Section 37
And again Shəlomah held converse with his son when he was alone, and he said to him, “ Why do you wish to depart from me? What do you lack here that you wouldst go to the country of the heathen? And what is it that driveth you to forsake the kingdom of Yisra'el? And his son answered and said to him, “ It is impossible for me to live here. Nay, I must go to my mother, you favouring me with your blessing. For you hast a son who is better than I am, namely lyorbe^m (Reḥav'am) who was born of your wife lawfully, whilst my mother is not your wife according to the Torah.” And the King answered and said to him, “ Since you speakest in this wise, according to the Torah I myself am not the son of my father Daviyd, for he took the wife of another man whom he caused to be slain in battle, and he begot me by her; but Elohim is compassionate and He has forgiven him. Who is wickeder and more foolish than men? and who is as compassionate and as wise as Elohim? Elohim has made me of my father, and you has He made of me, according to His Will. And as for you, O my son, you fearer of our Yahuah Elohim, do not violence to the face of your father, so that in times to come you mayest not meet with violence from him that shall go forth from your loins, and that your seed may prosper upon the earth. My son Reḥav'am is a boy six years old, and you are my firstborn son, and you hast come to reign, and to lift up the spear of him that begot you. Behold, I have been reigning for nine and twenty years, and your mother came to me in the seventh year of my kingdom; and please Elohim, He shall make me to attain to the span of the days of my father. And when I shall be gathered to my fathers, you shall sit upon my throne, and you shall reign in my stead, and the elders of Yisra'el shall love you exceedingly; and I will make a marriage for you, and I will give you as many queens and concubines as you desirest. And you shall be blessed in this land of inheritance with the blessing that Elohim gave to our fathers, even as He covenanted with Noach His servant, and with Avraham His friend, and the righteous men their descendants after them down to Daviyd my father. you seest me, a weak man, upon the throne of my fathers, and you shall be like myself after me, and you shall judge nations without number, and families \ that cannot be counted. And the Tabot of the Elohim of Yisra'el shall belong to you and to your seed, whereto you shall make offerings and make prayers to ascend. And Elohim shall dwell within it for ever and shall hear your prayers within it, and you shall do the good pleasure of Elohim within it, and your remembrance shall be in it from generation to generation.” And his son answered and said to him, “ O my Yahuah, it is impossible for me to leave my country and my mother, for my mother made me to swear by her breasts that I would not remain here but would return to her quickly, and also that I would not marry a wife here. And the Tabot of the Elohim of Yisra'el shall bless me wheresoever I shall be, and your prayer shall accompany me whithersoever I go. I desired to see your face, and to hear your voice, and to receive your blessing, and now I desire to depart to my mother in safety.”