he resolved on against the advice of Joab and the rest of his officers.The taking this account took up nine months and twenty days; and the number amounted to 800,000 men fit to bear arms in Israel, and 500,000 in Judah, exclusive of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, which were not given in. The account was no sooner delivered up but David was sensible that he had acted very foolishly, and humbly confessed his sin before God; and while he was imploring his pardon and grace, the prophet Gad was sent to him, to give him his choice of three punishments, whether seven years of famine should afflict his land; or whether he would be exposed to war for three months, wherein he should be continually worsted; or to suffer a pestilence of three days. The severity of these afflicting denunciations reduced him to a great streight about the choice he had to make; however, he desired to fall into the hands of God, rather than the hands of men, for his mercies were great and therefore chose the pestilence, in which died 70,000 men. Upon David's prayer and humble remonstrance, during this afflictive providence, God bids the angel, who wus now going to destroy Jerusalem, to hold his hand and sent the prophet Gad a second time to him, commanding him to build an altar in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, where he had seen the destroying angel smiting the people: David having obeved this order, God declared his acceptance of the sacrifices offered thereon, by stopping the plague. S. Why did Gad appoint the threshing floor, of Araunah for that solemn service? T. It was here the angel ceased from destroying the people? and God might have designed this ground with the adjoining part of mount Moriah, fer the ground plot of the temple, which Solomon was to build. David purchased the threshing-floor and oxen for sacrifices, for 50 shekels of silver, and the whole top of the mountain for 600 shekels of gold. From this time he employed himself in providing materials, and settling the number of the officers, and all other necessaries for so great a work as building the temple; and the manner of the daily service of those that were to attend on it. S. Did the king settle his civil and military affairs? T. Yes; he appointed a general, secretaries, judges, and civil magis. trates, and inferior officers under them, to take cognisance of, and punish all offences, and to preserve the peace of the nation. He also appointed twelve captains with their legions to attend on the king, each a whole month in their rotations; he set a prince, or chief ruler, over each of the twelve tribes; besides those there were inferior officers, who bad the care of his treasures, and all his substance. S. Did David at this time settle also the succession to the crown? T. Before he could do this, it seems that he was seized with a distemper something like the dead pal sy; whereupon Adonijah, who was now David's eldest son, a prince of exquisite beauty, and great gallantry who had ingratiated himself very much in the affections of the people, by his splendid manner of living, and courteous behaviour, taking advantage of his father's age and infirmi, : ty, resolved to get himself declared king and having gained Joab, the general of the king's forces, and A biathar the high priest, on his side he invited all the king's sons, (except Solomon,) and all the great men of Judah (except Benaiah captain of the guards, the officers of the army, Zadock the other high priest and Nathan the prophet,) to a grand entertainment at En-rogel, where he intended to have been proclaimed king. The news of this treason was soon brought to David, who by the advice of the prophet Nathan, and at the instigation of his wife Bathshebah declared Solomon his successor; and commanded Zadock, Nathan, Benaiah, and the other officers of state to conduct him on the king's own mule, to Gihon, and there to anoint him, and proclaim him king of Israel; which was done with all possible expedition, to the great joy of the people of Jerusalem. S.. Was not Solomon also declared' king by the princes of the several tribes, and in a solemn manner? T. Yes for when David found all things were now quiet, and that his appointing Solomon his successor, pleased the people, he assembled the chiefs of all the tribes; and having addressed them on the subject of the temple which he had designed to erect for the worship of God, and the provision of all ki. 's of necessaries he had made for ti. t purpose, and also on God's designa tion of Solomon to succeed on his throne, and to build this temple to his name; he recommended to his son," in the first place, a steady and upright conduct in his administration of the government, and a pious zeal for the worship of God, and gave him a plan of the future temple he was to build, and a list of, and the courses of the priests and Levites, with the order of their attendance: and gave S. What did Adonijah and his him also some private orders, which he would have him to execute after company upon this event? his death. Then, setting the princes of the tribes an example of his bounty, by offering largely out of his own private estate towards building the temple, they contributed slso to that pious work and celebrating the day following with great festivity, and sacrifices to God, they anointed Solomon a second time king, and Za. dok to be priest. T. Every man did the best he could to provide for his own security. Adonijah fled to the altar for sanctuary; and having promised never to attempt any thing against the government for the future, he was permitted to make his submission to Solomon, who pardoned him. S. Why did David appoint Solomon to be his successor ? T. It does not appear that David was led by choice to disinherit Adonijah, his eldest, in favour of his younger son Solomon; for the eldest was much admired and indulged by his father but he was herein determined by God's special designation of Solomon to the kingdom. S. How long did David live after this? T. About six months; when perceiving his departure at hand, he exhorted Solomon to be constant in his duty to God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, his commandments, his judgments, and his testimonies he charged him also to execute justice on Joab, and on Shimei; and recommended the sons of Barzillai to his favour and protection. S. What do you mean by God's ways, statutes and commandments, judgments, and testimonies ? T. By God's ways I understand his whole revealed will: by his statutes, those constitutions which have their foundation purely in the will and pleasure of God: by his commandments, moral duties, founded in the nature of things: by his judgments, the laws belonging to the civil government, and the dealings of one man with another and by his testimonies, the law of the sabbath, passover, and other festivals instituted, in remembrance of some great events, and to testify to men the lov. ing kindness of the Lord. : S. Who was Barzillai, whose sons David recommended to Solomon's fa your? : T. He was a rich man, who had been very kind to David when he fled from Absalom, and supplied him with provisions at Mahanaim. David, at his restoration, invited the old man to Jerusalem but he excusing himself, on aocount of his age and infirmities, recommended his son Chimham to his royal favour: David promised to do all that he required; and taking Chimham with him, he settled part of his own patrimony in Bethlehem upon him; which donation was called' the habitation of Chimham in the days of Jeremiah. S. What age was David at his death? T. He died in the 71st year of his age, having reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three at Jeruslaem; and he was buried at Jeru salem, in the city of David, with great pomp and royal magnificence. His sepulchre is mentioned by St. Peter, and was to be seen in the days of St. Jerom, but is now no where to be found. S. What character has David left behind him ? T. In his frequent lapses into sins of different kinds, and some of these of the deepest dye, we see the frailty of human nature; and how liable the best of men are to be overtaken with very gross faults; and how necessary it therefore is, that we should be constantly upon our guard against all temptations and inlets to sin. David certainly is by no means excusable, for his offences; but he was no encourager of vice in his own family, nor a tame conniver at it in o. thers, had he not been sometimes restrained by reasons of state, or for want of power, from punishing it: he was true to his promises, just in his distributions, and prudent, but not crafty in his military operations, yet very capable of improving all advantages, and obviating difficulties, by 2 sharp foresight, & a singular presence of mind: he was compassionate to the distressed, a sincere friend, and a merciful enemy; never using se verity but by way of retaliation. S. What are the events in heathen story during this period? T. The heathen story in this period is so corrupted with fables, that it is difficult to discern any signs of truth in it; yet I will mention to you the heads of some of the most remarkable. In the reign of Deucalion, son of Prometheus, and about the 39th year of judge Ehud, there was a deluge in Thessaly; which gave foundation to the poetical fic tion of Deucalion and Pyrrha. is famous for the expedition of the Argonauts, and the siege of Troy; an event, from which succeeding ages have reaped advantages, not only as it is the subject of two of the noblest poems in this world; but, by the dispersion of the Greeks, many distant countries were better peopled: 'some of the Locrians were driven into Africa, others into Italy, others into Sicily, and settled themselves in such numbers, that Greck became the current language of this island; and most of the east part of Italy, was from thence called Magna Græcia. About the same time Phaeton, a great astrologer, ruled the Ligurians; whose study of the course of the sun, and an excessive drought, which, in his time, made the country near the Po, barren for many years, gave rise to the fable that goes under his name. The 14th year of judge Tolah is remarkable for the fiction of Ganymede, son of Tros, king of Phrygia. Perseus, of whom so many strange stories are found in the poets, appeared in the world about the sixth year of Jair's go. vernment in Israel. This period also CHA P. XVII. Solomon's Accession to the Throne; and Petition to God for Wisdom. He de feats the Stratagems of Adonijah, &c. Punishes Shimei: Marries the Daughter of Pharaoh-Vaphnes: Renews the Alliance with Hiram, Ter Settles the Officers of his Court, and Civil List: Builds and Dedicates the Temple; and builds several Palaces, Fortresses and Cities: Establisheth Trade and Navigation: His Riches and Magnificence: His Apostacy and Punishment. Jeroboam appointed by God to succeed Solomon. Solomon's Wives, Children, and Death. S. WHAT did Solomon upon the death of his father? T. As soon as he was happily established on the throne, he made an alliance with the king of Egypt, and married his daughter; and some time after he assembled all the princes and other great men of Israel together, before the tabernacle at Gibeon, where he offered large sacrifices; and also took the allegiance of this people to him as king, now in his own person. Here we read, that God appeared to him in a vision, and promised to grant him whatever he should ask. S. What did Solomon ask? T. That God would give him a wise and understanding heart, for the due government of the people under his charge. And God was so well pleased with this request, that he promised to superadd such abun dance of riches and honours, as should exceed those of all other kings; and further, that, upon the observance of God's commands, he should also have length of days bestowed upon him. S. What age was Solomon when he came to the crown? T. He is most probably supposed to have been twenty years old; though some have conjectured, that he was hot above twelve; herein building their opinion upon the words of Solomon, who, in answer to God in this vision, said, I am but a child. But his father, at the time he left the kingdom to him, called him a wise man Solomon, therefore on this occasion, calls himself a child, only in respect of his skill, in governing so great a people, and managing the affairs of state. S. Did he meet with no opposition? T. Not openly; but there seems to have been a design privately concerted to raise fresh disturbances and pretensions to the crown. For Abiathar and Joab, and, as some think, Shimei also, advised Adonijah to petition the king to give him Abishag the Shunamite, and his father's widow, to be his wife? which, if it could be obtained, might add another pretence to claim the kingdom, and strengthen the supposed right of Adonijah. T. Benaiah and Zadok. 6. Did Solomon take no notice of Shimei ? T. Yes: He being well apprised of his turbulent temper, and readiness to stir up sedition, ordered him to repair to Jerusalem, and there build him an house, and confine himself within a certain district. This injunction of the king, though at first received with great thankful. ness and tokens of submission, was not long kept; for Shimei, in about three years, broke his parole, and went to Gath in pursuit of some servants who had run away from him. But Solomon being informed hereof, on his return, ordered Benaiah to put him to death. S. Did Solomon do well in proceeding thus against these men ? T. He punished men indeed who seem to have been above the reach of the law before, but whose treasons and crimes had deserved death: here S. How did Solomon receive this by also he cut off the heads of the petition? T. Adonijah engaged Solomon's mother Bathshebah, to present it, but the king presently perceived the drift of such a request; and that Adonijah's ambitious design in this suit aimed at the kingdom; he therefore rejected it with indignation, and sent Lenaiah immediately to put him to death; removed Abiathar from the priesthood, and banished him to his own estate at Anathoth, a Levitical city; and hearing that Joab was fled to take sanctuary at the altar in the Tabernacle at Gibeon, he ordered Benaiah also to fail upon him and kill him there, if he refused to be taken from thence. faction that were against him and his family, and secured the peace of the kingdom, and stability of his throne. S What did he do then? 7. His next care was to strengthen his interest abroad. He took in marriage the daughter of Pharaoh Vaphres king of Egypt, as I have already mentioned; whereby he gained a powerful ally in case of necessity: and renewed his father's alliance with Hiram king of Tyre, and with other neighbouring free states. These he managed so dexterously, that he enjoyed a profound peace, and governed with an absolute power all the dominions, from the river Euphrates on the east, to the land of S. Who succeeded Joab and Abi- the Philistines on the Mediterrancan athar? sea on the west, and to the river |