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Judah about their interest in the king,* Sheba, a Benjamite, seized the opportunity to raise another rebellion, in which he was joined by all the men of Israel: "bụt the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem."

Q. What means were adopted to quell the revolt of the ten tribes ?

4. Amasa was ordered to assemble the men of Judah in three days; but tarrying longer than the set time, Da'vid sent Abishai, with Joab's men, and the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, after Sheba.

Q. What happened in the pursuit ?

A. They were joined in Gibeon by Amasa, who acted. as captain of the host. Joab, however, having obtained that distinguished rank by his valour,† resolved to retain it by dispatching his rival: this he effected most treacherously, whilst giving him the salutation of friendship.‡

*The distinction between Judah and Israel, which appears to have been made as early as the beginning of Saul's reign, assumed in David's time a more political aspect; for the ten tribes conceived themselves at liberty, upon any real or apprehended grievance, to withdraw their allegiance from the house of David, 1 Sam. xi. 8. 2 Sam. xix. 9—11. 40-43. xx. 1. 2. which they did at last, effectually, because of Rehoboam's refusal to grant them redress. 1 Kings xii. 16-20.

+ See page 174. The captains of the host were next to royalty itself, which they sometimes assumed. 1 Kings xvi. 9. 16. 2 Kings ix. 6. 13. 14. Joab was evidently dreaded by David. Sam. iii. 19.

2 Sam. xx. 10. "he smote him-in the fifth rib." The word here rendered fifth, signifies also placed in order, and, from the context, evidently refers to the bowels.

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Q. What became of Sheba ?

A. He went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, in which Joab shut him up, and then laid siege to the city. To avoid the horrors of a protracted war, the citizens, influenced by a prudent woman, slew Sheba, and cast his head over the wall to Joab, who immediately retired.

Q. What national calamity happened in the reign of David?

A. A famine of three years' continuance. David therefore inquired of the Lord; and finding it inflicted because of Saul's cruelty to the Gibeonites, he consulted with that people, and at their request delivered into their hands seven of Saul's posterity, whom they hanged in Gibeah before the Lord.*

A. M. 2984. Q. Of what sint was David guilty in B. C. 1020. the latter part of his reign?

A. He ordered a census of the people; and, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Joab, and of the other captains, persisted in having it executed. Joab,

* This mysterious narrative is recorded, 2 Sam. xxi. 1—14. Some important remarks on the subject may be found in Dr. A. CLARKE'S Commentary, and Rev. T. STACKHOUSE'S Hist. of the Bible, vol. iii. b. 5. c. v.

+ MICHAELIS Conceives that David was actuated by a desire of conquest, and therefore wished all the citizens to be enrolled for the army.-See Comment. vol. iii. Art. 174.

The word Satan 1 Chron. xxi. 1, rendered an adversary, Numb. xxii. 22. 1 Kings v. 4. and elsewhere, seems to refer to some evil counsellor by whose advice David determined on this fatal measure.

therefore, and the captains of the host, went with an army through the land; and then, having completed the census in nine months and twenty days, returned to Jerusalem.

Q. What was the sum of the people?

A. "There were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.' "'*

Q. What was the consequence of this measure?

A. "The anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel" and Gad, the prophet, came to David, and gave him a choice of one of three things-three years of famine;† three months' flight before his enemies; or, three days' pestilence.

Q. Which of these did David choose?/

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A. He said, "I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD, (for his mercies are great) and let me not fall into the hand of man.' Wherefore, "the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.. And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite." And Ornan,

• Levi and Benjamin were not counted. 1 Chron. xxi. 6.

+1 Chron. xxi. 12. This must have occurred at least three years before the death of David.

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who was threshing wheat, "turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves."

Q. How was David affected by this visitation?

A. When "David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem," he and the elders, "clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces." And David said unto God, "Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house, but not on thy people, that they should be plagued."

Q. Did David receive any answer?

A. Yes he was directed by Gad, the prophet, to go up and erect an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan. This command he immediately obeyed; but Ornan no sooner knew for what purpose David came to his threshing floor, than he generously† offered him the ground for the altar, the oxen and wheat for the offerings, and the threshing instruments for fire-wood, saying, The LORD thy God accept thee."

Q. Did David receive them thus.?.

A. No: he insisted on paying the full price, saying, "I will not take what is thine for the LORD, nor offer

+ MICHAELIS thinks that Ornan or Araunali was of the royal family of the Jebusites, from 2 Sam, xxiv. 18-24.-See Comment. vol. i. Art. 62.

burnt offerings without cost."* And he built there an altar," and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD, and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar.-Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel."

Q. Was the divine displeasure averted by this atonement?

A. Yes: "the LORD commanded the angel, and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof."†

Q. How does David appear to have spent the residue of his life?

A. In preparing materials for the temple which Solomon his son was to build ; and in completing the arrangements begun by Samuel,§ relative to the various duties of the priests, Levites, and Nethinims, about the tabernacle and the house of God.

*" He who has a religion that costs him nothing, has a religion that is worth nothing: nor will any man esteem the ordinances of God, if those ordinances cost him nothing. Had Araunah's noble offer been accepted, it would have been Araunah's sacrifice, not David's. It was David that sinned, not Araunah; therefore, David must offer sacrifice.”—Dr. A. CLARKE'S Com. + 2 Sam. xxiv. 1 Chron. xxi.

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From 1 Chron. xxvi. 31. it seems these arrangements occupied the last years of David's life.

§ 1 Chron. ix. 2-22. 23-34. xxiii. 2.-xxvi. 28. David was assisted by Gad and Nathan. 2 Chron. xxix. 25.

These were the Gibeonites, so called because they were Nethinim-gifts to the sanctuary, to do the various laborious duties connected with it.-See MICHAELIS'S Comment. vol. ii. Art. 125.

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