Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/149

 History of the Israelites and their Religion. 131 and as the lowest of his subjects had free access to him, their grievances could be easily redressed. The space of time intervening between Saul and Solomon is but a few years ; yet how far removed it seems from the days when a kid or a measure of wine was deemed a fitting present to the ruler of Israel ! x On all public occasions, be it a national festivity or on state days, when the privileged among his subjects or strangers are ushered into his august presence, Solomon is never seen save surrounded by an imposing retinue. The effect of similar recep- tions is enhanced by the amplitude and wealth of ornamentation of the architectonic setting. Conspicuous among the number of noble buildings stands out the temple, which he began to build in the third year of his reign, and dedicated to Jehovah in the eleventh. 2 His palace, no less massive, no less rich in beautiful ornamentation, adjoins the house of the Lord, eliciting the admira- tion of the beholder by its spacious courts, the number of its private and public apartments, its lofty hypostyle halls, its vast stores and frequent pavilions reserved for thousands of women composing his harem, among which figures an Egyptian princess. The people had been heavily taxed to defray the stupendous expenses incurred by these edifices and the gorgeous magnificence of his court. The country had been divided into circuits, which were to " nourish " the royal household in turn during part of the year ; and furnish press-gangs for prosecuting the works at Jerusalem and in Lebanon under the supervision of Govern- ment officials. 3 Hiram had placed the cedar and fir trees of his forests at the disposal of Solomon ; together with convoy-ships, skilful artificers, for the dressing of wood and stone, and the graving and casting of metals. Twenty cities in Galilee and a yearly tribute of wheat and oil had been yielded in exchange to the Prince of Tyre. 4 These burdens caused much disaffection, and prepared the revolt that took place under Rehoboam, 929, A.c, when the rebellious leader, Jeroboam, was proclaimed King of 1 1 Sam. xvi. 20. 2 1 Kings vi. 37, 38. 3 The passages dealing with the works under notice state that enforced labour bore upon "all Israel" (1 Kings v. 27) ; whilst a little further (1 Kings ix. 20, 22) it is as formally laid down that similar gangs were recruited among the Canaanites. Such discrepancy between the two statements is reconcilable on the supposition that when Solomon became aware of the discontent he was creating among his people, he confined similar measures solely to the Canaanites. 4 1 Kings v. 25 ; ix. 10, 14.