but that he alone might suffer. before Absalom his rebellious city to him.

2 Samuel xv.

Therefore he fled

son, and left his

A suit here means a request or petition, or a cause for judg

ment.

To submit, is to give ourselves up to the will of another, to bear patiently what is put upon us.

The gate of the city in the land of Israel, and in other countries of the East, was the place where the king, or governor, or judge, was accustomed to hold his court, to give judgment, and hear the complaints of the people. There was commonly a room within or near the gate or porch, where the court was held.

Chapter CXXEX.

THE FLIGHT OF KING DAVID FROM JERUSALEM.

WHEN David had gone forth from Jerusalem, and had passed without the gate, he stopped on the border of the brook Cedron to view the men who followed him. And all the people passed beside him, and crossed the brook towards the way of the wilderness, or desert country, on the

east side of Jerusalem; and they wept as they passed over. Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and all the Levites also, followed David, bearing the ark of God; and they set down the ark by the brook till all the people had done passing out of the city.

Then David said to Zadok, "Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me again, and show me both it, and His habitation: but if He thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here I am, let Him do to me as it seemeth good unto Him."

David judged himself to be unworthy, on account of his sins, to be followed by the ark of the Lord; and he believed that if it was God's will to preserve him through this trial, His presence would be with him, though the ark, the sign of His presence, should be with Absalom in Jerusalem; and if not, he was prepared to suffer.

So Zadok and Abiathar carried back the ark of God to Jerusalem; and David told them that he would remain near Jerusalem, in the plain of the

wilderness, until they should send him word what Absalom purposed to do.

Then king David moved onwards from Jerusalem, and went up the mount of Olives; he went up barefoot, with his face covered, and weeping as he went. And all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and went up weeping. And when he had come to the top of the mount, from which Jerusalem his city could still be seen, he stopped for a while and worshipped God; and then he went onward towards the way of the wil. derness.

And one of the people who followed David, told him that Ahithophel had joined the conspiracy of Absalom. Ahithophel had been the companion and chief counsellor of David, and his familiar friend in whom he trusted; and now he had turned against him, and was numbered among his enemies'. Then David prayed that the Lord would turn the counsel of Ahithophel to foolishness; for Ahithophel was very wise in counsel.

And as the king moved onwards from the

1 Psalm xli. 9.

mount of Olives towards the way of the wilderness, Hushai, another of his counsellors and his friend, met him, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head. But David would not let Hushai follow him; but prayed him to return to Jerusalem, and join himself to the servants and counsellors of Absalom, that he might prevent Absalom from following the wise counsels of Ahithophel, and might send him word by Zadok and Abiathar of all that Absalom intended to do. So Hushai returned to Jerusalem.

And when David came to Bahurim, a city of the tribe of Benjamin, a man of the family of Saul, whose name was Shimei, came forth and cursed David. And he cast stones at him, and at the men who followed him, and said, "Come out, come out, thou man of Belial: the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and hath delivered thy kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son." Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, one of David's captains, who was with him, said, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let

me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head." But David answered, "Let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David."

And as David and his men went on by the way, Shimei went along on the hill over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. And David said, "Behold my son seeketh my life: how much more may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, let him curse. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and will requite me good for his cursing this day."

Thus David, in his affliction, offered to God the sacrifice of a broken and contrite spirit. When he was reviled he reviled not again, but committed his way unto the Lord; for he believed that "the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, and will save such as be of an humble spirit '."

2 Samuel xv. xvi.

A conspiracy, is a plot, or a secret agreement, against a king or governor.

To requite, is to repay, to reward with good or evil.

To revile, is to reproach with angry words.

1 Psalm xxxiv. 18.