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the Ammonites: for Hanun and his people well knew how odious the insult offered to the ambassadors would be to David, and thinking it certain that he would speedily seek to revenge it, they hired an immense number of foreign troops to be added to their own forces, that they might be prepared for the worst. Among these were twenty thousand Syrian footmen, a thousand men of king Maacah, twelve thousand of Ish-tob, and thirtytwo thousand chariots of war—a vast host, and demanding a formidable preparation on the part of the Israelites in order to cope with them.

In the meanwhile David, having heard of these movements, and perceiving the necessity of being ready to meet them, despatched a large army, under the command of Joab, to protect his territories, and to act as the occasion might demand. The Ammonites were not backward in provoking a contest. Proud of their strength, they advanced with their united forces to Medeba, a city east of the Jordan, in the southern part of the tribe of Reuben, and not far from Heshbon. There they marshalled themselves for battle, the Ammonites being near the walls of the city, and their allies at some distance in a neighboring field.

Joab, who had also been advancing, found himself at length, with his forces, between the two hostile armies. With great adroitness he immediately prepared for the emergency. He selected the choicest and most valiant of his troops, and put them in array against that portion of the en

emy which was drawn up in the field, taking the command of them himself, while he placed those who were left under the command of Abishai, to be arrayed against the Ammonites. "If," said he, addressing his brother, "the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God and the Lord do that which seemeth him good."

These arrangements being made, Joab advanced to the attack. The Syrians were soon routed and put to flight. Consternation, at the sight of this, seized the Ammonites, and they also fled before Abishai, seeking protection within the walls of Medeba. The army of the Israelites immediately withdrew from the field of battle and returned to Jerusalem, not following up the victory, either in the pursuit of the Syrians, or the siege of the city. From this it would appear that Joab was instructed not to aim at conquest, or to seek the destruction of the enemy; another striking proof of the pacific and magnanimous disposition of David.

But the self-sufficient Syrians, mistaking this movement of the Israelites for one of mere cowardice, and mortified at their late defeat, rallied again in vast numbers at the call of king Hadadezer, Shobach being commander-in-chief of the forces, and came back to renew the war.

David

SYRIANS DEFEATED.

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now went in person, at the head of an immense army, to meet them. Passing the Jordan, he came to Helam, a city supposed to be situated on the river Euphrates. Here the two armies encountered each other, and a severe battle ensued. David gained the victory. The Syrians fled before him. Immense numbers of them were slain, of those who fought in chariots and on-horses and on foot. Shobach, the commander of the Syrians, was slain by David's own hand. The success of his arms, with his personal prowess and skill, so terrified the various kings who were subject to Hadadezer, that they were glad to accept of offers of peace from David, and became tributary to him. The Syrians too, we are told, no longer dared to afford the Ammonites any aid in their future conflicts with the Israelites. See Psalms 20, 21.

CHAPTER XXVII.

DAVID'S CONDUCT IN THE CASE OF BATH-SHEBA AND URIAH.

DAVID was now nearly or quite fifty years of age, about twenty having elapsed since he was crowned king of Judah at Hebron. He had advanced, as we have seen, from one degree of prosperity to another, till he found himself the monarch of the most powerful nation on earth; beloved by his people; dreaded by his enemies; and enjoying the greatest of all blessings, the peculiar protection and favor of Jehovah.

Alas, that in the midst of such unexampled prosperity, he should forget his obligations to the Author of it, and suffer himself to fall into sin by yielding to the temptations which assailed him. It cannot be that at this time he felt deeply his dependence on God, and daily and fervently raised his supplications in secret, for the wisdom and grace which he so much needed. His successes had probably inflated his pride and self-reliance. He had gained the most triumphant victories over his earthly enemies, but now he had spiritual ones to contend with, more formidable on account of their subtlety and power. He had slain the commander of the Syrian hosts with his own arm; but he had now to cope with the prince of dark

ness, while a traitor lurked within his own bosom, and was ready to betray him into the hands of this terrific adversary of souls.

David had returned from his victory over the Syrians to Jerusalem, and after the lapse of a year, despatched the whole of his military forces. under Joab to carry on the war against the Ammonites, while himself remained behind. The Israelites having had several encounters with the enemy, in which numbers of the latter were slain, laid siege at length to Rabbah, one of their principal cities.

It was in this posture of affairs that the temptation assailed David to which allusion has just been made. He was led by it to desire to have as his wife although he could not expect to be married to her, for she was already the wife of another—a very beautiful woman of Jerusalem. Her name was Bath-sheba. Her husband was Uriah the Hittite, who was absent at this time with the army under Joab. David sent messengers to her, that he might carry his purpose into effect, and was successful. She was brought to the palace. She returned home a grievous sinner in the sight of God. David too incurred enormous guilt. He knew the divine commands, but violated them. He coveted his neighbor's wife. But his sin ended not here. Crime leads on to crime, and he who yields to temptation and commits one sin, knows not where his guilt will end.