for ever. Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong and do it." He then delivered to him the gold and silver for the furniture of the temple, and also the model of the building, saying, "All this the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern." Q. What prayer did he offer as he blessed the people? A. "David blessed the LORD before all the congregation; and David said Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and : the glory, and the victory, and the majesty for all that is in the heaven and in the earth, is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and bonour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name, cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now have I seen with joy thy people which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace for the which I have made provision."* Q. How was the assembly closed? A. The congregation blessed the LORD, and on the morrow they offered burnt offerings in abundance, "and did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon-king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.” Q. How long did David survive this? A. He died soon after, aged seventy years. On his death-bed he charged Solomon to keep the commandments of God, by which means only prosperity could be secured; commanded him to put Joab to death for the murder of Abner and Amasa; advised him to use his discretion towards Shimei, but by no means to hold him guiltless; and commended to his special regard, the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite. * The words in italics here, and in all other parts of Scripture, are not in the original. The very general disuse of is and was among the Jews appears to have been the result of deep veneration for the sacred name of JEHOVAH, the letters of which, in Hebrew, constitute the verb to be. Q. Where were David's acts recorded ? A. In the books of Samuel, Nathan, and Gad, the prophets. Q. What testimony does Scripture give to David's general character ? A. "David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.' Q. What lasting monument of David's piety does the church possess? A. The book of the Psalms, of which he composed the greater part. They have been the delight and consolation of the pious in every age. A. M. 2988. Q. What is the first act recorded of B. C. 1016. Solomon ? Q. The execution of Adonijah: this prince, having solicited Abishag, one of David's wives, in marriage, was condemned to die, and was slain by Benaiah.† Q. What followed the death of Adonijah? A. "Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest * This eulogy 1 Kings xv. 5. is decisive of David's general character as a prince, (for to this portion of his life only it refers,) and its correctness is established by the fact that he is held up as a pattern of piety to many of the succeeding princes of his family. 2 Chron. xvii. 3. xxviii. 1. xxix. 2. xxxiv. 3. He was divinely instructed in the art of government, 2 Sam. xxiii. 3, 4. and appears to have ruled in the fear of God. + From 1 Kings ii. 22. it appears that Adonijah, Joab, and Abiathar had been guilty of treasonable conduct, unto the Lord," and condemned Joab to death: Joab therefore fled to the altar of the Lord, where, however, he was slain by Benaiah. Solomon afterwards appointed Benaiah captain of the host, and Zadok high-priest. Q. What became of Shimei ? A. He was ordered to confine himself to Jerusalem. This he did for three years; when two of his slaves running away to Gath, he pursued them and brought them back: Solomon hearing of this, ordered Benaiah to put him to death. Q. Of what persons did Solomon's family consist at his accession? A. Of Naamah his wife, who was an Ammonitess,* and Rehoboam his son. Q. What foreign alliance did he form ? A. He married the daughter of Pharoah king of Egypt, and received with her the city of Gezer,† which Pharoah had taken from the Canaanites. Q. Was Solomon mindful of the advice given him by David, to seek the Lord his God? : A. Yes when he was strengthened in his kingdom, he assembled the captains, judges, and governors, and went to Gibeon‡ with a great company, and there offered a thousand burnt-offerings to the Lord, upon the brazen altar. Q. By what was this followed? *This marriage, and that with Pharaoh's daughter were against the law. 1 Kings iii. 1. xi. 1, 2. xiv. 21. +1 Kings ix. 16. 1 Chron. xxi. 29. : A. "In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto, God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.-Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee: and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had, that have been before thee, neither shall any after thee have the like. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes, and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days."* Q. What memorable judgment of Solomon's is recorded? A. Two women laying claim to a child, each asserting it to be her own, Solomon proposed to divide the infant into two parts: on this the mother, anxious to save its life, instantly gave up her claim, but the king ordered that the child should be restored to her. Q. What is said of Solomon's wisdom? A. God gave him "wisdom and understanding, exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand * 1 Kings iii. 5-15. 2 Chron. 1. 6-12, |