subdued before the Lord, and before his people. Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. Arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord."

Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And he died in a good old age full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

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1 CHRONICLES, 22, 29

Other good stories are: "The Message of Nathan the Prophet," 2 Samuel, chap. 7; The Revolt of Sheba the Son of Bichri," 2 Samuel, chap. 20;" David Numbers Israel," 1 Chronicles, chap. 21; "How Solomon Was Chosen King," 1 Kings, chap. 1;" The Last Words of the Son of Jesse," 2 Samuel, chap. 23, verses 1-7

KING SOLOMON'S CHOICE

AND Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the

chief of the fathers. So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness. And Soloman went up thither to the brazen altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, "Ask what I shall give thee.”

And Solomon said unto God, "Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?"

And God said to Solomon, "Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have

been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like."

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

And he spake three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall. He spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

2 CHRONICLES, 1; 1 KINGS, 4

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Some of the wise words of Solomon are: Sluggard," Proverbs, chap. 6, verses 6-11; Seven Things the Lord Hateth," Proverbs, chap. 6, verses 16–19; “I Wisdom,” Proverbs, chap. 8; "The Glutton and the Drunkard," Proverbs, chap. 23, verses 19-35; " The Ant, the Coney, the Locust, and the Spider," Proverbs, chap. 30, verses 24-28; “ The Lying Lips," Proverbs, chap. 12, verses 17-22 and Proverbs, chap. 19, verse 9; "The Wicked," Proverbs, chap. 4, and Ecclesiastes, chap. 8, verses 11-13; "The Little City," Ecclesiastes, chap. 9, verses 13-18; "Remember Now Thy Creator in the Days of Thy Youth," Ecclesiastes, chap. 12

THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON

THEN came there two women, unto the king, and stood before him.

And the one woman said, "O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. And it came to pass we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son."

And the other woman said, "Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son."

And this said, "No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son." Thus they spake before the king.

Then said the king, "The one saith, "This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead:' and the other saith, 'Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living."" And the king said, “Bring me a sword." And they brought a sword before the king.

And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other."