[185] Prov. xi. 22, xxiv. 30-34, xxv. 25, xxvi. 8, xxx. 15. [186] _E.g._, Prov. vi. 10. [187] 1 Kings x. 1; LXX., ἐν αἰνίγμασι. See Wünsche, _Die Räthselweisheit_, 1883; Grätz, _Hist. of the Jews_, i. 162. For specimens of her traditional puzzles see the author's _Solomon_, p. 135 (Men of the Bible). [188] "And Solomon was David's heir, and said, Ye folk! we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given everything: verily this is a Divine grace" (Qur'an, _Sura_ xxvii. 15). For the legend of Solomon and the hoopoes, see _Sura_ 27. [189] According to Suidas (s.v., Ἐζεκίας) Hezekiah found his (magic?) formulæ for the cure of diseases engraved on the posts of the Temple. See Targum on Esth. i. 2; Eccles. ii. 8. [190] Job xxviii. 23, 28. [191] Prov. i. 7. [192] Ecclus. xlvii. 13-18. CHAPTER XIII. _SOLOMON'S COURT AND KINGDOM._ 1 KINGS iv. 1-34. "But what more oft in nations grown corrupt And by their vices brought to servitude, Than to love bondage more than liberty, Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty?" _Samson Agonistes._ When David was dead, and Solomon was established on his throne, his first thoughts were turned to the consolidation of his kingdom. He was probably quite a youth.[193] He was not, nor did he ever desire to be, a warlike prince; but he was compelled to make himself secure from two enemies--Hadad and Rezon--who began almost at once to threaten his frontiers. Of these, however, we shall speak later on, since it is only towards the close of Solomon's reign that they seem to have given serious trouble. If the second psalm is by Solomon it may point to some early disturbances among heathen neighbours which he had successfully put down. The only actual expedition which Solomon ever made was one against a certain Hamath-Zobah, to which, however, very little importance can be attached. It is simply mentioned in one line in the Book of Chronicles, and it is hard to believe--considering that Rezon had possession of Damascus--that Solomon was master of the _great_ Hamath.[194] He made a material alteration in the military organisation of his kingdom by establishing a standing army of fourteen hundred war-chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he dispersed in various cities and barracks, keeping some of them at Jerusalem.[195]