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

above also; but at the sitting place of the throne hands came out and received
the king; and when he sat backward, he rested on half a bullock, that looked
towards his back; but still all was fastened together with gold.
3. When Solomon had completed all this in twenty years' time, because
Hiram king of Tyre had contributed a great deal of gold, and more silver to
these buildings, as also cedar wood and pine wood, he also rewarded Hiram
with rich presents; corn he sent him also year by year, and wine and oil,
which were the principal things that he stood in need of, because he
inhabited an island, as we have already said. And besides these, he granted
him certain cities of Galilee, twenty in number, that lay not far from Tyre;
which, when Hiram went to, and viewed, and did not like the gift, he sent
word to Solomon that he did not want such cities as they were; and after that
time these cities were called the land of Cabul; which name, if it be
interpreted according to the language of the Phoenicians, denotes what does
not please. Moreover, the king of Tyre sent sophisms and enigmatical
sayings to Solomon, and desired he would solve them, and free them from
the ambiguity that was in them. Now so sagacious and understanding was
Solomon, that none of these problems were too hard for him; but he
conquered them all by his reasonings, and discovered their hidden meaning,
and brought it to light. Menander also, one who translated the Tyrian
archives out of the dialect of the Phoenicians into the Greek language, makes
mention of these two kings, where he says thus: "When Abibalus was dead,.
his son Hiram received the kingdom from him, who, when he had lived fiftythree
years, reigned thirty-four. He raised a bank in the large place, and
dedicated the golden pillar which is in Jupiter's temple. He also went and cut
down materials of timber out of the mountain called Libanus, for the roof of
temples; and when he had pulled down the ancient temples, he both built the
temple of Hercules and that of Astarte; and he first set up the temple of
Hercules in the month Peritius; he also made an expedition against the
Euchii, or Titii, who did not pay their tribute, and when he had subdued them
to himself he returned. Under this king there was Abdemon, a very youth in
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