DAVID'S GREAT SIN. NATHAN'S PARABLE. [1095-975 B.C.

Shobach, the captain of the host. Then all the kings that were servants of Hadarezer made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

The next year David sent Joab to besiege Rabbah, and to destroy the Ammonites. While he was away, David took Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of the captains of the army, into his house: and he wrote a letter to Joab, telling him to place Uriah in the forefront of the battle, so that he might be slain. Joab obeyed this letter. Uriah was slain, and his wife mourned for him. After her mourning was past, Bathsheba became David's wife. The thing that David had done displeased the Lord, and he sent Nathan, the prophet, to reprove him. And Nathan came unto him, and said unto him, "There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him." And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the

...

PERIOD V.]

RABBAH TAKEN.

SOLOMON BORN.

sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.” David acknowledged his sin, but Nathan told him that the child of Bathsheba should surely die. The word of the Lord was soon fulfilled.

Rabbah was taken by Joab, and he sent messengers to David to tell him that he had taken the city. David then went to Rabbah; the city was entered, the king's crown was set on David's head, and there was spoil in great abundance. The people in the city were put to cruel deaths; under saws, under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and they were made to pass through the brick-kiln. Thus did David unto all the cities of the Ammonites. Soon after the taking of Rabbah, Solomon was born.

Ammon-the country of the Ammonites, descendants of Lot.

Helam-the place at which the Syrian army encamped, probably on the south-eastern frontier of Syria.

Rabbah-the chief city of the Ammonites, it was near the source of the Jabbok, and had been the residence of Og, king of Bashan.

LESSON 59.

2 SAMUEL Xiii-xv. 12.

Of David's Sons. Amnon's Wickedness. Absalom's

Conspiracy.

Absalom, the son of David, had a fair sister named Tamar. Amnon, the son of David, loved her. A subtle friend of Amnon, named Jonadab, told him how to obtain her. Amnon followed his advice, took her, and afterwards hated her. David was very angry when he heard these things; Absalom hated Amnon, though he spoke to him neither good nor bad. Soon after, Absalom made a great feast for his sheep-shearers at Baal-hazor. Amnon was invited to the feast, for Absalom was determined to

JOAB'S ARTIFICE ON BEHALF OF ABSALOM. [1095-975 B.C.

avenge his sister. He told his servants to watch when Amnon's heart was merry with wine, and when he said to them, "Smite Amnon," they were to kill him. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded: then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled. After this Absalom fled to Talmai his grandfather, the king of Geshur, and abode there three years without seeing his father.

Joab perceived that the king felt kindly toward Absalom. He sent for a wise woman of Tekoah, who told a story to the king; she said her two sons strove together in the field, that one slew the other, and that her family wanted to put her remaining son to death, and she prayed the king not to suffer it. When the king answered her favourably, she alluded to the banishment of Absalom; which led the king to think that Joab had sent her to him. He then told Joab to bring Absalom again to Jerusalem, but not before the king's face. Absalom dwelt two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king; he then sent for Joab that he might bring him to the king. Joab refused twice; at last he came to Absalom, who desired him to say unto the king, "Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me." So Joab came to the king, and told him and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom, and was reconciled to him.

The manners of Absalom were pleasing to the people, and when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, "Of what city art thou?" And he said, "Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel." And Absalom said unto him, "See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I

PERIOD V.]

ABSALOM'S CONSPIRACY.

would do him justice!" And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. After he had proceeded in this manner for a long time, he asked permission of David to go to Hebron to fulfil a vow; and he sent spies throughout all Israel, who, when they heard his trumpet, were to say, "Absalom reigneth in Hebron." He also sent for Ahithophel, one of his father's counsellors, who joined him.

Baal-hazor-the place at which Absalom kept his sheep; it is supposed to have been near a small town called Ephraim, situated in Benjamin, about eight miles from Jerusalem.

Geshur-a city in eastern Manasseh; its king was the father of Absalom's mother.

Tekoah-a city of Judah, about twelve miles south-east of Jerusalem. Amos the prophet was a herdsman of Tekoah.

LESSON 60.

2 SAMUEL Xv. 13-xvi.

David flees from Jerusalem.

A messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men

of Israel are after Absalom." And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom; make speed to depart." The king went forth, and all his household after him. And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six-hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. David tried to persuade Ittai, the captain of the Gittites, to remain at Jerusalem; but Ittai said he would be with David, whether in life or death.

DAVID FLEES FROM JERUSALEM. [1095-975 B.C.

All the people wept as David left Jerusalem and passed over the brook Kidron. And Zadok and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. And the king said unto 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 am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him." Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there. And as David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet he wept, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping. And one told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. And when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai his friend came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: unto whom David said, "Return to the city....then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

When David had passed the top of the hill, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with bread, raisins, fruits, and wine. The king inquired for Mephibosheth, and Ziba said he abode at Jerusalem. He also slandered Mephibosheth by telling David that he had said, "To-day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father." Then David said to Ziba, " Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth." At Bahurim, one of the family of Saul, named Shimei, cursed David, and cast stones at him. Abishai wanted to slay him, but David reproved him and said, "Behold, my son, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will