. S''". Heb., uccordino to. 
 
 " 9- The Gk. has only, rulers. This may well have been oriKinal. 
 
 " 9^ The parallel I Esdr. 8'- reads, gathered about me, as I mourned for the impiety, and I 
 sat filled with sorrow, until the eveninq sacrifice. 
 
 ^ 9'' Following I Esdr. 8"^ in omitting, my God, which has crept in fronj". 
 
 » 9*' The figure is that of the race engulfed in crime. 
 
 '' 9'* Heb., tent-pin. The figure is taken from the wandering life of tlie nomad and symbol- 
 izes the brief rest which comes when his tent is securely pitched. 
 
 " 9** I Esdr. S'", tliMl he may uncover lor us a light in Ike house oj Jehovah our God. 
 
 371
 
 Ezra 99] THE WORK OF EZRA 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jeru- 
 salem. ^^And now, O our God, what shall we say after all this ? For we 
 have forsaken thy commands, ^^which thou hast commanded by thy ser- 
 vants the prophets, saying, " The land which we go to possess, is an unclean 
 land because of the uncleanness of the peoples of the land, because of their 
 abominable practices, which have filled it from one to another with their 
 filth. ^^Now therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, nor take 
 their daughters as wives for your sons, nor seek their peace or their pros- 
 perity forever, that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land and leave 
 it as an inheritance to your children forever." ^^And after all that is come 
 upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since thou, our God, 
 hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a 
 remnant as this, ^^shall we again break thy commands and intermarry 
 with the peoples who do these abominable acts ? Wouldest not thou be 
 angry with us until thou hadst consumed us, so that there would be no 
 remnant nor any to escape ? ^^O Jehovah, the God of Israel, thou art 
 righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is this day. 
 Now we are before thee in our guilt, for none can stand before thee because 
 of this.' 
 Deci- 10 ^Now while Ezra was making supplication and confession, weeping 
 
 thefpeo- ^"d casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered to- 
 ple to gether to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and 
 away children; for the people wept loudly, ^^n^j Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, 
 eign"^" one of the sons of Elam, spoke and said to Ezra, We have committed an 
 wives impiety against our God and have married foreign women of the peoples 
 of the land, yet in this matter there is yet hope for Israel. ^Now therefore 
 let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the foreign wives'^ 
 and those who have been born of them, according to the counsel of my lord® 
 and of those who revere the command of our God, and let it be done ac- 
 cording to the law. ^Arise, carry into execution,^ for it is your task, and 
 we are with you; be of good courage and act. ^Tlien Ezra arose and made 
 the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel take oath that they would 
 do according to this word. So they took oath. *^Then Ezra rose up from 
 before the house of God and went into the chamber of Jehonanan the son of 
 Eliashib, and spent the night there, neither eating^ bread nor drinking water, 
 for he mourned because of the impiety of those who had returned from the 
 captivity. ''And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem 
 to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves to- 
 gether at Jerusalem. ^And that whoever did not come within three days, 
 according to the counsel of the nobles and the elders, all his possessions 
 should be placed under the ban and he should be excluded from the assembly 
 of the captivity. 
 
 ■* 10^ So Luc. I Esdr. 8*^, all are our ivives from foreigners. 
 
 " 10'* I Esdr. 8*t, your counsel. 
 
 f 10^ So I Esdr. »«■ and Luc. 
 
 B 10" Correcting the corrupt Heb. by I Esdr. 9^ and the Gk. 
 
 372
 
 HIS CRUSADE AGAINST MIXED ]\L\RRIAGES [Ezra 109 
 
 Ezra Xarrative 
 
 ^Then all the men of Jiidah and Benjamin gathered themselves to Jem- Deci- 
 salem within the three days, that is on the twentieth day of the ninth month.'* tireas- 
 And all the people sat in the open space before the house of God, trembling jf"'*^'^ 
 on account of the subject itself and also because of the pouring rain, ^o^hen point a 
 Ezra the priest stood up and said to them. You have committed an act of lom^^ 
 impiety and have married foreign women to increase the guilt of Israel. n>'?sion 
 
 11 ^ to in- 
 
 ^^Now therefore make confession to Jehovah, the God of your fathers, vesti- 
 and do his will and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and calls"'' 
 from the foreign women, i^^^jj^^ ^\i |.j^g assembly answered and said with 
 a loud voice. We must do as you have said concerning us. ^"^But the peo- 
 ple are many, and it is a time of the autumn rain, and we cannot stand 
 outside, and this is not a work of one day or two, for we have committed 
 great impiety in this matter. ^^Let now our nobles represent all the as- 
 sembly' and let all those in our cities who ha\e married foreign women 
 come at appointed times and with them the elders of each city and its judges, 
 until the fierce wrath of our God because of this matter be turned from us. 
 ^^Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jazeiah the son of Tikvah opposed 
 this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the I-evite sup])orted them. i*^'But 
 those who had returned from the captivity acted according to the will of the 
 assembly. 
 
 And Ezra the priest selected certain heads of fathers' houses according Work 
 to their fathers' houses, and all of them were named by name;J and they coiu'-" 
 held a sitting on the first day of the tenth month'^ to examine the matter. ""'^" 
 ^'^And they completed the investigation of all the men who had married 
 foreign women by the first day of the first month. ^ 
 
 ^^And among the sons of the priests who had married foreign women list of 
 
 were found the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his clansmen: Maa- ,„'fo.sts 
 
 seiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. ^^And thev gave their hand'" that ^'V' ^"®" 
 1111 !•• .>^ ^ vites 
 
 they should put away their wives; and their guilt-oil'ering was" a ram of the wiio 
 
 flock for their guilt. -^And of the sons of Immer, Hanani and Zebadiah. foreign 
 
 2^And of the sons of Ilarim: ^laaseiuh, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. ^^'^es 
 
 2^And of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, 
 
 Jozabad, and Elasah. ^'^Aiid of the Ivcvites: Jozabad, Shimei, Ivelaiah 
 
 (the same is Kehta), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. ^^And of the singers: 
 
 Eliashib and Zaccur.-° And of the porters: Shallum. Telem, and Uri. 
 
 ^^And of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiali, Izziah, INIalchijah, Mi- Of the 
 
 jamin, Eleazar, Michaiah'^ and Benaiah. ^o^j^d f,f jj^g gQ^g ^f J'lam: Mat- 
 
 taniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jcremoth, and Elijah. -'^And of the sons 
 
 of Zattu: Ehoenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza. -'^And 
 
 h 10^ November- December. 
 
 ■ 10" Correcting the meaninRless Heb. by the Ok. and I Esdr. 9*^. 
 
 ' 10'" So I-uc. and I lOsdr. 9"'. Heb., were separated. 
 
 ^ lO'" r)eceiiil)cr-.Ianuary. 
 
 > \0" Mardi-April. 
 
 " lO'" ('(. II Kk.s. lO"*, Is. 17", for (ho same form of compact. 
 
 » lO''-' SliKhtly ('orrcctinK the difficiill lleb. 
 
 o 10^' Added in ttie (Ik. versions and I lOsdr. 9-'. 
 
 p l(p Correcting by the aid of Luc. and 1 Esdr. 9™. 
 
 37.3
 
 Ezra IQSS] THE WORK OF EZRA 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 of the sons of Bebai: Jeliohanan, Hananiah, Zabbal, Athlai. -^And of the 
 sons of Bani: Meshnllam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth. 
 2'^And of the sons of Pahath-moab : Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mat- 
 taniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh. 3i\nd of the sons of Harim: Ehe- 
 zer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shmieon, ^-Benjamin, Malhich, Shem- 
 ai'iah. ^'^Of the sons of Ilashnm: jNIattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Ehphelet, 
 eremai, Manasseh, Shimei. ^^Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, 
 Joelj'i ^^Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chehihi, ^'^Vaniah, Meremoth, EHashib, ^'Mat- 
 taniah, Mattenai, Jaasu, ^^And of the sons of Binnui/ Shimei, ^^Shelemiah, 
 Nathan Adaiah, ^'^Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, ^^Azarel^ Shelemiah, 
 Shemariah, "^^Shalhim, Amariah, Joseph. '^■^Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, 
 Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, Joel, Benaiah. ^^All these had taken 
 foreign wives; and they sent them away with their children.^ 
 
 . § 163. Public Confession of Guilt, Neh. O^-^' 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 Confes- Nell. 9 ^Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israehtes were 
 
 thT assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth and earth upon their heads. 
 
 people 2^j^(j i^jjg descendants of Israel had separated themselves from all foreigners, 
 
 and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. ^And 
 
 they stood up in their place and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their 
 
 God a fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed and 
 
 worshipped Jehovah their God. ^Then the Levites, Jeshua, Bani,* Kadmiel, 
 
 Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, and Chenani stood on the raised pulpit and 
 
 cried with a loud voice to Jehovah their God. ^Also the Levites, Jeshua, 
 
 Kadmiel, Bani,^ Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand 
 
 up and bless Jehovah our^' God from everlasting to everlasting; and blessed 
 
 ,be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 
 
 Ezra's *^And Ezra^^' said, Thou art Jehovah, even thou alone; thou hast made 
 
 jeho-'' heaven and'^ the heavens of heavens with all their host, the earth and all 
 
 vah's things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preservest 
 
 preme them all and the host of heaven^ worshippeth thee. ''Thou art Jehovah 
 
 rule 
 
 and 
 
 prom- <J 10^ So Luc. and I Esdr. 9^. 
 
 ises to ' 10''. So Gk. and I Esdr. 9**. 
 
 Abra- '^ 10" The Heb. is hopelessly corruist. I Esdr. 9*"', which has an intelligible text, has there- 
 
 ham fore been followed. 
 
 § 163 The long prayer in this chapter, like the one in Ezra 9, consists of quotations and allu- 
 sions to the incidents recorded in the early and especially the late prophetic narratives of the 
 Pentateuch. The didactic principle derived from the survey of the history is that of the late 
 prophetic editor of Judges. Cf. especially -''--^ and Judges 21'-'^. The prayer ends abruptly 
 without the direct appeal for a national restoration which is implied by 2-. Possibly this was not 
 quoted because, according to the Chroniclers theory, the restoration was already complete. 
 
 t 9^ The repetition of, Bani, and the variations in the versions indicate that the text has 
 suffered in transmission. Correcting the repetition, seven names, as probably in the original 
 text, remain. Cf. the seven in 8^. 
 
 " 9^ Omitting, Hashabniah, which is apparently only a variant of Shebaniah. The list 
 here, as the one in *, has doubtless been modified in transmission. Only part of the names agree, 
 although the context suggests that they were originally identical. 
 "■' 9^ So Gk. Heb., your. 
 
 "" 9^ So Gk. Ezra was perhaps removed from the Heb. text because Lev. 16-' commands that 
 the pviblic confession be made by the high-priest. 
 ^ 9" So Luc. 
 » 9" Cf. Ps. 10321. 
 
 374
 
 PUBLIC CONFESSION OF GUILT [Neh. 9^ 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 the God, ■^vllo didst choose Abraham and bring him forth out of Ur of the 
 Chaldees, and didst give him the name of Abraham, ^and find his heart 
 faithful before thee and make a covenant with him to give the land of the 
 Canaanites, the Hittites, the Aniorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the 
 Girgashites,^ to give it to liis descendants, and hast performed thy words, 
 for thou art rigliteous. 
 
 ^And thou didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their Deliver- 
 cry by the Red Sea,*^ ^^and didst show signs and wonders upon Pharaoh and f^^^ "^ 
 upon all liis sen-ants, and upon all the people of his land; for thou knewest people 
 that they acted extravagantly toward them; and didst get thee a name as it ICgypt 
 is this day/1 ^^And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they 
 went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and thou didst cast their 
 pursuers into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.® 
 
 ^-Moreover by a pillar of cloud thou leddest them by day, and by a pillar Ouid- 
 of fire by night, to give them light by the way in wliich they should goJ t\"e,n 
 i-^Thou camest down also upon ]\[ount Sinai, and spakest with them from '".,*|^®. 
 heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and ness 
 commandments, s ^"^and madest known to them thy holy sabbath, and gavest 
 them commandments and statutes and a law by Closes thy servant, ^'and 
 gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water 
 for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commandest them that they 
 should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.^ ^*'But 
 they and our father acted arrogantly and hardened their neck and heeded not 
 thy commands,' ^^and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders 
 which thou didst among them, but hardened their neck, and set their head 
 to return to their bondage in Egypt. J Put thou wast a God ready to pardon, 
 gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and didst not 
 forsake them. ^^Yea, when they made for themselves a molten calf and 
 said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and acted very 
 blas[)hemously,'^ ^^yet thou in thy great mercy didst not forsake tliem in 
 the wilderness; the pillar of cloud dei)arted not from over them by day, to 
 lead them in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night, to give them light on 
 the way in which' they should go. 20'p|^Q^ gavest also thy good spirit to 
 instruct them, and withheldcst not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest 
 them water for their thirst.'" -^Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them 
 
 b 9' The late priestly form of the Abr.aham tradition is here most in evidence. This list, 
 however, is drawn from tlie later Juileaii narralivesi, Gen. lo'*--'. 
 ■^ 9^ Cf. Ex. 3". the .Judean narrative, 
 d 9'" Cf. Dt. 022, Ex. 18", 9"\ 
 
 "9" Cf. Ex. 1421- 22. 1,5'.. 19. 
 
 f9'2 Cf. Ex. 132'. 22. Num. 14", Dt. 1^3. 
 e9''' Cf. Ex. 19«20. Dt. 4ai. 
 
 '■ 9''^ f;f. Ex. 10', Num. 20". For the idiom at the end of the vs. cf. Num. H™. 
 i 9^' Cf. Dt. V<, 10'". „ , , ^, 
 
 i 9'" (',(. Num. 14'. Tiic parallel in Num. confirms the readmg, wi Egypt, of t'le Gk. as 
 against the Heb. 
 
 i'!)'^ Cf. 1^. 32^. ». 
 
 I 9''' OmitliriK with the Gk. the awkward, and. Cf. '2. 
 
 '"92» Cf. Num. 111V.23-M 
 
 375
 
 Neh. 921] THE WORK OF EZRA 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing: their clothes waxed not old, 
 and their feet swelled not." 
 Con- 22]y/[Qj.gQygj. thou gavest them kingdoms and peoples, which thou didst 
 
 ?heir ° allot, ° SO they possessed the land^ of Sihon king of Heshbon, and the land of 
 land Og king of Bashan.'i 23'p}^Qy didst also make their children as numerous 
 as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land concerning which 
 thou didst say to their fathers, that they should go in to possess. "■ ^^Sio the 
 children went in and possessed the land, ® and thou didst subdue before them 
 the Canaanitish inhabitants of the land, and gavest them into their hands, 
 with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them 
 what they would. ^^And they took fortified cities and a fertile land, and pos- 
 sessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, oliveyards, 
 and fruit-trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled, and became fat 
 Their and lived luxuriantly in thy great goodness.* 26j,fgygPt]jglggg they were dis- 
 dience" obedient and rebelled against thee and cast thy law behind their back and 
 ^"''. , slew thy prophets, who testified against them to turn them again to thee, 
 ment and they acted very blasphemously, ^/'pi^g^efore thou didst deliver them 
 period "ito the hands of their oppressors, who oppressed them. Then in the time 
 9f the of their trouble, when they cried to thee, thou heardest from heaven, and 
 according to thy great mercy thou didst give them deliverers who saved them 
 out of the power of their adversaries, ^sgyt ^g soon as they had rest, they 
 did evil again before thee; therefore thou didst leave them in the hands of 
 their enemies, so that they ruled over them; yet when they again cried to 
 thee, thou didst hear from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them 
 «" according to thy mercy, ^^and testifiedst against them, that thou mightest 
 
 bring them to thy law. Yet they acted arrogantly and heeded not thy com- 
 mands, but sinned against thine ordinances — ^which if a man obey, he shall 
 live" — and turned a stubborn shoulder^ and stiffened their neck and would 
 not hear. ^^Yet many years didst thou bear with them, and testify against 
 them by thy spirit through thy prophets, yet they would not heed. There- 
 fore thou gavest them into the hands of the peoples of the lands. ^^Nev- 
 ertheless in thy great mercy thou didst not completely destroy nor forsake 
 them, for thou art a gracious and merciful God. 
 Peti- 32j>jow therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, 
 
 avert ° ^ho keepest covenant and kindness, let not all the affliction seem little before 
 *^^ . , thee, that hath come on us, on our kings, our nobles, our priests, our prophets, 
 judg- our fathers, and on all thy people, since the days of the kings of Assyria to 
 ^at this day. ^sjjowever thou art just in all that has come upon us; for thou 
 
 rests 
 
 upon — — — ■ 
 
 the race 
 
 "921 Cf. Dt. 2", 8', 29*. 
 
 o 9'^ So Gk. The Heb. adds a doubtful, according to their sides. 
 
 p 9^ So Luc. In the Heb., the land was evidently here repeated by mistake. 
 
 q 922 Cf. Num. 21-'i-35. 
 
 f 923 Cf. Gen. 221", d^ po. 
 
 » 92* The first half of the verse is lacking in the Gk. texts and may be a gloss, for it antici- 
 pates the following context. 
 
 t92'i Cf. Dt. 610 • u^ g7-9_ 3215. 
 
 " 929 So Gk. The Heb. adds, in them. 
 
 V 929 Cf. for the same figure, Zech. 711-". 
 
 376
 
 PUBLIC CONFESSION OF GUILT [Neh. 933 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 hast done right, but we have done wickedly, ^-^neither have our kings, our 
 nobles, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law nor heeded thy commands 
 and thy testimonies with which thou didst testify against them. ^opQj. j^j^gy 
 have not served thee in the time of their kingly rule, and in spite of thy great 
 goodness that thou gavest them, they have not turned from their wicked 
 deeds. ^egpi^Qjj^ ^^.g ^j^jg jg^y j^j.g slaves, and as for the land that thou gavest 
 to our fathers to eat its fruit and enjoy its good gifts, see we are only slaves 
 in it. "^^And it yieldeth a great income to the kings whom thou hast set 
 over us because of our sin; also they have power over our bodies and over 
 our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. 
 
 § 16-i. The Covenant and its Terms, Neh. O^s-lO^* 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 Neh. 9 38]\Ioreover in addition to all this we made a fixed covenant and Signers 
 wrote it out, and our nobles, our Levites, and our priests were enrolled upon written 
 the sealed document. 10 'And those enrolled upon the sealed doeiunents" were : ^"^^^^^ 
 Nehemiah, the governor,^ the son of Hachaliah, and Zedekiah, -Seraiah, Azariah, .lere- 
 miah, ^Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, ^Hattush, Shebaniah, Malhich, =^IIarini, Mere- 
 moth, Obadiah, ''Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 'Meshullam, Abijah, Mijaniin, *Maaziah, 
 Bilgai, Shemaiah; these were the priests. ''And the Levites, namely, Jeshua the son 
 of Azaniah, Binnni of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel ; '"and their kinsmen, Sheka- 
 niah,= Hodaviah,'' Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, "Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, '^Zaccur, Shere- 
 biah, Shebaniah, '^Hodijah Bani, Beninu. "The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath- 
 moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, '^Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, "'Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, '"Ater, 
 Hezekiah, Azzur, 'SHodiah, Ilashum, Bezai, "Hariph, Analhoth, Nobai, ^"Magpiash, 
 MeshuUam, Hezir, ^iMeshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, "Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, -^Hoshea, 
 Hananiah, Hasshub, 24Haiiohesh, Pilha, Shobek, ^SRehum, llashabnah, Maaseiah, 
 ^''Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, "Malhich, Harim, Baanah. 
 
 2»And the rest of the people, the priests, tlie Levites, the porters, the singers, the Regula- 
 
 temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples gj","^ 
 of the lands to the law of (iod, their wives, their sons, and their tlaughters, ^^^'"j]'*''' 
 every one who had knowledge and insight, -'-'.strongly supported their kinsmen, the 
 their nobles, and entered into a solemn obligation and took oath to walk in ^,"u"'ity 
 God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and 
 
 § 164 That the list in lO'--'" is not from the same hand as the rest of the chapter is shown 
 by the order, Lfviles. priests, in 9", while in 10' -"*" the priests are placed first ; in !»■"* sailal docu- 
 ment hut in 10' sealed dornmenls. Also in 10' Nehemiah the governor apj)ears (cf. § l(il. note), 
 indicatinK that tliis section was probably added Ijy tlie editor. A comparison of the hst of the 
 priests with that of tlie liiKli-piiests before Jeshua in 12'' reve.als not only the same nunihei— 
 twenty-two— but also many of the same names, only arranged in different order, winch is further 
 evidence that this is from tlie Chronicler who.se interest in names and lists is frc<iucntly illustrated 
 in Ezra-Neh. In -'*■' his favorites, the porters, the sinoers, and the temple servoiils also appear. 
 
 The close parallelism between Nehemiah's reforms recordeii in i:{ and the terms of the 
 covenant, a.s here stated, has already been noted (Introd., p. 31). I he lannuago an. I point of 
 view (of especially ^'^i-'-'^') of this .section are those of the lOzra narratives to whwli it lorm.s a 
 natural conclusion. Its importance is great, for it marks the acceptance of the late priestly 
 law by the .ludean commimit v. I ive out of its eight regulations were ba.seil on that code and 
 were new to the .Jews who still hehl to the late i)rophetic code found in I)t. 
 
 * 10' Po.ssibly this should be change.l to the singular to conform with •)". I wo or more 
 copies may, however, have been made, as among the IJabylonians in the case of all import iiiit 
 busine.ss documents. , , ,, 
 
 « 10' The title is not found in the Gk. and separates the name and the patronymic in an 
 unprecedented manner, strongly suggesting that it is a later addition. 
 
 " 10'" So Luc. The Shelmiiiiih of I lie llcb. appears in '-'. 
 
 i* 10'" So Uk. Cf. i;/.ra li'". The JJudiah of the lleb. also appears in '3. 
 
 377
 
 Neh. 1029] INSTITUTION OF THE PRIESTLY LAW 
 
 Ezra Narrative 
 
 do all the commands of Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes; 
 ^'^and that we would neither give our daughters to the peoples of the land nor 
 take their daughters as wives for our sons;'' ^l^nd that, if the peoples of the 
 land should bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we would 
 not buy of them on the sabbath or on a holy day;^ and that on the seventh 
 year we would leave the land uncultivated and would refrain from the ex- 
 action of any debt.® 
 Obliga- 32^Yg a^jgQ imposed upon ourselves the obligation to give yearly the third 
 slmieiT part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God,^ ^^for the bread 
 for the |j^j^|. ^^g gg(- forth, s and for the continual burnt-offering,^ for the sabbaths, 
 of the the new moons, the fixed feasts,* and the holy things,'' and for the sin-offer- 
 aml'' ^ i'lgs to make atonement for Israel,'^ and for all the work of the house of our 
 ritual God.' 3'^And we cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the 
 wood-offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our father's 
 houses, at appointed times year by year, to burn upon the altar of Jehovah 
 our God, as it is prescribed in the law ;"^ ^^and to bring the earliest products 
 of our ground, and the first of all fruit of every kind of tree year by year, 
 to the temple of Jehovah;'^ ^^also the first-born of our sons and of our cattle, 
 as is prescribed in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, ° 
 to bring to the house of God to the priests who minister in the house of our 
 God; 37and that we should bring the firsts bread baked of our dough, ^ 
 our gifts,'' the fruit of every kind of tree, the new wine and the oil,'' to the 
 priests, in the chambers of the house of our God;* and the tithes of our ground 
 to the Levites; and that they, the Levites, should receive the tithes in all the 
 cities of our agricultural districts. ^^And that the priest the son of Aaron 
 should be with the Ivcvites, when the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the 
 tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers, into the store-house.^ 29j?or 
 the Israelites and the sons of Levi shall bring the gifts of grain, of new wine, 
 and of oil, into the chambers,'^ where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and 
 the priests who minister and the porters and the singers, and that we would 
 not neglect the house of our God. 
 
 •= 1030 Cf. 1323 and Ezra 92 and Ex. 34", Dt. 7^. 
 d 10-" Cf. 13i"--'2^ Lev. 233. 
 <= 1031 Cf. 5, Ex. 23'0. ", Dt. 15'-3. 
 ' 1032 Cf. II Chr. 24'i-8, Ex. 30»-»6. 
 
 E 1033 Lit., the bread that ivas laid in rows or piled up. Cf. Lev. 24^-'. 
 •> 1033 Cf. Ezra 9^, Ex. 2938-^2, Num. 283-8. 
 i 1033 Cf. Num. 28. 
 J 1033 Cf. II Chr. 2933, 3513. 
 . k 1013 Cf. Lev. 413-21. 
 I 1033 Cf. II Chr. 24<i. 
 
 " 103^ Cf. 1331. The law referred to is not found in the O.T., but in the Mishnah, Taanit 4.\ 
 Cf. Jos.. Jewish Wars, II, 17". 
 
 ° 103'' Cf. Ex. 23i«, 3426, Num. I812. i3. 
 
 ° 103" Cf. Num. 1815-is, Ex. 13i3, 342f. 
 
 P 1037 Or, best. 
 
 1 103" Cf. Num. 1.520-21, Dt. 18''. 5, 261-'. 
 
 ■■ 103'' Tracking in the Gk. It fits badly in its context and is probably a later addition. 
 
 » 1037 Cf. 131 
 
 1 1037 Cf. 1312, Dt. 261-11. 
 
 H 1037b. 38 This may be a later addition. Cf. Num. IS'-'L 21-28. 
 
 V lOS'-* Cf. 1312. 
 
 378
 
 CENSUS OF THE JE^YS IN PALESTINE [Neh. 76 
 
 IV 
 
 ORGANTZATION OF THE RESTORED .R^DEAN CO^^IMUNITY, 
 
 Ezra 21-67, Neh. 76-69, 113-1226 
 
 § 165. Census of the Jews in Palestine, Ezra 2'", Neb. 7«-«^ (I Esdr. 5^") 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical Hisiory 
 
 \eh. 7 6T]iese are the children of the province, who went up out of the The 
 captivity of tliose who liad been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the ^ 
 king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon,'^ and who returned to Jeru- 
 salem and Judah, each to his city, ^who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, 
 Neheraiah, Azariah,'' Raamiah,'' Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, 
 Bigvai, Rehum,*^ Baanah.^ 
 
 Organization of the Restored Judean Community. — Refrarrlin^ the history of the Judean 
 community during the last decades of the Persian period the bil)lical and extra-canonical sources 
 furnislj little information. The period appears to have witnessed the exi>ansion of the territory 
 of Judah. This is indicated by a comparison of the coinparatively few villages represented by 
 the builders who worked under Nehemiah (Neh. 3), and the hsts of Jewish towns in Neh. 72^-37 
 and 1 12^-^. The extension was chiefly toward the northwest. Cf. map on the opp. page. Al- 
 though he stood near enough the events to have w-ritten a continuous history on the basis of 
 current information, the Chronicler, guided by his peculiar interests, contents himself with com- 
 piling certain lists in which the ideas and traditional claims of the coterie to which he be- 
 longed receive esjsecial attenti<in. 
 
 § 165 Nehemiah's statement in Neh. 7* that the inhabitants of Jerusalem were few and that 
 he gathered them together apparently gave the Chronicler an opportunity to bring in one of 
 his long genealogical lists. This characteristic tendency has been often illustrated, but perhaps 
 here most strikingly, by the fact that he has introduced the same list in Ezra 2, modifying tlie 
 concluding words of Neh. 7 in order to fit the different context. Cf. note § 145. He also joins it 
 closely to Nehemiah's memoirs by ailding to Nehemiah's statement in ^ that he gathered together 
 the rulers and people (evidently to devise means for increasing the population of Jerusalem), 
 that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who 
 came up at the first, and I found written therein: Then follow the lists. The Heb. word, as well 
 as the idea of reckoning by genealogj', is characteristic of the Chronicler, but not of Nehemiah. 
 The latter also knows nothing of those who came up at the first, while it is one of the leading 
 beliefs of the Chronicler. Cf. Introd., p. 29. Similarly''' ^ reveal the stamp of the editor and 
 his school. Cf. ', Ezra 1, 3*, 6-', Neh. 11^. The exactly twelve leaders in' suggest one of his 
 favorite numbers. The concluding section, •''■'''•*, also has several of his characteristic idioms. 
 The method of writing compound numerals in the list is also confined to very late Heb. writings. 
 It is probable that the editor had older lists before him. He purports to give a list of those who 
 returned from Babylon, but sucU names as the children of Pahath (governor of) Moab and the 
 census of the inhabitants of the Judean villages, ^s-a?^ by no means support this imi^lication. 
 On the other hand, the long lists of Levites, porters, singers, temple servants, and Solomon's 
 servants in '•'-'*•' were probably atlded by him. 
 
 The date of this census has been much discussed and is the most important problem con- 
 nected with the chapter. It is obvious that the position of those who maintain that because 
 of its position in Ezra 2 it represents those who returned in 536 n.c. is untenable. It was 
 placed there simply to support the theory of the Chronicler or possibly that of some still later 
 editor. The evidence of the list of towns in =''-37 points conclusively to the latter part of the 
 Persian perio<l, when, acconling to the testimony of I -Mac. 9* and Josephus {Ant., XIII, I-*), 
 Judah included Bethel, Bethhoron and Timnath-Parathon. Likewise in the list of leaders 
 Nehemiah, and probably originrdly Ezra (cf. note ''), stood near the head and are followed by 
 the names (some of Persian origin) of later leaders who, following in the wake of Nehemiah's 
 work, probably led back other bands of Jews. Also the large numbers of the children of Jrshua, 
 the contemporary of Zerubbabel, and the prominence of the different cla.sses of the temple min- 
 isters, all point to a period not long before that of the Chronicler. 
 
 " 7* So Ezra 2' and I Esdr. 5^. 
 
 ^ V Ezra 2-, Seraiah. Cf. Ezra 7', where Serai.ah is the father of Ezra, .\tier .Nehemiah 
 we expect, Ezra, and the variant suggests that he was in the mind of the Chronicler. In (he 
 Heb., Aztiriah is only slightly different from Ezra. 
 
 " 7' Ezra 2^, Reelaiah. 
 
 •" V So Ezra V and I Esdr. 5». 
 
 '■ 7' 1 Esdr. 5* adds, their leaders.
 
 Neh. 78] ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY 
 
 Chronicler s Ecclesiastical History 
 
 THE NUMBER OF MEN OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL 
 
 Lay ^The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred and seventy-two. 
 
 clans grpj^g children of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two. lOThe chil- 
 dren of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two. i^Tlie children of Jeshua and 
 Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen, ^^^he children of Elam, 
 a thousand two hundred and fifty -four, ^^^phe children of Zattu, eight 
 hundred and forty-five. I'^The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty. 
 i^The children of Binnui, six hundred and forty -eight. I'^The children of 
 Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight. ^''The children of Azgad, two thousand 
 three hundred and twenty-two. ^^The children of Adonikam, six hundred 
 and sixty-seven. ^^The children of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-seven. 
 20The children of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five, ^i^he children of Ater, 
 of Hezekiah, ninety-eight. The children of Azzur, four hundred and thirty- 
 two. The children of Hananiah, a hundred and one.^ ~'^T\\q children of Has- 
 hum, three hundred and twenty-eight. ^ ~^T\\e children of Bezai, three hun- 
 dred and twenty -four. 24Xhe children of Ilariph, a hundred and twelve, ^sxhe 
 children"^ of Nebo,^ fifty-two. ^'^The children of the other Elam, a thousand 
 two hundred and fifty-four. ^^The children of Harim, three hundred and 
 twenty. ^^The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. 
 Inhabi- ^s^phe menJ of Gibeon,^ ninety-five, ^e^he men of Bethlehem and Ne- 
 ofthe tophah, a hundred and eighty-eight, ^r-phe men of Anathoth, a hundred 
 differ- and twenty-eight. ^S^he men of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two. ^s^phe men 
 towns of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three. 
 The men of Adasa and Modin, four hundred and twenty-two.^ ^'^The men 
 of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one. ^ixhe men of Mich- 
 mas, a hundred and twenty-two. 32xhe men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred 
 and twenty-three. ^^The men'" of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five. 
 The men of Keilah and Azekah, sixty -seven. ° ^"xhe men™ of Lod, Hadid, 
 and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one. 
 Priestly ^^T\\Q priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hun- 
 '^^^^^ dred and seventy-three. '^^The children of Immer, a thousand and fifty- 
 two. 4ixhe children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred and forty-seven. 
 ^^Xhe children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. 
 Leviti- 43xhe Levites: The children of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel, of Benui,° 
 cfins of Hodevah, seventy-four. 44xhe singers : The children of Asaph, a hundred 
 
 « 721 The last two clans are found only in 1 Esdr. S'^. w. They have evidently been lost 
 from the Heb. in transmission. Cf. Neh. 10^*' ^3. 
 
 g 722 xhe order in Ezra is here different. 
 
 *> 733 The original list probably gave the clans first, then the inhabitants of the different 
 towns, and then the groups of temple ministers. This order has been restored. 
 
 ' 733 So Ezra 2-'>, which also omits, other, before Nebo. 
 
 J 725 So I Esdr. 5'^, supported by the context. Heb., children. 
 
 k 725 I Esdr. 517, Bether. Cf. Josh. IS^s, I Chr. 6^ (Gk.). This may be original. 
 
 1 729 I Esdr. S"-^ inserts this last group. The exact form and identification of the names 
 cannot be determined. The first may be identified with the place mentioned in Josh. 15" and 
 I Mac 7^" 
 
 m'y:*. 37 So I Esdr. 522. Heb., children. 
 
 n 735 xhe last group is found in I Esdr. 5''. 
 
 ° 7« So I Esdr. S^'. 
 
 380
 
 CENSUS OF THE JEWS IN PALESTINE [Neh. 7^^ 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 and forty-eight. "^^The porters: The children of Shalhim, the children of 
 Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akknb, the children of llatita, 
 the children of Shobai, a hundred and thirty-eight. 
 
 "^'^The temple servants: The children of Ziha, the children of ITasupa^ the Tem- 
 children of Tabbaoth, ^"the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the cliil- sia'ves 
 dren of Padon, ^^''the children of Lebana, the children of Ilagaba, the chil- 
 dren of Akkub,P the children of Salmai, "^^the children of Ilanan, the 
 children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, s^the children of Reaiah, the 
 children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, ^ithe children of Gazzani, the 
 children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, ^Hhe children of Besai, the children 
 of Asnah,'^ the children of Menunim, the children of Nephsheisim, ^-^the 
 children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakuj)ha, the children of Ilarhur, 
 ^"^the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Ilarsha, 
 ^^the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, 
 56the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 
 
 ^'^The children of Solomon's servants: The children of Sotai, the children Clans 
 of Sophereth, the children of Perida, ^^the children of Jaala, the children of ni„n's"' 
 Darkon, the children of Giddel, ^^the children of Shephatiah, the children ^er^^^ 
 of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Anion.'" 
 6°A11 the temple servants and the children of Solomon's servants were three 
 hundred and ninety-two. 
 
 61 And these were they who went up from Tel-melah and Tel-har.sha: Clans 
 Cherub,® Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers' houses "oes-^ 
 nor their descent, whether they were of Israel. ^-The children of Delaiah, \f^l\f^ 
 the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two. geneal- 
 63And of the priests: The children of Hobaiah, the children of Ilakkoz, °^^ 
 the children of Barzillai, wdio took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the 
 Gileadite, and was called by their name. ^'^These sought their register 
 among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found; there- 
 fore they were excluded from the priesthood, as unclean. '^''And the gov- 
 ernor commanded them not to eat of the most holy things, until a })riest stood 
 up with the Urim and Tluunmim. 
 
 6^he whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred Total 
 and sixty,* ^''besides their male and female slaves, of whom tlicrc were seven ""'" '^'" 
 thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. And they had two hundred and ^^^'^^""^ 
 forty-five singing men and singing women. *'^Their horses were seven animals 
 hundred and thirty-six; their mules, two hundred and forty-five;" ^'''theirv 
 camels, four hundred and thirty-five; their^ asses, six thousand seven hundred 
 and twenty. 
 
 ^ ' — — 
 
 t>7*^ Supplieil from Ezra 2". „ , ,. ^ ^, ^^ , „ 
 
 1 7-'^ Supplied from Ezra 2-'<>. I Esdr. ^-^ has a still larger list than Neh. or Jizra. 
 
 ' 7'''-> I lOs'lr. .5^' ail<is eiglit more names, but they cannot all be identified. 
 
 • 7'" So I l';sdr. .5»', which adds, whose leader uas Cherub. 
 
 t?'^^ I I'^sdr. .5" adds, porliaps preserviiiK in full the original, Israelites twelve years old 
 and over, apart from the mute itml fcinale nl(jres. , , ., »i -^ 
 
 "7"" This verse is lacking in the standard text and was not reckoned by the Mn-ssontes 
 as one of the verses of the book. It and ««, which resembles it, were probably later additions 
 to the list. 
 
 V 71H1 Adding, tkt;ir, from Ezra 2'''^ 
 
 881
 
 Neh. 113] ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY 
 
 Inhabi- 
 tants 
 of Jeru- 
 salem : 
 the 
 
 Judah- 
 ites 
 
 The 
 
 Benja- 
 
 mites 
 
 The 
 
 priests 
 
 The 
 Levites 
 
 § 166. Population of Jerusalem and the Villages, Xeh. ll^-^e (cf. I Chr. 9*-^') 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 Neh. H ^Now these are the chiefs of the province who dwelt in Jeru- 
 salem; but in the cities of Judah every man dwelt in his possession in their 
 cities: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the children 
 of Solomon's servants. ^And in Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of 
 Judah and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah : Athaiah 
 the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Sheph- 
 athiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez. ^All the sons of 
 Perez who dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant 
 men.^ And of the sons of Zerah: Jeual and their clansmen, six hundred 
 and ninety.'^ ^And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, 
 the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, 
 the son of the Shelanite. 
 
 ''And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the 
 son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, 
 the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.^ ^And his clansmen^" were mighty 
 warriors,*' nine hundred and twenty-eight. ^x\nd Joel the son of Zichri was 
 appointed over them; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second in charge 
 of the city. 
 
 i^Of the priests: Jedaiah, Joiarib,'^ Jachin, ^^and Seraiah the son of Hil- 
 kiah, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of 
 the house of God, ^-and their clansmen who did the work of the house, eight 
 hundred and twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroboam, the son of Pela- 
 liah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of 
 Malchijah, ^^and his clansmen, chiefs of fathers' houses, two hundred and 
 forty-two; and Amasai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshil- 
 lemoth, the son of Immer, ^^and his® clansmen, mighty warriors, a hundred 
 and twenty-eight; and Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim was appointed over 
 them. 
 
 ^■^And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, 
 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; ^*^and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of 
 the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outside work of the 
 house of God; ^"and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zikri,^ the son of 
 Asaph, who was the leader of the songs of praise, and Bakbukiah was the 
 
 § 166 In this section the awkward literary style, the peculiar themes and the prominence 
 of the Levites, the porters, the singers, the temple servants and the children of Solomon's ser- 
 vants, who figure in the Chronicler's other writings, are all in evidence. He has introduced 
 practically the same list in I Chr. 9*-'''. It is probable that it largeb' originated with him. It 
 is instructive chiefly as it illustrates the organization of the community which gathered about 
 the temple in the ilays of the Chronicler and in the half-century immediately preceding. 
 
 ""11^ Evidently this verse was transposed by mistake. 
 
 ^ 11^ Filling in the obvious hiatus from I Chr. 9^- •'. 
 
 * 11^' 8 A comparison with the parallel in I Chr. 9^' ^ indicates that the list is here incom- 
 plete. 
 
 b 118 So Luc. and the analogies 12. >3. » and I Chr. 9^. 
 
 <= 11* The Heb., Gabbai Sallai, is due to the corruption of the Heb. words for mighty war- 
 riors. Cf. ". 
 
 d 111" So I Chr. 910. 
 
 <> 111' So Gk. 
 
 f ll" SoGk. andLat. 
 
 382
 
 POPULATION OF JERUSALEM [Nkii. ll^^ 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical Histori/ 
 
 second among his clansmen; and Abda the son of Shanimiia, the son of 
 Galal. the son of Jeduthun. ^^'All the Levites in the holy city were two 
 hundred and eio;hty-four. 
 
 ^^Moreoyer the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their Idnsmen, who kept The 
 watch at the gates, were a hundred and seventy-two. ^^But the temple ^^"^ ^"^^ 
 servants dwelt in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants. 
 
 --The one appointed over the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Officials 
 Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of ]\Iica, of the pf,inted 
 sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of tlie house of God. -nHjr there }'•>' *^® 
 
 . . . . king 
 
 was a command s from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for 
 the singers, as each day required. ^^And Pethahiah the son of Meshezebel, 
 of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, advised the king** in all matters 
 concerning the peo|)le. 
 
 -''And the rest of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, were in all the cities Inliabi- 
 of Judah, each in his inheritance. ^^And as to the estates' with their fields, Jf t^g 
 some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kiriath-arba and its dej)endent vil- "^^^'^ 
 lages, in Dibon and its dependent villages, in Jekabzeel and its estates, -"^in and vil- 
 Jeshua, in Moladalu in Beth-pelet, -'in Ilazar-shual, and in Beersheba paies-" 
 and its dependent villages, 29in En-rimnion, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, ^OZanoah, *"^^ 
 Adullam and their estates, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its dependent 
 villages. So they had their places of temporary abode from Beersheba to 
 the valley of Hinnom. "^^The children of Benjamin also dwelt at Geba, 
 Michmash, Aija, Bethel, and its dependent villages, 32at Anathoth, Nob, 
 Ananiah, ^Sjjazor, Ramali, Gittaim, ^^Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, "^^""Lod, 
 and Ono, the valley of the craftsmen. ^6 \j^j ^f ^j^g Levites, certain divisions 
 in Judah were joined to Benjamin. 
 
 § 167. Genealogy of the Priests and Levites, Xeh. 12'-*' 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical liistonj 
 
 Xeh. 1*2 ^Now these arc tlie {)riests and the Levites who went up with Ilcafls 
 Zerubbabel the sou of Shealticl and Jeshua, Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, -Ama- priestly 
 riah, Malluch, Ilattush, ^ghecaniah, Harim,J jNIeremoth, -^Iddo, Ginne- clans 
 thon,^ Abijah, -^Mijamin, Maaziah,' Bilgah, ^Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 
 
 e 1123 Probably a reference to the decree of Cyrus which comes from the Chronicler and is 
 preserved in I F.sdr. 4'''. Cf. § 144. 
 
 h 11-' Heb., was at the king's hand. Cf. I Chr. 18>'. 
 
 ' 11''' Cf. Lev. 2.5". 
 
 §107 The difficulties of this section are bafflinp;. In '« the names, which h.ive already 
 been assisned by the Chronicler in 10-'* to the days of I-:zra, are connected witii tlie return tin.ler 
 Zerubbabel. These again recur in '--2' with many variations; but there they are a-ssigned to tlie 
 generation immediately foliowinc the return under Cyrus. In 'o. " the Ciironicler Kives what 
 appears to be an authentic list of the high-priests of the Persian period. It is priibal)le that 
 these verses and also tlie names of the Levites were derived frotn the Hook of Ihc ( hronicles to 
 which he refers in '<. Otherwise the rest of the section seems to be from the editor. 
 
 i 12' ("f. '"' and 10''. 
 
 k 12' Cf. >'■ and 10". 
 
 ' 12' Cf. 10" Heb., MaadUih. " Moadiah. 
 
 383
 
 Neh. 12'] ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History 
 
 ■^Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah."^ These were the chiefs of the priests and of 
 
 their clansmen in the days of Jeshua. 
 
 Hoads ^Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and 
 
 fevitical Mattauiah, he and his clansmen were in charge of the thanksgiving. ^Also 
 
 clans Bakbukiah and Unno,° their brethren, stood over against them in performing 
 
 the duties of their office. 
 priests ^^And Jeshua begat Joiakim, and Joiakim begat Eliashib, and Eliashib 
 Persian begat Joiada, i^and Joiada begat Johanan,° and Johanan begat Jaddua. 
 period i-'And in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of fathers' houses: 
 Heads of Seraiah, Meraiah, of Jeremiah, Hananiah; ^^of Ezra, MeshuUam; of 
 priestly Amariah, Jehohanan; ^^of Malluch,P Jonathan; of Shecaniah,^ Joseph; ^^of 
 fathers' Harim, Adna; of Meremoth, '^ Helkai; ^''of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, 
 MeshuUam; ^''of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Maadiah, Piltai; ^^of 
 Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; ^^and of Joiarib, Mattenai; 
 of Jedaiah, Uzzi; ^Oof Sallu,^ Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 2iof Hilkiah, Hasha- 
 biah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel. 
 Heads 22Qf ^\^q Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, 
 °evihcal were recorded the heads of the fathers' houses; also the priests until* the reign 
 fathers' of Darius the Persian." '^^Th^ sons of Levi, heads of fathers' houses, were 
 written in the Book of the Chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the 
 son of Eliashib. 24^nd the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, 
 Jeshua, Bennui, and KadmieP with their clansmen Mattaniah, and Bak- 
 bukiah, Obadiah"^ over against them, to praise and give thanks, according 
 to the command of David the man of God, one division following another. 
 ^^MeshuUam, Talmon, and Akkub, the porters, kept watch over the store- 
 rooms at the gates, ^e-pj^ggg ^ere in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, 
 the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra 
 the priest, the scribe. 
 
 ■° 12^ This is found also in «, but cf. "-=1. The second may be for Adajah, ll^, I Chr. 9^. 
 
 ° 12" Wanting in Gk. and Luc. Also in the margin of the Heb. the second name is inter- 
 preted as a verb. 
 
 ° 12" So 22. 23 and 3os.,Ant., XI, 71. Heb., Jonathan. 
 
 P12" So 2. 
 
 1 12'* So Gk. and Luc. and 3. According to 2 Hattush has here dropped out. 
 
 '■1215 So Luc. and 3. 
 
 » 1220 So 7. 
 
 t 1222 The verse is obscure. A slight correction supported by the Gk. and Lat. gives the 
 above intelligible reading. 
 
 " 1222 Darius II, 335-332 B.C., the last king of Persia. 
 
 v 122-' Slightly correcting the text with the aid of Gk. and Luc. 
 
 " 1224 According to 11'^ the first three names of 25 in the Heb. are to be connected with 2*. 
 
 384.
 
 THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE 
 
 I AND II Maccabees
 
 THE MACCABEAX STRUGGLE 
 
 I 
 
 CAUSES OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE, I Mac. 1 
 
 § 168. Alexander the Great and his Successors, I Mac. 1^ » 
 
 Histori/ of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I 3Iac. 1 ^Xow after Alexander the Macedonian, the son of Philip, who Alex- 
 came from the land of Chittim,^ had smitten Darius king of the Persians „on. ^ 
 and Medes, he reigned in his place as the first ruler of the Syrian kingdom.*^ quests 
 
 ^He foun;lit many battles, ' 
 
 And won many strongholds, 
 
 And slew the kings of the earth;" 
 ^He went on to the end.s of the earth; 
 
 And took spoils from a multitude of nations. 
 ^And when the earth was at peace before him. 
 
 He was exalted and his heart was lifted up; 
 
 He gathered an army exceeding great. 
 
 And ruled over countries and peoples and principalities; 
 
 And they became tributary to him. 
 
 ^Thereupon he fell sick, and when he perceived that he should die, ^'he Divis- 
 called his most distinguished servants, who had been brought up with him o^'iis 
 from bovhood; and while he was vet alive, he divided his kingdom anions: empire 
 
 J * — ' ^ ' after 
 
 them." 'So Alexander after he had reigned twelve years died. ^Then his 
 
 death 
 
 Causes of the Maccabean Struggle.— In 198 B.C. Judea passed finally under the control 
 of the Syrian kingdom, with its capital at Antif)oh. The fusion of Greek and oriental civiliza- 
 tions, which resulted froiu Alexander's conquests, contained the ba-ser and more deEenerate 
 element of both. Luxury, greed, duplicity, and immorality ruled at .\ntioch and e.\erted their 
 pernicious influence throughout the kingdom. Its different kings, invohed in almost constant 
 wars, compelled after 190 B.C. to pay a heavy annual triijute to Rome, and ambitious lo main- 
 tain a splendid court, drained the resources of their realm. On the other liand, the .lews were 
 already hated because of their peculiar religious ideas, their exclusive institutions, and their 
 higher morals and superior business ability, which had brought, especially to those of the dis- 
 persion, great wealth. As I and II Mac. clearly declare, the .lews were also berr.ayed by the 
 aposta-sy anrl greed of certain of their leatlers. Greek ideas and culture were beginning to under- 
 mine .Judaism. The despotic policy of Antiochus Eiiiphanes and the immediate e\ents that 
 precipitate<l the crisis brought the .Jewish r.ace its supreme crisis, but also sa\ed it in the enti 
 from the deadlier danger of being absorbed by Hellenism. For the analysis and history of I and 
 II Mac, cf. Introd.. pp. 3.5-40. 
 
 § 168 This brief section connects the conquests of Alexander in 333-332 n.c. with the 
 struggle which began a century and a half later. 
 
 ^ 1' Cf. .Jer. 2'", Ezek. 27", the Mediterranean islands and coast lands. 
 
 ^ V Following what was prob.ably the lleb. origin.al. f/ellnn here represents the Syrian 
 kingdom. Cf. 1'", Dan. S^\ lO^o. 113, and Torrey in .Jour. AOS.. XXV, pp. .Sn2 -311. 
 
 ' P Ah in the earlier historical books anrl elsewhere in I Mac, the author evidently l\ere 
 either quotes from older poems or epics, which recounted the events which he was recording, 
 or else he himself adopts the poetic form. 
 
 "< 1" The popular tra<lition that he divided his empire among his followers before his dciilh 
 was widely circulated, probably by his successors, to substantiate their titles, but it \\:f< lo his- 
 torical support. 
 
 387
 
 I Mac. 18] CAUSES OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 his servants ruled each in his place. ^After his death they all put on diadems, 
 and so did their sons after them many years; and they multiplied evils in the 
 earth. 
 
 § 169. Seleucus's Futile Attempt to Rob the Temple, II Mac. 3 
 
 Traditional History of the Maccabean Struggle 
 
 Simon's II Mac. 3 ^While the holy city lay in perfect peace, and the laws were 
 cious very well kept because of the piety of Onias the high priest and because of 
 IV^Sild- ^^^^ hatred of wickedness, ^even the kings themselves honored the place, 
 ing the and glorified the temple with the most valuable presents ; ^so that even Seleucus 
 wealth the king of Asia from his own revenues bore all the expenses connected 
 temple ^^^^^^ ^^^^ sacrificial services. "^But a certain Simon of the tribe of Benjamin, 
 having been made guardian of the temple, disagreed with the high priest 
 about the management of the city market. ^And since he could not over- 
 come Onias, he went to Apollonius the son of Thraseus,^ who at that time 
 was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia; ®and reported that the treasury in 
 Jerusalem was so full of untold sums of money, that the amount of the funds 
 was countless, not including the account of the sacrifices, and that it was 
 possible that these should fall into the king's power. ^When Apollonius 
 met the king, he informed him of the money of which he had been told; 
 and [the king] appointed Heliodorus his prime minister, and sent him with 
 orders to efi^ect the removal of the aforesaid money. ^So Heliodorus at once 
 set out on the journey, ostensibly to visit the cities of Coelesyria and Phoe- 
 nicia, but in reality to accomplish the king's purpose. 
 Helio- ^When he had arnved at Jerusalem, and had been courteously received 
 (lemand by the high priest and^ the city, he presented the information which had been 
 monev'^ given him, and explained why he had come. He also inquired if these things 
 be were indeed so. ^"^Then the high priest showed him that the money rep- 
 
 un to resented the deposits of widows and orphans, ^^and also some belonging to 
 king Hyrcanus the son of Tobias, a man in very high position, and that it was 
 not as that impious Simon falsely alleged, and that in all there were four hun- 
 
 § 169 This story has evidently been greatly expanded and embellished in transmission, but 
 it is jjrobable that there are historical facts at its basis. This probability is strengthened by 
 the discovery of the name of Heliodorus, who ivas brought up iriih King Seleucus Philopater and 
 U'as prime-minister (lit., appointed over the affairs as in <■), on the base of a statue dedicated to 
 Apollo by certain Phoenician shipmasters. Cf. Deissmann, Bibelstudien, pp. 173-5. In 187 
 B.C. Seleucus's predecessor, .4ntiochus the Great, met his death, according to tradition, while 
 plundering the temple of Elymais. The growmg weakness of the kingdom, the e.xpense of its 
 many wars and the necessity of paying heavy tribute to Rome led the unprincipled Syrian 
 rulers to resort to every possible expedient for securing money. The sanctuary -at Jerusalem 
 had become, like the ancient Babylonian temples, a place where private as well as public funds 
 were deposited, that they might be under the protection of the Deity. Kings who had already 
 formed the habit of robbing temples would not hesitate to loot the shrine of the .Jews. Possibly 
 the ba.sis of the story in its present form was some unusual experience which aroiised the super- 
 stitious fear of the temple robbers. The tale was one that appealed strongly to the imagination 
 of the painters of the middle ages. Cf. Rafael's presentation of this scene in the Vatican to 
 illustrate the victory of Pojie .Tulius II over his foes. 
 
 ^ 3= The identity of this ,\pollonius the son of Thraseus is doubtful. Cf. 4* and I Mac. 
 3'". The original may have read, of Tarsus. 
 
 ' 3^ So Syr., Lat., and allied MSS. Gk. omits the connective. 
 
 388
 
 ATTEMPTS TO ROB THE TEMPLE [H Mac. 3^^ 
 
 Traditional Historij of the Maccahean Struggle 
 
 dred talents of silver and two hundred of gold;*? ^^.^mi ^]y^^ jj. ^^^^ y^y ^^^ means 
 
 permissible that those should be wronged who had put trust in the sanctity 
 
 of the place and in the majesty and inviolability of the temple, honored over 
 
 all the world. ^"^But Heliodorus, because of the orders which he had from 
 
 the king, said that in any case tliis money must be confiscated for the king's 
 
 treasury'. 
 
 i^When on the day wliich he had appointed, he entered to direct the in- Distress 
 quiry concerning these matters, there was great distress throughout the en- prayers 
 tire city. ^°The priests, prostrating themselves before the altar in their of.tlie 
 priestly garments, called to Heaven,'^ to him who gave the law concerning am!" ^ 
 deposits, that he should preserve these safe for those who had deposited p®°i^^® 
 them. ^*^And whoever saw the mien of the higli priest was w^ounded in heart, 
 for liis countenance and the change in his color betrayed his mental distress. 
 ^"For a terror and a shuddering of the body had come over the man, whereby 
 the pain that was in his heart became manifest to those who looked upon 
 him. ^^The people rushed out of their houses in throngs to make a common 
 supplication because the place was in danger of faUiug into contempt. ^''And 
 the women, girded with sackcloth under their breasts, filled the streets. The 
 virgins also hurried from their seclusion, some to the gates, others to the 
 walls, and some looked out through the windows, ^o^^j^^j .^j]^ stretching out 
 their hands to Heaven, made their supplication. -^It was a pitiful sight: 
 the multitude prostrating themselves, all mingled together, and the high 
 priest in extreme distress, but expectant. 
 
 22\Vhile therefore they called upon the Almighty Lord to keep the things Over- 
 committed to them safe and secure for those who had intrusted them, ^^Helio- *f ""^ 
 dorus went on to execute the decree. ^^But iust as he with his cuard was Helio- 
 there at the treasury, the Sovereign of sjiirits and of all authority' produced by tiie 
 a great apparition, so that all who had presumed to come in with him, mes-'^ 
 smitten with dismay at the power of God, were made faint and fearful, sengers 
 2°For there was seen by them a horse with a terrible rider, and adorned with 
 beautiful trappings, which rushed fiercely and struck at Heliodorus with 
 his forefeet. But he who sat upon the 4iorse a[)j)eared to have a complete 
 armor of gold. 26'|\yQ other young men also apjieared to him, distinguished 
 by their strength and beautiful in their splendor, and gorgeous in their ap- 
 parel, who stood by him on either side and scourged him unceasingly, in- 
 flicting on him many stripes. 27^j)(j j^g fg]i suddenly to the ground, and 
 great darkness came over him; but lie was caught up and put into a litter. 
 "^^He who had just entercil with a great train and all his guard into the afore- 
 .said treasury was now himself being carried, altogether unable to help him- 
 self; and he recognized clearly the sovereignty of God. ^o^nd .so through 
 
 K .3" If reckoned in Hebrew talents the tot-il gives an almost fabulous sum: about seven 
 hundred thousand dolhirs in silver and four million two hundred thousand in gold. Probably 
 the smaller Syrian talents (about half as large) wore intended. 
 
 •" .3"" Heaven is here and elsewhere in the book used as the eiuivalent of Ood, possibly in 
 order to avoid the mention of the divine name. ('f. the use of the term, kingdom oj heaven, in 
 Mt. as the e()ui\'alent of Kiiiudom of G 'd. 
 
 ' 3^^ Many texts here read, Lord of the fathers and Sovereign of tdl authority. 
 
 389
 
 His 
 
 deliver- 
 ance 
 and 
 testi- 
 mony 
 to 
 
 God's 
 power 
 
 II Mac. 329] CAUSES OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE 
 
 Traditional Historij of the Maccabean Struggle 
 
 the working of God he lay prostrate, speechless, and bereft of all hope of 
 deliverance. ^^But [the Jews] blessed the Lord, who had so miraculously 
 honored his own place; and the temple, which a little before had been full 
 of terror and alarm, was filled with joy and gladness, after the Almighty 
 Lord appeared. 
 
 ^^But quickly certain of Heliodorus's familiar friends besought Onias to 
 call upon the Most High, and grant life to him who lay at the very point of 
 death. J ^^^^j t}jg high priest, secretly fearing lest the king might conceive the 
 idea that some treachery toward Heliodorus had been perpetrated by the 
 Jews, brought a sacrifice for the deliverance of the man. ^"^But as the high 
 priest was making the propitiation, the same young men appeared again to 
 Heliodorus, arrayed in the same garments; and they stood and said, Give 
 Onias the high priest great thanks, since for his sake the Lord hath granted 
 thee life. ^'^And do thou, since thou hast been scourged from heaven, make 
 known to all men the mighty power of God. When they had spoken these 
 words, they vanished out of sight. ^'^So Heliodorus ofi^ered a sacrifice to the 
 Lord and vowed very great^ vows to him who had saved his life. Then with 
 a gracious farewell to Onias, he returned with his army to the king. ^^And 
 he testified to all men the works of the supreme God which he had beheld 
 with his eyes. ^'^And when the king asked Heliodorus what kind of a man 
 was fit to be sent yet again to Jerusalem, he said, ^^If you have any enemy 
 or conspirator against the state, send him thither, and you will receive him 
 back well scourged, if he escape even with his life; because of a truth there 
 is about the place the power of God. ^^Por he who has his dwelling in 
 heaven is the watchman and protector of that place; and he smites and de- 
 stroys those who come to hurt it. ^^Such was the issue of Heliodorus's 
 attempt and the guarding of the treasury.' 
 
 § 170. Atrocities of the Jewish Hellenizing Leaders, I Mac. P^-'^ II Mac. 4 
 
 Traditional History of the Maccabean Struggle 
 
 II Mac. 4 ^Now the Simon already mentioned as having been the be- 
 trayer of the funds of his country, slandered Onias, saying that it was he 
 tioch to ^vho incited Heliodorus, and had been the author of these evils; ^and this 
 teract benefactor of the city, and guardian of his fellow-countrymen, and zealot 
 slanders f'^'' the laws, he dared to call a conspirator against the state. ^But when 
 
 Onias's 
 mission 
 to An 
 
 J 3^1 Lit., at the last gasp. 
 
 ^ S^^ Lit., the greatest. 
 
 ' ,3^" Gk., lit., things concerning H cliodorus and the guarding of the treasury. 
 
 § 170 Greek culture from .332 b.c. on encircled and pressed the Jews on every side. Greek 
 was the language of commerce, as well as of their conquerors. Even the sacred scriptures 
 had been translated into it. The .Jews of the dispersion were enveloped in Hellenic civilization, 
 while those of Palestine met it when they went westward to the rich Greek cities of the Philistine 
 plain, or northward to Samaria, or to the strong Greek cities east of the Jordan, or even to 
 Idumea on the south. Traders and Syrian officials brought it to their very doors; an<l finally 
 the ruling Syrian party in Judaism itself began to adopt it because it was attractive and the 
 way to preferment at Antioch. Opposed to it were the Puritans who rallied about tlie law and 
 the ritual of the temple. They undoubtedly still longed for the less exacting rule of Egypt 
 and found strong supporters in their kinsmen at Alexandria, if not in the Egyptian court. Thus 
 the two parties were divided not only on religious, but also on political lines, and this fact 
 undoubtedly throws light upon the attitude of the Syrian court. 
 
 390
 
 ATROCITIES OF THE JEWISH LEADERS [II Mac. 4^ 
 
 Traditiotuil Hislory of ihe Maccabcan Struggle 
 
 the enmity reached such a state that murders were conunitted by one of 
 Simon's trusted followers, ^Onias, comprehending how dangerous the con- 
 tention was and how Apollonius ™ as the governor of Coelesyria and Phoe- 
 nicia, by his rage was increasing Simon's malice, •''betook himself to that 
 king not to be an accuser of his fellow-citizens, but mindful of both the 
 pubHc and the private welfare; *^for he saw that unless the king made some 
 provision the state could not again obtain peace, and that Simon would not 
 cease from his folly. 
 
 "But w^hen Seleucus was dead and Antiochus Eager- 
 
 Hisforij of the Hasmo- 
 iieans 
 
 I 3Iac. 1 lOXow there 
 came forth from [Alex- 
 ander's successors] a sin- 
 ful root, Antiochus Epi- 
 plianes, son of Antiochus 
 the king, who had been a 
 hostage at Rome, and he 
 began to reign in the one 
 hundred and thirty-sev- 
 enth year of the Syrian 
 rule." ^^In those days 
 there appeared from 
 among the people of Is- 
 rael those who disre- 
 garded the law, who per- 
 suaded manv, saving. Eet 
 us go and make a cove- 
 nant with the heathen 
 about us; for since we 
 have stood aloof from 
 them many evils have be- 
 fallen us. ^-.Vnd the pro- 
 posal met with approval. 
 ^^And certain of the peo- 
 ple acted with prompt- 
 ness, and went to the king 
 who gave them the right 
 to do as the heathen. 
 ^^Then they built a place 
 for gj'mnastic exercise in 
 
 and cus- 
 toms 
 
 who was called Epiphanes [Illustrious] sue- certain 
 ceeded to the kingdom. Jason the brother of f'o''- 
 
 tntc 
 
 Onias surreptitiously obtained the high priest- Jews to 
 hood^ by promising to the king at an audience Greek 
 three hundred and sixty talents of silver 
 from another fund eighty talents. ^Moreover, 
 he undertook to assign*^ a hundred and fifty more, 
 if he might be allowed by his authority to set up 
 for himself a Greek place for gymnastic exercise 
 and a special place for the youths, and to register 
 the inhabitants of Jerusalem as the citizens of 
 Antioch. ^^With the assent of the king, he se- 
 cured the ofKce, and at once brought over those 
 of his own race to the Greek fashion. ^k\nd set- 
 ting aside the privileges settled upon the Jews by 
 the king, through the efforts of John the father 
 of Eupolemus, who went on the embassy to the 
 Romans for friendship and alliance, and abol- 
 ishing the lawful modes of life, he introduced 
 new customs forbidden by the law; ^^for he 
 gladly established a Greek place for gymnastic 
 exercise under the citadel itself; and induced the 
 noblest of the young men to wear the Greek cap. 
 ^■^There was such an extreme of Hellenism and 
 a withdrawal to alien customs because of the 
 superlative infamy of Jason, that ungodly man 
 and no high priest, ^'^that the priests were no 
 longer zealous for the services of the altar ; but 
 despising the sanctuary and neglecting the sac- 
 rifices, they hastened to take part in that which 
 was unlawfully provided in the palaistra, after 
 the proclamation of the discus-throwing; ^^de- 
 
 ■"II Mac. 4* Hort conjectures, but wnhoui textual support, that the original read, 
 Apolloniun, the son of Menestheua. But this Apollonius was probably the same as the one 
 mentioned in 3^. 
 
 " I .M.ac. 1'" I.e., in 17.5 n.c. The Syrian (lit., Greek) rule refers to that of the Seleucid 
 Syrian kingdom, established in ."512 n.c. Cf. § 108, note ^. 
 
 "11 -Mac. 4" Following cursive texts.
 
 I Mac. 11^] CAUSES OF THE STRUGGLE [II Mac. 4i5 
 
 Traditional History of the Maccahean Struggle 
 
 History of the Hasmo- 
 neans 
 
 Jerusalem according to 
 the customs of the hea- 
 then. ^^They also made 
 themselves uncircum- 
 cised, and, forsaking the 
 holy covenant, fraternized 
 with the heathen, and 
 sold themselves to do 
 evil. 
 
 spising what was esteemed by their fathers and 
 deeming the Greek honors best of all. ^'^For 
 these reasons severe calamity overtook them; 
 and the men whose ways they emulated, and 
 whom they wished to be like in every respect, 
 these became their enemies and chastisers. ^'^For 
 it is not a light thing to sin against the laws of 
 God. This the course of time will show. 
 
 Jason's ^^When certain games held every fifthP year were celebrated at Tyre, and 
 t*o Itler^ ^^^ ^^"g "^^^ present, ^^the vile Jason sent envoys from Jerusalem, Antio- 
 cules chians, bearing three hundred drachmas of silver'i for the sacrifice to Her- 
 cules. But the bearers requested that they would not use them for sacrifice, 
 since it was not fitting, but reserve them for other expenses. ^^So this money 
 intended by the sender for the sacrifice to Hercules, because of the bearers, 
 went for the equipment of the galleys. 
 Anti- 2iwhen Apollonius the son of Menestheus was sent into Egypt on account 
 vLit*to o^ the enthronement of Philometor'" as king, Antiochus, discovering that 
 Jej-u- the latter had become hostile to his rule, gave heed to his own security. He 
 therefore came to Joppa and then went on to Jerusalem. ^^Here he was 
 magnificently received by Jason and the city, and was brought in with torches 
 and shoutings. Afterward he led his army down into Phoenicia. 
 Sup- ^^Atter an interval of three years Jason sent Menelaus, a brother of the 
 
 fng"of Simon already mentioned, to carry the money to the king and to make re- 
 Jason ports concerning some necessary matters. 24]3u|- \^^^ \yy commending him- 
 Mene- self to the king, and extolling him with the mien of a man of influence, secured 
 h^igh^^ the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred talents 
 priest of silver. 25j^g returned with the royal mandates, although he was not at 
 all worthy of the high priesthood, but had the passion of a cruel tyrant and 
 the rage of a savage beast. -^''Then Jason, who had supplanted his own 
 brother, being supplanted by another, was driven as a fugitive into the country 
 of the Ammonites, 27and Menelaus had possession of the office. But none of 
 the money which had been promised to the king was duly paid, though 
 Sostratus the governor of the citadel demanded it -^(for he had charge over 
 the collection of the revenues). For this cause they were both called by the 
 king to his presence; ^^and Menelaus left his own brother Lysimachus as 
 his deputy in the high priesthood; and Sostratus left Crates, the governor of 
 the Cyprians. 
 Murder ^*^While such was the state of affairs, it transpired that the citizens of 
 Onias Tarsus and Mallus revolted, because they were to be given as a present to 
 fiistiea- Aiitiochis the king's concubine. ^^The king therefore came thither in all 
 
 tion of 
 
 Mene- 
 laus P 11 Mac. 4'8 Really every fourth year, probably in imitation of the Olympic games. 
 
 1 II Mac. 419 The sum is surprisingly small, not more than fifty dollars. The Syr. and 
 certain MSS. read, three thousand, three hundred. 
 
 ' 42' Following the reading of the Lat. and the cursive Gk. MSS.
 
 ATROCITIES OF THE JEWISH LEADERS [II Mac. 4^1 
 
 Traditional History of the Maccahean Struggle 
 
 haste to settle matters, leaving for his deputy Andronicus, a man of high 
 rank. -^-Then Menelaus, thinking that he had found a favorable oppor- 
 tunity, presented to Andronicus certain gold vessels of the temple, which he 
 had stolen; others also he had already sold at Tyre and the neighboring 
 cities. ^-^And Onias, who had withdrawn into a sanctuary at Daphne,^ 
 located near Antioch, when he had positive information of this, sharply re- 
 proved him. ^^Therefore Menelaus took Andronicus aside and besought 
 him to kill Onias. He, being persuaded to use treachery, came to Onias 
 and swore with uplifted hand and gave him his right hand* and so, though 
 he was suspected, persuaded him to come forth from the sanctuary; then 
 he immediately despatched him without regard for justice. 
 
 ^^On account of this not only Jews but also many of the other nations, Punish- 
 were provoked and full of indignation over the unjust murder of the man. "1"^^"' " 
 ^*^When the king had returned from the places in Cilicia, the Jews who were "'"■■- 
 in the city complained because Onias had been wrongfully slain. ■^'And 
 the Greeks showed their indignation. Antiochus therefore was heartily sorry, 
 and was moved to pity, and wept, because of the sober and well-ordered life 
 of him who was dead; ^^and burning with indignation, he at once stripped 
 Andronicus of his j)urple robe, tore off his garments and, after leading him 
 round through the whole city to that very place where he had committed 
 the impiety against Onias, he there put the murderer to death. Thus the 
 Lord rendered to him the punishment he deserved. 
 
 2^Xow when many temple thefts had been committed in the city by Lysim- Death 
 achus, with the consent of Menelaus, and a report was circulated outside, the "einpte- 
 people gathered together against Lysimachus, after many gold vessels had been robber, 
 already carried away. *^At the uprising of multitudes who were filled with achus 
 anger, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men and assumed the offen- 
 sive. A certain Auranus, a man advanced in years and no less also in wick- 
 edness, led the onset. '*Uiut as soon as they were aware of the attack of Lysim- 
 achus, some caught up stones, others logs of wood, and some took handfuls 
 of the ashes that lay near, and flung them all pell-mell upon Tyvsiinacluis's 
 men. ^~liY these means they wounded many of them, some they struck to the 
 ground, and all of them they forced to flee. The temple-thief himself they 
 killed beside the treasury. 
 
 '^•^An accusation regarding these matters was laid against ISIenelaus. Unjust 
 ^And when the king arrived at Tyre, the three men, who were sent by the f,^['",f " 
 senate, pleaded the cause before him. '^''IJut just when he was worsted, ,*j|y"^ 
 Menelaus })romised much money to Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes to win aii<l ilie 
 over the king. **'^Thereupon Ptolemy, taking the king aside into a cloister. J"-^,*^"'" 
 as it were to take the air, won him over, ^z^^,,,] Mfiu-laus, who was the cause "f ".'<; 
 of all the evil, he acquitted of the accusations; but those ha|)less men, who, reprc- 
 if they had addressed even Scythians," would have been discharged uncon- J'f^'"'" 
 
 sonta- 
 es 
 
 a 4x1 The more natural I'.nR. idiom has been adopted. 
 
 ' 4'^ Lit., riiiHinf) rtf/lil liiinri villi odllis. 
 
 " 4" Cf. Cicero's oration aKaitist Vcrres II, 5''".
 
 II Mac. 447] CAUSES OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE 
 
 Traditional Historij of the Maccabean Struggle 
 
 demned, them lie sentenced to death. '^^Quickly then did those who had 
 pleaded in behalf of the city and the people and the holy vessels suffer un- 
 just punishment. ^^For this reason even certain Tyrians, aroused to indig- 
 nation, provided magnificently for their funeral. ^*^But Menelaus through 
 the cupidity of the authorities, remained in his office, where he grew in wick- 
 edness and was a great conspirator against his fellow-citizens. 
 
 § 171. Repeated Sackings of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes, 
 
 Histori/ of the 
 Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 1 i^Now 
 
 w h e n Antiochus 
 saw that his au- 
 thority was well 
 established, h e 
 thought to reign 
 over Egypt, that 
 he might reign 
 over the two king- 
 doms, ^^go \^Q [xi- 
 
 vaded Egypt with 
 a great multi- 
 tude, with char- 
 iots and elephants 
 and horsemen, and 
 with a great navy. 
 ^^And he made 
 war against Ptol- 
 emy king of Egypt. 
 And Ptolemy was 
 defeated by him 
 and fled, and many 
 fell mortally 
 wounded. ^9\nd 
 they gained pos- 
 session of the 
 
 I Mac. l'"-"", II Mac. 5'-^^ 
 Traditional History 
 
 II Mac. 5 ^Now about this time Antiochus made his .Tason's 
 second expedition into Egypt. ^It then happened that thfe"^"*^' 
 throughout all the city, for a period of nearly forty days, attack 
 there were seen horsemen speeding in troops^' through jeni- 
 the air, wearing robes inwrought with gold and equipped ^fj™g 
 with full armor and spears; ^also the drawing of tlie ab- 
 swords, and squadrons of horse in array, and repeated Xnti- 
 encounters and pursuits on both sides, and shaking of '^^'^^^ 
 shields and multitudes of lances, and casting of darts, 
 and flashing of golden trappings, and girding on of all 
 kinds of armor. ^Therefore all men prayed that the vision 
 might portend good. ^But when a false rumor arose that 
 Antiochus was deceased, Jason took at least a thousand 
 men, and made a sudden assault upon the city. When 
 those who were on the wall had been routed, and the city 
 was at last on the point of being captured, Menelaus 
 took refuge in the citadel. "^But Jason unsparingly 
 slaughtered his own fellow-citizens without consid- 
 ering that success against kinsmen is the greatest ill- 
 success,^ but imagining that he was setting up trophies 
 over enemies and not over fellow-countrymen. ^jJqw- 
 ever, he did not obtain the office, but only shame as the 
 result of his conspiracy; and he passed again a fugitive 
 into the country of the Ammonites. *At the last there- 
 fore he met with a miserable end, after being impris- 
 oned'^ at the court of Aretas the prince of the Arabians, 
 
 § 171 II Mac. 5 dates the first sacking of Jerusalem in 168 B.C. in connection with Anti- 
 ochus's second Egyptian campaign. I Mac. 1, however, connects it probably rightly with the 
 first in 170-169 B.C. This is consistent with 2^. II Mac. appears to have confused and com- 
 bined the two events. Later, in June 168 b.c, the Romans succeeded in overcoming the Mace- 
 donian Greek Empire and at once made a peremptory demand that Antiochus retire from 
 Egypt, which he was on the point of annexing to his kingdom. His chagrin doubtless intensified 
 the bitterness of his persecution of the Jews. 
 
 V II Mac. 5- The Gk. order puts, in troops, after equipped. 
 
 "" II Mac. 5'' The Gk. contains a play on the word success: good success and ill-success. 
 
 ^ II Mac. 5' Following a reading found in several important te.xts. 
 
 394
 
 I Mac. 119] THE SACKING OF JERUSALEM [II Mac. 58 
 
 Historij of the 
 
 Hasmoncans 
 strong cities in the 
 land of Egypt, and 
 he took the spoils 
 of Egypt. 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 fleeing from city to city, pursued by all men, hated as an 
 apostate from the laws, and held in abomination as the 
 public executioner of his country and his fellow-citizens, 
 he was driven out into Egypt. ^And he who had driven 
 many from their own country perished himself in a 
 strange land, ha\dng crossed the sea to the Lacedemo- 
 nians, expecting to gain protection because thev were 
 near of kin.^ ^'^Thus he who had cast out a multitude 
 unburied had none to mourn for him, nor had he any 
 funeral at all, or place in the sepulchre of his fathers. 
 
 at Jeru 
 salein 
 
 His -^Then after Antiochus had 
 
 of^he^'^ concfuered Egypt he returned in 
 temple the hundred and forty-third 
 year,'' and went up against Is- 
 rael and Jerusalem with a great 
 multitude. -^And he insolently 
 went into the sanctuary, and 
 took the golden altar, and the 
 candelabrum, 22an(l all that be- 
 longed to the table of the show- 
 bread, and the cups for liba- 
 tions, and the bowls, and the 
 golden censers, and the curtain 
 and the garlands and decora- 
 tions which were on the front 
 of the temple — he scaled it all 
 off. ^^iVnd he took the silver 
 and the gold and the precious 
 vessels, and the hidden treas- 
 ures whi(;h he found. 2i\ij(l 
 taking all, he went away into 
 his own land, having made a 
 great slaughter, and spoken very 
 insolently. ^^Thus a great 
 mourning came ujion Israel in 
 all their places. 
 
 ''And the rulers and elders 
 
 {groaned, 
 The virgins and young men were 
 
 made feeble. 
 ''And the l)eauty of the women was 
 
 changed 
 
 11 When tidings of what had happened His 
 came to the king, he thought that Judea te*"of " 
 was in revolt. Thereupon settin<j out from V^*' 
 
 1 o Jews 
 
 Egypt in a furious temper, he took the and 
 city by force of arms, ^^and commanded ofYhe^'^ 
 his soldiers to cut down without mercy temple 
 those whom they chanced to meet and to 
 slay those who went uyt into their houses. 
 ^^There was killing of young and old, tak- 
 ing away of boys, women and children, 
 slaying of maidens and infants. ^ *In the 
 three days alone eighty thousand were lost, 
 forty thousand were ])ut to death, and as 
 many sold as were slain. ^^IJut not con- 
 tent with this, he presumed to enter the 
 most holy temple of all the earth, guided 
 by INlcnclaus, who had proved himself a 
 traitor both to the laws and to his country, 
 i^and with his polluted hands he seized 
 the sacred vessels, and what had been 
 dedicated by other kings for the augmen- 
 tation of the glory and honor of the place 
 he dragged away with his profane hands. 
 i''And Antiochus was elated in mind, not 
 y)erceiving that because of the sins of those 
 who dwelt in the city the Sovereign Lord 
 had been provoked to anger a little while, 
 and that on this account his protection 
 was withdrawn from the |)lace. i*^IIad it 
 not been that they were already en I angled 
 by many sins, this man, like Ileliodorus, 
 who was sent by King Seleucus to view the 
 
 «I1 .\l:u^ .".' (1. 1 Mac. 12'. 
 b I Mac. P" 109 u.c. 
 
 395
 
 I Mac. i27] 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 Every bridegroom took up a lam- 
 entation. 
 
 She that sat in the marriage cham- 
 ber was in heaviness. 
 ^'And the land was shaken because 
 of its inhabitants 
 
 And all the house of Jacob was 
 clothed with shame.'* 
 
 CAUSES OF THE STRUGGLE 
 
 LII Mac. 518 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 treasury, would, as soon as he pressed 
 forw' ard, have been scourged and turned 
 back from his daring deed. ^^However, 
 the Lord did not choose the nation for the 
 place's sake, but the place for the sake of 
 the nation.'' ^O'pjjgpgfQpg ^jg^ ^}^g place 
 
 itself, having shared the calamities which 
 befell the nation, afterward partook of its 
 benefits; and what was forsaken in the 
 wrath of the Almighty was, at the recon- 
 ciliation of the great Sovereign, restored 
 again with all glory. 
 
 I.ater 29^\^fter two years the king sent a chief 
 d^j-fng of collectors of tribute to the cities of Judah, 
 and dis- ^j^q came to Jerusalem with a great multi- 
 tiing of tude. ^"^And he spoke words of peace to 
 salem them in perfidy, and they trusted him so 
 that he attacked the city suddenly, and in- 
 flicted a severe blow on it, and destroyed 
 many people from Israel. ^^And he took 
 the spoils of the city, and set it on fire, and 
 pulled down its houses and walls on every 
 side, ^^xhey took captive the women and 
 the children, and gained possession of the cat- 
 tle. ^^Then they walled in the city of Da- 
 vid with a great and strong wall, with strong 
 towers, and it served as a citadel. ^^And 
 they put there lawless people, impious men, 
 who fortified themselves in it. '^'^And they 
 stored up weapons and food and, gathering 
 together the spoils of Jerusalem, they stored 
 them there. 
 
 ^*And the citadel became a great trap, 
 And served as a place of ambush against the 
 sanctuary, 
 And an e\'il adversary to Israel continually. 
 ^'And they shed innocent blood on every side of 
 the sanctuary 
 And polluted the sanctuary. 
 2*Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because 
 of this, 
 And she became the habitation of foreigners; 
 
 2^As for Antiochus, when he Succes 
 had carried away from the giaugh- 
 temple a thousand eight hun- t^rs 
 dred talents, he departed in all Jews 
 haste for Antioch, imagining 
 in his arrogance that he could 
 make the land navigable and 
 the sea passable by foot, be- 
 cause his heart was elated. 
 ^-Moreover he left governors 
 to afflict the race: at Jerusa- 
 lem, Philip, by race a Phryg- 
 ian, and in character more bar- 
 barous than he who set him 
 there; ^^and at Gerizim, An- 
 dronicus; and besides these, 
 Menelaus, who, worse than all 
 the rest, bore himself inso- 
 lently^ toward his fellow-citi- 
 zens. And with a spirit hos- 
 tile to the Jews, ^^he sent that 
 arch-villain Apollonius with an 
 army of twenty-two thousand, 
 and commanded him to slay 
 all those who were of mature 
 age, and to sell the women and 
 the younger men. ^-^And upon 
 his arrival at Jerusalem, he 
 pretended to be a man of peace 
 
 « II Mac. 5" Cf. Mk. 212. 
 
 <i I Mac. 126-28 As frequently in descriptive passages of this character the author falls into 
 poetic measures, possibly quoting from a familiar elegy. 
 » II Mac. 5^ Following Gk., Lat., Syr., and Theod. 
 
 396
 
 I Mac. 138] THE SACKING OF JERUSALEM [II Mac. 525 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 And she became strange to those who were 
 born in her, 
 And her children forsook her. 
 '*Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, 
 Her feasts were turned into mourning, 
 Her sabbaths into a reproach. 
 Her honor into contempt, 
 '"So great as was once her glory, so now was her 
 dishonor. 
 And her exaltation was turned into mourning. 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 and waited until the lioly sab- 
 bath dav. Then finding the 
 Jews at rest from work, he com- 
 manded his men to parade in 
 arms. -^And he put to the 
 sword all those who came 
 forth to tlic spectacle; and 
 running into tlie city with the 
 armed men, he slew great mul- 
 titudes. 
 
 § 172. Antiochus's Measures to Root out Judaism, I Mac. 1"'S II Mac. 6*" 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I 3Iac. 1 "^^Then King Antiochus wrote 
 to his whole kingdom the command that all 
 should be one people, "^-and that each should 
 give up his own laws. And all the nations 
 acceded to the demand of the king. '^^jMany 
 Israelites too consented to worship him and 
 sacrificed to the idols, and profaned the sab- 
 bath. ^"^And the king sent letters by mes- 
 sengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah 
 commanding them to follow customs for- 
 eign to the land, '^^and to prevent the making 
 of whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices and 
 libations in the sanctuary, and to profane 
 the sabbaths and feasts, '**^and pollute the 
 sanctuary and the holy things, "^'to build 
 altars, temples, and shrines for idols, and to 
 sacrifice swine's flesh and unclean beasts; 
 '^^also to leave their sons uncircumcised, to 
 stain their souls w ith all manner of unclean- 
 ness and profanation, ^^so that they might 
 forget the law, and change all the customs. 
 ^^And that whoever would not do as the king 
 commanded should die. ^Kphu^ ^^ wrote to 
 his whole kingdom; and apj)ointed overseers 
 over all the [)eo|)le. who commanded the 
 cities of Judali to sacrifice city by city. 
 52Then many of the people gathered to 
 them, every one who had forsaken the law; 
 and they did evil things in the land, ^^and 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 II Mac. 6 ^Not long after 
 this the king sent an aged 
 Athenian to compel the Jews 
 to depart from the laws of 
 their fathers, and to live no 
 more after the laws of God; 
 ^and also to pollute the sanct- 
 uary in Jerusalem, and to call 
 it by the name of Zeus Olym- 
 pios and the one in Gerizim 
 by the name of Zeus Zenios 
 [the Hospitable],^ for such were 
 they who dwelt in the ])lace. 
 '^But hard and utterly grievous 
 was the visitation*^ t)f this evil. 
 ^For the temple was filled w ith 
 debauchery and revellings by 
 the heathen, who dallied with 
 harlots and cohabited with 
 women in the sacred precincts, 
 and moreover brought inside 
 things that were not j)r(>per. 
 •"^The altar, too, was filled with 
 unholy things prohibited by 
 the laws. 
 
 ^'And a man could neither 
 keep the sabbatli, nor ob.serve 
 the feasts of all the fathers, nor 
 so much as confess himself to 
 
 PoUu- 
 tion 
 of the 
 temple 
 
 Prohi- 
 
 hitioii 
 
 n( all 
 
 •lowisli 
 
 roliK- 
 
 iou.s 
 
 rites 
 
 ' II Mac. & Here the hospitahty of the Samaritans seems to be recognized. 
 K II .Mac. G' Or, hard and yrievous even for the multiludea. 
 
 397
 
 I Mac. 153] 
 
 CAUSES OF THE STRUGGLE 
 
 [II Mac. 66 
 
 Pollu- 
 tion 
 of the 
 temple 
 and 
 
 destruc- 
 tion 
 of the 
 books 
 of the 
 law 
 
 Murder 
 of those 
 faithful 
 to the 
 law 
 
 Intro- 
 duc- 
 tion: 
 the dis- 
 cipU- 
 nary 
 value of 
 mis- 
 fortune 
 
 Hisiory of the Hasmoneans 
 
 caused the Israelites to hide themselves 
 in all their places of refuge. 
 
 54Qj^ \\^Q twenty-fifth day of Chisleu, 
 in the one hundred and forty-fifth year,'^ 
 they built an abomination of desolation^ 
 upon the altar; and in the cities of 
 Judah on every side they built idol altars. 
 And at the doors of the houses and in 
 the streets they burnt incense, ^e^j^^j 
 tearing in pieces the books of the law 
 which they found, they set fire to them. 
 5''And wherever a book of the covenant 
 was found in the possession of anyone, 
 and if anyone obeyed the law, the king's 
 sentence delivered him to death. 58'p}^us 
 they did in their might month by month 
 to those Israelites who happened to be 
 in the cities. -^^And on the twenty-fifth 
 day of the month they sacrificed upon the 
 idol altar which was upon the altar [of 
 God]. 60^n(] tlie women who had cir- 
 cumcised their children they put to death 
 according to the commtmd. "^^And they 
 hanged their babes about their necks, 
 and destroyed their households, with 
 those who had circumcised them. ^^But 
 many in Israel made strong resolutions 
 not to eat unclean things, •^^dioosing to 
 die that they might not be defiled with 
 the meats, and might not profane the 
 holy covenant. So they died. And ex- 
 ceedingly great woe came upon Israel. 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 be a Jew. ''But on the king's 
 birthday,^ every month, they were 
 led along under bitter constraint 
 to the sacrificial meal, and when 
 the feast of [Bacchus] Dionysia 
 came, they were compelled to 
 go in procession in honor of 
 Dionysos, wearing wreaths of 
 ivy. ^A decree was also issued 
 to the neighboring Greek cities, 
 at the suggestion of Ptolemy, 
 that they should act in the same 
 way against the Jews, and should 
 have sacrificial meals, ^and should 
 slay those who did not choose to 
 go over to the Greek rites. Any- 
 one then could see what misery 
 had arisen, ^"^for two women were 
 brought up for having circum- 
 cised their children; and these, 
 when they had led them pub- 
 licly round about the city, with 
 the babes hung on their breasts, 
 they cast down headlong from 
 the wall. ^^And others who had 
 hastily gathered in the caves 
 near by to keep the seventh day 
 secretly, being betrayed to Philip, 
 were all burnt together, because 
 they scrupled to defend them- 
 selves, out of regard for the 
 honor of that most holy day. 
 
 § 173. The Martyrs for the Law, II Mac. 6>2-7" 
 Traditional History of the Maccahean Struggle 
 
 II Mac. 6 i"I beseech therefore those who read this book, not to be dis- 
 couraged because of the misfortunes, but to consider that these punishments 
 were not for the destruction, but for the training of our race. ^^Yov it is a 
 sign of great beneficence when the ungodly are not let alone any length of 
 
 h I Mac. l'-^ Dec, 168 B.C. Cf. 452. 59. go Josephus. 
 
 > I Mac. \^ Cf. Dan. usi, 12", 9-^ Matt. 24i5, Mk. 13". Probably an altar to Zeus, called, 
 Lord of heaven (Shdmtu), here designated by a play on the title as, abomination of desolation 
 (ShokuQ Meshomern). 
 
 J II Mac. 6'' Grimm suggests that the author has here confused the annual birthday with 
 the monthly sacrifice. Cf. II Mac. 1"'^. 
 
 § 173 While these stories have probably been magnified in transmission and are clearly 
 adapted by the author of the book to his didactic aims, they undoubtedly embody many au- 
 thentic historical facts and give a vivid idea of the intensity of the crisis and the powerful 
 influences which gave Judaism its final form. 
 
 398
 
 THE MARTYRS FOR THE LAW [H Mac. G^^ 
 
 Traditional History of the Maccabean Struggle 
 
 time, but quickly meet with retribution. ^^While indeed in the case of the 
 other nations the Sovereign Lord patiently waits, and punishes only when 
 they have attained to the full measure of sins, he decided that it should not be 
 so in our case, ^^that he might not take vengeance on us afterward, when we 
 had reached the limit of our sins. ^^'Therefore he never withdraws his mercy 
 from us; though he disciplines with misfortunes, he does not forsake his own 
 people. ^'But let what we have said suffice as a reminder; with this short 
 digression we must proceed to the narrative. 
 
 ^^Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, a man already advanced in years Su- 
 and of a most noble countenance, was compelled to open his mouth to eat jev"-^ 
 swine's flesh. ^^But he, welcoming death with renown rather than life w-ith tjon of 
 pollution, spat it out and advanced of his own accord to the instrument of aged 
 torture,'^ -'^as men ought to come who are resolute to repel such things as it '^^^''^^^' 
 is unlawful to taste for the mere love of life. -^Hiut those who had charge 
 of the forbidden sacrificial meal, on account of their old-time acquaintance 
 with the man, took him aside and privately besought him to bring flesh of 
 his own providing, such as was proper for him to use, and to pretend to 
 eat of the flesh from the sacrifice, as had been commanded by the king, --that 
 by so doing he might be delivered from death, and through his old friend- 
 ship with them might receive kind treatment. -'^But he, having formed a 
 high resolve, and one that became his years and the dignity of old age and 
 the gray hairs wdiich he had reached Avith honor, and the noble life which he 
 had lived' from his youth, but still more the holy laws of God's ordaining, 
 declared his mind accordingly, promptly bidding them send him to Hades. 
 2'^For it becomes not our years to dissemble, said he, that thereby many of 
 the young should suppose that Eleazar, a man ninety years old, had gone 
 over to an alien religion, ^''and .so they. by reason of my dissimidation and 
 for the sake of this brief and momentary life, should be led astray through 
 me, and I bring a stain and pollution upon my old age. ^ep^j. gygn if for 
 the present I shall be freed from the punishment of men, yet shall I not es- 
 cape the hands of the Almighty, whether living or dead. -'Therefore, by 
 manfully parting with my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age, 
 28and leave behind a noble example to the young to die willingly and nobly 
 a glorious death for the sacred and holy laws. And when he had said these 
 words, he went immediately to the instnmient of torture. -^But those who led 
 him changed the good-will they bore him a little while before into ill-will, be- 
 cause these words of his were, as they thought, sheer madness. ^^When he was 
 about to die from the blows, he groaned aloud and said. To the Lord, who hath 
 the holy knowledge, it is manifest that, whereas I might have been delivered 
 from death, I endure grievous pains in my body by being scourged; but in my 
 soul I gladly suffer these things for fear of him. ^igo, then, in such a manner 
 did this man die, leaving his cleath as an example of nobleness and a memorial 
 of virtue not only to the young but also to the great body of his nation. 
 
 '' 6'» The exact nature of the instrument of torture is not known. It was probably some 
 wheel-shaped instrument on which the victim was stretched and then beaten. 
 ' 023 Restoring what appears to have been the original text. 
 
 399
 
 II Mac. 7I] CAUSES OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE 
 
 Traditional Histonj of the Maccabean Struggle 
 
 Volun- 7 ^It came to pass also that seven brothers, together with their mother, 
 martyr- were at the king's command seized and tortured with scourges and cords, 
 (Join of to compel them to taste of the abominable swine's flesh. ^^\\i one of them 
 broth- acting as spokesman said, What would you ask and learn of us ? For we 
 death ^^^ ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our fathers. ^Then the 
 of the king fell into a rage and gave orders to heat pans and caldrons. "^And as 
 soon as these were heated, he gave orders to cut out the tongue of him who 
 had been their spokesman, and to scalp him"^ and to cut off his extremities, 
 while the rest of his brothers and his mother were looking on. ^And when 
 he was completely mutilated, but still breathing, [the king] ordered him 
 brought to the fire and fried in the pan. As the vapor from the pan spread 
 far, they and their mother exhorted one another to die nobly, speaking thus: 
 ^The Lord God beholdeth, and in truth hath compassion upon us, as Moses 
 declared in his song, which witnessed against them openly, saying, ' And 
 he shall have compassion upon his servants. '"^ 
 Of the '^ After the first had died in this manner, they brought the second to the 
 seconc jjiQcl^ii^gjo q^^ tearing from his head the skin with the hair, they asked 
 him. Will you eat before your body bears the penalty in every hmb .'' ^But 
 he answered in the language of his fathers and said to them, No. Therefore 
 he also, hke the first, underwent the torture that followed. ^And when he 
 was at the last gasp he said. You, indeed, ° wretch, release us from this present 
 life, but th§ King of the world shall raise up us, who have died for his laws, 
 to an eternal renewal of life. 
 Of the ^0\fjgj. iiijji t}^g third was made an object of mocking. And when bidden, 
 * ^^ he promptly put out his tongue, and stretched forth his hands courageously, 
 ^^and nobly said. From HeavenP I have received these, and for the sake of 
 his laws I contemn them, and from him I hope to receive them back again; 
 ^^so that the king himself and those who were him were astonished at the 
 young man's spirit, for he did not at all regard the pain. 
 Of the ^^When he too was dead, they maltreated and tortured the fourth in like 
 ^fourth j^^anner. ^^And as he was at the point of death he spoke thus: It is pleas- 
 ing to us when we die at the hands of men to look for the hopes which are 
 from God, that we shall be raised up again by him. For you, however, 
 there shall be no resurrection to life. 
 Of the ^^x\nd next after him they brought the fifth, and maltreated him. ^®But 
 he looked at the king*^ and said, Because you have authority among men, 
 though only mortal yourself, you do what you will; yet think not that 
 our race has been forsaken by God. ^^Persist in your course, and you 
 shall behold how his sovereign power will torture you and your descend- 
 ants ! 
 
 ™ 7* The Greek word means, to scalp in Scythian fashion ef. '. 
 
 ■• 1^ The author here follows the Gk. of Dt. 32^. 
 
 ° T' The mocking referred to seems to have been a regular practice before execution. 
 Cf. Mt. 2729, Heh. ll'». 
 
 p 7" Heaven here as in I Mac. is clearly used as a substitute for the name of the Deity. 
 Cf. § 169, note ^. 
 
 1 7"" The Gk. has only, him, where king must be supplied. 
 
 400
 
 THE INIARTYRS FOR THE LAW [II Mac. 7i8 
 Traditional History of the Maccabean Struggle 
 
 i^And after him they brought the sixth. And when lie was about to die Of the 
 he said, Be not vainly deceived, for we suffer these things for our own doings, ®'^*^ 
 because we have sinned against our own God. On this account are such 
 mar\-ellous things come to pass. ^^But think not that you who have at- 
 tempted to fight against God shall be unpunished. 
 
 20But above all was the mother marvellous and worthy of an honored Brave 
 memorv'; for when she looked on seven sons perishing within the space of ta^""^' 
 
 tation 
 
 one day, she bore it with a good courage because of her hope in the Lord, of ^^e 
 -^She exhorted each one of them in the language of their fathers, filled with "^° 
 a noble temper and stirring up her woman's thought with manly passion, 
 saying to them, --I know not how you came into my womb, neither was it 
 I who bestowed on you your spirit or your hfe, and it was not I who brought 
 into order the elementary substance of each of you. ^S'pj^gj.^fQj.^^ ^|jg Creator 
 of the world, by whose fashioning man came into being and by whose -devising 
 all things were made, wilK in mercy give back to you again both your spirit 
 and your hfe, as you now contemn your own selves for the sake of his laws. 
 ^■*But Antiochus thinking that he was despised, and suspecting the reproachful 
 voice, while the youngest was yet alive, not only urged with words, but also 
 promised with oaths that he would make him rich and to be envied as well, 
 if he would turn from the customs of his fathers, and that he would take him 
 for his Friend and intrust him with affairs. ^^But as the young man gave 
 no heed, the king summoned his mother, and exhorted her that she should 
 counsel the lad to save himself. 26\f{^gj. j^g j^^^j exhorted her with many 
 words, she undertook to j)ersuade her son. ^^But beirding toward him, in 
 mockery of the cruel tyrant, she spoke thus in the language of her fathers: 
 My son, have pity on me who carried you nine months in my w'omb, and 
 gave you suck three years, and nourishing and training you, reared you up 
 to this age. -^^I beseech you, my child, to look upon the heaven and the earth, 
 and see all things w'hich are therein, and recognize that God made them 
 not of things which were, and that so also the race of men has come into 
 being. -^Fear not this executioner, but, proving yourself worthy of your 
 brothers, accept your death, that in the mercy of God I may receive you 
 again with your brothers. 
 
 ^'^As soon as she had finished speaking, the young man said. For whom are Fidelity 
 you waiting ? I obey not the command of the king, but I hearken to the yo„ng. 
 command of the law which was given to our fathers through Moses. ^^But est son 
 you, who have devised all manner of evil against the Hebrews, shall in no 
 wise escape the hands of God. "^-For we are suffering because of our own 
 sins; •^•^and if for reproof and discipline our living Lord hath been angered 
 a little while, yet shall he again be reconciled with his own servants. "^4Jut 
 you, O unholy man and of all men most vile, be not in your wild pride vainly 
 lifted up with uncertain hopes, raising your hand against tlie cliildrcii of 
 Heaven; -^^for not yet have you escaped the judgment of tlie Almighty God 
 
 ' 7^ Some manuscripts have the present here instead of the future. The context favors 
 the latter. 
 
 401
 
 II Mac. 735] CAUSES OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE 
 
 Traditional History of the Maccabean Struggle 
 
 who keepeth watch. ^Gp^j. tl^gse our brothers having endured a brief agony 
 which brings everlasting Hfe,'' have now died under God's covenant; but 
 you through the judgment of God, shall receive just punishment for your 
 arrogance, ^/g^^ j^ jjj^g j^y brothers, give up both body and soul for the 
 laws of our fathers, calling upon God that he may become speedily gracious 
 to the nation; and that you amidst trials and plagues may confess that he 
 alone is God; ^S^nd that in me and in my brothers the wrath of the Almighty 
 which has been justly brought upon our whole race may be stayed.* 39'p]^gj.g_ 
 upon the king, falling into a rage, treated him worse than all the rest, being 
 exasperated at his mocking. ^^So he also died pure from pollution, putting 
 his whole trust in the Lord. '^^And last of all after her sons the mother died. 
 
 Conclu- "^-Let this now suffice which has been said concerning the sacrificial meals 
 
 ^^°" and the extreme tortures. 
 
 § 174. The Uprising of Mattathias and his Sons, I Mac. 2^-^^ 
 History of the Hasmoneans * 
 
 Family I Mac. 2 ^At that time arose Mattathias the son of John the son of 
 Matt a- Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib,^ from Jerusalem; and he dwelt in 
 thias Modein. ^^nd he had five sons, John, who was surnamed Gaddis,"^ ^gj^^on, 
 
 who was called Thassi, ■* Judas, who was called Maccabeus,^^ ^li^leazar, who 
 
 was called Avaran, Jonathan, who was called Apphus. 
 His ^When he saw the sacrilegious acts that were being committed in Judah 
 
 o^'er" ^iid i^ Jerusalem, ^he said, 
 
 the fate 
 
 and' ^ Woe to me ! Why was I born 
 
 people To see the ruin of my people, 
 
 And the niin of the holy city,'' 
 And to dwell there while it was being given into the hands of the foe, 
 
 The sanctuary into the liands of foreigners? 
 ^The temple has become as though it had no glory,'' 
 
 Its glorious vessels have been carried into capti\ity. 
 ^Her children have been slain in the streets. 
 
 Her young men by the sword of the enemy. 
 ^"What people has not taken possession of her palace, 
 And seized upon her spoils ? 
 
 ' 7^ Lit., agony of everlasting life. Hort conjectures that the original read, having en- 
 dured a short agony, have now drunk of everflowing life. 
 
 t 738 Following the reading of many important texts. RV, that thou 7nayest stay the wrath. 
 
 § 174 II Mac. says nothing of Mattathias. Po.ssibly his act was recorded in one of the 
 sections in Jason's hi.story omitted by the epitomizer. Judas is introduced abruptly in 5-'. 
 
 " 2' Cf. 1 Chr. 24'. 
 
 ^ 2- The meaning of these secondary names is not clear. Torrey. in Ency. Bib., Ill, 2851, 
 suggests that they were the names given at birth, while those by which they were commonly 
 known, are the ones which they later received as ijrinces of the Jewish people. 
 
 " 2* The popular interpretation, Hammer, is doubtful. 
 
 ^ 2' The poetic parallelism of this veise anrl the following is evident. The rhythm 
 seems to have been that commonly used in songs of lamentation: a long line followed by a 
 shorter one, as in Lam., thus giving the effect of a wail. The thought is clearly parallel to 
 that of Lam. and such Pss. as 74 and 79. 
 
 " 2* The Gk. te.xts have a different reading which is not in accord with the context. The 
 above is based upon a restoration of the Heb. suggested by Torrey. Syr., The temple was before 
 as a man in glory. 
 
 402
 
 THE UPRISING OF MATTATIIIAS [I Mac. 2^^ 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 *^A11 her adornments have been taken away, 
 
 From freedom she has been reduced to slavery. 
 *-And now our lioly thin<js, our beauty and our glory have been laid waste. 
 
 And tlie heathen have poUuted them. 
 "Why should we still live.'' 
 
 ^^And Mattathias and his son tore their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and 
 mourned bitterly. 
 
 ^^Now the king's officers who were enforcinf]; the apostasy, came into the His re- 
 city of ^lodein to sacrifice. ^*^And many of Israel went over to them, but fofioV" 
 Mattathias and his sons offered resistance.^ ^"Then the king's officers t'*'' 
 said to ^lattathias. You are a ruler and a man honored in this city and mands 
 strengthened by sons and brothers. ^*^Now therefore come first and do "^iiti- 
 what the king commands, as all the nations have done, the men of Judah "chus 
 too, with those who remain in Jerusalem. Then you and your house shall 
 be in the number of the king's Friends,*' and you and your sons shall be 
 honored with silver and gold and many gifts. ^^But Mattathias replied 
 with a loud voice, If all the nations included in the king's dominion*^^ obey 
 him, in that each is untrue to the worship of his fathers and chooses to follow 
 his command, -^yet I and ray sons and my brothers will walk in the cov- 
 enant made with our fathers. ' ^ijjgaven forbid that we should forsake the 
 law and the ordinances. ^-We will not listen to the king's words, to go aside 
 from our w^orship, either to the right hand or to the left. 
 
 23And when he had finished saying these things a Jew came in sight of all His hot 
 to sacrifice on the altar that was in Modein according to the king's command. ^^Ltwn 
 2'*When jNIattathias saw it his zeal was kindled and he trembled inwardly, ^i'"' 
 And he let his anger take possession of him, as was right, and he resist- 
 ran and slew him upon the altar. ^^Also he killed at that time the king's 
 officer, who was compelling men to sacrifice, and pulled down the altar. 
 ^^Thus he showed his zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did in the case of 
 Zimri the son of Salu.° -''Then ^Fattathias cried out in the city with a 
 loud voice, saying, Whoever is zealous for the law and will maintain the 
 covenant, -^let him follow me. And he and his sons fled into the moun- 
 tains, and left behind all that they had in the city. 
 
 § 175. The Fortunes of the Fugitives, I Mac. g^" <«, II Mac. 5", 8'-' 
 
 auce 
 
 History of tfie Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 3 29Xhen many who sought justice and 
 right went down into the wilderness, "^^to dwell there 
 with their sons and wives and cattle, because the evils 
 were becoming ever harder for them to bear. '^^And it 
 was reported to the king's officers and to the forces that 
 
 Traditional His- 
 tory 
 
 II 3Iac. 5 27n„t Hard- 
 Judas, who is also ^nd^ 
 
 called Maccabeus, fl^i'iKJi- 
 
 ... . ter of 
 
 With about nme the 
 
 others withdrew ,1'.^'" 
 
 IVOS 
 
 •> 2" Ok.,i/'cr^; ijtithereil tofieUicr. Imt a Hhsht emendation nixes (lie above. 
 « 2'" The A-i'wr/'s Friends const itntod a favored class in tlie state. 
 ^ 2" Lit., in the house of the kinydom. 
 • 2^ Cf. Num. 25«-8. 
 
 403
 
 I Mac. ^231] CAUSES OF THE STRUGGLE 
 
 History of the Hasmoncans 
 
 were in Jerusalem, the city of David, that certain men, 
 who had broken the king's command had gone down 
 into the hiding places in the wilderness. ^^gQ niany 
 pursued after them, and having overtaken them en- 
 camped against them, and drew up the line of battle 
 against them on the sabbath day. ^^And they said to 
 them. Things have gone far enough,^ now come forth 
 and obey the command of the king and you shall live. 
 3^But they said. We will not come forth, neither will we 
 do as the king commands, to profane the sabbath day. 
 ^^Then they at once offered them battle. ^''But they 
 made no resistance,^ neither did they cast a stone at 
 them, nor stop up the places of concealment, for they 
 said. Let us all die in our innocency: 3' let heaven and 
 earth bear witness for us, that you put us to death un- 
 justly. 3^Then they rose up against them in battle on 
 the sabbath, and thus they died with their wives and chil- 
 dren and cattle, to the number of a thousand souls. 
 
 Their 
 later 
 success- 
 ful 
 
 armed 
 resist- 
 ance 
 
 [II Mac. 527 
 
 Traditional His- 
 tory 
 
 into the wilder- 
 ness.^ He and 
 h i s companions 
 kept themselves 
 alive in the moun- 
 tains after the 
 manner of wild 
 beasts. And they 
 subsisted con- 
 stantly on a diet 
 of herbs to avoid 
 participating in 
 the pollution. 
 
 ^^When Mattathias and his friends 
 knew it they mourned bitterly over them. 
 ^^And they said to each other, If we all do 
 as our brothers have done, and do not 
 fight against the heathen for our lives and 
 our customs, they will now quickly de- 
 stroy us from off the earth. "^^So they 
 took counsel that day, saying. Whoever 
 shall come against us for battle on the sab- 
 bath day, let us fight against him, and we 
 will by no means all die, as our brothers 
 died in the hiding places. ■*"Then there 
 gathered together to them a company of 
 Hasideans,* brave men of Israel, every 
 one who offered himself willingly for the 
 law^ ^^And all who fled from the evils 
 were added to them, and strengthened 
 them. 
 
 ^*And they mustered a host, 
 And smote the sinners in their anger 
 And the lawless in their wrath. 
 
 8 ^But Judas who is also called 
 Maccabeus, and his companions, 
 making their way secretly into 
 the villages summoned their kins- 
 men and, attaching to themselves 
 those who had continued in the 
 Jewish religion, gathered to- 
 gether as many as six thousand. 
 ^And they called on the Lord, to 
 look mercifully upon the people 
 wdio were oppressed by all, and 
 to have compassion on the sanct- 
 uary which had been profaned 
 by the ungodly men, ^and to 
 have pity on the city which was 
 suffering ruin and would soon be 
 levelled to the ground; also to 
 hearken to the blood which cried 
 to him, ^and to remember the un- 
 righteous slaughter of the inno- 
 cent children, and the sacrilegious 
 
 ' II Mac. 5-^ So Gk., Syr., and Lat. Into the wilderness is, however, omitted in many Gk. 
 texts. 
 
 e I Mac. 2^ Lit., Th^/s far, i.e., things have gone far enough. 
 
 •> I Mac. 236 Lit., nnsicered not. 
 
 ' I Mac. 2^ Or, A sidenns or, Chasidim, the pious, the devotees of the law, who later crystal- 
 lized into the party of the Pharisees. Cf. also 7'^. 
 
 404
 
 I Mac. 2^^] FORTUNES OF THE FUGITIVES [II Mac. 8^ 
 
 History of the Ha&moneans 
 
 And the rest fled to the heathen for safe- 
 ty. '^^Also Mattathias and his friends 
 went about and pulled down the altars, 
 ^^and circumcised by force the children 
 who were uncircumcised, as many as they 
 found in the territory of Israel. "^"Thus 
 they pursued the sons of arrogance,J and 
 the work prospered in their hand. "^^They 
 took the direction of affairs out of the 
 hands of the heathen and of the kings, 
 nor did they yield ground to the sinner. 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 acts that had been committed 
 against his name; and to show 
 his hatred of wickedness. ^Xs 
 soon as Maccabeus had an or- 
 ganized army, the heathen at 
 once found him irresistible, for 
 the wrath of the Lord was 
 changed into mercy. ^(^Qmiijg 
 unawares he set fire to cities and 
 villages. And he won back the 
 most important positions, putting 
 to flight great numbers of the 
 enemy. For such assaults he 
 especially took advantage of the 
 heights.'' And reports of his 
 courage spread abroad every- 
 where. 
 
 § 176. Death of Mattathias, I Mac. 2<«-'« 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I 3Iac. 2 ■*9When the time approached for Mattathias to die he said to his 
 sons, Now insolence and insult have grown strong, and a period of reversals 
 has come, with flaming wrath. 
 
 '"Now, my sons, be zealous for the law, 
 
 And give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. 
 ''And remember the deeds which your forefatliers did in their generations; 
 
 And win great glory and everlasting fame. 
 '^Was not Al)raham found faithful wlicii tested ? 
 
 And it was c-ountcd to him as righteousness. 
 '^Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, 
 
 And became lord of Egypt. 
 '*Phinchas our father, because he was so zealous. 
 
 Received the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. 
 "Joshua for carrying out the word of God, 
 
 Became a judge in Israel. 
 ''Caleb for bearing witness in the congregation, 
 
 Obtiiined a heritage in the land. 
 "David for being merciful. 
 
 Inherited a kingly throne for ever and ever. 
 '^Elijah liecause lie was so zealous for the law. 
 
 Was taken up into heaven. 
 "Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael believed, 
 
 And were rescued from the Harae. 
 '"Daniel l)ecause of his innocence. 
 
 Was delivered from the mouth of lions. 
 
 Fare- 
 well 
 exhor- 
 tation 
 of 
 
 Matta- 
 thias 
 
 i I Mac. 2'' Lit., sons of pride. 
 
 '' II Mac. 8" Following Gk.A and several MSS. Another reading is, seized convenient 
 places, i.e., those adapted to his strategic plans. 
 
 405
 
 I Mac. 261 CAUSES OF THE IVIACCABEAN STRUGGLE 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 ^^And thus consider from generation to generation 
 
 None who put their trust in hmi ever want strength. 
 ^^Then be not afraid of the w^ords of a sinful man; 
 
 For his glory shall be dung and worms. 
 ^^To-day he is exalted, but to-morrow he cannot be found, 
 
 Because he has returned to dust, and the memory of him has perished. 
 ^*Then my sons be strong, and show yourselves men in behalf of the law; 
 
 So doing you shall obtain glory. 
 
 His ap- ^^And, behold, Simon your brother, I know that he is a man of counsel; 
 
 point- Obey him always; let him be your adviser. 
 
 Simon '''Judas Maccabeus, too, he has been a man of war from his youth; 
 
 and He shall be your captain, and fight the battle of the people. 
 
 Judas '''And take to yourselves all law-abiding men, 
 
 And avenge the wrong of your people. 
 ^^Render a recompense to the heathen. 
 
 And give heed to the commands of the law. 
 
 His 69'p}j^g jjg blessed them and was gathered to his fathers. '^^And he died 
 
 and in the one hundred and forty-sixth year, and his sons buried him in the sepul- 
 burial chres of his fathers at ^lodein, and all Israel made a great lamentation for 
 him. 
 
 n 
 
 THE WARS AND ACHIE\T:MENTS OF JUDAS ^L\CCABEUS, 
 
 I Mac. 3-9, II Mac. SS-M^e 
 
 § 177. Judas's Victory over Apollonius and Seron, I Mac. 3'-^* 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 Cour- I Mac. 3 ^Then his son Judas, who was called INIaccabeus, rose up in 
 
 prow- his place. 2\n(l all his brothers helped him, as did all those who had sup- 
 ess and ported his father, and they fought w ith gladness the battle of Israel. 
 
 deeds of ■ 
 
 Judas .j-j^g Wars and Achievements of Judas. — The brief period from 167 to 161 B.C. was the 
 
 most active and dramatic in Israelitish liistory. It witnessed five great victories, in each of 
 which the fortunes of the Jews hung in the balance. Poorlj- armed, ill-organized, and unaccus- 
 tomed to war, the .Tews faced large armies containing some of the best equipped and trained sol- 
 diers of the age. They won because they were banded together in a last desperate struggle for 
 their lives, their homes, and their religion, while their foes were inspired by no patriotic or noble 
 motives, but for the most part were simply mercenaries. Above all, the Jews had at their head 
 one of the bravest, most unselfish, and able leaders of antiquity. He always chose battle-fields 
 in which natural conditions greatly favored the defenders. By an appeal to their faith and pa- 
 triotism and by his own personal magnetism, Judas welded his followers together as one man and 
 then suddenly, like a thunder-bolt, launched them against their enemies. On the same battle- 
 fields — the deep, narrow valleys which led up from the western coast plain to the Judean high- 
 lands — Judas eclipsed the ancient victories of David against the Philistines. History repeated 
 itself. The spirit of that early heroic age was revived. 1 and H Mac, like 1 Sam., recount the 
 old inspiring story of right, represented by a few brave, un.selfish men, successful against proud, 
 confident injustice and tyranny. In less than a decade Judas and his brothers transformed the 
 weak, j'ielding .Jews into a powerful factor in the politics of the East and laid the foundations of 
 the Maccabean kingdom, which in extent and wealth ultimately equalled that of David. Above 
 all they established the freedom of religious worship, which the heathen never again seriously 
 attempted to take away from the .lews. 
 
 § 177 The panegyric with which the account of Judas's wars opens recalls David's tribute 
 to Saul and Jonathan at their death (cf. especially. His memory is blessed forever). The form is 
 highly poetical. It may be from the author of I Mac, whose loyalty and devotion it well ex- 
 presses, or may com.e from a popular song of praise and lamentation over the departed hero. 
 
 406
 
 VICTORY OVER APOLLONIUS AND SERON [I Mac. 33 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 ^He spread far and wide the fame of his glory, 
 
 And put on his breastplate Uke a giant. 
 
 And girded on his weapons of war, 
 
 And set battles in array, 
 
 Protecting the army with his sword. 
 *He was like a lion in his deeds. 
 
 And as a lion's whelp roaring for prey. 
 ^He pursued the lawless, seeking them out. 
 
 And he burnt up those who troubled his people. 
 *U'he lawless shrunk for fear of Iiim, 
 
 And all the workers of lawlessness were greatly terrified; 
 
 And deliverance was attained through him. 
 'He angered many kings. 
 
 And made Jacob glati with his acts; 
 
 And his memory is blessed forever. 
 *He went about among the cities of Judah, 
 
 And destroyed the godless from the land. 
 
 And turned away the wrath of God from Israel. 
 *And he was renowned to the ends of the earth." 
 
 i^hen ApoUonius gathered the heathen together and a great army from Defeat 
 Samaria to fight against Israel. ^^And when Judas learned of it, he went fig^'tii 
 out to meet him, and defeated and slew him; and many fell mortally wounded, of 4>'ol- 
 while the rest fled. ^-And they captured their spoils, and Judas took the 
 sword of ApoUonius, with which he fought all his days. 
 
 ^^When Seron, the commander of the army of Syria, heard that Judas Seron's 
 had gathered a large force of faithful men about him, who went with him to vance 
 w^ar, ^"^he said, I will make myself famous and gain renown in the kingdom; against 
 for I will fight with Judas and those with him, who are defying the command 
 of the king. ^^And there went up with him also a mighty army of the god- 
 less to help him, to take vengeance on the Israelites. 
 
 i^As he approached the ascent of Bethhoron Judas went forth to meet Judas's 
 him with a small company. ^'^But when they saw the army coming to meet befofe^ 
 them, they said to Judas, How sliall we, few as we are, be able to battle against ^''^ , 
 so great a multitude ? and we arc faint also, having tasted no food to-day. 
 ^^Then Judas said. It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands 
 of a few; and with Heaven it is equally easy to save by many or by few; ^^for 
 victory in battle does not depend upon the size of an army, but from Heaven 
 comes the strength. ^^^They come to us full of insolence and lawlessness, to 
 destroy us with our wives and children and to plunder us; ^ibut, as for us, 
 we are fighting for our lives and our laws. 22\n(i \^q himself will crush them 
 before our face; so do not be afraid of them. 
 
 "^■^Xow when he had finished speaking, he leaf)cd suddenly upon th(>in. Defeat 
 and Seron and his army were put to flight before him. - 'And they |)ursucd "i^'^i^t 
 them by the descent of Bethhoron to the plain, and there fell of them about g.f^^^^ 
 eight hundred men; but the rest fled into the land of the Philistines. 
 
 • 3» Vs. SI", and he oalhcrrd those who vtcre about to perish, is in the Ok. practically a du- 
 plicate of ">». It makes little sense. The evident conclusion of the panegyric is '*. Vs. <"' is 
 therefore due to a copyist's error. 
 
 407
 
 I Mac. 325] 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 ed Syr- 
 ian 
 treas- 
 ury 
 
 § 178. Departure of Antiochus Epiphanes for Persia and his Appointment 
 of Lysias as Regent, I Mac. 3^^" 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 Meas- I Mac. 3 ^^Now the fear of Judas and his brothers and the dread of them 
 subdue began to fall upon the nations round about them, ^e^j^j jjjg reputation 
 the^ reached the king, for every nation was telling of the battles of Judas. -''But 
 and to when King Antiochus heard these things, he was filled with indignation 
 the and sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, a very strong army. 
 Ad Svr' ^^^nd ^^ opened his treasury and gave his forces pay for a year, and com- 
 manded them to be ready for every emergency. -^Q^j^j seeing that money 
 was scarce in his treasury and that the tributes of the country were small, 
 because of the dissension and calamity which he had brought upon the land, 
 for the purpose of taking away the laws which had been in force from the 
 earliest days, ^^he feared that he should not have enough, as at other times, 
 for the expenses and the gifts which he had formerly given with a liberal 
 hand, in which he had surpassed the kings who had been before him. ^^And 
 he was exceedingly perplexed in his mind, and determined to go into Persia 
 and to take the tributes of the countries and to gather much money. 
 
 2"So he left Lysias, an honorable man and one of the royal family, in 
 the mil- charge of the affairs of the king from the River Euphrates to the borders of 
 itary Egypt and to bring up his son Antiochus, until he returned. ^^And he de- 
 livered to him the half of his forces and the elephants, and gave him charge 
 of all the things that he wished to have done and concerning those who 
 dwelt in Judea and in Jerusalem, ^^that he should send a force against them, 
 V to root out and destroy the strength of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem, 
 and to take away their memory from the place, ^^and that he should make 
 foreigners dwell in all their territory and should divide their land to them 
 by lot. ^^Then the king took the remaining half of the forces and set out 
 from Antioch his capital, in the one hundred and forty-seventh year,*' and, 
 crossing the Euphrates, he went through the upper countries. 
 
 Divis- 
 ion of 
 
 § 179. Defeat of the Syrian Generals, I Mac. S^'-i^^ II Mac. 8' 
 
 8-38 
 
 The in- 
 vading 
 Syrian 
 army 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 3 ^^Now Lysias chose 
 Ptolemy the son of Dorymenes, 
 and Nicanor, and Gorgias, influ- 
 ential men among the king's 
 Friends, ^^and with them sent 
 forty thousand footmen and seven 
 thousand horsemen to go into the 
 land of Judah to destroy it, as the 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 II Mac. 8 ^But when Philip saw the 
 man [Judas] little by little gaining ground 
 and advancing more and more in his vic- 
 tories, he wrote to Ptolemy, the governor 
 of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, that he 
 should support the king's cause. ^The 
 latter quickly appointed Nicanor the son 
 of Patroclus, one of the Chief Friends, 
 
 b 337 165 B.C. 
 
 § 179 I Mac. has a consistent, straightforward narrative, but II Mac, dependent upon pop- 
 ular report (cf. Introd.. p. SS), is very confused. In 8'°-*'' the author gives in the place of the 
 engagement with Gorgias an account of a battle in which Bacchides (mentioned only in I Mac. 7) 
 and Timotheus figure. Apparently he has introduced here in a wrong setting an account of 
 later events. 
 
 408
 
 I Mac. 339] DEFEAT OF THE SYRIAN GENERALS [II Mac. 8^ 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 king had ordered. ^'^And they set 
 out with all their army and 
 pitched their camp near Emmaus 
 in the plain. "^^And the mer- 
 chants of the country heard the 
 rumors about them, and taking 
 silver and gold in large quan- 
 tities, and shackles, they came 
 into the camp to get the Israelites 
 for slaves. There were added to 
 them the forces of Syria and of 
 the Philistines. 
 
 Traditiorml Hidory 
 
 and sent him in command of a heathen 
 army of no less than twenty thousand 
 from all nations, to destroy the whole 
 race of Judea. And with him he asso- 
 ciated Gorgias, a general and one who 
 had had experience in military affairs. 
 ^^And Nicanor determined to make up 
 for the king from the captive Jews the 
 tribute of two thousand talents which he 
 was to pay to the Romans. ^^And imme- 
 diately he sent to the cities upon the sea 
 coast, inviting them to buy Jewish slaves, 
 promising to allow ninety slaves for a 
 talent, not expecting the judgment which 
 was to overtake him from the Almighty. 
 
 Atti- 
 tude of 
 the 
 Jews 
 and 
 the ex- 
 horta- 
 tions 
 Judas 
 
 ^-Then Judas and his brothers saw 
 that evils were increasing and that 
 the forces were encamping in their 
 territory, and when they learned of the 
 ^■f commands which the king had given 
 to destroy the people and make an end 
 of them, ^^they said to each other, 
 
 I>et us raise up the ruin of our people 
 And let us fight for our people and the 
 sanctuary != 
 
 '*^So the congregation was gathered 
 together, that they might be ready for 
 battle and that they might pray and 
 ask for mercy and compassion. 
 
 *'And Jerusalem was without inhabitant, 
 
 like a wilderness, 
 There was none of her offspring wlio 
 
 went in or out. 
 And the sanctuary was trodden down. 
 And foreigners were in the citadel, 
 The city had become a lodging place for 
 
 the licathen, 
 And joy was taken away from Jac(jb, 
 And the pipe and the harp ceased. 
 
 ^^hen they gathered together and 
 came to Mizpeh, opposite Jerusalem; 
 for in Mizpeh'^ there was a place of 
 
 ^-But tidings came to Judas con- 
 cerning the sending out of Nicanor; 
 and when he informed his followers 
 of the army's presence, ^^those who 
 were cowardly and distrustful of the 
 judgment of God ran away and left 
 the coiuitry. ^"^But the others sold 
 all they had left and likewise be- 
 sought the Lord to deliver those 
 whom the impious Nicanor had sold 
 before he met them; ^^and if not for 
 their own sakes, yet for the sake 
 of the covenants made with their 
 fathers, and because he had called 
 them by his revered and glorious 
 name. '^Then ISIaccabeus gathered 
 his men together, six thousand in 
 number, and exhorted them not to 
 be smitten with dismay at the enemy 
 nor to fear the great nuiltitude of 
 the heathen who were unrighteously 
 coming against them, but to contend 
 nobly. '"And he pictured before 
 their eyes the outrage which had 
 been wickedly p('r|)ctra(ed upon the 
 sanctuary, and the shameful treat- 
 ment and mocking of the city, and 
 further the overthrow of their an- 
 
 « I Mac. .3<' So \Mr. The Gk. is corrupt, 
 d I Mac. 3" Cf. 1 Sam. 7'-». 
 
 409
 
 I Mac. 346] 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 [II Mac. 817 
 
 Prep- 
 ara- 
 tions 
 for the 
 battle 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 prayer for Israel. 47\n(j they fasted 
 that day, and put sackcloth and ashes 
 on their heads and tore their clothes, 
 48and spread out the book of the law — 
 one of those in which the heathen had 
 been painting images of their idols.® 
 49 And they brought the priests' gar- 
 ments with the first-fruits, and the 
 tithes, and they cut the hair of the Xaz- 
 iriteswhohad accomplished their days. 
 ^°And they cried aloud toward Heaven, 
 sapng, ^Yhat shall we do with these 
 
 them 
 trod- 
 
 us 
 
 are making 
 
 and whither shall we carry 
 away .'' ^^For thy sanctuary is 
 den down and profaned, and thy 
 priests are in sorrow and humiliation. 
 ^^And now the heathen have assem- 
 bled together against us to destroy 
 Thou knowest what plans they 
 ainst us. ^^How shall 
 we be able to stand before them, ex- 
 cept thou be our help ? ^^ \nd they 
 sounded with the trumpets, and cried 
 with a loud voice. 
 
 ^^And after this Judas appointed leaders of the 
 people, commanders over thousands, over hun- 
 dreds, over fifties, ^^and over tens. And he told 
 those who were building houses and those who 
 were planting vineyards and those who were afraid, 
 to return, each to his own house, as the law 
 commanded.'* ^'Then the army removed and en- 
 camped upon the south side of Emmaus. ^^And 
 Judas said, Gird yourselves and be valiant men; 
 and be ready in the morning to fight with these 
 heathen who are assembled together against us to 
 destroy us and our sanctuary. ^QpQj. j^ jg better 
 for us to die in battle, than to see the misfortunes 
 of our nation and of the sanctuary, ^o^vfeverthe- 
 less, let Heaven do whatever be his will. 
 
 Traditional Histortj 
 
 cestral mode of living. ^^For they, 
 said he, trust to arms and likewise to 
 deeds of daring, but we trust in the 
 Almighty God, who is able with a 
 nod to cast down, not those alone 
 who are coming against us, but the 
 whole world. ^^And he also re- 
 counted to them the help given from 
 time to time in the days of their 
 ancestors, both how they were de- 
 livered in the time of Sennacherib, 
 when one hundred and eighty -five 
 thousand perished,^ ^^and how in 
 Babvlonia at the battle which was 
 fought against the Gauls, only eight 
 thousand in all engaged in battle 
 with four thousand Macedonians, 
 but when the Macedonians were 
 hard pressed, the eight thousand 
 destroyed the one hundred and 
 twenty thousand, because of the 
 succor which they had from Heaven; 
 and how they took great booty. ^ 
 
 2iAfter he had with 
 these words made them 
 of good courage and 
 ready to die for the 
 laws and their country, 
 he divided his army 
 into four parts. ^^Xs 
 leaders of the several 
 corps, he appointed 
 h i s brothers Simon 
 and Joseph and Jona- 
 than, assigning to each 
 fifteen hundred men. 
 23a]\Joreover he also ap- 
 pointed Eleazar to read 
 aloud the sacred book. 
 And he gave ac a watch- 
 word. The Help of God. 
 
 ^ I Mac. 3^* Following an acute conjecture of Professor Torrey. The text is obscure. 
 ' II Mac. 8'9 Cf. II Kgs. 1^^. 
 
 E II Mac. 8-" Perhaps this is a reference to a popular tradition of a battle between Anti- 
 ochus the Great and Molon, a rebellious governor of Media. 
 1 1 Mac. 35« Dt. 205-9. 
 
 410
 
 I Mac. 4I] DEFEAT OF THE SYRIAN GENERALS [II Mac. 823b 
 
 Gor- 
 
 gias's 
 
 futile 
 
 night 
 
 march 
 
 Judas"s 
 exhor- 
 tation 
 to his 
 men 
 
 Defeat 
 and 
 pursuit 
 of the 
 Greeks 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 4 ^And Gorgias took five thousand 
 footmen, and a thousand chosen horse- 
 men, 2and the army set out by night, that 
 it might fall upon the army of the Jews 
 and attack them suddenly. And the men 
 of the citadel were his guides. ^But when 
 Judas heard of it, he broke camp with his 
 vahant men, that he might attack the 
 king's army which was at Emmaus,"^wlule 
 as yet the forces were dispersed from the 
 camp. ^And w^hen Gorgias came to the 
 camp of Judas by night, he found no one. 
 Then he looked for them in the mountains, 
 thinking that ^the men were fleeing from 
 him. 
 
 But as soon as it was day, Judas ap- 
 jjeared in the plain with three thousand 
 men; only they had neither armor nor 
 swords as they wished. "When now they 
 saw the camp of the heathen strongly for- 
 tified and cavalry about it and experienced 
 warriors thei'e, ^Judas said to the men 
 who were with him, Fear not their mul- 
 titude neither be afraid of their attack. 
 ^Remember how our fathers were saved 
 in the Red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued 
 them with a host. ^^And now let us cry 
 to Heaven, if he will show favor to us^ 
 and will remember the covenant made 
 with our fathers and destroy this army 
 before our face to-day, ^Hhat all the 
 heathen may know that there is one who 
 redeemeth and saveth Israel. 
 
 ^^Then when the foreigners lifted up 
 their eyes and saw them coming toward 
 them, ^^they went from their camp to bat- 
 tle. And those who w^ere with Judas 
 sounded their trumpets and joined battle; 
 ^^and the heathen were defeated and fled 
 into the plain. ^'^But all who were in the 
 rear fell by the sword, and they pursued 
 them to Gazara'^ and to the plains of Idu- 
 
 Traditional Ilistonj 
 
 -•^bXheu leading the first corps 
 Iximself, he joined battle with 
 Nicanor. -^And, since the Al- 
 mighty fought on their side, they 
 slew of the enemy over nine 
 thousand, wounded and disabled 
 the greater part of Nicanor's 
 army, and compelled all to flee. 
 ^^Tliey also took the money of 
 those who had come there to buy 
 them. And after they had pur- 
 .sued them for some distance, 
 they were obliged to return be- 
 cause of the time, ^Hov it was 
 the day before the sabbath and 
 therefore they made no eifort to 
 chase them far. 27^Y}^gj^ ^j^^y 
 had gathered the arms of the 
 enemy, and had stripped off 
 their spoils, they gave their at- 
 tention to the sabbath, blessing 
 and thanking the Lord exceed- 
 ingly, wdio had saved them to 
 this day, for his mercy had begun 
 to distil upon them.* 2S\f^gi. ^he 
 sabbath, w' hen they had given of 
 the spoils to those who had been 
 tortured, and to the widows and 
 orphans, they distributed the 
 rest among themselves and their 
 children. ^O'l-'j^^^^j when they had 
 completed these things and had 
 made a common supplication, 
 they besought the merciful I^ord 
 to be wholly reconciled with his 
 servants. 
 
 30And in an encounter with the 
 forces of Timotheus and Bac- 
 chides they killed over twenty 
 thousand of them and made 
 themselves masters of exceedingly 
 high strongholds and divided very 
 
 Vic- 
 tory 
 over 
 the 
 forces 
 led by 
 Ni- 
 
 ' 11 Mac. 8^' So Lat. and many important Gk. codices 
 show them mercy. 
 
 Most MSS. read, and had begun to 
 
 Vic- 
 tory 
 o\er 
 the 
 Greek 
 forces 
 under 
 Timo- 
 theus 
 and 
 
 Bacchi- 
 des 
 
 i I Mac. 4i<i So Luc. and Gk.A. 
 •< I Mac. 4'5 The O.T. Gezer. The following plains of Idumea is doubtful, as is also 
 Gk.A, Judea. 
 
 411
 
 I Mac. 4I5] 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 [II Mac. 8^0 
 
 Histonj of the Hasmoneans 
 
 mea and Azotus' and Jamnia, and there 
 fell of them about three thousand men. 
 Flight ^^When Judas and his army returned 
 forces from pursuing them, ^'he said to the peo- 
 under ^iXe, Do not be greedy for the spoils, since 
 g'ias there is a battle before us, ^^and Gorgias 
 and his army are near us in the moun- 
 tain. But stand now against our enemies 
 and fight them, and aftenv^ard you may 
 openly take the spoils. ^^While Judas was 
 still speaking there appeared a part of 
 them, looking out from the mountain; 
 2^and these saw that their army had been 
 put to flight and that the Jews were burn- 
 ing their camp, for the smoke that was 
 seen showed what had been done. -^^And 
 when they perceived these things, they 
 were thrown into a panic, and seeing the 
 army of Judas also in the plain ready for 
 battle, 2-they all retreated into the land 
 of the Philistines.'^ 23\nd Judas returned 
 to sack the camp, and they took much 
 gold and silver and blue and sea-purple° 
 and great riches. 24^}^gjj ^^y returned 
 home and sang a song of thanksgiving 
 and gave praise to Heaven, because he 
 is good, because his mercy endureth for- 
 ever.P ^S'pj^ug Israel had a great deUver- 
 ance that day. 
 Dis- 2^But the foreigners, as many as had 
 
 age^' escaped, came and told Lysias all the 
 ment of things that had happened. 27 4n(j -when 
 he heard it, he was astonished and dis- 
 couraged, because neither had Israel met 
 with reverses as he wished nor had what 
 the king commanded been reaUzed. 
 
 Traditional History 
 much plunder, giving the tort- 
 ured and orphans and widows 
 and moreover the aged also an 
 equal share with themselves. 
 ^^ All the arms of the enemy which 
 they had gathered they stored up 
 carefully in the most suitable 
 places, and the rest of the spoils 
 they carried to Jerusalem. ^-^And 
 they killed Phylarches™ of Timo- 
 theus's forces, a most impious 
 man, and one who had done the 
 Jews much harm. ^^As they kept 
 the feast of victory in the city of 
 their fathers, they burned those 
 who had set the sacred gates 
 on fire, and among them Calhs- 
 thenes, who had fled into a httle 
 house; and so they received the 
 suitable reward for their impiety. 
 
 2^ Also the thrice-accursed Ni- Flight 
 canor, who had brought the thou- nomin" 
 sand merchants to buy the Jews, ^?^^^^ 
 was through the help of the Lord of Ni- 
 humbled by those who in his eyes '^'"^°'" 
 were held to be of least account. 
 2°Taking off his sumptuous ap- 
 parel, shunning all company, he 
 came through the midst of the 
 land, like a fugitive slave, to An- 
 tioch, supremely unfortunate in 
 the destruction of his army.** 
 3^ And he who had taken upon 
 himself successfully to obtain the 
 tribute for the Romans from the 
 captives of Jerusalem declared 
 openly that the Jews had one who 
 fought for them, and that on this 
 account the Jews were invulner- 
 able, because they foUowed the 
 laws ordained by him. 
 
 > I Mac. 4« Ashdod. 
 
 ^ II Mac. 8^2 It is not clear whether this is a proper name or a title. 
 " I Mac. 4^ Lit., strangers. 
 
 o I Mac. 423 So the Sinaitic text. The reference is to the famous Tyrian purple made from 
 sea-sheUs. 
 
 p I Mac. 4=4 Cf. Ps. 1181-4- 29, 136, and often in Chr. 
 
 1 1I Mac. 8^5 Other MSS. read, having met great misfortune, the destruction of his army. 
 
 412
 
 I Mac. 428] 
 
 VICTORY OVER LYSIAS 
 
 [II Mac. Hi 
 
 i; 180. Victory over Lysias at Bethsura, I Mac. 4=«-''5, II Mac. ll'-12* 
 
 Brav- 
 ery of 
 the 
 
 Jews in 
 meeting 
 and 
 van- 
 quish- 
 ing the 
 huge 
 army of 
 Lysias 
 
 History of the Hasmonecms 
 
 I Mac. 4 -^Now in the next year [Ly- 
 sias] gathered together sixty thousand picked 
 footmen and five thousand horsemen, that 
 he might subdue [the Jews]. -^When they 
 came to Idumea and encamped at Bethsura, 
 Judas met them with ten thousand men. 
 ^*^As he saw that the army was strong, he 
 prayed and said, Blessed art thou, O Saviour 
 of Israel, who didst shatter the attacking 
 power of the mighty man by the hand of 
 thy sen-ant David,'' and didst deliver the 
 army of the heathen into the hands of Jon- 
 athan the son of Saul, and of his armor- 
 bearer.^ 
 
 ^'Shut up this army in the hand of thy people 
 Israel, 
 And let them be ashamed of their army and 
 their horsemen. 
 ''Give them faintness of heart. 
 And let their bold courage melt away. 
 And let them tremble at their destruction. 
 '^Cast them down by the sword of those who love 
 thee, 
 So that all may know thy name who praise thee 
 with thanksgiving. 
 
 ^■^Then they joined battle; and there fell of 
 the army of Lysias about five thousand men, 
 and they fell on the spot before them." 
 
 Traditional Ilintonj 
 
 II Mac. 11 iNow a httle 
 later Lysias, the king's guar- 
 dian and kinsman and prime- 
 minister, greatly displeased at 
 what had happened, -collected 
 about eighty thousand foot- 
 men and all his horsemen and 
 came against the Jews. He 
 plaimed to make the city a 
 dwelling-place for Greeks, and 
 to levy tribute on the temple, 
 ^as on the other sacred places 
 of the heathen, and to put up 
 the high priesthood for sale 
 each year. "^He had no regard 
 for the might of God, but was 
 puffed up with his ten thousand 
 footmen and his thousands of 
 horsemen and eighty elej)hants. 
 ^As soon as he came into Judea 
 and drew near to Bethsura, 
 which was a strong place dis- 
 tant about three-fifths of a mile*^ 
 from Jerusalem he pressed it 
 hard. ^'But when Maccabeus 
 and his men learned that he was 
 besieging the strongholds, with 
 lamentations and tears they 
 and all the people besought 
 save Israel. '^Maccabeus, him- 
 the others to encounter the 
 
 iii?:iy 
 
 the Lord to send a good messenger to 
 self the first, took up arms, and exhorted 
 
 danger with him and succor their fellow-countrymen; and very wi 
 they set forth with him. ^But while they were still there, close to Jerusalem, 
 there appeared at their head one on horseback in white ajiparel, brandish- 
 ing weapons of gold. ^Then all together they praised the merciful (Jod 
 and were strengthened in heart, ready to strike down not men only but the 
 
 § 180 Again I Mac. is clearly right in placing the first campaign of Lysias before the death 
 of Antiochus IV. II Mac. dates it a year later, and adds an account of a treaty, the historical 
 basis of which must have been the terms agreed \irion after the Jews were defeated by Lysijus in 
 bis second campaign. C:f. § 185. The author of II Mac, however, has another account ot tliat 
 treaty, 13-'-^', ami definitely associates with the first campaign the present treaty, and the let- 
 ters whicli he ai)i)ends. 
 
 ' I Mac. 4'"Cf. I Sam. 17. 
 
 • 1 Mac. 4"'('f. I Sam. 14. ,,.,.. 
 
 HI .Mac. ll'Gk., five stadia. Some MSS. read, five achonoi or leagues, which is much 
 nearer the actual distance. 
 
 " I .Mac. 4'''' Lit., und the;/ fell over against them. 
 
 113
 
 II Mac. 119] 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 wildest beasts and walls of iron, ^^they advanced in array with him whc 
 came from Heaven to fight on their side, for the Lord had mercy on them. 
 ^ ^Hurling themselves like lions on the enemy they slew of them eleven thou- 
 sand footmen and sixteen hundred horsemen ^^and forced all the rest to 
 flee. But the greater part of them escaped wounded and naked. And 
 Lysias also saved himself by shameful flight. 
 
 History of the Hasmo- 
 neans : 
 
 Lysi- I Mac. 4 35B^it when 
 
 treat to Lysias saw that his army 
 P'"*'" , Avas retreatinor, and the 
 
 pare for 111 
 
 anoth- boldness that had come 
 tack upon those who were with 
 Judas, and how they were 
 ready either to live or to 
 die nobly, he removed to 
 Antioch and gathered to- 
 gether hired soldiers, that 
 he might come again into 
 Judea with a still greater 
 
 force. 
 
 ^^But as he was a man not without under- Lysi- 
 standing, after reflecting upon the defeat which freaty 
 had befallen him, he considered that the He- yith 
 brews could not be overcome, because the Al- 
 mighty God fought on their side, and so he 
 sent again ^*and persuaded them to come to 
 terms on perfectly just conditions, and prom- 
 ised that he would also constrain the king to 
 become their friend. ^^And Maccabeus gave 
 consent to all that Lysias proposed, for what- 
 ever requests ]Maccabeus delivered in writing 
 to Lysias concerning the Jews the king al- 
 lowed. 
 
 His let- 
 ter to 
 the 
 Jews 
 
 Letter 
 of An- 
 tiochus 
 V con- 
 cerning 
 the 
 Jews 
 
 ^^For the letter^ written to the Jews from Lysias was to this effect: 
 
 Lysias to the people of the Jews, greeting. ^'''John and Absalom, your 
 messengers, having delivered the document signed by you,^' inquired concern- 
 ing the things therein. ^^Whatever, therefore, needed also to be brought 
 before the king, these I reported, and whatever was possible he allowed. 
 i^If then you will preserve your good-will toward the state, henceforth I also 
 will endeavor to contribute to your welfare. ^'^In regard to the particulars, 
 I have given order, both to these men and to those who are sent from me, 
 to confer with you. ^ip^re you weU. ^Yritten in the one hundred and forty- 
 eighth vear, on the twentv-fourth dav of the month Dioscorinthus.^ 
 
 2-And the king's letter was to this efi^ect: 
 
 King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greeting. ^3^^^ q^j. father de- 
 parted to the gods, it was our wish that the subjects of our kingdom should 
 attend to the care of their own afi"airs undisturbed. 24jj3^yj[j-^g heard that 
 the Jews object to our father's purpose to convert them to the Greek usages, 
 preferring their own manner of living and requesting that their own customs 
 be allowed to them — ^^we therefore, desiring also that this nation should 
 be free from disturbance, decide that their temple be restored to them, and 
 that thev Uve according to the customs which were in the days of their 
 
 vll Mac. Ill" Or, letters. 
 
 w 111" Or possibly, the document written belotv. 
 
 J 1 1-1 This word is evidently a corruption, either for the Cretan name of a month (Dioscuri) 
 or else of the Macedonian month, Dius, November (so Syr). Probably it is for March. 11^. 
 
 414
 
 VICTORY OVER LYSIAS [II Mac. 1125 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 ancestors, ^eyou will therefore do well to send to them, and give them 
 the right hand of friendsliij), that they, knowing our purpose, may be in 
 good spirits and gladly devote themselves ta their own ail'airs. 
 
 -'And to the nation the king's letter was as follows: His 
 
 King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, greeting. ||iem*° 
 2Slf you fare well, we have our desire. We ourselves also are in good health. 
 29]Menelaus informed us that you desired to depart and attend to your own 
 business. ^^They, therefore, who depart up to the thirtieth day of Xanthi- 
 cus'"^ shall have our friendship, ^iwith full permission to the Jews to use 
 their own laws, even as heretofore; and none of them shall be in any way 
 molested for what was done in ignorance, ^^j have moreover sent Menelaus 
 to encourage you. •'^•'^Fare you well. Written in the hundred and forty-eighth 
 year,*^ on the fifteenth day of Xanthicus. 34^^] ^^jjc Romans also sent to 
 them a letter which read thus: 
 
 Quintus jNIemmius and Titus Manlius, ambassadors of the Romans, to Letter 
 the Jewish ])eople, greeting. ^^In regard to the concessions which Lysias the t'he'" 
 king's kinsman granted vou, we also give consent. ^^'But as for the things ^°- 
 which he judged should be referred to the king, as soon as you have con- 
 sidered these send some one at once that we may publish such decrees as 
 befit your case, for we are on our way to Antioch. "^"Therefore send some 
 one quickly, that we also may learn what is your opinion. ^sp^j-gy^rgU 
 Written in the one hundred and forty-eighth year, on the fifteenth day of 
 Xanthicus. 
 
 12 ^When these agreements had been made Lysias departed to the Lysi 
 king, and the Jews attended to their farming. 
 
 as's de- 
 parture 
 
 § 181. Purification of the Temple and Restoration of its Service, I Mac. 
 
 4*«'". II Mac. 10'-» 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 History oj the Hasmoneans 
 
 I 3Iac. 4 ^*^Then Judas and liis brothers said, 
 Now that our enemies have been defeated, let us go 
 up to cleanse the sanctuary and to dedicate it again; 
 so they went up to Mount Zion. ^'^And all the army 
 was gathered together and went up to Mount Zion. 
 2^And when they saw the sanctuary laid desolate, the 
 altar profaned, the gates burnt, and shrubs growing 
 in the courts, as in a forest or as on one of the moun- 
 tains, and the priests' chambers pulled down, •^'^they tars which had been 
 tore their garments and made great lamentation, built in the market 
 ^•^and putting ashes upon their heads, they fell prone 1 place by the for 
 
 II Mac. 10 ^Then Cere; 
 Maccabeus and those "leans- 
 who were with him, i"K:i'>tl 
 
 11 • 1 c ■"csto- 
 
 under the guidance of ration 
 the Ivord, recovered temple 
 the temple and the 
 city. ^^Vnd they 
 pulled down the al- 
 
 • l]3o xhe Macedonian name of the Jewish month Nisan (Mar. -Apr.). 
 
 •> !!•» 10.5 B.C. 
 
 § 181 I Mac. 10' makes the periofi durinc which the temple was desecrated two years; 
 Josephus three and one-half years; but 1 .Mac. exactly three years, from Dec, 108 (I'"') to Dec, 
 166 (4"^). 
 
 415
 
 I Mac. 440] 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 [II Mac. 102 
 
 Insti- 
 tution 
 of the 
 feast of 
 dedica- 
 tion 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 upon the ground. Then they blew a signal on the 
 trumpets and cried to Heaven. 4i\n(j Judas ap- 
 pointed certain men to fight against those who were 
 in the citadel,"^ until he should have cleansed the 
 sanctuary. 42^jjj }^g chose priests who were unim- 
 peachable observers of the law, ^s^lio cleansed the 
 sanctuary and carried out the polluted stones to an 
 unclean place. 44\j^(j ^^\^^y deliberated as to what 
 they should do with the altar of burnt-offerings which 
 had been profaned, ^o'pi^py finally reached this wise 
 decision : to pull it down lest it should be a reproach 
 to them, because the heathen had defiled it. So they 
 pulled down the altar 46and laid the stones on the 
 temple mount in a convenient place, until there should 
 come a prophet to give an oracle concerning them. 
 4' Then they took whole stones as the law*^ required 
 and built a new altar after the design of the former. 
 4^They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the inner parts 
 of the temple and consecrated the courts, ^s^pj^gy 
 also made the holy vessels new and brought the 
 candlestick and the altar for burnt-offerings and for 
 incense and the table into the temple. ^0\n(j tJ^gy 
 burned incense on the altar and lighted the lamps 
 that were on the candlestick, and they gave light in 
 the temple. °^Then they set loaves upon the table 
 and spread out the veils. So they finished all the 
 work they had undertaken. 
 
 ^^And they arose early in the morning of the 
 twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is 
 the month Chislev, in the one hundred and forty- 
 eighth year,® ^^and offered sacrifice according 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 eigners 
 
 and also the 
 sacred places. ^And 
 when they had 
 cleansed the sanct- 
 uary they made an- 
 other altar for sacri- 
 fice, and they struck 
 sparks from stones 
 and got fire out of 
 them, and offered 
 sacrifices, after an in- 
 terval of two years, 
 and attended to the 
 incense and lights 
 and the setting-forth 
 of the showbread. 
 ^After doing these 
 things, they pros- 
 trated themselves and 
 besought the Lord 
 that they might fall 
 no more into such 
 evils; but that, if ever 
 they should sin again, 
 they might be chas- 
 tened by him with 
 forbearance and not 
 be dehvered to blas- 
 pheming and bar- 
 barous heathen. 
 ^Now on the same day 
 that the sanctuary was 
 profaned by foreigners, 
 upon that very day it came 
 
 to the law upon the new altar of burnt-offering to pass that the cleansing 
 
 which they had made, ^^^bout the same time of the sanctuary occurred, 
 
 and on the same day, in which the heathen had even on the twenty-fifth 
 
 profaned it, was it dedicated again with songs day of the same month, 
 
 and harps and lutes and with cymbals. ^^And which is Chislev. ^And 
 
 all the people prostrated themselves and wor- j they kept eight days with 
 
 shipped and gave praise to Heaven, who had j gladness in the manner of 
 
 given them good success. ^^And they celebrated the feast of tabernacles, 
 
 the dedication of the altar eight days, and offered remembering how that not 
 
 " I Mac. 4^1 I.e., to distract their attention and thus to anticipate an unexpected sally. 
 ^ I Mac. 4" Ex. 20^5. Dt. 278. 
 ' I Mac. 452 Dec, 165 b.c. 
 
 416
 
 I Mac. 456] PURIFICATION OF THE TEISIPLE [II Mac. lO^ 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 jurnt-offerlngs with gladness and sacrificed a 
 sacrifice of deliverance and praise. 5- \iij ^i,gy 
 decorated the front of the temple with crowns 
 of gold and small shields and rededicated the 
 gates and the priests' chambers and made doors 
 for them. ^^And great joy reigned among the 
 people, because the reproach of the heathen had 
 been removed. 59\j^(j Judas and his brothers 
 and the whole congregation of Israel decreed that 
 the days of the dedication of the altar should be 
 kept in their seasons from year to year for the 
 period of eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of 
 the month Chislev, with gladness and joy. 60\|- 
 that time also they fortified Mount Zion with 
 high walls and strong towers all round, lest by 
 any chance the heathen should come and tread 
 them down, as they had done before, ^i^^^jjj j^g 
 stationed there a force to keep it, and they forti- 
 fied Bethsura,*^ that the peo})le might have a 
 stronghold in^ Idumea. 
 
 Traditional Historij 
 
 long before, during the 
 feast of tabernacles they 
 w^ere dwelling in the moun- 
 tains and in the caves like 
 wild beasts. "Therefore 
 bearing wands, wreathed 
 with leaves and fair 
 boughs and palms also, 
 they offered up hymns of 
 thanksgiving to him who 
 had successfully brought 
 to pass the cleansing of 
 his own place. ^They 
 ordained also with a com- 
 mon statute and decree, 
 for all the nation of the 
 Jews, that they should 
 observe these days every 
 year. 
 
 § 182. Successful Campaigns against the Surrounding Nations, I Mac. 5. 
 
 II Mae. 10'^ 38^ 12= « 
 
 Traditional ITistory 
 
 II Mac. 10 ^"^But Gorgias, when he became 
 governor of the district, maintained a force of 
 mercenaries and at every turn kept up war with 
 the Jews, ^^^nd together with him the Idu- 
 means also, being masters of important strong- 
 holds, were harassing the Jews; and by receiving 
 the refugees from Jerusalem, were attempting 
 to keep up war. ^^ijy^ Maccabeus and his men, 
 having made solemn supplication, and having 
 besought (xod to fight on their side, rushed U|)on 
 the strongholds of the Idumeans, ''and by a vig- 
 orous assault made them.selves ma.sters of the 
 positions and repulsed all who fought upon the 
 wall and slew those who fell in their way. They 
 
 History of the Hasmo- 
 neans 
 
 I Mac. 5 ^Now when 
 the heathen round about 
 heard that the altar had 
 been built and the sanct- 
 uary dedicated as it was 
 formerly, they were very 
 angry and concluded -to 
 destroy the race of Jacob 
 that was in the midst of 
 them, and they began to 
 slay and destroy among 
 the people. -^Judas, how- 
 ever, fought against the 
 people of Esau in Idumea 
 
 Slaugh 
 ter of 
 the 
 Idu- 
 means 
 and 
 other 
 foes of 
 the 
 Jews 
 
 ' I Mac. 4"' So Syr. and Codex .55. The other Gk. texts add, to keep it. 
 
 « I Mac. 4'" So Ok. Other C,]i. icxts, a f;mnst. 
 
 § 182 I Mac. has a much simf>ler and more consistent narrative. That the account of 
 Timotheii.s'.s cainr>aiKn in II Mar;, helonus Ijcforo the account of his rlcath in 10 is iierfeotiy clear. 
 At certain points Ijoth sources arc evidently dcpciidcnt iipoii popular tradition, and are there- 
 fore somewnat vague and confusing. It is also difficult to identify the parallels, for the varia- 
 tions are exceedingly wide. 
 
 417
 
 IM 
 
 AC. O 
 
 r.S 
 
 ] 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 [II Mac. 1017 
 
 Historij of the Hasmo- 
 neans 
 
 at Akrabattine,^ because 
 they besieged Israel, and 
 he defeated them with a 
 great slaughter and hum- 
 bled their pride and took 
 their spoils. *He remem- 
 bered the wickedness of 
 the inhabitants of Baean, 
 who were a source of an- 
 noyance and of danger, 
 lying in ambush for them 
 along the roads. ^And 
 they were shut up by him 
 in the towers, and he be- 
 sieged them and destroyed 
 them utterly and burned 
 the towers of the place, 
 with all who were in 
 them. 
 
 Out- 
 rage 
 upon 
 the 
 
 Jews at 
 Joppa 
 
 Judas's 
 ven- 
 geance 
 upon 
 Joppa 
 and 
 Jamnia 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 killed no fewer than twenty thousand. ^^Then, 
 since no less than nine thousand had fled into 
 two exceedingly strong towers, supplied with all 
 things needed for a siege, ^^Maccabeus left Simon 
 and Joseph, and also Zaccheus and those who were 
 with him, a force sufficient to besiege them and 
 himself departed to places where he was most 
 needed. ^^But the officers of Simon,' yielding 
 to covetousness, were bribed by certain of those 
 who were in the towers, and upon the receipt of 
 seventy thousand drachmas let some of them slip 
 away. -^iWhen this act was reported to Macca- 
 beus, he gathered the leaders of the people to- 
 gether, and accused these of having sold their 
 fellow-countrymen for money by setting their en- 
 emies free to fight against them. ^-So he slew 
 these men for having turned traitors and forth- 
 with captured the two towers, ^sgupceeding with 
 his arms in all things, he put to death in the two 
 strongholds more than twenty thousand. 
 13 ^But certain of the governors of districts, Timotheus and Apollonius 
 the son of Genneus, and Hieronymus also and Demophon, and besides these 
 Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not permit them to enjoy tranquillity 
 and live in peace. ^And men of Joppa perpetrated this most impious deed: 
 they invited the Jews who dwelt among them to go with their wives and 
 children into the boats which they had provided, as though they had no ill- 
 will toward them, '^but in accordance with the common decree of the city. 
 And when these accepted, because they desired to live in peace and suspected 
 nothing,^ they took them out to sea and drowned them, not less than two 
 hundred in all. 
 
 ^But as soon as Judas heard of the cruelty done to his fellow-countrymen, 
 he gave command to the men who were with him, and calling upon God the 
 righteous Judge, he came against the murderers of his fellow-countrymen 
 and set the harbor on fire by night and burned the boats and put to the sword 
 those who had fled thither. "As the town was closed against him, he with- 
 drew, intending to come again to root out the whole community of the men 
 of Joppa. ^But learning that the men of Jamnia were also disposed to act in 
 the same manner against the Jews who were living among them, ^he likewise 
 attacked the Jamnites by night and set fire to the harbor, together with the 
 fleet, so that the glare of the light was seen as far as Jerusalem, twenty -seven 
 and one-half miles away. 
 
 •» I Mac. 5^ Probably in the region of the Scorpion Pass at th« south of the Salt Sea, 
 cf. Num. 344. 
 
 ' II Mac. 10^" Or, Simon and those who were with him. 
 
 > II Mac. 12* Or, iiihen these were thinking that they (the men of Joppa) desired peace and 
 would awake no suspicion. 
 
 418
 
 CAMPAIGN IN GILEAD [I Mac. 56 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 5 ^Then he passed over to the Ammonites and found a strons: Defeat 
 force and many people, with Timotheus as their leader. "And he fought ^l^^^ 
 many battles with them, and they were defeated before him, and he con- monites 
 quered them. ^Then when he had gained possession of Jazer and its villages, 
 he returned again into Judea. 
 
 ^Then the heathen who were in Gilead'^ gathered together against the Re- 
 Israelites who were on the borders to destroy them. i*^And they fled to the Cut-** ° 
 stronghold of Dathema and sent letters to Judas and his brothers, saying, fff^^j'^ 
 The heathen who are about us have gathered together against us to destroy and 
 us, ^^and they are preparing to come and get possession of the stronghold to 
 which we have fled for refuge, and Timotheus is the leader of their forces. 
 i^Now therefore come and rescue us from their power, for many of our men 
 have fallen; ^^and all our countrymen who dwell in the land of Tob,' have 
 been put to death, and they have carried into captivity their wives and chil- 
 dren and their possessions. And they destroyed there about a thousand men. 
 ^'^While the letters were being read, there came other messengers from Gal- 
 ilee with their garments torn, bringing a message of similar import, ^'^saying, 
 That there were gathered together against them men of Ptolemais,™ of Tyre, 
 of Sidon, and from all heathen Galilee to destroy them completely. 
 
 ^^Now when Judas and the people heard these things, a great assembly Prep- 
 came together to consult what they should do for their kinsmen who were il^n?. 
 in distress and beintj attacked by the heathen. ^"And Judas said to Simon f"rthe 
 
 o J _ _ cam- 
 
 his brother, Choose men, and go, rescue your countrymen who are in Galilee, paign 
 but Jonathan my brother and I will go into the land of Gilead. ^^And he oilead 
 left Joseph the son of Zacharias and Azarias, as leaders of the people, with ^"^jji 
 the rest of the army in Judea, in order to guard it. ^^And he gave orders to 
 them, saying. Take charge of the heathen until we return, ^o^j^j ^q Simon 
 were assigned three thousand men to go to Galilee and to Judas eight thou- 
 sand men to go into the land of Gilead. 
 
 ^^Then Simon went into Galilee and fought many battles with the heathen, Simon's 
 and the heathen were defeated by him. 22\j^j j^g pursued them to the gate cesses 
 of Ptolemais. And there fell of the heathen about three thousand men. jptial- 
 and he took the spoils from them. ^S'pij^y j^qq]^ \\i{\\ them those who were 
 in Galilee and in Arbatta, with their wives and their children and all that they 
 had, and brought them into Judea with great rejoicing. 
 
 ^^Meanwhile Judas 
 Maccabeus and his broth- 
 er Jonathan crossed the 
 Jordan and went three 
 days' journey in the wil- 
 derness, ^s-pj^gj^ they 
 
 Traditionnl Ilistortj 
 
 II Mac. 12 ^^Now when they had withdrawn Judas's 
 a mile from there, as they marched against „Vee"t.- ^ 
 Timotheus, .\rabians attacked him — no fewer ■^'.>j|_ 
 than five thousand footmen and five hundred tho 
 horsemen. ^^ After a severe battle had been an'.'rhia'' 
 fought and Judas and his followers by the help ^^'^J^'^j^ 
 
 many 
 
 ^ I Mac. S" Gilead is here a designation of all the ea,st-.Iordan region. HlronR- 
 
 ' I Mac. .')'■' Cf. .IikIk. Ill, II Sam. 10". Other MSS. read, Tubiaa. "lo'i's 
 
 o> I .Mac. 5'^ The O.T., Accho. 
 
 no
 
 I Mac. 525] 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 [n Mac. 1211 
 
 Defeat 
 
 ■and 
 
 Hight 
 
 of Ti- 
 
 iriothe- 
 
 as's 
 
 forces 
 
 Histori/ of the Hasmo- 
 neans 
 
 encountered the Nabate- 
 ans, who met them in a 
 peaceable manner and 
 told them all about what 
 had befallen their kins- 
 men in the land of GiJead, 
 2*^and how many of them 
 were shut up in Bosora, 
 Bosor, Alema, Cashphor, 
 Maked, and Carnaim — 
 all these cities are strong 
 and great — • -'^and how 
 they were shut up in the 
 rest of the cities of the 
 land of Gilead, and that 
 [their foes] had decided 
 to encamp against the 
 strongholds on the next 
 day and to take them and 
 destroy all these men in 
 one day. ^S'pj^gj.g^jpQj^ 
 
 Judas and his army 
 turned suddenly by the 
 way of the wilderness to 
 Bosora; and he took the 
 city and put all the men 
 to the sword, and taking 
 all their spoils, he burned 
 the city. 
 
 29Then he set out from 
 there by night and 
 marched until he reached 
 the stronghold. ^^And 
 when the morning came, 
 they looked up and there 
 were people carrying lad- 
 ders and engines of war 
 to take the stronghold, 
 and thev were fiofhting 
 against them. ^^ A n d 
 Judas seeing that the bat- 
 tle had begun and hearins: 
 the alarm of the city ris- 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 of God had had good success, the defeated nomads 
 besought Judas to grant them friendship, prom- 
 ising that they would give cattle and in other 
 ways be a help to them. ^-Judas, thinking 
 that they would indeed be useful in many 
 ways, agreed to live in peace with them; and so, 
 receiving pledges of friendship, they departed to 
 their tents. ^^He also attacked a certain city, 
 secured by mounds and fenced about with walls 
 and inhabited by all sorts of peoples, named 
 Caspin. i^They who were within, trusting to the 
 strength of the walls and to their store of pro- 
 visions, behaved rudely toward Judas and his 
 followers, railing and even blaspheming and 
 speaking impious words, ^^gut calling upon 
 the great Sovereign of the world, who without 
 battering rams or mechanical contrivances hurled 
 down Jericho in the times of Joshua, Judas and his 
 followers rushed wildly against the wall, ^^and 
 took the city by the will of God, and made such 
 unspeakable slaughter that the adjoining lake, 
 which was four hundred yards wide, appeared 
 to be filled with the deluge of blood. 
 
 I'From there they withdrew about eighty -four 
 miles and made their way to Charax, to the 
 Jews who are called Tubieni. ^^And they did 
 not find Timotheus in that district, for he had 
 departed from the district without accomplish- 
 ing anything, but had left behind a very strong 
 garrison in a certain post. ^^Dositheus and 
 Sosipater, two of Maccabeus's captains, sallied 
 forth and destroyed those who had been left by 
 Timotheus in the stronghold, more than ten 
 thousand men. -'^Then Maccabeus, having ar- 
 ranged his army into divisions and set them over 
 one of" the divisions, marched in haste against 
 Timotheus, who had with him a hundred and 
 
 "I! Mao. 122" Most MSS. read, set these over the divisions. But in ^^ they are over one 
 division. The word, one of, has apparently fallen out of the verse. 
 
 420
 
 I INlAc. 531] CAMPAIGN AGAINST TIMOTHEUS [II Mac. IS^O 
 
 History of the Hasmo- 
 neans 
 
 ing to heaven with trum- 
 pets and great noise, ^-he 
 said to the men of his 
 army, Fight to-day for 
 your kinsmen, ^s^hen he 
 went forth behind them 
 in three companies, p and 
 they sounded witli their 
 trumpets and cried out in 
 prayer. 34^^,] ^j^g army 
 of Timotheus perceived 
 that it was Maccabeus, 
 and they fled before him. 
 So lie defeated them with 
 a great slaugliter, and 
 there fell of them on that 
 day about eight thousand 
 men. ^o^hen he turned 
 aside to Mizpeh and 
 fought against it and 
 captured it and slew all its 
 men and took the spoils 
 from it and burned it. 
 36From there he departed 
 and took Casphor, Ma- 
 ked, Bosor, and the other 
 cities of the land of 
 Gilead. 
 
 3"Now after these 
 things Timotheus gath- 
 ered another army, and 
 encamped op])osite Ra- 
 phon beyond the brook. 
 3^And Judas sent men 
 to spy out the camp. 
 And they brought him 
 word saying. All the 
 heathen who live about 
 us have gathered to- 
 gether to them a very 
 great army. ■^^They 
 have also hired Ara- 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 twenty thousand footmen and two thousand five 
 hundred horsemen. -^As soon as Timotheus 
 heard of the advance of Judas, he at once sent 
 away the \\omen and the children and also the 
 baggage" into the fortress called Carnion; for 
 the place was hard to besiege and difficult of 
 access because of the narrowness of the ap- 
 proaches on all sides. --But when the first di- 
 vision of Judas appeared in sight and terror fell 
 upon the enemy and fear, because the manifesta- 
 tion of him who beholdetli all things came upon 
 them, they rushed headlong in flight, carried this 
 way and that, so that they were often hurt by 
 their own men and pierced with the jioints of 
 their swords. ^3 ^j^^j Judas continued the pur- 
 suit the more hotly, putting the guilty sinners 
 to the sword, and he destroyed as many as thirty 
 thousand men. -"timotheus himself, falling in 
 with the division of Dositheus and Sosipater, 
 besought them with much deception to let him 
 go in safety, because he had in his power the 
 parents of many and the brothers of some; if he 
 should die little regard would be shown to these. 
 2^ After he had with many words confirmed the 
 agreement to restore them without hurt, they 
 let him go that they might .save their kinsmen. 
 
 10 24Now Timotheus. who had been before de- Secontl 
 feated by the Jews, having gathered together for- ^I'Vi- 
 eign forces in great numbers and having collected "i<Jtl>e- 
 not a few of the horsemen who were of Asia, came the 
 with the avowed purpose of taking Judea by force of'car- 
 of arms. -''As he drew near, Maccabeus and his ^'^^^ 
 men sjjriiikled earth upon their heads and girded 
 their loins with sackcloth in supplication to God. 
 ^''And falling down upon the step before the altar, 
 they besought him to be gracious to them and to 
 be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to 
 their aflversaries, as the law declares.'' -"Then 
 rising from their prayer they took up their arms 
 and aflvanced some distance from the city, but 
 
 ° II Mac. 12^' Gk., rest of the ha(/fi(iiin. 
 
 P I Mac. ry" For tlio sainn tactics cf. Judg. 7'", 1 Sam. 11". II Sam. 18^ 
 
 1 II Mac. 1(>« Cf. J-:x. 23". 
 
 421
 
 I Mac. 539] 
 
 Historij of the Hasmo- 
 
 neans 
 
 bians to help them, and 
 they are camping be- 
 yond the brook, ready 
 to come against you to 
 battle. Then Judas 
 went to meet them. 
 4'^And Timotheus said 
 to the officers of his 
 army, when Judas with 
 his army was near the 
 brook of water, If he 
 gets over ahead of us, 
 we shall not be able to 
 withstand him, for he 
 will be more than a 
 match for us. ^igut if 
 he is afraid and halts 
 across the river, we 
 will cross to him and 
 overcome him. ^^Now 
 when Judas came near 
 the brook of water, he 
 ordered those who kept 
 the record of the people 
 to remain by the brook 
 and commanded them, 
 saying. Allow no one to 
 halt, but let all come to 
 the battle. ^"^XnA he 
 crossed over ahead of 
 them and all the people 
 after him. And all the 
 heathen were defeated 
 before him, and cast- 
 ing away their weapons, 
 they fled to the temple 
 at Carnaim. '^'^And 
 they captured the city 
 and burned the temple, 
 together with all who 
 were in it. Thus Car- 
 naim was subdued, and 
 they were no longer 
 able to offer resistance 
 to Judas. 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 [II Mac. 1027 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 halted when they drew near to the enemy. ^^Just 
 as the dawn was breaking, both alike charged; the 
 one side having, as a pledge of success and victory — 
 beside their valor — their trust in the Lord, the 
 other making their passion their leader in the 
 strife. "^But when the battle grew fierce, there 
 appeared from heaven to their adversaries five 
 noble-looking men on horses with bridles of gold 
 and leading on the Jews. And they, taking Mac- 
 cabeus in the midst of them and covering him 
 with their own armor, guarded him from wounds, 
 while upon their adversaries they shot forth arrows 
 and thunderbolts. Confused, therefore, with blind- 
 ness, filled with bewilderment, they were cut to 
 pieces. ^^Twenty thousand, five hundred, besides 
 six hundred horsemen, were slain. ^^Timotheus 
 himself fled into a stronghold called Gazara, a 
 very secure fortress, where Chereas was in com- 
 mand. ^^But Maccabeus and his men cheerfully 
 laid siege to the fortress, twenty-four days. ^^And 
 they who were within, trusting in the strength of 
 the place, blasphemed exceedingly and hurled 
 forth impious words. ^^But at the dawn of the 
 twenty-fifth day certain young men of the com- 
 pany of Maccabeus, inflamed with anger because 
 of the blasphemies, assaulted the wall manfully 
 and with furious courage and cut down all who 
 came in their way. ^e^^d others by a movement 
 on the opposite side, climbing up in like manner 
 against the garrison, set fire to the towers and, 
 kindling pyres, burned the blasphemers alive; 
 while others broke open the gates, and, having 
 given entrance to the rest of the force, occupied 
 the city. ^'^And they slew Timotheus, who was 
 hidden in a cistern, and his brother Chereas and 
 also Apollophanes. ^^And when they had ac- 
 complished all this, with hymns and thanksgivings 
 they blessed the Lortl, who showed such great 
 kindness to Israel and gave them the victory. 
 12 26 Judas also went forth against Carnion and 
 the temple of Atergatis and slew twenty-five thou 
 sand persons. 
 
 422
 
 CAMPAIGN IN GILEAD 
 
 I M\C. 545] 
 
 History of the Hasmoncans 
 
 ^^Then Judas gathered all the IsraeHtes 
 who were in the land of Gilead, from the least 
 to the greatest, with their wives and children 
 and their household possessions, a very great 
 host, that they might go into the land of Judah. 
 46And they came as far as E[)hron. This was 
 a large and very strong city situated directly 
 on the pass by which they must go; they could 
 not turn aside from it either to the right or 
 the left, but it was necessary to go through it. 
 4"But the inhabitants of the city shut them 
 out, and stopped up the gate with stones. 
 ^^Then Judas sent a peaceful message to them, 
 saying, We wish to pass through your land to 
 go into our own land, and no one shall do you 
 any harm, we will only march through on foot. 
 But they would not open to him. ^^Then 
 Judas commanded proclamation to be made 
 in the army, that each man should encamp in 
 the place where he was. 50^\.nd the men of 
 the army besieged and fought against the city 
 all that day and night, and the city fell into 
 his hands. ^^And then he destroyed all the 
 males with the sword, razed the city, and took 
 the spoils from it, and passed through the city 
 over those who were slain. ^^And they crossed 
 the Jordan into the great plain opposite Beth- 
 shan. 53\n(l Judas gathered together those 
 who lagged behind and encouraged the people 
 all the way through, until he came into the 
 land of Judah. ^^ \,„i \\^^.y went up to Mount 
 Zion with gladness and joy and offered whole 
 burnt offerings, because not one of them had 
 been slain, but they had returned safe and 
 sound. 
 
 [II Mac. 1027 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 ^''And after he had put 
 these to flight and destroyed 
 them, he marched against 
 Ephron also, a strong city, 
 in which Lysias"" had a resi- 
 dence and multitudes of 
 peoples of all nations. And 
 stalwart young men sta- 
 tioned before the walls 
 made a vigorous defence; 
 and there were great stores 
 of engines and darts there. 
 -^But, calling upon the Sov- 
 ereign who with might break- 
 
 Judas's 
 capture 
 ami de- 
 struc- 
 tion of 
 Ephron 
 and \'ic- 
 torious 
 return 
 to Je- 
 rusa- 
 lem 
 
 the 
 
 strength 
 
 eth m pieces 
 of the enemy, they gained 
 possession of the city and 
 slew as many as twenty-five 
 thousand of those who were 
 within, ^aprom there they 
 set out and advanced against 
 Scythopolis,^ which is dis- 
 tant from Jerusalem sixty- 
 nine miles. "^^But when 
 the Jews who were settled 
 there testified of the good- 
 will that the Scythopolitans 
 had shown toward them and 
 of their kindly bearing in 
 the times of their misfort- 
 une, ^Hhey gave thanks and 
 exhorted them to remain 
 well-disposed toward their 
 race in the future also. Then 
 they went up to Jerusalem, 
 for the feast of weeks was 
 close at hand. 
 
 55Now while Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Gih-ad and Simon Defeat 
 his brother in (ialilee before Ptolemais, '''''Josepli the son of Zacharias, and ^eph" 
 Azarias, commanders of the army, heard of their exploits and the wars which Xil^^ias 
 they had carried through, and they said, 57Let us also win fame and let us i.pfore 
 go and fight against the heathen who are around about us. ''^So they gave 
 
 ' II Mac. 122' J.y^ias is omitted in many MSS., but apparently by mistake. 
 " II Mac. 12^^ Scytliopolia is the Greek name of Dcthalian mentioned m the parallel, 
 I Mac. 5''2. 
 
 423
 
 I Mac. 558] THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 command to the men of the army which was with them and went toward 
 Jamnia. ^Qgyt when Gorgias and his men came out of the city to meet them 
 in battle, *^0Joseph and Azarias were put to flight and were pursued to the 
 borders of Judea, and there fell on that day of the people of Israel about 
 two thousand men. ^^Thus the people suffered a great disaster because they 
 did not obey Judas and his brothers, thinking to perform some exploit. 
 ^"But they were not of the same stock as those men, by whose hand deliver- 
 ance was given to Israel. 
 judas's ^^Then Judas 
 
 '"'^'=^''- and his brothers 
 
 ful wars 
 against ^gnt 
 the 
 Idu- 
 means 
 and 
 Philis- 
 tines 
 
 out and 
 fought against the 
 people of Esau in 
 the land toward 
 the south. And 
 he smote Hebron 
 and the villages 
 belonging to it 
 and pulled down 
 its citadel and 
 burned the sur- 
 rounding towers. 
 ^^Then he set out 
 to go into the 
 land of the Phi- 
 listines;^' and he 
 went through Ma- 
 rissa. ^"On that 
 day certain 
 priests, desiring to 
 do exploits there, 
 were slain in bat- 
 tle, when they un- 
 wisely went out 
 to fight. Gsxhen 
 Judas turned 
 aside to Azotus, 
 to the land of the 
 Philistines, and 
 pulled down their 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 12 ^2 After the feast called Pentecost they advanced 
 against Gorgias, the governor of Idumea. ^^And he 
 came out with three thousand footmen and four hun- 
 dred horsemen. ^^And when they engaged in battle, it 
 transpired that a few of the Jews fell, ^^jj^t ^ certain 
 Dositheus,* of Bacenor's followers, who rode a horse 
 and was a strong man, laying hold of Gorgias and taking 
 him by his cloak, was drawing him along by main force. 
 But when he purposed to take the accursed man alive, 
 one of the Thracian horsemen bore down upon him and 
 disabled his shoulder so that Gorgias escaped to Marissa. 
 ^^ After Esdris^ and his followers had fought long and 
 were wearied, Judas called upon the Lord to show him- 
 self their ally and the leader of their van of battle. 
 ^'^And then in the language of his fathers he raised 
 the battle cry, accompanied by h^Tnns, and, rushing un- 
 expectedly upon the troops of Gorgias, he put them to 
 flight. ^^Xhen Judas came with his army to the city of 
 AduUam;"^ and as the seventh day drew near, according 
 to their custom, they purified themselves and kept the 
 sabbath there. 39Qj^ ^\^q following day, when it had 
 become necessary, Judas and his men came to take up 
 the bodies of those who had fallen and to bring them 
 back to be with their kinsmen in the sepulchres of their 
 fathers. ^^Under the garments of each one of the dead 
 they found consecrated tokens of the idols of Jamnia,'^ 
 with which the law forbids the Jews to have anything 
 to do ; and it became clear to all that this was the reason 
 why they had fallen. ^^All therefore blessed the works 
 of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who maketh manifest 
 
 * II Mac. 1235 Evidently not the Dositheus mentioned in ". 
 
 " II Mac. 12*' Luc, Gnrcjias, but this is evidently an attempt to identify the unexpected 
 proper name, Esdris (Heb., Esri). The word means, help (of Jehovah). Like Jasher in the ear- 
 lier O.T. books, it is probably a title of the chosen people. 
 
 ^' I Mac. 5* Lit., strangers, as in 4—. If it means Philistines, as '* indicates, then Samaria, 
 supported by the Gk. MSS., must be changed to, Marissa, with Josephus. 
 
 * II Mac. 1238 Gk., Adollam. 
 
 ' II Mac. 12^" Probably small images used as amulets. 
 
 424
 
 I SL'.c. 568] 
 
 History of the 
 Has-moncans 
 
 altars and burned 
 the carved im- 
 ages of tlieir gods 
 and, taking the 
 spoil of their cit- 
 ies, he returned 
 to the land of Ju- 
 dah. 63\n(j ^he 
 hero Judas and 
 his brothers were 
 greatly honored 
 by all Israel and 
 by all the heathen 
 wherever their 
 name was heard. 
 ^^And men gath- 
 ered to them to 
 sing their praise.^ 
 
 HIS SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS 
 
 Tnidit ion al II istory 
 
 the hidden things, and turned to supplication, beseeching 
 that the sin committed might be wholly blotted out. 
 ^-And the noble Judas exhorted the multitude to keep 
 them.selves from sin, because they had .seen before their 
 eyes the consequences of the sin of those who had fallen. 
 ^^And when, by a collection among the men, he had 
 gathered as much as two thousand drachmas of silver, 
 he sent it to Jeru.salem to offer a sacrifice for sin. In 
 this he acted very well and honorably, in that he was 
 mindful of the resurrection. ■*"*For were he not expect- 
 ing that those who had fallen would rise again, it were 
 superduous and idle to pray for the dead. '^^If then he 
 did it, considering that a most excellent gift of grace is 
 laid up for those who sleep in godliness, holy and godly 
 was the thought; therefore he made the propitiation for 
 the dead, that they might be released from their sin. 
 
 183. Death of Antiochus Epiphanes and the Accession of Eupator, 
 I Mac. 6'-", II Mac. 9'-«, 10»-''' 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 6 ^And as King Antiochus was jour- 
 neying through the upper countries, he heard 
 that in Elymais,'' in Persia, there was a city 
 renowned for riches, for silver and gold, -and 
 that the temple there was exceedingly rich and 
 that in it there were golden .shields and breast- 
 plates and arms, which Alexander son of 
 Philip the Macedonian king, who reigned first 
 over the Syrian Empire, had there left behind. 
 ^Therefore he went and trit>d to take the city 
 and ])illage it, but he was not able because the 
 matter became known to the inhabitants of 
 the city, and they arose against him in battle. 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 II Mac. 9 1 About that 
 time it transpired that An- 
 tiochus had set out in dis- 
 grace^ from the region of 
 Persia. ^For he had en- 
 tered the city called Persep- 
 olis and had attempted to 
 rob its temples'' and to hold 
 the city. Put when in con- 
 se(|uence the people ran to 
 defend themselves with their 
 weapons, the attack was re- 
 pulsed. And Antiochus, put 
 
 Antio- 
 chus's 
 unsuc- 
 cessful 
 attempt 
 to plun- 
 der a 
 rich _ 
 Persian 
 city 
 
 « 1 Mac. 5''-''* These verses belong appropriately at the close of the account of Judas's vic- 
 torious campaJKn. , , ^„,..^ ^^ . , , , 
 
 § 183 I Mac. dates the fleath of Antiochus in the summer of 104 n.r. (fi"'). ^ It is probable, 
 however, that it wa.s not Iohk after tlie redcilicatioii of the temple in Dec, Ui,"). The sudden death 
 of this arch-enemy furnished the historic fact aliout whicli Krew up the traditions preserved in 
 II Mac. The letter in 0'"-" is contrary not only to probability, but also to his well-known atti- 
 tude to the .Jews and to the testimony of the iirecediuK context, which assumes, '«. that there 
 wa-s no hope of liis recovery. The entire account of his death was evidently written with a di- 
 dactic i)urpose and freely elaborated. 
 
 >'l .Mao. 0' The (Jreek IClurnias may represent the original Ilel)., hldin. 
 
 " II .Viae, y Or, in diHorder. 
 
 <i II .Mac. y^ Or, temple. 
 
 425
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 Recep- 
 tion of 
 the 
 news 
 of the 
 victo- 
 ries of 
 the 
 Jews 
 
 I Mac. 64] 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 ^So he retreated and set out from there in 
 great disappointment to return to Babylon. 
 
 [II Mac. 92 
 
 ^Then one came bring- 
 ing him tidings into Per- 
 sia, that the armies which 
 went against the land of 
 Judah had been put to 
 flight, ^and that Lysias 
 had gone at the head of a 
 strong host, and had been 
 defeated before them ; 
 and that they had grown 
 strong in arms and power, 
 having a store of spoils 
 which they took from the 
 armies which they had 
 cut off; ''and that they 
 had pulled down the 
 abomination® which he 
 had built upon the altar 
 that was in Jerusalem; 
 and that they had sur- 
 rounded the sanctuary 
 with high walls as be- 
 fore, and also Bethsura, 
 his city. ^And when the 
 king heard these things, 
 he was exceedingly as- 
 tonished and moved, so 
 that he lay down upon his 
 bed, and fell sick for 
 grief, because his affairs 
 had not prospered as he 
 had expected. ^And he 
 was there a long while 
 because great grief was 
 always overcoming him 
 anew. 
 
 His re- 
 pent- 
 ance 
 and 
 
 pitiable 
 end 
 
 ^•^And when he 
 saw that his end 
 was near, he called 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 to flight by the people of the 
 country, had to break up 
 his camp in disgrace. 
 ^Wliile he was at Ecbatana, news came to 
 him of what had happened to Nicanor and the 
 forces of Timotheus. ^Xhen swelling with anger, 
 he thought to make the Jews suffer even for the 
 evil doing of those who had put him to flight. 
 Therefore, as the judgment from heaven was 
 even then following him, he gave orders to his 
 charioteer to drive without ceasing and end the 
 journey. For thus he spoke in his arrogance, I 
 will make Jerusalem a common graveyard of 
 Jews when I come there. '^But the all-seeing 
 Lord, the God of Israel, smote him with a fatal 
 and invisible stroke; as soon as he had ceased 
 speaking an incurable pain of the bowels seized 
 him and bitter torments of the inner parts; ^and 
 that most justly, for he had tormented other men's 
 bowels with many and strange sufferings. '^How- 
 ever he did not at all cease from his insolence, 
 but was still filled with arrogance, breathing 
 fire in his rage against the Jews, and gave orders 
 to hasten the journey. Then it came to pass 
 that he fell from his chariot as it rushed along, 
 and had such a severe fall that all the members 
 of his body were racked. ^And he who but re- 
 cently supposed himself to have the waves of the 
 sea at his bidding, so abnormally^ vainglorious 
 was he, and who thought to weigh the heights 
 of the mountains in a balance, was now brought 
 to the ground and carried in a litter, showing to 
 all that the power was manifestly God's; ^so 
 that even worms swarmed out of the body of the 
 impious man, and, while he was still living in 
 anguish and pain, his flesh fell off piecemeal, 
 and because of the stench his corruption was 
 offensive to the whole army. ^O^^d the man 
 who a little before supposed himself able to 
 touch the stars of heaven, no one could endure 
 
 ^ to carry on account of his intolerable stench. 
 
 ^^Then at last sorely stricken he began in great part 
 to cease from his arrogance, and to come to his senses 
 under the scourge of God, for his pains increased 
 
 • I Mac. 6^ Cf. TM. 
 
 ' II Mac. 9^ Lit., beyond the condition of a man. 
 
 426
 
 I M^c. 610] 
 
 History of the 
 Hasmoneans 
 
 for all his Friends, 
 and said to them. 
 Sleep flees from my 
 eyes and my heart 
 sinks because of bit- 
 ter grief. 11 And I 
 said to myself, To 
 what tribulation 
 have I come, and 
 how great a flood 
 is it in which I now 
 am, although I was 
 gracious and be- 
 loved while I still 
 reigned ! i-But 
 now I remember 
 the evils which I 
 did at Jerusalem, 
 and that I took all 
 the vessels of silver 
 and gold that were 
 in it, and sent to 
 destroy the inhabi- 
 tants of J u d a h 
 without a cause. 
 1^1 perceive that 
 this is why these 
 evils have come up- 
 on me, and now I 
 am about to perish 
 through great 
 grief in a foreign 
 land. i^Then he 
 called for Philip, 
 one of his Friends, 
 and set him over 
 all his kingdom. 
 l^And gave him his 
 diadem, his robe, 
 and his signet ring, 
 that he should 
 
 DEATH OF ANTIOCHUS 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 [U Mac. 911 
 
 every moment. i-And when he himself could not en- 
 dure his own smell, he spoke these words: It is right 
 that one should be subject to God and that, being 
 mortal, he should not think himself like God. i^Then 
 the vile man vowed to the Sovereign Lord, who now 
 no more would have pity upon him, and said i^that 
 the holy city which he was hastening to reach, that 
 he might lay it even with the ground and make it a 
 common graveyard, he would declare free. i^And as 
 for the Jews concerning whom he had decided that 
 they were not even worthy of burial but should be 
 cast out to the beasts with their infants, for the birds 
 to devour, he would make them all equal to citizens 
 of Athens. i*^And the holy sanctuary, which before he 
 had despoiled, s he would adorn with goodliest offer- 
 ings, and would restore all the sacred vessels many 
 times multiplied, and out of his own revenues would 
 defray the charges connected with the sacrifices. 
 i~And, besides all this, that he would become a Jew 
 and would visit every inhabited place, proclaiming the 
 power of God. i^But his suft'erings did not cease at 
 all, for the judgment of God had come upon him 
 righteously, and so, having given up all hope for him- 
 self, he wrote to the Jews the following letter in the 
 nature of a supplication, to this effect: 
 
 i^To the worthy Jews, his fellow-citizens, Antiochus, 
 king and general, wishes much joy and health and 
 prosperity, ^^jf you and your children prosper and 
 your affairs are to your mind, I give Cunl very great 
 thanks,'' for my hope is in heaven. -'I however lie 
 ill.* Your esteem and good-will I remembered with 
 affection. On my return from the region of Persia, 
 being .seized with a loathsome sickness, 1 deemed it 
 necessary to take thought for the common safety of all, 
 not desjjairing of my recovery, 22but with great hope 
 of escaping from the sickness. -'^But considering tluit 
 my father also, at the time when he led an army into 
 the uj)per country, appointed his successor, -"^in order 
 that, if anything unexpected occurred, or if any mis- 
 fortune was merely rei)orl<'d. the i)eople throughout 
 the country, knowing to whom tiie slate had been left. 
 
 « II Mac 9" Cf 3'. 
 
 '■ II Slac! 920 This clause is omitted in many MSS. but is found in others, and i.s demanded by 
 the context. 
 
 ' II Mac. 9-'' / however lie ill, is omitted in some MSS., but cf. 1 1-'. 
 
 427
 
 I ]\L4.C. 615] 
 
 Histori/ of the 
 Hasmoneans 
 
 carry themJ to An- 
 tiochus, his son, and 
 should bring him 
 up to be king. i*^So 
 King Antiochus 
 died there in the 
 one hundred and 
 forty-ninth year.'^ 
 I'^And when Ly- 
 sias knew that the 
 king was dead, he 
 set up Antiochus 
 his son to reign, 
 whom he liad cared 
 for while he was 
 young, and he called 
 his name Eupator. 
 
 Eupa- 
 
 tor's 
 
 policy 
 
 toward 
 
 the 
 
 Jews 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 {II Mac. 924 
 
 might not be troubled ; ^^and, besides all this, observing 
 that the bordering princes and the neighbors were 
 looking for opportunities and were awaiting the future 
 event, I have appointed my son Antiochus king. Often, 
 when I was hastening into the upper provinces, I in- 
 trusted him and commended him to most of you; and 
 I have written to him what is added below. -"^I ex- 
 hort you therefore and beseech you to remember the 
 benefits you have received in common and severally, 
 and to preserve each of you your present good-will 
 toward me and my son. 27poj. \ ^m persuaded that he 
 in gentleness and kindness, following my policy, will 
 maintain friendly relations with you. 
 
 2^So the murderer and blasphemer having suffered 
 most grievously, as he himself had dealt with other 
 men, died in a strange land, among the mountains, a 
 most pitiable death. ^9 \j^(j philip^ his foster-brother, 
 conveyed the body home; and then, fearing the son of 
 xAntiochus, he betook himself to Ptolemy Philometor 
 in Egypt.' 10 ^Such were the circumstances of the 
 end of Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes. 
 ^^Now will we declare what came to pass under Antiochus Eupator, who 
 was a son of that godless man, and will briefly summarize the evils connected 
 with his wars. '^For this man, when he succeeded to the kingdom, appointed 
 a certain Lysias prime minister"^ and supreme governor of Coelesyria and 
 Phoenicia. ^"For Ptolemy, who was called Macron, set an example of ob- 
 serving justice toward the Jews because of the wrong which had been done 
 to them, and endeavored to conduct his dealings with them peaceably. 
 '•^Whereupon he was accused by the Friends before Eupator, and was called 
 traitor in every respect, because he had abandoned Cyprus, which Philo- 
 metor had entrusted to him, and had withdrawn himself to Antiochus, called 
 Epiphanes. And so, failing to uphold the honor of his office, he took poison 
 and made away with himself. 
 
 J I Mac. 6^5 Following Jos. and Svr. 
 k I Mac. 6'" Summer of 164. 
 
 ' II Mac. 9-« But of. l.S-3, 1 Mac. Q^'-^, and Jos., Ant., XII, 9', which contradict the statement. 
 Philip on hi.? return was conquered and put to death by Lysias. 
 " II Mac. 10" Or, regent. 
 
 428
 
 I Mac. 6i«] 
 
 BATTLE OF BETH-ZACHARIAS 
 
 [11 Mac. I3I 
 
 184. The Disastrous Battle of Beth-zacharias, I INIac. (V^-^\ II ]Mac. IS'" 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 6 i^Now those who 
 were in the citadel were hindering 
 Israel round about the sanctuary 
 and were always seeking to do them 
 harm and were a support to the 
 heathen. ^^But Judas determined 
 to destroy them and called all the 
 people together to besiege them. 
 20 And they were gathered together 
 and besieged them in the hundred 
 and fiftieth year, and he made 
 mounds from which to shoot and 
 engines of war. ^ifhen some of 
 those who were shut up came out 
 and certain apostate Israelites 
 joined them. ^^Xnd they went to 
 the king and said, When will you 
 finally satisfy justice and avenge 
 our brothers ? -^^We were willing 
 to serve your father and to live as 
 he enjoined, and to obey his com- 
 mands; 24but because of this our 
 own people besieged us in the cita- 
 del and were alienated from us; 
 and as many of us as they could 
 find, tliey killed and despoiled our 
 inheritances. 25\ntl not against us 
 only have they stretched out their 
 hand, but also against all that bor- 
 dered on them. -'^And now they 
 are to-day encamped against the 
 citadel at Jerusalem, to take it, 
 and they liavc fortified the sanct- 
 uary and Belhsura. -'^And if you 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 II Mac. 13 ^In the one hundred Ad- 
 
 and forty-ninth year news was brought ^f ""Jf. 
 
 to Judas and his followers that Antiochus luitor 
 T-, ..,,., and the 
 
 Eupator was commg with nuntituues well- 
 
 against Judea and with him Lysias his gerVed 
 
 iruardian and 
 
 minister, -each fate of 
 
 having a Greek force, a hundred and laus 
 ten thousand footmen and five thou- 
 sand, three hundred horsemen and 
 twenty-two elephants and three hundred 
 chariots armed with scythes. *^Mene- 
 laus also joined with them and with 
 
 great 
 
 dissimulation encouraged An- 
 
 tiochus, not for the deliverance of his 
 country but because he thought he 
 would be establi.shed in his office.'* 
 *But the King 6f kings stirred up the 
 anger of Antiochus against the wicked 
 sinner; and when Lysias informed him 
 that this man was the cause of all the 
 evils, he gave orders to bring him to 
 Beroea° and to put him to death ac- 
 cording to the custom there. ^Now in 
 that place is a tower fifty cubits high, 
 full of ashes, with a revolving contriv- 
 anceP from every side of which is an 
 abrupt descent into the ashes. ^Here 
 they ])ushed forward to destruction 
 everyone who is guilty of sacrilege'^ or 
 has committed any other conspicuous 
 crime. ^Such was the death which it 
 befell that law-breaker, INIenelaus, to 
 die, without even receiving a portion of 
 the earth for a grave, most justly too, 
 
 § 184 II Mac. 13' dates the event in 103 n.c. but I Mac. (i-'» wilhout mucli donl)t is correct 
 in planing it one vear later. II Mac. also in its zeal to tilorify the .lews, or liecauso of the niis- 
 ieading testimony of the iK)|)ular tradition upon which it is ha.sed. turns the virtual defeat into 
 a partial victory. With the reduction of the temple and the victories of ,)udas, the interest of 
 the epitomizer of II .Mac. in tlie history wanes and his riitumi of the remaining events is often so 
 compressed that the style is harsh and the meaniiiK at times ob.scure ljecau.se of the ellipses. 
 
 "II Mac. 13'' The office of the hish-priest is meant. Of. 4-' ". 
 
 o II Mac. 13' Located in Svria between Antioch and lliorapolis. 
 
 I' II .Mac. 1.3'' It is difficult' to determine the exact iiaturi! of this instrument. It wa.s prob- 
 ably a revolviuK ai)i)aralus which lifK^d the victiin t<j the top of the lower and dro|)ped him m. 
 As (jrimm suEKcsts, the lushes were jjrobably burning. « ■■ i * 
 
 'I II Mac. 13" The (jk. here reads, thni <M push forward whoever is ouillu, ftc. A slight 
 change in the Gk. gives the above reading, which was probably the original. 
 
 429
 
 I Mac. 627] THE WAKS OF JUDAS [U Mac. 138 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans | Traditional History 
 
 do not quickly anticipate them, | ^for as lie had committed many sins in 
 
 they will do greater things than 
 these, and you will not be able to 
 check them. 
 
 relation to the altar, the fire and ashes 
 of which were holy, in ashes did he re- 
 ceive his death. 
 
 28When the king had heard this, he was angry, 
 and gathered together all his Friends, the officers of 
 his army, and those who commanded the cavalry. 
 -^There came to him also from other kingdoms and 
 from isles of the sea, bands of hired soldiers. ^''So 
 the number of his forces was a hundred thousand 
 footmen and twenty thousand horsemen and thirty- 
 two elephants trained for war. ^^Then they went 
 through Idumea and encamped against Bethsura and 
 carried on the siege a long time and made engines of 
 w^ar. The besieged, however, sallied out and burned 
 them and fought valiantly. ^^ \ii(i Judas departed 
 from the citadel and encamped at Beth-zacharias, 
 opposite the king's camp. ^"^Then the king rose 
 early in the morning and had his army set out at full 
 speed along the road to Beth-zacharias and his forces 
 prepared for battle and the trumpets were sounded. 
 ^'^And they showed the elephants the blood of grapes 
 and mulberries, in order to excite them for the battle. 
 ^^Then they distributed the beasts among the pha- 
 lanxes and stationed by each elephant a thousand 
 men armed with coats of mail and helmets, with brass 
 on their heads; and to each beast five hundred chosen 
 horsemen were appointed. ^^These were already 
 there, wherever the beast was, and wherever the beast 
 went, they went with him and did not separate them- 
 selves from him. ^'^And upon them were towers of 
 wood, strong, covered, one girded upon each beast. 
 Upon them were engines and two or three"" men, who 
 fought upon them, besides the Indian who guided 
 the elephant. ^^The rest of the horsemen he sta- 
 tioned on both sides of the two wings of the army to 
 inspire terror and to protect the phalanxes. ^^And 
 when the sun struck the golden and bronze shields, the 
 mountain shone with them and blazed like torches 
 of fire. '^'^And a part of the king's army was spread 
 out on the heights, and some on the low ground, and 
 they moved firmly and in good order. ^^And all who 
 heard the noise of their multitude, and the march- 
 
 ^Now the king, in 
 a savage temper, was 
 coming intent upon 
 inflicting on the Jews 
 the very w'orst of the 
 sufferings which had 
 befallen them in his 
 father's time. ^^But 
 as soon as Judas 
 heard of these things, 
 he charged the multi- 
 tude to call upon the 
 Lord day and night, 
 that, if ever at any 
 other time, he would 
 now also succor those 
 who were about to be 
 deprived of the law 
 and their country and 
 the holy temple, ^^ and 
 that he would not suf- 
 fer the people, who 
 had been for only a 
 httle while restored, 
 to fall into the hands 
 of those unholy hea- 
 then. ^2\Y}ien they 
 had all done the same 
 thing together, be- 
 seeching the merciful 
 Lord with weeping 
 and fastings and pros- 
 tration for three days 
 without ceasing, Ju- 
 das exhorted and 
 commanded them 
 to be ready. ^^After 
 having gone apart 
 with the elders, he re- 
 
 Pravers 
 of the 
 Jews 
 for de- 
 liver- 
 ance 
 from 
 the Syr- 
 ians 
 
 ■■ I Mac. 6'' The Gk. text reads, thirty-two, but the original probably read as above, 
 error was an easy one. 
 
 430 
 
 The
 
 I iVL^c. e-ii] 
 
 BATTLE OF BETH-ZACHARIAS [II ^Iac. 13i3 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 ing of the great numbers, and 
 
 arms, trembled because the army was very great and 
 
 strong. 
 
 the rattling of the 
 
 ^^Then Judas and his army ap- 
 proached for battle, and there fell of the 
 king's army six hundred men. "^^Now 
 when Eleazar, who was called Avaran, 
 saw one of the beasts armed with royal 
 breastplates, which was higher than all 
 the beasts, and it looked as though the 
 king was upon it, "^"^he gave himself to 
 save his people and to gain for himself 
 an everlasting fame; '^^and he ran upon 
 him courageously in the midst of the 
 phalanx and slew on the right hand and 
 on the left, and they scattered from 
 before him on either side. ■**^Then he 
 crept under the elephant, thrust him 
 from beneath, and- slew him. And the 
 elephant fell to the earth upon him, 
 and he died there. *"But when they 
 saw the strength of the king and the 
 fierce onset of the armies, they turned 
 away from them. 
 
 ^^But those who were in the king's army went 
 up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king en- 
 camped for a struggle with Judea and Mount Sion. 
 ^^And he made peace with those in Bethsura; for 
 they surrendered the city, because they had no food 
 there to endure the siege, because the land had a 
 sabbath.'^ '^^vSo the king took Bethsura and sta- 
 tioned a garrison there to keep it. '^^Thcn he en- 
 camped against the sanctuary for a long time; and 
 he set there mounds from which to shoot and en- 
 gines of war and instruments for casting stones 
 and fire, and pieces to cast darts and slings, ^^^^i 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 solved that, before the 
 king's army should in- 
 vade Judea and make 
 themselves masters of 
 the city, they should 
 go forth and decide 
 the matter with the 
 helj) of the Lord.^ 
 
 after committing the 
 the Creator* of the 
 exhorting those 
 
 him to contend nobly 
 
 i^Then, 
 decision to 
 world and 
 were with 
 
 even unto death for laws, temple, 
 city, country, and commonwealth, 
 he pitched his camp near ISIodein. 
 ^^And after giving out to his men 
 the watchword, " \'ictorv is God's," 
 with a chosen body of the bravest 
 yoimg men he fell upon the king's 
 tent by night and slew in the camp'' 
 as many as two thousand men, and 
 brought down the chief elephant, 
 with all whowere^' in the tower upon 
 him. ^"^And at last they filled the 
 camp with terror and alarm and 
 withdrew victorious. ^"And this 
 was accomplished when the day 
 was already dawning, because he 
 had the Lord's helpful protection. 
 
 ^^Then the king, hav- 
 ing had a taste of the 
 
 The 
 
 success- 
 ful at- 
 who tack 
 
 Siege of 
 Beth- 
 sura 
 
 exceeding boldness of il"'* 
 
 final 
 
 (liaua 
 of the 
 Syria 
 asmy 
 
 the Jews, made attempt with 
 by strategy uj)on their 
 p(Ksitions, '-'and he atl- 
 vanced upon Bethsura, 
 a strong fortress of the 
 Jews, was turned back, 
 attacked again, was 
 again defeated. -^Then 
 Judas conveyed to those 
 
 • II M.ic. n" Som« manuscript!" have, God, instead of, the Lord. 
 ' II Mac. 1."?" Some manuscripts have, God. instead of, Creator. 
 " II Mac. 13''' Makinc asliclit but nece.s.sary correction. 
 » II Mac. 1 3''' So the best texts. Others read, him who was. 
 " I .Mac. 0*'' Cf. Lev. 25. 
 
 <t31
 
 I IVIac. 652] 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 Histonj of the Hasmoneans 
 
 they also erected engines against those of the be- 
 siegers and fought for a long time, ^^g^t since 
 there was no food in the sanctuary, because it 
 was the seventh year and those who had fled 
 for safety into Judea from among the heathen 
 had eaten up what remained of the store of pro- 
 visions, S^tiiere were but a few left in the sanctu- 
 ary, because the famine became so severe uj)on 
 them, and they scattered, each man to his own 
 home. 
 
 [II Mac. 1320 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 within such things as 
 were necessary. 2iBut 
 Rhodocus, from the 
 Jewish ranks, made 
 known to the enemy 
 their secrets. He was 
 discovered and taken, 
 and shut up in prison. 
 22The king treated with 
 those in Bethsura the 
 second time, exchanged 
 pledges, departed, at- 
 tacked^ the forces of Ju- 
 das, and was overcome. 
 
 § 185. The Treaty Establishing Religious Freedom, I Mac. 6^^-*^, 
 
 II Mac. 13-3-28 
 
 Compli- 
 cations 
 at An- 
 tioch 
 and 
 the 
 rights 
 guaran- 
 teed to 
 the 
 Jews 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 6 ^^Now Lysias heard that Philip, 
 whom Antiochus the king, had appointed dur- 
 ing his lifetime to bring up his son Antiochus 
 that he might be king, 5*^had returned from 
 Persia and Media and with him the forces 
 that went with the king, and that he was 
 trying to get control of the government, ^''^he 
 hastily decided to depart. And he said to the 
 king, and to the officers of the army and to the 
 men. We are growing weaker every day, our 
 supplies are scanty, and the place v>^hich we are 
 besieging is strong, and the welfare of the king- 
 dom depends upon us; "^^now therefore let us 
 give the right hand to these men and make peace 
 with them and with all their nation, ^^and cov- 
 enant with them that they may live according 
 to their own customs as formerly; for because 
 of their laws, which we abolished, they were 
 angered and did all these things. '''^This 
 counsel pleased the king and the princes, and 
 he sent to them to make peace. They accepted 
 it, ^^and when he king and the princes took 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 II Mac. 13 23Theking 
 heard that PhiHp,who had 
 been left as prime minis- 
 ter in Antioch, had become 
 reckless, was confounded, 
 made overtures to the 
 Jews, submitted himself 
 and accepted on oath all 
 just conditions, came to 
 terms with them and 
 offered sacrifice, honored 
 the sanctuary and showed 
 kindness to the place, 
 2^and graciously received 
 Maccabeus, left Hege- 
 monides governor from 
 Ptolemais even to the 
 Gerrenians,^ and came to 
 Ptolemais. 25"^}^^ men of 
 Ptolemais were displeased 
 at the treaty, for they were 
 exceedingly indignant;'' 
 
 ' II Mac. 13'^-22 The unusual frequency of asyndeton is undoubtedly due to the desire of the 
 epitomizer to condense at this point the contents of his earlier source. 
 
 ="11 Mac. 13-'^ This word is evidently corrupt and appears in a variant form in the codices. 
 It means, inhabitants of Gerar, a city located in the extreme southwestern part of Palestine. 
 
 >> II Mac. 13-' In tiiis extreme condensation of the data in his original, the epitomizer has not 
 indicated the object of their indignation. It was probably the Jews. 
 
 432
 
 I ^Uc. 6^1] ATTAINMENT OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM [II Mac. 13-* 
 
 Hisionj of the Hasmoncans 
 
 oath to them, they came out of the strong- 
 hoUl. '^-But when the king entered Blount 
 Sion and saw the strength of the place, he 
 broke the oath which he had sworn and gave 
 orders to pull down the wall round about. 
 ^^Then he set out in haste and returnctl to 
 Antioch and found Philip master of the city; 
 and he fought against him and took the city by 
 force. 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 they desired to annul the 
 articles of agreement. 
 -''Lysias mounted the ros- 
 trum, made the best de- 
 fence that was possible, 
 persuaded, pacified, made 
 them well disposed, and 
 then departed to Antioch. 
 This was the issue of the 
 invasion and departure of 
 the king. 
 
 186. Appointment and Rule of Alcimus as High Priest, I Mac. 7'-^" 
 
 II Mac. 14' '* 
 
 History a] the Hasmoneans 
 
 I 3Iac. 7 ^In the one hundred and fiftieth 
 year,'' Demetrius the son of Seleucus escaped 
 from Rome and went up with a few men to a 
 citv by the sea.'^ and there proclaimed himself 
 king. -And when he entered the palace of his 
 fathers, the army seizetl Antiochus and Lysias, 
 to bring them to him. ^But when the fact was 
 made known to him, he said. Do not show me 
 their faces. ^And the army slew them. So 
 Demetrius sat upon the throne of his kingdom. 
 
 ^And there came to him all the lawle-ss 
 and the apostate men of Israel, with Alci- 
 mus, '^ their leader, desiring to be high priest. 
 •^And they accused the people before the 
 king, saying, Judas and his brethren have 
 destroyed all your friends, and have scat- 
 tered us from our own land. 'Now there- 
 fore send a man whom you trust, and let 
 him go and see all the havoc which he has 
 made of us and of the king's country, ami 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 II 3Iac. 14 ^Now after 
 an interval of three years, 
 tidings were brought to 
 Judas and his followers 
 that Demetrius, the son of 
 Seleucus, having sailed into 
 the harbor of Tripolis with 
 a strong army and a fleet, 
 ■^had taken possession of the 
 country, having made away 
 with Antiochus and Lysias 
 his guardian. 
 ^But one .Vlcimus, who had 
 formerly been high priest, and 
 had wilfully j)olhited himself in 
 the period of fusion" with the 
 Greeks, perceiving that there 
 was no deliverance for him in 
 any way nor access any more lo 
 the holy altar, "^came to King 
 Demetrius in about the hun- 
 dred and fifty-first vearR and 
 
 Acces- 
 sion of 
 Deme- 
 trius I 
 
 Deceit- 
 ful 
 
 claims 
 and 
 
 charges 
 of .\lci- 
 mus 
 
 § 186 Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, had been carried a-s a boy of nine years to Rome, 
 where he was held a.s a hostage. At last escaping the vigilance of the Romans he appeared in 
 Syria to be at once hailed as the rightful king. 
 
 'I Mac. 7' 102 B.C. 
 
 d I Mac. 7' Cf. II Mac. 14>. TripoUt. 
 
 ' II .Mac. 14' Some MSS. read, o/ separation, but this was probably due to later scribes who 
 would admit no period of general fu.sion. In ^ they have apparently for the same rea.son 
 changed it in ;dl .MSS. 
 
 ' I .Mac. 7'' .\lcimus is a Ok. name substituted for the Heb., Eliakim. 
 
 « II Mac. 14« Cf. I Mac. 13", Herod, vii, ". 
 
 133
 
 I Mac. 7'] 
 
 THE WARS OP^ JUDAS 
 
 [II Mac. 144 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 how he has punished them and all who 
 helped them. ^So the king chose Bacchides, 
 one of the king's Friends, who was ruler in 
 the province beyond the River Euphrates, 
 and was a great man in the kingdom, and 
 faithful to the king. ^He sent him and also 
 that godless Alcimus, and confirmed him 
 in the high priesthood, and commanded 
 him to take vengeance upon the Israelites. 
 ^^So they set out and came with a great 
 army into the land of Judah, and he sent 
 messengers to Judas and his brothers with 
 words of peace, deceitfully. ^^But they 
 paid no attention to their words, for they 
 saw that they had come with a great army. 
 ^^Then there were gathered together to Al- 
 cimus and Bacchides a company of scribes, 
 to seek for justice. ^^And the Hasidaeans 
 were the first among the Israelites who 
 sought peace with them; ^'^for they said. 
 One who is a descendant of Aaron has come 
 with the forces and he will do us no wrong. 
 ^^And he spoke words of peace to them, 
 and took oath to them, saying. We will 
 seek the hurt neither of you nor of your 
 friends. ^^And they put confidence in him. 
 But he seized sixty of them, and slew them 
 in one day, as it is written in the Script- 
 ures, 
 
 ^^The flesh of thy saints . . , 
 And their blood they poured out round about 
 
 Jerusalem ; 
 And there was no man to bury them.' 
 
 ^^And the fear and hatred of them fell upon 
 all the people, for they said. There is nei- 
 ther truth nor justice in them; for they have 
 brpken the covenant and the oaths which 
 they made. 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 presented to him'^ a golden 
 chaplet and palm, and more- 
 over some of the festal olive 
 boughs of the temple. And 
 that day he kej)t quiet; ^but he 
 gained opportunity to further 
 his own folly, when he was 
 called by Demetrius to a meet- 
 ing of his council, and being 
 asked what was the attitude 
 and policy of the Jews, he an- 
 swered, *^Those of the Jews 
 who are called Hasideans,^ 
 whose leader is Judas Macca- 
 beus, keep up the war and 
 are seditious, not allowing the 
 kingdom to obtain peace. 
 ^Therefore, having been de- 
 prived of my ancestral dignity 
 — I mean the high priesthood 
 — I have now come hither; 
 ^first because of the genuine 
 regard I have for the king's 
 interests, and secondly because 
 I am also regardful of my own 
 fellow citizens; for, through the 
 senseless acts of those already 
 mentioned, our whole race is in 
 no slight misfortune. ^But do 
 you, O king, inform yourself 
 regarding these things in detail, 
 and take thought both of our 
 country and for our much af- 
 flicted race, according to the 
 gracious kindness with which 
 you receive all. ^''For as long 
 as Judas remains alive, it is 
 impossible for the state to ob- 
 tain peace. 
 
 •> II Mac. 14< Probably 162 B.C. 
 i II Mac. 146 Cf. I Mac. 2", § 175. 
 J I Mac. 7" Pa. 79-3; 
 
 They have given the corpses of thy servants 
 A3 food to the birds of the heavens ; 
 The fiesh of thy saints, to the beasts of the earth, 
 They have poured out blood like water, 
 Round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them. 
 
 434
 
 I Mac. 
 
 719] 
 
 RULE OF ALCIMUS 
 
 [II IVL^c. 1411 
 
 History 0} the Hasmoneans 
 
 ^^Then Bacchides dei)arted from Jerusalem and 
 encamped in Bezeth.'^ And he sent and took many 
 of the deserters that were with him and certain of 
 the people, and he slew them and cast them into 
 the great well. -^Then he turned over the country 
 to Alcimus and left with him an army to aid him, 
 while Bacchides went away to the king. ^I'pjjgjj 
 Alcimus entered the struggle for the high priest- 
 hood. --And there were gathered to him all who 
 had troubled their people, and they became mas- 
 ters of the land of Judah and caused great conster- 
 nation in Israel. -^And when Judas saw that Al- 
 cimus and his company had done more mischief 
 among the Israelites than the heathen, -Hie went out 
 into the whole territory of Judea round about and 
 took vengeance on the men who had deserted from 
 him, and they were restrained from going forth 
 into the country. ^og^^^ when Alcimus saw that 
 Judas and his company were growing strong and 
 knew that he was not able to withstand them, he 
 returned to the king and brought evil charges 
 against them, ^eg^ ^\^q king sent Nicanor, one 
 of his honorable princes, a man who hated Israel 
 and was their enemy, and commanded him to de- 
 stroy the people. 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 ^^As soon as he had 
 spoken such words as 
 these, at once, the rest 
 of the king's friends 
 being ill disposed toward 
 Judas, inflamed Deme- 
 trius still more. ^-He 
 straightway summoned^ 
 Nicanor, who had been 
 master of the elephants, 
 and having made him 
 governor of Judea, sent 
 him forth. ^-^He also 
 gave him written in- 
 structions to make way 
 with Judas himself and 
 to scatter those who were 
 with him, and to estab- 
 lish Alcimus as high 
 priest of the very great 
 temple. ^^Then the 
 heathen all over Judea 
 who had fled before Ju- 
 das thronged to Nicanor 
 in flocks, supposing that 
 the misfortunes and 
 calamities of the Jews 
 would be their 
 good fortune. 
 
 Alci- 
 
 mus's 
 efforts 
 to es- 
 tablish 
 liimself 
 as hijjh- 
 piiest 
 with 
 the aid 
 of the 
 Syrians 
 
 own 
 
 § 187. Defeat and Death of Nicanor, I Mac. T"'^", II Mac. 14'5-153« 
 Traditional History 
 
 History of the 
 Hasmoneans 
 
 I3Iac.7 27When 
 Nicanor came to 
 Jerusalem with a 
 great army, he 
 sent to Judas and 
 his brothers a mes- 
 sage of {>eaceful 
 words with deceit- 
 
 II Mac. 14 i^When the Jews heard of Nicanor's 
 advance and the invasion of tlie heathen, they sprinkled 
 earth upon their heads and made solemn suj)plicati()ri 
 to him who established his own people for all time and 
 who always, making manifest his presence, upholdeth 
 those who are his own portion. '^'Then at the com- 
 mand of tlieir leader they'" immediately set out from 
 there and joined battle with them at a village called Des- 
 
 Nica- 
 nor's 
 oriiiinal 
 treaty 
 witli 
 .luilas 
 .and 
 hiter 
 hostili- 
 ties 
 
 ^ I Mac. 7" Of. 9*. Probably this was originally, Beerzilh, well of the olive trees, about a 
 half-day's journey north of .Ferusalein. 
 
 ' II Mac. 14'2 Soine .MSS. read, appointing. 
 ■» II Mac. 14'" Following the best MSS. 
 
 435
 
 I T^Iac. 727] 
 
 History of the 
 Hasmoneans 
 
 ful intent, saying, 
 28 Let there be no 
 battle between us. 
 I will come with 
 a few men, that I 
 may see your faces 
 in peace. 29\jj(^ 
 he came to Judas, 
 and they saluted 
 one another peace- 
 ably. But the 
 enemies were pre- 
 pared to take a\vay 
 Judas, by violence. 
 ^•^And when the 
 fact was clear to 
 Judas, that he had 
 come to him with 
 deceit, he was very 
 much afraid of 
 him and would see 
 his face no more. 
 ^^So Nicanor knew 
 that his plan was 
 discovered, and he 
 went out to meet 
 Judas in battle 
 near Capharsa- 
 lama. ^2^\n(j there 
 fell of those with 
 Nicanor about five 
 hundred men. 
 Then they fled 
 into the city of 
 David. 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 [II Mac. I4I6 
 
 sau.° ^^SJijion the brother of Judas had encountered 
 Nicanor and had been checked for a time on account of 
 the sudden consternation caused by his adversaries. 
 ^^Nevertheless when Nicanor heard of the manliness 
 of Judas and his followers and of their courage in 
 fighting for their country, he shrank from bringing the 
 matter to a decision by the sword. ^^He therefore sent 
 Posidonius and Theodotus and Mattathias to give 
 and receive pledges of peace, ^o^^gj. these proposals 
 had been long under consideration, and the leader had 
 made the troops acquainted with them and they ap- 
 peared to be all of the same mind, they consented to 
 the agreements. 21 \n(l t^gy appointed a day on which 
 to meet together by themselves. And as he° came 
 forward, chairs of state were set for them, one for each. 
 22Judas had stationed armed men in convenient places, 
 prepared for the possibility of a sudden and treacher- 
 ous attempt on the part of the enemy ; so they conferred 
 together as was suitable. 23jsjjga^nQj. stayed in Jerusa- 
 lem and did nothing out of place, but dismissed the 
 crowds of people who had gathered together, p '^'^Xnd 
 he kept Judas always in his-presence; he had acquired 
 a hearty affection for the man ; 25}^^ urged him to marry 
 and beget children; so he married, settled quietly, and 
 took part in common life. 
 
 26But Alcimus, perceiving the good-will between them, 
 and having got possession of the agreements which had 
 been made, came to Demetrius and told him that Ni- 
 canor was disaffected toward the state, for he had ap- 
 pointed that conspirator against his kingdom, Judas, 
 to be his successor. *3 27'phgj^ the king, falling into a 
 rage and being exasperated by the calumnies of that 
 most wicked man, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that 
 he was displeased at the agreements, and commanding 
 him to send Maccabeus prisoner to Antioch in all haste. 
 28When this message came to Nicanor, he was per- 
 plexed and was much distressed at the thought of annulling the articles which 
 he had agreed upon, when the man had done no wrong. 29j3yt as he could 
 not act against the king, he watched his time to execute his purpose by 
 stratagem. ^^Maccabeus, however, perceived that Nicanor was behaving 
 
 " II Mac. 14'" Some MSS. have confused the Gk. D and L and read, Lessau. 
 o II Mac. 14-' Probably Nicanor is the one referred to, for Judas is introduced in the next 
 verse. The extreme condensation here makes the meaning obscure, 
 p II Mac. 1423 Of. ». 
 <J II Mac. 14^ I.e., Alcimus's successor in the high-priesthood. 
 
 436
 
 DEFEAT OF NICANOR 
 
 [II ^Uc. 1430 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 more harshly in his deaHngs with liim. and that he had become ruder in 
 his customary bearing, and understanding that his harshness boded no good, 
 gathered together many of his men, and concealed himself from Nicanor. 
 
 3^But the other, when he bec-ame aware that he had 
 been boldly outwitted by the man, came to the great and 
 holy temple, while the priests were offering the usual 
 sacrifices, and commandetl them to deliver up the man. 
 32Although they declared with oaths that they had no 
 
 History of the 
 Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 7 
 
 33X o w after 
 these things Ni- 
 canor went to 
 Sion. And when 
 some of the 
 priests came out 
 of the sanctuary, 
 and some of the 
 elders of the peo- 
 ple, to salute him 
 peaceably and 
 to show him the 
 whole burnt-of- 
 fering that was 
 being offered for 
 the king, ^^he 
 mocked them, 
 and laughed at 
 them, and 
 abused them, ■" 
 ^•5and talked in- 
 solently. II e 
 also swore in a 
 rage, saying, 
 Unless Judas 
 and his army 
 are now deliv- 
 ered into my 
 hands, if I come 
 again in peace, 
 I will burn up 
 this temple. 
 ^^He went out 
 in a great rage. 
 Then the priests 
 went in and 
 
 knowledge where the man was whom he sought, ^^he 
 stretched forth his right hand toward the sanctuary, and 
 swore this oath. If you will not deliver up to me Judas as 
 a prisoner, I will level this temple of God to the ground 
 and will break down tlie altar, and I will erect here a 
 temple to Dionysos for all to see. 34\mj having said this, 
 he departed. The priests, stretching forth their hands to 
 heaven, called upon him who ever fighteth for our nation, 
 with these words, ^-^Thou, O Lord, who in thyself hast 
 need of nothing, wast well pleased that a sanctuary for 
 thy habitation should be_set among us. ^''So now, O holy 
 Lord, from whom all holiness cometh, kepp undefiled 
 forever this house which hath been lately cleansed. '^"In- 
 formation was also given to Nicanor against one Razis, 
 an elder of Jerusalem, a lover of his countrymen and a 
 man of very good reputation, and one called Father of 
 the Jews because of his kindliness, ^sp^j. j,j jjjg former 
 period of fusion^ with the Greeks he had brought forth a 
 defence of Judaism and had hazarded body and life with 
 all earnestness for Judaism. ^^Nicanor, wishing to make 
 evident the ill-will which he bore to the Jews, .sent over 
 five hundred soldiers to take him prisoner; "^^for he thought 
 by taking him prisoner to inflict a blow upon them. "^^But 
 when the troops were on the {)oint of taking the tower, 
 and were forcing the door of the court, and giving orders 
 to bring fire and burn the doors, he, surrounded on every 
 side, fell upon his sword, '^-preferring to die nobly rather 
 than to fall into the hands of the guilty sinners, and 
 suffer outrage unworthy of his own nobleness. ^^But he 
 did not strike true through the excitement of the struggle 
 and, as the crowd were now rushing within the door, he 
 ran boldly U[j to the wall and cast himself manfully 
 down into the crowds. *^They ({uickly gave way, .so a 
 space was made, and he fell In the midst of the empty 
 place. ^^But still brc;itliiiig and inflamed with passion, 
 
 Nica- 
 nor's 
 inso- 
 lent 
 threats 
 and the 
 prayers 
 and re- 
 sistance 
 of the 
 faithful 
 Jews 
 
 ' I Mac. 7^ Lit., polluted. The context supports the aliovc ineaninK. 
 
 ■ II Mac. M'" All MSS. read, period o/ pre jxt rat ion, but cf. •* wlierc later scribca have also 
 altered the text. 
 
 437
 
 Judas's 
 
 prayer 
 
 and 
 
 great 
 
 victory 
 
 over 
 
 Nica- 
 
 nor 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 [II IVIac. 1445 
 
 I Mac. 736] 
 
 Historij of the 
 Hasmoncans 
 
 stood before 
 the altar and 
 the temple; and 
 they wept and 
 said, 37'j' h o u * 
 didst choose this 
 tempi e to be 
 called by thy 
 
 name, to be a house of prayer and supplication for thy people, ^s^p^j^g 
 vengeance on this man and his army, and let him fall by the sword. Re- 
 member their blasphemies, and let them live no longer. 
 39 And N icanor 
 
 he rose up, and though his blood gushed out in streams 
 and his wounds were severe, he ran through the crowds 
 and, standing upon a steep rock, ^^^y^en his blood was 
 now nearly exhausted, drew forth his bowels and taking 
 them in both his hands, he shook them at the crowds, 
 and calling upon him who is the Lord of the life and the 
 spirit to restore him these again, he thus departed. 
 
 set forth from 
 Jerusalem and en- 
 camped in Beth- 
 horon, and there 
 the army of Syria 
 met him. ^ogut 
 Judas encamped 
 in Adasa^' with 
 three thousand 
 men. Then Ju- 
 das prayed and 
 said, "41 When 
 they who came 
 from the king blas- 
 phemed, thine an- 
 gel went out and 
 smote among them 
 an himdred and 
 sixty-five t h o u - 
 sand." 42£ygjj gQ 
 
 destroy thou this 
 army before us to- 
 day, and let all the 
 rest know that he 
 hath spoken wick- 
 edly against thy 
 sanctuary, and 
 judge thou him 
 according to his 
 wickedness. ^^Sq 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 1 5 ^But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his followers 
 were in the region of Samaria, resolved to attack them 
 without any danger on the day of rest. ^And when 
 the Jews who were compelled to follow him said, O do 
 not destroy so savagely and barbarously, but give due 
 glory to the day which he who beholdeth all things 
 hath honored .above other days, ^the thrice-cursed 
 wretch asked if there was a Sovereign in heaven who 
 had commanded to keep the sabbath day. "^Xwd when 
 they openly declared. There is the living Lord, himself 
 a Sovereign in heaven, who bade us to observe the 
 seventh day, ^the other said, I also am a sovereign upon 
 the earth, who now command to take up arms and per- 
 form the king's service ! However he did not succeed 
 in performing his shocking purpose. ^h.nd Nicanor, 
 bearing himself haughtily with supreme assurance, 
 had determined to set up a public monument of the 
 victory over Judas and those who were with him. "But 
 Maccabeus trusted unceasingly with all hope that he 
 would obtain help from the Lord. ^And he exhorted 
 those who were with him not to be afraid of the attack 
 of the heathen, but, keeping in mind the help which 
 they had often received from heaven, so now also to 
 look for the victory which would come to them from 
 the Almighty. ^Moreover comforting them out of the 
 law and prophets, and also reminding them of the 
 conflicts that they had passed through, he strengthened 
 their courage. ^'^And after he had aroused their spirits, 
 he gave them his commands, at the same time pointing 
 
 * I Mac. 7^' The characteristic omission of the name of God at the beginning of the prayer. 
 " I Mac. 7^1 An allusion to the destruction of Sennacherib's army. Cf. II Kgs. 18- ^'. 
 
 438
 
 1 ISKc. 7^3] 
 
 Hidonj of the 
 Hasmoneans 
 
 on the thirteenth 
 day of the month 
 Adar the armies 
 joined battle; and 
 Nicanor's army 
 was defeated, and 
 he himself was the 
 first to fall in the 
 battle. 44^nd 
 when his army 
 saw that Nieanor 
 had fallen, they 
 threw away their 
 weapons and fled. 
 45And [the Jews] 
 pursued them a 
 day's journey 
 from Adasa^' as far 
 as Gazara, when 
 they sounded the 
 trumpet-signal 
 for the return. 
 ^^Then they came 
 out from all the 
 villages of Judea 
 on every hand and 
 outflanked them ; 
 and the one turned 
 them back on the 
 other army, and 
 they all fell by the 
 sword, so that 
 none of them was 
 left. 
 
 DEATH OF NICANOR 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 [II ]Mac. I510 
 
 out the perfidy of the heathen and their breach of their 
 oath. ^^And arming each one of them, not so much 
 with confidence in shields and spears as with the en- 
 couragement of good words, he made them all exceed- 
 ing joyful by relating to them a dream in the highest 
 degree worthy of credence. ^-And the vision presented 
 by this dream was as follows: he saw Onias, who had 
 been high priest, a noble and good man, reverend 
 in bearing, yet gentle in manner and dignified in all 
 points in speech, and trained from childhood in all the 
 virtues, with outstretched hands invoking blessings on 
 the whole body of the Jews, ^^xhen, in the same way. 
 a man ap})eared, distinguished by gray hair and noble 
 bearing and surrounded by wonderful and most ma- 
 jestic dignity. ^^And Onias spoke and said. This 
 is the lover of the brothers,^ he who prayed much for 
 the people and the holy city, Jeremiah the prophet of 
 God. i^Then Jeremiah, stretching forth his right 
 
 hand, delivered to Judas a sword of gold, and in giving 
 it addressed him thus, ^^Xake the holy sword, a gift 
 from God, with it shalt thou slay the foes ! ^''And 
 being encouraged by these words of Judas, which were 
 of a lofty strain and able to incite to bravery and to 
 stir the souls of the young with manly courage, they 
 determined not to make a fortified camp,'' but nobly 
 to make an open attack, and, fighting hand to hand 
 with all courage, to bring the matter to an issue, because 
 the city and the sanctuary and the temple were in 
 danirer. ^^For their fear for wives and children, and 
 also for brothers and kinsfolk, had less weight with 
 them; but greatest and first was their fear for the con- 
 secrated temple. ^^And they also who were shut up in 
 the city were in no little distress, since they were troubled 
 on account of the engagement in the open field. -'Wnd 
 when all were already waiting for the coming issue, 
 and the enemies had already drawn together, and the army had been set 
 in battle array, and the elephants had taken their ])lace, and the horsemen 
 were drawn up on both flanks, Maccabeus, '-'[jcneivlng the presence of 
 the great multitudes, and the various arms with which they were equipped, 
 and the ferocity of the elephants, holding up his hands to heaven called uj^on 
 the Lord who worketh wonders, for he recognized that success comes not by 
 
 " I Mac. l*"-*'' The original probably read, Ada»a, for, Elaaa — a Greek I having been mis- 
 taken for d. 
 
 " II Mac. 1.5'* \,\i., jrii-nd of hrolhers. , , 1 ■ 
 
 » II Mac. 15" Probably that they might from this vantage-ground attack the advancing 
 enemy. 
 
 4.39
 
 II Mac. 1521] 
 
 THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 History of the 
 Hasnioneans 
 
 Exul- 
 tation 
 over 
 the 
 death 
 of Ni- 
 canor 
 and the 
 annual 
 festival 
 in com- 
 mem- 
 oration 
 of the 
 victory 
 
 Traditional History 
 
 arms, but that he giveth the victory to those whom he judges worthy of it. 
 22And he prayed as follows : Thou, O Sovereign Lord, didst send thine angel 
 in the time of Hezekiah king of Judea, and he slew the army of Sennacherib 
 as many as a hundred and eighty -five thousand. 23gQ f,Q^y also, O Sovereign 
 of the heavens, send a good angel before us to bring terror and trembling. 
 2-iThrough the greatness of thine arm let those who with blasphemy have 
 come here against thy holy people be smitten with terror. And he con- 
 cluded with these words, ^S^hile Nicanor and his followers advanced with 
 trumpets and battle songs, ^eg^j. Judas and his followers joined battle 
 with the enemy with prayers and supplication. 27^^^^ while they fought 
 with their hands and prayed to God with their hearts, they slew no less than 
 thirty-five thousand men, being made exceeding glad by God's visible care. 
 
 28^n(j when the engagement was over, and they 
 were returning again with joy, they recognized Nicanor 
 lying dead in full armor. 29'piiej^ there arose a great 
 shout and tumult, and they blessed the Sovereign Lord 
 in the language of their fathers. 20\n(j \^q ^tJ^q j^ all 
 things was in body and soul the foremost champion of 
 his fellow citizens, he who kept through hfe the good- 
 will of his youth toward his countrymen, commanded 
 to cut off Nicanor's head and his hand with the arm 
 and to bring thtm to Jerusalem. ^^And when he had 
 arrived there and had called his countrymen together 
 and set the priests before the altar, he sent for those 
 who were in the citadel. 32'p}igfi showing the head of 
 the vile Nicanor and the hand of the profane man, 
 which with loud boasts he had stretched out against 
 the house of the Almighty, ^"^and cutting out the tongue 
 of the impious Nicanor, he gave command to give it 
 by pieces to the birds and to hang up the rewards'^ of 
 his madness opposite the sanctuary. ^^And they all 
 looking up to heaven blessed the Lord who had man- 
 ifested himself, saying, Blessed be he who hath pre- 
 serv'ed his own place undefiled. ^^And he hung Nicanor's 
 head'^ from the citadel,*^ a sign, plain to all and visible, 
 of the help of the Lord, ^e^nd they all ordained by a 
 vote of the community, never to let this day pass without 
 being celebrated, but to observe as a feast, the thirteenth 
 day of the twelfth month, which is called Adar in the 
 Assyrian tongue, the day before the day of Mordecai. 
 
 I Mac. 7 ^^And 
 they took the 
 spoils and the 
 booty, and they 
 struck off Ni- 
 canor's head and 
 his right hand, 
 which he had 
 stretched out so 
 haughtily, and 
 brought them and 
 hung them'^ up in 
 the citadel*^ of Je- 
 rusalem. "^^And 
 the people were 
 very glad. ^^They 
 also enacted an 
 ordinance for the 
 celebration of this 
 day year by year, 
 the thirteenth day 
 of Adar. sogo the 
 land of Judah had 
 rest for a brief 
 period. 
 
 » I Mac. 7^' The Gk. translator made here an effective play on words: his right hand, which 
 he had so haughtilv stretched nut, thev stretched out, i.e., hung up. 
 
 b I Mac. 7" Lit., bi/. bur cf. II Mac. 15«. 
 
 '= II Mac. 15^ Or, penalties, the reference evidently is to the gory proofs of the conse- 
 quences of Nicanor's follv in attacking the people of .lehovah. 
 
 d II Mac. 15'** So Luc. and Lat. Gk.. tipper part of the hody (inclufling the head). 
 
 « II Mac. 15-^ Contrary to the impUcation of this verse, the citadel was not captured by the 
 Jews until the days of Simon. 
 
 440
 
 THE TREATY WITH ROME [I I^Iac. 8^ 
 
 % 188. The Treaty with Rome, I Mac. 8 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I 3Iac. 8 ^Now Judas had heard of the fame of the Roman.s, that they Re- 
 are excellent men in dealing^ with all who ally themselves with them, and current 
 make treaties of friendship with all those who come to them, -and that thev 'P ■'"- 
 are strong in war. And they told him also of their wars and of their valiant ganl- 
 deeds which they did among the Galatians,^ and that they had conquered "kto-^ 
 them and made ihem pay tribute, ^as well as what thev did in the couTitrv nesand 
 of Spain, in that they gained possession of the mines of silver and gold which policy 
 are there; ^and that by their cleverness and perseverance they had gained charac- 
 possession of the entire land, although the land was very far from theirs, Jer of 
 and of the kings who had come against them from the ends of the earth, Ro- 
 until they had defeated and completely overthrown them, while the rest '"^"^ 
 paid them annual tribute. ^Further that they had defeated in battle Philip^ 
 and Perseus, king of the Macedonians,^ and those who had withstood them, 
 and had overcome them ; ^and that Antiochus, the great king of Asia, who had 
 come to make war against them with an hundred and twenty ele])hants, 
 with horsemen and chariots and a very large army, was also ilefeated by 
 them; "and that they captured him alive, and imposed upon him and those 
 who reigned after him the obligation of paying a heavy tribute, giving host- 
 ages and a part of the empire,^ even the land of India, Media, and Lydia 
 and a part of theirJ most beautiful territory. When they received these from 
 him they gave them to King Eumenes.^ ^But when the inhabitants of 
 Hellas determined to come and destroy them, ^^and when it became known 
 to them, they sent a general and fought against them, and many of them fell 
 slain. And they carried away their wives and children and plundered them, 
 and they took possession of their land and tore down their fortresses and 
 made them subject to them until the present time.' ^^They also destroyed 
 and made subject the rest of the kingdoms and as many islands as at any 
 time resisted them. ^-But with their friends and Avith those who relied in 
 them, they carefully kept their treaties of friendship, and they have gained 
 possession of the kingdoms far and near. And all who heart! of their fame 
 were afraid of them. ''^All whom they help and wish to have reign, reign; 
 and whomever they wish to depose, they depo.se, and thus they have attained 
 to great power. ^^But in all this none of them has put on a diadem or clothed 
 himself with purple to be luagnified thereby. '•'^Rather they have establi.shed 
 
 § 188 Although excellently informed regardins the facts in .Jewish history, the writer of 
 I Mac. wa.s evidently dependent upon popular traditions for his data regardinR contemporary 
 history. a.s the present .section clearly indicates, for many of its statements are ilisiiroved by 
 the testimony of the (Ik. and Koman historians. 
 
 '8' KoliowiiiK the restored I leb. idiom. , , », i- 
 
 «8- Probably the reference is to the conquest of the Gauls in Northern Italy, by Manlius 
 Bul.so in 189 ii.c., not to the CJalatians in .Asia Minor. 
 
 '' 8'' Philip III. son of Demetrius II, defeated in 197 n.r. by Flamimus. 
 
 ' S'' C,k., KillilrH. The defeat wa.s at the battle of Pydna, lfi7 n.f. . 
 
 I S** Some MSS. read, /u'« or its. As a matter of fact, India never belouRed to Antiochus. 
 The territf)rv cedcil wa,s in Asia Minor, west of the Taurus Mts. 
 
 ''8'' Kingof Pergamos, 19H l.-.Hn.r. , . • ■ i 
 
 ' 8''' '" The events referred to are not certain. It is probable thai the aullior has in miiul 
 the Achean alliance, 147-140 B.C. 
 
 441
 
 I Mac. 815] THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 Histonj of the Hasmoneans 
 
 a senate, and daily three hundred and twenty counsel together, at all times 
 counselling for the welfare of the whole people that they may be prosperous.™ 
 i^And to one man they intrust each year the authority over them and the 
 rulership over all the country, and all are obedient to that one, and there is 
 neither envy nor jealousy among them. 
 Mes- i^And Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the .son of Accos, and 
 
 the'' ° Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to make an alliance off en- 
 Jewish sjve and defensive with them, ^^and that they should take the yoke ofi' them, 
 sadors whenever they saw that the Syrian^ kingdom was enslaving Israel. ^^So 
 they went to Rome (and the journey was exceedingly long) and entered the 
 senate chamber and stated their errand, saying, ^oj^^jdas, who is called Macca- 
 beus, with his brothers and the Jewish people, have sent us to you, to make 
 an alliance and peace with you and that we may be enrolled as your con- 
 federates and friends. 
 Re- 2i\nj jiig proposal met their approval. ^^Now this is the copy of the 
 
 of the^ writing which they sent to Jerusalem, written on tablets of brass, that it 
 Ro- might be with them there as a memorial of peace and alliance: 
 
 rQ3,ns ^ 
 
 and the 23]\/[ay [^ be well with the nation of the Jews by sea and by land forever. 
 olThe May the sword also and the enemy be far from them. ^"^But if war first 
 treaty threaten Rome or any of their allies in all their dominion, ^^the Jewish nation 
 shall help them as confederates, heartily as the occasion shall prescribe to 
 them. 26^j^(j ^Q those who make war upon them [the Romans] shall not 
 give supplies, food, arms, money, or ships, as seems best to Rome; and 
 they shall keep their obligations without taking any equivalent, ^"^hike- 
 wise also, if war come first upon the Jewish nation, the Romans shall help 
 them as allies willingly as the occasion shall prescribe to them; -^and to those 
 who are allies with their foes there shall not be given food, arms, money, 
 or ships, as seems best to Rome; and they shall keep these obligations, 
 and that without deceit. 29\,,(,Qj.(jjj^g ^q these words have the Romans 
 thus made a treaty with the people of the Jews. ^^But if hereafter the one 
 party and the other should wish to add or withdraw anything, they may do 
 it at their pleasure, and whatever they shall add or take away shall be es- 
 tablished. ^^Now in regard to the wrongs which King Demetrius is doing 
 to them, we have written to him, saying, ' Why have you made your yoke 
 heavy upon our friends and confederates, the Jews ? ^-^If therefore they 
 bring any more complaint against you, we will do them justice and fight 
 with you by sea and by land.' 
 
 ™ 8'5 Or, behave properly. 
 
 ■> 8'8 I.e., that the Romans should remove the yoke of the Syrian despot from the neck of 
 the Jews. As in ' the original has Greeks for Syrians. 
 
 442
 
 DEATH OF JUDAS [i:\Lvc.9i 
 
 § 1S9. Death of Judas, I Mac. 91-" 
 History of the Hasmoucans 
 
 I 3Iac. 9 ^When Demetrius heard that Xicanor had fallcJi with his forces Ad- 
 in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus again into the land of Judah a ofuie 
 second time, and the southern" witig of his army with them. -And thev Syrian 
 went by that way that leads to Gilgal,P and encamped against Masaloth, ami "the 
 which is in Arbela. and gained possession of it and destroyed many people, tkmof 
 ^And the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year'* they encamped ^'V'?® 
 aeainst Jerusalem. "^Then thev set out and went to Berea with twenty Jews 
 thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen. ^And Judas was encamped 
 at ElasaJ and three thousand chosen men with liim. ^And when they saw 
 the multitude of the forces, that they were many, they were greatly frightened, 
 and many slipped away from the army, so that there were left of them not 
 more than eight hundred men. 
 
 'And when Judas saw that his army had dispersed, he was deeply troubled. His de- 
 because he had no time to gather them together, and he grew discouraged. „a7ion 
 ^And he said to those who were left. Let us arise and go up against our ad- to ^^^^ 
 versaries, if perhaps we may be able to fight with them. .^And they would 
 have dissuaded him, saying, ^Ye shall not be able; but let us rather save our 
 lives now; let us return again with our fellow-countrymen and fight against 
 them, for we are few. ^^jjut Judas said. Far be it from me so to do, that 
 I should flee from them. For if our time has come, let us die manfully for 
 the sake of our fellow-countrymen and not leave a cause of reproach against 
 our honor. 
 
 i^Then the army set out from the camp and drew up to meet them; and The 
 the cavalry drew up into two companies, and the .slingers and the archers ^i^j ® 
 went before the army, with all the strong, foremost warriors. ^-But Bac- ^'^ath 
 chides was in the rear wing. Then the phalanx advanced on both sides, Judas 
 and they sounded their trumpets. ^^And Judas's men also sounded their 
 trumpets, and the earth shook with the shout of the armies; so the battle was 
 begun and continued from morning until evening. ^^And when Judas saw 
 that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on the right side, all who 
 were brave in heart went with him, ^^and the right wing was defeated by 
 them, and he pursued them to the slope of the moimtains.^ ^''And they 
 who were on the left wing, when they saw that the right wing was defeated, 
 turned and followed upon the footsteps of Judas and of those who were with 
 him. ^"And the battle grew fierce, and many on both sides fell mortally 
 wounded. i^'X^hen Judas fell and the rest fled. 
 
 ^^And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother and buried him in the Buriai 
 sepulchre of his fathers at Modein. 20\rid they bewailed him, and all Israel juj^a 
 made great lamentation for him and mourned many days,2i ^nd said, 
 
 o9> Lit., right; but the Jews always faced the east in determininR direction, so that the 
 ri(?ht was equivalent to the south. Cf. Benjamin, son of the right hand, i.e., the tribe south of 
 Kphraiin. 
 
 I' 'J' Or, Galgata. Jos., Galilee. 
 
 '1 9-' Marcli-April, UiO B.C. 
 
 >• 9-'' l)r, Alasa, HO Syr. 
 
 • 9^ So Jos. and the slightly corrected text. Revised text, Azotua. 
 
 443
 
 I Mac. 921] THE WARS OF JUDAS 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 How is the hero fallen, 
 The saviour of Israel! 
 
 Hisun- 22^j^(j ^\^Q pgg^ Qf ^]^g valiant acts of Judas, and his wars and the valiant 
 recorc- ^^j^g^^g ^j^i^h jjg (jij^ and his greatness — they have not been recorded, for 
 deeds they were very many.* 
 
 in 
 
 THE ATTAINMENT OF POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE UNDER 
 
 JONATHAN, I Mac. 923-1330 
 
 § 190. Jonathan's Contests and Final Treaty with Bacchides, I Mac. 9^^" 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 Perse- I Mac. 9 23Now after the death of Judas, the apostates showed them- 
 oFthe' selves in all the tepritory of Israel, and all who practised injustice flourished, 
 fol- 24^^3Q^^ i\^Q same time there was a very severe famine, and the whole people 
 ofJu- sided with them. 25'p]^gjj Bacchides selected the godless men and made 
 ^^^ them rulers of the country. 26\^j ^j^gy conducted a thorough search for 
 the friends of Judas and brought them to Bacchides, and he took vengeance 
 on them and tortured them cruelly. 27'J'Jjpj^ great tribulation came upon 
 Israel, such as had not been since the time that prophets had ceased to appear 
 among them. 
 Choice 28'pjjgi.eupon all the friends of Judas assembled and said to Jonathan, 
 athan' ^^Since your brother Judas has died, we have no one like him to go out 
 as against our enemies and Bacchides and against those of our own kin who 
 
 hate us. 30]\Jq^ therefore we have chosen you this day to be our prmce 
 and leader in his place that you may fight our battles. 3lSo Jonathan as- 
 sumed the leadership at that time and took the place of his brother Judas. 
 Pursuit 32\Yhen Bacchides knew it, he tried to slay him. 33j3u^ Jonathan and 
 athan Simou his brother and all who were with him learned of it, and they fled 
 and into the Wilderness of Tekoa and encamped by the water of the Dead Sea.^ 
 
 t 922 This closing tribute to .Judas is fashioned after the editorial resumes in II Kgs. 
 
 The Attainment of Political Independence under Jonathan. — With the restoration 
 of the temple service and the attainment of religious freedom, the ambitions of the Hasideans or 
 party of the pious, who had supported Judas in his earlier struggles and who later appear as the 
 Pharisees, were realized. The withdrawal of their active support alone explains why Judas fell, 
 fighting with only a few men against overwhelming odds. The lack of active support and the 
 loss of prestige which resulted from the death of Judas compelled the national party, which still 
 followed the leadership of the Hasmonean family, to seek refuge in concealment, to await the 
 change in public opinion and in the fortunes of their Syrian masters. At their head was Jona- 
 than, bold, energetic, and crafty, a leader who seized and turned to the advantage of the Jews 
 the civil wars which were undermining the Syrian kingdom. Experience in turn also confirmed 
 the position of the national party, for it became more and more evident that the liberty and pur- 
 ity of worship could be maintained only when defended by the sword from its foes within and 
 without. Hence the cause of political independence gained in popularity, until the bids of rival 
 claimants for the Syrian throne and the bold diplomacy of Jonathan made it virtually a reality. 
 At first a hunted outlaw, Jonathan in 153 b.c. was appointed by Demetrius I high-priest, and 
 until his death reigned practically as king of Judea. 
 
 " 9** Lit., the cistern (or pit) Asphal. 
 
 4,4,4,
 
 JONATHAN'S CONTESTS [I Mac. 93^ 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 3^And Bacchides heard of it on the sabbath day and came witli all his annv 
 
 across the Jordan. "^^And Jonathan sent his brother, as commander of the 
 
 baggage-train, to obtain permission from his friends the Nabateans to leave 
 
 with them their baggage which was cuml)ers()nie. '^'^Bnt the Ambrians^ 
 
 came out of Medaba and, seizing John and all that he had, they went their 
 
 way with it. 
 
 3~Now after these events they brought word to Jonathan and Simon his Their 
 
 brother that the Ambrians were celebrating a great marriage, and were ^cancc 
 
 bringincr the bride, a daughter of one of the great nobles of Canaan, from |'i'<>" a 
 o o ' o o hostile 
 
 Nadabath with a large train. ^S'pijgj^ ^j^^y remembered John their brother, Ara- 
 
 and going up, hid themselves under the cover of the mountain, "^^imtil ^^^^^^ 
 they saw them coming with great noise and much baggage, and the bride- 
 groom was coming out with his friends and his relatives to meet them with 
 tambourines and minstrels and many weapons. '^^Then they started up 
 against them from their ambush and slew them, and many fell mortally 
 wounded, while the survivors fled into the mountain, and they took all their 
 spoils. 
 
 ■"Tiius the marriage was turned into mourning, 
 And the sound of their music into lamentation. 
 
 ^^So they avenged fully the blood of their brother. Then they turned back 
 to the marsh of Jordan. 
 
 ^^When Bacchides heard it, he came on the sabbath day to the banks of Battle 
 Jordan with a great army. '^^And Jonathan said to his company, Up, now "iJg' 
 and let us fight for our lives ! For it is not to-dav as it use(l to be. '^^For Tynans 
 see, the conflict threatens us behind and before; moreover the water of Jordan 
 the Jordan is on this side and that, and marsh and thi<'ket, and there is 
 no chance to escape. '*^'Now therefore cry to Heaven that you may be de- 
 livered from the power of your enemies. ^"When the battle began, Jonathan 
 raised his hand to strike Bacchides, but he recoiled from him.'^ •*^Then 
 Jonathan and those with him leaped into the Jordan and swam over to the 
 other side, and they did not cross the Jordan against them. •*'^And there 
 fell of Bacchides's company that day about a thousand men; ^'^and he re- 
 turned to Jerusalem. 
 
 But tliey'* built strong cities in Judca, the fortress that was in Jericho Estab- 
 and Fmmaus, and Bethhoron, Bethel, Tinmath, I'harathon, and Tephon,'" ,[,V,it of 
 with high walls and gates and bars. ^^And he stationed garrisons in them ['^'^-^^^ 
 to harass Israel. ^HIg also fortified the city Bethstira and Cazara an«l hy \ 
 the citadel, and put forces in them and a store of food. '•■^Vud he took the .jcj, 
 sons of the chief men of the country as hostages, and put them inider guard 
 in the citadel in Jerusalem. 
 
 *> O* .los., Anl., XIII, '*. Sona of Amhri, an Ar.ahian friho. 
 
 <^ 9'" Apparontly niakiiiK a dosperalf iissault upcm U:ii-( liiilos or his forros .as a win ilo. .Jona- 
 than ami ills folIf)\vers availed themselves of the opportunity furnished by (lie toniporary recoil 
 of the pnetny to esca[)e. 
 
 J 9'* l.f.. the Syrians. 
 
 • Q'W I'nr the- location of these fortresses, cf. map opp. p. 385. 
 
 445
 
 I M\c. 95^] THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE 
 
 History of ihc Hasmoneans 
 
 Death ^^Aiid in the second month of the hundred and fifty-third year,^ Alcimus 
 cimus g^"^'^ orders to pull down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary, s and 
 and the so destroyed the works of the prophets. ^^They were just beginning to 
 ureof pull them down when Alcimus was stricken, and his works were hindered, 
 des ' ^^^ ^^^^ mouth was stopped, and he was seized with a palsy, so that he could 
 no more speak anything or give orders concerning his house. ^'^And Alcimus 
 died at that time in great torment. ^''And when Bacchides saw that Alcimus 
 was dead, he returned to the king; and the land of Judah was at peace tw^o 
 years. 
 His ^^Then all the apostates took counsel, saying. See, Jonathan and his party 
 
 vkith™n ^^^ dwelling at ease and in security. Now let us, therefore, bring Bacchides 
 army that he may capture them all in one night. ^^So they went and consulted 
 futile with him. ^^And he set out and came with a great army, and sent letters 
 tempts secretly to all his confederates who were in Judea, bidding them seize Jon- 
 tocapt- athan and those who were with him. But they could not because their plan 
 Jona- became known to them; ^^and they seized about fifty of the men of the country 
 anT ^'^*^ were ringleaders m the villainy, and he slew them. ^-Then Jonathan 
 Sknon and Simon and those who were with him escaped to Bethbasi,*^ which is in 
 the wilderness, and he built up what had been pulled down of it and made 
 it strong. ^^And when Bacchides learned it, he gathered all his mul- 
 titude, and sent word to those who belonged to Judea, *^^and went and laid 
 siege to Bethbasi, and fought against it for some time, having made engines 
 of war. ^^And Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went out 
 into the country, going with a few men. *^^And he slaughtered Odomera 
 and his fellow -countrvTuen, and the people of Phasiron in their tent, "^'and 
 began to attack and advance upon the forces. Then Simon and those who 
 were with him went out of the city and set on fire the engines of war. ^^Thus 
 they fought against Bacchides, and he was defeated by them with heavy 
 loss. Because his plan and invasion were without result, ^^they were very 
 angr}' with the apostates who had advised him to come into the country, 
 and they slew many of them. Then he decided to go back to his ow^n country. 
 Jona- "^And Jonathan was informed of it. and sent ambassadors to him in order 
 
 treaty that they might make peace w ith him and that he should restore to them 
 ^ith, . the captives. ''^And he accepted and did according to his proposal, and 
 (les and swore to him that he would not seek to hann him all the days of his life. 
 ijeace- '^"And he restored to him the captives whom he had taken on former occa- 
 ful rule sions out of the land of Judah, and returned and departed into his own land, 
 Mich- and he came no more into their territory. ^^So the sword ceased from Israel. 
 ™ Jonathan then dwelt at Michmash. And Jonathan began to rule the people 
 
 as judge, and he destroyed the godless out of Israel. 
 
 fgs* 160 B.C. 
 
 e 954 I.e., to throw it open to the heathen. 
 
 h 962 Probably Bethhogla at the northern end of the Dead Sea. 
 
 446
 
 CONXESSIONS OF THE SYRIAN RIVALS [I ISIac. IQi 
 
 § 191. Concessions by the Syrian Rivals, Demetrius I and Alexander 
 
 Balas, I Mac. lO'-'- 
 
 Histori/ of the Hasmoucans 
 
 I Mac. 10 ^Now in the one hundred and .sixtieth year, Alexander the An- 
 son of' Antiochus Epiphanes went iij) and took possession of Ptoleniais, c/,"il.'*^ 
 and thev received him, and he reigned there. -When King Demetrius heard Weired 
 
 p • i" 11 1 p 1 1 • • 1 1 upon 
 
 of it, he gathered very large forces and went out to meet hmi ni battle, jona- 
 ^Demetrius also sent letters to Jonathan with words of peace, so as to honor |,^.''pe. 
 him greatly. '*For he said. Let us get the start in making peace with them '"etrius 
 before he makes a com[)act with Alexander against us. ^For he will re- 
 member all the wrongs that we have done to him, and to his brothers and 
 his nation. ^And he gave him authority to collect forces and to provide 
 arms and to be his ally. Also he commanded that they should deliver up 
 to him the hostages who were in the citadel. 
 
 "Then Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the hearing rtesto- 
 of all the people, and of those who were in the ciUulel. ^And they were .^f'l'iost- 
 greatly afraid when they heard that the king had given him authority to anes 
 collect an army. ^And the garrison delivered up the hostages to Jonathan, rehuild- 
 and he restored them to their parents. ^^ \„^i Jojuithan took uj) his resi- j"^^^_ 
 deuce in JerusalerU and began to rebuild and renew the city. ^^And he salem 
 commanded those who did the work to build the walls and INIount Sion 
 round about with scpiare stones for defence; and they did so. ^-Then the 
 foreigners, who were in the strongholds which Bacchides had built, fled, 
 ^^and each man left his j^lace and went into his own land. ^^Only some of 
 those who had forsaken the law and the commandments were left at Beth- 
 sura, because it was an asylum for them. 
 
 i^And when King Alexander heard all the promises which Demetrius Jona- 
 had made to Jonathan and had been told of the battles which he and his ^p." " 
 brothers had fought and the valiant deeds that they had done and of the J^"'"*' 
 hardships which they had endured, '^he said, Shall we find such another man ? a.s hich- 
 Now therefore let us make him our friend and ally. ^'So he wrote letters b" Al- 
 and sent them to him with contents like the.se: der" 
 
 '^King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting: ^^We have heard of Balas 
 you that you are a valiant man and fit to be our friend. -"And now we have 
 appointed you to-day to be high priest of your nation and to be calle<l the 
 king's Friend (and he .sent to him a purple robe and a crown of gold), and 
 to take our part and to remain on friendly terms with us. 
 
 21 And Jonathan f)ut on the holy garments in the .seventh month of the Ilis.as- 
 hundrcd and sixtieth yearJ at the feast of tabernacles, and he gathered to- J'SIIJ,",'.} 
 gether forces, and provided arms in abundance. llJfnors 
 
 22When Demetrius heard these things, he was distressed -''and said. Why 
 have we allowed Alexander to anticii)ate us in establishing friendship with ^,!l|^X 
 the Jews to strengthen himself.^ -*I also will write to them words of "(Tor to 
 
 . all 
 
 taxes 
 ' 10' So Syr., and probably the orJKinal Hob. Alexander was of lowbirtli, luit a son of 
 Antiochus, but wa.s ho rccoKnized by Jews and Romans. 
 J 10^' October, 153 ii.c. 
 
 447
 
 I Mac. 1024] THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 encouragement and regarding honor and gifts, that they may be with mt, to 
 aid me. 25.Yj^(J gQ j^g g^j^^ ^q t]iem the following message: 
 
 King Demetrius to the Jewish nation, greeting, ^e^j^jj^^ y^^ have kept 
 your treaties with us and continued in our friendship and have not allied 
 yourselves with our enemies, we have been delighted to hear. ^^Now continue 
 still to keep faith with us, and we will recompense you with good things in 
 return for your dealings with us, 28and will grant you many immunities and 
 give you gifts. 29\j^(| jjq^ j frgg you and release all the Jews from tlv 
 tributes'^ and from the customs of salt and from the crowns.^ ^^And tht 
 tax you have paid instead of the third part of the seed and instead of the 
 half of the fruit of the trees, which it is my right to receive, I remit from now 
 on, so that I will not take it from the land of Judah and from the three dis- 
 tricts™ which are added to it from the country of Samaria and Galilee, 
 and from now on even for all time. ^^And let Jerusalem be holy" and 
 untaxed with her territory, the tithes and the tolls shall also be free from 
 royal tax. 
 To ^-I yield up also my authority over the citadel at Jerusalem, and give it 
 
 derThe ^o the high priest, that he may appoint in it such men as he may choose to 
 citadel garrison it. ^^And every Jew without exception who has been carried 
 lease all Captive from the land of Judah into any part of my kingdom, I set at liberty 
 Je^'s without price. And let all remit the tributes, even for their cattle. ^*And 
 all their feasts, and the sabbaths, the new moons, and appointed days, and 
 three days before a feast, and three days after a feast, let all be days of im- 
 munity and release for all the Jews who are in my kingdom, ^s^j^^j j^o 
 man shall have authority to exact from any of them or to trouble them con- 
 cerning any matter. ^^And let there be enrolled among the king's forces 
 about thirty thousand Jews, and pay shall be given to them as to all the king's 
 troops. 37\j^(j some of them shall be placed in the king's great strongholds 
 and some of them shall be placed over the affairs of the kingdom, which are 
 of trust, and let their overseers and officers be of their own race, and let 
 them live according to their own customs, even as the king has commanded 
 in the land of Judah. 
 To cede ^8 ^^j ^j^g three districts which have been added to Judea from the country 
 certain ^£ Samaria, let them be joined to Judea, that they may be considered to be 
 tricts under one head that they may not obey other authority than the high priest's, 
 the city '^^As for Ptolcmais, and the land belonging to it, I have presented it as a 
 emai*s°*' ^i^t to the sanctuary which is at Jerusalem for the defraying of expenses 
 and to incurred by the sanctuary. ^^And I give every year fifteen shekels of silver 
 ^ecfal from the king's revenues from the proper places. ^^And all the surplus 
 grants ^Y}-,ig}^ ^j^g king's ministers did not pay in the foriuer years, they shall give 
 
 ^ 1029 I.e., poU-tax. 
 
 I 10-9 Golden crowns originally given as voluntary homage, afterward demanded as a reg- 
 ular tax. 
 
 ■» 103" Cf . 1 1»*. The three tetrarchies of Apherema, Lydda, and Ramathaim, probably 
 formed a strip across the south of Samaria, so that when they were added to Judea, the border- 
 line of the latter was shifted a little to the north. 
 
 " 10^' I.e., devoted to the god, and so exempt from taxation. 
 
 448
 
 COXCESSIOXS OF THE SYRIAN RR ALS [I Mac. 1041 
 Historij of the Ha,wioneans 
 
 from now on toward the works of the temple. ^-\nd besides tliis, the five 
 thousand shekels of silver, which they received from the income of the sanct- 
 uary- in revenue year by year, this also is remitted because it belongs to 
 the priests who minister. 4"\\nd whoever shall flee to the temple at Jerusalem 
 and be found inside its precincts, whether one who owes money to the kint^ 
 or any other matter, let them go free, and all that tliey have in my kingdom. 
 ^^And for the building and renewing of the works of the sanctuary tlie ex- 
 pense shall be paid also out of the king's revenue. "^'^And for the building 
 of the walls of Jerusalem and their fortification round about, the expense 
 shall be paid also out of the king's revenue, and for the building of the walls 
 in Judea. 
 
 "^•^Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they put no Rejec- 
 reliance in them nor did they receive them, because they remembered the |jJe"e°^ 
 great evil which he had done in Israel, and that he had caused them very offers 
 great distress. '*'But they were well j)leased with Alexander, becau.se he 
 was the first who made overtures of peace to them; so they remained his 
 allies for all time. 
 
 § 19'2. Honors Bestowed upon Jonathan by Alexander Balas, I Mac. io^^-'b 
 Historij of the Hasmoncans 
 
 I 3Iac. 10 ^^Then King Alexander mustered great forces and encamped Defeat 
 opposite Demetrius. '^^But when the two kings joined battle, the army of ^eVrl- 
 Alexander retreated, and Demetrius pursued it, and vanquished them. "^ 
 ^^And he pushed the struggle vigorously until sundown. Demetrius, how- 
 ever, fell that day. 
 
 ^^Then Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemy king of Egypt with this Alex- 
 message, saying, ^^As I have returned to my kingdom, and am seated on ^\\\^^ ^ 
 the throne of my fathers, and have secured the rulership, and have over- ance 
 thrown Demetrius, and have gotten possession of our country; ^^for when Ptol- 
 I engaged in battle with him, he and his army were defeated by us, we ^™^ 
 ascended his royal throne; ^"^now, therefore, let us make a treaty with each 
 other, and give me now vour daughter as wife and I will become vour son-in- 
 law and will give both you and her gifts worthy of her. ''^Vnd I'loleniy the 
 king answered, Haj)py the day in which you returned to the land of your 
 fathers and ascended the throne of their kingdom. ^*'And now I will deal 
 with you as you have written. Meet me then at Ptolemais, that we may 
 see each other; and I will make you my .son-in-law as you have said. '"Then 
 Ptolemy went out of Egypt, with Cleopatra his daughter, and came to Ptole- 
 mais in the one hundrcvl and sixty-second year." ^^King Alexander met 
 him and he bestowed on him his daughter Cleopatra, and celebrated her 
 marriage at Ptolemais with great pomp, as kings are accustomed to do. 
 
 •^^King Alexander then wrote to Jonathan to come to meet him. ^"^So he Honors 
 went with poiii|) to Ptolemais and met the two kings and gave them and (-"rri,, i 
 their Friends silver and gold, and tiiiinv gifts, and was favorably received by "'""' 
 
 than 
 
 " 10" l.W 11. c. 
 
 419
 
 I Mac. 1060] THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 them. 6ixiien some infamous Israelitish apostates assembled to make accu- 
 sation against him, but the king paid no attention to them. 62j^g^jjjgj,^ ^Yie 
 king commanded that they take off Jonathan's garments and clothe him in 
 purple. And thus they did. ^^And the king made him sit with him, and said 
 to his princes. Go forth with him into the midst of the city and make procla- 
 mation that none complain against him of any matter, and let none trouble 
 him for any cause. 64^ij(j when those w ho had accused him saw his glory, 
 as they made proclamation, and saw him clothed in purple, they all took 
 to flight. 65^jj(j j^jjg king showed him honor, and inscribed him among 
 his Chief Friends, and made him a commander and governor of a province. 
 66And Jonathan returned to Jerusalem with peace and gladneiss. 
 
 § 193. Jonathan's Victory over Apollonius, I Mac. lO^'-so 
 Histonj of the Hasmoneans 
 
 Apollo- I Mac. 10 67Now in the one hundred and sixty -fifth year,P Demetrius 
 cha!-^ son of Demetrius, came from Crete into the land of his fathers. ^SThen 
 lenge to King Alexander heard of it, and he was exceedingly troubled and returned 
 than to Antioch. 69^j^(^j Demetrius appointed Apollonius, who was over Coele- 
 syria,^ and he collected a great army and encamped in Jamnia, and sent 
 to Jonathan the high priest this message: 
 
 ^^You alone are hostile to us, and I have become a laughing-stock and 
 butt of ridicule on account of you. Now why do you flaunt your powxr 
 against us in the mountains ? ''^If, indeed, you trust your forces, come down 
 to us in the plain, and there let us try the matter together, because with me 
 is the power of the cities.'' '^^Ask and learn who I am and the rest who 
 help us. They will tell you. You cannot make a stand before us, for your 
 troops^ have been twice put to flight on their own ground. ^^And now you 
 will not be able to withstand the cavalry and such an army as this in the 
 plain, where there is neither stone nor pebble nor place to w hich to flee. 
 The ''^Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was stirred to 
 
 andde- anger, and he chose ten thousand men and went forth from Jerusalem, and 
 feat of Simon his brother met him to help him. ^^And he encamped against 
 nius Joppa. The people of the city, however, shut him out, because x\pollonius 
 had a garrison in Joppa. ''^So they fought against it. Then the people of 
 the city were afraid and opened to him, and Jonathan became master of Joppa. 
 '^''But when Apollonius heard of it he gathered an army of three thousand 
 horsemen and a great host and marched toward Azotus as though he were 
 going on by [Joppa], and at the same time he advanced into the plain, be- 
 cause he had a large cavalry force and trusted in it. ''^Then [Jonathan] 
 pursued him to Azotus, and the armies joined battle. ''^Now Apollonius 
 
 p 10" 147 B.C. 
 
 1 10^' Coelesyria (lit., the hollow Syria) was between Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanons, but 
 here as, e.g., in Ezra-Neh., is probably intended to include all Syria. 
 
 ' 10*^ Yours is the strength of mountains, mine the strength of the cities. There is a play iu 
 Heb. on the words, mountains and cities. 
 
 • IC So in all probability the original Heb. As the result of an error the Gk. reads, 
 faihera. 
 
 450
 
 HONORS BESTOWED UPON JONATHAN [I Mac. 10"9 
 History of the Hasmoncans 
 
 had secretly left a thousand horse behind him. ^^Jonathan, however, knew 
 that there was an ambush laid behind him. So when they surrounded his 
 army, and cast their darts at the people from morning until evening, '^^he 
 people stood still, as Jonathan commanded them, so that their horses became 
 tired out. ^-Then Simon led out his army, and joined battle with the pha- 
 lanx (for the cavalry was exliausted), and they were defeated by him and fled. 
 ^^And the horsemen were scattered in the plain and fled to Azotus, where 
 they entered Beth-dagon, their idol's temple, to save themselves. ^"^But 
 Jonathan burned Azotus and the cities about it, and took their spoils; and 
 he burned the temple of Dagon and those who fled into it. ^^And those 
 who had fallen with the sword, with those who were burned, numbered 
 about eight thousand men. ^*^And Jonathan departed from there and en- 
 camped beside Ascalon, and the people of the city came forth to meet him 
 with great pomp. ^'^Then Jonathan, with those who belonged to his party, 
 returned to Jerusalem, having many spoils. 
 
 ^^And when King Alexander heard these things, he heaped still more Addi- 
 honors on Jonathan, and sent him a buckle of gold, as is customarily given to i,'"nors 
 those who are of royal lineage. He also gave him Ekron with all its territory ^"j: 'o"- 
 as a possession. 
 
 § 194. Overthrow of Alexander by Ptolemy and Demetrius II, I Mac. 11'-'* 
 History of tJie Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 11 ^Then the king of Egypt collected great forces, as countless ptoie; 
 as the sands on the seashore, and many ships and treacherously attempted "jf^jion"' 
 to make himself master of Alexander's kingdom and to add it to his own of '^vria 
 realm. ^And he went forth into Syria with words of peace, and the peoples seizure 
 of the cities opened to him and received him, for King Alexander's command "qIJ^ 
 was that they should receive hun because he was his father-in-law. ^But cities 
 when Ptolemy entered the cities,* he put his forces as a garrison in each city. 
 ■^And when he came near Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon 
 burned down, and Azotus and its suburbs pulled down, and the bodies cast 
 outside, and those who had been burned, whom Jonathan burned in the war, 
 for they had made heaps of them along the way he was going. ^And when 
 they told the king what things Jonathan had done, that they might cast blame 
 on him, the king held his peace. ^And Jonathan met the king with ]K)mp 
 at Joj)pa, and they saluted one another, and they jiassed the night there. 
 •^And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river that is called Eleutherus 
 and then returned to Jerusalem. ^But King Ptolemy became master of 
 the cities upon the sea-coast, as far as Seleucia which is by the sea. 
 
 And he plotted evil against Alexander. ^And he sent ambassadors to piots 
 King Demetrius, saying. Come, let us make a treaty with each other, and I "'jp",'f,*. 
 will give you my daughter whom Alexander has, and you shall reign over ''«''■ ""'' 
 your father's kingdom; ^"^for I am sorry that I gave my daughter to him, seizure 
 
 , ___^ of An- 
 
 tioch 
 ' IP The Ok. adds, Plolemnis, hut this is an impossible reading, for Ptolemy was still on the 
 march. The original clearly read, Ptolemy. 
 
 ■ir; 1
 
 I Mac. 11 10] THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 for he has attempted to murder me. ^^But he was casting blame on him 
 because he coveted his kingdom. ^^And taking his daughter from him, 
 he gave her to Demetrius, and was estranged from Alexander, so that their 
 enmity was openly seen. ^^Ptolemy then entered Antioch and assumed 
 the diadem of Asia. And he put two diadems on his head, the diadem of 
 Egypt and that of Asia. ^^But King Alexander was in Cilicia at that time, 
 because the people of that territory were in revolt. 
 Defeat ^^And when Alexander heard of it, he came to make war against him; 
 death ^"^ Ptolemy went out to meet him with a strong force, and put him to flight. 
 of Alex- I6^]^(j Alexander fled into Arabia that he might find asylum there; and 
 and the SO King Ptolcmy held the upper hand. ^'^Then Zabdiel the Arabian took 
 skHi of off Alexander's head and sent it to Ptolemy. ^^King Ptolemy died the third 
 Deme- (j^y after, and they who were in his strongholds were slain by those who 
 were in the strongholds, ^^ and Demetrius reigned in the hundred and sixty- 
 seventh year." 
 
 § 195. Jonathan's New Honors and Privileges under Demetrius II, 
 
 I Mac. ll-»-« 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 Confir- I Mac. 11 ^^At that time Jonathan gathered together the people of Judea 
 of j*on- to take the citadel that was at Jerusalem, and he erected many engines of 
 athan's ^y^r against it. ^igo^^g^ however, who hated their own nation, apostates, 
 ity went to the king, and reported to huu that Jonathan was besieging the cit- 
 adel. 22^j^j when he heard it, he was angry, and immediately after he 
 heard of it he set out and came to Ptolemais, and wrote to Jonathan that he 
 should not besiege it, and that he should meet him and confer with him at 
 Ptolemais with all speed. ^Sg^j^ -when Jonathan heard this, he gave orders 
 to proceed with the siege, while he chose certain of the elders of Israel and 
 of the priests, and putting himself in peril, 24and taking silver and gold 
 and garments, and various presents besides, he went to the king at Ptole- 
 mais. And he was favorably received; ^^and although some apostates of 
 the nation made complaints against him, ^^the king treated him just as his 
 predecessors had done and exalted him in the presence of all his Friends, 
 ^''both confirming to him the high priesthood, and all the other honors that 
 he had before, and giving him pre-eminence among his Chief Friends. 
 Deme- ^^And Jonathan requested the king to make Judea free from tribute, to- 
 lette/ gether with the three districts of Samaria,^ and he promised him tliree hun- 
 p,'o.- dred talents. -^And the king consented and wrote letters to Jonathan con- 
 
 chiini- , " 
 
 ingthe ceming all these things in the following terms: 
 
 "y and ^°King Demetrius to his brother Jonathan and to the nation of the Jews, 
 
 inde- greeting. ^^The copy of the letter which we wrote to Lasthenes our kinsman 
 
 dence concerning you, we have also written to you, that you may see it. ^^Kinj 
 
 of ; ' 
 
 Judea 
 
 "1]i«145b.c. ■ , _ 
 
 " ll^** Gk., the three districts and the country of Samaria, but it is incredible that Samaria 
 is intended. Probably the original read as above, and a later scribe living after the Jews had 
 conquered Samaria introduced the present error. Cf. ** and lO^". 
 
 452
 
 PRBILEGES UNDER DEMETRIUS II [I]^L\c.ll32 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 Demetrius to Lasthenes his father, greeting. ^^To the nation of the Jews 
 who are our friends and observe what is just toward us, we have determined 
 to do good, because of their.good-will toward us. ^^W'c have therefore con- 
 firmed to them the territory of Judea and also the three districts of Aphe- 
 rema^' and Lydda and Ramathaim"^ — they were added to Judea from the 
 province of Samaria — and all things belonging to them. To all who sacrifice 
 in Jerusalem we remit that which the king formerly received of them vearly 
 instead of the king's dues from the produce of the earth and the fruits of 
 trees. ^^And as for the other things that belong to us, henceforth of the 
 tithes and the tolls that belong, and the salt-pits and the crowns that belong 
 to us, all these we will bestow upon them. ^''And not one of these things 
 shall be annulled from this time forth and forever. ^"Now, therefore, be 
 careful to make a copy of these things, and let it be given to Jonathan, and 
 let it be set up on the holy mount in a suitable and conspicuous place. 
 
 ^^And when King Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him and Tryv 
 that no resistance was made to him, he sent away all his forces, each one to p'"?," to 
 his own home, except the foreign mercenaries, whom he had enlisted from i'''*fe 
 the isles of the heathen. All the troops, however, who liad served his father of Alex- 
 hated him. 3^ Now Tryphon'* was one of those who had formerly belonged oll'lfie 
 to Alexander's party, and when he saw that all the troops were murmuring t'lrone 
 against Demetrius, he went to Yamliku,^ the Arabian who was bringing uj) 
 Antiochus, the young child of Alexander, *^and importuned him that he 
 should deliver him to him, that he might reign in his father's place. And 
 he told him all that Demetrius had done, and the hatred which his troops 
 bore him. And he stayed there a long time. 
 
 § 196. Jonathan's Transfer of Allegiance from Demetrius II to Antiochus, 
 
 I Mac. ll<'-'< 
 
 Hist art/ of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 11 "^'Then Jonathan sent a message to King Demetrius request- Jona- 
 ing him to drive out the garrison at Jerusalem and those who were in the grc:"t* 
 strongholds because they were fighting with Israel continually. "^-And De- serv''^'"' 
 metrius answered Jonathan, I will not only do this for you and your nation, metrius 
 but I will greatly honor you and your nation, if 1 find a fav()ral)!e opportunity. 
 ^^Now therefore you will do well if you send me men who shall liglil for me, 
 for all my forces have revolted. "*^So Jonathan sent him three thousand 
 warriors to Antioch, and they came to the king who was glad at their coming. 
 ^■^And the peof)le of the city gathered themselves together at the centre of 
 the city to the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men, and they 
 were eager to slay the king. '*'^But the king fled into the court of the palace, 
 and the men of the city seized the thoroughfares of the city, and began to 
 
 » 11** See 10''<' 5 191, note™. Apherema is t)i..l.:.M\ tin' (Ik. form of Ephniiin, the town 
 mentioned in IF S;iin. 13-'. 
 
 • n*' FollowiiiK the Syr. .in.i many Ok. MSS. Cf. I Rain. P. 
 
 a 1 13" Tryphon. f/lultori. or dfixturiirc, instoii<l of his oriKiniil niinic, l)iinli>niK. 
 
 ^ 11'" lle.storing tlie oritciiial Arabian form. It ap|)car.>< in Diudoru.s sis .lainhlichua.
 
 I Mac. 1146] THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE 
 
 Histonj of the Hasmoneans 
 
 fight. 4^Then the king summoned the Jews to help him, and they came 
 together to him immediately. Thereupon they dispersed themselves about 
 the city, and slew that day as many as a hundred thousand. ^^And they set 
 the city on fire, and took many spoils that day, and rescued the king. '^^Now 
 when the men of the city saw that the Jews had made themselves undisputed 
 masters of the city, they lost their courage and cried out to the king in sup- 
 plication, saying, ^'^Make peace with us*^ and let the Jews stop fighting 
 against us and the city. ^^So they cast away their weapons and made peace, 
 and the Jews stood high in the estimation of the king and of all who were 
 in his kingdom. And they returned to Jerusalem, having many spoils. 
 Ingrat- ^^But when King Demetrius sat on the throne of his kingdom and the 
 Deme- land was quiet, ^^he broke all the promises he had made and was hostile to 
 trius Jonathan, and did not treat him in return as the benefits with which he had 
 
 befriended him merited, but caused him great trouble.'^ 
 
 Antio- ^^Now after this Tryphon returned, and with him the young child An- 
 
 khj*!^^ tiochus, and he assumed the sovereignty and put on the diadem. ^^And 
 
 there were gathered to him all the forces which Demetrius had sent away 
 
 in disgrace, and they fought against him, and he fled and was defeated. 
 
 ^^And Tryphon took the elephants and became master of Antioch. 
 
 Honors ^'^Then the young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying, I confirm to you 
 
 ferred the high priesthood and appoint you over the four districts,^ and to be one 
 
 upon of the king's Friends. ^^He also sent to him golden vessels and table ser- 
 
 Jona- 
 
 than vice, and gave him permission to drink from golden vessels, and to be clothed 
 irmon ill purple and to have a golden buckle.^ ^^iVnd his brother Simon he made 
 
 commander from the Ladder of Tyre to the borders of Egypt. 
 Jona- ^^Then Jonathan went forth and marched through the territory beyond 
 con- ^ the river and through the cities. And all the forces of Syria^ gathered 
 quests themselves to him to be his allies. And when he came to Ascalon, the in- 
 habitants of the city met him with honors, ^igyt when he went from there 
 to Gaza, the inhabitants of Gaza shut him out. He therefore laid siege to 
 it and burned its suburbs and plundered them. 62'phen the people of Gaza 
 besought Jonathan and he made peace with them and, taking the sons of 
 their princes for hostages, sent them away to Jerusalem, while he passed on 
 through the country as far as Damascus- 
 Victory 63]sJq^ when Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius had come to 
 Syrian Kedesh, which is in Galilee, with a great army, purposing to remove him 
 forces from his oflice, ^"^he went to meet them, leaving Simon his brother in the 
 country. ^5 /^j^^j Simon laid siege to Bethsura, and fought against it a long 
 time and shut it up. ^eg^^ when they besought him to make peace with 
 them he did so, although he drove them out and took possession of the city, 
 and set a garrison over it. ^T^nd Jonathan and his army pitched camp at 
 
 " 115" jjt,_^ gi^,g -i/g ffig right [hand]. 
 
 d 1 153 According to Josephus, Demetrius threatened to make war upon him unless he paid 
 the tribute due. 
 <= 1157 Cf. M. 
 ' 1158 Cf. 1089. 
 ell'*'' I.e., according to ■*' the troops who had deserted Demetrius. 
 
 454
 
 JONATHAN'S ALLEGIANCE TO ANTIOCHUS [I ]\L^c. Il67 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 the water of Gennesaret. Then, early in the morning they marched to 
 the ])hiiu of Ilazor. '^^And there an army of foreigners met him in the plain 
 and, having laid an ambush for him in the mountains, they themselves met 
 him face to face. *^^Then those who lay in ambush started up from their 
 places and engaged in the battle, and all who were with Jonathan fled. ''''Not 
 one of them was left except Mattathias the son of Absalom and Judas the son 
 of Calphi, commander of the forces. "^Upon this Jonathan tore his gar- 
 ments, and put earth upon his head and prayed. "^Then he turned ujion 
 them again in battle and put them to rout, and they fled. ^^And when the 
 men of his army who were fleeing saw it, they returned to him, and with him 
 pursued to Kedesh to their camp, and they encamjjed there. "^So there 
 fell of the foreigners on that day about three thousand men. Jonathan then 
 returned to Jerusalem. 
 
 § 197. Jonathan's Alliances, Victories, and Building Operations, 
 
 • I Mac. 12'-3» 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 13 ^Vhen now Jonathan saw that the time was opportune for Re- 
 him. he selected men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the treaty "f t^i^ 
 wliicli they had with them.'^ -Also to the Sj)artans and other places, he ^"'■ 
 sent letters of similar import. -^And they went to Rome, and entered the with 
 senate house, and said, Jonathan the high priest and the Jewish nation have °'"® 
 sent us to renew for them the treaty and the alliance on the former conditions. 
 "^And [the Romans] gave them letters to the garrisons' in every place, that 
 they should give them safe conduct on their way to the land of Judah. 
 
 ^And this is the coj)y of the letter which Jonathan wrote to the Sj)artans: ,Tona- 
 ^Jonathan the high jiriest, and the senate of the nation, and the priests, and leue/ 
 the rest of the Jewish people to their brothers,J the Spartans, greeting. ''Even ^"^^''f 
 before this time letters were sent to Onias the high priest from Areios,'' who tans 
 was reigning among you, declaring tiiat you are our brothers, as the copy we 
 have testifies. ^And Onias gave an honorable reception to the ambassadors 
 and received the letters, in which there was a plain declaration of alliance 
 and friendshij). 9'^^iiej.gfQre ^ye also, although we need none of these things, 
 having for our encouragement the holy books which are in our hands, '"have 
 undertaken to send an embassy to you that we may renew our brotherhood 
 and friendship with you in order that we should not become alienated from 
 you altogether, for it is a long time since you sent the embassy to us. ''We 
 therefore at all times continuously, in our feasts and on the other suitable 
 days, remember you in the sacrifices which we oll'er and in our ])rayers, 
 as it is riirht and fittinir to be mindful of brothers. '-And moreover we 
 rejoice over your fame. '■'^Hul many adversities and many wars have be- 
 
 h 121 Of. 1" and 1422. 
 ' 12' Lit.. /o Mem. 
 
 ) 12" I'or the traditional relationship between the .lews and Si)artans, cf. II Mac. .•)». 
 k 12^ So .loH. and Did I.at. All Iho fjk. MSS. read, fnim Durcioa. The Sparlati kiiift 
 Areios I (309-205 u.c.) im evidently intended. 
 
 455
 
 I Mac. 1213] THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE 
 
 Historij of. the Hasmoneans 
 
 fallen us from all sides, and the kings who surround us have fought against 
 us. i^We did not purpose, nevertheless, to be troublesome to you and the 
 rest of our allies and friends in these wars, ^^for we have the help which is 
 from Heaven to aid us, and we have been delivered from our enemies, and 
 our enemies have been humiliated. ^^Now, however, we have chosen Nu- 
 menius the son of Antiochus and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent 
 them to the Romans to renew the alliance we had with them and the earlier 
 treaty of friendship. ^'We commanded them at the same time to go also 
 to you and to salute you and to deliver to you our letters concerning the re- 
 newing also of our alliance. ^^Now, therefore, you will confer a favor by 
 granting our wish. 
 Earlier ^^And this is a copy of the letter which tliey sent to Onias : 
 th"^'^°^ 20^\i.ii,s king of the Spartans to Onias the chief priest, greeting. ^iJt has 
 Spar- been found in writing concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are 
 OuisLS brothers and that they are descendants of Abraham, '^'^kad now, since this 
 has come to our knowledge, you will confer a favor by writing* to us of your 
 welfare. 23\j^j ^yg moreover write on our part to you, that your cattle 
 and goods are ours and ours are yours. We command therefore that they 
 report to you to this effect. 
 Jona- 24^j^(j Jonathan heard that Demetrius's generals had returned to fight 
 ^}l^l'^ against him with a greater army than before; ^^so he removed from Jeru- 
 paign salem, in order that he might meet them in the country of Hamath, tor he 
 ilee"^ ' did not wish to give them a chance to -invade his country, ^e^^d when he 
 sent spies into his camp, they came back and reported to him that they were 
 under orders in such and such a way to fall upon them at night, '^'^ni as 
 soon as the sun went down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch and to 
 be in arms that all night long they might be ready for battle. He also set 
 sentinels around the camp. 28\Y]^gj^ j^o^y \\^q adversaries heard that Jon- 
 - athan and his men were ready for battle, they were afraid and trembled in 
 their hearts. So they kindled the fires in their camp and withdrew.'" "^^ion- 
 athan, however, and his men did not know until morning, for they saw the 
 fire burning. •^O'pi^gi^ Jonathan pursued them, but did not overtake them, 
 for they had crossed the river Eleutherus. SiThen Jonathan turned aside 
 to the Arabians, who are called Zabadeans, and defeated them and took 
 their spoils. ^'^Xnd he set out from there and came to Damascus and jour- 
 neyed through all the country. 
 Simon 33\jj(j gimon went forth and journeyed as far as Ascalon and the strong- 
 aUop- i^QJjg ^j^a|. ^.gj.g jjgj^j. ^Q it ^j^(j jjg turned aside to Joppa and took posses- 
 sion of it, 34for he had heard that they were plotting to turn the fortress 
 over to the men of Demetrius, and he put a garrison there to keep it. 
 Jona- 35\nd when Jonathan returned he called the elders of the people together, 
 fOTtm^- and he considered plans with them for building strongholds in Judea 36and 
 cations foj. making the walls of Jerusalem higher and for raising a great mound 
 
 in Ju- - -1 
 
 dea and between the citadel and the city in order to separate it from the city, that 
 
 Jeru- \ 
 
 salem 
 
 1 J2'8. 22 J^it,, you Shall do ii'ell ansivering lis. 
 
 ™ 12-s So Luc, Jos., and Syr. The other texts omit the necessary, and withdrew. 
 
 456
 
 JONATHAN'S BUILDING OPERATIONS [I ISIac. 1236 
 History of the Ilasinoneuns 
 
 thus it might be isolated that men might neitlier buy nor sell. ^"And they 
 were gathered together to build the city, and they took down ])art of the 
 wall along the ravine that is on the east side, and from it built up anew the 
 so-called Chaphenatha." ^^And Simon also built Adida in the lowland*' 
 and made it strong and set up gates and bars. 
 
 § 198. Tryphon's Treacherous Capture and Murder of Jonathan, 
 
 I Mae. 12'"'-133<' 
 
 History of the Ha.smoucans 
 
 I Mac. 12 ^^Then Tryphon trietl to get the sovereignty over Asia and to Try- 
 put on the diadem and to engage in hostilities against Antiochus the king, fais"^ 
 ^^But he was afraid lest perhaps Jonathan might not allow him, and that '^"^"'"'j 
 he might fight against him. So he soufjht a wav to take him. that he miirht plot to 
 destroy him. And he set out and came to Belhshan. ^^Then Jonatliaii .^Tr^"^'" 
 
 )iia- 
 
 went out to meet him with forty thousand picked .soldiers and came to Beth- ^'^^"^ 
 shan. '^-And when Tryphon saw that he came with a great army, he was 
 afraid to attack him, ^"^and he received him honorably and commended him 
 to all his J'riends and gave him gifts, and commanded his forces to be obedient 
 to him as to himself. "*^And he said to Jonathan, Why have you put all 
 this people to trouble, since that there is no war between us ? "^^Now there- 
 fore send them away to their homes, retaining for yourself only a few men 
 who shall be with you, and come with me to Ptolemais, and I will gi^^e it to 
 you with the rest of the strongholds and the rest of the forces and all the 
 king's officers, and I will set out on my way back, for this is the cause of my 
 coming. ^*^Then he trusted him and did even as he said, and sent away 
 his forces so that they departed into the land of Judah. ^"But he reserved 
 for himself three thousand men, of whom he left two thousand in Galilee, 
 while one thousand went with him. 
 
 '^^Now as soon as Jonathan entered Ptolemais, the people of Ptolemais Seizure 
 shut the gates and laid hands on him, and they slew with the sword all who athan" 
 came in with him. "^^And Trvphon .sent forces and horsemen into Galilee, ""'I the 
 
 1 11 p T 1 ' -rii» public 
 
 and mto the great plam,'^ to destroy all of Jonathan s men. ^"But tliey inourn- 
 perceived that he had been taken and had {)erished, and tho.se who were hj^"'^ 
 with hini. and they encouraged one another and marched in closed ranks, 
 pre[)ared to fight. ^^And when those who were pursuing them saw that 
 they were ready to fight for their lives, they turned back again. ■^-Tluis they 
 all came .safely into the land of Judah, and they mourned for Jonathan and 
 those who were with liiin, and they were greatly afraid. And ail Israel 
 mourned bitterly. ^■^Tlien all the heathen who were round about tlieni 
 sought to destroy them utterly, for they said, They have no ruler nor any to 
 
 » 1237 Following what waa evidently the original Heb., Gk., fell clown. The mcaniiiR of 
 the proper name is unknown. 
 
 " 12'"* I.e., the shephelah, the lowland west of Judea. Adida is jirobably to be identified 
 with the O.T. Iladad, east of hydda. 
 
 p 12''' Cf. 5'2 
 
 457
 
 I Mac. 1253] THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 help them, now therefore let us fight against them and wipe out the memory 
 of them from among men. 
 Choice 13 ^Now when Simon heard that Tryphon had collected a vast army to 
 mon aa come into the land of Judah to destroy it utterly, ^and saw that the people 
 leader trembled and were greatly afraid, he went up to Jerusalem and gathered 
 the people together, ^and encouraged them and said to them. You your- 
 selves know all the things that I and my brothers, and my father's house, 
 have done for the laws and the sanctuary, and the battles and times of distress 
 through which we have passed. ^In this cause all my brothers have perished 
 for Israel's sake, and I alone am left, ^^nd now be it far from me that I 
 should spare my own life, in any time of affliction; for I am not better than my 
 brothers.^ ^Rather I will take revenge for my nation, and for the sanctuary, 
 and for our wives and children, because all the heathen are gathered to 
 destroy us out of pure hatred. -^And the courage of the people rose as they 
 heard these words. ^And they answered with a loud voice, saying. You are 
 our leader instead of Judas and Jonathan your brother. ^Fight our battles, 
 and we will do all that you command. ^"^So he gathered together all the 
 warriors and made haste to finish the walls of Jerusalem, and fortified the 
 entire length of it. ^^And he sent Jonathan the son of Absalom at the head 
 of a large army to Joppa, and he drove out those who were in it, and stayed 
 there in it. 
 Try- ^^Ai^j Tryphon set out from Ptolemais with a mighty army to invade the 
 
 treaclf- ^^^^ ^^ Judah, and Jonathan was with him as a prisoner. ^^Then Simon 
 eryin encamped at Adida on the edge of the plain. ^^And when Tryphon knew 
 mand- that Simon had succeeded to the place of his brother Jonathan and meant to 
 money 3*^^" battle with Lim, he sent ambassadors to him, saying, ^^It is for money 
 and which Jonathai youi brother owed to the king's treasury because of the 
 ages offices which he held that we hold him prisoner. ^^Now therefore send a 
 himdred talents of silver and two of his sons as hostages, that, when he is 
 set at liberty, he will not revolt against us, and we will set him at fiberty. 
 ^''Although Simon knew that they spoke to him deceitfully, yet he sent the 
 money and the children, lest perhaps he might incur the great hatred of the 
 people, who would say, ^^Because I did not send him the money and the 
 children, he perished. ^^And when he sent the children and the hundred 
 talents, [Tryphon] broke his word and did not set Jonathan at liberty. 
 Failure "'^And after this Tryphon came to invade the land and destroy it, and he 
 vade went rouud about by the way that goes to Adora; and Simon and his army 
 Judea marched opposite and abreast of him to every place wherever he went, ^i^nd 
 the people of the citadel sent to Tryphon ambassadors urging him to come 
 by forced marches through the wilderness to them and to send them supplies. 
 22So Tryphon made ready all his cavalry to go. But that night a very deep 
 snow fell, so that he did not come because of the snow. 
 Murder Then he set out and came to the country of Gilead. ^s^jjj when he came 
 burial "^^^ ^o Bascama^ he slew Jonathan, and he was buried there. ^^But when 
 
 of Jon- 
 
 athan ' 
 
 q 135 Thinking that his brothers were dead, cf. 12">. 
 458
 
 THE ]\a^RDER OF JONATHAN [I U^c. 132^ 
 
 History of tlie Hasmoncans 
 
 Tr\-])hon went back into his own land, ^^gj^on sent and took the bones of 
 Jonathan his brother, and buried them at Modein, his ancestral city. -^And 
 all Israel made great lamentation over him and mourned him for many days. 
 2' And Simon built a monument upon the sepulchre of his father and his 
 brothers, and raised it aloft to the sight, with polished stone on the back 
 and front sides. -*He also set up seven pyramids, one opposite another, 
 for his father and his mother and his four brothers.'" 29\j^(j f^j. these he 
 made artistic designs, setting about them great pillars, and upon the pillars 
 he fashioned different kinds of arms as an everlasting memorial, and lieside 
 the arms ships carved, that they should be seen by all wlio sail on the sea. 
 ^^This is the sepulchre which he made at Modein, which stands there at the 
 present time. 
 
 IV 
 
 SIMON'S PROSPEROUS REIGN, I Mae. 1331-1624 
 
 § 199. Peace with Demetrius and the Capture of Gazara and the Citadel 
 
 at Jerusalem, I Mac. IS"-^^ 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 13 3iXow Tryphon proceeded treacherously with the young king Try- 
 Antiochus, and slew him, ^-^and ascended the throne in his place, and put on !^'t?ng 
 the diadem of Asia, and brought a great calamity upon the land. 
 
 ^^Then Simon built the strongholds of Judea and fenced them about with Con- 
 high towers and great walls and gates and bars, and laid up stores in the ofY:)'e"* 
 strontfliolds. '^'And Simon chose men and sent them to Kin<j Demetrius in metrius 
 
 O _ n II to 
 
 order to ask that he grant immunity to the country, because all that Tryphon the 
 did was to plunder. •'^''And King Demetrius sent an answer to him in words '''' 
 similar to these, and wrote to him the following letter: 
 
 ^''King Demetrius to Simon the high j)riest and Eriend of kings, and to the 
 elders and nation of the Jews, greeting: 3' the golden crown and the palm 
 branch which you sent, we have received, and we arc ready to make a treaty 
 of absolute peace with you, and to write to our oflic-ials to grant inmumities 
 to you. 38^nd whatever things we confirmed to you, they are confirmed. 
 
 r J328 The seventh was evidently for himself. 
 
 Simon's Prosperous Reign. — After fwenly-five years of almost unceasine war. tlio Jews 
 at la-st for a brief |)erio(l, enjoyed tlie sweet fruits and lionors of peace. A wise, l)piii);ri ruler 
 guanied their interests within and withrwil Palestine. 'I'he Syrian kingdom had hcconie so 
 weak a-s the result of its protracted civil wars and moral corruption that it had cea.fed to ho a 
 serious menace to the exi>tence of the Maccahean state. The protectint; influence of Rome wius 
 also becoming a powerful factor in the politics of the ICast. Not suspecting the ulterior ilesigns 
 of that growing world-power, the .lews gloried in its friendship. Although the boundaries of the 
 Jewish kingdom were later extended still further, the reign of Simon marks the height of its in- 
 ternal prosperity. With the reign of his son and successor, ,Iohn ilyrcanus, the policy of foreign 
 conquest was instituted, which ultiiriately intensilieil the hostility of all their heathen neighlmrs 
 anfl precipitated the bitter feud between the I'harisees and .Sadducees which (iiiall\' disinenibfrcd 
 the Maccahean state. From the succeeding century of struggles and humiliating disasters tho 
 Jews looked back upon the bright days of Simon with ever-increaaing pride and longing. 
 
 459
 
 I Mac. 1338] SIMON'S PROSPEROUS REIGN 
 
 History of the Hasmoncans 
 
 And the strongholds which you have buiU, let them be your own. 39^s for 
 any debts you have not acknowledged and acknowledged debts that you 
 have not paid up to the present, we remit them, and the crown which you 
 owed us. And if there is any other tax which may have been exacted in 
 Jerusalem, let it be exacted no longer. '^'^And if there are any among you 
 suitable to be enrolled in our court, let them be enrolled, and let there be 
 peace between us. 
 Si- *^In the hundred and seventieth year^ the yoke of the heathen was taken 
 
 Cide-^ away from Israel. ^-And the people began to write in their legal docu- 
 ment ments and contracts, In the first year of Simon the great high priest and 
 rule commander and leader of the Jews. 
 
 Siege *3Iq those days he laid siege to Gazara,^ and surrounded it with armies, 
 
 capture ^Tid made an engine of siege and brought it up to the city, and smote a tower 
 
 ofCJa- and captured it. "^^And those who were in the engine leaped forth into the 
 
 city, and there was a great tumult in the city. "^^And the people of the city 
 
 tore their garments, and went up on the walls with their wives and children, 
 
 and cried with a loud voice, requesting Simon to make peace with them. 
 
 ^*^And they said, Do not deal with us according to our wickednesses but 
 
 according to your mercy. '^'^So Simon was reconciled to them and did not 
 
 fight against them. But he expelled them from the city and cleansed the 
 
 houses in which the idols were, and so entered into it with singing and praise. 
 
 4^And when he had put all uncleanness out of it, he placed in it such 
 
 men as would keep the law and made it stronger than it was before, and 
 
 built a dwelling place for himself in it. 
 
 Capt- '*^But those who were in the citadel at Jerusalem were prevented from 
 
 and for- g^ing out and from going into the country, and from buying and selling, so 
 
 tifica- tiiat they suffered exceedingly from hunger, and a great number of them 
 
 thecit- perished through famine. ^"^Then they cried out to Simon to make peace 
 
 Jem-^* with them. He did so, but put them out from there, and cleansed the citadel 
 
 salem from its pollutions. ^^And he entered it on the twenty-third day of the 
 
 second month in the one hundred and seventy-first year, with praise and 
 
 palm branches, with harps, with cymbals, with viols, with hymns, and with 
 
 songs, because a great enemy was destroyed out of Israel. ^^And he ordained 
 
 that they should observe that day each year with gladness. And the temple 
 
 mount, which was beside the citadel, he made stronger than before, and there 
 
 he dwelt with his men. ^^^nd Simon saw that John^ his son had grown to 
 
 manhood, and so he made him commander of all his forces. And he lived in 
 
 Gazara. 
 
 » 13" 142 B.C. 
 
 b 13« So Jos., Ant., XIII, G^ and Jewish Wars, 1, 2=. a. 4" AU the Gk. MSS. and the 
 other versions read, Gaza. 
 
 c 1353 Who later reigned as John Hyrcanus. 
 
 460
 
 PEACE AND PROSPERITY 
 
 [I ^L^c. Ui 
 
 Benign 
 policy 
 and 
 con- 
 quests 
 of Si- 
 mon 
 
 § 200. Peace and Prosperity under Simon, I Mac. W-^^ 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I 3Iac. 14 ^And in the one hundred and seventy-second year King Denie- Capt- 
 trius collected his forces and went into Media to get hel{) that he might fight DemL 
 against Tryphon.^i -But when Arsaces the king of Persia and Media heard f'"'"?^^ 
 that Demetrius had come into his territory, he sent one of his princes to take king of 
 him alive. -^And he went and defeated the army of Demetrius and capt- amT"* 
 ured him and brought him to Arsaces, who put him in prison. Media 
 
 ^So the land had rest all the days of Siraon, 
 
 And he sought the good of his nation. 
 
 His authority and his glory were wcll-plcasing to them all his days. 
 *And amid all his gior}- he took Joppa for a liaven, 
 
 And made it a way to the isles of the sea, 
 *And he enlarged the boundaries of his nation, 
 
 And became master of the land. 
 'He also brought many captives together. 
 
 And made himself master of Gazara and Bethsura, and the citadel. 
 
 Moreover he took away from it its uncleannesses; 
 
 And there was none who resisted him. 
 *And they tilled their land in peace, 
 
 And the earth gave her increase. 
 
 And the trees of the plains their fruit. 
 ®The old men sat in the streets. 
 
 They talked together of the common good. 
 
 And the young men put on glorious, fine"" apparel. 
 ^"He provided food for the cities. 
 
 And furnished them with means of fortification, 
 
 Until his famous name was known to the end of the earth. 
 ^'He made peace In the land, 
 ^^And Israel rejoiced with great joy. 
 
 Everyone sat under his own vine and fig tree. 
 
 And there was no one to make them afraid,' 
 "And none who warred against them was left upon the earth. 
 
 For the kings were utterly crushed In those days. 
 '*And he strengthened all llie distressed of his people. 
 
 He was full of zeal for the law. 
 
 And every lawless and wicked person he banished. 
 '^He made the sanctuary glorious. 
 
 And multiplied the vessels of the temple.* 
 
 t'niver- 
 sal 
 
 peace 
 and 
 pros- 
 perity 
 under 
 his 
 rule 
 
 § 201. Renewal of the Treaty with Rome and Sparta, I Mac. l-l'«--< 
 History of tlie Hasmoneans 
 
 I Mac. 14 i*^Now when they heard at Rome and at Sparta that Jon- 
 athan was dead, thev were very sorry. ^' But as soon as tliey h>arncd that his 
 brother Simon had been made higli priest in his place ami ruK-d the couiilry 
 and its cities, ^*^thev wrote to him on brass tablets, to renew wifli liini tlic 
 
 Tie- 
 
 nt>Wi> 
 
 of alii 
 
 ances 
 
 with 
 
 Kdiiic 
 
 and 
 
 Sparta 
 
 <• 14' .Tosephus has little after this point in conuiKjn with I Mac. 
 
 • 14' So the oriEinal Heb. The tik. mistook it for a similar Ileh. word and read, warlike. 
 ' 14'2 Cf. Mi. 4M Krs. 4". 
 
 « 14*-" This i)oern is in the author's best style. It contains many expressions found in 
 the earlier prophetic books. .Many scholars think the book oriKin.'illv clnsivj with this poom. 
 
 461
 
 I Mac. 14I8] SIMON'S PROSPEROUS REIGN 
 
 Hisionj of the Hasmoneans 
 
 friendship and the treaty which they had made with Judas and Jonathan 
 his brothers; ^^and these were read before the congregation at Jerusalem. 
 Letter 20\j^fj |]^jg jg \)^^ copy of the letters which the Spartans sent: 
 thT' The rulers of the Spartans, and the city, to Simon the high priest, and to 
 
 Spar- \\^Q elders, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, our brothers, 
 greeting. -^The ambassadors who were sent to our people reported to us 
 your glory and honor, and we were glad that they came, ^~2ia6. we registered 
 the things that were spoken by them in the public records thus : ' Numenius 
 son of Antiochus and Antipater son of Jason, the Jews' ambassadors, came 
 to us to renew the friendship they had with us. ^s^j^^j \^ pleased the people 
 to entertain the men honorably, and to put the copy of their words in the 
 ' public records, in order that the people of the Spartans might have a me- 
 
 morial of them. Moreover, they wrote a copy of these things to Simon the 
 high priest.' 
 Si- 24\f|^gj. ^i^ig Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a great shield of gold 
 
 present which weighed a thousand minas,^ in order to confirm the alliance with them. 
 
 to " 
 
 Rome 
 
 § 202. Honors Conferred upon Simon by the Jews, I Mac. 14^*-" 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 Public I Mac. 14 25Xow when the people heard these things, they said. How 
 nltkm c^^ "^^ thank Simon and his sons ? ^^Fot he and his brothers and the house 
 of the of his father have shown themselves brave, and have warded off the enemies 
 of Si- of Israel from them and made hberty sure. ^"^So they wrote on brass tablets 
 anThis ^^^ affixed them to pillars on Mount Sion. Now this is the copy of the 
 broth- writing: 
 
 On the eighteenth day of Elul, in the one hundred and seventy-second 
 year, — and this is the third year of Simon the high priest, the prince of the 
 people of God,^ — -^in a great congregation of priests and people and princes 
 of the nation and of the elders of the country, we hereby declare to you:J 
 2^Smce there have been frequent wars in the country, Simon the son of 
 Mattathias, the sons of the sons of Joarib, and his brothers have put them- 
 selves in peril and withstood the enemies of their nation, that their sanctuary 
 and the law might be established, and won great renown for their nation. 
 ^•'And Jonathan assembled the nation together and became their high priest. 
 But when he was gathered to his people, ^^heir enemies proposed to invade 
 their country, that they might destroy their country utterly and stretch forth 
 their hand against their sanctuary, ^^xhen Simon rose up and fought for 
 his nation, and spent much of his own property in arming the soldiers of 
 his nation and in giving them wages, ^s^j^^j }^g fortified the cities of Judea 
 and Bethsura*^ that is situated on the borders of Judea, which was formerly 
 
 ers 
 
 ■> 142* Representing a value of about eighteen thousand dollars. 
 
 ' 142^ Gk.. Asaramel. This is evidently a transliteration of the Heb., prince of the people 
 of God, or an abbreviation of, prince of Israel. The date was 141 B.C. 
 
 > 142s So Lug and Syr. The Gk., it was notified to us, makes no sense. 
 
 k 1433 Cf. 429. 
 
 462
 
 HONORS CONFERRED UPON HIM [I Mac. 1433 
 
 History of the Hasmoncans 
 
 a depot for the arms of the enemies, and set there a garrison of Jews. ^Hlc 
 also fortified Joppa' which is by the sea and CJazara'" which is on the borders 
 of Azotus,° in which the enemies formerly Hved, and placed Jews there and 
 put in it everything needed for re|Kiiring it. 3.5_\^„,j ^ylien the people saw 
 the worth of Simon and the glory which he aimed to bring to his nation, they 
 made him their governor and high priest, because he had done all these 
 things, and because of the justice and the faith which he showed to his nation, 
 and because he sought by all means to exalt his people. 30 .^^^j j,j ],j^ ^j.^y 
 things prospered in his hands, .so that the heathen were taken away from 
 their country, as well as those who were in the city of David, who were in 
 Jerusalem, who had made themselves a citadel from which they were accus- 
 tomed to sally and pollute everything belonging to the sanctuarv, and did 
 great damage to its purity. 37^^^^^^ \^^^ placed Jews in it and fortified it for 
 the safety of the country and the city, and made high the walls of Jerusalem. 
 
 3^]Moreover King Demetrius contirmed to him the high priesthood accord- Confir- 
 ing to these things, 39and made him one of his Friends, and bestowed great "nJi,"'^ 
 honor upon him, "^^for he had heard that the Jews had been called friends ;uithor- 
 and allies and brothers by the Romans, and that they had met the ambas- Deme- 
 sadors of Simon with honor, ^^and that the Jews and the priests were well an'l'^the 
 pleased that Simon should be their governor and high ])riest forever, until Jewish 
 there should arise a faithful prophet; '^-and that he should be commander °'' 
 over them, and should take charge of the sanctuary,*' to appoint men on 
 his own authority over their works and over the country and over the arms 
 and over the forts, ^3and that he should be obeyed by all, and that all docu- 
 ments drawn up in the country should be written in his name, and that he 
 should be clothed in pur[)le, and wear gold; ^^and that it should not be lawful 
 for any of the peoj)le or of the priests to nullify any of these things, or to resist 
 the commands that he should issue, or to gather an assembly in the country 
 without his permission, or to be clothed in purf)le or to wear a golden buckle. 
 ^^But whoever should do otherwise, or act in defiance of any of these things, 
 should be liable to punishment. '**'A11 the people agreed to ordain that 
 Simon should act according to these regulations. '*^And Simon accepted 
 and consented to be high priest and to be general and governor of the Jews 
 and of the priests and to be protector of all. 
 
 '*^And they gave orders to put this writing on brass tablets and to set them Tlio 
 uj) within the precinct of the sanctuary in a conspicuoust" place, '*''and also J-ecord 
 to put the copies of it in the treasury in order that Simon and his sons might 
 have them. 
 
 ' 143* Cf. 12M. 
 
 ■n 14*1 Cf. 4'*, 13«. 
 
 " 14»« Cf. 4". 
 
 o i4« The same clause is repeated by mistake at the end of the veree. 
 
 p 14« Gk.A, safe. 
 
 ^6S
 
 I Mac. 15I] SIMON'S PROSPEROUS REIGN 
 
 § 203. Early Promises and Later Demands of Antiochus Sidetes, 
 
 I Mac. 15'-" 
 Historij of the Hasraoneans 
 
 Antio- I Mac. 15 ^iVnd Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent letters from 
 Lvish the isles of the sea to Simon the priest and governor of the Jews, and to all 
 prom- tl^g nation; ^and their contents were as follows: 
 
 1S63 
 
 King Antiochus to Simon the chief priest and governor, and to the Jewish 
 nation, greeting. ^Since certain infamous fellows have made themselves 
 masters of the kingdom of our fathers, my purpose is to claim the kingdom 
 that I may restore it to its former conditions; and moreover I have raised a 
 multitude of troops, and have prepared warships. '^And I am planning to 
 land in the country that I may punish those who have destroyed our country 
 and those who have made many cities in the kingdom desolate. ^Now, 
 therefore, I confirm to you all the taxes which the kings who were before me 
 remitted to you and whatever gifts beside they remitted to you, ^and I give 
 you leave to coin money for your country with your own stamp. ^And 
 Jerusalem and the sanctuary shall be free, and all the arms which you have 
 prepared, and the strongholds which you have built, and which you hold in 
 your possession, let them remain yours. ^And everything due to the king'i 
 and the things that shall be due the king from now and for evermore, let 
 them be remitted to you. ^Moreover, when we shall have established our 
 kingdom, we will bestow great honor upon you and your nation and the 
 temple, so that your glory shall be made manifest in all the earth. 
 His ^°In the one hundred and seventy -fourth year, "■ Antiochus went forth into 
 of^Try- the land of his fathers, and all the forces came together to him, so that there 
 phon were few men with Tryphon. ^^Then King Antiochus pursued him, and 
 siege of he came, as he fled, to Dor, which is on the sea, ^^for he knew that troubles 
 °' had come upon him all at once and that his forces had forsaken him. ^-^Then 
 Antiochus laid siege to Dor, and with him were a hundred and twenty thou- 
 sand infantry and eight thousand cavalry. ^'^And he surrounded the city, 
 and the ships joined in the attack from the sea, and he harassed the city 
 by land and sea and allowed no one to go out or in. 
 Rome's ^^Tlien Numenius and his companions came from Rome, having letters to 
 t^onof the kings and to the countries, in which were written these things: 
 the i^Lucius, consul of the Romans, to King Ptolemy, greeting. ^"The ambas- 
 sadors of the Jews came to us as our friends and confederates, to renew the 
 old treaty of alliance, having been sent from Simon, the high })riest and from 
 the people of the Jews. ^^Moreover they brought a shield of gold weighing 
 a thousand® minas. ^^It pleased us therefore to write to the kings and to 
 the countries, that they should not seek their hurt, nor fight against them 
 and their cities and their country, nor be allied with those who fight against 
 them. 20]yj^QpgQygp j^^ seemed good to us to receive the shield from them. 
 2^If therefore any seditious fellows have fled from their country to you, 
 » 
 
 § 203 Antiochus VII Sidetes was the son of Demetrius I and the brother of Demetrius II, 
 who was held as captive by the Parthians. 
 
 1 15' The reference is probably to tlie contributions of soldiers and support in time of war. 
 
 ' 1510 138 B.C. 
 
 " I518 So 142^ Gk.A, five thousand. 
 
 464
 
 DEMANDS OF ANTIOCHUS SIDETES [1 .Mac. 15-i 
 
 Hisforij of {lie Hasmoncan^ 
 
 give them up to Simon the liii^h priest tliat he may take vengeance on tliem 
 according to their law. --And tlie same things he wrote to Demetrius the 
 king, to Attahis, ~Ho Arathes, to Arsaces, and to all the countries, to Samp- 
 sames, to the Spartans, to Delos, Myndos, Sicyon, Caria, Samos, Pamphylia, 
 Lycia, Halicarnassus, Rhodes, Phaselis, Cos, Side, Aradus, Gortyna, Cnidus, 
 Cyprus, and Cyrene.' -^And the copy of them they sent in writing to Simou 
 the high priest.*^ 
 
 2^ And Antiochus the king besieged Dor the second day, continually bring- Antio- 
 ing his forces closer to it and making engines of war, he shut up Tryphon demand 
 from going in or out. -*'Then Simon sent him two thousand jMcked men that 
 to fight on his side and silver and gold and instruments of war in abundance, pay a 
 2"But he would not accept them, and he broke all the treaties which he had tnbute 
 made with him before and was estranged from him. -^And he sent to him 
 Athenobius, one of his Friends to communicate with him, saying, You 
 hold possession of Joppa and Gazara and the citadel that is in Jerusalem, 
 cities of my kingdom. -^You have laid waste their territories, and have 
 done great harm in the land and gained the mastery of many places in my 
 kingdom. '^'^Now therefore, give up the cities which you have taken and 
 the tributes of the places of which you have gained the mastery outside of 
 the borders of Judea, ^'or else give me for them five hundred talents of 
 silver, and for the harm that you have done and the tributes of the cities, 
 another five hundred talents, or else we will come and conquer you. 
 
 ^^And when Athenobius the king's Friend came to Jerusalem and saw the Simon's 
 splendor of Simon, and the cupboard of gold and silver vessels, and his great "^^'^ ^ 
 attendance, he was amazed. Then he rc[)orted to him the king's words. 
 ^^And Simon re|)lied to him, We have neither taken other men's land, nor 
 have we possession of that which belongs to others, but of the inheritance 
 of our fathers, which was in the possession of our enemies wrongfully for a 
 certain time. '^^Now we, having opportunity, hold fast the iidieritance of 
 our fathers. ^^And with regard to your demand about Joppa and Gazara, 
 they did great harm among the people throughout our country. We will 
 give a hundred talents for them. 
 
 And he an.swered him not a word, '^''but returned in a rage to the king. Rage of 
 and reported to him the.se words, and the sj)lendor of Simon and all that he chus"' 
 had seen, and the king was very angry. "^"And Tryphon, embarking on 
 board a ship, fied to Orlhosia. 
 
 § 204. Defeat of the Syrian Army, I Mac. IS^-lG'o 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 I 3Iac. 15 -^^Then the king appointed Cendebaeus commander-in-chief Ati.ioks 
 
 of the sea-coast, and gave him forces of iiifaiilry and cavalry, '''and C(im- 'syl-i'^,, 
 
 maiidcd liim to encami) before Judea. and ordered him to forlifv Kidrou coni- 
 
 ' niiiiicl- 
 
 cr 
 
 ' 1.5^ ThiH list includCH states, iHlarnls, and rities. 
 
 u i5ii-2< These verse-s brca'' 'lie close connection hnlwi^en " ami -^ uml may he later inser- 
 tions. 
 
 ■Ifi.T
 
 I Mac. 1539] SIMON'S PROSPEROUS REIGN 
 
 History of the Hasmoneans 
 
 and to make the gates strong, and to fight against the people; but the king 
 pursued Trvphon. ^^^And Cendebaeus came to Jamnia and began to irri- 
 tate the people, and to invade Judea and to take the people captive and to 
 slay them. '^^And he fortified Kidron, and placed horsemen and infantry 
 there in order that, issuing out, they might make sallies upon the highways 
 of Judea, as the king commanded him. 
 John's 16 ^Then John went up from Gazara and told Simon his father what 
 over"^^ Cendebaeus was doing. 2^\jjd Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and 
 1^^. John, and said to them, I and my brothers and my father's house have fought 
 forces the battles of Israel from our youth, even to this day and we have repeat- 
 edly succeeded in delivering Israel. ^JJut now I am old, while you, by the 
 mercy of God, are in the prime of life. Take my brother's place and mine 
 and go forth and fight for our nation, and may the help which is from 
 Heaven be with you. *And he chose out of the country twenty thousand 
 infantry and cavalry, and they went against Cendebaeus, passing the night 
 at Modein. ^And rising up in the morning, they went into the plain and 
 there a great host came to meet them of footmen and horsemen. And there 
 was a brook between them. ^Then he with his people encamped directly 
 opposite them. And when he saw that the people were afraid to cross the 
 brook, he passed over first, and the men saw him and passed over after him. 
 'Then he divided the people, with the horsemen in the midst of the footmen. 
 The enemies' horsemen, however, were very numerous. *And they blew 
 a signal blast with the trumpets, and Cendebaeus and his army were put 
 to flight, and there fell many of them mortally wounded, but those who were 
 left fled to the stronghold.^' ^Xhat was the time when Judas, John's brother, 
 was wounded. But John pursued them until he came to the Kidron which 
 Cendebaeus had fortified. ^^Now they fled to the towers which are in the 
 fields of Azotus, and he burned it,^' and there fell of them about one thou- 
 sand^ men. And he returned into Judea with success. 
 
 § 205. The Treacherous Murder of Simon, I Mac. W^-''* 
 Hisfonj of the Hasmoneans 
 
 Ptol- I Mac. 16 ^^Now Ptolemy the son of Abubus had been appointed com- 
 
 d™s^ ^ mander over the plain of Jericho. He possessed much silver and gold, ^-^for 
 tardly }^g ^r^s the high priest's son-in-law. ^^Xhen he grew ambitious and de- 
 termined to make himself master of the country. So he formed treacherous 
 plots against Simon and his sons, to make away with them. ^^Now Simon 
 was visiting the cities that were in the country and providing for their good 
 management. And he went down to Jericho with Mattathias and Judas 
 his sons, in the one hundred and seventy-seventh year,^ in the eleventh 
 month, that is the month Sebat. ^°Then the son of Abubus received them 
 
 '•' 16' Cf. 15^^ the fortress Kidron, near Morlein, cf. 16*. 
 
 " 16"' I.e., Azotus. Cf. 10^*. 
 
 ^ 16^" So Gk. B. and A. Other Gk. versions, tivo thousand; Syr. and Luc, three thousand. 
 
 » 16" 135 B.C. 
 
 466
 
 MURDER OF SIMON [I Mac. IG^^ 
 
 History of the Ilasmoneans 
 
 treacherously in a little stronghold that is called Dok,'' which he had built, 
 and made them a great bancjuet, and his men were there. ^''And when 
 Simon and his sons were drunk, Ptolemy and his men rose up and took 
 their weapons, and rushing in upon Simon in the bancpiet hall, thev 
 slew him and his two sons, and some of his servants. ^"Thus he committed 
 a great act of treachery'^ and paid back evil for good. 
 
 i^Then Ptolemy wrote what had happened, and asked the king to send His 
 forces to aid him. and ]:)romised to hand over to him their country and the [o'',"'I^r- 
 cities. i^And he sent others to Gazara to make away with John. And to ''er 
 the officers commanding thousands he sent letters to come to him, that he liyrca- 
 might give them silver and gold and gifts. -*^And others he sent to take ""^ 
 possession of Jerusalem and the temj^le-moiuit. -Uiut some ran before to 
 Gazara and told John that his father and brothers had perished, and they 
 said, He has sent to slay you too. ^2^^^^^ when he heard, he was dumb with 
 amazement, but he seized the men who came to destroy him, and slew them, 
 for he saw that they were seeking to destroy him. 
 
 -^Xow the rest of the acts of John, and the account of his wars, and of the Record 
 Taliant deeds which he did, and of the building of the walls which he rebuilt,'' John's 
 and of his achievements, ^^behold, they are recorded in the chronicles of his achieve- 
 high priesthood, from the time that he was made high priest after his father. 
 
 *> 16'^ A little northwest of Jericho. 
 "= 16'' Gk.A, impiety. 
 
 <* 16-'' Cf. Jos. Ant. XIII, 8^. The reference is to the rebuilding of the wall destroyed by 
 Antiochus Sidetes in 134 b.c. 
 
 4G7
 
 THE LIFE OF THE JEWS OF THE 
 DISPERSION 
 
 KsTHER
 
 THE LIFE OF THE JEWS OF THE 
 DISPERSION 
 
 THE STORY OF ESTHER, Esth. 1-10 
 
 § 206. Repudiation of Queen Vashti by Ahasuerus, Estli. 1 
 
 Esth. 1 ^Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus [Xerxes]* — that is Aha- 
 the Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia over a hundred and grlat^ 
 twentv-seven provinces — '^n those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the i^^*: 
 
 * *■ for riis 
 
 throne of his kingdom, wliich was in the royal palace^^ at Sliushan, ^in the court 
 third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants. 
 And the commanders of the military forces'^ of Persia and Media, the nobles 
 and satraps, were before him, "^while he showed the riches of his glorious 
 kingdom and the splendor of his great majesty many days, even a hundred 
 and eighty days. °And when these days came to an end, the king made for 
 all the people who were present in the royal palace at Shushan, both great 
 and small, a seven days' feast, in the court of the garden of the royal palace. 
 ^There were fine linen, cotton, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of 
 
 The Life of the Jews of the Dispersion. — Beginning with the fall of Samaria in 722 
 B.C., the tragic fate of the I.^raelitish race wa.s to have large numhens of its most prominent 
 and intelligent member.* carried away in successive deportations and thus scattered throughout 
 the ancient world from northern Africa to central Asia, and from the Black and Caspian seas to 
 the Indian ocean. The result wa.s th.at from 580 n.c. nearly, if not fully, half of the race were to 
 be found outside Palestine. The importance of the exile in .Jewish history is siiown by the writ- 
 ings of ICzjk., Is. 40-55, and probably a large part of the priestly code, which the exiles con- 
 tributed to the O.T., and by the work of Joshua, Zerubbabel, and Nehemiah. Of the life of the 
 Jews of the dispersion the O.T. says little. It was a chapter that lacked unity and vital connec- 
 tion with the main current of Israel's history. It is not recorded in the historical writings, but 
 reflected, and for the most part idealized, in the pojjular stories of the first six chapters of Dan., 
 and in their apocryphal sujiplements, the History of Susannah, Bel and the Dragon, and the 
 Song of the Three Holy Chihlren. With the.se belong the story of the Three Young Men in 
 I Esdr. 3, 4, the books of Esther and Tobit, and the tales regarding the Jews in Egypt found 
 in III Mac. 
 
 It is a striking, suggestive fact that without exception these appear to be the products of the 
 imagination, although possibly in some cases they are ba.setl on historical incidents. It would 
 seem, however, that the facts were so few or so unattractive that fancy was called in to invest 
 them with a halo of romance. It is also significant that, while most of the stories are placed in a 
 niuch earlier age, none of them in their present literary form antedates the beginning of the Mac- 
 cabean period. That stirring age, with its brilliant achievements, fired the imagination anil 
 produced this large group of historical romances. They cf)rresponil in many ways to the Sun- 
 day-school books of to-day. They were all written with a didactic aim and were intcn<led to 
 arou.se the patriotism and inspire their readers to emulate the examples of the heroes and hero- 
 ines who figure in them. 
 
 The book of ICsther is the best known of these historical romances. The origin, ihite, and 
 purpo.se of the story have already been considered in Chap. V of the Introd. (np. 39, 40). Its 
 present historical value is due not to the incidents which it purports to record, but to the life of 
 the Jews of the dispersion, which it reflects, and the attitiKle of the Jews toward their heathen 
 neighbors during the second an<l first centuries u.r., which it vividl^v sets forth. 
 
 " 1' The Ok. h.T-s, ArliiTerres. but llerodotus's pictures of Xerxes (IX, 10!)), best urconlH 
 with the i)resenl description and (he Ileb. form of the word, especially the marginal rra<ling in 
 10', repre.sents the Old Persian, KliHlini/arHli, Bab.. KhiHhiurHhd (Xerxes). The same form also 
 occurs in lOzra 4**. Cf. the one hundred ami twenty salrup.s of I^an. 0'. Durius I divided the 
 kingdom into twenty satrapies. 
 
 ^ V Ileb., eatttle, the winter rcHidence of the Persian kings. Cf. Noh. 1'. 
 
 ' P Completing the Hebrew as the context demundM. 
 
 471
 
 EsTH. 16] THE STORY OF ESTHER 
 
 fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble; the couches were of 
 
 gold and silver upon a mosaic pavement of alabaster and white marble and 
 
 mother-of-pearl and spotted stone. "^ ^And they gave them drink in vessels 
 
 of gold, and the vessels were all different from one another, and the royal 
 
 wine was abundant according to the liberality of the king. ^And the drinking 
 
 was according to the law; none could compel, for so the king had given 
 
 direction to all the officers of his house, to do according to each man's wishes. 
 
 Vash- ^Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal palace 
 
 fusaUo which belonged to King Ahasuerus. ^^Qn the seventh day, when the heart 
 
 ^PP^^"" of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, 
 
 feast Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who ministered 
 
 in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, ^Ho bring Vashti the queen before 
 
 the king with the royal crown, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, 
 
 for she was fair to look upon. ^^But the Queen Vashti refused to come at 
 
 the king's command by the eunuchs; therefore the king was very angry, 
 
 and his rage burned within him. 
 
 Advice ^^Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times® — for thus the 
 
 °isg^ king was accustomed to consult all who knew the law and precedent; ^"^and 
 
 men those next to him were Carshena, Sethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Mar- 
 
 to DUD- 
 
 ish sena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who saw the 
 ^^ ' king's face and occupied the first place in the kingdom, ^^What shall we do 
 to the Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding 
 of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs ? ^^ \nd Memucan answered before 
 the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king 
 only, but also to all the princes and to all the peoples, that are in all the 
 provinces of the King Ahasuerus. ^^For this act of the queen will be re- 
 ported to all women to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, 
 when it shall be said, ' The King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen 
 to be brought in before him, but she came not.' ^^And this day will the 
 princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the act of the queen relate 
 it to all the king's princes, and there will be corresponding contempt and rage. 
 ^^If it please the king, let a royal command go forth from him, and let it be 
 written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, and it cannot be 
 altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus, and that the 
 king will give her royal dignity to another wife who is better than she. ^^And 
 when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all 
 his kingdom — for it is great — all the wives will give to their husbands honor, 
 both to great and small. ^^And the proposal pleased the king and the princes; 
 and the king did according to the word of Memucan. ^"So the king sent letters 
 to all the provinces, into every province according to its system of writing and 
 to every people according to their language, that every man should be master in 
 his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.^ 
 
 <| 1^ Several of these words do not occur elsewhere in the O.T. and their meaning is not 
 
 o 113 The astrologers. Cf. Dan. 2-'?, 5W. 
 
 f p2 The last clause is obscure. The Targs. interpret it to mean in the case of mixed mar- 
 riages that the language of the husband shall be employed in the household. The Gk. omits it. 
 The Lat. translates, and this shall be marie ktioirn among all peoples — or slightly amending the 
 Hebrew, atid should speak all that seems proper to him.
 
 CHOICE OF ESTHER AS QUEEN [Esth. 2i 
 
 § 207. Choice of Esther as Queen and Mordecai's Service to King 
 
 Ahasuerus, Estli. 2 
 
 Esth. 2 ^After these thlnfjs, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was paei- Assem- 
 fied, he remembered ^'a.shti and what she hail done and what was deereed alfthe 
 against her. ^Xhen the king's servants who ministered to him said. Let ^^^'^. , 
 
 Illlllli- 
 
 fair young virgins be sought for the king, -^and let the king ajipoint officers ens of 
 ill all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the realm 
 fair young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the women's quarters, under 
 the custody of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who has charge of the women; 
 and let the things for their beautifying^^ l)e given them. "^And let the maiilen 
 who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the proposal pleased 
 the king, and he did so. 
 
 ^There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace whose name was Mor- Mor.le- 
 decai the son of .lair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,'^ ^'who h^.^'"" 
 hail been carried away from Jerusalem with the caj^tives who had been v"J?'" 
 deported with Jeconiah king of Juilah, whom Nebuchadnezzar' the king 
 of Babylon had carried away. "And he brought up Iladassah, that is, 
 Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother; and 
 the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother died, 
 Mordecai took her as his own daughter. 
 
 ^So when the king's command and his decree were made know.i, and when Her 
 many maidens were gathered together to Shushan the palace vnder the aw" re- 
 custody of Hegai, Esther was also taken into the king's palace under the ception 
 custody of Hegai, keeper of the wcnien. ^And the maiden plea.sed him and royal 
 she received kindness at his hands, and he quickly gave her things for beau- ^'-^^^'^ 
 tifying herself, with her allowance of food, and the seven maidens who 
 were chosen to be given her from the king's palace. And he removed her and 
 her maidens to the best place in the women's quarters. ^^Estlier had not 
 made known her peoj)le nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that 
 she should not make it known. ^^And Mordecai walked every day before 
 the court of the women's quarters, to know how Esther did and what would 
 become of her. 
 
 i^Xow when the turn of each maiden came to go in to King Ahasuerus, The 
 after it hud been done to her according to the regulation for the women fi^'Ji,'"" 
 tw-elve months — for so long the days of their beautifying lasted, six months [V-^''^'^^ 
 with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for 
 the beautifying of the women — ^-^thenJ the maiden came to the king; whatever 
 she desired was given her to go with her from the house of the women to the 
 king's palace. ^"^In the evening she went and on the following day she re- 
 turned into the second women's apartments'^ to tiie custody of Sliaashgaz, 
 the king's eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in n(j more to the 
 king, unless the king delighted in her and she was .summoned by name. 
 
 * 2' Lit., Ihfir ruhhinq off, i.e., with oils and cosmetics to enhance their beiiuly. Cf. ". 
 
 h 2' A relative therefore of KinK.Saul, cf. Intro'l., p. 39. 
 
 ' 2" This late .lewisli spelling of this word is found here aa in ICzra and Dan. 
 
 i 2'-'' So fik.. or, in thiK way. 
 
 k 2" Ileb.. house. 
 
 ■i73
 
 EsTH. 215] THE STORY OF ESTHER 
 
 i^Now when the turn of Esther the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of 
 INIordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go to the king, 
 she required nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the keeper of the 
 women, directed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw 
 her. 
 Selec- i^So Esther was taken unto King Ahasuerus into his royal palace in the 
 Esther tenth month, that is, the month Tebeth in the seventh year of his reign. 
 as i^And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she received favor 
 
 and kindness from him more than all the virgins ; so that he set the royal crown 
 upon her. head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. ^^Then the king 
 made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even a feast in honor 
 of Esther; and he remitted the taxes^ of the provinces and gave gifts, accord- 
 ing to the liberality of the king. 
 Morde- ^^And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, IMor- 
 service decai was sitting in the king's gate. ^^Esther had not yet made known her 
 in sav- kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed 
 life of the command of Mordecai, just as when she was being brought up with him. 
 king ^^In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate, two of the 
 king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who guarded the threshold 
 became enraged and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. -^And the 
 plan became known to Mordecai, who showed it to Esther the queen; and 
 Esther told the king in Mordecai's name. ^^And when the matter was in- 
 vestigated and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and 
 it was recorded in the book of the chronicles for the king. 
 
 *»• 
 
 § 208. Haman's Purpose and the King's Permission to Put to Death all 
 
 the Jews in the Empire, Esth. 3 
 
 Morde- Esth. 3 ^After these things, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of 
 refusal Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and gave him a place above 
 to pay jjii ii^Q princes who were with him. ^And all the king's servants who were 
 
 homage . ' . , ^ 
 
 to Ha- in the king's gate™ bowed down and prostrated themselves before Haman; 
 the"' for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not 
 royal j^Q^r (Jqwu nor prostrate himself. ^Then the king's servants, who were in 
 the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why do you transgress the king's command ? 
 *Now when they thus spoke daily to him and he paid no heed to them, 
 they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's acts would stand, for he had 
 told them that he was a Jew. ^And when Haman saw that Mordecai 
 did not bow down nor prostrate himself before him, Haman was full of 
 wrath. ^But he thought it beneath his dignity to lay hands on Mordecai 
 alone; for they had made known to him Mordecai's race. Therefore Ha- 
 man sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole king- 
 dom of Ahasuerus, even the race of Mordecai. 
 
 ' 218 Or, release from military service. So Gk. and Targ. Lat., holiday. 
 ■° 32 Cf. the title of the Sultan of Turkey, Sublime Porte, or the older Egyptian title, 
 Pharaoh. 
 
 474-
 
 PERMISSION TO KILL THE JEWS [Esth. 3- 
 
 "In the first month, which is the month Nisan," in the twelfth year of The 
 King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur,° that is, the lot before Ilanian from day to con^nt 
 day and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month {^^^'■^'•'^ 
 
 * ... Hainan 
 
 Adar. *And Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people slay all 
 scattered abroad and dispersed among the peo]>les in all the provinces of j^ws 
 your kingdom; and their laws are dill'erent from those of every people; neither 
 do they keep the king's laws; therefore there is no advantage to the king in 
 leaving them alone. ^If it please the king, let an order be given that they 
 be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of 
 those who have the charge of the finances, that they niay bring it into the 
 king's treasuries. ^^And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it 
 to Haman the .son of Ilanunedatha the Agagite. the Jews' enemy. ^'And 
 the king said to Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do 
 with them as you please.' 
 
 ^-Then the king's scribes were called in on the thirteenth dav of the first Prom- 
 month, and it was recorded just as Haman commanded for the kings' sa- "joni.f 
 traps and the local governors who were over every province, and the princes theroy- 
 of ever}' people, to every province according to its system of writing, and to cree 
 every peo}>le according to their language. In the name of King .\.hasuerus 
 was it written, and with the king's ring was it sealed. ^'^And letters were 
 sent by runners into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause 
 to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children, and women in one 
 day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month 
 Adar, and to take the spoil of them as plunder. ^^A copy of the writing, 
 that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all 
 the peoples, that they should be ready for that day. ^^The runners went 
 forth impelled by the king's connnand, and the decree was given out in the 
 royal palace at Shushan. And the king and Haman sal down to drink; 
 but the city of Shushan was perplexed. 
 
 § 209. Esther's Successful Efforts to Avert the Calamity and the 
 Ignominious Death of Haman, Esth. 4-7 
 
 Esth. 4 ^Now when ]\Iordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai lore his i.amcn- 
 clothes and put on sackcloth and strewed ashesP on his head, and went out „>' mI'I- 
 into the midst of the city and cried with a loud and bitter cry of lamiMitatioii. [l^^'-^'l^^^ 
 2And he came even before the king's gate; for none might enter the king's Jews 
 gate clothed with sackcloth. ^And in every province wherever the king's 
 command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, 
 and fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.n 
 
 ■ 37 The month Nisan W£w the month in which the Hebrews came forth from ERypt. For 
 the different months of. Appendix XIII. . ,.,,,, ,, i ,.,.■ 
 
 " 3' The casting of the lot was to determme the fortunate day in whicli to destroy the .Icwh. 
 The lot was thus u»ed by the Babylonians in deterniiniiiK the date of the great New \ear s feast. 
 Cf. Introd.. p. 40. 
 
 p 4' Heb., Mimply, vnlh ashes. 
 
 q 43 Heb., sackcloth and ashes were spread out under many
 
 EsTH. 44] " THE STORY OF ESTHER 
 
 Com- "^And Esther's maidens and her eunuchs came and told her about it; and 
 ^tion ^^^^ queen was exceedingly pained. And she sent garments to clothe Mor- 
 of the decai that lie might take his sackcloth from off him; but he received them" 
 news to not. ^Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, whom 
 Esther j^^ j^^j appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to jNIordecai, 
 to know what this was and why it was. ''So Hathach went out to Mordecai 
 to the broad place of the city which was before the king's gate. ''And Mor- 
 decai told him all that had happened to him and the exact sum of the money 
 that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews to 
 destroy them. ^Also he gave him a copy of the writing of the decree that was 
 given out in Shushan to destroy them, that he might show it to Esther and 
 inform her regarding it and charge her to go in to the king to petition him 
 and to make request before him for her people. 
 Es- ^And Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. ^^Then 
 
 reply^o Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai, saying, ^^AU 
 Morde- the king's servants and the people of the king's ])rovinces know that who- 
 mes- ever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without 
 ^^^^ being commanded, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except 
 those to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live; 
 but I have not been called to come to the king for thirty days, ^^^^fj jliey 
 told Mordecai Esther's words. 
 Es- i^xhen Mordecai bade them answer to Esther, Think not that you alone 
 
 deci-^ of all the Jews will escape because you belong to the king's household. 
 sion to I4j^ather, if you remain silent at this time, then relief and deliverance will arise 
 to the for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's house will perish ; 
 '^'"^ and who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time 
 as this ? ^^Then Esther bade them answer Mordecai, ^^Go, gather together 
 all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast for me, and neither eat 
 nor drink three days, night or day. I also and my maidens will likewise 
 fast and so will I go m. to the king, which is contrary to the law ; and if I 
 perish, I perish. ^^So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had com- 
 manded him. 
 Herin- 5 ^Now it came to pass on the third day that Esther put on her royal 
 with^^ garments and stood in the inner court of the king's palace directly opposite 
 the the king's palace. And the king was sitting upon his royal throne in the 
 royal palace opposite the entrance of the palace. 2\nd when the king saw 
 Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and 
 the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So 
 Esther drew near and touched the top of the sceptre. ^Then the king said 
 to her. What do you wish. Queen Esther, and what is your request ? It shall 
 be given you even to the half of the kingdom. ^And Esther said. If it seem 
 good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet 
 that I have prepared for him. 
 Her ^Then the king said. Bring Haman quickly, that Esther's wish may be 
 
 qug^ fulfilled. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had 
 for the prepared. *^And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine. What is 
 and your petition? It shall be granted you; and what is your request? Even 
 
 Haman 
 
 476
 
 HER EFFORTS TO AVERT THE CALA:MITY [Esth. 
 
 -.6 
 
 to the lialf of the kingdom shall it be performed. "Then Esther answered 
 and said, My petition and my request is: ^'If I have found favor in the sight 
 of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition and to perform my 
 request, let the king and Ilaman come to the banquet that I shall prepare 
 for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king has said.' 
 
 ^Then Haman went forth that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Ila- 
 Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and he neither stood up nor moved "{.^"g® 
 for him, he was filled with wrath against ^lordecai. ^'^Nevertheless Haman amlha- 
 restrained himself and went home, and sent and brought his friends antl .Morde- 
 Zeresh his wife. ^^And Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches ^'^^ 
 and the multitude of his children and all the ways in which the king had 
 promoted him and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants 
 of the king. ^-Haman also said. Yea, Esther the (|ueen let no man come in 
 with the king to the banquet which she had prepared but me, and to-morrow 
 also I am invited by her together with the king. ^"^Yet all this does not 
 satisfv me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sittin" at the king's crate. 
 
 ^^Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him. Let a gallows'" fifty His 
 cubits high be erectefl and in the morning speak to the king that INIordecai advice 
 may be hanged. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet. And tlie 
 thing pleased Haman; and he caused th.e gallows to be erected. 
 
 6 ^On that night sleep fled from the king, and he gave orders to bring The 
 the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king, i-eward 
 ^And it was found recorded that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh. >i<'rile- 
 two of the king's eunuchs, of those who guarded the threshold, who had sought lii.-^.ser- 
 to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. ^And the king said, What honor and Jhe^*" 
 dignity have been bestow'ed on INIordecai for this ? Then the king's servants king 
 who ministered to him said. There has been nothing done for him. "*And 
 the king said, Who is in the court.'* Now Haman was come into the outer 
 court of the king's house to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gal- 
 lows that he had prepared for him. ^And the kiiig's servants said to him, 
 Behold, Haman is standing in the court. And the king said. Let him come 
 in. ^So Haman came in. And the king said to him. What sliall be done 
 to the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman said to himself. 
 To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself? "So 
 Haman said to the king. For tlie man Avhom the king delight-s to honor ^"^let 
 royal garments be brought, which the king is accustomed to wear, and the 
 horse on which the king rides, and on the head of which a crown royal is 
 set. ^And let the garments and the horse be delivered to one of the king's 
 most noble princes, and let them therewith clothe the man whom the king 
 delights to honor and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of 
 the city, and proclaim before him, ' Thus shall it be done to the man w horn 
 the king delights to honor.' 
 
 ^^''i'hen the king said to Ilaman, ^Lake haste, and take the garments and Mordo- 
 the horse, as you have .said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits i,',',',n,r 
 in the king's gate. IvCt nothing fail of all that you have said. "'I'heii Ilaman »j'^^^ 
 took the garments and the horse and clothed Mordecai, and cau.sed him to mmi > 
 
 r 5'* lleh., wood, 
 
 477 
 
 hiiiiiiii- 
 iitidti
 
 EsTH. 611] THE STORY OF ESTHER 
 
 ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall 
 it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor, ^^^^d JNIordecai 
 came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourning 
 and with his head covered. ^^And Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and 
 all his friends all that had befallen him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his 
 wife said to him, If INlordecai before whom you have begun to fall, be of the 
 Jewish race, you will accomplish nothing against him but will surely fall 
 before him. ^^While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs 
 came and quickly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 
 Es- 7 ^So the king and Haman came to drink with Esther the queen. -And 
 
 pet[-^ the king said again to Esther on the second day of the banquet of wine, What 
 tjonfor is your petition. Queen P^sther ? and it shall be granted to you. And what is 
 of her your request? Even to half of the kingdom shall it be performed. ^Then 
 people £g^|jgj. i\jQ queen answered and said. If I have found favor in your sight, 
 O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition and 
 my people at my request; ^for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, 
 to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold as male and female 
 slaves, I would have remained silent, since for such an affliction it would 
 not have been worth the while to trouble the king.^ 
 Ha- ^Then the King Ahasuerus spoke to Esther the queen, saying. Who is he 
 
 f^te* ^ and where is he who dares presume in his heart to do so ? ^And Esther said, 
 An adversary and an enemy, this wicked Haman. Then Haman shrank 
 before the king and the queen. ^And the king arose in his wrath from the 
 banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. And Haman stood up 
 to beg for his life of Esther the queen; for he saw that evil was determined 
 against him by the king. ^When the king returned from the palace garden 
 to the place of the banquet of wane, Haman had fallen upon the couch on 
 which Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before 
 me in the house ? As soon as the word went from the king's mouth, Haman's 
 face was covered with shame.* ^Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who 
 were before the king said, There are the gallows fifty cubits high, which 
 Haman has made for Mordecai, who cared for the king's welfare, standing 
 in the house of Haman. And the king said. Hang him on them. ^^So 
 they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. 
 Then was the king's wrath pacified. 
 
 § 210. The Royal Decrees for the Protection of the Jews, Esth. 8 
 
 Trans- Esth. 8 ^At that time the King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman the 
 j|^?^ Jews' enemy to Esther the queen. And INlordecai came before the king, 
 man's for Esther had told what he was to her. 2\nd the king took off his ring, 
 toMor- which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther 
 ^^'^^^ set Mordecai over the house of Haman. 
 
 ' 7* The text is corrupt. A slight correction gives the above. Another possible recon- 
 struction is, for deliverance is not worth troubling the king, i.e., the importance of deliverance 
 does not justify troubling the king with this request. 
 
 * 7* So Gk. Present Heb., they covered the face of Haman, as a sign that he was condemned 
 to death. 
 
 478
 
 PROTECTION OF THE JEWS [Esth. 83 
 
 ^And Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, Es- 
 and besought him with tears to avert the evil done bv Hainan the Aofacite. l','*^"" ^ 
 and to frustrate his designs which he had against the Jews. "^Then the king <reafy 
 held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before decree 
 the king. ^And she said, If it |)lease the king, and if 1 have found favor in ve/^d 
 his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I please him, let 
 written orders be given to reverse the letters devised by Haman the .son of 
 Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in 
 all the king's provinces. '^'For how can I endure to .see the evil that will 
 come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction t)f mv 
 kindred ? 
 
 "Then the King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai The 
 the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they conces- 
 have hanged upon the gallows, becau.se he laid his hands upon the Jews. ^'^"^ 
 ^Write also concerning the Jews as it pleases you. in the king's name and 
 seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's 
 name and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse. 
 
 ^Then were the king's scribes called at that time on the twentv-third dav The 
 of the third month, which is the month Sivan; and it was written according J^"';^,",'. 
 to all that Mordecai conuuanded the Jews, and the satraps and tlie governors ",''."''' 
 and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiojna, a hundred the 
 and twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its system of gmpow- 
 writinof, and to everv neoi>lo accordina; to their languafTc, and to the Jews eredto 
 
 ' .11 <^ o r^ n l)r(>t GCt 
 
 according to their system of writing and according to their language. ^"And them- 
 he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring ^'^^^^ 
 and sent letters by swift messengers on horseback, ridiiig on nol)lc, swift steeds, 
 bred of the royal studs," ^^vherein the king grantetl the Jews who were in 
 every city to gather themselves together and to fight for their lives, to destroy, 
 to slav, and to cause to perish all the armed forces of the people and province 
 that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the sjioil 
 of them as plunder, ^'-upon one day in all the jirovinces of King Ahasuerus, 
 namely on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 
 l^A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, 
 was published to all the peoples, and that the Jews should b,e ready on that 
 day to avenge themselves upon their enemies. '*So the swift messengers 
 that rode on the noble, .swift steeds went out, being hastened and pressed 
 on by the king's command; and the decree was given out in the royal palace 
 at Shushan. 
 
 '•'And ]\Iordecai went forth from the j)resence of the king in royal gar- Hrmors 
 ments of blue and white linen, and with a grca! crown of gold, and with a 'f,"',ho 
 robe of fine linen and purple. And the city of Shushan shouted and was •'i'"'' 
 glad. '^'The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. '-"And in 
 every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his 
 decree came, the Jews liad gladness and joy, a feast and a holiday. And 
 many from amf)iig the |)eo[)lcs of the land became Jews; for the fear of IIk^ 
 Jews had fallen Uj>on them. 
 
 " 8'" Here two PerMian words arc used. 
 
 47y
 
 EsTH. 9I] THE STORY OF ESTHER 
 
 §211. Destruction of the Enemies of the Jews, Esth. O^^*" 
 
 Sue- Esth. 9 ^Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the 
 
 resfst^' thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and his decree was about 
 anceof |o \)q p^t into execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to 
 Jews on gain the mastery over them, then the tables were turned so that the Jews 
 the day ^jigj^gglyes had the mastery over those who hated them. ^Xhe Jews gath- 
 point- Qj-ed together in the cities throughout all the provinces of the King Ahasu- 
 the erus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt; and none could withstand 
 shiugh- ^i^gjj^^ fQj. ^i^g fga^j. of them had fallen upon all the peoples. ^And all the 
 princes of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and they who 
 attended to the king's business, helped the Jews, because the fear of Morde- 
 cai had fallen upon them. "^For Mordecai was great in the king's palace, 
 and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai 
 became constantly more influential. ^And the Jews smote all their ene- 
 mies with the stroke of the sword and with slaughter and destruction, and did 
 what they would to those who hated them. ''And in the royal palace at 
 Shushan the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. "And they slew 
 Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, ^Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, ^Parmashta, 
 Arisia, Aridai, and Vaizatha, ^^the ten sons of Haman the son of Hamme- 
 datha, the Jews' enemy; but they did not put forth the hand to plunder. 
 Fur- i^On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace 
 
 permis- was brought before the king. ^-And the king said to Esther the queen, 
 sionto The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in the royal palace 
 ven- at Shushan, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the 
 utxm^ rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your petition, and it shall be 
 their granted to you ? Or what is your request, and it shall be performed ? ^^Th^^^i. 
 Esther said. If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in 
 Shushan to do to-morrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's 
 ten sons be hanged upon the gallows, ^^^nd the king commanded it so to 
 be done. And a decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman's 
 ten sons. ^^And the Jews who were in Shushan also gathered themselves 
 together on the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew three hundred 
 men in Shushan; but they did not put forth their hand to plunder. ^^And 
 the other Jews who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves to- 
 gether and fought for their lives and had relief from their enemies, and slew 
 of those who hated them seventy-five thousand; but th«y did not put forth 
 their hand to plunder. 
 
 § 212. Institution of the Feast of Purim, Esth. 9'^-='2 
 
 Obser- Esth. 9 ^^On the thirteenth day of the month Adar and the fourteenth 
 
 oTthT <^lay^ of the same they rested and made a day of feasting and gladness. ^^But 
 
 feast of tiig jg^ys who were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth and on 
 
 the fourteenth, and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested and made 
 
 V 9'^ Slightly revising the text which is evidently corrupt. 
 480
 
 INSTITUTION OF THE FEAST OF PURBI [Esth. O^s 
 
 it a day of feasting and gladness. ^^Therefore the Jews of the villages who 
 dwell in the large^' cities are wont to make the fourteenth day of the month 
 Adar a day of gladness and feasting and a holiday, and a day in which they 
 send portions of food to each other. 
 
 20And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who Morde- 
 were in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus, both near and far, -^to enjoin poljf. 
 them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and the mand 
 fifteenth day of the same yearly, --as tlie days wherein the Jews had rest tile 
 from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow t"nji,e 
 to gladness and from mourning into a feast day, that they should make them ""V'e 
 days of feasting and gladness and of sending portions one to another and of sal 
 gifts to the poor. 
 
 23And the Jews adopted as a custom what they had begun and what I\Ior- Estab- 
 decai had written to them. -*For Ihunan the .son of Ilannnedatha. the Jjfgnt 
 Agagite. the enemv of all the Jews, had ijlotted against the Jews to destrov andoc- 
 
 * CHS ion 
 
 them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them and to destroy them, of the 
 -^Bnt when the matter came before the king, he gave orders by letters that '^^ 
 his wicked design, which he had planned against the Jews, should come 
 upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the 
 gallows. ^^Hence they call these days Purim, after the word Pur. There- 
 fore because of all the words of tliis letter, as well as because of that which 
 they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them, 
 -'the Jews ordained and took upon themsehes and upon their descentlants 
 and upon all those who joined themselves to them, .so that it should be un- 
 alterable, that they should observe these two days as feasts according to the 
 written command and according to the time appointed every year, -'''and 
 that these days should be remembered and kej)t throughout every generation, 
 every family, every province, and every city. And these days of Purim 
 should not pass away from among the Jews nor the remembrance of them 
 disappear with their descendants. 
 
 29Tlien Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and IMordecai the Jew, Confir- 
 wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim. •^'^Antl the „f"ilc 
 latter sent letters to all the Jews, to the hundred and twenty-seven provinces custom 
 of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, '^'to confirm 
 these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the 
 Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them and as they had ordained 
 for themselves and their descendants, in the matter of the fastings and their 
 cry of lamentation. "^-And tlie connnands of Esther confirmed lliese matters 
 of Purim; and it was written in the book. 
 
 " 9" So Gk., which has the antithesis which the context demands. Heb., who dwell m 
 villages, a mere repetition. 
 
 481
 
 EsTH. IQi] THE STORY OF ESTHER 
 
 § 213. The Greatness of Mordecai, Estb. 10 
 
 Morde- Esth. 10 ^And the King Ahasiierus laid a tribute on the land and the 
 services isles of the sea. 2\nd all the acts of his power and of his mighl, and the 
 tohis full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, 
 are they not recorded in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media 
 and Persia ? ^Pqi- Mordecai the Jew was next in rank to King Ahasuerus, 
 and great among the Jews, and beloved by all his fellow-countrymen; and 
 he sought the good of his people and consulted the welfare of his entire race. 
 
 482
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 483
 
 APPENDIX 
 I 
 
 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY AND DETAILED REFERENCES 
 
 GENERAL INTRODUCTIONS TO THE HISTORICAL BOOKS 
 
 Andre, Les Apocryphes de V Ancient Testament, 1903. 
 Bennett and Adeney, Biblical Introduction, 1899. 
 Bleek, Einleitunr/ in das A.T.,'^ 1878. 
 Budde, BUchcr Richter und Samuel, 1890. 
 Cornill, Einleiiung in das A.T.,-^ 1896. 
 Driver, Introduction to the Literature of the O.T.,^ 1901. 
 Fain\'eather, From the Exile to the Advent, 1895. 
 EncyclopoBdia Biblica. Articles, Samuel, Kings, etc. 
 Geissler, Die literarischen Beziehungen der Esramemoiren, 1901. 
 Hastings's Didionary of the Bible. Articles. 
 Kautzsch, Literature of the O.T., 1899. 
 Konig, Enleitung in das A.T., 1893. 
 Kosters, Die Wiedcrherstellung Israels, 1895. 
 
 McFadyen, Messages of the Prophetic and Priestly Historians, 1902. 
 INIarquart, Fundamcnte israclitischcr und judischcr Gcschichte, 189G, 
 Niese, Kritik der bviden Makkabacrhncher, 1900. 
 Sacred Books of the O. T. (edited by Haupt). 
 Smith, W. R., The O.T. in the Jeivish Church,^ 1892. 
 Torrey, Composition and Historical Value of Ezra-Xehemiah, 1896. 
 \Vellhausen, Composition dcs Ilexateuchs und der hisiorischen Biicher des 
 A.T.,^ 1899. 
 " Prolegomena fo the Hist org of Israel, 1895. 
 
 Wildeboer, The Origin of the Canon of the O.T., 1891. ■ 
 
 HISTORIES OF ISRAEL 
 
 Bevan, Jerusalem under the High- Priests, 1905. 
 Biiflde, Religion of Israel to the Exile, 1899. 
 Clicyne, Jevish Religious Life after the Exile, 1898. 
 Conder, Judas Maccabeus, 1894. 
 Cornill, History of the People of Israel, 1898. 
 
 485
 
 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 
 
 Dieulafov, Le roi David, 1897. 
 
 Enci/clopoedia Biblica and Jeioish Encylopoedia. Article, Israel. 
 Ewald, Hisfori/ of Israel, 1869. 
 Gratz, Geschichtc der Juden, 1876. 
 Guthe, Geschichte des Volkes Israel, 1899. 
 Harper, Commentary on Amos and Hosea, 1905. 
 
 van Hoonacker, Etudes sur la Restauration Juive apres Vexil de Babylone, 
 
 1896. 
 " Nehemie en Van 20 d'Artaxerxes, 1892. 
 
 Zorohahel et le second Temple, 1892. 
 Hunter, After the Exile, I, II, 1890. 
 Kent, History of the Hebrew People, I, The United Kingdom,^'^ 1995. 
 
 " History of tlie Hebrew People, II, The Divided Kingdom,^^ 1905. 
 
 " History of the Jewish People,'^ 1905. 
 Kittel, History of the Hebrews, I, II, 1895-96. 
 Klostermann, Geschichte des Volkes Israel, 1896. 
 Kuenen, Gesammelte Abhandlimgen, 1894. 
 
 Mathews, History of the Neio Testament Times in Palestine, 1899. 
 Meyer, Entstehung des Judenthums, 1896. 
 Oettli, Geschichte Israels bis auf Alexander den Chvssen, 1904. 
 Ottley, Short History of the Hebrews, 1896. 
 Piepenbring, Histoire du Peiiple Israel, 1898. 
 Renan, History of the People of Israel, 1896. 
 Riggs, History of the Jeivish People in the Maccabean and Roman Periods,'^ 
 
 1905. 
 Sayce, Early History of the Hcbreivs, 1897. 
 Sellin, Serubbabel, 1898; Studien zur Entstehungsgeschichte der jiidischen 
 
 Gemeinde, I, II, 1901. 
 Smend, Lehrbuch der alttestamentlichen Religionsgeschichte, 1893. 
 Smith, H. P., Old Testament History, 1903. 
 Smith, W. R., Prophets of Israel,^ 1895. 
 Stade, Geschichte des Volkes Israel, I, II, 1888. 
 Streane, The Age of the Maccabees, 1898. 
 Wade, Old Testament History, 1903. 
 Wellhausen, Israelitische und jUdische Geschichte,^ 1904. 
 
 Sketch of the History of Israel and Judah, 1891. 
 WiHrich, Juden und Griechen vor der Makkabdischen Erhebung, 1895. 
 Winckler, Geschichte Israels in Einzeldarstellung, 1900. 
 Alttestamentliche Untersuchungen, 1892. 
 
 CONTEMPORARY SEMITIC HISTORY 
 
 Archinard, Israel et ses viosins asiatiques, 1890. 
 Ball, Light from the East, 1899. 
 Buhl, Geschichte der Edomiter, 1893. 
 Droysen, History of Hellenism, 1895. 
 Duncker, Geschichte des Alterthums,^ 1880. 
 
 486
 
 conte:\iporary Semitic history 
 
 Goodspeed, Ilistorij of iJic liahjiJonians and Assyrians, 1902. 
 
 Hogarth, Autliuritij and ArcJucologj/, 1899. 
 
 Hommel, Crcscfii elite Babijloniens und Assijriens, 1885. 
 
 Jeremias, Das A.T. im Lichte des alten Orients, 1904. 
 
 Judeich, Klcinasiatischc Studien, 189'-2. 
 
 Justi, Geschichtc des altcn Pcrsicns, 187G. 
 
 von Landau, Die Phonizien in Das Orient II, 4, 1901. 
 
 jMahaffy, The Empire of the Ptolemies, 1895. 
 
 '" Historij of Fjjjipt Under the Ptolemaic Dynasty, 1899. 
 
 Maspero, The Stru(j(/le of tlie Nations, 1897. 
 The Passing of the Nations, 1900. 
 McCurdy, History, Prophecy, and the Monuments, I-III, 1884-1901. 
 Meyer, Geschichtc des aJten Aegyptens. 1887. 
 
 Miiller, W. jNI., Asien und Europa nach altiigyptischen Denhndlern, 1893, 
 Niese, Geschichte der griechischen und makedonischen Staaten, 1893, 
 Pietschmann, Geschichte der Phimizier, 1889. 
 Rogers. History of Babylonia and Assyria, II, 1900. 
 Schrader, Cuneiform Inscriptions and the O.T., 1885-88. 
 " Die Keilinschriften und das A.T.,^ 1901. 
 Keilinschriftliche BihUothck, I-\T, 1891. 
 Tiele, Ba})ylonisch-assyrische Geschichte, 188G-88. 
 Weber, SanJicrib Konig von Assyrien, 705-681, 1905. 
 Winckler, Untersuchungen zur altorientalischen Geschichte, 1889. 
 " Die Volker Vorderasiens, 1899. 
 
 GEOGRAPHY, CHRONOLOGY, AND ARCHEOLOGY 
 
 Benzinger, Hehrdische Archuologie, 1894. 
 
 Buhl, Geographic des alten Palustina, 1896. 
 
 Cooke, Palestine in Geography and History, I, II, 1901. 
 
 DoUer, Geographische und cthnographische Studien zum III. und IV. Buche 
 
 der Konige, 1904. 
 Ililprecht, Explorations in Bible Lands During the I9th Century, 1903. 
 
 " Recent Research in Bible Lands, 1896. 
 Kamphausen, Die Chronologic der hebrdischen Konige, 1883. 
 Lederer, Die biblische Zcilrechnung, 1888. 
 
 Mahler, Biblische Chronologic xind Zeitrechnung der Hehrdcr, 1887. 
 Neteler, Zusammenhang der A.T. Zeitrechnung mit der Ptofangcschichte, 
 
 1879. 
 Niebuhr, LJie Chronologie der Geschichte Israels, Aegyptiens, Babijloniens 
 
 und As.<iyriens, 1896. 
 Nowack, Lehrbuch der hebrdischen Archdologic, I. II, 1894. 
 Perrot and Chipiez, History of Art in AntiipiUy, 1884-92. 
 Smith, Historical G(0(fraphy of the Holy Larul,^ 1899. 
 Stewart, The Land of' Israel,^ 1900. 
 Taaks, Alttestamentliche Chronologie , 1904. 
 
 487
 
 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 
 
 COMMENTARIES AND TEXTUAL NOTES 
 
 Samuel 
 
 Budde, Die Biicher Samuel, 1902. 
 
 " Sacred Books of the Old Testament, The Books of Samuel, 1894. 
 Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text of the Books of Samuel, 1890. 
 Kirkpatrick, Books of Samuel in the Cambridge Bible. 
 Klostermann, Die Biicher Samudis .und der Konige, 1887. 
 Lohr, Samuel in Kurzgefasstes exegetisches Handbuch, 1898. 
 Nestle, Marginalien und Materi alien, 1893. 
 Nowack, Richter, Ruth und Biicher Samuelis, 1902. 
 Smith, Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Books of Samuel, 
 
 1899. 
 Wellhausen, Text der Biicher Samuelis, 1871. 
 
 Kings 
 
 Benzinger, Die Biicher der Konige, 1899. 
 
 Burney, Notes on the Hebrew Text of the Books of Kings, 1903. 
 
 Holzhey, Das Buch der Konige, 1899. 
 
 Kittel, Die Biicher der Konige, 1900. 
 
 Chronicles 
 
 Barnes, An Ajjparatus Criticus to Chronicles in the Peshitta Version, 
 
 1897. 
 Benzinger, Die Biicher der Chroyiik, 1901. 
 Bertheau, Die Biicher der Chronik,^ 1873. 
 Kittel, Die Biicher der Chronik, 1902. 
 
 " Sacred Books of the Old Testament, Chronicles, 1895. 
 
 Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther 
 
 Adeney, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, 1893. 
 
 Berth olet, Esra und Nehemia, 1902. 
 
 Guthe, Sacred Books of the Old Testament, Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, 
 
 1896. 
 Ryle, Ezra and Nehemiah in the Cambridge Bible, 1893. 
 Siegfried, Esra, Nehemia und Esther, 1901. 
 
 I and II Maccabees 
 
 Bissell, Apocrypha in Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical Commentary, 
 
 1880. 
 Grimm, Die Biicher der Maccabder, 1858. 
 Kautzsch, Apokryphen und Pseudepigraphen des A.T., 1900. 
 
 DETAILED REFERENCES 
 
 The following detailed references have been prepared especially to meet 
 the needs of college and Bible classes and private readers. They do not 
 aim to give a complete bibliography, but rather to call attention to the more 
 
 488
 
 SOURCES FOR THE HISTORY 
 
 important books and sections dealing with a given topic. Naturally, greater 
 prominence is given to works written in English, but significant chapters 
 or articles in French or German sources are also referred to and are dis- 
 tuiguished by printing the names of the authors in italics, and at the end 
 of each section. To economize space the standard works are represented 
 simply by the names of their authors, followed by the initial letters of the 
 chief words in the titles. Whenever there is any doubt regarding the mean- 
 ing of the abbreviations, they can be readily identified by referring to the 
 Selected BihUograpJuj (pp. 485-88), where each book will be found class- 
 ified alphabetically according to the name of its author. In the classification 
 of the references the order of the main divisions of this volume has been 
 followed so that they can be used, in connection with the text, as guides in 
 further systematic, comprehensive study. 
 
 The History of Israel's Historical and Biographical Narratives 
 
 General Introduction: Encyc. Bib. II, 2075-79,2082-89; Driver LOT 
 172-200, 516-54; McFadyen MPPH 3-5; Kittel, Die Anfcingc der heb. 
 Gesckichtsschreibung im A.T. 
 
 Sources of Samuel-Kings: Hastings DB IV, 382-91; 11,856-70; Encyc. 
 Bib. IV, 4270-80; II, 2664-71; Driver LOT 172-203; Kautzsch LOT 18-45; 
 Smith S XI-XXIX; Cook in AJSL, 1900, pp. 145-77; McFadyen INIPPH 
 139-43, 177-85; Wellhausen CHHB 238-302; Budde S IX-XXV, BUS 
 167-276; Nowack BS XIV-XXIX; Benzinger BK VIII-XV; Kittel BK. 
 
 Chronicler's Ecclesiastical History: Hastings DB I, 389-97; Encyc. 
 Bib. I, 763-72; Driver LOT 516-40; Kittel, Chronicles, in SBOT; Barnes 
 in AJSL Oct., 1896; Wellhausen PHI 171-227; McFadyen MPPH 270-85; 
 Kautzsch LOT 121-28; Benzinger BC; Kittel BC III-XVI. 
 
 Sources of Ezra-Nehemiah : Hastings DB I, 821-24; Encvc. Bib. II, 
 1478-87; McFadyen MPPH 314-18; Driver LOT 540-55; Guthe EN in 
 SBOT; Torrey CHV^EN; BeHholet EN XI-XVI; Kosters WI; Meyer EJ; 
 MarquaH FIJA 28-66; Geissler LBE; Siegfried ENE 1-14. 
 
 Records of the Maccabean Age: Hastings HI, 187-92; Encyc. Bib. 
 Ill, 2857-79; Niese KBM; Geiger, Ursc/irift Machabee; Willrich, Judaica; 
 Destinon, Die Quellen des Josephus; Schlatter, Jason von Gyrene. 
 
 Recovery of the Original Text: Hastings IV, 726-32; Encyc. Bib. IV, 
 5011-31; Buhl, Canon and Text of the O.T., §§ 23-99; Driver *HTBS IX- 
 LXXXIV; Kenyon, Our Bible and the Ancient MSS.; Weir, A Short History 
 of the Hebrew Text of the O.T.; Abbot, Original Texts of the O. ami N. 
 T., 1-63; FieM. Oriqen's Hexapla; Bleek EAT, §§ 275-98; Noicack BS 
 V-XIV; Bcrthold EXK XV1-X\II. 
 
 ' The United Monarchy 
 
 Work of Samuel and (he Establishment of the Kingdom: Ilasfings 
 
 DB IV. 412-15; I\', .381 82; Knrvc. IJih. 1\', 4.302-15; Siiiitli O'I'ii 106-22; 
 Kent UilP I, 11.3-22; Kitkl 1111 11, 94-104; Smith IM 4.3, 47, 85,389-91; 
 Stade GVI I, 207-23. 
 
 489
 
 DETAILED REFERENCES 
 
 Decline of Saul and the Rise of David: Hastings DB II, 511; I, 560-66; 
 Encyc. Bib. I, 1019-25; II, 2231-32; Smith OTH 122-33; Kent HHP I, 123- 
 35; Kittel HH II, 104-19; Stade GVI 1, 223-57. 
 
 David's Reign over Judah and over all Israel: Hastings DB I, 566- 
 73; Encyc. Bib. I, 1025-35; II, 2232-35; Smith OTH 133-55; Cornill HPI 
 71-85; Wellhausen PHI 261-72; Kent HHP I, 136-68; Kittel HH II, 120- 
 52; Stade GVI I, 223-98; Dieulajoij RD. 
 
 Solomon's Policy and Reign: Hastings DB IV, 559-69; Encyc. Bib. 
 II, 2235-37; IV, 4680-89; Kent HHP I, 169-88; Kittel HH II, 153-69; Cor- 
 nill HPI 86-95; Bacon in New World, June, 1898, pp. 212 ff.; Smith OTH 
 156-63, 168-76; Stade GVI I, 299-311. 
 
 Temple of Solomon: Hastings DB IV, 695-703; Encyc. Bib. IV, 4923-40; 
 Kent HHP I, 189-95; Smith OTH 163-67; Robins, The Temple of Solo- 
 mon; Guinard, Motiographie du I'emple de Solomon; Perrot-Chijnez, Le Temple 
 de Jerusalem; Stade GVI I, 311-43; Nowack HA II, 25-50; Benzinger HA 
 383-8. 
 
 History of Northern Israel 
 
 From Jeroboam to Omri: Hastings DB II, 516-17; Encvc. Bib. II, 2239- 
 40; Smith OTH 177-82; Kent HHP II, 16-34; Kittel HH 11, 207-36; Stade 
 GVI I, 344-57. 
 
 Rule of the House of Omri: Hastings DB I, 51-53; III, 620-21; Encyc. 
 Bib. I, 89-93; Smith OTH 183-88, 194-97; Kent HHP II, 37-43; Kittel HH 
 II, 240-43; Stade GVI I, 519-24, 527-41. 
 
 Work of Elijah: Hastings DB I, 687-91; Encyc. Bib. II, 1270-74; Kent 
 HHP II, 46-54; Smith OTH 188-93; Harper AH XXIV-XLI; Kittel 
 HH II, 213-66, 275, 279; Cornill, Prophets of Israel, 29-36; Wellhausen IIIJ 
 64-69; Gunkel in Preuss. Jahrbuch, 1898, pp. 18-51; Stade GVI 1, 524-27; 
 Smend LAR 152-59; Clemen, Die Wunderherichte iiber Elia und Elisa. 
 
 Popular Traditions about Elisha and his Real Work : Hastings DB 
 
 I, 693-96; Encyc. Bib. II, 1275-78; Harper AH XLI-LVIII; Smend LAR 
 158-59; Benzinger BK 129-30. 
 
 Rule of the House of Jehu: Hastings DB II, 564-66; Encyc. Bib. II, 
 2241-43; Smith OTH 198-218; Kent HHP II, 61-97; Kittel HH II, 237- 
 78; Stade GVI I, 541-85. 
 
 Fall of the Northern Kingdom: Smith OTH 219-37; Kent HHP II, 
 98-110; Kittel HH II, 284-98; Stade GVI I, 598-601. 
 
 History of Judah 
 
 From Rehohoam to Ahaz: Kent HHP II, 35-37, 43-45, 120-26; Kittel 
 HH II, 243-46, 279-84; Stade GVI I, 345-49, 566-70. 
 
 Assyrian Period: From Ahaz to Josiah: Hastings DB I, 53-54; Encyc. . 
 Bib. II, 2243-46; Smith OTH 238-59; Kent HHP II, 127-64; Kittel HH 
 
 II, 286-321; Stade GVI I, 585-641. 
 
 The Great Reformation of Josiah: Hastings DB I, 596-603; Smith 
 OTH 260-74; Kent HHP II, 172-82; Kittel HH II, 321-25; Stade GVI I, 
 641-71; Smend LAR QW-ll. 
 
 490
 
 HISTORY OF JUDAH 
 
 Babylonian Period: Encvc. Bib. II, 2246-48; Smith OTH 275-87; Kent 
 HHP II. 183-89; Kittel HHII, 32J-31; Stade GVI I, G71-81. 
 
 Worli of Jeremiah: Hastings DB II, 569-73; Encyc. Bib. II, 2366-71; 
 Smith OTH 287-94; Kent HHP II, 190-94; Cheyne, Jeremiah: his Life and 
 Times; Stade GVI I, 681-94; Smend LAR 252-62. 
 
 Last Days of the Judean State: Hastings DB II, 513; Smith OTH 
 294-300; Kent HHP II, 194-204; Kittel HH 11, 332-33; Stade GVI I, 694- 
 703. 
 
 The Babylonian Exile: Smith OTH 301-43; Kent HJP 1-98; Stade 
 GVI II, 3-94; Picpenbring HPI 438-510. 
 
 The Re-establishment of the Jewish Community in Palestine 
 
 Rebuilding of the Temple: Hastings II, 514-15; Encyc. Bib. II, 2252-54; 
 TV, 4941-43; Smith OTH 344-81; Kent HJP 120-52; Stade GVI II, 98- 
 128; Piepenbring PIPI 511-28; Rosters WI 29-42; Sellin, Senibbabel. 
 
 Work of \ehemiah: Hastings II, 515; Encyc. Bib. II, 2254-55; III, 
 3380-87; Smith OTH 382-89; Kent HJP 153-94; Cheyne JUL 36-54, 64-69; 
 Stade GVI II, 162-89; Rosters WI 42-73. 
 
 Work of Ezra and the Institution of the Priestly Law: Encyc. Bib. 
 II, 1473-77; Encvc. Bib. II, 2255-59; Smith OTH 389-412; Kent HJP 195- 
 223; Chevne JRL 54-64; Stade GVI II, 139-60; Rosters WI 51-54; Piepen- 
 bring HPI 536-44. 
 
 The ]\L\ccabean Struggle 
 
 Causes of the Maecabean Struggle: Encyc. Bib. II, 2259-62; Smith 
 OTH 413-49; Kent HJP 284-330; Riggs HJP 14-28; Streane AM 14-34; 
 Mathews HNTT 1-22; Schurer JPTC^II, 186-212; CornUl HPI 175-93; 
 Stade GVI II, 311-22, 334-35. 
 
 Struggle for Religious Freedom: Encyc. Bib. II, 2263-64; III, 28-50- 
 56; Smith OTH 449-60; Riggs HJP 29-44; Streane AM 35-45; Mathews 
 HN^rr 23-35; CorniU HPI 193-97; Schurer JFIC II, 213-24; Stade GVI 
 II, 335-43. 
 
 Attainment of Political Independence under Jonathan: Encyc. Bib. 
 II, 2264-65; Smith OTH 460-68; Riggs HJP 45-71; Streane AM 46-50; 
 Mathews HNTT 36-46; Cornill HPI 193-205; Schurer JPTC II, 225-57; 
 Stade GVI II, 343, 359-75. 
 
 Simon's Prosperous Reign: Smith OTH 468-78; Riggs HJP 87-96; 
 Streane AM 50-53; Mathews HNTT 47-58; Cornill IlPI 205-208; Schurer 
 JPTC II, 258-71; Stade GVI II, 375-85. 
 
 The Life of the Jews of the Dispersion 
 
 The Story of Esther: Hastings DB I, 773-76; V, 91-109; Encyc. Bib. 
 II, 1400-1407; Toy in New World, VI, 130-45; Rigg^i HJP 72-86; Schurer 
 JFPC II, 225-30. 
 
 491
 
 HEBREW CHRONOLOGY 
 
 II 
 
 HEBREW CHRONOLOGY 
 
 Living, as they did, a quiet agricultural life with no very close relations 
 to the great nations of antiquity, it is not strange that the Hebrews developed 
 no chronological system until the Assyrian and Babylonian periods. Even 
 as late as the days of Amos his sermons are simply dated two years before 
 the earthquake. No attempt is made in the early sources quoted in Samuel- 
 Kings to fix the absolute dates of events. The result is that all Hebrew chro- 
 nology before the division of the empire at the death of Solomon is only 
 conjectural. 
 
 Early Egyptian chronology is also still equally indeterminate; but fort- 
 unately the Babylonians and Assyrians, with their commercial and literary 
 habits and their close connection with universal history, early developed 
 an exact system. The Assyrians gave the name of some high official to 
 each succeeding year. Copies of these eponym lists have been discovered 
 which not only confirm each other, but also connect with the so-called Canon 
 of Ptolemy, which gives the names of the Babylonian, Assyrian, and Per- 
 sian kings from Nabonassar to Alexander the Great, with records of im- 
 portant eclipses, which make it possible to fix absolutely the given dates 
 and to relate them to later chronological systems. These Assyrian eponym 
 lists begin with the year 893 B.C. The dating of important events in the 
 Assyrian historical inscriptions and chronicles completes the chronological 
 equipment so that, when the Hebrew and Assyrian histories touch each other, 
 a fixed date is at once established. These dates are: 854 B.C., the battle of 
 Karkar at which Ahab fought against Shalmaneser II; 842, when Jehu paid 
 tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III to establish himself on the throne of Israel; 
 738, when Menahem paid tribute to /Assyria; 734, when Pekah was con- 
 quered and put to death by the order of Tiglath-Pileser and Hoshea was 
 placed in his stead on the throne of Northern Israel, while Ahaz of Judah 
 paid tribute to the Assyrian king; 7!22-7''21, when Samaria was conquered by 
 Sargon; and 701, when Sennacherib first invaded Judah. 
 
 The determination of Old Testament chronology is also facilitated by 
 the fact that, after the division, the histories of the two Hebrew kingdoms 
 touched each other at several important points, as, for example, when Jehu, 
 about 842 B.C., slew both Jehoram of Northern Israel and Ahaziah of Judah. 
 Even with these fixed dates, the details of Hebrew chronology would be 
 exceedingly uncertain had not the state annals or tradition preserved the 
 approximate lengths of the reigns of the different kings. Some such data 
 were evidently before the late prophetic editor of I and II Kgs., who has 
 developed the elaborate chronological system which runs through these 
 books. INIinor errors have crept in, but they can in most cases be corrected 
 with reasonable assurance. Thus the total number of years assigned to the 
 kings of Israel between the death of Solomon and Jehu's revolution in 842 B.C. 
 is ninety-eight, and to those of Judah during the same period but ninety-five. 
 
 492
 
 CHRONOLOGY OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOMS 
 
 The error is evidently in the fourteen years assigned to Ahab's sons Ahaziah 
 and Jehoram, whose reigns were hniited by the years 854 B.C., when their 
 father fought at Karkar, and the revolution of Jehu in 84*^. The error 
 probably arose because Ahaziah suffered the accident recorded in II Kgs. 1^ 
 soon after his accession, and his reign and that of his brother Jehoram as 
 regent were both counted, although they were contemporary. 
 
 Also in the period between 842 and 722 b.c, the additional twenty-two 
 years assigned to the kings of Israel can be traced by the aid of the Assyrian 
 chronology; for in the reckoning of II Kgs. forty-one years are assigned 
 to the kings who reigned between 738 B.C., when ^lenahem paid tribute to 
 Assyria to establish himself on the throne, and 722-721, when Samaria fell. 
 Evidently the round numbers — ten years attributed to Menahem and the 
 twenty to Pekah — should each be read two, for the aniuils of Tiglath-Pileser 
 III (13, lines 26-29) record the murder of Pekah in 734 B.C. A few similar errors 
 have crept into the chronology of Judah for the corresponding period. The 
 reigns from Joash to Ahaz yield a total excess of thirty-six years. This is 
 probably in part due to the double counting of the reign of Uzziah and the 
 co-regency of his son Jotham. 
 
 Side by side with the length of the reigns, the late prophetic editor of 
 Kings has worked out an elaborate system of synchronisms between the 
 reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah. His model was probably the 
 similar synchronistic chronicles among the Assyrians and Babylonians, 
 illustrated by the Babylonian Chronicle. Cf. Appendix X. There is no 
 evidence, however, that in preparing this system he had any other data than 
 the length of the reigns of the kings. A critical examination of it shows 
 that, in working it out, he fell into many errors. Instead of furnishing 
 additional help in solving the intricate problems of Hebrew chronology, it 
 appears to have influenced the synchronist to introduce certain of the errors 
 which have been noted in connection with the total length of the different 
 reigns. The most striking illustration of the contradictions into which his 
 complex system led him is found in II Kgs. 18. In 13 the simple, definite 
 statement is made that Sennacherib's invasion (of 701 B.C.) fell in the four- 
 teenth year of Hezekiah, which fixes his accession in 715 B.C. This date 
 was probably derived from the early annals; but in ^ the editor states that 
 Hezekiah began to reign in the third year of Hoshea king of Israel and, on 
 the basis of this reckoning, adds in l" that Samaria was captured in the 
 ninth year of Hoshea and in the sixth of Hezekiah, which would make the 
 date of Hezekiah's accession 727-726 B.C. The recently discovered additional 
 evidence that Sennacherib a .second time, about (iOO, invaded Judah, while 
 Hezekiah was still reigning (cf. Appendix IX), still further establishes 715 B.C. 
 as the date of his accession ; for it alone satisfies the older testimony (II Kgs. 
 18-') that he reigned twenty-nine years (715-29 = G8G). This would make 
 the reign of Manasseh forty-five instead of the exceedingly improbable 
 fifty-five years, which the editor, or the mistaken reading of a later scribe, 
 assigns to liiin (II Kgs. 21'). 
 
 By the close of the seventh ceniiiry n.c. the H<'brews were so strongly in- 
 fluenced by the .sj»irit and chronologic;al methods of the Assyrians and Baby- 
 
 493
 
 HEBREW CHRONOLOGY 
 
 lonians that from this tune the Old Testament historians carefully date 
 all important events. During the Babylonian and Persian periods it is 
 indicated by the year of the reigning king of Babylonia or Persia. In 
 I Maccabees the prevailing era began in the spring of 312 B.C. when the 
 Seleucid Empire was established at Antioch. 
 
 Ill 
 
 SHISHAK'S LIST OF PALESTINIAN CITIES 
 
 On the southern wall of the great temple at Karnak is found a huge relief 
 representing Shishak smiting his conquered foes. Behind him are the 
 names of a hundred and fifty-six districts and towns which he claims to 
 have conquered. A majority of them may be identified as towns of Pal- 
 estine. Many of them are small and unimportant, but the list as a whole 
 leaves little doubt that the rule of Egypt was acknowledged practically 
 throughout Palestine, while the army of Shishak was present to maintain 
 the ancient title. The list begins with the border city of Gaza, which repre- 
 sented the Philistine cities, and then gives many towns of Northern Israel, 
 among which are Rabbith, Taanach, Shimem, Rehob, Hapharaim, Gibeon, 
 Bethhoron, Aijalon, Megiddo, and east of the Jordan, Mahanaim and 
 probably Penuel. There is no evidence that these towns were besieged 
 and captured. Probably they simply paid tribute. It is also significant 
 that most of them are situated either on the broad plain of Esdraelon or 
 along certain of the great highways of Palestine, and therefore most ex- 
 posed to attack. The list of Judean towns is longer and the details suggest 
 that the conquest was more complete. Keilah, Socho, Ezem, Arad, and 
 Beth-anoth are among those mentioned. The mutilation of the inscription 
 at the point where it would naturally be expected explains the absence of 
 the name of Jerusalem. 
 
 IV 
 
 THE MOABITE STONE 
 
 In 1868 a German missionary, F. A. Klein, discovered at the ruins of an- 
 cient Dibon a monument reared about 825 B.C. by Mesha king of Moab to 
 commemorate his victories over the Israelites. It was of black basalt, about 
 three and one-half feet high and two feet in breadth and thickness, -with 
 rounded top. Fortunately in 1869 M. Clermont-Ganneau, by the use of a 
 paper squeeze, secured a rough impression of it, for soon after, as a result 
 of the eager efforts of several competing collectors to gain possession of it, 
 the stone was broken in pieces by the native Arabs in the hope of receiv- 
 ing more profit from the fragments. Twenty of these were soon recovered 
 and put together by the aid of the earlier impression which had been care- 
 fully preserved. It is now deposited in the Louvre at Paris, and with the 
 exception of a few words can be completely read. The letters and lan- 
 
 494
 
 THE MOABITE STONE 
 
 guage are practically identical with those found on the earliest Hebrew 
 inscriptions. The monument itself commemorates the partial reconquest 
 of Moab by Omri and the steps by which Mesha later gradually threw off 
 the Israelitish yoke. The religious ideas and the language are closely par- 
 allel to those found in the earhest Old Testament narratives. 
 
 MESHA'S INSCRIPTION 
 
 I am INIesha son of Chemosh . . . king of Moab the Dibonite. My father Intro- 
 was king over Moalj thirty years, and I became king after my father. And I made <l"c- 
 this high place for Chemosh in Karhoh ( ?y in [gratitude for]'' deliverance, because **"" 
 he saved me from all the assailants (.''), and because he made me see my desire upon 
 all those who hated me. 
 
 Omri was king of Israel and he afflicted Moab many days, because Chemosh was Omri's 
 angry with his land. And his son succeeded him; and he also said, ' I will afflict Moab.' rule 
 In my days he said . . . V)ut I saw my desire upon him and upon his house, ^l^l\y 
 and Israel perished forever. Omi'i, however, took possession of the land of IMedeba;'' 
 and he occupied it during his own days and half of his sons' days,** forty years; but 
 Chemosh restored it in my days. 
 
 And I fortified Baal-meon; and I made in it the reservoir ;■■ and I fortified Kir- Mesha's 
 jathaim.' And the men of Gad had occupied the land of Ataroth from of old; and '=""" 
 the king of Israel built Ataroth for hmiself. And I fought against the city and took an(Tile- 
 it. And I slew all the people; the city [became] a gazing-stock to Chemosh and to struc- 
 Moab. And from there I l)rought the altar-hearth of Dodoh ( ?) ;« and I dragged it *'"" o^ 
 before Chemosh in Kerioth; and I caused the men of Sharon {?)^ to dwell there, and [.^{1' 
 also the men of . . . 
 
 Then Chemosh said to me, 'Go and take Nebo against Israel. So I went by night Con- 
 and fought against it from the break of dawn until noon, and I took it and slew tliem quest 
 all — seven thousand men and women and . . . female slaves — for I had de- Nebo 
 voted it to Ashtar-chemosh. And I took from there the altar-hearths ( ?) of Jehovah, 
 and dragged them before Chemosh. And the king of Israel had fortified Jahaz,' Capt- 
 and occupied it while he fought against me. But Chemosh drove him out before me. V"'?"^ 
 I took two hundred men of Moab — all its poverty-stricken citizens — and I brought ''^'^'^ 
 them into Jahaz and took possession of it, to add it to Dibon. 
 
 I fortified Ivarhoh (?), the wall of the forests'' and the wall of the acropolis.' And Build- 
 I built its gates; and I built the royal palace; and I constructed the sluices of the reser- i"f ^f 
 voir (?) for the water in the midst of the city. And there was no cistern in the midst 
 of tlie city, in Karhoh ( ?) ; so 1 said to the people, ' Each of you make a cistern in his 
 own house.' And I cut the trenches ( ?)"" for Karhoh ( ?) with the help of the prisoners 
 of Israel. 
 
 I built Aroer, and I made the highway by the Arnon. I rebuilt Beth-bamoth, for Be- 
 it had Ix'en overthrown. I rebuilt Bezer, for it was in ruins, [with the help of] fifty l"'j''': 
 men of Dihoii, for all Dibon was obedient. And I reigned over a hundred [chiefs] (?) (,t^,Ji. 
 
 ill the cities wjiicli 1 added to the land. And I built Medeba and Beth-diblathaim Moub- 
 
 ite 
 
 cities 
 
 " It is not certain what vowels are to be supplied with the consonants in the text. It is 
 probable, however, that the place was identical with the Karhu mentioned in the Karnaklist 
 of Haincses II. 
 
 '' J'iilinK the lacuna according to the implication of the context. 
 
 «(;f. Num. 21-<", Josh. V.i'', Is. 15-'. In the text the form is, Mehedcha. 
 
 <i Omri reigned eighteen and, according to Kgs., his sons thirty-six years. The round 
 number, Jortu, represents the thirty-six of the Heb. 
 
 ■•• Or, pit. 
 
 'Cf. Gen. 14'', .Jer. 48'. 
 
 « Heb., David. Amariia letters, Dudu. It is probably the name of a local god. 
 
 •' Cf. I Chr. .5'". 
 
 i Cf. for the siinilar Heb. customs, Num. 2V- 3, .losh, 6"-'«, Dt. 2*', 3". 
 
 iff. Num. 21-'', Dt. 2^'-', Is. \ry\ .Jer. 48'-''. 
 
 ^ Perhaps the wall that ran beside the royal park. 
 
 1 Heb.. opiirl or hill. Cf. Is. :52", Neh. 3". 
 
 """ Lit., the cuUiinja of some kind. 
 
 495
 
 MESHA'S INSCRIPTION 
 
 and Beth-baal-meon. And there I placed [those who bred the small] (?) sheep of 
 
 the land. 
 Sue- And at Horonaim" dwelt the" . . . And Chemosh said to me, Go down, fight 
 
 cessful against Horonaim; so I went down [and fought against the city many days, and] 
 the^ '"^ Chemosh [restored it]p in my days . . . 
 south 
 
 THE WESTERN CAMPAIGNS OF SHALINIANESER II 
 
 During a long reign of twenty -five years (88j-860 b.c), Ashurna9irpal III 
 succeeded in thoroughly organizing the Assyrian Empire, and by a series 
 of energetic campaigns in the East, North, and West made it the dominant 
 world-power of the age. For a century his descendants held the throne of 
 Assyria and maintained its supremacy. His son Shalmaneser II reigned 
 for thirty-five years, and by the same unwearied military activity still further 
 expanded the boundaries of the large empire. One monument alone records 
 thirty-three different campaigns. In 854 B.C. he first turned his armies 
 toward Southern Syria, and from this time fon\-ard for the next two cen- 
 turies Assyria became the most important factor in Hebrew history. In 
 succession the three leading states of Syria, Hamath, Damascus, and Israel 
 contested its irresistible advance and, weakened by their wars with each 
 other, fell in turn a prey to its conquering armies. 
 
 At first they laid aside their antagonisms and fought together at Karkar 
 on the Orontes, twenty miles north of Hamath, an important battle in which 
 Shalmaneser claims the victory, but the fact that he soon retired without 
 imposing tribute on the local kingdoms indicates that the result was far from 
 decisive. His record of the campaign is found on a monolith now in the 
 British Museum. It is dated in the sixth year of his reign. After telling of 
 his march to the Euphrates and of the tribute presented by the north Syrian 
 states, he adds (lines 9"b-i02).a 
 
 From Halman (Aleppo) I departed; to the two cities of Irhulini of Hamath I drew 
 near. Adinnu, IMashga, Argana, his royal cities I conquered. His spoil, his goods, 
 the possessions of his palaces I brought forth ; to his palaces I set fire. From Argana 
 I departed; to Karkar I drew near. Karkar his royal city, I laid waste, I destroyed, 
 I burned with fire, 1,'200 chariots, 1,200 horsemen, 20,000 men of Dad'idri (Hada- 
 dezer, Ben-hadad II), of Damascus; 700 chariots, 700 horsemen, 10,000 soldiers of 
 Irhulini of Hamath; 2,000 chariots, 10,000 soldiers of Ahab of Israel; 500 soldiers of 
 Guai,"^ 10,000 soldiers of the land of Mu^ri; 10 chariots, 10,000 soldiers of the land of 
 Irkanat; 200 soldiers of ]\Iatinu-baal, (]\Iattan-baal) of Arvad; 200 soldiers of the land 
 of Usanata; 30 chariots, 10,000 soldiers of Adnu-bali (Adoni-baal) of Shiana; 1,000 
 camels of Gindibu of Arba . . . 1,000 soldiers of the Ammonite, Basa son of 
 Ruhubi (Rehob); these twelve kings he (i.e., Irkanat) took to help him; for battle 
 and combat they advanced against me. With the exalted succor, which Asshur, the 
 
 " Cf. Is. 155, Jer. 48^-5. 
 
 " The end of the inscription is badly mutilated. 
 
 p Restoring the text in accordance with the preceding idioms, supported by two surv-iving 
 letters. 
 
 ^ Cf. Schrader KB Pt. I, Vol. I, 177-7.5; Burney NHTBK 375-77; Hogarth AA 93. 
 
 •> This is probably identical with the Kue mentioned in I Kgs. ICF^, together with Mu9ri. 
 It included the plain of Cilicia. 
 
 496
 
 CAINIPAIGNS OF SHALMANESER II 
 
 lord, rendered, with the migiity power, which Nergal, wlio marched before me, be- 
 stowed, 1 fought with them; from Karkar toCiilzan, I effected their defeat; 14,000 of 
 their troops with weapons I slew; Hke Adar (the storm-god) I rained down a flood 
 upon them; I scattered their corpses; the surface of the wiklerness (?) 1 fihed with 
 their many troops, with weapons I caused tlieir blood to flow. ... I took pos- 
 session of the River Orontes. In the midst of that battle 1 captured their chariots, 
 their horsemen and their teams. 
 
 During the lifetime of Ahab, Israel escaped Assyrian attack, but in 849 B.C. 
 and aeain in 846 Shalmaneser II fought other indecisive battles with the 
 Syrian allies. By 843-842, however, Ben-hadad II of Damascus had been 
 murdered bv Hazael and the house of Omri had been overturned by Jehu. 
 In his annals (lines 9~b-99b) and more fully in another inscription from 
 Kalah (Unes ^"26) Shalmaneser describes his campaign in 842 B.C. against 
 Hazael : 
 
 In the eighteenth year of my reign for the sixteenth time I crossed the Euphrates. 
 Hazael of Damascus trusted in the multitude of his troops and assembled his in- 
 numerable hosts. Senir,<* a mountain peak in the neighborhood of Lebanon, he made 
 his stronghold. I fought with him, I accomplished his defeat, 6,000 of his soldiers 
 I slew with weapons; 1,121 of his chariots, 470 of his horsemen, together with his stores, 
 I took from him. To save his life, he retreated. I pursued after hun. In Damascus, 
 his royal city, I besieged him; his plantations I cut down. To the mountains of 
 Hauran I went; innumerable cities I destroyed, I laid waste, I burned with fire. Their 
 prisoners without number I carried off. I went as far as the mountains of the range 
 Bali-rasi (Ba<^l-rosh)^ a promontory, I went; there I set up my royal image. At that 
 time I received the tribute of the Tyrians, of the Sidonians, and of Jehu the son of 
 Omri. 
 
 On the famous black obelisk containing the annals of Shalmaneser II's 
 reign the tribute which Jehu probably paid to secure the support of Assyria 
 is again mentioned: 
 
 Tribute of Jehu son of Omri: silver, gold, a golden bowl, golden goblets, a golden 
 ladle, golden pitchers, bars of lead, a staff for the hand of the king, spear-shafts, I 
 received from him. 
 
 Again in 839 B.C. he laid his heavy hand on Syria. The record is found 
 in the annals: 
 
 In the twenty-first year of my reign I crossed the Euphrates for the twenty-first 
 time. I went against the cities of Hazael of Damascus. Four of his cities I captured. 
 I received the tribute of the Tyrians, the Sidonians, and the inhabitants of Byblus. 
 
 VI 
 
 TIGLATH-PILESER IIl'S CONQUESTS IN PALESTINE 
 
 For nearly half a century after the death of Shalmaneser II there were 
 no important Assyrian campaigns in Palestine. In his review of his reign, 
 Adadnirari (812-783 h* ,) r laims to have subjected to his yoke, Tyre, Sidon, 
 
 "Or, dammed. The meaninpr of the Assyrian idiom is doulitful 
 
 <1 f'f Dt 3'', where Senir is iflentified as the Amorite name of Mt. ITermon. 
 
 • Probably the famous headland at the mouth of the Dog Kiver north of Beirut. 
 
 4-97
 
 TIGLATH-PILESER Ill's CONQUESTS IN PALESTINE 
 
 the land of Omri, Edom, and Philistia, and to have imposed upon these 
 states the payment of tribute. About 800 B.C. he also forced Damascus to 
 submit. The other peoples probably anticipated attack by at once acknowl- 
 edging the rule of Assyria. 
 
 During the first half of the eighth century b.c. the Assyrian kings were 
 again occupied with problems nearer home. The accession of Tiglath- 
 Pileser III (known in the biblical records by his private name Phul or Pul), 
 in 745 inaugurated a new era in the history of Assyrian conquests in Pal- 
 estine. The years 742-740 were spent in subjugating Arpad in the north. 
 The conquest of Hamath, which soon followed, is also recorded: 
 
 Nineteen districts of the city of Hamath, together with their surrounding towns, 
 which are by the western sea, which in their faithlessness had revolted to Azriyau 
 (Azariah), I annexed to the territory of Assyria. My officers as prefects I appointed 
 over them. 
 
 The Azariah mentioned is probably the Azariah or Uzziah of Judah, 
 whose energetic policy and ability may well explain why he had become the 
 head of the coalition that opposed the Assyrian advance. The name, how- 
 ever, is a common one, so that the identification is not absolutely assured. 
 In 738 B.C. Rezon of Damascus, Menahem of Israel and the other Pales- 
 tinian rulers paid homage to the Assyrian king, but there is no evidence 
 that he invaded their territory. 
 
 The great Palestinian campaign of Tiglath-Pileser was in 734 b.c. Its 
 effect upon the politics of Israel and Judah is fully recorded in the Old 
 Testament. Unfortunately the Assyrian record is badly mutilated. The 
 fragments, however, are important. They state that certain cities and 
 territory in the northern part of Israel were annexed to Assyria, and add: 
 
 Hanno of Gaza, who fled before my arms, escaped to the land of Egypt. Gaza 
 [I captured] ; his possessions and his gods I carried away, and I set up my royal statue. 
 . . . The land of the house of Omri ... the whole of its iiihabitants, to- 
 gether with their possessions I deported to Assyria. Pekah, their king, I slew. Hoshea 
 I appointed over them. Ten [talents of gold, 1,000 talents of silver] . . . I re- 
 ceived from them. 
 
 Another inscription contains the additional information that, together 
 with certain northern princes, ' Sanibu of Amnion, Salaman of Moab, 
 Mitinti of Ashkelon, Jauhazi (Ahaz) of Judah, Kaushmelek of Edom and 
 Hanno of Gaza,' in 728 B.C. paid tribute to Tiglath-Pileser. Meantime, 
 after a siege of two years, Damascus was finally conquered and its power 
 broken so that the rule of Assyria was established along the eastern Medi- 
 terranean. 
 
 VII 
 
 SARGON'S CAPTURE OF SAISIARIA 
 
 In 724 B.C. Hoshea, encouraged by the king of Egypt, revolted against 
 Assyria. Shalmaneser IV died before the three years' siege of Samaria 
 was ended, so that the record of its capture in 722-721 is found at the begui- 
 ning of the annals of his successor, Sargon: 
 
 498
 
 SARGON'S CAPTURE OF SAMARIA 
 
 In the beginning of my reign and in the first year of my rule ... I liesieged 
 Samaria and conquered it." ... Twenty-seven thousand, two hundred and ninety 
 of its inhabitants I carried into captivity; fifty of their cliariots I carried away from 
 there [to add to] my royal fighting force.'' ... I restored it again and gave it 
 more population than formerly. I settled there people from the lands tiiat I had 
 conquered. I appointed my officers as governors over them. Tribute and customs, 
 like tliose of the .Assyrians, I imposed upon them. 
 
 VIII 
 
 THE SILOAM INSCRIPTION 
 
 In 1880 on an artificial limestone tablet, cut in the rock at the entrance 
 of the Pool of Siloam on the south of the temple-hill at Jerusalem, a brief 
 inscription was accidentally discovered which is known as the Siloam in- 
 scrijition. The Pool of Siloam is the eastern outlet of a rock-cut channel 
 about 1,750 feet in length, which runs from the Virgin's Fount on the eastern 
 side of the southern extension of the temple-hill, under this ridge of rock, 
 to the T>Topcpon Valley on the west. Cf. maps opp. pp. 193 and 349. The 
 inscription records the construction of this remarkable piece of ancient 
 engineering, which is generally attributed to the reign of Ilezekiah. Cf. 
 II Kgs. 2020, ij ciir 3230 ^^^1 to the Moabite stone it is the oldest- in- 
 scription in the language and writing of the Hebrews thus far discovered with 
 the possible exception of a few words on seals and jars. It is published in 
 Cooke, North-semitic Inscri ptions, pp. 15-17; Lidzbarski, Nordsemit epigr., p. 
 439 ; Driver, Notes on the Books of Samuel, p. 16. The translation is as follows : 
 
 [Behold] the piercing through! And this was the manner of the piercing through, 
 while yet [the stone-cutters were lifting up] the pick, each toward his fellow, and 
 while yet there were three cubits to be [cut tlirough, there was hearil] the voice of each 
 calling to his fellow, for there was a fissure {.'') m the rock on the right hand. . . . 
 And on the day of the piercing through, the stone-cutters (lit., hewers) each smote, 
 so as to meet his fellow, pick against pick. And the water flowed from the source 
 to the pool, 1,200 cubits; and the height of the rock above the stone-cutters was one 
 hundred cubits. 
 
 Detailed explorations of the tunnel by Warren and Conder have revealed 
 the two shafts which penetrate the rock from either side and nearly meet 
 in the centre. The slight variation in direction is corrected by a connecting 
 shaft precisely as described by the inscription. The water also still flows 
 through it, as it did in early times, from the perennial spring outside the 
 walls to a point inside the ancient city. 
 
 IX 
 
 SENNACHERIB'S INVASIONS OF JUDAH 
 
 In 711 B.C. Judah was partially involved in the rebellion of the Philistine 
 city of Ashdod against Assyria. Sargon also mentions Moab and Kdom 
 as parties in the rebellion. The judgment, however, fell chiefly upon Ashdod 
 
 • Three lines are lackinK at this point. 
 
 *> A parallel version states, / allowed the rest of them to retain their posaeaaiona. 
 
 499
 
 SENNACHERIB'S INVASIONS OF JUDAH 
 
 and Judah's submission was accepted. But the spirit of revolt continued 
 to smoulder in Judah and blazed into a flame in 705 B.C. when Sargon died 
 and was succeeded by his son Sennacherib. For the first three years he 
 was occupied in Babylon and the East. Under the leadership of Sidon in 
 the north and Askelon and Ekron in the south, most of the states of Pales- 
 tine were bound together in a coalition against Assyria. Egypt also sup- 
 ported the rebels, and in Judah the Egyptian party gained the ascendancy, 
 notwithstanding the impassioned protests of Isaiah. Cf. Vol. Ill in loco. 
 Two well-preserved duplicate versions of Sennacherib's account of his 
 early campaign in 701 b.c. are preserved in the British Museum. The 
 references to Judah are found in the Taylor Cylinder, Col. II, 34-III, 41. 
 The king first tells of the subjugation of the northern coast towns, Sidon, 
 Zarepta, Achzib, and Accho. Menahem of Samsimuruna, Tubalu of Sidon, 
 Abdiliti of Arvad, Urumilki of Gebal, Mitinti of Ashdod, Buduilu of Ammon, 
 Chemoshnadab of Moab, Malikram of Edom brought him tribute and took 
 the oath of fealty. The rebellious king of Askelon, Zedek, was carried 
 away captive, together with his family and retainers, to Assyria, and Shar- 
 ruludari son of Rukibti, the former king, was placed over the people of 
 Askelon. The narrative adds: 
 
 Defeat In the course of my campaign, Beth-dagon, Joppa, Bene-barak and Azuru, the 
 of the cities of Zedek, which had not quickly submitted to my rule, I besieged, conquered, 
 ites^aml carried off their spoil. The leaders, nobles, and people of Ekron, who had cast Padi 
 their (their king by virtue of oath and covenant with Assyria) into iron chains, and had 
 ^-JJjes at delivered him to Hezekiah of Judah, who had imprisoned him in darkness — their 
 iih'^ heart trembled. They smumoned the kings of Egypt, the archers, the chariots, the 
 65-83) horses of the king of Miluhhi, forces innmnerable, and they came to their aid. 
 Before Eltekeh they drew up in battle array against me; they raised their weapons. 
 In reliance upon Asshur, my lord, I fought with them and effected their defeat. The 
 commander of the chariots and the sons of the king of Egypt, together with the com- 
 mander of the chariots of the king of Miluhhi I myself took alive as prisoners in the 
 midst of the battle. Eletkeh and Timnath I attacked, conquered, and carried off 
 their spoil. 
 Their I advanced upon Ekron, and the chief officers, the magistrates, who had offended, 
 
 punish- I slew, and on stakes about the city I impaled their corpses. I coimted as prisoners 
 amfthe ^he inhabitants of the town who had done evil and mischief. To the rest of them, 
 rein- who had not practised wickedness and misdeeds, who had not shared in their crime, 
 state- I proclaimed amnesty. I brought Padi their king from Jerusalem and installed him 
 Pa/u " o'^ the throne of his sovereignty over them. The tribute of my sovereignty I imposed 
 (III, upon him. 
 
 1-1 la) 13 ^t Hezekiah of Judah who had not submitted to my yoke, forty-six of his fortified 
 Con- towns, together with the innimierable fortresses and small towns in their neighborhood, 
 quest with assault and battering-rams and approach of siege-engines, with the attack of 
 cities^ infantry, of mines ... I besieged and captured. Two hundred thousand, one 
 of Ju- hundred and fifty persons, young and old, male and female, horses, mules, asses, camels, 
 f|^h oxen and sheep, without number, from their midst I brought out and counted them 
 
 lib- ^^ spoil. 
 
 20a) I shut him up like a bird in a cage in the midst of Jerusalem, his royal city. I 
 
 Siege of erected fortifications against him and those coming forth from the gates of his city I 
 Jerusa- turned back. His cities which I had plimdered I cut off from his domain, and gave 
 (in, them to Mitinti king of Ashdod, to Padi king of Ekron, and to Zilbil king of Gaza 
 20b- and I diminished his territory. To the former payment of their yearly tribute, the 
 33) tribute of subjection to my sovereignty I added and laid it upon them. The terror 
 
 of the glory of my lordship overwhelmed Hezekiah himself, and the Arabians and 
 
 500
 
 THE CAMPAIGN OF 701 B.C. 
 
 his trusted soldiers, ^\llo^n he had introduced for the defence of Jerusalem, his royal 
 city, laid down their arms. 
 
 Together with thirty talents of gold and eight huiulrwl talents of silver, I caused Spoil 
 to be brought after me to Nineveh, my royal city, precious stones, sparkling . . . ^^'^ 
 stones, great lapislazuli stones, couches of ivory, thrones of state of elephant skins tjvgg 
 and ivory, . . . wood, whatever there was, an enormous treasure, and his daugh- from 
 ters, the women of his jxilace, his male and female servants (?); and for the payment Jerusa- 
 of tribute and the rendering of homage he despatched his envoy. (HI 
 
 34-41) 
 
 The event here recorded is evidently the same as tlie one referred to in 
 II Kgs. IS^"^"^*^. The exact historical background of the narratives in 
 18^"-2037 is not so clear. They are usually assigned to the days imme- 
 diately following Hezekiah's surrender, on the assumption tliat Sennacherib, 
 while at Lachish and before departing for Egypt, ilemanded the uncon- 
 ditional surrender of Jerusalem. But the implication of IS^'^'i*^, as well as 
 of Sennacherib's inscription, is that Hezekiah had already yielded every- 
 thinsr. The reference in 19'^*^' ^" to the murder of Sennacherib connects 
 the preceding events, not with the beginning of his reign in 701, but with 
 its close twenty years later. Furthermore Tirhakah, whose expedition is 
 mentioned in 19" "9, does not appear to have become master of Egypt until 
 about 691 B.C. A fragmentarv text recently discovered bv the French 
 Assyriologist P. V. Scheil is claimed to furnish direct proof of a long- 
 suspected western campaign of Sennacherib between 691 and 689 B.C. (Cf. O. 
 Weber, Sanherih in Das Orient, 3, 1905.) From this and the statement in 
 Esarhaddon's inscription that Sennacherib captured Adumu, an Arabian 
 fortress, it would appear reasonably certain that during the last decade 
 of his reign he made a serious endeavor to bring into complete subjection 
 the rebellious states along the eastern ^lediterranean, including the neigh- 
 boring Arabian tribes, as a preliminary to the conquest of Egypt. It is also 
 significant that the Egyptian tradition regarding his invasion, which is re- 
 counted by Herodotus, styles him, the king of the Arabians and the Assi/rian-s. 
 The invaders are also called, the Arabian host. This would confirm the in- 
 ference drawn from tlie inscriptions that the conquest of northern Arabia 
 immediately preceded the invasion of Egypt. Naturally Sennacherib would 
 be desirous of having Jerusalem com[)lctely in his control, and yet would 
 be loath to take the time re<iuired for its caj)ture by siege. The situation 
 meets fully the conditions implied by the narratives in II Kgs. 18i'-19-^''. 
 
 The absence of detailed As.syrian records of this cainf)aign may well be 
 due to the disastrous outcome. Herodotus states that while the Egyptian 
 army lay at Pelusium on the borders of Egypt opj^osite the invading host, 
 
 there came in the night a mulliliule of field mice, wliic-h devoured all the f|uivers and 
 l)ow-strings of the enemy and ate the tliongs by which tliey managed their siiields. 
 Ne.vt morning they commenced their fliglit, and great multitudes fell, as tliey had 
 no arms with wliich to defend themselves. There stands to-day in the temi)le of 
 Vulcan a stone st^itue of Setlios, with a mouse in his hand, and an inscription to this 
 effect, Look on me and learn to reverence the gtxls. 
 
 When it is recallccl that the mouse was the ancient svinbol of |)cstilence 
 (cf. § 4), it is clear Ihat the Egy|)tian tradition and ihe lldirew narratives in 
 
 .'■)() 1
 
 SENNACHEIB'S INVASION OF JUDAH 
 
 I Kgs. 1935 both reflect the same story. Both suggest that on the borders c 
 Egypt, the home of contagions, the Assyrian army was overtaken by a virulent 
 plague which forced them to retreat, and that the unexpected deliverance 
 was attributed by Hebrews and Egyptians alike to divine interposition. 
 On the other hand, the Babylonian Chronicle indicates that a rebellion in 
 Babylon made Sennacherib's presence in the East about 690 B.C. absolutely 
 necessary, and in this fact is doubtless one, if not the chief reason, for his 
 sudden abandonment of the Egj^Dtian campaign. These conclusions remove 
 the many difficulties connected with the earlier dating of the incidents re- 
 corded in II Kgs. 181^-19^'^ and accord with the oldest chronological data. 
 Cf. Appendix II. For recent discussions of these problems, cf. Nagel, Zug 
 des Sanherib gecjen Jerusalem, 1903; PraSek, Sanherib's Feldzug gegen Juda, 
 1903; Weber, Sanherib Konig von Assyrien, 705-681, 1905. 
 
 THE BABYLONIAN CHRONICLE (B) 
 
 Fragments of four distinct Babylonian chronicles have been discovered, 
 which record in brief annalistic form the events of as many different periods. 
 The longest and best preserved is the Babylonian Chronicle (B), a tablet 
 containing one hundred and seventy-six lines, and dated in the twenty- 
 second year of Darius I. It chronicles the chief events of the history of 
 Babylonia and Assyria from the days of Tiglath-Pileser III through the reign 
 of Ashurbanipal, covering the period of over a century when Assyrian history 
 touched that of the Hebrews most closely. Not only is this chronicle of great 
 historical value, but it also suggests the nature of the state annals and the later 
 royal chronicles of Israel and Judali from which the oldest data in the books 
 of Kings were ultimately derived. The formulas of the editor of these 
 books are also closely parallel to those in the Babylonian Chronicle. 
 
 The Babylonian Chronicle (B) has been published by Pinches in the 
 Proceedings of the Societi/ of Biblical Archoeologij, VI, pp. 193 ff.; by Winckler, 
 in Zeitschrift filr Assijriologie, II, pp. 148 ff., and in Schrader KB, II, pp. 
 274-85. The following extracts from the most important section illustrate 
 the general character of this remarkable document: 
 
 In the third year of Nabonassar king of Babylon, Tiglath-Pileser (III) mounted 
 the throne. In the same year he invaded Babylonia and plundered the cities Rapiku 
 and Hamranu. He carried away the gods of Shapazza. 
 
 During the reign of Nabonassar, Borsippa rebelled against Babylon. (The sue- Events 
 cessful battle which Nabonassar fought against Borsippa is not mentioned.)" In '^ 
 
 ^ Nabonassar's fifth year Ummanigash mounted the throne of Elam. In the fourteenth ntSsai-'s 
 
 (1, 1-5) year Nabonassar fell sick and died in his palace. Nabonassar reigned fourteen years in reign 
 
 Babylon. Nadinu his son mounted the throne of Babylon. (1,6-13] 
 
 " This is e^^dently a note from the editor of the Chronicle calHng attention to an important 
 fact which the earlier source or annals, from which he compiled his data, failed to mention. 
 This reference is exceedingly suggestive. 
 
 502
 
 THE BABYLONIAN CHRONICLE 
 
 Reign In the second year Nadinii was killed in a rebellion. Two years Nadinu reigned 
 ^"w '^f" in Babylon. Shuinukin, a governor of a province, who led the revolt, moinited the 
 ffon'of" throne. Two months, . . . days Shuinukin reigned in Uabylon. Ukinzir . . . 
 Nadinu seized the throne. 
 
 (!■ ^ In the third year of Ukinzir, Tiglath-Pileser invaded IJabylonia, laid waste Bit- 
 
 -pj"**^ Amidvani, and took Ukinzir captive. Three years Ukinzir reigned in Babylonia. 
 latli- Tiglath-Pileser mounted the throne of Babylon. In the second year of Tiglath- 
 Pileser Pileser, in tlie month Tebet he died. . . . years Tiglath-l'iU'ser reigned in Bab- 
 rule of yhmia and Assyria, two years he reigned as the estidjlished ruler of Babylonia. 
 Bab- On the twenty-fiftli of Tebet, Shahnaneser mounted the throne of Assyria. The Reign 
 
 ylonia city of Shabarain was destroyed. In the fifth year of his reign, in the month Tebet, °| 
 jg'_9gs Shahnaneser died. Shalmaneser reigned five years in Babylonia and AssjTia. maii- 
 
 Reign ^" *^^^ twenty-second of Tebet, Sargon mounted the throne of Assyria. In Nisan eser 
 ofSar- Merodach-Baladan mounted the throne of Balnlonia. In the second year of Mero- J,^_^J>\ 
 gon and dach-Baladan, Ummanigash king of Elam in the province of Durilu fought a successful "' 
 Elam- '•'ittle against Sargon king of Assyria. He devastated Assyria and slew many. IMero- 
 ite in- dach-Baladan and his people, who had come to the help of the king of Elam, did 
 vasion not arrive in time for the battle and foHowed (?) after him. 
 
 31-37) ^'^ *''^ twelfth year of ]\Ierodach-Baladan, Sargon invaded Babylonia and fought a Sar- 
 successful battle against Merodach-Baladan. Merodach-Baladan at the head of his goii's 
 nobles fled to Elam. Merodach-Baladan reigned twelve years in Elam. Sargon quest 
 seated himself on the throne of Elam. In his thirteenth year Sargon seized the land of 
 of Bel and conquered Dur-Jakin. In his fourteenth year the king remained in the ^\^^'. 
 land [of Babylon]. In the fifteenth year, on the twenty-second of Tcshrit, the gods ^nd 
 of the coast-lands came back to their place . . . was established in Assyria. In i'.lam 
 his sLxteenth vear Sargon marched to Tabal. (11,1-9) 
 
 't>^ 
 
 Lines 10-18 are lackintij, and 19-23 appear to have recorded another 
 attempt of Merodach-Baladan to seize the throne of Babylonia while Sen- 
 nacherib was king of Assyria. Finally, Belibni became king of Babylonia. 
 The narrative is again well preserved: 
 
 In the first year of Belibni, Sennacherib destroyed Hirimma and Hararatu. In Sen- 
 the third year of Belibni Sennacherib invaded Babylonia and plundered Babylonia, nache- 
 Belibni and his noljles were carried away to Assyria. Three years Belibni had ruled recon- 
 in Babylon. Sennacherib placed Ashur-nadin-shum his son on the throne in Babylon, quest 
 
 of 
 
 Bab- 
 ^ ylonia 
 
 XI 24-31) 
 
 CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTS OF THE CONQUEST OF 
 
 BABYLON BY CYRUS 
 
 The late biblical narrative regarding the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus 
 is richly supplemented by contemporary inscriptions. The brief historical 
 record is found in the chronicle of Nabuna'id and Cyrus or, as it is sometimes 
 called, the Annalistlc Tablet of Cyrus. It chjsely resembles the Babylonian 
 Chronicle. The first part is broken. The chief recorde<l event of the 
 sixth year of Nabuna'id, the last king of Babylonia, was the revolt of the 
 troops of .V.styages, who delivered their king into llic hands of Cyrus the king 
 of .\rislian. Cyrus then attacked and captunvl l-lcbatana, thus laying the 
 foundations of the Persian empire. In llie ninth year, it is recorded that 
 Cyrus king of Persia collected his troops and crossed the Tigris below Arbela, 
 
 50. '3
 
 CONQUEST OF BABYLON BY CYRUS 
 
 conquering certain adjacent territory. Under the seventeenth year (538 B.C.) 
 is found the account of the final conquest of Babylon : 
 
 Con- In the month Tammiiz (.June- July), after Cyrus had fought a successful battle 
 
 ^y^^^ against the troops of Babylonia at the city of Opis, on the banlvs of the River ZalzaHat, 
 North- he subdued the inhabitants of Babylonia. Whenever they gathered together, he 
 ern smote them. On the fourteenth of the month, Sippar'' was taken without a battle. 
 
 lOTiT Nabuna'id fled. 
 
 (II, On the sixteenth, Gubaru, governor of the country of Gutium, and the soldiers of Cap- 
 
 12-15a) Cyrus entered Babylon without a battle. Nabuna'id, since he had been shut in, t^re of 
 was taken prisoner in Babylon. To the end of the month Tammuz, the shield-bearers lon'^' 
 of the country of Gutium guarded the gates of Esagil:'' no one's spear approached (III, 
 Esagil or came within the sanctuaries, nor was any standard brought therein. j5b- 
 
 Occu- On the third day of jMarcheshvan (Oct. -Nov.), Cyrus entered Babylon . . . 
 ^f th*" Peace he established for the city; Cyrus proclaimed peace for all Babylon. Gubaru 
 city by his governor appointed governors in Babylon. From the month Kislev (Nov. -Dec.) 
 Cyrus to the month Adar (Feb.-lVIarch) the gods of the country of Babylonia, whom Na- 
 ^^^C buna'id had brouglit flown to Babylon, returned to their own cities. On the eleventh 
 24a) day of Marcheshvan, during the night, Gubaru made an assault ( ?) and slew the king's 
 son (?). From the twenty-seventh of Adar to the third of Nisan (March- Apr.) there 
 was lamentation in Babylonia: all the people smote their heads. 
 
 Further light is shed upon the manner in which Cyrus became master 
 of Babylonia by the proclamation issued by him to his new subjects soon 
 after he entered Babylon. It also clearly indicates his attitude toward the 
 religions of the conquered peoples, and therefore indirectly illuminates the 
 problems presented by the opening chapters of Ezra. The cylinder on 
 which it is inscribed is badly broken, but most of it can still be deciphered. 
 Omitting the fragments of the opening lines, the decree reads: 
 
 Mar- The daily offerings [Nabuna'id] suspended . . . He established in the city the 
 
 "^"l^^f ^vorship of Marduk the king of the gods . . . On account of their [the Bab- 
 Cyrus ylonians'] complaints, the lord of the gods [Marduk] was very wroth. The gods dwell- 
 to the ing among them left their abodes in anger, because [Nabuna'id] had brought them 
 ^'^°^ to Babylon. Marduk . . . showed compassion. In all lands he looked around 
 Ionia ^iid sought a righteous prince, after his own heart, whom he took by his hand. Cyrus 
 (7-19) king of Anshan he called by name, he proclaimed him by name for the sovereignty 
 of the whole world. He subdued under his feet Kutu (Gutium) and all the Umman- 
 manda,"' the black-headed races which [Marduk] had given into his hands; he cared 
 for them justly and righteously. Marduk, the great lord, beheld with joy the pro- 
 tection (?) of his people, [Cyrus's] beneficent deeds, and his upright heart. To his 
 city Babylon he commanded him to march, and made him take his way to Babylon. 
 Like a friend and a helper he went at his side. His great hosts, whose number like 
 the waters of the river could not be known, with their weapons girded on, advanced 
 beside him. Without fighting or battle, he made him enter Babylon. His own city 
 Babylon he spared distress. Nabuna'id the king who did not fear him, he delivered 
 into the hand [of Cyrus]. All the men of Babylonia, the whole land of Sumer and 
 Akkad, the nobles and the governors, bowed before him and kissed his feet, rejoiced 
 at his dominion; their faces beamed. The lord [Marduk] who by his power makes 
 the dead live, who shows favor at all times of distress and need, graciously approached 
 [Cyrus] and honored his name. 
 
 * A town near the Euphrates northwest of Babylon. 
 
 '' The great temple of Babylon. 
 
 "The northern hordes over which Astyages ruled. 
 
 50-1
 
 PROCLAMATION OF CYRUS 
 
 I am Cyrus, the king, of hosts, the great king, the mighty king, king of Babylon, His 
 king of Sumer and .Ikkad, king of tlie four quarters of the earth, the sou of Cam- titles 
 byses, the great king, king of tlie city of .\nshan, tJie great-grandson of Teispes the ances- 
 great king, king of the city of Anshan, the enduring offspring of royalty, whose reign try 
 Bel and Nebo love, whose dominion tliey desired for the gladness of their hearts. (7O- 
 
 -Vfter I had peacefully entered Babylon, 1 occupied \\ith rt>joicing and festivity K^tib- 
 the king's palace as my royal residence. ^larduk [inclined toward] me tlie open li'sh- 
 hearts of tlie inhabitauLs of Babylon, and daily I revered him. Mv vast army spread "lent of 
 itself out peacefully in Babylon: tlie whole land of Sumer and Akkad I freed from jj^'^'""'^ 
 every oppressor. In Babylon and all its cities I cared \\ell for their inhabitants . . . Baby- 
 Their sighing I stilled, their sorrow 1 relieved. To [do these] acts Marduk the great '^" _ 
 lord gave me command. To me, Cyrus, the king who reveres him, and to Cam- 28a) 
 bj'ses, the son, the offspring of my body, ... to the whole of my army he 
 graciously inclined and in peace kindly . . . 
 
 All the kings who dwell in royal halls, wlio in all tlie world, from the upper [Medi- Resto- 
 terranean] to the lower sea [Persian Gulf], live inland, together with the kings of the r^^tion 
 Amorite laud [Phcrnicia and Phih'stia], the inhabitants of tents, all of tliem brought peoples 
 their rich tribute and in Sluiannabi [a quarter of Babylon] kissed my feet. To [the and 
 cities of Assyria] the gods who abode in them I restored to their place and settled in S'xls of 
 a pennanent abiding place. All their populations I gathered together and restored t<ulieir 
 to their own dwellings. The gods of the land of Sumer and Akkad, whom Nabuna'id. homes 
 to the displeasure of the lord of tlie gods had brought to Babylon, at the command of i^^^~ 
 Mardidv, the great lord, I caused to take up their abode safely in their own shrines ^ 
 in gladness of heart. 
 
 5lay all the gods, whom I restored to their own cities, daily before Bel and Nebo Con- 
 speak of length of days for me! May tliey utter words in my favor and to ^Nlarduk, eluding 
 my lord, may they say: 'Cyrus the king, who revereth tliee, and Cambyses his son (g^^Js) 
 . . . made them all dwell in a quiet habitation.' 
 
 XII 
 
 THE GADATAS INSCRIPTION 
 
 Another interesting contemporary illustration of the attitude of the early 
 Persian kings toward the religions of the peojiles subject to them is found 
 in an inscription of Darius, discovered in 1889 in the province of Magnesia 
 and published in Bulletin de Correspondance Hellenique, XIII, 529: 
 
 The king of kings, Darius the son of Hystaspes, speaks to his servant Gadatas as 
 follows: I hear that you have not conformed in all points to my instructions. To be 
 sure you have taken great troulile to cultivate the land which belongs to me, since 
 you have transplanted in the soil of Asia Minor the plants from the trans-Euphrates 
 province. I praise your foresight, and for this you will have great thanks in the 
 royal court. l{ut on the other hand, because you have annulled my arrangement 
 in regard to the gods, in case 3'ou do not do differently, I will make you feel the auger 
 which you have aroused in me. For you have compelled the gardeners consecrated 
 to .\pollo to pay tril)ute and to work profane ground, thus failing to appreciate the 
 feeling of my ancestors toward the god who said to the Persians: . . . 
 
 Darius here figures as the cliam|)ion of the great god Apollo again.st 
 the excessive zeal of one of his agents in Asia Minor, a certain Gadatas. who 
 hatl evidently compelled those in charge of the gardens connected with a 
 temple f)f .\poll(» to pav tribute. |)n»bal)lv in money, and lo w<u"k in the 
 rorrrr or forced labfir, which all oriental rulers im|)f)sed upon llicir subjects. 
 The inference is that all connected with the temple were free from ta.xalion. 
 
 505
 
 TABLE OF MONTHS 
 
 XIII 
 
 THE HEBREW, BABYLONIAN, AND MACEDONL\.N MONTHS 
 
 The Hebrews, in common with the Canaanites, Babylonians, and Assyr- 
 ians, divided their year into lunar months of about twenty-nine days, twelve 
 hours and forty-four minutes. The names of only four of the early Canaanite 
 months, which the Hebrews adopted and used until the Babylonian exile, 
 have been preserved. Two of them, Ethanim and Bui have also been found 
 on Phoenician inscriptions dating from the fourth century B.C. During the 
 exile the Jews ceased to use the old Canaanite names, and the editors of the 
 books of Kings, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel substituted numerals. From the 
 period of the exile the Jews adopted the Babylonian names. 
 
 The old Hebrew year began about the middle of September, as did the 
 sacred year even in later times; but with the adoption of the Babylonian 
 names for the months, the Babylonian new year, beginning about the middle 
 of March, was also accepted by the Jews in their secular calendar. 
 
 The following table will facilitate the identification of the different months: 
 
 Canaanite 
 
 and Early 
 
 Hebrew 
 
 Exilic 
 Num- 
 ber 
 
 Babylonian 
 and Assyrian 
 
 Jewish 
 
 Macedonian 
 
 Modern 
 Equivalents 
 
 Abib 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 Inter- 
 calary 
 
 Nisannu 
 
 Airu 
 
 Nisan 
 
 Xanthicos 
 
 Artemisos 
 
 Daisios 
 
 March-i\priL 
 April-May. 
 
 May-June. 
 
 June-July. 
 July-Aug. 
 
 Ziv 
 
 Iwar 
 
 
 Sivaiiu or 
 
 Siniannu .... 
 Duzu 
 
 Sivan 
 
 
 Tamniuz 
 
 Panemo.s 
 
 Loos 
 
 
 Abu 
 
 Ab 
 
 
 Ululu 
 
 Elul 
 
 Gorpiaios 
 
 Huperberetaios 
 Dios 
 
 Aug.-Sept. 
 Sept.-Oct. 
 Oct.-Nov. 
 
 Ethaiiim . 
 Bui 
 
 Tashritum 
 
 Arab samna. . . . 
 
 KLslimu 
 
 Tebitu 
 
 Tishri 
 
 Marcheshvan 
 
 Kislev 
 
 Tebeth 
 
 Shebat 
 
 
 Apellaios 
 
 Audunaios 
 
 Peritios 
 
 Dustros 
 
 Nov. -Dec. 
 
 
 Dec. -Jan. 
 
 
 Shabatu 
 
 Addaru 
 
 Arhu mahru sa 
 Addaru 
 
 Jan. -Feb. 
 
 • •.....• . 
 
 Adar 
 
 After Adar or Sec- 
 ond Adar 
 
 Feb.-March, 
 
 
 
 
 
 506
 
 The 
 
 Student's Old Testament 
 
 Logically and Chronologically 
 Arranged and Translated 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES FOSTER KENT, Ph.D. 
 
 WOOLSEY PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE IN YALE UNIVERSITY 
 
 Announcement 
 
 The five essen= >^JHE Old Testament is a library containing 
 tiais for Old Tes= V_^ the writings of Israel's inspired teachers, 
 ^™) A systemat- ^^'^^ lived at periods far removed from each other, 
 ic classification of wrote from widely different points of view, and 
 expressed their thoughts in the language and liter- 
 ar\' forms peculiar to the primitive Semitic East. Their modern 
 readers, however, live in the very different western world. The 
 result is that, while the combination of early songs, prinili ive 
 traditions, ethnological tables, tribal stories, genealogical Hsls, 
 prophetic exhortations, la^vs, judicial precedents, and historical 
 narratives found, for example, in such a book as Exodus, seems 
 perfectly natural to the intuitive Oriental, it is a fertile source of 
 confusion to the logical Occidental. The obvious solution of the 
 difficult)' is to be found in systematic classification. This work 
 was begun by the Greek translators of the Old Testament, to 
 whom is chiefly due the approximately logical arrangement of 
 the books in the English Bible. The confusion may be still fur- 
 ther eliminated b}-- grouping together those writings which have 
 the same general theme, aim, and literary form, and then by re- 
 arranging them within each group in the approximate order in 
 which they were written. 
 
 Where there are different versions of the same 
 
 (a) A compara- . , , 
 
 tive presentation narrative or where two or more have been com- 
 of its original ijJned together— as is often the case in the first 
 
 sources • • • 
 
 twelve books of the Old Testament— it is impor- 
 tant that the originally distinct rersions be printed side by side,
 
 THE STUDENT'S OLD TESTAMENT 
 
 as in a harmony, that they may be studied compaiatively and as 
 independent literary units. 
 
 The third essential is a clear, vivid, dignified 
 *\\i' ^^' translation, which will represent not merely the 
 words but also the ideas, the spirit, and the 
 beauty of the original, and which will put the reader, unac- 
 quainted with Hebrew, in possession of the latest contributions 
 of philology, exegesis, and theology. 
 
 The fourth is a clear literary analysis, which will 
 liter- 
 ary analysis 
 
 (4 ear i er- j^^i^gii^pQggjjjie j-^adily to trace the logical thought 
 
 of a story, law, sermon, or poem, and to note the 
 relation of the different parts to each other and to the whole. 
 
 /e> III „• *j Finally concise, lucid notes are demanded, which 
 
 (S) Illuminating -/ ' ' 
 
 introductions and will at once prcscut the historical background 
 00 -no es. ^^^ ^^^ critical, geographical, and archaeological 
 
 data required to illuminate the obscurities of the text, without 
 distracting attention from its beauty and thought. 
 
 . . . , These five absolute essentials the Students' Old 
 
 Aims and plan 
 
 of the Student's Testament aims to supply in the fullest measure 
 es amen . ^^^^j -^ ^j^^ most direct and usable form. The gen- 
 eral plan is unique in its simplicity and economy of space. By 
 combining a lucid, scholarly translation, a logical and chrono- 
 logical classification, and a critical and a literary analysis of the 
 text with brief introductions and notes at the foot of the page, 
 the reader is at once placed in command of the practical results 
 of modern biblical research, many of which are otherwise found 
 only in cumbersome technical works, intelligible only to the 
 specialist. 
 
 The sane, careful scholarship and the reverent 
 Its origin. . . . - , , . , 
 
 constructive spirit oi the author are already 
 
 known to a wide circle of Bible students through his History of 
 the Hebrew People and his vcltjmes in the Messages of the Bible. 
 The present extensive work is the result of years of preparation, 
 in which he has also been abls to profit by the generous sugges- 
 tions and criticisms of a large number of biblical scholars and
 
 THE STUDENT'S OLD TESTAMENT 
 
 practical teachers. The whole has been prepared to meet not 
 theoretical but practical needs and has been tested at each point 
 in university and Bible classes. 
 
 The work embodies the positive conclusions of 
 Its point of view ^|^^ many hundreds of earnest critical scholars, 
 
 and method. -^ 
 
 who have during the past two centuries been 
 grappling with the intricate problems of the Old Testament. For 
 the first time in its history the various versions of its more im- 
 portant stories and historical records are printed throughout in 
 parallel columns so that they can be readily studied in approxi- 
 mately their original form. In the introductions and foot-notes 
 the biblical data upon which these results are based are cogentl)^ 
 presented so that the ordinary Bible reader can i-eadily under- 
 stand and estimate their significance. Where the positions are 
 estabhshed the fact is indicated, and where there is still uncer- 
 tainty this is also frankly stated. When at times the author's 
 conclusions differ from those of the majority of scholars the 
 reasons for the departure are fully outlined. 
 
 To the ordinary conservative biblical student. 
 
 Its pract ca -^yho rejects or views with alarm the critical posi- 
 value. -" '■ 
 
 tions of modern Old Testament teachers, an op- 
 portunity is offered, for the first time, of ascertaining just what 
 those positions are and the chief reasons therefor. To many it 
 will be a genuine relief to find that the foundations of Christian 
 faith, instead of being destroyed, arc simply being laid on a 
 deeper and broader historical basis, and that the newer methods 
 of interpretation are supremely helpful in gaining a true knowl- 
 edge of the eternal messages of the Bible. To the rapidh"- increas- 
 ing body of progressive Bible readers, who accept the principles 
 and in general appreciate the practical value of critical biblical 
 research, this clear, definite presentation of its more important 
 fruits cannot fail to be most welcome. It furnishes to the his- 
 torian the data for the easy reconstruction of biblical history, 
 to the literary student the basis for a new understanding and 
 appreciation of the wonderful literature of the Old Testament, 
 and to the pastor, the Sunday-school teacher, the parent, and 
 the individual reader positive religious facts and teachings, the
 
 THE STUDENT'S OLD TESTAMENT 
 
 want of which is being strongly felt in this age, when destructive 
 conclusions are much in evidence. Above all the Student's Old 
 Testament presents those foundations— laid bare through the 
 untiring labors of generations of Christian scholars and by the 
 faithful application of scientific method — upon which Old Testa- 
 ment interpretation and doctrine promise in the future to rest. 
 
 No effort or expense has been spared to make this work a com- 
 plete manual for class-room stud}^ for reading, and for reference. 
 Each volume is complete in itself, embodying all the cognate Old 
 Testament and apocr^-phal literature in its given field. A detailed 
 table of contents, index, page-headings, and cross-references facil- 
 itate its use by primary as well as advanced readers. 
 
 Each volume is also fully equipped with thoroughly modern 
 topographical and historical maps, which are introduced in con- 
 nection with the literature of each period. Comparative chrono- 
 logical charts make it possible to trace readily the growth and 
 approximate dates of the Old Testament and apocryphal writ- 
 ings in connection with the events and movements which deter- 
 mined their form and which in turn they record. Tables of 
 weights and measures and carefulh' selected and detailed bibli- 
 ographies, introduced in connection with each epoch, supply' both 
 elementary and advanced students with a complete equipment 
 for intelligent reading and fruitful study.
 
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