purpose placed it on a cart, instead of carrying it on their shoulders according to the direction of God to Moses. (Num. iv. 15.)

What followed.

This was productive of a most awful retribution: For the movement of the cart shook the ark, and when Uzzah laid his hand on it to steady it, he was struck with instant death. (1 Chron. xii. 9.)

What became of the ark.

After this fearful judgment, the ark remained three months at the house of Obed-Edom, and was then taken to Jerusalem in grand procession.

How it was attended.

The procession was attended by the high-priest, and all the chief men of the kingdom; accompanied with music and dancing, in which David himself assisted.

with it then.

What was done He intended to have built at Jerusalem a magnificent temple to deposit the ark in; but God forbade him, because his life had been spent in war.

What permission

was granted him.

He was permitted, however, to collect materials for the edifice; and was promised a son, whose reign should be peace, and who should accomplish his desire.

Against whom
David warred.

David's chief battles were against the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Edomites, and Ammonites, all of whom were either destroyed or made tributary.

these wars.

Effect of These victories produced a vast amount of spoil, so that the kingdom became immensely rich, and very pros perous.

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Section II.

DAVID'S FALL.

B.C. 1031-1019.

2 SAMUEL XI.-XVIII. 1 CHRONICLES XI. TO XX. PSALM LI.

Whence arose

The Fall of David arose from

his criminal attachment to Bathsheba,

David's fall.

the wife of Uriah.

(B.c. 1031.)

Uriah.

Who was This Uri'ah was one of David's captains, absent at the time with the army under Joab, fighting against the Ammonites.

How David proceeded.

No sooner had David conceived this wicked passion, than he sent an express to Joab: to "set Uri'ah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and then to retire from him that he might be smitten and die." (2 Sam. xi. 15.)

What was

done.

Joab obeyed this shocking mandate; Uriah was slain; and David took Bath'sheba, the widow, to be his wife.

reproved.

How David was No sooner had he done so than God sent the prophet Nathan to reprove him for his iniquity.

How he received

the reproof.

The king was struck with the deepest remorse; was assured of pardon; but, nevertheless, did not escape the severest temporal chastise

ment.

Nathan conveyed his reproof in a most beautiful parable, saying: "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 . drank of his cup, and lay on 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 took

the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him." David was exceedingly angry at this gross outrage, and said: "The man who hath done this thing shall surely die." And Nathan replied: "Thou art the man."

It appears that Uriah had only one wife, but David had several, besides his concubines. His wives were

(1.) Michal, the daughter of Saul;

(2.) Ahinoam, the mother of Amnon;

(3.) Abigail, the widow of Nabal, and mother of Daniel, son of David;

(4.) Maacah, the mother of Absalom; she also was a widow and had a daughter, named Tamah, at the time of her marriage with David;

(5.) Haggith, the mother of Adonijah;
(6) Abital;

(7.) Eglah; &c. &c. &c.;

And lastly, Bathsheba, the future mother of Solomon and several other children. (1 Chron. iii. 1-9.)

How the king was punished.

His punishments were mani

fold and of great severity:

(1.) The child about to be born of Bathsheba was struck with death;

(2.) His eldest son, Amnon, committed incest, and was murdered;

(3.) His favourite son, Absalom, rebelled, and outraged his father's concubines, as David had outraged the wife of Uri'ah;

(4.) He was driven from his throne and kingdom;

(5.) Absalom was slain; and

(6.) Lastly, "The sword never departed from his house."

Whence arose the offence of

The offence of Amnon arose Amnon. from a criminal passion for Tamar, David's daughter in-law, and Absalom's half sister. (1 Chron. iii. 9.) Having grossly abused the woman, he turned her out of doors; and she forthwith told her brother Absalom her tale of dishonour.

Mention the cir

cumstance.

proceeded.

How Absalom Absalom was shocked at the recital, and demanded vengeance of the king; but David, conscience-struck with his own sin, had not the heart to punish Amnon according to his deserts.

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