Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/148

 i^o A History of Art in Sardinia and Jud.f.a. Damascus, and the Euphrates on the one side, and Arabia Petrœa on the other, owned his sway, and paid him tribute in money and men. 1 Philistia, though preserving its independence, acknowledged his suzerainty ; and his body-guard was composed of Ammonites, Moabites, Philistines, and Hittites. 2 Notwithstanding the drain upon the resources of the country consequent on a standing army and continuous warfare, David at his death left a full treasury. 3 Popular fancy has sought to establish a parallel between the warrior-king, David, and the man of peace Solomon ; but the antithesis will not bear close inspection ; 4 for if Solomon did not actually conduct wars himself, he kept his army employed in reducing to obedience the Canaanite tribes ever ready for an affray ; and in constructing lines of defence on all his frontiers. 5 If towards the north and south he abandoned some of David's conquests, 6 he was none the less the dreaded and powerful sovereign of Central Syria. 7 Few figures have suffered as much as Solomon at the hands of his admiring chronicler, or have had their outlines more magnified and distorted beyond recognition. The little that is known of his life makes it extremely difficult to bring his figure within reasonable dimensions, so as to seize upon some of its most salient characteristics. He was essentially, and to a remarkable degree, an Eastern potentate. He began his reign in true Oriental fashion, by putting to death all those who were likely to give him trouble ; but not being cruel by nature, once his apprehensions for his safety were removed, no other blood stained his hands during the remainder of his reign. He was a despot, but he used his power wisely. Whilst surrounded by a numerous harem, a large retinue of attendants, and all the pomp and circumstance of an Asiatic monarch, he yet kept the general direction of affairs in his own hands ; his servants, whom he knew how to choose, referred to him on all important matters ; 1 2 Sam. viii., xi., xii. 26, 31 ; xxi. 15, 22. 2 2 Sam. viii. 18 ; xi. 3 ; xxiii. 8-39 ; 1 Chron. xi. 10-47. 3 The sums of money enumerated (1 Chron. xxii. 14) are, of course, greatly exaggerated. They serve, nevertheless, to show the impression left on the public mind of the great conqueror's opulence ; and many passages scattered through 2 Sam. viii., reveal the rich booty in precious metals and worked objects amassed during his adventitious career. 4 Stade, Geschichte, torn. i. pp. 301-303. B 1 Kings ix. 20-22, 15-19. 6 1 Kings xi. 14-25. 7 1 Kings iv. 7-20 ; v. 1-6.