CHAPTER XXI.

THE REIGN OF DAVID. B.C. 1056-1015.

1 David king of Judah at Hebron-Ish-bosheth proclaimed king of Isra el by Abner-Civil War-Deaths of Asahel, Abner, and Ish-bosheth. § 2. David king of all Israel-His army at Hebron-He takes Jerusalem -Alliance with Hiram king of Tyre-Forms a harem-Victories over the Philistines. § 3. Removal of the ark from Kirjath-jearim-Death of Uzzah-Second removal from the house of Obed-edom to ZionPsalms on this occasion-Divine service arranged-The building of God's house postponed by Divine command-Messianic l'salms. § 4. David's victories over the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites -Israel reaches its fullest limits. § 5. Character and Constitution of the kingdom-i. The Royal Family-ii. Military Organization-ii. Civil Administration - iv. The Religious Institutions - David's Prophetic character -- Psalmody - Levites - Double High-priesthoodCourses of the Priests-Order of Prophets. § 6. David's kindness to Mephibosheth-Touching story of Rizpah. § 7. War with the Ammonites and Syrians-Victories of Joab and David-Siege of RabbahDavid and Bathsheba-Murder of Uriah-Mission of Nathan-David's repentance-Death of David's child-Birth of Solomon-Final conquest of Ammon. § 8. SECOND PERIOD OF DAVID'S REIGN-Family troubles-Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom-Rebellion of Absalom-He is

er.

crowned at Hebron. § 9. David's flight from Jerusalem-The priests and ark sent back-Ahithophel and Hushai-Ziba and Shimei—Absalom at Jerusalem-David at Mahanaim-Disappointment and death of Ahithophel-Absalom pursues David. § 10. Battle in the wood of Ephrain-Death and burial of Absalom-David's lamentation-His return to Jerusalem-The farewell of Barzillai. § 11. Discord of Judah and Israel-Rebellion of Sheba-Joab kills Amasa-Death of Sheba -War with the Philistines-David's Psalm of Victory. § 12. THIRD PERIOD OF DAVID'S REIGN-The numbering of the people, and the three days' pestilence-The place of the sanctuary determined-Preparations for its building, and designation of Solomon. § 13. Rebellion of Adonijah-Proclamation of Solomon-David's last congregation. § 14. His final charge to Solomon-Fate of Adonijah, Abiathar, Joab, and Shimei-David's last words, death, and burial. § 15. His char

acter.

§ 1. THE battle of Gilboa left Israel in a state as forlorn as that which ensued upon the defeat of Aphek, except that the ark was not lost, and David was ready to be her deliverThe country west of Jordan was overrun by the Philis tines, who occupied the cities from which their inhabitants had fled. The surviving members of the house of Saul took refuge on the east of Jordan, while David, at the command of God, removed with his band and all his family from Ziklag to Hebron, the ancient sacred city of the tribe of Judah. Here the men of Judah came to him, and anointed him king over their tribe.' Thence he sent a message to the men of Jabesh-gilead to thank them for the honor paid to Saul's remains and to announce his accession to the throne He was now thirty years old, and he reigned in Hebron 7 years (B.c. 1056-1048). The next event recorded is Abner's proclamation of Ish-bosheth, the eldest surviving son of Saul, as king over Gilead, the Ashurites, the valley of Jez reel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, and nominally over all Israel: his residence was at Mahanaim, east of Jordan. It is added that Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and that he reigned two years. Now, as we can not suppose an interval of five years from his death to David's full recognition, and as the Philistines were in full possession of all Israel west of Jordan except where David's power extended, it would seem that Abner was occupied for five years or more (B.c. 1056–1050) in recovering the territory of the other tribes from them, after which the two years of Ish-bosheth begin to be reckoned, so as to end just before David's full recognition as king of all Israel (B.c. 1048).

'1 Sam. xxxi. 7.

2 Sam. i. 1-7, 11.

3

baal in 1 Chron. viii. 33, ix. 39. See the pedigree in Notes and Illustrations

2 Sam. i. 8-10: he is called Esh- to chap. xx.

When Abner had established Ish-bosheth's power west of the Jordan, he endeavored to conquer Judah, and a civil war ensued, which was only ended by his own death and that of Ish-bosheth. The war was commenced by Abner's advancing to Gibeon, where he was met by the forces of Judah under JOAB, the son of David's sister Zeruiah, who now takes a foremost place in the history. The Pool of Gibeon, on the opposite sides of which the armies encamped, was made memorable by the deadly combat of twelve Benjamites against twelve men of Judah, in which each man seized his adversary by the head with one hand, and with the other thrust his sword through his side, so that all of them fell down dead together. The scene of this mutual slaughter received the name of Helkath-hazzurim (the field of the strong men). In the battle which ensued, the men of Israel were routed. Abner himself was closely pursued by Asahel, one of the three sons of Zeruiah, who were as swift-footed as the wild roe. Unable to escape, and unwilling to kill Asahel, Abner twice entreated him to go after some one else, that he might have spoils to carry back with him; but, as Asahel persisted, Abner thrust him through with a back stroke of his spear, and he fell dead, to the dismay and grief of all who came up to the spot. His brothers, Joab and Abishai, pressed on the pursuit as far as the hill of Ammah, east of Giah, in the wilderness of Gibeon. There, at sunset, the Benjamites rallied round Abner, and, after a parley between him and Joab, the latter sounded the trumpet of recall, and both parties retired during the night-Abner to Mahanaim, and Joab to Hebron. The former had lost 360 men, the latter only sixteen, besides Asahel, whom they buried in his father's sepulchre at Bethlehem."

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The war went on long without any decisive action, but with a constantly increasing advantage to the side of David; "David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. At length Abner, on an insult received from Ish-bosheth, who was a mere puppet in his hands, made overtures to David, who required, as a preliminary, the restoration of his wife Michal. David made the demand of Ish-bosheth, who took Michal from her second husband, Phaltiel, and sent her to Hebron. Abner now treated with the elders of Israel, and especially with the tribe of Benjamin, reminding them of David's designation by Je

4 2 Sam. ii. 12-16. The left-handedness of the Benjamites may have con tributed to the result. 2 Sam. iii. 1.

2 Sam. ii. 17-32.

So favor

hovah, and of his services against the Philistines able was the response that he resolved to go in person to Hebron, with a guard of only twenty men, to represent to David the feelings of Israel and Benjamin. Having been welcomed and feasted by David, he promised to gather all Israel to his standard, and went away in peace. But both his journey and his scheme were doomed to a sad miscarriage.'

Joab, who stood to Abner in the relation of the avenger of blood on account of the death of Asahel, only returned to Hebron from an expedition against the Bedouins of the desert after Abner had departed. He accused the king of dismissing an enemy who had come only as a spy; and without David's knowledge, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back to Hebron under the pretense of further conference. Drawing Abner aside under the gateway of the city for private converse, Joab smote him under the fifth rib, so that he died. In this treacherous revenge for blood shed most unwillingly, and in fair fight, Joab was aided and abetted by his brother Abishai.

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Calling Jehovah to witness that he and his kingdom were guiltless for all future time of Abner's blood, David imprecated a terrible curse on Joab and his house. He then called his followers to bury Abner at Hebron with the honors due to a prince and chieftain. Joab was obliged to join in the universal mourning," and King David himself followed the bier." David's conduct formed the climax of his favor with the people, who well knew his innocence: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people." But he bitterly felt his impotence to restrain his too powerful relations, and vented his indignation in the words which have become proverbial: "These men, the sons of Zeruiah, be too hard for He added threats that the doer of evil should be rewarded according to his wickedness; but it was not till Joab had again mortally provoked him by killing Absalom, that he deposed him from his office of captain of the guard, and gave it to Amasa, whose treacherous murder filled up the measure of Joab's crimes. Even then David left his punishment as a legacy to Solomon, by whom he was put to death."

me."

Ish-bosheth, left helpless by the loss of Abner, fell a victim to the conspiracy of two of his captains, who slew him on his bed, intending to proclaim Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth (or Merib-baal), who was not only an infant, but lame. Being a child of five years old when the tidings were brought of the 2 Sam. iii. 22-27, 20.

7

72 Sam. iii. 6-21.

8

9 9 2 Sam. iii. 31–39, xix. ; 1 K. ii. 5, 6, 33, 34.

death of Saul and Jonathan, he was carried off by his nurse, who let him fall in the hurry of the flight, and so lamed him for life. His royalty was as impotent as his person; but yet he was the least unfortunate of Saul's house, from the favor which David showed him for his father's sake, and in fulfillment of their covenant. We shall hear much of him after ward; but meanwhile it is not clear from the narrative whether he was even proclaimed or brought out from his place of refuge, which, according to Josephus, was in the house of Machir ben-Ammiel, a prince of Gad or Manasseh, at Lo-debar, near Mahanaim.10

The murderers of Ish-bosheth carried his head to David at Hebron, only to meet the fate of the messenger of Saul's death. They were put to death; their hands and feet cut off, and their bodies hanged over the Pool of Hebron, while the head of Ishbosheth was buried in the sepulchre of Abner."

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§ 2. The minds of all the people were not united in favor of David. The elders came to him at Hebron, recognizing him as their brother, recalling his leadership of Israel in the time of Saul, and acknowledging that God had appointed him to feed His people Israel." So they anointed him as king of Israel at Hebron, and he made with them a covenant, based doubtless on the law given by Moses for the constitution of the kingdom, and the event was celebrated by a three days' feast." David was now at the head of a powerful army, composed of the best warriors of all the tribes, who came ready armed to him at Hebron. Judah sent 6800, Simeon 7100, Levi 4600, besides 3700 priests, under Jehoiada, with whom came the young Zadok, already famous for his valor, and destined to bring back the high-priesthood into the house of Eleazar. Even Benjamin, which had hitherto stood fast by the family of Saul, contributed 3000 men; Ephraim, 20,800, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 18,000. Two hundred captains led the whole tribe of Issachar, whose decision gained for them the praise that "they had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." The 50,000 of Zebulun were all "expert in war, well armed, firm in their ranks, and of no double heart;" Naphtali furnished 37,000 such warriors, under 1000 captains; Dan, 28,600; and Asher, 40,000. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh

10 1 Sam. iv. 4; 1 Chron. viii. 34, |tion to the kingdom of all Israel aro ix. 40; Joseph. Ant. vii. 5, § 5. omitted in the First Book of the Chron

111 Sam. iv. It deserves notice icles. that all these transactions between 12 2 Sam. v. 1-3; 1 Chron. xi. 1-3, the death of Saul and David's eleva-xii. 39.