An additional impulse would naturally be given to the Tyrians in regard to a Monarchy, from the fact, that in this very year the first King of Israel (being defeated in the battle of Gilboa) committed suicide, and DAVID (who was already in renown) was chosen to the Sovereignty of the house of Judah: not over all Israel,--that followed eight years after. Therefore the _second_ Hebrew King, and the _first_ Tyrian Monarch, ascended their respective thrones in the _same year_--(1056 B. C.)--and between whom there commenced, and continued, a lasting friendship. It would therefore seem that the ancient victory obtained by the Tyrians, in driving from the sea-coast the Tribe of Asher, had been acknowledged to the victors, without any resentment from the united Tribes of Israel. As the conflict on the part of the Tyrians was founded in justice against encroachment, the descendants of Abraham, feeling keenly the bondage they experienced in Egypt, could estimate and appreciate a victory, gained upon the very ground of argument which they themselves had resolved to resent,--conquer or die! Abibal reigned apparently with satisfaction to his subjects, as he did not die a violent death:--and the hereditary succession to the throne was established by the People in the reception of his Son,--Hiram,--who became the most celebrated of the Tyrian Monarchs. Abibal reigned ten years and died in the year 1046 B. C.,--and from Scripture seems to have borne the surname of Huram (_i. e._ Hiram), which has led some authors to style his son and successor, Hiram the Second. The following, however, is an extract from the letter written by the Son of Abibal to Solomon, after the death of the first King of Tyrus, wherein the father's name is distinctly stated to be Huram. The letter has reference to the Temple. "And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of _Huram_ my father's." The Phœnician writer, Dius, and others, style the first King, _Abibal_, without any surname:--if it had been borne, it is likely that it would have been mentioned. It appears, therefore, evident that the National name of the first King was Abibal only,--Huram (_i. e._ Hiram) was perhaps the family name, and assumed by the Second Monarch in remembrance of that fact, and in affection to his Parent. CHAPTER III. HIRAM THE GREAT. (1046--990 B. C.) BUILDING OF DAVID'S PALACE--THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN TYRUS AND ISRAEL--BUILDING OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE BY HIRAM--THE COMMERCE AND FLEETS OF TYRUS--THE CAUSES OF HER WEALTH AND POWER--POLICY WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES, &c.--DEATH OF HIRAM--HIS CHARACTER.