 6. Chapter 13 of the Antiquities of the Jews, Volume 2. Chapter 13. How David, when he had twice the opportunity of killing Saul, did not kill him, also concerning the death of Samuel and Nabal. About this time it was that David heard how the Philistines had made an inroad into the country of Kela and robbed it. So he offered himself to fight against them if God, when he should be consulted by the prophet, would grant him the victory. And when the prophet said that God gave a signal of victory, he made a sudden onset upon the Philistines with his companions, and he shed a great deal of their blood and carried off their prey and stayed with the inhabitants of Kela till they had securely gathered in their corn and their fruits. However, it was told Saul the king that David was with the men of Kela, for what had been done in the great success that had attended him were not confined among the people where the things were done, but the fame of it went all abroad and came to the hearing of others, and both the fact as it stood and the author of the fact were carried to the king's ears. Then was Saul glad when he heard David was in Kela, and he said, God hath now put him into my hands, since he hath obliged him to come into a city that hath walls and gates and bars. So he commanded all the people suddenly and when they had besieged and taken it to kill David. But when David perceived this and learned of God that if he stayed there the men of Kela would deliver him up to Saul, he took his 400 men and retired into a desert that was over against the city called Angedi, so that when the king heard he was fled away from the men of Kela, he left off his expedition against him. Then David removed thence and came to a certain place called the new place belonging to Ziff, where Jonathan the son of Saul came to him and saluted him and exhorted him to be of good courage and to hope well as to his condition hereafter and not to despond at his present circumstances for that he should be king and have all the forces of the Hebrews under him. He told him that such happiness uses to come with great labor and pains. They also took oaths that they would all their lives long continuing good will and fidelity one to another, and he called God to witness as to what execrations he had made upon himself if he should transgress his covenant and should change to a contrary behavior. So Jonathan left him there, having rendered his cares and fears somewhat lighter and returned home. Now the men of Ziff to gratify Saul informed him that David abode with them and assured him that if he would come to them they would deliver him up for that if the king would seize on the straits of Ziff David would not escape to any other people. So the king commended them and confessed that he had reason to thank them because they had given him information of his enemy and he promised them that it should not be long ere he would require their kindness. He also sent men to seek for David and to search the wilderness wherein he was and he promised that he himself would follow them. Accordingly they went before the king to hunt for and to catch David and used endeavors not only to show their good will to Saul by informing him where his enemy was, but to evidence the same more plainly by delivering him up into his power. But these men failed of those their unjust and wicked desires, who while they underwent no hazard by not discovering such an ambition of revealing this to Saul, yet did they falsely accuse and promise to deliver up a man beloved of God, and one that was unjustly sought out or to be put to death, and one that might otherwise have lain concealed, and this out of flattery, an expectation of gain from the king. For when David was apprised of the malignant intentions of the men of Ziff and the approach of Saul he left the straits of that country and fled to the great rock that was in the wilderness of Maon. Hereupon Saul made haste to pursue him thither, for as he was marching he learned that David was gone away from the straits of Ziff, and Saul removed to the other side of the rock. But the report that the Philistines had made an incursion into the country of the Hebrews called Saul another way from the pursuit of David when he was ready to be caught, for he returned back again to oppose those Philistines who were naturally their enemies as judging it more necessary to avenge himself of them than to take a great deal of pains to catch an enemy of his own, and to overlook the ravage that was made in the land. And by this means David unexpectedly escaped out of the danger he was in and came to the straits of Engeri, and when Saul had driven the Philistines out of the land there came some messengers who told him that David abode within the bounds of Engeri. So he took three thousand chosen men that were armed and made haste to him, and when he was not far from those places he saw a deep and hollow cave by the wayside. It was open to a great length and breadth, and there it was that David with his four hundred men were concealed. When therefore he had occasion to ease nature he entered into it by himself alone, and being seen by one of David's companions, and he that saw him saying to him that he had now by God's providence an opportunity of avenging himself of his adversary, and advising him to cut off his head and so deliver himself out of that tedious wandering condition and the distress he was in. He rose up and only cut off the skirt of that garment which Saul had on. But he soon repented of what he had done and said it was not right to kill him that was his master, and one whom God had thought worthy of the kingdom, for that although he were wickedly disposed towards us, yet it does not behoove me to be so disposed towards him. But when Saul had left the cave David came near and cried out aloud and desired Saul to hear him. Whereupon the king turned his face back and David according to custom fell down on his face before the king and bowed to him and said, O king thou oddest not to hearken to wicked men, nor to such as forge calamities, nor to gratify them so far as to believe what they say, nor to entertain suspicions of such as are your best friends, but to judge of the dispositions of all men by their actions. For calamity deludes men, but men's own actions are a clear demonstration of their kindness. Words indeed in their own nature may be either true or false, but men's actions expose their intentions nakedly to our view. By these, therefore, it will be well for thee to believe me as to my regard to thee and to thy house, and not to believe those that frame such accusations against me as never came into my mind, nor are possible to be executed, and to do this further by pursuing after my life, and have no concern either day or night, but how to compass my life and to murder me, which thing I think thou dost unjustly prosecute, for how comes it about that thou hast embraced this false opinion of me as if I had a desire to kill thee? Or how can't thou escape the crime of impiety towards God when thou wishes thou couldst kill and demistine adversary a man who had it in his power this day to avenge himself and to punish thee, but would not do it? Nor make use of such an opportunity which if it had fallen out to thee against me, thou hadst not let it slip, for when I cut off the skirt of thy garment I could have done the same to thy head. So he showed him the piece of his garment and thereby made him agree to what he said to be true, and added, I for certain have abstained from taking a just revenge upon thee, yet art thou not ashamed to prosecute me with unjust hatred? May God do justice and determine about each of our dispositions. But Saul was amazed at the strange delivery he had received, and being greatly affected with the moderation in the disposition of the young man, he groaned, and when David had done the same, the king answered that he had the justest occasion to groan, for thou hast been the author of good to me as I have been the author of calamity to thee, and thou hast demonstrated this day that thou possessest the righteousness of the ancients, who determined that men ought to save their enemies, though they caught them in a desert place. I am now persuaded that God reserves the kingdom for thee, and that thou wilt obtain the dominion over all the Hebrews. Give me then assurances upon oath that thou wilt not root out my family, nor out of remembrance of what evil I have done thee, destroy my posterity, but save and preserve my house. So David swear as he desired, and sent back to Saul to his own kingdom, but he and those that were with him went up the Straits of Mastoroth. About this time Samuel the prophet died. He was a man whom the Hebrews honored in an extraordinary degree. For that lamentation which the people made for him, and this during a long time, manifested his virtue and the affection which the people bore for him, as also did the solemnity and concern that appeared about his funeral, and about the complete observation of all his funeral rites. They buried him in his own city of Rama, and wept for him a very great number of days, not looking on it as a sorrow for the death of another man, but as that in which they were every one themselves concerned. He was a righteous man and gentle in his nature, and on that account he was very dear to God. Now he governed and presided over the people alone after the death of Eli the High Priest, twelve years, and eighteen years together with Saul the King. And thus we have finished the history of Samuel. There was a man that was a ziphite of the city of Maon who was rich and had a vast number of cattle, for he fed a flock of three thousand sheep and another flock of a thousand goats. Now David had charged his associates to keep these flocks without hurt and without damage, and to do them no mischief, neither out of covetousness, nor because they were in want, nor because they were in the wilderness and so could not easily be discovered, but to esteem freedom from injustice above all other motives, and to look upon the touching of what belonged to another man as a horrible crime, and contrary to the will of God. These were the instructions he gave, thinking that the favors he granted this man were granted to a good man, and one that deserved to have such care taken of his affairs. This man was Nabal, for that was his name, a harsh man and of a very wicked life, being like a cynic in the course of his behavior, but still had obtained for his wife a woman of a good character, wise and handsome. To this Nabal therefore David sent ten men of his attendants at the time when he sheared his sheep and by them saluted him, and also wished he might do what he now did for many years to come, but desired him to make him a present of what he was able to give him, since he had, to be sure, learned from his shepherds that, we had done them no injury, but had been their guardians a long time together, while we continued in the wilderness, and he assured him he should never repent of giving anything to David. When the messengers had carried this message to Nabal, he accosted them after an inhuman and rough manner, for he asked them who David was, and when he heard that he was the son of Jesse, he said, now is the time that fugitives grow insolent and make a figure and leave their masters. When they told David this he was rough, and commanded four hundred armed men to follow him, and left two hundred to take care of the stuff, for he had already six hundred, and went against Nabal. He also swore that he would that night utterly destroy the whole house and possessions of Nabal. For that he was grieved, not only that he had proved ungrateful to them, without making any return for the humanity they had shown him, but that he had also reproached them and used ill language to them, when he had received no cause of disgust from them. Here, upon one of those that kept the flocks of Nabal, said to his mistress, Nabal's wife, that when David sent to her husband he had received no civil answer at all from him, but that her husband had moreover added very reproachful language, while yet David had taken extraordinary care to keep his flocks from harm, and that what had passed would prove very pernicious to his master. When the servant had said this Abigail, for that was his wife's name, saddled her asses, and loaded them with all sorts of presence, and without telling her husband anything of what she was about, for he was not sensible on account of his drunkenness, she went out to David. She was then met by David as she was descending a hill who was coming against Nabal with four hundred men. When the woman saw David, she leaped down from her ass and fell on her face, and bowed to the ground, and entreated him not to bear in mind the words of Nabal, since he knew that he resembled his name. Now, Nabal in the Hebrew tongue signifies folly, so she made her apology that she did not see the messengers whom he sent. Forgive me therefore, said she, and thank God who hath hindered thee from shedding human blood, for so long as thou keepest thyself innocent, he will avenge thee of wicked men. For what miseries await Nabal, they will fall upon the heads of thine enemies. Be thou gracious to me, and think me so far worthy as to accept thys presence from me. And out of regard to me, remit that wrath and that anger which thou hast against my husband and his house, for mildness and humanity become thee, especially as thou art to be our king. Accordingly, David accepted her presence and said, Nay, but, O woman, it was no other than God's mercy which brought thee to us today, for otherwise thou had never seen another day. I, having sworn to destroy Nabal's house this very night, and to leave alive not one of you who belonged to a man that was wicked and ungrateful to me and my companions. But now hast thou prevented me and seasonably mollified my anger, as being thyself under the care of God's providence. But as for Nabal, although for thy sake he now escaped punishment, he will not always avoid justice. For his evil conduct on some other occasion will be his ruin. When David had said this he dismissed the woman. But when she came home and found her husband feasting with a great company and oppressed with wine, she said nothing to him then about what had happened. But on the next day when he was sober she told him all the particulars and made his whole body to appear like that of a dead man by her words and by the grief which arose from them. So Nabal survived ten days and no more and then died. And when David heard of this death he said that God had justly avenged him of this man, for that Nabal had died by his own wickedness and had suffered punishment on his account while he had kept his own hands clean. At which time he understood that the wicked are prosecuted by God, that he does not overlook any man but bestows on the good what is suitable to them and flicks a deserved punishment on the wicked. So he sent to Nabal's wife and invited her to come to him to live with him and to be his wife. Whereupon she replied to those that came that she was not worthy to touch his feet. However she came with all her servants and became his wife, having received that honor on account of her wise and righteous course of life. She also obtained the same honor partly on account of her beauty. Now David had a wife before whom he married from the city of Abisar. For as to Michael, the daughter of King Saul who had been David's wife, her father had given her in marriage to Falti, the son of Leish, who was of the city of Gallim. After this came certain of the Zipfites and told Saul that David was come again into their country and if he would afford them his assistance they could catch him. So he came to them with three thousand armed men and upon the approach of night he pitched his camp at a certain place called Hakila. But when David heard that Saul was coming against him he sent spies and bid them let him know to what place of the country Saul was already come. And when they told him that he was at Hakila he concealed his going away from his companions and came to Saul's camp. Having taken with him Abishai his sister Zeruia's son and Ahimelek, the Hittite. Now Saul was asleep and the armed men with Abner their commander lay round about him in a circle. Hereupon David entered into the king's tent but he did neither kill Saul although he knew where he lay by the spear that was stuck down by him nor did he give leave to Abishai who would have killed him and was earnestly bent upon it so to do. For he said it was a horrid crime to kill one that was ordained king by God although he was a wicked man. For that he who gave him the dominion would in time inflict punishment upon him. So he restrained his eagerness but that might appear to have been in his power to have killed him when he refrained from it he took his spear and the cruise of water which stood by Saul as he lay asleep without being perceived by any in the camp who were all asleep and went securely away having performed everything among the king's attendants that the opportunity afforded and his boldness encouraged him to do. So when he had passed over a brook and was gotten up to the top of a hill once he might be sufficiently heard he cried aloud to Saul's soldiers and to abner their commander and awaked them out of their sleep and called both to him and to the people. Here upon the commander heard him and asked who it was that called him to whom David replied it is I the son of Jesse whom you made a vagabond but what is the matter dost thou that art a man of so great dignity and of the first rank in the king's court takes so little care of thy master's body and is sleep of more consequence to thee than his preservation and thy care of him this negligence of yours deserves death and punishment to be inflicted on you who never perceived when a little while ago some of us entered into your camp nay as far as to the king himself and to all the rest of you if thou look for the king's spear in his cruise of water thou wilt learn what a mighty misfortune was ready to overtake you in your very camp without your knowing it now when Saul knew David's voice and understood that when he had him in his power while he was asleep and his guards took no care of him yet did not he kill him but spared him when he might justly have cut him off he said that he owed him thanks for his preservation and exhorted him to be of good courage and not be afraid of suffering any mischief from him anymore and to return to his own home for he was now persuaded that he did not love himself so well as he was loved by him that he had driven away him that could guard him and had given many demonstrations of his goodwill to him that he had forced him to live so long in a state of banishment and in great fears of his life destitute of his friends and his kindred while still he was often saved by him and frequently received his life again when it was evidently in danger of perishing so David bade them send for the spear in the cruise of water and take them back adding this with all that God would be the judge of both their dispositions and of the actions that flowed from the same who knows that then it was this day in my power to have killed the and I abstained from it thus sol having escaped the hands of david twice he went his way to his royal palace in his own city but david was afraid that if he stayed there he should be caught by sol so he thought it better to go up into the land of the philistines and abide there accordingly he came with the six hundred men that were with him to akish the king of gath which was one of their five cities now the king received both him and his men and gave them a place to inhabit him he had with him also his two wives ahinoam and abagail and he dwelt in gath but when sol heard this he took no further care about sending to him or going after him because he had been twice in a manner caught by him while he was himself endeavoring to catch him however david had no mind to continue in the city of gath but desired the king that since he had received him with such humanity that he would grant him another favor and bestow upon him some place of that country for his habitation for he was ashamed by living in the city to be grievous and burdensome to him so akish gave him a certain village called ziklag which placed david and his sons were fond of when he was king and reckoned it to be their peculiar inheritance but about those matters we shall give the reader further information elsewhere now the time that david dwelt in ziklag in the land of the philistines was four months and twenty days and now he privately attacked those gescherites and amalekites that were neighbors to the philistines and laid waste their country and took much prey of their beasts and camels and then returned home but david abstained from the men as fearing they should discover him to king akish yet did he send part of the prey to him as a free gift and when the king inquired whom they had attacked when they brought away the prey he said those that lay to the south of the jews and inhabited in the plain whereby he persuaded akish to approve of what he had done for he hoped that david had fought against his own nation and that now he should have him for his servant all his life long and that he would stay in his country end of book six chapter thirteen recording by nikola k book six chapter fourteen of the antiquities of the jews volume two this is a liverbox recording all liverbox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liverbox.org recording by nikola k the antiquities of the jews volume two by flavius josephus translated by william quiston book six chapter fourteen chapter fourteen now saw upon gods not answering him concerning the fight with the philistines desired a necromantic woman to raise up the soul of samuel to him and how he died with his sons upon the overthrow of the hebrus in battle about the same time the philistines resolved to make war against the israelites and sent to all their confederates that they would go along with them to the war to regan near the city shunim whence they might gather themselves together and suddenly attack the hebrus then did akish the king of gaff desired david to assist them with his armed men against the hebrus this he readily promised and said that the time was now come wherein he might require him for his kindness and hospitality so the king promised to make him the keeper of his body after the victory supposing that the battle with the enemy succeeded to their mind which promise of honor and confidence he made on purpose to increase his zeal for his service now saw the king of the hebrus had cast out at the country the fortune tellers and the necromancers and all such as exercised the like arts accepting the profits but when he heard that the philistines were already come and had pitched their camp near the city shunim situate in the plain he made haste to oppose them with his forces and when he was come to a certain mountain called gilboa he pitched his camp over against the enemy but when he saw the enemy's army he was greatly troubled because it appeared to him to be numerous and superior to his own and he inquired of god by the prophets concerning the battle that he might know beforehand what would be the event of it and when god did not answer him sol was under a still greater dread and his courage fell foreseeing as was but reasonable to suppose that mischief would befall him now god was not there to assist him yet did he bid his servants to inquire out for him some woman that was a necromancer and called up the souls of the dead that so he might know whether his affairs would succeed to his mind for this sort of necromancer women that bring up the souls of the dead do by them foretell future events to such as desire them and one of his servants told him that there was such a woman in the city endor but was known to nobody in the camp hereupon sol put off his royal apparel and took two of those his servants with him whom he knew to be most faithful to him and came to endor to the woman and entreated her to act the part of a fortune teller and to bring up such a soul to him as he should name to her but when the woman opposed his motion and said she did not despise the king who had banished this sort of fortune tellers and that he did not do well himself when she had done him no harm to endeavor to lay a snare for her and to discover that she exercised a forbidden art in order to procure her to be punished he swear that nobody should know what she did and that he would not tell anyone else what she foretold but that she should incur no danger as soon as he had induced her by this oath to fear no harm he bid her bring up to him the soul of Samuel she not knowing who Samuel was called him out of Hades when he appeared and the woman saw one that was venerable and of a divine form she was in disorder and being astonished at the sight she said art not thou king saw for Samuel had informed her who he was when he had owned that to be true and had asked her whence her disorder arose she said that she saw a certain person ascend who in his form was like to a god and when he bid her tell him what he resembled in what habit he appeared and of what age he was she told him he was an old man already and of a glorious personage and had on a sacerdotal mantle so the king discovered by these signs that he was Samuel and he fell down upon the ground and saluted and worshiped him and when the soul of Samuel asked him why he had disturbed him and caused him to be brought up he lamented the necessity he was under for he said that his enemies pressed heavily upon him that he was in distress what to do in his present circumstances that he was forsaken of God and could obtain no prediction of what was coming neither by prophets nor by dreams and that these were the reasons why I have recourse to time who always took great care of me but Samuel seeing that the end of Saul's life was come said it is in vain for thee to desire to learn of me anything future when God hath forsaken thee however hear what I say that David is to be king and to finish this war with good success and thou art to lose thy dominion and thy life because thou didst not obey God in the war with the Amalekites and hast not kept his commandments as I foretold thee while I was alive know therefore that the people shall be made subject to their enemies and that thou with thy sons shall fall in the battle tomorrow and thou shall then be with me in Hades when Saul heard this he could not speak for grief and fell down on the floor whether it were from the sorrow that arose upon what Samuel had said or from his emptiness for he had taken no food the foregoing day nor night he easily fell quite down and when with difficulty he had recovered himself the woman would force him to eat begging this of him as a favor on account of her concern in that dangerous instance of fortune telling which it was not lawful for her to have done because of the fear she was under of the king while she knew not who he was yet did she undertake it and go through with it on which account she entreated him to admit that a table and food might be set before him that he might recover his strength and so get safe to his own camp and when he opposed her motion and entirely rejected it by reason of his anxiety she forced him and at last persuaded him to it now she had one calf that she was very fond of and one that she took a great deal of care of and fed it herself for she was a woman that got her living by the labor of her own hands and had no other possession but that one calf this she killed and made ready its flesh and set it before his servants and himself so Saul came to the camp while it was yet night now it is but just to recommend the generosity of this woman because when the king had forbidden her to use that art once her circumstances were bettered and improved and when she had never seen the king before she still did not remember to his disadvantage that he had condemned her sort of learning and did not refuse him as a stranger and one that she had had no acquaintance with but she had compassion upon him and comforted him and exhorted him to do what he was greatly averse to and offered him the only creature she had as a poor woman and that earnestly and with great humanity while she had no requital made for her kindness nor hunted after any future favor from him for she knew he was to die whereas men are naturally either ambitious to please those that bestow benefits upon them or are very ready to serve those from whom they may receive some advantage it would be well therefore to imitate the example and to do kindnesses to all such as are and want and to think that nothing is better nor more becoming mankind than such a general beneficence nor what will sooner render God favorable and ready to bestow good things upon us and so far may suffice to have spoken concerning this woman but I shall speak further upon another subject which will afford me all opportunity of discoursing on what is for the advantage of cities and people and nations and suited to the taste of good men and will encourage them all in the prosecution of virtue and is capable of showing them the method of acquiring glory and an everlasting fame and of imprinting in the kings of nations and the rulers of cities great inclination and diligence of doing well as also of encouraging them to undergo dangers and to die for their countries and of instructing them how to despise all the most terrible adversities and I have a fair occasion offered me to enter on such a discourse by Saul the king of the Hebrews for although he knew was coming upon him and that he was to die immediately by the prediction of the prophet he did not resolve to fly from death nor so far to indulge the love of life as to betray his own people to the enemy or to bring a disgrace on his royal dignity but exposing himself as well as all his family and children to dangers he thought it a brave thing to fall together with them as he was fighting for his subjects and that it was better his sons should die thus showing their courage than to lead them to their uncertain conduct afterward while instead of succession and posterity they gained commendation and a lasting name such a one alone seems to me to be a just a courageous and a prudent man and when anyone has arrived at these dispositions or shall hereafter arrive at them he is the man that ought to be by all honored with the testimony of a virtuous or courageous man for as to those that go out to war with hopes of success and that they shall return safe supposing they should have performed some glorious action I think those do not do well who call these valiant men as so many historians and other writers who treat to them are want to do although I confess those do justly deserve some commendation also but those only may be styled courageous and bold in great undertakings and despisers of adversities who imitate Saul for as for those that do not know what the event of war will be as to themselves and though they do not faint in it but deliver themselves up to uncertain futurity and are tossed this way and that this is not so very eminent an instance of a generous mind although they happen to perform many great exploits but when men's minds expect no good event but they know beforehand they must die and that they must undergo that death in the battle also after this neither to be affrighted nor to be astonished at the terrible fate that is coming but to go directly upon it when they know it beforehand this it is that I esteem the character of a man truly courageous accordingly this Saul did and thereby demonstrated that all men who desire fame after they are dead are so to act as they may obtain the same this especially concerns kings who ought not to think it enough in their high stations that they are not wicked in the government of their subjects but to be no more than moderately good to them I could say more than this about Saul and his courage the subject affording matter sufficient but that I may not appear to run out improperly in his commendation I return again to that history from which I made this digression now when the Philistines as I said before had pitched their camp and had taken an account of their forces according to their nations and kingdoms and governments King Akish came last of all with his own army after whom came David with his 600 armed men and when the commanders of the Philistines saw him they asked the king whence these Hebrews came and at whose invitation he answered that it was David who was fled away from his master Saul and that he had entertained him when he came to him and that now he was willing to make him this requital for his favors and to avenge himself upon Saul and so was become his confederate the commanders complained of this that he had taken him for a confederate who was an enemy and gave him counsel to send him away lest he should unawares do his friends a great deal of mischief by entertaining him for that he afforded him an opportunity of being reconciled to his master by doing a mischief to our army they thereupon desired him out of a prudent foresight of this to send him away with his 600 armed men to the place he had given him for his habitation for that this was that David whom the virgins celebrated in their hymns as having destroyed many tens thousands of the Philistines when the king of Gath heard this he thought they spake well so he called David and said to him as for myself I can bear witness that thou has shown great diligence and kindness about me and upon that account it was that I took before my confederate however what I have done does not please the commanders of the Philistines go therefore within a day's time to the place I have given thee without suspecting any harm and there keep my country lest any of our enemies should make an incursion upon it which will be one part of that assistance which I expect from thee so David came to Ziklag as the king of Gath bade him but it happened that while he was gone to the assistance of the Philistines the Amalekites had made an incursion and taken Ziklag before and had burnt it and when they had taken a great deal of other prey out of that place and out of the other parts of the Philistines country they departed now when David found that Ziklag was laid waste and that it was all spoiled and that as well his own wives who were two as the wives of his companions with their children were made captives he presently rent his clothes weeping and lamenting together with his friends and indeed he was so cast down with these misfortunes that at great length tears themselves failed him he was also in danger of being stoned to death by his companions who were greatly afflicted at the captivity of their wives and children for they laid the blame upon him of what had happened but when he had recovered himself out of his grief and had raised up his mind to God he desired the high priest Aviathar to put on his sacred little garments and to inquire of God and to prophesy to him whether God would grant that if he pursued after the Amalekites he should overtake them and save their wives and their children and avenge himself on the enemies and when the high priest bade him to pursue after them he marched apace with his 400 men after the enemy and when he was come to a certain brook called Bessor and had lighted upon one that was wandering about an Egyptian by birth who was almost dead with wanton famine for he had continued wandering about without food in the wilderness three days he first of all gave him sustenance both meat and drink and thereby refreshed him he then asked him to whom he belonged and whence he came whereupon the man told him he was in Egyptian by birth and was left behind by his master because he was so sick and weak that he could not follow him he also informed him that he was one of those who had burnt and plundered not only other parts of Judea but Ziklag itself also so David made use of him as a guide to find out the Amalekites and when he had overtaken them as they lay scattered about on the ground some at dinner some disordered and entirely drunk with wine and in the fruition of their spoils and their prey he fell upon them on the sudden and made a great slaughter among them for they were naked and expected no such thing but had be taken themselves to drinking and feasting and so they were all easily destroyed now some of them that were overtaken as they lay at the table were slain in that posture and their blood brought up with it their meat and their drink they slew others of them as they were drinking to one another in their cups and some of them when their full bellies had made them fall asleep and for so many as had time to put on their armor they slew them with the sword with no less case than they did those that were naked and for the partisans of David they continued also the slaughter from the first hour of the day to the evening so that there were not above four hundred of the Amalekites left and they only escaped by getting upon their dromedaries and camels accordingly David recovered not only all the other spoils which the enemy had carried away but his wives also and the wives of his companions but when they were come to the place where they had left the 200 men which were not able to follow them but were left to take care of the stuff the 400 men did not think fit to divide among them any other parts of what they had gotten or of the praises they did not accompany them but pretended to be feeble and did not follow them in pursuit of the enemy but said they should be contented to have safely recovered their wives yet did David pronounce that this opinion of theirs was evil and unjust and that when God had granted them such a favor that they had avenged themselves on their enemies and had recovered all that belonged to themselves they should make an equal distribution of what they had gotten to all because the rest had tarried behind to guard their stuff and from that time this law obtained among them that those who guarded the stuff should receive an equal share with those that fought in the battle now when David was come to Ziklag he sent portions of the spoils to all that had been familiar with him and to his friends in the tribe of Judah and thus ended the affairs of the plundering of Ziklag and of the slaughter of the Amalekites now upon the Philistines joining battle there followed a sharp engagement and the Philistine became the conquerors and slew a great number of their enemies but Saul the king of Israel and his sons fought courageously and with the utmost alacrity as knowing that their entire glory lay in nothing else but dying honorably and exposing themselves to the utmost danger from the enemy for they had nothing else to hope for so they brought upon themselves the whole power of the enemy till they were encompassed round and slain but not before they had killed many of the Philistines now the sons of Saul were Jonathan and Abinadab and Mal-Kasua and when these were slain the multitude of the Hebrews were put to flight and all was disorder and confusion and slaughter upon the Philistines pressing in upon them but Saul himself fled having a strong body of soldiers about him and upon the Philistines sending after them those that threw javelins and shot arrows he lost all his company except a few as for himself he fought with great bravery and when he had received so many wounds that he was not able to bear up nor to oppose any longer and yet was not able to kill himself he bade his armor bearer draw his sword and run him through before the enemy should take him alive but his armor bearer not daring to kill his master he drew his own sword and placing himself over against its point he threw himself upon it and when he could neither run it through him nor by leaning against it make the sword pass through him he turned him round and asked a certain young man that stood by who he was and when he understood that he was an Amalekite he desired him to force the sword through him because he was not able to do it with his own hands and thereby to procure him such a death as he desired this the young man did accordingly and he took the golden bracelet that was on Saul's arm and his royal crown that was on his head and ran away and when Saul's armor bearer saw that he was slain he killed himself nor did any of the king's guards escape but they all fell upon the mountain called Gilboa but when those Hebrews that dwelt in the valley beyond Jordan and those who had their cities in the plain heard that Saul and his sons were fallen and that the multitude about them were destroyed they left their own cities and fled to such as were the best fortified and fenced and the Philistines finding those cities deserted came and dwelt in them on the next day when the Philistines came to strip their enemies that were slain they got the bodies of Saul and of his sons and stripped them and cut off their heads and they sent messengers all about their country to acquaint them that their enemies were fallen and they dedicated their armor in the temple of Astarty but hung their bodies on crosses at the walls of the city of Bethshon which is now called Scythepoles but when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard that they had dismembered the dead bodies of Saul and of his sons they deemed it so horrid a thing to overlook this barbarity and to suffer them to be without funeral rites that the most courageous and hearty among them and indeed that city had in it men that were very stout both in body and mind journeyed all night and came to Bethshon and approached to the enemy's wall and taking down the bodies of Saul and of his sons they carried them to Jabesh while the enemy were not able enough nor bold enough to hinder them because of their great courage so the people of Jabesh wept all in general and buried their bodies in the best place of their country which was named Oryurne and they observed a public mourning for them seven days with their wives and children beating their breasts and lamenting the king and his sons without either tasting meat or drink till the evening to this end did Saul come according to the prophecy of Samuel because he disobeyed the commands of God about the Amalekites and on the account of his destroying the family of Ahimelech the high priest with Ahimelech himself and the city of the high priests now Saul when he had reigned 18 years while Samuel was alive and after his death two and twenty ended his life in this manner end of book six chapter 14 end of book six recording by Nikola K book seven chapter one of the antiquities of the Jews volume two this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the antiquities of the Jews volume two by Flavius Josephus translated by William Whiston book seven chapter one book seven containing the interval of 40 years from the death of Saul to the death of David chapter one how David reigned over one tribe at Hebron while the son of Saul reigned over the rest of the multitude and how in the civil war which then arose Asahel and Abner were slain this fight proved to be on the same day where on David was come back to Ziklag after he had overcome the Amalekites now when he had been already two days at Ziklag there came to him the man who slew Saul which was the third day after the fight he had escaped out of the battle which the Israelites had had with the Philistines and had his clothes rent and ashes upon his head and when he made his OBSS to David he inquired of him once he came he replied from the battle of the Israelites and he informed him that the end of it was unfortunate many tens of thousands of the Israelites having been cut off and Saul together with his sons slain he also said that he could well give him this information because he was present at the victory gained over the Hebrews and was with the king when he fled nor did he deny that he had himself slain the king when he was ready to be taken by the enemy and he himself exhorted him to do it because when he had fallen on his sword his great wounds had made him so weak that he was not able to kill himself he also produced demonstrations that the king was slain which were the golden bracelets that had been on the king's arms and his crown which he had taken away from Saul's dead body and had brought them to him so David having no longer any room to call in question the truth of what he said but seeing most evident marks that Saul was dead he rent his garments and continued all that day with his companions in weeping and lamentation this grief was augmented by the consideration of Jonathan the son of Saul who had been his most faithful friend in the occasion of his own deliverance he also demonstrated himself to have such great virtue and such great kindness for Saul is not only to take his death to heart though he had been frequently in danger of losing his life by his means but to punish him that slew him for when David had said to him that he was become his own accuser as the very man who had slain the king and when he had understood that he was the son of an Amalekite he commanded him to be slain he also committed to writing some lamentations and funeral commendations of Saul and Jonathan which have continued to my own age now when David had paid these honors to the king he left off his mourning and inquired of God by the prophet which of the cities of the tribe of Judah he would bestow upon him to dwell in who answered that he bestowed upon him Hebron so he left Ziklag and came to Hebron and took with him his wives who were in number two and his armed men whereupon all the people of the aforementioned tribe came to him and ordained him their king but when he heard that the inhabitants of Jabish Gilead had buried Saul and his sons honorably he sent to them and commended them and took what they had done kindly and promised to make them amends for their care of those that were dead and at the same time he informed them that the tribe of Judah had chosen him for their king but as soon as Abner, the son of Ner, who was general of Saul's army and a very active man and good-natured knew that the king and Jonathan and his two other sons were fallen in the battle he made haste into the camp and taking away with him the remaining son of Saul whose name was Ishbo Sheth he passed over to the land beyond Jordan and ordained him the king of the whole multitude accepting the tribe of Judah and made his royal seat in a place called in our own language mahanem but in the language of the Grecians, the camps from whence Abner made haste with the select body of soldiers to fight with such of the tribe of Judah as were disposed to it for he was angry that this tribe had set up David for their king but Joab, whose father was Suri and his mother, Zarariah, David's sister who was the general of David's army met him according to David's appointment he had with him his brethren Abistiae and Asaha as also all David's armed men now when he met Abner at a certain fountain in the city of Gibeon he prepared to fight and when Abner said to him that he had a mind to know which of them had the most valiant soldiers it was agreed between them that 12 of each side should fight together so those that were chosen out by both of the generals for this fight came between the two armies and throwing their lances one against the other they drew their swords and catching one another by the head they held one another fast and ran each other's swords into their sides and groins till they all as it were by mutual agreement perished together when these were fallen down dead the rest of the army came to a sore battle and Abner's men were beaten and when they were beaten Joab did not leave off pursuing them but he pressed upon them and excited the soldiers to follow them close and not to grow weary of killing them his brethren also pursued them with great alacrity especially the younger, Asahel who was the most eminent of them he was very famous for a swiftness of foot for he could not only be too hard for men but is reported to have overrun a horse when they had a race together this Asahel ran violently after Abner it would not turn in the least out of the straight way either to the one side or to the other hereupon Abner turned back and attempted artfully to avoid his violence sometimes he bade him leave off the pursuit and take the armor of one of his soldiers and sometimes when he could not persuade him so to do he exhorted him to restrain himself and not to pursue him any longer lest he should force him to kill him he should then not be able to look his brother in the face but when Asahel would not admit of any persuasions but still continued to pursue him Abner smote him with his spear as he held it in his flight and that by a backstroke gave him a deadly wound so that he died immediately but those that were with him pursuing Abner when they came to the place where Asahel lay they stood round about the dead body and left off the pursuit of the enemy however both Joab himself and his brother Abisai ran past the dead corpse and making their anger at the death of Asahel on occasion of greater zeal against Abner they went on with incredible haste and alacrity and pursued Abner to a certain place called Amma it was about sunset then did Joab ascend a certain hill as he stood at that place having the tribe of Benjamin with him whence he took a view of them and of Abner also hereupon Abner cried aloud and said that it was not fit that they should irritate men of the same nation to fight so bitterly one against another that as for Asahel his brother he was himself in the wrong when he would not be advised by him not to pursue him any farther which was the occasion of his wounding and death so Joab consented to what he said and accepted his words as an excuse about Asahel and called the soldiers back with the sound of the trumpet as a signal for their retreat and thereby put a stop to any further pursuit after which Joab pitched his camp there that night but Abner marched all that night and passed over the river Jordan and came to Ishbocheth Saul's son to Mennaheim on the next day Joab counted the dead men and took care of all their funerals now there were slaying of Abner soldiers about 360 but of those of David 19 and Asahel whose body Joab and Abishai carried to Bethlehem and when they buried him in the sepricor of their fathers they came to David in Hebron from this time therefore there began an intestine war which lasted a great while in which the followers of David grew stronger in the dangers they underwent and the servants and subjects of Saul's son did almost every day become weaker about this time David was become father of six sons born of his many mothers the oldest was by Ahinoam and he was called Aranan the second was Daniel by his wife Abigail the name of the third was Absalom by Mahaka the daughter of Taumai king of Geshur the fourth he named Adonijah by his wife Hageth the fifth was Shafataya by Abital the sixth he called Yithream by Igla now while this intestine war went on and the subjects of the two kings came frequently to action into fighting it was Abner the general of the host of Saul's son who by his prudence and the great interest he had among the multitude made them all continue with Ishbosh Sheth and indeed it was a considerable time that they continued of his party but afterwards Abner was blamed and an accusation was laid against him that he went in unto Saul's concubine her name was Rispa the daughter of Aiyah so when he was complained of by Ishbosh Sheth he was very uneasy and angry at it because he had not justice done him by Ishbosh Sheth to whom he had shown the greatest kindness whereupon he threatened to transfer the kingdom to David and demonstrate that he did not rule over the people beyond Jordan by his own abilities and wisdom but by his warlike conduct and fidelity in leading his army so he sent ambassadors to Hebron to David and desired that he would give him security upon oath that he would esteem him his companion and his friend upon condition that he should persuade the people to leave Saul's son and choose him king of the whole country and when David had made that league with Abner for he was pleased with his message to him he desired that he would give this as the first mark of performance of the present league that he might have his wife Mikhail restored to him as her whom he had purchased with great hazards and with those six hundred heads of the Philistines which he had brought to Saul her father so Abner took Mikhail from Fatiel who was then her husband and sent her to David Ishbosh Sheth himself affording him his assistance for David had written to him that of right he ought to have this his wife restored to him Abner also called together the elders of the multitude the commanders and captains of thousands and spake thus to them that he had formally dissuaded them from their own resolution when they were ready to forsake Ishbosh Sheth and join themselves to David that however he now gave them leave to do so if they had a mind to do it for they knew that God had appointed David to be king of all the Hebrews by Samuel the prophet and had foretold that he should punish the Philistines and overcome them and bring them under now when the elders and rulers heard this and understood that Abner was come over to those sentiments about the public affairs which they were of before they changed their measures and came in to David when these men had agreed to Abner's proposal he called together the tribe of Benjamin from all that tribe were the guards of Ishbosh Sheth's body and he spake to them to the same purpose and when he saw that they did not in the least oppose what he said but resigned themselves up to his opinion he took about 20 of his friends and came to David in order to receive himself security upon oath from him for we may justly esteem those things to be firmer which every one of us do by ourselves than those which we do by another he also gave him an account of what he had said to the rulers and to the whole tribe of Benjamin and when David had received him in a courteous manner and had treated him with great hospitality for many days Abner when he was dismissed desired him to bring the multitude with him that he might deliver up the government to him when David himself was present and a spectator of what was done when David had sent Abner away Joab of his army came immediately to Hebron he had understood that Abner had been with David and had parted with him a little before under leagues and agreements that the government should be delivered up to David he feared lest David should place Abner who had assisted him to gain the kingdom in the first rank of dignity especially since he was a shrewd man in other respects and understanding affairs and in managing them artfully as proper seasons should require and that he should himself be put lower and be deprived of the command of the army so he took a navish and wicked course in the first place he endeavored to calumnate Abner to the king exhorting him to have a care of him and not to give attention to what he had engaged to do for him because all he did tended to confirm the government to Saul's son that he came to him deceitfully and with guile and was gone away in hopes of gaining his purpose by this management but when he could not thus persuade David nor saw him at all exasperated he betook himself to a project bolder than the former he determined to kill Abner and in order there too he sent some messengers after him to whom he gave in charge that when they should overtake him they should recall him in David's name and tell him that he had somewhat to say to him about his affairs which he had not remembered to speak of when he was with him now when Abner heard what the messengers said for they overtook him in a certain place called Becerra which was distant from Hebron 20 furlongs he suspected none of the mischief which was befalling him and came back hereupon Joab met him at the gate and received him in the kindest manner as if he were Abner's most benevolent acquaintance and friend force such as undertake the vilest actions in order to prevent the suspicion of any private mischief intended do frequently make the greatest pretence to what really good men sincerely do so he took him aside from his own followers as if he would speak with him in private and brought him into a void place of the gate having himself nobody with him but his brother Abishai then he drew his sword and smote him in the groin upon which Abner died by this treachery of Joab which as he said himself was in the way of punishment for his brother Asahel whom Abner smote and slew as he was pursuing after him in the battle of Hebra but as the truth was out of his fear of losing his command of the army and his dignity of the king unless he should be deprived of those advantages and Abner should obtain the first rank in David's court by these examples anyone may learn how many and how great instances of wickedness men will venture upon for the sake of getting money and authority and that they may not fail of either of them for as when they are desirous of obtaining the same they acquire them by ten thousand evil practices so when they are afraid of losing them they get them confirmed to them by practices much worse than the former as if no other calamity so terrible could befall them as the failure of acquiring so exalted an authority and when they have acquired it and by long custom found the sweetness of it the losing it again and since this last would be the heaviest of all afflictions they all of them can try and venture upon the most difficult actions out of the fear of losing the same but let it suffice that I have made these short reflections upon that subject when David heard that Abner was slain it grieved his soul he called all men to witness with stretching out his hands to God and crying out that he was not a partaker in the murder of Abner and that his death was not procured by his command or approbation he also wished the heaviest curses might light upon him that slew him and upon his whole house and he devoted those who had assisted him in this murder to the same penalties on its account for he took care not to appear to have had any hand in this murder contrary to the assurances he had given and the oaths he had taken to Abner however he commanded all the people to weep and lament this man into honor his dead body with the usual solemnities that is by rending their garments and putting on sackcloth that all things should be the habit in which they should go before the bear after which he followed it himself with the elders and those that were rulers lamenting Abner and by his tears demonstrating his goodwill to him while he was alive and his sorrow for him now he was dead and that he was not taken off with his consent so he buried him at Hebron in a magnificent manner and indicted funeral allergies for him he also stood first over the monument weeping and caused others to do the same nay so deeply did the death of Abner disorder him that his companions could by no means force him to take any food but he affirmed with an oath that he would taste nothing till the sun was set this procedure gained him the goodwill of the multitude for such as had affection for Abner were mightily satisfied with the respect he paid him when he was dead and the observation of that faith he had plighted to him which was shown in his vouchsafing him all the usual ceremonies as if he had been his kinsmen and his friend and not suffering him to be neglected and injured with a dishonorable burial as if he had been his enemy in so much that the entire nation rejoiced at the king's gentleness and mildness of disposition everyone being ready to suppose that the king would have taken the same care of them in the like circumstances which they saw be showed in the burial of the dead body of Abner and indeed David principally intended to gain a good reputation and therefore he took care to do what was proper in this case whence none had any suspicion that he was the author of Abner's death he also said this to the multitude that he was greatly troubled at the death of so great a man and that the affairs of the Hebrews had suffered great detriment by being deprived of him who was of so great abilities to preserve them by his excellent advice and by the strength of his hands in war but he added that God who hath regard to all men's actions will not suffer this man, Joab, to go off unrevenged but no ye that I am not about to do anything to those sons of Zeruia, Joab, and Abishai who have more power than I have but God will bequite their insolent attempts upon their own heads and this was the fatal conclusion of the life of Abner End of Book 7, Chapter 1 Book 7, Chapters 2-4 of the Antiquities of the Jews, Volume 2 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org The Antiquities of the Jews, Volume 2 by Flavius Josephus translated by William Whiston, Book 7, Chapters 2-4 Chapter 2 That upon the slaughter of Ishbosh Sheth by the treachery of his friends David received the whole kingdom. When Ishbosh Sheth, the son of Saul, had heard of the death of Abner, he took it to heart to be deprived of a man that was of his kindred and had indeed given him the kingdom, but was greatly afflicted and Abner's death very much troubled him. Nor did he himself outlive any longer time, but was treachery set upon by the sons of Raman. Ba'ana and Reshab were their names, and was slain by them, for these being of the family of the Benjaminites and of the first rank among them, thought that if they should slay Ishbosh Sheth they should obtain large presence from David and be made commanders by him, or however, should have some other trust committed to them. So when they once found him alone and asleep at noon in an upper room, when none of his guards were there, and when the woman that kept the door was not watching, but had fallen asleep also, partly on account of the labor she had undergone, and partly on account of the heat of the day, these men went into the room in which Ishbosh Sheth saw his son lay asleep and slew him. They also cut off his head and took their journey all that night and the next day, as supposing themselves flying away from those they had injured to one that would accept of this action as a favor and would afford them security. So they came to Hebron and showed David the head of Ishbosh Sheth, and presented themselves to him as his well-wishers, and such as had killed one that was his enemy and antagonist. Yet David did not relish what they had done as they expected, but said to them, You vile wretches, you shall immediately receive the punishment you deserve. Did you not know what vengeance I executed on him that murdered Saul, and brought me his crown of gold, and this while he who made it this slaughter did it as a favor to him that he might not be caught by his enemies? Or do you imagine that I am altered in my disposition and suppose that I am not the same man I was then, but am pleased with men that are wicked doers, and esteem your vile actions, when you are become murderers of your master, is grateful to me, when you have slain a righteous man upon his bed, who never did, evil to anybody, and treated you with great good will and respect? Wherefore you shall suffer the punishment due on his account, and the vengeance I ought to inflict upon you for killing Ishmael Seth, and for supposing that I should take his death kindly at your hands, for you could not lay a greater blot on my honor than by making such a supposal? When David had said this, he tormented them with all kinds of torments, and then put them to death, and he bestowed all accustomed rights on the burial of the head of Ishmael Seth, and laid it in the grave of Abner. When these things were brought to this conclusion, all the principal men of the Hebrew people came to David at Hebron, with the heads of thousands, and other rulers, and delivered themselves up to him, putting him in mind of the good will they had borne to him in Saul's lifetime, and the respect they then had not ceased to pay him when he was captain of a thousand, and also that he was chosen of God by Samuel the prophet, he and his sons, and declaring besides how God had given him power to save the land of the Hebrews, and to overcome the Philistines. Whereupon he received kindly this their alacrity on his account, and exhorted them to continue in it, for that they should have no reason to repent of being thus disposed to him. So when he had feasted them, and treated them kindly, he sent them out to bring all the people to him, upon which came to him about 6,800 armed men of the tribe of Judah, who bore shields and spears for their weapons. For these had till now continued with Saul's son, when the rest of the tribe of Judah had ordained David for their king. There came also 7,100 out of the tribe of Simeon. Out of the tribe of Levi came 4,700, having J.O. Iata for their leader. After these came Zadak, the high priest, with 22 captains of his kindred. Out of the tribe of Benjamin the armed men were 4,000, but the rest of the tribe continued, still expecting that someone of the house of Saul should reign over them. Those of the tribe of Ephraim were 20,000 and 800, and these mighty men of valor and eminent for their strength. Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh came 1800, of the most potent men. Out of the tribe of Issachar came 200, who foreknew what was to come hereafter, but of armed men 20,000. Of the tribe of Zebulon 50,000 chosen men. This was the only tribe that came universally in to David, and all these had the same weapons with the tribe of Gad. Out of the tribe of Neftali, the eminent men and rulers were 1,000, whose weapons were shields and spears, and the tribe itself followed after, being, in the manner innumerable, 37,000. Out of the tribe of Dan there were of chosen men 27,600. Out of the tribe of Asher 40,000. Out of the two tribes where there were beyond Jordan and the rest of the tribe of Manasseh, such as used shields and spears and headpieces and swords, were 120,000, and the rest of the tribes also made use of swords. This multitude came together to Hebron, to David, with a great quantity of corn and wine, and all other sorts of food, and established David in his kingdom with one consent. And when the people had rejoiced for three days in Hebron, David and all the people were moved and came to Jerusalem. Chapter 3 How David laid siege to Jerusalem, and when he had taken the city he cast the Canaanites out of it, and brought in the Jews to inhabit therein. Now the Jebusites, who were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and were by extraction Canaanites, shut their gates, and placed the blind in the lame, and all their maimed persons upon the wall, in way of derision of the king, and said that the very lame themselves would hinder his entrance into it. They did this out of contempt of his power, and as depending on the strength of their walls. David was hereby enraged, and began the siege of Jerusalem, and employed his utmost diligence and alacrity therein, as intending by the taking of this place to demonstrate his power, and to intimidate all others that might be of the like evil disposition towards him. So he took the lower city by force, but the citadel held out still. Whence it was that the king, knowing that the proposal of dignities and rewards would encourage the soldiers to greater actions, promised that he, who should first go over the ditches that were beneath the citadel, and should ascend to the citadel itself and take it, should have the command of the entire people conferred upon him. So they were all ambitious to ascend, and thought no pains too great in order to ascend thither, out of their desire of the chief command. However Joab, son of Zeruaia, prevented the rest, and as soon as he got up to the citadel, cried out to the king, and claimed the chief command. When David had cast the Jebusites out of the citadel, he rebuilt Jerusalem, and named it the city of David, and abode there all time of his reign. But for the time that he reigned over the tribe of Judah only in Hebron, it was seven years and six months. Now when he had chosen Jerusalem to be his royal city, his affairs did more and more prosper by the providence of God, who took care that they should improve and be augmented. Hiram, also the king of the Tyrians, sent ambassadors to him, and made a league of mutual friendship and assistance with him. He also sent him presents, cedar trees, and mechanics, and men skillful in building and architecture, that they might build him a royal palace at Jerusalem. Now David made buildings round about the lower city. He also joined the citadel to it, and made it one body, and when he had encompassed all with walls, he appointed Joab to take care of them. It was David, therefore, who first cast the Jebusites out of Jerusalem, and called it by his own name, the city of David. For under our forefather Abraham it was called Salem, or Sulema. But after that time, some say that Homer mentions it by the name of Sulema, for he named the temple Sulema, according to the Hebrew language which denotes security. Now the whole time, from the warfare under Joshua, are general against the Canaanites, and from that war in which he overcame them and distributed the land among the Hebrews, nor could the Israelites ever cast out the Canaanites out of Jerusalem until this time when David took it by siege. This whole time was 515 years. I shall now make mention of Aura'una, who was a wealthy man among the Jebusites, but was not slain by David in the siege of Jerusalem because of the good will he bore to the Hebrews, in a particular bedignity, an affection which he had to the king himself, which I shall take a more seasonable opportunity to speak of a little afterwards. Now David married other wives over and above those which he had before. He had also concubines, the sons whom he had were in number 11, whose names were Amnon, Emnos, Eban, Nathan, Solomon, Jeban, Eilean, Fauna, Enefin, Zhenai, Elephale, and a daughter, Tamar. Nine of these were born of legitimate wives, but the last two named of concubines, and Tamar had the same mother as Epsilon. Chapter 4, that when David had conquered the Philistines who made war against him at Jerusalem, he removed the ark to Jerusalem and had a mind to build a temple. When the Philistines understood that David was made king of the Hebrews, they made war against him at Jerusalem, and when they had seized upon that valley which is called the Valley of the Giants, and is a place not far from the city, they pitched their camp therein, but the king of the Jews who never permitted himself to do anything without prophecy, and the command of God, and without depending on him as a security for the time to come, bade the high priest to foretell to him what was the will of God, and what would be the event of this battle. And when he foretold that he should gain the victory and the dominion, he let out his army against the Philistines, and when the battle was joined he came himself behind and fell upon the enemy on the sudden and slew some of them and put the rest to flight. And let no one suppose that it was a small army of the Philistines that came against the Hebrews, as guessing so from the suddenness of their defeat, and from their having performed no great action, or that was worth recording, from the slowness of their march in want of courage. But let him know that all Syria and Phoenicia with many other nations besides them and those war-like nations also came to their assistance and had a share in this war, which thing was the only cause why, when they had been so often conquered and had lost so many tens thousands of their men. They still came upon the Hebrews with greater armies, nay indeed, when they had so often failed of their purpose in these battles, they came upon David with an army three times as numerous as before, and pitched their camp on the same spot, a ground, as before. The king of Israel, therefore, inquired of God again concerning the event of the battle, and the high priest prophesized to him that he should keep his army in the groves, called the groves of weeping, which were not far away from the enemy's camp, and that he should not move, nor begin to fight, till the trees of the grove should be in motion, without the winds blowing. But as soon as these trees moved, and the time foretold to him by God was come, he should, without delay, go out to gain what was an already prepared and evident victory. For the several ranks of the enemy's army did not sustain him, but retreated at the first onset, whom he closely followed and slew them as he went along, and pursued them to the city Gaza, which was the limit of their country. After this he spoiled their camp, in which he found great riches, and he destroyed their gods. When this had proven the event of the battle, David thought it proper, upon a consultation with the elders and rulers, and captains of thousands, to send for those who were in the flower of their age, out of all his countrymen, and out of the whole land, and with all for the priests and the Levites, in order to their going to Kerjath-Jiram, to bring up the ark of God out of that city, and to carry it to Jerusalem, and there to keep it, and offer before it those sacrifices, and those other honors with which God used to be well pleased. For had they done thus in the reign of Saul, they had not undergone any great misfortunes at all. So when the whole body of the people were come together, as they resolved to do, the king came to the ark, which the priest brought out of the house of Aminadab, and laid it upon a new cart, and permitted their brethren and their children to draw it, together with the oxen. Before it went the king, and the whole multitude of the people with him, singing hymns to God, and making use of all sorts of songs usual among them, with variety of the sounds of musical instruments, and with dancing and singing of Psalms, as also with the sounds of trumpets and of cymbals, and so brought the ark to Jerusalem. But as they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, a place so called, Uzah was slain by the anger of God. For as the oxen shook the ark, he stretched out his hands, and would needs take hold of it. Now because he was not a priest, and yet touched the ark, God struck him dead. Hereupon both the king and the people were displeased at the death of Uzah, and the place where he died is still called the Breach of Uzah unto this day. So David was afraid, and supposing that if he received the ark to himself into the city, he might suffer in the like manner as Uzah had suffered, who upon his bear putting out his hand to the ark, died in the manner already mentioned. He did not receive it to himself into the city, but he took it aside into a certain place belonging to a righteous man, whose name was Obedetum, who was by his family a Levite, and deposited the ark with him, and it remained there three entire months. This augmented the house of Obedom, and conferred many blessings upon it. And when the king heard what had befallen Obedom, how he was become of a poor man in a low estate, exceeding happy, and the object of envy to all those that saw or inquired after his house. He took courage, and hoping that he should meet with no misfortune thereby, he transferred the ark to his own house, the priest carrying it, while seven companies of singers, who were set in that order by the king, went before it. And while he himself played upon the harp, and joined in the music, in so much that when his wife, Michelle, the daughter of Saul, who was our first king, saw him doing so, she laughed at him. But when they had brought in the ark, they placed it under the tabernacle which David had pitched for it, and he offered costly sacrifices and peace offerings, and treated the whole multitude, and dealt both to the women and the men, and the infants a loaf of bread and a cake, and another cake baked in a pan with a portion of the sacrifice. So when he had thus feasted the people, he sent them away, and he himself returned to his own house. But when Michelle, his wife, the daughter of Saul, came and stood by him, she wished him all other happiness, and entreated that whatsoever he should further desire to the utmost possibility might be given to him by God, and that he might be favorable to him. Yet did she blame him that so great a king as he should dance after an unseemly manner, and in his dancing, uncover himself among the servants and the handmaidens. But he replied that he was not ashamed to do what was acceptable to God, who had preferred him before her father, and before all others, and that he would play frequently and dance without any regard to what the handmaidens and herself thought of it. So this Michelle, who was David's wife, had no children. However, when she was afterwards married to him, to whom Saul, her father, had given her, for at this time David had taken her away from him, and had her himself, she bore five children, but concerning those matters I shall discourse in a proper place. Now when the king saw that his affairs grew better almost every day by the will of God, he thought that he should offend him, while he himself continued in houses made of cedar, such as were of a great height and had the most curious works of architecture in them. He should overlook the ark while it laid in a tabernacle, and was desirous to build a temple to God, as Moses had predicted such a temple should be built. And when he had discourse with Nathan, the prophet about these things, and had been encouraged by him to do whatsoever he had a mind to do, as having God with him, and his helper in all things, he was there upon the more ready to set about that building. But God appeared to Nathan that very night, and commanded him to say to David that he took his purpose and his desires kindly, since nobody had before now taken it into their head to build him a temple. Although, upon his having such a notion, he would not permit him to build it, that temple, because he had made many wars, and was defiled with the slaughter of his enemies. That, however, after his death, in his old age, and when he had lived a long time, there should be a temple built by a son of his, who should take his kingdom after him, and shall be called Solomon, whom he promised to provide for, as a father provides for his son, by preserving the kingdom for his son's posterity, and delivering it to them. But that he should still punish him if he sinned with diseases and barrenness of land. When David understood this from the Prophet, and was overjoyful at this knowledge of the sure continuance of the dominion of his posterity, and that his house should be splendid and very famous, he came to the ark, and fell down on his face, and began to adore God, and to return thanks to him for all his benefits, as well as those he had already bestowed upon him in raising him from a low state, and from the employment of a shepherd, to so great dignity of dominion and glory, as for those also which he had promised to his posterity, and besides, for that providence which he had exercised over the Hebrews in procuring them the liberty they enjoyed. And when he had said thus, and had sung him hymn of praise to God, he went his way. End of book 7, chapters 2 through 4. Book 7, chapters 5 and 6 of The Antiquities of the Jews, volume 2. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Antiquities of the Jews, volume 2 by Flavius Josephus. Recorded by William Wiston. Book 7, chapters 5 and 6. Chapter 5. How David brought under the Philistines, and the Moabites, and the kings of Sophene, and of Damascus, and of the Syrians, as also the Edumians, in war. And how he made a league with the king of Hamath, and was mindful of the friendship that Jonathan, the son of Saul, had borne him. A little while after this, he considered that he ought to make war against the Philistines, and not to see any idleness or laziness permitted in his management. That so it might prove, as God had foretold to him, that when he had overthrown his enemies, he should leave his posterity to reign and peace afterward. So he called together his army again, and when he had charged them to be ready and prepared for war, and when he thought that all things in his army were in a good state, he removed from Jerusalem, and came against the Philistines. And when he had overcome them in battle, and had cut off a great part of their country, and had adjoined it to the country of the Hebrews, he transferred the war to the Moabites. And when he had overcome two parts of their army in battle, he took the remaining part captive, and imposed tribute upon them to be paid annually. He then made war against Iyad-a-Dizr, the son of Rehob, king of Sofini, and when he had joined battle with him at the river Euphrates, he destroyed twenty thousand of his footmen, and about seven thousand of his horsemen. He also took a thousand of his chariots, and destroyed the greatest part of them, and ordered that no more than one hundred should be kept. Now when Hadad, king of Damascus and of Syria, heard that David fought against Hadadizr, who was his friend, he came to his assistance with the powerful army in hopes to rescue him, and when he joined battle with David at the river Euphrates, he failed of his purpose, and lost in the battle a great number of his soldiers. For there were slain in the army of Hadad, twenty thousand, and all the rest fled. Nicolens, also of Damascus, makes mention of this king in the fourth book of his histories, where he speaks thus. A great while after these things had happened, there was one of that country whose name was Hadad, who was become very potent. He reigned over Damascus, and the other parts of Syria, accepting Phoenicia. He made war against David, the king of Judea, and tried his fortune in many battles, and particularly in the last battle at Euphrates. Whereupon he was beaten, he seems to have been the most excellent of all the kings in strength and manhood. Nay, besides this, he says of his posterity that, they succeeded one another in his kingdom and in his name. Where thus he speaks? When Hadad was dead, his posterity reigned for ten generations, each of his successors receiving from his father that his dominion, this his name. As did the Ptolemies in Egypt. But the third was the most powerful of them all, and was willing to avenge the defeat his forefather had received. So he made an expedition against the Jews, and laid waste the city which is now called Samaria. Nor did he err from the truth. For this is that Hadad who made the expedition against Samaria in the reign of Ahab, king of Israel, bringing whom we shall speak in due place hereafter. Now when David had made an expedition against Damascus, and the other parts of Syria, and had brought it all into subjection, and had placed garrisons in the country, and appointed that they should pay tribute, he returned home. He also dedicated to God at Jerusalem the golden quivers, the entire armor which the guards of Hadad used to wear, which Shishak, the king of Egypt, took away when he fought with David's grandson, Rehoboam, with a great deal of other wealth which he carried out of Jerusalem. However these things will be explained in their proper places hereafter. Now as for the king of the Hebrews, he was assisted by God, who gave him great successes in his wars, and he made all expedition against the best cities of Hadadezer, Betah, and Makhen. So he took them by force, and laid them waste. Therein was found a very great quantity of gold and silver, besides that sort of brass which is said to be more valuable than gold, of which brass Solomon made that large vessel which is called the Brazen Sea, and those most curious lavers, when he built the temple for God. But when the king of Hamath was informed of the ill success of Hadadezer, and had heard of the ruin of his army, he was afraid on his own account, and resolved to make a league, a friendship, and fidelity with David before he should come against him. So he sent to him his son Joram, and professed that he owed him thanks for fighting against Hadadezer, who was his enemy, and made a league with him of mutual assistance and friendship. He also sent him presents, vessels of ancient workmanship, both of gold and of silver and of brass. So when David had made this league of mutual assistance with toy, for that was the name of the king of Hamath, and received the presents he sent him, he dismissed his son with that respect which was due on both sides. But then David brought those presents that were sent by him, and also the rest of the gold and the silver which he had taken from the cities that he had conquered, and dedicated them to God. Nor did God give victory and success to him only when he went to battle himself and led his own army, but he gave victory to Abishai, the brother of Joab, general of his forces, over the Idumians, and by him to David, when he sent him with an army into Idumia, for Abishai destroyed eighteen thousand of them in the battle, whereupon the king of Israel placed garrisons throughout all Idumia, and received the tribute of the country and of every head among them. Now David was in his nature just, and made his determination with regard to the truth. He had for the general of his whole army, Joab, and he made Jehoshaphat, the son of Aliud, recorder. He also appointed Zadak, of the family of Phineas, to be the High Priest, together with Abiyathar, for he was his friend. He also made Sayasan the scribe, and committed the command over the guards of his body to Benahai, the son of Jea-Odea. His elder sons were near his body, and had the care of it also. He also called to mine the covenants and the oaths he made with Jonathan, the son of Saul, and the friendship and affection Jonathan had for him, for besides all the rest of his excellent qualities with which he was endowed, he was also exceeding mindful of such as had at other times bestowed benefits upon him. He therefore gave order that inquiry should be made, whether any of Jonathan's lineage were living, to whom he might make return of that familiar acquaintance which Jonathan had had with him, and for which he was still detour. And when one of Saul's freedmen was brought to him, who was acquainted with those of his family who were still living, he asked him whether he could tell him of anyone belonging to Jonathan that was now alive and capable of a requital of the benefits which he had received from Jonathan. And he said that a son of his was remaining, whose name was Methva Bosheth, but that he was lame of his feet, for that when his nurse heard that the father and grandfather of the child were fallen in the battle she snatched him away and fled, and let him fall from her shoulders, and his feet were lame'd. So when he had learned where, and by whom he was brought up, he sent messengers to Macare, to the city of Lodibar, for with him was the son of Jonathan brought up, and sent for him to come to him. So when, Methva Bosheth came to the king, he fell on his face and worshiped him. But David encouraged him, bade him, be of good cheer, and expect better times. So he gave him his father's house, and all the estates which his grandfather Saul was in possession of, and bade him, come and diet with him at his own table, and never to be absent one day from that table. And when the youth had worshiped him on account of his words and gifts given to him, he called for Ziba, and told him that he had given the youth his father's house, and all Saul's estates. He also ordered that Ziba should cultivate his land and take care of it, and bring him the prophets of all to Jerusalem. Accordingly David brought him to his table every day, and bestowed upon the youth Ziba, and his sons, who were fifteen in number, and his servants, who were in number twenty. When the king had made these appointments, and Ziba had worshiped him, and promised to do all he had bidden him, he went his way, so that this son of Jonathan dwelted Jerusalem, and dieted at the king's table, and had the same care that his son might claim taken of him. He also had himself a son, who he named Micah. Chapter 6 How the war was waged against the Amianites, and happily concluded. This were the honors that such were left of the Saul's and Jonathan's lineage received from David. About this time died Nahash, the king of the Amianites, who was a friend of David's, and when his son had succeeded his father in the kingdom, David sent ambassadors to him to comfort him, and exhorted him to take his father's death patiently, and to expect that he would continue the same kindness to himself, which he had shown to his father. But the princes of the Amianites took this message in evil part, and not as David's kind dispositions gave reason to take it, and they excited the king to resent it, and said that David had sent men to spy out the country, and what strength it had, and under the pretense of humanity and kindness. They further advised him to have a care, and not to give heed to David's words, lest he should be deluded by him, and so fall into an inconsolable calamity. Accordingly Nahash's son, the king of the Amianites, thought these princes spake, what was more probable than the truth would admit, and so abused the ambassadors after a very harsh manner, for he shaved the one half of their beards, cut off one half of their garments, and sent his answer not in words, but in deeds. When the king of Israel saw this, he had indignation at it, and showed openly that he would not overlook this injurious and contumelious treatment, but he would make war with the Amianites, and would avenge this wicked treatment of his ambassadors on their king. So that king's intimate friends and commanders, understanding that they had violated their league, and reliable to be punished for the same, made preparations for war. They also sent a thousand talons to the Syrian king of Mesopotamia, and endeavored to prevail with him to assist them for that pay, and Shobak. Now these kings had twenty thousand footmen, they also hired the king of the country, called Makkah, and a fourth king by name Ishtub, which last had twelve thousand armed men. But David was under no consternation at this confederacy, nor at the forces of the Amianites, and put his trust in God, because he was going to war in a just cause on account of the injurious treatment he had met with. He immediately sent Joab, the captain of his host, against them, and gave him the flower of his army, who pitched his camp at Rabah, the metropolis of the Amianites, whereupon the enemy came out and set themselves in array, not all of them together, but in two bodies, for the auxiliaries were set in array in the plain by themselves, but the army of the Amianites at the gates over against the Hebrews. When Joab saw this, he opposed one stratagem against another, and chose out the most hearty part of his men, and set them in opposition to the king of Syria, and the kings that were with him, and gave the other part to his brother, Abishai, and bid him set them in opposition to the Amianites, and said to him, that in case he should see that the Syrians distressed him and were too hard for him, he should order his troops to turn about and assist him, and he said that he himself would do the same to him if he saw him in the light distress from the Amianites. So he sent his brother before, and encouraged him to do everything courageously, and with alacrity, which would teach them to be afraid of disgrace, and to fight manfully. And so he dismissed him to fight with the Amianites while he fell upon the Syrians. And though they made a strong opposition for a while, Joab slew many of them, but compelled the rest to but take themselves to flight, which, when the Amianites saw, and were, with all afraid of Abishai and his army, they stayed no longer, but imitated their auxiliaries and fled to the city. So Joab, when he had thus overcome the enemy, returned with great joy to Jerusalem to the king. This defeat did not still induce the Amianites to be quiet, nor to own those that were superior to them to be so, and be still. But they sent to Chalaman, the king of the Syrians beyond Euphrates, and hired him for an auxiliary. He had Shobak for the captain of his host, with 80,000 footmen and 10,000 horsemen. Now when the king of the Hebrews understood that the Amianites had again gathered so great an army together, he determined to make war with them no longer by his generals. But he passed over the river Jordan himself, with all his army, and when he met them he joined battle with them and overcame them, and slew 40,000 of their footmen and 7,000 of their horsemen. He also wounded Shobak, the general of Chalaman's forces, who died of that stroke. But the people of Mesopotamia, upon such a conclusion of the battle, delivered themselves up to David, and sent him presents, who, at winter time, returned to Jerusalem. But at the beginning of the spring he sent Joab, the captain of his host, to fight against the Amianites, who overran all their country, and laid a waste, and shut them up in their metropolis, and besieged them therein.