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Read Ebook: The Life of David; Or The History of the Man After God's Own Heart by Anonymous
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Ver. 20.
Ver. 27.
Ver. 31, &c.
But the event proved full as advantageous to David; as will presently appear.
Ish-bosheth does not appear to have been a man of parts, qualified to contend with such an antagonist as David; for nothing is recorded of him: Abner was the person who raised him; and had he lived, would as easily have deposed him, and though no qualifications are a security against assassination, yet, as in the case of another unfortunate monarch, Darius, king of Persia; such cowardly wretches generally take the advantage of precipitating misfortunes already commenced, that they may pay their court to the rising sun.
N. B. He supplied himself with, more wives and concubines out of his new acquisition.
Ver. 20, 25., 1 Chron. xiv. 11.
Query, whether the Lord did not sometimes smite by the hands of the priest.
Sam. vi. 7.
This story is concluded with a remark as odd as the rest of it:--"Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child until the day of her death.
Ver. 23.
The next memorable act recorded of David, is the only acknowledged crime that he ever committed; all his other transactions being reputed "right in the eyes of the Lord."
Chap. xvi. 4.
Chap. xix. 29.
Ver. 9.
Ver. 11.
Ver. 35.
It is hoped the supposition may be allowed, that the noise this righteous affair made, might be one motive for Joab's desiring David to come and partake some of the honours of the campaign: an opportunity of which he prudently laid hold: but--fatal was his presence wherever he appeared.
Kings i. 13.
It would not be easy to select any period of any history more bloody, or abounding more in wickedness of various dyes than that which is the object of the reader's present attention. Instances succeed so quick that the relation of one is scarcely concluded, but fresh ones obtrude upon notice.--But now horrors of a different hue demand our attention.
Absalom, during his exile, conceived a design of deposing his father; for after their reconciliation, his first attention was to render himself popular. To this end he set up a splendid equipage: but politically increased his affability with his magnificence: rising up early, and planting himself in the way, to salute all who came to his father's levee. Of these he kindly enquired their business, or grievances; throwing out hints of the king's remissness in the execution of justice, and how uprightly he would conduct himself, were their causes to be determined by him.
Ver. 28.
Chap. xv. 1.
Ver 2, 4.
When David was upon his journey from the city, he was met by Ziba, servant to Mephibosheth, with asses and provisions for his majesty's accommodation in his retreat: of whom, when David enquired why Mephibosheth did not come with him; this treacherous servant told him that he staid behind at Jerusalem, hoping to obtain the kingdom of his grandfather, during this disturbance: by which lying aspersion, he gained a grant of all his master's possessions.
Ver. 12, 31.
Ver. 32, &c.
Ver. 37,
Ver. 3.
Here we may introduce a circumstance, which is so far material, as it serves to shew, that the sanctity of David was not quite so universally assented to, as may be imagined, while he was living; and his actions not only fresh in memory, but more perfectly known, than possibly, was prudent to transmit to these distant ages.
Ahitophel advised Absalom to select twelve thousand men, and pursue David directly, before he had time to recover his surprize; which was certainly the best resolution that could have been formed. But Hushai, as was concerted, proposed a different plan of operations; opposing to the former, the well known valour and military skill of the old king; and the hazard of making him and his men desperate.
Chap. xvii. 1.
Ver. 8.
Ver. 4-6.
According to Josephus, David had but four thousand men.
Chap. xviii. 7.
Ver. 9.
Ver. 14.
Ver. 33., Chap. xix. 4.
It is true, he might be really concerned at the murder of Abner; but men circumstances ought to be attended to; Abner was killed prematurely; he had not finished his treacherous negociation; David had much to hope from him; but--when his expectations had been answered, it is far from being improbable, that he would have found an opportunity himself to have got rid of a man, on whom he could have placed no reliance. But to return.
Ver. 41.
Being once again supreme in command, Joab proceeded directly to the reduction of the malecontents who shut themselves up in the city of Abel of Beth-maacha: he battered the town, but by the negociation of a woman, the inhabitants agreed to throw Sheba's head to him over the wall; which they performed; and thus was quiet once more restored. Joab returned to Jerusalem, where we are told that he was general over all the host of Israel. Not a syllable appears of any notice taken by David of the murder of the general by himself appointed: and of the assassin's usurping the command of the army.
Not finding room in its proper place, it shall now be noticed, that when David was returning to Jerusalem from the reduction of Absalom's rebellion; with the men of Judah, who came to escort him, Shimei, the Benjamite, joined him at the head of a party of his own tribe.
Ver. 15, 16, &c.
Ver. 23.
Ver. 16.
We shall have occasion to refer to this passage anon.
These intestine troubles put David upon pondering how to secure himself, as far as he could forecast, from any future disturbance.
It is the part of good politicians, not only to form wise designs themselves, but also to make proper advantage of public occurrences, that all events indiscriminately may, more or less, lead to the purposes wanted to be obtained. Of this policy we shall observe David to be mindful, in the ensuing transaction. Not that a panegyric upon his contrivance in this instance is by any means intended; for certainly a more barefaced transaction was never exhibited: such indeed as could only have been attempted among the poor bigoted Jews. It is sufficient, however, that it answered David's purpose; than which more could not have been expected from the most complete stroke that refined politics ever produced. But view it in a moral light, and certainly a blacker piece of ingratitude and perfidy can hardly be imagined. It was impossible to continue the narrative without prefacing thus much.
David having with much trouble, from his competition with Ish-bosheth, established himself upon the Jewish throne; and having in the latter part of his reign been vexed, and driven to disagreeable extremities, by the seditious humour of his subjects, the rebellion of his own son Absalom, and the revolt of Sheba; his mind now fell a prey to suspicion. He called to remembrance that some of Saul's family were yet living; whom, lest they should hereafter prove thorns in his side, he concluded it expedient to cut of.
A conscience of convenient flexibility is of great use: thus David being under obligation by two oaths, forgot one, and remembered the other. When Creon, in OEdipus, was interrogated concerning his conscience, he replied--
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