Q. What was the consequence of this battle?

A. The Israelites forsook many of their cities, and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

Q. What ultimately became of the bodies of Saul and his sons?

A. The men of Jabesh-Gilead, mindful of their obligations to Saul,* went by night and took them away from the wall of Bethshan; and, after burning them, buried the bones and ashes under an oak, and fasted seven days.† For this kindness they received the

thanks of David.

Q. What tribes carried on a separate warfare in the days of Saul?

A. The Reubenites, Gadites, and the children of Manasseh. Finding Gilead too small for their immense flocks, "they made war with the Hagarites, who

* See page 153. + Used abstinence and a low diet. Chron. v. 9, 10, 18-22. In maps, Gilead is usually placed within very narrow limits, and at a great distance from the Euphrates; because it was probably considered indiscreet to assign, to two tribes and a half, an inheritance far exceeding in extent the whole of Palestine. But it is forgotten that that inheritance fell among deserts, where only a few little spots that contained springs and rivulets lie scattered, like fertile islands, in the midst of barren sands; and that it was, moreover, in many places intersected by the wandering herds of the Arabs. We must not, therefore, be guided implicitly by the maps: travellers seldom venture beyond Jordan; and rivers, mountains, and provinces are not delineated generally according to mensuration, "from real accounts, of which we have almost none, but marked at random on the empty space, according to the caprice of the designer." Mount Gilead,

fell by their hand and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east of Gilead," "unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates."

Q. How were tidings of Saul's death conveyed to David ?

A. By a young Amalekite, who, on the third day after David's return to Ziklag, brought him Saul's crown and bracelet, and gave him an account of the battle; pretending also that he had dispatched Saul at his own request. On hearing this, David and his men rent their clothes, and mourned and fasted until even; and the Amalekite was put to death for slaying the Lord's anointed. David afterwards bewailed the death of Saul and Jonathan, in a very beautiful and pathetic lamentation. A. M. 2948. Q. What followed the death of Saul? B. C. 1056. A. The Israelites flocked in great numbers to David: therefore, after seeking divine direction, he left Ziklag, and went to Hebron, whither the people assembled in great force to make him king.* He was at this time thirty years old.

properly so called, certainly lay far without the space usually included in maps of Palestine, and was at no great distance from the Euphrates; Jacob having traversed all the intervening country in eight or nine days with all his flocks and herds, with which he proceeded very slowly. Gen. xxxi. 22, 23. xxxiii. 13, 14.—See MICHAELIS's Comment. vol. i. Art. xxiii.

* It is evident from the vast numbers of armed men who assembled at Hebron, to meet David, 1 Chron. xii. 23.-37. that the Israelites were fully prepared for war. Therefore either disaffection to Saul, or dread of the military prowess of the Philistines, kept them from the field; or Saul inju. diciously hazarded a battle with an unequal force.

Q. Did David succeed at once to the whole kingdom? A. No: Abner, captain of the host, made Ishbosheth, Saul's only surviving son, then forty years old, king over Israel. Therefore David reigned only over Judah. A. M. 2950. Q. Did these princes maintain peace B. C. 1054. with each other?

A. No: after two years, a conference was held at the pool of Gibeon, between Abner and Joab, which ended in a sharp contest between their troops, and the death of Asahel, Joab's brother, who fell by the hand of Abner. A. M. 2955. Q. How long did David reign in Hebron? B. C. 1049. A. Seven years and six months.

Q. How many children were born to him there?

A. Six: Amnon the first-born, son of Ahinoam; Chileab, son of Abigail Absalom, son of Maachah, daughter of the king of Geshur; Adonijah, son of Haggith; Shephatiah, son of Abital; and Ithream, son of Eglah.*

Q. By what event was the struggle between David and Ishbosheth terminated?

A. Abner, displeased with Ishbosheth, negotiated with David to transfer the kingdom to him ;† but before he had time to effect this, he was treacherously murdered by Joab, in revenge for the death of

* The last four wives he must have married after Saul's death, because when at Ziklag, he had only Ahinoam and Abigail.-1 Sam. xxx. 5.

+ 2 Sam. iii. 6-21. David stipulated for the immediate restoration of Michal his wife.

Asahel.* Ishbosheth, however, being soon after slain in his bed by Baanah and Rechab, two of his captains, the elders of Israel and heads of the tribes went to Hebron, and covenanted with David to be their king.†

Q. How was David affected by the death of Abner? A. He lamented it very much, and pronounced a curse on Joab and his house. To show his regard also for Abner, he made Joab and all his servants attend the funeral; and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at grave of Abner."

the

Q. What became of Baanah and Rechab?

A. Thinking they had purchased David's favour by their treachery, they brought him the head of Ishbosheth; but he caused them to be put to death immediately.

Q. Did David remain at Hebron ?

A. No: he went up to Jerusalem, and reduced the strong hold of Zion, till then possessed by the Jebusites. Joab, for his bravery on this occasion, was made captain of the host.‡

Q. How many men of extraordinary might had David in his army?

Joab acted the part of the avenger of blood, but unjustly, because Asahel was slain in war, 1 Kings ii. 5.; though this circumstance was not regarded among other nations.

+ They put David in mind of his dependence on God, and the duty he owed his subjects. "The LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel."

+ 1 Chron. xi. 4—6.

A. Thirty-seven:* the most celebrated of these were Benaiah, Jashobeam the Hachmonite, Eleazar the Ahohite, Shammah the Hararite, Abishai Joab's brother, Sibbechai, Elhanan, and Jonathan.†

Q. With what foreign prince did David form an alliance?

A. With Hiram, king of Tyre: this prince sent him carpenters and masons, with cedar trees, to build him a house.

Q. To whom did David's accession to the throne give umbrage?

A. To the Philistines, who made war upon him, but received two signal overthrows in the valley of Rephaim. "And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations."+

Q. What signal act of bravery was performed in one of his wars with the Philistines?

A. David longing for some of the water of the well that was by the gate of Bethlehem, three of his mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines there in garrison, drew some of the water, and brought it to him.

* 2 Samuel xxiii. 8-39. Several others are added in 1 Chron. xi. 11-47.

+ For their exploits see 2 Sam. xxi. 15–22. xxiii. 8-21. 1 Chron. xi, 11-23. If chalal translated slain, in v. 8, 18. of the former, and in v. 11, 20. of the latter chapter, be rendered soldiers agreeable to the opinion of some critics, the sense will be more satisfactory.-See Dr. A. CLARKE'S Comment. +1 Chron. xiv. 17.