ing way how to discover it. He bade them bring
in both the dead child and the living child; and sent one of his guards,
and commanded him to fetch a sword, and draw it, and to cut both the
children into two pieces, that each of the women might have half the
living and half the dead child. Hereupon all the people privately
laughed at the king, as no more than a youth. But, in the mean time, she
that was the real mother of the living child cried out that he should
not do so, but deliver that child to the other woman as her own, for she
would be satisfied with the life of the child, and with the sight of
it, although it were esteemed the other's child; but the other woman
was ready to see the child divided, and was desirous, moreover, that
the first woman should be tormented. When the king understood that both
their words proceeded from the truth of their passions, he adjudged the
child to her that cried out to save it, for that she was the real mother
of it; and he condemned the other as a wicked woman, who had not only
killed her own child, but was endeavoring to see her friend's child
destroyed also. Now the multitude looked on this determination as a
great sign and demonstration of the king's sagacity and wisdom, and
after that day attended to him as to one that had a divine mind.

3. Now the captains of his armies, and officers appointed over the whole
country, were these: over the lot of Ephraim was Ures; over the toparchy
of Bethlehem was Dioclerus; Abinadab, who married Solomon's daughter,
had the region of Dora and the sea-coast under him; the Great Plain was
under Benaiah, the son of Achilus; he also governed all the country as
far as Jordan; Gabaris ruled over Gilead and Gaulanitis, and had under
him the sixty great and fenced cities [of Og]; Achinadab managed the
affairs of all Galilee as far as Sidon, and had himself also married a
daughter of Solomon's, whose name was Basima; Banacates had the seacoast
about Arce; as had Shaphat Mount Tabor, and Carmel, and [the Lower]
Galilee, as far as the river Jordan; one man was appointed over all this
country; Shimei was intrusted with the lot of Benjamin; and Gabares
had the country beyond Jordan, over whom there was again one governor
appointed. Now the people of the Hebrews, and particularly the tribe
of Judah, received a wonderful increase when they betook themselves to
husbandry, and the cultivation of their grounds; for as they enjoyed
peace, and were not distracte