The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-11-28
LESSON STORY.

1t is as impossible for US as it was
for the Queen Of Sheba to realize, by
the utmost exercise Of our imagination,
the extent of Solomon's luxury We are
told in the previous context that his
yearly income Independent of that
which belonged to the government
that is, aside from the money secured
from merchants licenses and tribute
paid by subject kings and governors
was six hundred and threescore talents
of gold, equalling, as the scholars tell US.
fifteen million American gold dollars.
This royal income belonged personally
by royal gold-mining and international
commerce. The annalist reminds us of
the two hundred targets and three hun
dred shields, all of beaten gold, which
were hung up in one room OF the royal
summer palace in Lebanon. We are re-
minded also of his throne in the Jerusa-
lem palace, the throne not equalled in
any kingdom, "a throne made of ivory
overlaid with chased gold. and guarded
by twelve bronze lions. And all King
Solomon's drinking veSseis were of gold,
and all the vessels Of the house of Leb
anon acre pure gold: none aCere of SIT
Der. 1T sods nothing accounted of in the
days of Solomon Solomon's navy
brought from foreign lands all the Curl
Gus and beautiful products of the earth,
and the finest specimens of artistic
genius, to supply the royal museums
and galleries in Jerusalem. Caravans
came to jerusalem. bearing rare and
precious gifts for the king; the givers
being more than content, in return for
their gifts, to receive the slightest
thanks OF the great and renowned Solo
mon. The sovereigns Of the earth, far
and near, also We'd with each other in
bringing homage and costly gifts to
Israels king Solomon's equipage daz
zled the popuace; twelve thousand
horsemen and fourteen hundred chariots
we're always at his command; horses
were indeed brought in droves for him
from Egypt. He built so lavishly that
the luxurious Lebanon cedar became as
common as sycamore wood in Jerusa-
lem.
In addition to this colossal luxury aud
it's elimination Solomon gathered into
his Jerusalem palace.-rather into his
several palaces, many foreign women
whose fame for beauty awakened his
curiosity. He married those OF royal or
noble lineage; he bought handsome girls
in the slave markets. Among his wives
was one daughter Of the pharoah OF
Egypt, and many princesses OF the
Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidon-
ians and Hittites,--all being idolatrous
nations, with which the Hebrews were
by their law forbidden to intermarry.
The aggregate membership of Solomon's
famous harem is reported; seven han
bred toaves, princesses, and three hun
bred coRcubinss.
So Solomon made for himself sensu-
alist's paradise.
Duts DoCddSo uO uuuhu Using Cdu
make of himself completely and finally
an animal. Solomon, while surrounded
by all this splendor and surfeited with
ministrants to his senses. was trying in
vain to content himself in FOOLS para
disc.
The terrible fact, of manifold signifi-
canoe. is plainly. grimly told 10 these
words: His a0iUes turned aloay his
heart.
l. Solomon sinks into CalIOus
Sensualism,-vs. 4,8.
For it came to pass, lohen Solomon
loas old that has l0iUes turned atcay has
heart after other gods. Solomon began
to grow old very early. Moses, after a
strenuous life, was young at one hun
dred. and at hundred and twenty his
eye was not dimmed and his natural
force was not abated, Joshua was Wig
orous at one hundred and ten. David,