ers and carpenters; and if thou shalt want any thing further,
do thou add somewhat of thine own. Wherefore, if thou performest this
work, thou wilt be acceptable to God, and have him for thy patron."
David also further exhorted the rulers of the people to assist his son
in this building, and to attend to the Divine service, when they should
be free from all their misfortunes, for that they by this means should
enjoy, instead of them, peace and a happy settlement, with which
blessings God rewards such men as are religious and righteous. He also
gave orders, that when the temple should be once built, they should put
the ark therein, with the holy vessels; and he assured them that they
ought to have had a temple long ago, if their fathers had not been
negligent of God's commands, who had given it in charge, that when they
had got the possession of this land, they should build him a temple.
Thus did David discourse to the governors, and to his son.

3. David was now in years, and his body, by length of time, was become
cold, and benumbed, insomuch that he could get no heat by covering
himself with many clothes; and when the physicians came together, they
agreed to this advice, that a beautiful virgin, chosen out of the whole
country, should sleep by the king's side, and that this damsel would
communicate heat to him, and be a remedy against his numbness. Now
there was found in the city one woman, of a superior beauty to all other
women, [her name was Abishag,] who, sleeping with the king, did no more
than communicate warmth to him, for he was so old that he could not know
her as a husband knows his wife. But of this woman we shall speak more
presently.

4. Now the fourth son of David was a beautiful young man, and tall,
born to him of Haggith his wife. He was named Adonijah, and was in his
disposition like to Absalom; and exalted himself as hoping to be king,
and told his friends that he ought to take the government upon him. He
also prepared many chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
When his father saw this, he did not reprove him, nor restrain him from
his purpose, nor did he go so far as to ask wherefore he did so. Now
Adonijah had for his assistants Joab the captain of the army, and
Abiathar the high priest; and the only persons that opposed him were
Zadok the high priest, and the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah, who was
captain of the guards, and Shimei, David's friend, with all the other
most mighty men.