ices: he was
banished to his estate at Anathoth, and Zadok became high priest in his
stead. Joab, on learning the fate of his accomplice, felt that he was
a lost man, and vainly sought sanctuary near the ark of the Lord; but
Benaiah slew him there, and soon after, Shimei, the last survivor of the
race of Saul, was put to death on some transparent pretext. This was the
last act of the tragedy: henceforward Solomon, freed from all those who
bore him malice, was able to devote his whole attention to the cares of
government.*

* 1 Kings i., ii. This is the close of the history of David,
and follows on from 2 Sam. xxiv. It would seem that Adonijah
was heir-apparent (1 Kings i. 5, 6), and that Solomon's
accession was brought about by an intrigue, which owed its
success to the old king's weakness (1 Kings i. 12, 13, 17,
18, 30, 31).

The change of rulers had led, as usual, to insurrections among the
tributary races: Damascus had revolted before the death of David, and
had not been recovered. Hadad returned from Egypt, and having gained
adherents in certain parts of Edom, resisted all attempts made to
dislodge him.*

* It seems clear from the context that the revolt of
Damascus took place during David's lifetime. It cannot, in
any case, have occurred at a later date than the beginning
of the reign of Solomon, for we are told that Rezon, after
capturing the town, "was an adversary of Israel all the days
of Solomon" (1 Kings xi. 23-25). Hadad returned from Egypt
when "he had heard that David slept with his fathers, and
that Joab the captain of the host was dead" (1 Kings xi. 21,
22, 25).

As a soldier, Solomon was neither skilful nor fortunate: he even failed
to retain what his father had won for him. Though he continued to
increase his army, it was more with a view to consolidating his power
over the Bne-Israel than for any aggressive action outside his borders.
On the other hand, he showed himself an excellent administrator, and
did his best, by various measures of general utility, to draw closer the
ties which bound the tribes to him and to each other. He repaired the
citadels with such means as he had at his disposal. He rebuilt the
fortifications of Megiddo, thus securing the control of the network of
roads which traversed Southern Syria. He remodelled the fortifications
of Tamar, the two Bethhorons, Baalath, Hazor, and of many other
towns whic