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

continue a long time: and when they had introduced him into the king's
house, they set him upon the throne; whereupon all the people betook
themselves to make merry, and to celebrate a festival, dancing and delighting
themselves with musical pipes, till both the earth and the air echoed with the
multitude of the instruments of music.
6. Now when Adonijah and his guests perceived this noise, they were in
disorder; and Joab the captain of the host said he was not pleased with these
echoes, and the sound of these trumpets. And when supper was set before
them, nobody tasted of it, but they were all very thoughtful what would be
the matter. Then Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the high priest, came running
to them; and when Adonijah saw the young man gladly, and said to him that
he was a good messenger, he declared to them the whole matter about
Solomon, and the determination of king David: hereupon both Adonijah and
all the guests rose hastily from the feast, and every one fled to their own
homes. Adonijah also, as afraid of the king for what he had done, became a
supplicant to God, and took hold of the horns of the altar, which were
prominent. It was also told Solomon that he had so done; and that he desired
to receive assurances from him that he would not remember the injury he had
done, and not inflict any severe punishment for it. Solomon answered very
mildly and prudently, that he forgave him this his offense; but said withal,
that if he were found out in any attempt for new innovations, that he would
be the author of his own punishment. So he sent to him, and raised him up
from the place of his supplication. And when he was come to the king, and
had worshipped him, the king bid him go away to his own house, and have
no suspicion of any harm; and desired him to show himself a worthy man, as
what would tend to his own advantage.
7. But David, being desirous of ordaining his son king of all the people,
called together their rulers to Jerusalem, with the priests and the Levites; and
having first numbered the Levites, he found them to be thirty-eight thousand,
from thirty years old to fifty; out of which he appointed twenty-three
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