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David prophesies the deeds after the death of Saul, already managing the beginning of the kingdom, and having spent much time in it. And this the inscription signifies, saying: “When he set on fire Mesopotamia of Syria, and Syria of Soba, and Joab returned, and smote the valley of Salt twelve thousand.” And you would find the history in the second book of Kingdoms, in which it is written: “And David smote Adraazar the son of Iaab, king of Soba, as he went to establish his hand upon the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. And David hamstrung all the chariots, and left to himself of them one hundred chariots. And Syria of Damascus came to help Adraazar king of Soba. And he smote of the Syrian twenty-two thousand men. And David put a garrison in Syria of Damascus. And the Syr 23.553 ian became servants to David, bringing gifts. And the Lord saved David in all things wherever he went.” Following these things, after a short space, it is added: “And David reigned over Israel; and David was executing judgment and justice over all his people. And Joab the son of Sarouia was over the army.” And again, after other things, it is said: “And the sons of Ammon sent, and hired Syria of Rohob and Syria of Sobal, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacha, a thousand men, and Istob, twelve thousand men. And David heard, and sent his force, the mighty men. And the sons of Ammon went out, and set the battle in array at the entrance of the gate of Syria of Soba and Rohob and Istob. And Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him, from those who were face to face; and he chose from all the young men of Israel, and set them in array against Syria,” and the things that follow these. To which the following is added: “And the servants of Adraazar saw that he was defeated before Israel, and they deserted to Israel, and served them.” Through these things the history mentioned both the Euphrates and Sobal and Syria and Joab, and the twelve thousand, and how David became master of all his enemies; and how his general Joab, having arrayed himself against the foreigners, had taken them captive. Therefore, the inscription at hand signifies those very times in which these things were done. But according to Symmachus, the things of the inscription are thus: “A song of victory for the flowers of the humble and blameless David, for succession, when, having set fire to Syria of Mesopotamia, and Syria of Sobal, and Joab returned, and smote Edom in the valley of Salt twelve thousand.” And the time indicates that the preceding things were said when David was distinguished and accomplishing great things as king, before the history concerning Bethsabee, when his affairs were proceeding well, being pleasing to God and to all; so that it was testified that he was executing judgment and justice in Israel. But it is worthwhile to be perplexed at these things, how, being in such a state, at the beginning of the inscription he says: “O God, you have cast us off and have pulled us down.” And yet he was setting up trophies against enemies, and had won victories against foes; it was fitting, therefore, on these occasions to sing victory odes, and to offer thanksgivings to God. But he does none of these things, but laments the opposite, saying: “O God, you have cast us off and have pulled us down, you have been angry, and have had pity on us.” But instead of, “and have had pity on us,” “and you have brought us around,” Symmachus translated; and the fifth edition, “and they have surrounded us;” but Aquila, “being wroth, you turned back to us.” Then he adds the following: “You have shown your people hard things; you have made us drink the wine of compunction.” But these things might seem to be unsuitable and inappropriate to the things declared in the inscription. But I do not think the inscription refers us to the end without purpose, and 23.556 “to those who

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χεῖρας μετὰ τὸν θάνατον Σαοὺλ, τὴν ἀρχὴν ἤδη τῆς βασιλείας διέπων, πολύν τε ἐν αὐτῇ χρόνον διαγενόμενος, ὁ ∆αυῒδ θεσπίζει. Τοῦτο δὲ ἐπισημαίνεται ἡ προγραφὴ φάσκουσα· «Ὁπότε ἐνεπύρισε τὴν Μεσοποταμίαν Συρίας, καὶ τὴν Συρίαν Σωβᾶ, καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ἰωὰβ, καὶ ἐπάταξε τὴν φάραγγα τῶν Ἁλῶν δώδεκα χιλιάδας.» Εὕροις δ' ἂν τὴν ἱστορίαν ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ τῶν Βασιλειῶν, ἐν ᾗ γέγραπται· «Καὶ ἐπάταξε ∆αυῒδ τὸν Ἀδραζὰρ υἱὸν Ἰαὰβ βασιλέα Σωβᾶ, πορευομένου αὐτοῦ ἐπιστῆσαι τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν ποταμὸν Εὐφράτην. Καὶ προκατελάβετο ∆αυῒδ τῶν αὐτοῦ χίλια ἅρματα, καὶ ἑπτὰ χιλιάδας ἱππέων, καὶ εἴκοσι χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν πεζῶν. Καὶ παρέλυσε ∆αυῒδ πάντα τὰ ἅρματα, καὶ ὑπελείπετο αὐτῷ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἑκατὸν ἅρματα. Καὶ παραγίνεται Συρία ∆αμασκοῦ βοηθῆσαι τῷ Ἀδραζὰρ βασιλεῖ Σωβᾶ. Καὶ ἐπάταξε τῷ Σύρῳ εἴκοσι δύο χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν. Καὶ ἔθετο ∆αυῒδ φρουρὰν ἐν Συρίᾳ τῇ κατὰ ∆αμασκόν. Καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ Σύ 23.553 ρος τῷ ∆αυῒδ εἰς δούλους φέροντας ξένια. Καὶ ἔσωσε Κύριος τὸν ∆αυῒδ ἐν πᾶσιν οἷς ἐπορεύετο.» Τούτοις ἑξῆς μετὰ βραχέα ἐπιλέγεται· «Καὶ ἐβασίλευσε ∆αυῒδ ἐπὶ Ἰσραήλ· καὶ ἦν ∆αυῒδ ποιῶν κρῖμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἐπὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ. Καὶ Ἰωὰβ υἱὸς Σαρουΐας ἐπὶ τῆς στρατείας.» Καὶ αὖθις μεθ' ἕτερα εἴρηται· «Καὶ ἀπέστειλαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἀμμὼν, καὶ ἐμισθώσαντο τὴν Συρίαν Ῥοὼβ καὶ τὴν Συρίαν Σοβὰλ εἴκοσι χιλιάδας πεζῶν, καὶ τὸν βασιλέα Μαχαὰ χιλίους ἄνδρας, καὶ Εἰστὼβ ιβʹ χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν. Καὶ ἤκουσε ∆αυῒδ, καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὴν δύναμιν, τοὺς δυνατούς. Καὶ ἐξῆλθον υἱοὶ Ἀμμὼν, καὶ παρετάξαντο πόλεμον παρὰ τῇ θύρᾳ τῆς πύλης Συρίας Σωβᾶ καὶ Ῥοὼβ καὶ Εἰστώβ. Καὶ εἶδεν Ἰωὰβ, ὅτι ἐγενήθη πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀντιπρόσωπον τοῦ πολέμου ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ πρόσωπον· καὶ ἐπέλεξεν ἐκ πάντων τῶν νεανίσκων Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ παρετάξαντο ἐξεναντίας Συρίας,» καὶ τὰ τούτοις ἑξῆς. Οἷς ἑξῆς ἐπιφέρεται· «Καὶ εἶδον οἱ δοῦλοι Ἀδραζὰρ, ὅτι ἔπταισεν ἔμπροσθεν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ηὐτομόλησαν μετὰ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐδούλευσαν αὐτοῖς.» ∆ιὰ τούτων ἡ ἱστορία καὶ τοῦ Εὐφράτου καὶ τῆς Σωβὰλ καὶ τῆς Συρίας καὶ τοῦ Ἰωὰβ, καὶ τῶν ιβʹ χιλιάδων ἐμνημόνευσε, καὶ ὡς τῶν πολεμίων ἁπάντων περικρατὴς γέγονεν ὁ ∆αυΐδ· ὅπως τε ὁ ἀρχιστράτηγος αὐτοῦ Ἰωὰβ, παραταξάμενος τοῖς ἀλλοφύλοις, ὑποχειρίους αὐτοὺς εἰλήφει. Αὐτοὺς δὴ οὖν ἐκείνους, καθ' οὓς ταῦτα ἐπράττετο, σημαίνει ἡ μετὰ χεῖρας στηλογραφία. Κατὰ δὲ τὸν Σύμμαχον τὰ τῆς προγραφῆς οὕτως ἔχει· «Ἐπινίκιον ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀνθῶν τοῦ ταπεινόφρονος καὶ ἀμώμου τοῦ ∆αυῒδ, εἰς διαδοχὴν, ὁπότε, ἐμπρήσας τὴν Συρίαν τῆς Μεσοποταμίας, καὶ τὴν Συρίαν Σωβὰλ, καὶ ἀνέστρεψε Ἰωὰβ, καὶ ἐπάταξε τὸν Ἐδὼμ ἐν τῇ φάραγγι τοῦ Ἁλὸς ιβʹ χιλιάδας.» ∆ηλοῖ δὲ ὁ χρόνος εἰρῆσθαι τὰ προκείμενα, ἐν τῷ διαπρέπειν καὶ τὰ μεγάλα κατορθοῦν βασιλεύοντα τὸν ∆αυῒδ, πρὸ τῆς κατὰ τὴν Βηθσαβεὲ ἱστορίας, ὅτε καλῶς αὐτῷ τὰ πράγματα προὐχώρει εὐδοκιμοῦντι παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ καὶ παρὰ τοῖς πᾶσιν· ὡς μαρτυρεῖσθαι, ὅτι ἦν ποιῶν κρῖμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ. Ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἄξιον ἐν τούτοις ἀπορῆσαι, πῶς, ἐν τοιαύτῃ τυγχάνων καταστάσει, ἀρχόμενος τῆς στηλογραφίας φάσκει· «Ὁ Θεὸς, ἀπώσω ἡμᾶς καὶ καθεῖλες ἡμᾶς.» Καὶ μὴν τρόπαια κατ' ἐχθρῶν ἀνίστη, καὶ νίκας κατὰ πολεμίων ᾕρητο· δέον οὖν ἐπὶ τούτοις ᾠδὰς ἐπινικίους ᾄδειν, θύειν τε εὐχαριστήρια τῷ Θεῷ. Ὁ δὲ τούτων μὲν οὐδὲν πράττει, τἀναντία δὲ ἀπολοφύρεται λέγων· «Ὁ Θεὸς, ἀπώσω ἡμᾶς καὶ καθεῖλες ἡμᾶς, ὠργίσθης, καὶ ᾠκτείρησας ἡμᾶς.» Ἀντὶ δὲ τοῦ, «καὶ ᾠκτείρησας ἡμᾶς,» «καὶ περιήγαγες ἡμᾶς,» ὁ Σύμμαχος ἡρμήνευσεν· ἡ δὲ πέμπτη ἔκδοσις, «καὶ περιεκύκλωσαν ἡμᾶς·» ὁ δὲ Ἀκύλας, «θυμωθεὶς μετέστρεψας ἡμῖν.» Εἶτα ἐπιλέγει ἑξῆς· «Ἔδειξας τῷ λαῷ σου σκληρά· ἐπότισας ἡμᾶς οἶνον κατανύξεως.» Ταῦτα δὲ ἀκατάλληλα καὶ ἀνάρμοστα δόξαι ἂν εἶναι τοῖς ἐν τῇ προγραφῇ δηλουμένοις. Ἀλλὰ γὰρ οὐκ ἀσκόπως ἡγοῦμαι τὴν προγραφὴν εἰς τὸ τέλος ἡμᾶς ἀναπέμπειν, καὶ 23.556 «τοῖς