Antiquities Book 8, Chapter 6
How Solomon Fortified The City Of Jerusalem, And Built Great Cities; And How He Brought Some Of The Canaanites Into Subjection, And Entertained The Queen Of Egypt And Of Ethiopia.
1. Now when the king saw that the walls of Jerusalem stood in need of
being better secured, and made stronger, [for he thought the wails that
encompassed Jerusalem ought to correspond to the dignity of the city,]
he both repaired them, and made them higher, with great towers upon
them; he also built cities which might be counted among the strongest,
Hazor and Megiddo, and the third Gezer, which had indeed belonged to the
Philistines; but Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had made an expedition
against it, and besieged it, and taken it by force; and when he had
slain all its inhabitants, he utterly overthrew it, and gave it as a
present to his daughter, who had been married to Solomon; for which
reason the king rebuilt it, as a city that was naturally strong, and
might be useful in wars, and the mutations of affairs that sometimes
happen. Moreover, he built two other cities not far from it, Beth-horon
was the name of one of them, and Baalath of the other. He also built
other cities that lay conveniently for these, in order to the enjoyment
of pleasures and delicacies in them, such as were naturally of a good
temperature of the air, and agreeable for fruits ripe in their proper
seasons, and well watered with springs. Nay, Solomon went as far as the
desert above Syria, and possessed himself of it, and built there a very
great city, which was distant two days' journey from Upper Syria, and
one day's journey from Euphrates, and six long days' journey from
Babylon the Great. Now the reason why this city lay so remote from the
parts of Syria that are inhabited is this, that below there is no water
to be had, and that it is in that place only that there are springs and
pits of water. When he had therefore built this city, and encompassed it
with very strong walls, he gave it the name of Tadmor, and that is the
name it is still called by at this day among the Syrians, but the Greeks
name it Palmyra.
2. Now Solomon the king was at this time engaged in building these
cities. But if any inquire why all the kings of Egypt from Menes, who
built Memphis, and was many years earlier than our forefather Abraham,
until Solomon, where the interval was more than one thousand three
hundred years, were called Pharaohs, and took it from one Pharaoh that
lived after the kings of that interval, I think it necessary to inform
them of it, and this in order to cure their ignorance, and to make the
occasion of that name manifest. Pharaoh, in the Egyptian tongue,
signifies a king 15 but I suppose they made use of other names from
their childhood; but when they were made kings, they changed them into
the name which in their own tongue denoted their authority; for thus it
was also that the kings of Alexandria, who were called formerly by other
names, when they took the kingdom, were named Ptolemies, from their
first king. The Roman emperors also were from their nativity called by
other names, but are styled Cæsars, their empire and their dignity
imposing that name upon them, and not suffering them to continue in
those names which their fathers gave them. I suppose also that Herodotus
of Halicarnassus, when he said there were three hundred and thirty kings
of Egypt after Menes, who built Memphis, did therefore not tell us their
names, because they were in common called Pharaohs; for when after their
death there was a queen reigned, he calls her by her name Nicaule, as
thereby declaring, that while the kings were of the male line, and so
admitted of the same nature, while a woman did not admit the same, he
did therefore set down that her name, which she could not naturally
have. As for myself, I have discovered from our own books, that after
Pharaoh, the father-in-law of Solomon, no other king of Egypt did any
longer use that name; and that it was after that time when the forenamed
queen of Egypt and Ethiopia came to Solomon, concerning whom we shall
inform the reader presently; but I have now made mention of these
things, that I may prove that our books and those of the Egyptians agree
together in many things.
3. But king Solomon subdued to himself the remnant of the Canaanites
that had not before submitted to him; those I mean that dwelt in Mount
Lebanon, and as far as the city Hamath; and ordered them to pay tribute.
He also chose out of them every year such as were to serve him in the
meanest offices, and to do his domestic works, and to follow husbandry;
for none of the Hebrews were servants [in such low employments]: nor was
it reasonable, that when God had brought so many nations under their
power, they should depress their own people to such mean offices of
life, rather than those nations; while all the Israelites were concerned
in warlike affairs, and were in armor; and were set over the chariots
and the horses, rather than leading the life of slaves. He appointed
also five hundred and fifty rulers over those Canaanites who were
reduced to such domestic slavery, who received the entire care of them
from the king, and instructed them in those labors and operations
wherein he wanted their assistance.
4. Moreover, the king built many ships in the Egyptian Bay of the Red
Sea, in a certain place called Ezion-geber: it is now called Berenice,
and is not far from the city Eloth. This country belonged formerly to
the Jews, and became useful for shipping from the donations of Hiram
king of Tyre; for he sent a sufficient number of men thither for pilots,
and such as were skillful in navigation, to whom Solomon gave this
command: That they should go along with his own stewards to the land
that was of old called Ophir, but now the Aurea Chersonesus, which
belongs to India, to fetch him gold. And when they had gathered four
hundred talents together, they returned to the king again.
5. There was then a woman queen of Egypt and Ethiopia; 16 she was
inquisitive into philosophy, and one that on other accounts also was to
be admired. When this queen heard of the virtue and prudence of Solomon,
she had a great mind to see him; and the reports that went every day
abroad induced her to come to him, she being desirous to be satisfied by
her own experience, and not by a bare hearing; [for reports thus heard
are likely enough to comply with a false opinion, while they wholly
depend on the credit of the relators;] so she resolved to come to him,
and that especially in order to have a trial of his wisdom, while she
proposed questions of very great difficulty, and entreated that he would
solve their hidden meaning. Accordingly she came to Jerusalem with great
splendor and rich furniture; for she brought with her camels laden with
gold, with several sorts of sweet spices, and with precious stones. Now,
upon the king's kind reception of her, he both showed a great desire to
please her, and easily comprehending in his mind the meaning of the
curious questions she propounded to him, he resolved them sooner than
any body could have expected. So she was amazed at the wisdom of
Solomon, and discovered that it was more excellent upon trial than what
she had heard by report beforehand; and especially she was surprised at
the fineness and largeness of his royal palace, and not less so at the
good order of the apartments, for she observed that the king had therein
shown great wisdom; but she was beyond measure astonished at the house
which was called the Forest of Lebanon, as also at the magnificence of
his daily table, and the circumstances of its preparation and
ministration, with the apparel of his servants that waited, and the
skillful and decent management of their attendance: nor was she less
affected with those daily sacrifices which were offered to God, and the
careful management which the priests and Levites used about them. When
she saw this done every day, she was in the greatest admiration
imaginable, insomuch that she was not able to contain the surprise she
was in, but openly confessed how wonderfully she was affected; for she
proceeded to discourse with the king, and thereby owned that she was
overcome with admiration at the things before related; and said, "All
things indeed, O king, that came to our knowledge by report, came with
uncertainty as to our belief of them; but as to those good things that
to thee appertain, both such as thou thyself possessest, I mean wisdom
and prudence, and the happiness thou hast from thy kingdom, certainly
the same that came to us was no falsity; it was not only a true report,
but it related thy happiness after a much lower manner than I now see it
to be before my eyes. For as for the report, it only attempted to
persuade our hearing, but did not so make known the dignity of the
things themselves as does the sight of them, and being present among
them. I indeed, who did not believe what was reported, by reason of the
multitude and grandeur of the things I inquired about, do see them to be
much more numerous than they were reported to be. Accordingly I esteem
the Hebrew people, as well as thy servants and friends, to be happy, who
enjoy thy presence and hear thy wisdom every day continually. One would
therefore bless God, who hath so loved this country, and those that
inhabit therein, as to make thee king over them."
6. Now when the queen had thus demonstrated in words how deeply the king
had affected her, her disposition was known by certain presents, for she
gave him twenty talents of gold, and an immense quantity of spices and
precious stones. (They say also that we possess the root of that balsam
which our country still bears by this woman's gift.) 17 Solomon also
repaid her with many good things, and principally by bestowing upon her
what she chose of her own inclination, for there was nothing that she
desired which he denied her; and as he was very generous and liberal in
his own temper, so did he show the greatness of his soul in bestowing on
her what she herself desired of him. So when this queen of Ethiopia had
obtained what we have already given an account of, and had again
communicated to the king what she brought with her, she returned to her
own kingdom.
being better secured, and made stronger, [for he thought the wails that
encompassed Jerusalem ought to correspond to the dignity of the city,]
he both repaired them, and made them higher, with great towers upon
them; he also built cities which might be counted among the strongest,
Hazor and Megiddo, and the third Gezer, which had indeed belonged to the
Philistines; but Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had made an expedition
against it, and besieged it, and taken it by force; and when he had
slain all its inhabitants, he utterly overthrew it, and gave it as a
present to his daughter, who had been married to Solomon; for which
reason the king rebuilt it, as a city that was naturally strong, and
might be useful in wars, and the mutations of affairs that sometimes
happen. Moreover, he built two other cities not far from it, Beth-horon
was the name of one of them, and Baalath of the other. He also built
other cities that lay conveniently for these, in order to the enjoyment
of pleasures and delicacies in them, such as were naturally of a good
temperature of the air, and agreeable for fruits ripe in their proper
seasons, and well watered with springs. Nay, Solomon went as far as the
desert above Syria, and possessed himself of it, and built there a very
great city, which was distant two days' journey from Upper Syria, and
one day's journey from Euphrates, and six long days' journey from
Babylon the Great. Now the reason why this city lay so remote from the
parts of Syria that are inhabited is this, that below there is no water
to be had, and that it is in that place only that there are springs and
pits of water. When he had therefore built this city, and encompassed it
with very strong walls, he gave it the name of Tadmor, and that is the
name it is still called by at this day among the Syrians, but the Greeks
name it Palmyra.
2. Now Solomon the king was at this time engaged in building these
cities. But if any inquire why all the kings of Egypt from Menes, who
built Memphis, and was many years earlier than our forefather Abraham,
until Solomon, where the interval was more than one thousand three
hundred years, were called Pharaohs, and took it from one Pharaoh that
lived after the kings of that interval, I think it necessary to inform
them of it, and this in order to cure their ignorance, and to make the
occasion of that name manifest. Pharaoh, in the Egyptian tongue,
signifies a king 15 but I suppose they made use of other names from
their childhood; but when they were made kings, they changed them into
the name which in their own tongue denoted their authority; for thus it
was also that the kings of Alexandria, who were called formerly by other
names, when they took the kingdom, were named Ptolemies, from their
first king. The Roman emperors also were from their nativity called by
other names, but are styled Cæsars, their empire and their dignity
imposing that name upon them, and not suffering them to continue in
those names which their fathers gave them. I suppose also that Herodotus
of Halicarnassus, when he said there were three hundred and thirty kings
of Egypt after Menes, who built Memphis, did therefore not tell us their
names, because they were in common called Pharaohs; for when after their
death there was a queen reigned, he calls her by her name Nicaule, as
thereby declaring, that while the kings were of the male line, and so
admitted of the same nature, while a woman did not admit the same, he
did therefore set down that her name, which she could not naturally
have. As for myself, I have discovered from our own books, that after
Pharaoh, the father-in-law of Solomon, no other king of Egypt did any
longer use that name; and that it was after that time when the forenamed
queen of Egypt and Ethiopia came to Solomon, concerning whom we shall
inform the reader presently; but I have now made mention of these
things, that I may prove that our books and those of the Egyptians agree
together in many things.
3. But king Solomon subdued to himself the remnant of the Canaanites
that had not before submitted to him; those I mean that dwelt in Mount
Lebanon, and as far as the city Hamath; and ordered them to pay tribute.
He also chose out of them every year such as were to serve him in the
meanest offices, and to do his domestic works, and to follow husbandry;
for none of the Hebrews were servants [in such low employments]: nor was
it reasonable, that when God had brought so many nations under their
power, they should depress their own people to such mean offices of
life, rather than those nations; while all the Israelites were concerned
in warlike affairs, and were in armor; and were set over the chariots
and the horses, rather than leading the life of slaves. He appointed
also five hundred and fifty rulers over those Canaanites who were
reduced to such domestic slavery, who received the entire care of them
from the king, and instructed them in those labors and operations
wherein he wanted their assistance.
4. Moreover, the king built many ships in the Egyptian Bay of the Red
Sea, in a certain place called Ezion-geber: it is now called Berenice,
and is not far from the city Eloth. This country belonged formerly to
the Jews, and became useful for shipping from the donations of Hiram
king of Tyre; for he sent a sufficient number of men thither for pilots,
and such as were skillful in navigation, to whom Solomon gave this
command: That they should go along with his own stewards to the land
that was of old called Ophir, but now the Aurea Chersonesus, which
belongs to India, to fetch him gold. And when they had gathered four
hundred talents together, they returned to the king again.
5. There was then a woman queen of Egypt and Ethiopia; 16 she was
inquisitive into philosophy, and one that on other accounts also was to
be admired. When this queen heard of the virtue and prudence of Solomon,
she had a great mind to see him; and the reports that went every day
abroad induced her to come to him, she being desirous to be satisfied by
her own experience, and not by a bare hearing; [for reports thus heard
are likely enough to comply with a false opinion, while they wholly
depend on the credit of the relators;] so she resolved to come to him,
and that especially in order to have a trial of his wisdom, while she
proposed questions of very great difficulty, and entreated that he would
solve their hidden meaning. Accordingly she came to Jerusalem with great
splendor and rich furniture; for she brought with her camels laden with
gold, with several sorts of sweet spices, and with precious stones. Now,
upon the king's kind reception of her, he both showed a great desire to
please her, and easily comprehending in his mind the meaning of the
curious questions she propounded to him, he resolved them sooner than
any body could have expected. So she was amazed at the wisdom of
Solomon, and discovered that it was more excellent upon trial than what
she had heard by report beforehand; and especially she was surprised at
the fineness and largeness of his royal palace, and not less so at the
good order of the apartments, for she observed that the king had therein
shown great wisdom; but she was beyond measure astonished at the house
which was called the Forest of Lebanon, as also at the magnificence of
his daily table, and the circumstances of its preparation and
ministration, with the apparel of his servants that waited, and the
skillful and decent management of their attendance: nor was she less
affected with those daily sacrifices which were offered to God, and the
careful management which the priests and Levites used about them. When
she saw this done every day, she was in the greatest admiration
imaginable, insomuch that she was not able to contain the surprise she
was in, but openly confessed how wonderfully she was affected; for she
proceeded to discourse with the king, and thereby owned that she was
overcome with admiration at the things before related; and said, "All
things indeed, O king, that came to our knowledge by report, came with
uncertainty as to our belief of them; but as to those good things that
to thee appertain, both such as thou thyself possessest, I mean wisdom
and prudence, and the happiness thou hast from thy kingdom, certainly
the same that came to us was no falsity; it was not only a true report,
but it related thy happiness after a much lower manner than I now see it
to be before my eyes. For as for the report, it only attempted to
persuade our hearing, but did not so make known the dignity of the
things themselves as does the sight of them, and being present among
them. I indeed, who did not believe what was reported, by reason of the
multitude and grandeur of the things I inquired about, do see them to be
much more numerous than they were reported to be. Accordingly I esteem
the Hebrew people, as well as thy servants and friends, to be happy, who
enjoy thy presence and hear thy wisdom every day continually. One would
therefore bless God, who hath so loved this country, and those that
inhabit therein, as to make thee king over them."
6. Now when the queen had thus demonstrated in words how deeply the king
had affected her, her disposition was known by certain presents, for she
gave him twenty talents of gold, and an immense quantity of spices and
precious stones. (They say also that we possess the root of that balsam
which our country still bears by this woman's gift.) 17 Solomon also
repaid her with many good things, and principally by bestowing upon her
what she chose of her own inclination, for there was nothing that she
desired which he denied her; and as he was very generous and liberal in
his own temper, so did he show the greatness of his soul in bestowing on
her what she herself desired of him. So when this queen of Ethiopia had
obtained what we have already given an account of, and had again
communicated to the king what she brought with her, she returned to her
own kingdom.