From the chapter "David" in Roberto Calasso's
The Book of all Books (2019 American edition,
Farrar, Straus & Giroux) transl. Tim Parks
Throughout Saul's and David's reigns,
war was constant, war without and war
within. As if a ceaseless tempest were
blowing around the lives of the first two
men to have received the royal anointment.
Both were "men of blood," burdened with
guilt, though this hardly explained the
whirlwind that followed them constantly
about. For forty years David had wanted
to build a temple, because his people had
never had one, they were still sacrificing
"on the heights." But he wasn't allowed.
Yahweh had told him: he would only be
able to prepare for the building. Every
time David planned to start the work proper,
something violent would distract him. By
virtue of the same despotic will, no sooner
had Solomon become king than everything
calmed down. To the point that Solomon
had the temerity to marry the Egyptian
pharaoh's daughter, as if an alliance with
their ancient oppressor were something
obvious, which hardly deserved mention.
And Solomon at last set about building the
Temple, made from cedarwood and whole,
uncut stones. "In the House, while it was
being built, there was no sound of hammers
or shears or other iron tools."
(page 39).
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