THE KING'S MIRROR 351 



ous project." Then King Solomon said to Benaiah the 

 captain : " Go and slay my brother Adonijah, for I would 

 rather have him suffer a swift penalty here, such as the 

 rules of the holy law provide for treason against one's 

 lord, than to have him carry a traitor's guilt to hell, 

 also Joab my kinsman, for twice he committed vile 

 j offences against King David, when he slew Abner and 

 J Amasa, two renowned captains, though they were in 

 C David's peace and protection^ But his third and greatest 

 crime is this, that he was traitor to David when he gave 

 Adonijah the royal title; surely he will be lost forever in 

 the world to come, unless he shall do penance in this 

 world by suffering a lawful punishment." 



In this case King Solomon gives clear proof that it is 

 quite permissible to break vows and promises, if what 

 has been asked or granted is contrary to what is right. 

 He granted what his mother Bathsheba the queen had 

 come to request before he knew what it was; but as soon 

 as he was aware that the prayer was a perilous one, he 

 slew the man who had originally made the request. 

 Benaiah did as King Solomon commanded and slew 

 Adonijah. But just as Joab the captain and Abiathar 

 the bishop had shared in the plans to give Adonijah the 

 royal title, they also had a share in his plan to ask for 

 Abishag to wife; and when they heard of Adonijah's 

 death, they foresaw their own destruction. Benaiah 

 seized Abiathar the bishop and led him before King 

 Solomon; but Joab fled to God's tabernacle and laid his 

 hand upon the sacred horn of the altar, as if taking vows 

 of chastity and service in God's holy tabernacle. Benaiah 



* Cf. / Kings, ii, 13 ff. 



