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From the Death of Saul to the Death of David - Flavius Josephus

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entreated for this so earnestly, <strong>the</strong> king said, "I dismiss <strong>the</strong>e, but thou shalt<br />

grant me thy son Chimham, and upon him I will bes<strong>to</strong>w all sorts <strong>of</strong> good<br />

things." So Barzillai left his son with him, and worshipped <strong>the</strong> king, and<br />

wished him a prosperous conclusion <strong>of</strong> all his affairs according <strong>to</strong> his own<br />

mind, and <strong>the</strong>n returned home; but <strong>David</strong> came <strong>to</strong> Gilgal, having about him<br />

half <strong>the</strong> people [<strong>of</strong> Israel], and <strong>the</strong> [whole] tribe <strong>of</strong> Judah.<br />

5. Now <strong>the</strong> principal men <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country came <strong>to</strong> Gilgal <strong>to</strong> him with a<br />

great multitude, and complained <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tribe <strong>of</strong> Judah, that <strong>the</strong>y had come <strong>to</strong><br />

him in a private manner; whereas <strong>the</strong>y ought all conjointly, and with one and<br />

<strong>the</strong> same intention, <strong>to</strong> have given him <strong>the</strong> meeting. But <strong>the</strong> rulers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tribe<br />

<strong>of</strong> Judah desired <strong>the</strong>m not <strong>to</strong> be displeased, if <strong>the</strong>y had been prevented by<br />

<strong>the</strong>m; for, said <strong>the</strong>y, "We are <strong>David</strong>'s kinsmen, and on that account we <strong>the</strong><br />

ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong>ok care <strong>of</strong> him, and loved him, and. so came first <strong>to</strong> him;" yet had<br />

<strong>the</strong>y not, by <strong>the</strong>ir early coming, received any gifts from him, which might<br />

give <strong>the</strong>m who came last any uneasiness. When <strong>the</strong> rulers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tribe <strong>of</strong><br />

Judah had said this, <strong>the</strong> rulers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r tribes were not quiet, but said<br />

fur<strong>the</strong>r, "O brethren, we cannot but wonder at you when you call <strong>the</strong> king<br />

your kinsman alone, whereas he that hath received from God <strong>the</strong> power over<br />

all <strong>of</strong> us in common ought <strong>to</strong> be esteemed a kinsman <strong>to</strong> us all; for which<br />

reason <strong>the</strong> whole people have eleven parts in him, and you but one part (2)<br />

we are also elder than you; wherefore you have not done justly in coming <strong>to</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> king in this private and concealed manner."<br />

6. While <strong>the</strong>se rulers were thus disputing one with ano<strong>the</strong>r,. a certain<br />

wicked man, who <strong>to</strong>ok a pleasure in seditious practices, (his name was<br />

Sheba, <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> Bichri, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tribe <strong>of</strong> Benjamin,) s<strong>to</strong>od up in <strong>the</strong> midst <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> multitude, and cried aloud, and spake thus <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>m: "We have no part in<br />

<strong>David</strong>, nor inheritance in <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> Jesse." And when he had used those<br />

words, he blew with a trumpet, and declared war against <strong>the</strong> king; and <strong>the</strong>y<br />

all left <strong>David</strong>, and followed him; <strong>the</strong> tribe <strong>of</strong> Judah alone staid with him, and<br />

settled him in his royal palace at Jerusalem. But as for his concubines, with<br />

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