MTL - To Four Thousand Years Later-Chapter 13 The name of the devil

In today's Jerusalem city, just as the coolness of the morning disappeared, it suddenly became noisy.

The army gathered in groups and passed through the city of Jerusalem, shouting loudly.

"Close the door, close the door!"

"You are not allowed to sell things! All get out, all get out!"

Those citizens who opened the windows of their homes and sold some pottery or gadgets made by themselves were driven by the soldiers to close the windows. Sellers from outside Jerusalem were also forced to pack up their wares.

Occasionally, clay pots on the street were kicked into pieces, and food that fell to the ground was trampled. People were dragged and walked slowly towards the east of the city.

A citizen opened the window in confusion, and stopped a soldier: "Hey, what's the matter?"

"Today is the day to anoint a new king!"

The soldier raised his chin towards the east: "The priests have decided to anoint Adonijah as the new king at the altar of the Rock of Zohile today. Those who go will have food and drink!"

"... Adonijah?"

Citizens shouted in surprise, "Not Solomon?"

"Yes, it is Adonijah, long live my king—do you have a problem?"

The soldier drew his sword half way from his waist impatiently: "If you don't, close the window! Go to the Rock of Zohile, do you hear me?"

"...Oh, that's up to you. Long live my king."

The citizen gave the soldier a sideways look, and agreed feebly. Then he shook his head and closed the window with a sigh. By the way, the door was also locked from the inside.

Such a scene is repeated throughout Jerusalem—especially in the east of Jerusalem. Some people in the house went out, some didn't go out, and the people on the street were simply dragged by the flow of people and headed eastward.

In the end, half of the citizens of Jerusalem were led by the soldiers to the Rock of Zohile, a few miles east of the city.

"What happened outside?"

In front of King David's palace, a white-haired old man leaned on a stick, frowned and asked the spies who came riding a horse, "Why are you so noisy?"

"Prophet, something big happened!"

The short spy gasped for breath, and spoke very fast: "They plan to anoint Adonijah as king at the altar of the Rock of Zohile today...it was Joab and the priest Abiathar who anointed him."

The prophet's expression became tense, and he asked anxiously, "Didn't Adonijah go hunting with Solomon? Where is Solomon? Is he all right?"

"I haven't seen Your Highness Solomon yet. But some people say that Adonijah and Joab have just returned..."

The spy took the water handed over by the king's inner guard next to him, drank a can of tons, then took a breath and continued to speak quickly: "Just the two of them, Nathan the Prophet. They entered the city at dawn today. .This is what happened just now, Adonijah and the others are in a hurry. It's less than half a day away."

The prophet Nathan frowned, and asserted: "Then Solomon is probably fine. He should have something to do with Adonijah... that's it."

He handed his stick to the spies, and said in a solemn voice, "I'll trouble you one more time. Take my stick and go out from Simon, along the way Solomon and the others came back from hunting. Once you see Solomon or Zadok Priest, tell them this. The others can enter the city slowly, but Solomon and Zadok will return immediately, remember?"

"yes."

The spy nodded, mounted another horse and galloped away again.

The prophet Nathan frowned. He hesitated no more, and immediately set out to find Bathsheba, Solomon's mother.

Nathan knew very well in his heart that only he could not stop this matter.

Although Solomon was cowardly... his mother, Bathsheba, was a tough, open-minded, foresighted woman.

So far, I can only find her

Nathan went around to the inner palace to find Bathsheba, and said straight to the point, "Bathsheba... the son of that woman Haji, Adonijah is going to be king, have you heard?"

"Is there such a thing?"

Bathsheba frowned.

"Yes, there is, mother."

Solomon's voice came from the door: "I'm coming back to report this to you..."

He was still panting slightly.

Running all the way back on horseback was a moderate drain on his physical strength.

He looked at the woman in front of him with an obviously aging face, luxuriously dressed and facing calmly, and instantly confirmed her identity.

—Bathsheba, forty-five years old.

But the moment Solomon moved his gaze to the prophet Nathan, who had a faded face but bright eyes, he was suddenly stunned.

—Flauros, two hundred and thirty-two years old.

A strange green business card emerged above the prophet Nathan's head.

…Ok?

What is the matter with this person?

Solomon immediately became alert. Although it shows that this person is friends with me, but no matter how old I look at it, something is wrong...

And the name sounds strangely familiar.

The prophet Nathan did not notice Solomon's prying eyes. He just breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed a lot: "Thank God, you're back Solomon! If that's the case, I'll be able to save the lives of you and your mother Bathsheba..."

"No hurry, Nathan the Prophet."

Bathsheba suddenly said, "We need to find out what the problem is first... Solomon, what happened?"

"Adonija worshiped the demon **** and tried to assassinate me with the help of demon magic, but was discovered by me and Priest Zadok."

Solomon said succinctly.

"I see!"

Nathan and Bathsheba understood it all at once.

"This is an opportunity, Bathsheba."

The prophet Nathan, who bears the name of Floros, said quickly: "Solomon must be king, otherwise Israel will be torn apart. The kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel are connected by relying on King David... Now he is about to die, If Solomon does not have enough prestige, it may be difficult to ensure that Israel will not be divided."

"I understand what you mean."

Bathsheba nodded solemnly: "What do you need me to do, Nathan the Prophet?"

Nathan said in detail: "Well... you go to see King David first and tell him about this matter. You have to tell him in an aggrieved tone that you once said that Solomon would inherit the throne, but why is Adoni now? What about being called king? Then I will go in and tell the king again to confirm your words. Do you understand?"

"Nathan the Prophet...let me in before you go in."

Before Bathsheba could answer, Solomon suddenly said, "The king also knows that Adonija and I are out hunting. I testify that he worshiped the demon god. It will be better if you come in again."

He learned from Bathsheba the name used by this "relatively long-lived old man (probably, so he shouted directly.

"...It's okay. But can you guarantee that you won't be afraid or say the wrong thing when the time comes?"

Prophet Nathan looked at Solomon seriously: "This is a very important matter, Solomon. Can you take responsibility for your actions?"

"You are wrong. I didn't like to fight before, because I am the son of King David, and because I am the younger brother of my brothers."

Solomon said word by word, flatly: "But if I am king, I will not back down again—the Lord said, Israel will act bravely. I will remember this word."

Hearing this, Bathsheba nodded in satisfaction.

She also thought that after Solomon ascended the throne, she would still need to help Solomon through the most difficult years. It now appears that Solomon at least has the courage to face that kind of thing.

Should I say yes, thank Adonijah? His assassination of Solomon made Solomon grow up...

"That's right, Solomon." Prophet Nathan couldn't help applauding.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly saw the ring on Solomon's right middle finger, and his face changed drastically: "Wait! Solomon... where did you get that ring from?"

Solomon's heart moved, and he had some guesses about Nathan's true identity.

But he didn't change his face, and said flatly: "You may not believe it...but it did appear in my hand suddenly. There was no warning. I think this is a gift from the Lord."

"...So that's the case. So Solomon must be the king of Israel..."

Prophet Nathan’s face changed again and again, and then he became more serious than ever before: “Keep that thing safe, child. Don’t lose it, and don’t give it to anyone, including me and your mother Bathsheba—you can’t take it anymore. Yes, please don't touch me with it."

"You may not know that the ring contains a limited number of miracles. Four miracles, each of which is enough to save Israel's national destiny. Let me teach you to use it in more important places...Only I can do this..."

Nathan's tone quickened, and he became visibly excited: "Solomon will become the greatest king in Israel's history!"

He turned his head and said to Bathsheba with unprecedented assurance, "Bathsheba, you will be glorified. Your name will be forever, because you gave birth to Solomon."

"Even King David's name will be honored because of him, just because he begot Solomon—"

…I see.

Solomon stroked his ring silently, thoughtfully.

Floros...is the name of a certain demon god.

But why did his business card turn greener after he knew his secret, even greener than the greenest Bathsheba... What's the matter with such a caring attitude towards Israel?

—Speaking of which, should I sign a contract with him?

Solomon pursed his lips, and calmly reminded: "Let's go to the king first, and we'll talk about other things later. No matter what, we can't let Adonijah be king."

"Relax, Solomon."

The prophet Nathan said with affirmative tone, "I will help you."

"Israel has no savior but you—"