The income of the Israelitish kings, with which they defrayed the expenses of their court and administration, was derived from voluntary but (as still in the East; see Kampfer, Aman. p. 95) valuable presents from their subjects in Palestine and the dependencies (1 Sam. x, 27; xvi, 20; 2 Sam. viii, 2, 11; 1 Kings x, 25; comp. Herod, iii, 87, 97; ^lian, V. II. i, 31 ; Heeren, Ideen, I, i, 225 sq., 483), from public domains and royal posses- sions, consisting of lands, vineyards, and olive-yards (1 Sam. viii, 14 ; 1 Chron. xxvii, 26 sq. ; 2 Chron. xxvi, 10; comp. Josephus, Ant. vi, 13, 10; xiv, 10, 6), which sometimes fell to the crown by confiscation of private property (1 Kings xxi, 16 sq. ; comp. Ezek. xlvi, 18; see Kampfer, ut siip. p. 96), from monopolies (I Kings X, 11 sq., 26 sq. ; Amos vii, 1), from public services (1 Kings V, 13 ; ix, 21 ; comp. 1 Sam. viii, 13), and from regular taxes in kind (comp. 1 Sam. viii, 15; xvii, 25), which were farmed by head collectors (Isa. xvi, 1 ; Ec- cles. ii, 8). At times there is mention of an extraor- dinary levy upon personal property (2 Kings xxiii, 35) ; and the king also claimed a share of the booty ob-:
MONARCHY
452
MONASTERY
tained in war (2 Sam. viii, 11 sq.)- See Assessmkxt. Hence came the at times so considerable royal treasures (1 Kings X, '21; xiv, 2G; 2 Kings xiv, 14), the rich wardrobes (2 Kings x, 22), the palaces and parks (1 Kings vii, 9; xix, 2; 2 Kings xxi, 18; xxv, 4; Jer. xxxix, 4; lii, 7; Cant, viii, 11), the sumptuously served table (1 Kings iv, 22 sq. ; comp. Dan. v, 1 sq. ; Esth. i, j 3 sq.), to which it was esteemed a great distinction to be invited as a regular guest (2 Sam. ix, 7 ; see Morier, Second Journey, p. 148 ; Kosenmiiller, Morgenl. iii, 1G3 ; comp. 2 Kings xxv, 29; Dan. i, 5; Herod, iii, 132; Hecren, hkert, I, i, 217). An especial mark of royal , luxury was a well-stocked harem (2 Sam. v, 13 ; 1 Kings ' xi, 1 sq. ; xx, 8 ; comp. Quint. Curt, iii, 3, 24 ; Athen. xii, 514; Plutarch, Artax. c. 43), which was guarded by eunuchs, and descended to the succeeduig king (2 Sam. xii, 8; comp. Herod, iii, ti8; the regulation in Deut. xvii, 17 was interpreted as a limit of eighteen wives, Schickard, Jus. recj, p. 175). See Harem. To aspire to a connection witli this was equivalent to being a pretender to the throne (2 Sam. xvi, 22; 1 Kings ii, 21 sq. ; comp. Movers, Phonic, i, 491). See Absaloji. Among the holidays, the day of the king's birth or as- cension was prominent (IIos. vii, 5; Matt, xiv, 6; comp. Gen. xl, 20; Herod, i, 133; ix, 109; Josephus, /I «^ vii, 3, 1). Music at court and table is early mentioned (2 | Sam. xix, 35; Eccles. ii, 8). Kings expressed their fa- vor by rich presents, especially of arms and apparel [sec Gikt] ; and on royal festive days malefactors were par- doned or their punishment was postponed (1 Sam. xi, 13; 2 Sam. xix, 22 sq. ; comp. Gen. xl, 20; see Pliilo, ii, 529). It was, however, a still more distinguished honor when the king invited any one to sit at his right hand (1 Kings ii, 19 ; comp. Sueton. Nero, 13 ; Wetstein, N. T. i, 45G). The reverence paid to the monarch was very great (Prov. xxiv, 21); persons fell prostrate in liis presence, so as to touch the forehead to the earth (1 Sam. xxiv, 9; xxv, 23; 2 Sam. ix, 6; xix, 18; even females of royal rank did the same, 1 Kings i, 16), dis- mounted in the street on meeting him (1 Sam. xxv, 23), and greeted him with salvos in the streets and at audiences (Dan. ii, 4; iii, 9; comp. Josephus, War, ii, 1, 1 ; see Eosenm idler, Morgenl. iv, 350). A high no- tion was entertained of his sagacity (2 Sam. xiv, 17; xix, 27 ; comp. Kosenmiiller, Morgenl. iii, 142 sq.). His entrance into a citj' was signalized by pomp (2 Kings ix, 13; 1 Sam. xviii, G sq. ; comp. .losephus, Ant. xvi, 2, 1). Of the rank of the early Hebrew kings of course nothing can be particularly said ; but in later times those created by the Komans held the honor of the sen- atorial order (comp. Josephus, .1 nt. xiv, 10, G). Whether in their edicts the Israelitish monarchs, like the Persian (Ezra i V, 18 ; vii, 24), Syrian (I Jlacc. x, 19 ; xi, 31 ; xv, 19), and Egyptian (3 Mace, iii, 14 ; vii, 2), issued their edicts in the plural number (see Fromann, Opusc. i, 202 Sq.), is uncertain (comp. Theodoret, Quasi, in Genes. 19). Any infringement of the regal majesty was followed by the death pCiialty (1 Kings xxi, 10), or if perpetrated by a member of tlie royal family, it incurred an igno- minious expulsion from court (2 Sam. xiv, 24, 25). In general Hebrew kings were quite as popular as other Oriental monarchs (Ksth. i, 14; iv, 11; Herod, i, 99; iii, 140; Diod. Sic. ii, 21 ; iii, 47; Agatharch. ed. Hud- son, i, G3; Strabo, xvii, 821 ; Harmer, ii, 95; LlUlecke, Beschr, d. tiirk. Reichs, p. 27G), often exhibited tliem- selves in the midst of their subjects (2 Sam. xix, 8; 1 Kings XX, 39; xxii, W; 2 Kings vi, 2G; vii. 17; Jer. xxxviii,7), and were affable with them (1 Kings iii, 15; 2 Kings vi, 2G sq. ; viii, 3 sq., etc.), even to the extent of (lersonal intercourse (1 Kings xxi, 2 sq. ; for later in- dications, see the IMislina, iSanhedr. ii, 2 sq.). After their death the kings were laid in royal scpulclires (tho.se of Judah in Jerusalem) (1 Kings ii, 10; xi, 43; xiv, 31, etc.), but tlic wicked ones were sometimes de- nied this honor (2 Chron. xxviii, 27 [? xxvi, 23]), which, nevertheless, does not argue tlie adi>i)tion of a death-tribunal on the Israelitish monarclis (IJosenmilUer,