patriarchs and prophets-第133章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


established。　Abner；　becoming　incensed　against　the　weak　and　incompetent
Ishbosheth；　deserted　to　David；　with　the　offer　to　bring　over　to　him　all　the
tribes　of　Israel。　His　proposals　were　accepted　by　the　king；　and　he　was
dismissed　with　honor　to　accomplish　his　purpose。　But　the　favorable　reception
of　so　valiant　and　famed　a　warrior　excited　the　jealousy　of　Joab；　the
commander…in…chief　of　David's　army。　There　was　a　blood　feud　between　Abner　and
Joab；　the　former　having　slain　Asahel；　Joab's　brother；　during　the　war　between
Israel　and　Judah。　Now　Joab；　seeing　an　opportunity　to　avenge　his　brother's
death　and　rid　himself　of　a　prospective　rival；　basely　took　occasion　to　waylay
and　murder　Abner。

David；　upon　hearing　of　this　treacherous　assault；　exclaimed；　〃I　and　my
kingdom　are　guiltless　before　the　Lord　forever　from　the　blood　of　Abner　the
son　of　Ner。　Let　it　rest　on　the　head　of　Joab；　and　on　all　his　father's　house。〃
In　view　of　the　unsettled　state　of　the　kingdom；　and　the　power　and　position　of
the　murderers　for　Joab's　brother　Abishai　had　been　united　with　himDavid
could　not　visit　the　crime　with　just　retribution；　yet　he　publicly

700

manifested　his　abhorrence　of　the　bloody　deed。　The　burial　of　Abner　was
attended　with　public　honors。　The　army；　with　Joab　at　their　head；　were
required　to　take　part　in　the　services　of　mourning；　with　rent　garments　and
clothed　in　sackcloth。　The　king　manifested　his　grief　by　keeping　a　fast　upon
the　day　of　burial；　he　followed　the　bier　as　chief　mourner；　and　at　the　grave
he　pronounced　an　elegy　which　was　a　cutting　rebuke　of　the　murderers。　〃The
king　lamented　over　Abner；　and　said：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Died　Abner　as　a　fool　dieth？
　　　　　　　　　　　Thy　hands　were　not　bound；
　　　　　　　　　　　Nor　thy　feet　put　into　fetters：
　　　　　　　　　　　As　a　man　falleth　before　wicked　men；
　　　　　　　　　　　So　fellest　thou。〃


David's　magnanimous　recognition　of　one　who　had　been　his　bitter　enemy　won　the
confidence　and　admiration　of　all　Israel。　〃All　the　people　took　notice　of　it；
and　it　pleased　them：　as　whatsoever　the　king　did　pleased　all　the　people。　For
all　the　people　and　all　Israel　understood　that　day　that　it　was　not　of　the
king　to　slay　Abner　the　son　of　Ner。〃　In　the　private　circle　of　his　trusted
counselors　and　attendants　the　king　spoke　of　the　crime；　and　recognizing　his
own　inability　to　punish　the　murderers　as　he　desired；　he　left　them　to　the
justice　of　God：　〃Know　ye　not　that　there　is　a　prince　and　a　great　man　fallen
this　day　in　Israel？　And　I　am　this　day　weak；　though　anointed　king；　and　these
men　the　sons　of　Zeruiah　be　too　hard　for　me：　the　Lord　shall　reward　the　doer
of　evil　according　to　his　wickedness。〃

Abner　had　been　sincere　in　his　offers　and　representations　to　David；　yet　his
motives　were　base　and　selfish。　He　had　persistently　opposed　the　king　of　God's
appointment；　in　the　expectation　of　securing　honor　to　himself。　It　was
resentment；　wounded　pride；　and　passion　that　led　him　to　forsake　the　cause　he
had　so　long　served；　and　in　deserting　to　David　he　hoped　to　receive　the
highest　position　of　honor　in　his　service。　Had　he　succeeded　in　his　purpose；
his　talents　and　ambition；　his　great　influence　and　want　of　godliness；　would
have　endangered　the　throne　of　David　and　the　peace　and　prosperity　of　the
nation。

〃When　Saul's　son　heard　that　Abner　was　dead　in　Hebron；　his　hands　were　feeble；
and　all　the　Israelites　were　troubled。〃　It　was

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　701

evident　that　the　kingdom　could　not　long　be　maintained。　Soon　another　act　of
treachery　completed　the　downfall　of　the　waning　power。　Ishbosheth　was　foully
murdered　by　two　of　his　captains；　who；　cutting　off　his　head；　hastened　with　it
to　the　king　of　Judah；　hoping　thus　to　ingratiate　themselves　in　his　favor。

They　appeared　before　David　with　the　gory　witness　to　their　crime；　saying；
〃Behold　the　head　of　Ishbosheth　the　son　of　Saul　thine　enemy；　which　sought　thy
life；　and　the　Lord　hath　avenged　my　lord　the　king　this　day　of　Saul；　and　of
his　seed。〃　But　David；　whose　throne　God　Himself　had　established；　and　whom　God
had　delivered　from　his　adversaries；　did　not　desire　the　aid　of　treachery　to
establish　his　power。　He　told　these　murderers　of　the　doom　visited　upon　him
who　boasted　of　slaying　Saul。　〃How　much　more；〃　he　added；　〃when　wicked　men
have　slain　a　righteous　person　in　his　own　house　upon　his　bed？　shall　I　not
therefore　now　require　his　blood　of　your　hand；　and　take　you　away　from　the
earth？　And　David　commanded　his　young　men；　and　they　slew　them。　。　。　。　But　they
took　the　head　of　Ishbosheth　and　buried　it　in　the　sepulchre　of　Abner　in
Hebron。〃

After　the　death　of　Ishbosheth　there　was　a　general　desire　among　the　leading
men　of　Israel　that　David　should　become　king　of　all　the　tribes。　〃Then　came
all　the　tribes　of　Israel　to　David　unto　Hebron；　and　spake；　saying；　Behold；　we
are　thy　bone　and　thy　flesh。〃　They　declared；　〃Thou　wast　he　that　leddest　out
and　broughtest　in　Israel：　and　the　Lord　said　to　thee；　Thou　shalt　feed　My
people　Israel；　and　thou　shalt　be　a　captain　over　Israel。　So　all　the　elders　of
Israel　came　to　the　king　to　Hebron；　and　King　David　made　a　league　with　them　in
Hebron　before　the　Lord。〃　Thus　through　the　providence　of　God　the　way　had　been
opened　for　him　to　come　to　the　throne。　He　had　no　personal　ambition　to
gratify；　for　he　had　not　sought　the　honor　to　which　he　had　been　brought。

More　than　eight　thousand　of　the　descendants　of　Aaron　and　of　the　Levites
waited　upon　David。　The　change　in　the　sentiments　of　the　people　was　marked　and
decisive。　The　revolution　was　quiet　and　dignified；　befitting　the　great　work
they　were　doing。　Nearly　half　a　million　souls；　the　former　subjects　of　Saul；
thronged　Hebron　and　its　environs。　The　very　hills　and　valleys　were　alive　with
the　multitudes。　The　hour　for　the　coronation　was　appointed；　the　man　who　had
been　expelled　from　the　court　of　Saul；　who　had　fled

702

to　the　mountains　and　hills　and　to　the　caves　of　the　earth　to　preserve　his
life；　was　about　to　receive　the　highest　honor　that　can　be　conferred　upon　man
by　his　fellow　man。　Priests　and　elders；　clothed　in　the　garments　of　their
sacred　office；　officers　and　soldiers　with　glittering　spear　and　helmet；　and
strangers　from　long　distances；　stood　to　witness　the　coronation　of　the　chosen
king。　David　was　arrayed　in　the　royal　robe。　The　sacred　oil　was　put　upon　his
brow　by　the　high　priest；　for　the　anointing　by　Samuel　had　been　prophetic　of
what　would　take　place　at　the　inauguration　of　the　king。　The　time　had　come；
and　David；　by　solemn　rite；　was　consecrated　to　his　office　as　God's
vicegerent。　The　scepter　was　placed　in　his　hands。　The　covenant　of　his
righteous　sovereignty　was　written；　and　the　people　gave　their　pledges　of
loyalty。　The　diadem　was　placed　upon　his　brow；　and　the　coronation　ceremony
was　over。　Israel　had　a　king　by　divine　appointment。　He　who　had　waited
patiently　for　the　Lord；　beheld　the　promise　of　God　fulfilled。　〃And　David　went
on；　and　grew　great；　and　the　Lord　God　of　hosts　was　with　him。〃　2　Samuel　5：10。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（703）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　70

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Reign　of　David


As　soon　as　David　was　established　on　the　throne　of　Israel　he　began　to　seek　a
more　appropriate　location　for　the　capital　of　his　realm。　Twenty　miles　from
Hebron　a　place　was　selected　as　the　future　metropolis　of　the　kingdom。　Before
Joshua　had　led　the　armies　of　Israel　over　Jordan　it　had　been　called　Salem。
Near　this　place　Abraham　had　proved　his　loyalty　to　God。　Eight　hundred　years
before　the　coronation　of　David　it　had　been　the　home　of　Melchizedek；　the
priest　of　the　most　high　God。　It　held　a　central　and　elevated　position　in　the
country　and　was　protected　by　an　environment　of　hills。　Being　on　the　border
between　Benjamin　and　Judah；　it　was　in　close　proximity　to　Ephraim　and　was
easy　of　access　to　the　other　tribes。

In　order　to　secure　this　location　the　Hebrews　must　dispossess　a　remnant　of
the　Canaanites；　who　held　a　fortified　position　on　the　mountains　of　Zion　and
Moriah。　This　stronghold　was　called　Jebus；　and　its　inhabitants　were　known　as
Jebusites。　For　centuries　Jebus　had　been　looked　upon　as　impregnable；　but　it
was　besieged　and　taken　by　the　Hebrews　under　the　command　of　Joab；　who；　as　the
reward　of　his　valor；　was　made　commander…in…chief　of　the　armies　of　Israel。
Jebus　now　became　the　national　capital；　and　its　heathen　name　was　changed　to
Jerusalem。

Hiram；　king　of　the　wealthy　city　of　Tyre；　on　the　Mediterranean　Sea；　now
sought　an　alliance　with　the　king　of　Israel；　and　lent　his　aid　to　David　in　the
work　of　erecting　a　palace　at　Jerusalem。　Ambassadors　were　sent　from　Tyre；
accompanied　by　architects　and　workmen　and　long　trains　laden　with　costly
wood；　cedar　trees；　and　other　valuable　material。

The　increasing　strength　of　Israel　in　its　union　under　David；　the　acquisition
of　the　stronghold　of　Jebus；　and　the　alliance　with　Hiram；　king　of　Tyre；
excited　the　hostility　of　the　Philistines；　and　they　again　invaded　the　country
with　a　strong　force；　taking　up

704

their　position　in　the　valley　of　Rephaim；　but　a　short　distance　from
Jerusalem。　David　with　his　men　of　war　retired　to　the　stronghold　of　Zion；　to
await　divine　direction。　〃And　David　inquired　of　the　Lord；　saying；　Shall　I　go
up　to　the　Philistines？　wilt　thou　deliver　them　into　mine　hand？　And　the　Lord
said　unto　David；　Go　up：　for　I　will　doubtless　deliver　the　Philistines　into
thine　hand。〃

David　advanced　upon　the　enemy　at　once；　defeated　and　destroyed　them；　and　took
from　them　the　gods　which　they　had　brought　with　them　to　ensure　their　victory。
Exasperated　by　the　humiliation　of　their　defeat；　the　Philistines　gathered　a
still　larger　force；　and　returned　to　the　conflict。　And　again　they　〃spread
themselves　in　the　valley　of　Rephaim。〃　Again　David　sought　the　Lord　and　the
great　I　Am　took　the　direction　of　the　armies　of　Israel。

God　instructed　David；　saying；　〃Thou　shalt　not　go　up；　but　fetch　a　compass
behind　them；　and　come　upon　them　over　against　the　mulberry　trees。　And　let　it
be；　when　thou　hearest　the　sound　of　a　going　in　the　tops　of　the　mulberry
trees；　that　then　thou　shalt　bestir　thyself：　for　then　shall　the　Lord　go　out
before　thee；　to　smite　the　host　of　the　Philistines。〃　If　David；　like　Saul；　had
chosen　his　own　way；　success　would　not　have　attended　him。　But　he　did　as　the
Lord　had　commanded；　and　he　〃smote　the　host　of　the　Philistines　from　Gibeon
even　to　Gazer。　And　the　fame　of　David　went　out　into　all　lands；　and　the　Lord
brought　the　fear　of　him　upon　all　nations。〃　1　Chronicles　14：16；　17。

Now　that　David　was　firmly　established　upon　the　throne　and　free　from　the
invasions　of　foreign　foes；　he　turned　to　the　accomplishment　of　a　cherished
purposeto　bring　up　the　ark　of　God　to　Jerusalem。　For　many　years　the　ark　had
remained　at　Kirjath…jearim；　nine　miles　distant；　but　it　was　fitting　that　the
capital　of　the　nation　should　be　honored　with　the　token　of　the　divine
Presence。

David　summoned　thirty　thousand　of　the　leading　men　of　Israel；　for　it　was　his
purpose　to　make　the　occasion　a　scene　of　great　rejoicing　and　imposing
display。　The　people　responded　gladly　to　the　call。　The　high　priest；　with　his
brethren　in　sacred　office　and　the　princes　and　leading　men　of　the　tribes；
assembled　at　Kirjath…jearim。　David　was　aglow　with　holy　zeal。　The　ark　was
brought　out　from　the　house　of　Abinadab　and　placed　upon　a　new　cart