SOLOMON:

HIS LIFE AND TIMES.

BY

REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R,S.

ARCHDEACON AND CANON OF WESTMINSTER; AND CHAPLAIN

IN ORDINARY TO THE QUEEN.

NEW YORK

ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & COMPANY

88 WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET

1886?

CONTENTS.

PAGE

INTRODUCTION1

Chequered fortunes of DavidHis early prosperity as a king

His career darkenedUriah and BathshebaJoab's power over

DavidThe birth of SolomonSignificance of David's remorse.

CHAPTER I.

THE CHILDHOOD OF SOLOMON5

Influences which surrounded the childhood of SolomonHis

fatherEvil effects of his fallHis familyBathshebaDavid's

fondness for his childrenThe name ShelmhJedidiahIn-

fluence of NathanHis retirementSolomon comes to be

secretly regarded as the heir to the throneClaims of Absalom.

CHAPTER II.

THE YOUTH OF SOLOMON13

Troubles of the periodThe crime of AmnonDavid's supine-

nessAbsalom's revengeHis flight, return, and forgiveness--

His ambitionHis rebellion AhitophelDavid's flight from

JerusalemHis impotent resentment against JoabThe murder

of AmasaSolomon learns who are the friends and the enemies

of his houseIntestine quarrelsThe numbering of the people

Dislike of the measure and its imperfect resultsThe pestilence

The vision on the threshing-floor of Araunah.

CHAPTER III.

THE ACCESSION OF SOLOMON24

Feebleness of David's ageAbishag of ShunemConspiracy of

AdonijahHis adherentsHis attempted coronation feast

Adherents of SolomonCounter efforts of Nathan and Bath-

ShebaInterviews of David with Bathsheba and NathanDavid

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rouses himself, and orders Solomon to be anointed and crowned

Popular enthusiasmCollapse of Adonijah's plotTerror of

his guestsHe is magnanimously pardonedGeneral amnesty

David's last song, and deathHis dying directions to Solomon

His burial.

CHAPTER IV.

THE KINGDOM OF SOLOMON35

Development of Jewish royaltyThe nation enters upon its

manhoodThe GibborimThe armyThe nation realizes its

unique position--Possession of a strong and beautiful capital

Passionate fondness for JerusalemCommencing centralization

of worshipThe Ark at Jerusalem"Jehovah's people"Out-

burst of poetryDawn of prose literatureElements of

dangerLimits of the kingdomLines of possible progress

Significance of the records of Solomon.

CHAPTER V.

INITIAL TROUBLES OF SOLOMON'S REIGN43

Tragic eventsSecret ambition of AdonijahHis visit to Bath-

sheba, the Queen-motherInterview between themHer unsus-

pecting acceptance of his request for the hand of AbishagShe

visits the kingHer gracious receptionSudden fury of Solo-

monPossible causes for his violent angerHe dooms Adonijah

to deathAlarm of JoabBenaiah ordered to slay himHesi-

tates to drag him from the horns of the altarExecution of

JoabFate of his posterityDisgrace and banishment of the

High Priest Abiathar Zadok and the House of Eleazar-

Destiny of the two families of Eleazar and IthamarShimei

ordered to live at JerusalemHis visit to Gath to recover his

slavesHis executionVigour of Solomon's ruleHis kindness

to Chimham, son of BarzillaiForeign enemiesEscape of

Hadad from the massacre of the EdomitesHis reception in

EgyptHis returnThe Syrian RezonGeshur Solomon's

affinity with PharaohOne of the Tanite dynastyNational

disapproval of the wedding in later timesEstablishment of

Solomon's powerThe Second PsalmNote on the Pharaoh

of z Kings iii. 1.

CHAPTER VI.SOLOMON'S SACRIFICE AND DREAM 58General peacefulness of Solomon's reignHe offers a tenfold hecatomb at GibeonHis dreamModes of Divine communi-cationHis prayer for wisdomThe ideal not perfectA con-ditional promiseGreat sacrifice on Mount ZionThe dead and the living childNature of Solomon's wisdomThe wisest man of his ageHis proverbs and songs, and other intellectual effortsRiddlesHiram and Abdemon.

CONTENTS v

PAGE

CHAPTER VII.

THE COURT OF SOLOMON63

Growing complexity and magnificence of the CourtHigh

officersAzariah, grandson of ZadokUse of the word

"Priest"The two ScribesThe RecorderThe Captain of the

HostZadokBamoth or High PlacesThe Farmer-general

"The King's friend"The Chamberlain; growing importance

of this officialThe Superintendent of the leviesForced

labourThe twelve districts to supply the CourtSignificance

of these districtsJudah possibly exempted Immense exaction

of provisionsThe burdens not felt at firstPrevailing peace

Solomon's one conquest.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE BUILDINGS OF SOLOMON71

The TempleThe design of DavidHe is forbidden to build

His immense preparationsIn what sense the Temple was

"exceeding magnifical"Its substructions, walls, and cisterns,

and the toil they involvedEmbassy from Hiram of Tyre, and

compact between the two kingsThe levy or corveThe

burden-bearers and quarrymenThe Canaanites were the

Helots of PalestineThe GiblitesThe slaves of Solomon

Hiram of NaphtaliGeneral form of the Temple and its measure-

mentsCurious statements of the ChroniclerThe Holy of

Holies quite darkOuter lattices of the Holy PlaceThe outer

chambersWhat a visitor would have seenThe outer court

The inner courtThe brazen altarThe molten sea and the

caldronsWhy the brazen oxen were permittedThe actual

TempleWhat was its external aspect?Had it pillars within?

Jachin and BoazTheories about themThe PorchThe Sanc-

tuary and its furnitureThe Oracle; its doorsThe ArkThe

Cherubim Built in silenceThe general workmanshipTime that

it occupied in buildingOrganization of Levitic ministryThe

Temple a symbol of God's PresenceThe actual building not used

for prayer or public worshipThe sacrifices, and what they

involvedWater for ablutionsThe Ceremony of Dedication

The old TabernacleThe processionTransference of the Ark to

its rockThe stavesSplendour of the ceremonyThe Cloud of

GlorySolomon's prayer; its spiritualityStupendous thank-

offering and festivalThe fire from heavenProminence of the

king in priestly functionsSecond vision of SolomonIntense

affection and enthusiasm inspired by the Temple, as illustrated in

various PsalmsFunctions of the Levites.

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER VIII.

ON THE PLAN AND ASPECT OF THE TEMPLE 100

Ideal reconstructionsFew remainsScantiness of trustworthy

informationFancies of JosephusRecent excavationsThe

TalmudSize of the platformTheories as to the styleI. Prof,

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PAGE

Wilkins and the Greek theory; now abandoned2. Canina and

the Egyptian theory3. Fergusson, Robins, and others believe

that the architecture was Asiatic and Phoenician; reasons for

this viewAnalogous buildingsThe Temple as restored on the

Phnician theory.

CHAPTER IX.

SOLOMON'S OTHER BUILDINGS AND CITIES107

The passion for buildingSolomon's palace, and its adjoining

edificesObscurity of all detailsThe House of the Forest of

Lebanon; its shieldsThe Porch of pillarsThe Hall of Judg-

mentThe PalaceThe staircase to the TempleWater supply-

GardensSummer retreatsWorks of national usefulnessFor-

tification of the cityA chain of fortress-townsHazor,

Megiddo, Gezer The Beth-Horons Baalath Store cities,

and chariot townsRoadsTadmor in the wilderness.

CHAPTER X.

SOLOMON'S COMMERCE114

The ideal of peaceful wealthExtended commerce: I. by land

and II. by seaI. Influence and splendour of Phoenicia: i.

Land traffic with Tyre; Hiram and Solomon; Embarrassed con-

dition of Solomon's resources; He alienates twenty cities; Scorn

and dissatisfaction of Hiram; An obscure transaction; Inexplic-

able conduct of Solomon; Prosperity of Hiramii. Land traffic

with Arabia; Spices and precious stonesiii. Egypt and the

Tanite dynasty; Land traffic with Egypt; Horses and chariots;

Profits of the trade; Two great inland roadsII. Sea-traffic

The Phoenician traffic with Tarshishii.