贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the antiquities of the jews-1 >

第101章

the antiquities of the jews-1-第101章

小说: the antiquities of the jews-1 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



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 were
come to the threshing…floor of Chidon; a place so called; Uzzah
was slain by the anger of God; for as the oxen shook the ark; he
stretched out his hand; and would needs take hold of it。 Now;
because he was not a priest (7) and yet touched the ark; God
struck him dead。 Hereupon both the king and the people were
displeased at the death of Uzzah; and the place where he died is
still called the Breach of Uzzah 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 Uzzah had
suffered; who; upon his bare 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 unto a certain place
belonging to a righteous man; whose name was Obededom; 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
Obededom; and conferred many blessings upon it。 And when the king
heard what had befallen Obededom; 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 priests 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; insomuch; that when his wife
Michel; the daughter of Saul; who was our first king; saw him so
doing; 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 the portion of the sacrifice。 So when he had
thus feasted the people; he sent them away; and he himself
returned to his own house。

3。 But when Michal 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 him by God; and that he might be favorable to him;
yet did she blame him; that so great a king as he was 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; that he
would play frequently; and dance; without any regard to what the
handmaidens and she herself thought of it。 So this Michal; who
was David's wife; had no children; however; when she was
afterward 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 bare five children。 But concerning those matters I
shall discourse in a proper place。

4。 Now when the king saw that his affairs grew better almost
every day; by the will of God; he thought he should offend him;
if; 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 was
laid in a tabernacle; and was desirous to build a temple to God;
as Moses had predicted such a temple should be built。 (8) And
when he had discoursed 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 thereupon the more ready to set about that building。 But
God appeared to Nathan that very night; and commanded him to say
to David; (9) 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 him 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 life; there should be a temple built by a son of his; who
should take the kingdom after him; and should 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 would 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 to 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 for those that 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 a hymn of praise to God; he went his way。

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 Idumeans; 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。

1。 A Litlle 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 in 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 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 Iadadezer; the son of Rehob; king of
Sophene; (10) 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。 (11) 

2。 Now when Hadad; king of Damascus and of Syria; heard that
David fought against Hadadezer; who was his friend; he came to
his assistance with a powerful army; in hopes to rescue him; and
when he had 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 of the army of Hadad twenty
thousand; and all the rest fled。 Nicelens 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; excepting 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; wherein he was
beaten。 He seemed to have been the most excellent of all their
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 he thus speaks: 〃When Hadad was dead; his
poster

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的