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diff --git a/old/40980-h/40980-h.htm b/old/40980-h/40980-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 3942059..0000000 --- a/old/40980-h/40980-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3225 +0,0 @@ -<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> - -<!DOCTYPE html - PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > - -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> - <head> - <title> - The Life of David, by Anonymous - </title> - <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> - - body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} - P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } - H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } - hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} - .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } - blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} - .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} - .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} - .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} - div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } - div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } - .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} - .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} - .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; - margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; - text-align: right;} - pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} - -</style> - </head> - <body> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of David, by Anonymous - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Life of David - Or, The History of The Man After God's Own Heart - -Author: Anonymous - -Release Date: October 8, 2012 [EBook #40980] -Last Updated: January 26, 2013 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF DAVID *** - - - - -Produced by David Widger - - - - - -</pre> - <div style="height: 8em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - <h1> - THE LIFE OF DAVID - </h1> - <h2> - OR, THE HISTORY OF THE MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART - </h2> - <p> - <br /><br /> - </p> - <h4> - Omnia probate, benum tenete.—S. P. <br /><br /><br /> Reprinted From - The Edition Op 1766. <br /><br /> London: <br /><br /> Printed And Published - By J. Carlile, 55, Fleet-Street. - </h4> - <p> - <br /> <br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <br /> <br /> - </p> - <p> - To the REV. SAM. CHANDLER, - </p> - <p> - D.D. F.R. and A. SS. - </p> - <p> - To whom, Sir, could the republication of this little history with more - propriety be addressed, than to a gentleman to whom it is under such - considerable obligations? When it first appeared, it was honoured with - your notice in an especial manner; and is not a little benefited by your - <i>labours</i>. You, Sir, with a <i>careful</i> hand noted its errors; and - what has stood the test of your strictures is certainly established with - additional authority. Whatever might be the motives which influenced <i>so - vigorous</i> an exertion of your <i>learned</i> and <i>critical</i> powers—powers - so universally acknowledged and respected, the author of this piece will - not now inquire: it is sufficient to him, that they operated to the - extending the knowledge of his tract, among that class of readers who - stood most in need of the information it furnished; and he is persuaded - you will with pleasure hear his assurances, that the work owes no small - share of what approbation it may have gained, to your <i>elaborate review</i> - of it. Several worthy pious persons having candidly declared in private - conversation, (and unknowingly to the author himself) that the perusal of - your book really strengthened the facts advanced in the history. For this, - therefore, he considers you as entitled to his thanks; and that his - acknowledgments might be as public as the obligation, no method of - conveyance seemed more proper, than to prefix them to this new Edition of - "<i>The History of the Man after God's own Heart.</i>" - </p> - <p> - He scorns, Sir, to follow the practice of Dedicators in common, who, from - venal motives, surfeit their patrons with fulsome adulation: he will not, - therefore, call the blushes into your countenance, by expressing his - private sentiments of your <i>learned</i> Review of this Historical - Sketch, farther than by one observation; which is, that had you been - totally unknown in the republic of letters before, your apology for the - death of Uriah would alone have raised your literary fame beyond the power - of envious detraction. However, not to offend your modesty, he desists - from farther encomiums; but with a wish that you may long live to enjoy - the reputation acquired by so <i>laudable</i> a performance, he concludes - with subscribing himself, - </p> - <p> - Sir, your greatly obliged, and very humble Admirer. - </p> - <p> - <br /> <br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <br /> <br /> - </p> - <blockquote> - <p class="toc"> - <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> - </p> - <p> - <br /> - </p> - <p class="toc"> - <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE. </a> - </p> - <p class="toc"> - <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE LIFE OF DAVID. </a> - </p> - </blockquote> - <p> - <br /> <br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> - <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> - </p> - <div style="height: 4em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - <h2> - PREFACE. - </h2> - <p> - Some reverend panegyrists* on our late king,** have, a little - unfortunately, been fond of comparing him with a monarch in no respect - resembling him; except in the length of his reign, thirty and three years: - which a lucky text informed them to be the duration of David's sovereignty - over the Hebrew nation. Had our good old king died a year sooner, or had - we been indulged with him a year longer, the opportunity of applying this - text would then have been lost; and in either case we might not have heard - of the parallel. - </p> - <p> - A reverence for the memory of a worthy Prince, has occasioned the world's - being troubled with a new history of king David, (which, otherwise might - not have appeared) merely to shew how the memory of the British monarch is - affected by the comparison. - </p> - <p> - "Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" is the language of - Jesus Christ. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good;" is the - language of the apostle Paul. The liberty thus granted is unlimited; but - it is more than mere grant of liberty, these are positive injunctions: let - no one then be so timid as to resign an inclination to satisfy just - doubts: in Britain, thanks to the obstinate heresy of our brave - forefathers, no audacious Romish priest dare prescribe limits to the - exercise of our reasoning faculties; and Protestant ones surely will not: - nay, they cannot, consistently with those principles which justify their - dissent from the Romish communion. An honest desire to obtain truth, will - sanctify the most rigid scrutiny into every thing. An apostle has told us, - that we are not to believe even an angel from Heaven, who should preach - any other gospel than that of Christ;* and, no authority can be so sacred, - as to set aside the <i>most valuable distinction of humanity</i>, with - which our Creator has furnished us; or to give the lie to our most - self-evident conceptions of right and wrong. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * Dr. Chandler, Mr. Palmer and others. - - ** George the IId. -</pre> - <p> - If that liberty, of which Britons boast the possession, means any thing, - it must primarily include freedom of thought; without which there can be - no freedom of action. Thus it must mean an uncontrolled power to examine - the validity of every proposition offered to our assent; without which - power, and the due exercise of it, our assent cannot be the assent of - rational beings. If the reformed religion means any thing, it must mean a - religion founded by the authority, not of councils and synods, but of - conviction, the result of private judgment. True Protestants do not puzzle - themselves about the decisions of Trent, Constance, or Dort; they protest - against all authoritative dictates; disciples of the meek, the lowly, the - humane Jesus, they seek of themselves to judge of right or wrong. Who is - most the Protestant, the friend to human kind, and to truth? Those who - appeal to the human understanding, and submit to the public judgment - whether things are really so or not; or those who say, they are so, they - shall be so, you shall acknowledge them to be so, or else——? - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * Galatians i. 8. -</pre> - <p> - Let not weak-minded Christians who think truth not able to maintain its - authority without legal enforcements, lament what they call licentious - abuses of that liberty on which we are happy to congratulate ourselves: - injudicious productions of the pen will always meet the treatment they - deserve. Fallacious pretensions to reasoning cannot deceive mankind in - these liberal times; nor can truth be obscured, when the attention of - honest inquiries after it, is properly exerted. If the little historical - sketch which follows, and which in fact, exhibits no more than what we - have all daily read, without presuming to decide upon; if it really is - that audacious calumny which many roundly affirm it to be; it will - doubtless be considered as such: if, on the contrary, it contains - undeniable matters of fact, fallaciousness will appear in the angry - objections against it; and the writer trusts, the futility of such - objections, have already been made sufficiently apparent. - </p> - <p> - The name of David has never been mentioned by divines but with the - greatest respect, from the time in which he lived to the present day; and - he is always quoted as an illustrious example of holiness! so illustrious, - that the greatest instance of purity that ever existed on earth, was - frequently saluted by way of eminence, in reference to him, <i>Son of - David!</i> so illustrious, that on the death of the late king of Great - Britain, many sermons were preached and published, in which, parallels are - drawn betwixt him and this standard of piety, in order to justify - encomiums on the former, by declaring how nearly he resembled the latter. - </p> - <p> - In what manner David first acquired, and has ever since maintained, this - extraordinary reputation, is not difficult to deduce, he was advanced, by - an enraged prophet, from obscurity to the Hebrew throne; and taught by the - fate of the unhappy monarch who was raised in the same manner, whom he - supplanted, and whose family he crushed, he prudently attached himself to - the cause of his patrons,* and they were the trumpeters of his fame. The - same order of men, true to their common cause, have continued to sound the - praise of this church-hero from generation to generation, unto the present - time: in like manner the grand violator of the English constitution - obtained the epithet of <i>holy Martyr</i>. - </p> - <p> - A new scrutiny being made, however, into David's claim to sanctity, which, - notwithstanding a very learned defence of him, turned out so greatly to - his dishonour; the scene has been shifted by a few whose sense has - overbalanced their bigotry by two or three scruples. Some such, like Sheba - of old, blow the trumpet and cry, "We have no part in David, neither have - we inheritance in the son of Jesse!" In this manner have some clerical - weather-cocks veered about to an opposite point of the compass; and David, - who, till now has been considered as a man who "did that which 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," has, by one stroke of politics, been resigned to the mercy - of his detectors; and the importance of the detection endeavoured to be - annihilated, as the easier task; all which appears with rather an ill - grace, at a time when it is manifestly extorted. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * The Prophets and Priest. -</pre> - <p> - Thus much being premised relating to the conduct of the champions for - orthodoxy, on the occasion of this little squib which has produced so much - bustle in the clerical hives, proceed we to say something of the tract - itself. - </p> - <p> - The intention was, without any regard to remote objects, or heed of future - consequences, which in fact ought <i>never</i> to be considered in - investigating any point; to give a fair undisguised narrative of the life - and transactions of David, king of Israel. - </p> - <p> - This, however, was not so easy to perform, as it was to project; from - three difficulties which impeded the execution. - </p> - <p> - 1. It is not easy to conquer the early prejudices of education in favour - of the Hebrew nation; which the careful inculcation of their story during - our infancy, hinders our seeing in a proper light: so that relations which - might shock humanity in what is called prophane history, are read without - any emotion but that of reverence, in <i>this</i>. This misconception is - in great measure assisted. - </p> - <p> - 2. By their History being written <i>by themselves</i>: and difficult to - be corrected. - </p> - <p> - 3. By the broken unconnected manner in which it is transmitted down to us: - which renders it impossible to give a complete narrative of any period in - it. - </p> - <p> - A common share of humanity, which a little attention to common sense - enabled the author to extend to every nation under Heaven as the objects - of it, relieved him from the first of these difficulties: to overcome the - other two, he has assumed the liberty of giving <i>his</i> sense to what - appears dark, or misrepresented; which he hopes will not be denied him, so - long as it is not found that a forced construction is put upon any thing - cited; or, that it is represented in any other light than what it - naturally appears in, when considered with the freedom, which it is our - duty to use in the examination of every historical record. - </p> - <p> - And lest it should be imagined that too great liberties are taken with the - biblical writers; it may not be amiss to mention once for all, that - innumerable instances might be produced, to shew that the authority of <i>the - Lord</i>, so continually quoted to sanctify every transaction related; - constituted for the most part, nothing more than national phrases, which - obtained universally among so bigoted a people as on all occasions the - Jews appear to have been: one-twelfth part of whom were appropriated to - the priesthood! A phraseology in some measure similar obtained in England, - at that time, when shunning the cruel talons of papacy, the people rushed - into the jaws of wild enthusiasm. That the sense in which the acts of - David are here understood, is the most obvious and natural, appears from - the amazing pains it has occasioned his champions, to force another upon - them. Of this, the Life of David, by Dr. Delany, is a most remarkable - instance; but the gross palliations, puerile conjectures, and mean shifts - to which he has been driven, prove the difficulty of the task; while they - are too frivolous to bias any, but the most <i>Catholic believers</i>. - </p> - <p> - Mr. Stockhouse, in his History of the Bible, has urged arguments against - particular passages, under the title of <i>Objections</i>; so cogent, that - <i>his answers</i> to them, certainly could not be satisfactory even to - himself. - </p> - <p> - Dr. Chandler has lately added his name to the list of David's apologists. - Strange! that so holy a king should need the exertion of so much learned - and critical dexterity, to establish his fame for goodness of heart! This - gentleman's performance, which was published as a reply to the first - edition of the present work, is a very extraordinary piece; and shews - that, great learning is no security for soundness of judgment. The - Doctor's book has been considered in a letter addressed to him, and - published separately; to which the reader is referred for an examination - into the merits of his arguments. In answering the Doctor, new lights - opened on many occurrences, which, as far as they could be detached from - that particular controversy, are taken into the present edition. - </p> - <p> - The best of kings is a title which adulation and servility have always - conferred on the most contemptible, as well as the most detestable - tyrants; and the frequency of its application to the object is ever in - proportion as he is undeserving of it. Had the flattering sycophants of - king David been satisfied with applying to him this common-place - appellation, rational men, who form their conclusions from the result of - general experience, would have inferred only that he had been one of the - numerous herd of bad princes who have oppressed mankind, and there would - have been nothing peculiar either in the fact or the inference. But when - the extremity of adulation conferred on David the title of <i>The Man - after God's own heart</i>, thinking men, who know the source from which - such adulation ever flows, are prepared to expect, in the development of - his history, a character pre-eminently wicked, and in this they are not - deceived. - </p> - <p> - All historians of credit agree in describing <i>God's chosen people</i>, - the <i>Jews</i>, as the most vicious and detestable of mankind;* their own - historians confirm this character of them, and the whole series of facts - which constitute their history, prove it beyond a possibility of doubt. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * Tacitus describes the Jewish people as formed of the worst - outcasts of the surrounding nations, collected together by - Moses, and kept for ever separated from the rest of mankind, - by an opposition of manners, and hostility of sentiment. Nam - passimus quisque, spretis religionibus patriis, tributa et - stipes illuc congerebant; unde auctæ Judeorum res—ad versus - omnes alios hostile odium—transgressi in morem eorum, idem - usurpent; nec quidquam prius imbuuntur quam contemnere Deos, - exuere patriam; arentes, liberos, fratres, vilia habere.— - Ticiti Hist. Lib. v. -</pre> - <p> - Among <i>the chosen people of God</i>—the most depraved of all - nations—it is pretty certain that the worst and wickedest man of - that nation was David, <i>The Man after God's own heart</i>. The truth of - this proposition will be abundantly proved in the following short history. - </p> - <p> - A question will here naturally present itself, how the Jews became so much - more vicious and depraved than their neighbours? And to resolve that - question, it will be necessary to consider in what respects their laws and - customs differed from those of others. It will be found that they differed - most essentially from all other nations in the world in two particulars: - 1st. They had more religion than any other nation; and, 2dly. They had - more priests. Other nations among whom superstitious rites and ceremonies - prevailed, were satisfied with practising them on solemn festivals, and - occasionally on particular or important events; but the Jews practised - their superstition incessantly: none of the common duties, or ordinary - functions of life, could be performed by them, without a reference to the - rules of their superstition; they were bound to a strict observance of - them whenever they ate, drank, or performed any other of the natural - functions.* ** - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * Moses quo sibi in posterum gentem firmaret, novos ritus - coutrariosque ceteris mortalibus indidit; profana illic - omnia, quae apud nos sacra; rursum concessa apud illos, quæ - nobis incesta.—Seperati epulis, discreti cubilibus, - projectissima ad libidinem gens, aliena rum cubitu - abstinent, inter se nihil illicitum, circumcidere genitalia - instituere, ut diversitate noscanttir.—Taciti Hist. Lib. v. - It is impossible to draw a more disgusting picture of a - nation than this elegant and correct historian, in - describing the Jews. - - ** The Romans, though so numerous and powerful a nation, had - but very few priests, compared to the Jews. The Augurs were - at first only 3, and in process of time were increased to - 15. The Arnspices were 12. The Pontifices were at first but - 4, and were afterwards increased to 10. The Flamines were - but 3. The Sàlit 12. The Feciales, who were 20 in number, - though classed by authors among the priesthood, were merely - civil officers employed as heralds. And the Vestals, or Nuns - of Rome, were only 4; altogether between 50 and 60. Vide - Kennett's Roman Antiq. And yet Saint Austin, De Cevitate - Dei, Lib. iv. cap. 15, admits that the Romans were so - virtuous, that God gave them the empire of the world because - they were more virtuous than other nations, vet, with true - Christian charity, he says, that they must nevertheless he - damned as heathens. We do not find that the priests of other - enlightened nations of antiquity were proportionality much - more numerous than amoung the Romans. In England at present - the number of the priesthood cannot be much less than - 20,000; there are near 10,000 parishes, each having one - priest at least, several two, and some three or more, - exclusive of Deans and Chapters, Prebends, &c. &c. and all - these in the established church, as it is called, exclusive - of a great variety of other sectaries of different - denominations. -</pre> - <p> - Other nations had a few priests dedicated to their gods or idols, seldom - exceeding a few dozen in a whole nation but the Jewish priesthood - constituted a twelfth part of the whole people, and claimed and exercised - the privilege of devouring a tenth part of the produce of the country, - without contributing any thing to its productive labour.* And it is - probable that the Jewish nation alone, though but a miserable handful of - semi-barbarous savages, had more priests than the rest of the then known - world collectively, and were consequently more vicious and more enslaved - than any other people. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * The Jewish priesthood being one tribe, or twelfth part of - the nation, do not appear to have assumed to themselves much - more than an equal proportion, compared to their numbers, in - taking the tithe or tenth part of the produce of the land, - however unjust it may appear that they should be supported - in idleness at the expence of the industry of the rest: but - the English priesthood, though abundantly numerous, do not - form above one five-hundredth part of the whole nation, yet - they have the conscience to take also the tenth of the whole - produce, which is near fifty times more than their just - share, according to the proportion of their romish models, - from whose example they pretend to derive them. -</pre> - <p> - Mankind have been too long duped by that universal <i>cant</i> of priests, - who, in their language, have ever affected to couple <i>religion and - morality</i> together, and to represent them as <i>inseparably united</i>, - though the slightest attention must show that they are perfectly <i>distinct</i>, - and a full and mature consideration of the subject must prove that they - are even extremely <i>opposite</i>. They well knew that man, in the most - abject state of mental degradation to which superstition could reduce him, - must still acknowledge the force and excellence of virtue and morality, - and must perceive their necessary tendency to promote his welfare and - happiness. They well knew how useful to their own views and interests it - would be to persuade him that religion, virtue, and morality, were one and - the same, or, at least, intimately and inseparably connected; the - credulity of man gave credit to the imposture without examination, and the - uniform experience of above 2,000 years has not hitherto been sufficient - to undeceive him. - </p> - <p> - Unhappy man! destined for ever to be the dupe of his own credulity, in - opposition to the testimony of his experience, and the evidence of his - senses. Does not the history of all ages show, that the most religious - nations have always been, and still are, the most vicious and immoral! - </p> - <p> - Another most formidable evil necessarily results from such a system of - superstition, that is, a state of civil slavery, which is always found its - universal concomitant. Whenever the human mind is debased and degraded by - a system of gross superstition, it becomes incapable of any one manly, - liberal, or independent sentiment; every energy of the mind is lost, - reason is surrendered, virtue, the chief support, if not the sole - foundation of freedom, is banished, and man is fitted to receive the - abject yoke of slavery; tyranny and despotism make an easy conquest of - him, and the priest is ever ready to rivet his chains, and perpetuate his - bondage, by the pretended sanction of Heaven. The power and influence of - the priest and the tyrant is ever in proportion to the debasement of man; - they have a common interest, have ever made a common cause against him, - and have constantly erected their common throne on the ruins of his - freedom, his welfare, and his happiness. - </p> - <p> - Let us not, therefore, be deterred from unmasking to the view of mankind - that immense mass of vice and depravity which constitute the foundation of - the Jewish superstition; let no blind veneration for that hideous idol - deter us from exposing its deformity; let us cultivate that which is truly - good and useful; let reason assume her just empire over the mind of man, - and credulity, ignorance, and folly, abdicate their usurped dominion: then - shall we soon behold the galling fetters of vice and superstition broken - by the irresistible power of virtue, morality, and truth. - </p> - <p> - <br /> <br /> - </p> - <hr /> - <p> - <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> - <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> - </p> - <div style="height: 4em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> - <h2> - THE LIFE OF DAVID. - </h2> - <p> - The first establishment of regal government among the Hebrews, was - occasioned by the corrupt administration of Joel and Abiah, the two sons - of Samuel, whom he had deputed to judge Israel in the decline of his - life.* The people, exasperated at the oppression they laboured under, - applied to Samuel for redress, testifying a desire to experience a - different mode of government, by peremptorily demanding a king.** At this, - however, Samuel was greatly displeased: not that his sons had tyrannized - over the people, for of that he takes no manner of notice, neither - exculpating them, nor promising the people redress; his chagrin arose from - this violent resumption of the supreme magistracy out of the hands of his - family; a circumstance for which he expresses great resentment.*** He - consults the Lord, and not knowing else how the insurrection might - terminate, in his name yields to their desires; promising them a king with - vengeance to them.**** "For,"(5) says the Lord, "they have not rejected - thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."(6) - The people, nevertheless, resolving to free themselves from present - oppression, at the hazard of the threatened judgments, obstinately - persisted in their demand, and dispersed not without a promise of - compliance. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. viii. 3. - - ** Ver. 5. - - *** Ver. 6, &c. - - **** Ver. 11, &c. - - (5) Ver 7, compared with chap. ix. - - (6) Chap. x. 1. -</pre> - <p> - Samuel, to all outward appearance, chose the most impartial method of - choosing a king, which was by lot, from among the people assembled by - tribes; but prudently pitches upon his man, previous to the election; the - whole tenor of his conduct manifesting, that he intended to give them a - king in name, but still to retain the supreme authority in his own hands, - by choosing one who should continue subordinate to his dictates. - Opportunely for his purpose, a young countryman, named Saul, having - rambled about to seek his fathers asses, which had strayed, and finding - all search after them vain, applied to Samuel as a prophet,* with a fee in - his hand, to gain intelligence of his beasts. - </p> - <p> - We gather from several passages in Jewish history, that there were - seminaries of prophets, i.e. the universities of the times, where youth - were trained up to the mystery of prophesying. We find there were false - prophets, nonconformists, not of the establishment; we find that even the - true ones were liable to be imposed on by their brethren;** and we find - moreover, by this instance, that prophets did not disdain to give - assistance in their prophetical character, concerning domestic matters, - for reasonable gratuities. A chief among the prophets, one who had been a - judge over Israel, is applied to in a pecuniary way, for intelligence - concerning lost cattle.*** - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. ix. 7, 8. - - ** 1 Kings, xiii. 18., Josephus in loco. - - *** Pretensions to divinations continue to this day, though, - in the opinion of reformed churches, all prophesying and - miracles have long since ceased. These modern prophets are - drolly ridiculed by our facetious countryman, Butler, in the - person of Sydrophel, a dealer, - - "In Destiny's dark counsel?, - Who sage opinions of the moon sells; - To whom all people, far and near, - On deep importances repair. - When brass or pewter hap to stray, - Or linen slinks out of the way; - When geese and pullen are seduc'd, - And sows of sucking pigs are chous'd: - When cattle feel indisposition, - And need th' opinion of physician; - When murrain reigns in hogs or sheep, - And chickens languish of the pip; - When yeast and outward means do fail, - And have no power to work on ale; - When butter does refuse to come. - And love proves cross and humoursome; - To him with questions and with urine, - They for discov'ry flock, or curing. -</pre> - <p> - It has been said, that this is the only instance recorded of a prophet - being applied to for purposes of this nature; but it appears that it was - usual for men to have recourse to prophets, and that the phrase was, - "Come, and let us go to the seer;"* and that prophetical intelligence was - paid for, is evident from the inquiry between Saul and his servant, - concerning their ability to gratify him.** - </p> - <p> - But, to proceed: Saul not only found his asses, but a kingdom into the - bargain; and had the spirit of the Lord given;*** to him which we find - taken away**** again, when he proved untractable: though it seems somewhat - odd, how he could possibly prove disobedient, while he acted under the - influence of this Divine Spirit! For, the possibility being admitted, the - advantage of inspiration is difficult to be conceived. - </p> - <p> - After Samuel had in private(5) anointed Saul king, and told him his asses - were already found, he dismissed him for the present. He then assembled - the people for the election of a king: at which assembly, behold, the lot - fell on the tribe of Benjamin; and in that, on the family of Matri; and - finally, on Saul, the son of Kish.(6) An election somewhat resembling - consistories for the appointment of bishops; where the person being - previously fixed on, God is solemnly prayed to for a direction of their - choice. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. ix. 9. - - ** Ver. 7, 8. - - *** Ch.x. 6. - - **** Ch. xvi. 19. - - (5) Ch. x. 1. - - (6) Ch. x. 20, 21. -</pre> - <p> - It is not intended here to give a detail of the reign of king Saul; the - notice hitherto taken of him being merely because the life of David could - not be properly introduced without mentioning the alteration of - government, and the manner in which monarchy was established in Israel: - since Samuel's disappointment in Saul, naturally leads to his similar - choice of David. - </p> - <p> - The disobedience of Saul, in daring to sacrifice without his patron the - prophet,* who failed of coming according to his appointment; and his - lenity and prudence, in sparing the king, and some cattle, from a nation - which Samuel, in the name of the Lord, had commanded him utterly to - extirpate,** irrevocably lost him the favour of this imperious inexorable - prophet: and, in the end, produced the miserable destruction not only of - himself, but of his family: which will occasion no surprise, when we - consider the absolute dominion and ascendency which the Jewish priests - maintained over this ignorant superstitious people. A dominion which every - article in the Levitical law enlarged and strengthened. - </p> - <p> - We are not to imagine that the sparing Agag, king of the Amalekites, was - the only cause of this rupture between him and Samuel. For we may gather - from other parts of his history, that Saul was not over-well affected - towards his patrons the Levites;*** in subjection to whom he had too much - spirit to continue. Samuel quickly perceived he had mistaken his man, he - haughtily avowed his intention of deposing him;**** and ordering Agag to - be brought into his presence, he hewed him in pieces—"before the - Lord."(5) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. xiii. 8-14. - - ** Ch. xv. 3. - - *** Ch. 22.18,19. and Ch. xxviii. 9. - - **** Ch. xiii. 14. xv. 26. 28. - - (5) Ver. 33., Ch. xvi. 13. -</pre> - <p> - We now come to the hero of the history. - </p> - <p> - In pursuance of his intention to make another king, Samuel went under the - pretence of a sacrifice, and anointed another country youth, which was - David, the youngest son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite; and gave him the - spirit of the Lord, which he had just taken from poor Saul. The king, in - the mean time, reflecting on the precariousness of his situation, now that - the priests, on the part of Samuel, were incensed against him; and well - knowing their influence among his subjects, fell into a melancholy - disorder of mind,* which his physicians were unable to remove.** - </p> - <p> - This was artfully made the occasion of introducing David to court. The - king was advised to divert himself with music; and David was contrived to - be recommended to him for his skill on the harp.*** Saul accordingly sent - to Jesse, to request his son; which was immediately complied with: and - David was detained at court, in the capacity of the king's - armour-bearer.**** Here the story begins to grow confused, beyond <i>lay</i>-skill - to reconcile. A war with the Philistines is abruptly introduced; in the - midst of the relation of which, we are abruptly informed that David - returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep(5) again; from whence his - father sent him with provisions for his brothers, who were in the army.(6) - What can be thought of this? Jesse hardly recalled his son from the - honourable post of armour-bearer to the king; it is not likely that he was - turned off, since we afterwards find him playing on the harp to the king, - as before;(7) neither was it proper employment for the king's - armour-bearer to be feeding sheep, when the army was in the field, and his - majesty with them in person! Why—the most easy method is to take it - as we find it; to suppose it to be right, and go quietly on with the - story. - </p> - <p> - In the Philistine army was a man of extraordinary size, named Goliah, who - came out of their camp, day by day, challenging and defying any one among - the Hebrews to single combat, and to rest the decision of their quarrel - upon the event; an offer which no one among the Israelites was hitherto - found hardy enough to accept.(8) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - *1 Sam. xvi. 14. - - ** Josephus. - - *** 1 Sam. xvi. 18. - - **** Ver. 21. - - (5) Ch. xvii. 15. - - (6) Ch. xvii. 17. - - (7) Ch. xviii. 10. - - (8) Ch. xvii. 4, &c. -</pre> - <p> - David is said to have arrived at the army just as it was forming for - engagement; at which time the giant advanced as before, with reproachful - menaces; and, after having enquired carefully concerning what reward would - be given to the conquerer of this giant, and learning that great riches - and the king's daughter were to be the prizes of conquest, David - courageously declared before Saul his acceptance of the challenge,* - notwithstanding the contempt with which his offer had been treated. - </p> - <p> - Saul, relying on the youth's ardour and assurance of victory, girded his - own armour on him:** but David put it off again, trusting entirely to a - pouch of stones, and his own skill in slinging.*** The success answered - his hopes, and stamped, what would otherwise have been deemed a rash - undertaking, with a more respectable name; he knocked Goliath down with a - stone; then ran in upon him, cut his head off with his own sword, and - brought it triumphantly to the king of Israel.**** The consequence was the - defeat of the 'Philistines. - </p> - <p> - Here we meet with another stumbling-block. For, though Saul, as has - already been observed, had sent to Jesse expressly for his son David; - though David had played to him on the harp; though Saul had again sent to - Jesse, to desire that David might be permitted to stay with him; and in - consequence of this had given him a military appointment about his person; - though he had now a fresh conference with him; had just placed his own - suit of armour on him; and though all the occurrences must have happened - within a small space of time, yet his memory is made so to fail him on a - sudden, that he knew nothing either of David, or his parentage! but while - David went to meet the giant, he enquired of others, who proved as - ignorant as himself, whose son(5) the stripling was? This stumbling-block - must likewise be stepped over, for it is not removeable. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - *1 Sam. xvii. 32. - - ** Ver. 38. - - *** Ver. 40. - - ****Ver. 49. - - (5) Ver. 55., Ch. xviii. 3. -</pre> - <p> - The reputation which this gallant action procured to David, soon gained - him advancement in the army, and a warm friendship with Saul's son, - Jonathan. But the inordinate acclamations of the people, on account of the - death of the Philistine giant, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David - his ten thousands;"* a rhodomontade out of measure extravagant, when we - compare the two subjects of the contrast, justly occasioned Saul to view - David with a jealous eye. We have all the reason in the world to believe - that Samuel and the priests made every possible advantage of an adventure - so fortunate for their intended king, to improve his growing popularity, - which even at its outset had so far exceeded all bounds of decency: - "What," said Saul, "can he have more but the kingdom?"** and we may - therefore conclude that the king saw enough to alarm him; for we are told, - that "Saul eyed David from that day and forward,"***Thus we find that on - the following day, while David played as usual on his harp before Saul, - the king cast a javelin at him,**** which David avoided. Saul then made - him captain over a thousand, saying, "Let not mine hand be upon him, but - let the hand of the Philistines be upon him," an expression however which - is evidently put into Saul's mouth, since it is impossible he could have - made use of it openly. He made him the offer of his daughter Merab for his - wife, in consequence of the defeat of Goliah; but she, we know not why, - was given to another;(5) afterwards he gave him Michal: and David's - modesty (6) on this occasion was incomparably well acted; he knowing - himself, at the same time, to be secretly intended for the kingdom by - Samuel. - </p> - <p> - Saul, upon reflection, concluding it dangerous to execute any open act of - violence against this young hero, politically hoped to ensnare him, by - exalting him high in favour, or to get rid of him by putting him upon his - mettle, in performing feats of valour; for a deficiency of valour is not - to be numbered among David's faults. It was with this view that the king - yet required of him an hundred Philistine foreskins(7) as the condition of - becoming his son-in-law. He produced double the number "in full tale."(8) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. xxii. 7. - - ** Ch. xviii. 8. - - *** Ver. 9. - - **** Ver. 11. - - (5) Ver. 17. - - (6) Ver. 10. - - (7) Ver. 23., Ver. 25. (according to Josephus 600 heads). - - (8) 1 Sam. xviii. 27. -</pre> - <p> - This demand, after David appeals to have fulfilled the prescribed - conditions, seems not only unjust, but also, even making allowance for - Hebrew customs, very ridiculously expressed. It must have been a glorious - sight to have seen David bring the foreskins to king Saul, strung perhaps - on a piece of pack-thread, and dangling in his hand, or thrown across his - shoulders like a sash: and if Miss Michal was present, how must her pretty - little heart exult when the required number being told off, as many more - were gallantly presented at her feet! - </p> - <p> - David still advanced in his military** reputation, and met with a powerful - advocate in the person of Jonathan, his brother-in-law and faithful - friend, who effected a temporary reconciliation between him and Saul;*** - at which time Saul swore he would no more attempt his life. Nevertheless, - whether it was that he could not get the better of his jealousy, or that - he discovered more than is transmitted down to us, we know not; - consequences incline us to the last conjecture: Saul made two more - attempts to kill him;**** from one of which he was protected by his wife - Michal; and finding it not safe to stay at court, he fled to Samuel, in - Ramah.(5) Hither Saul sent messengers to apprehend him;(6) but these, it - seems, seeing Samuel presiding over a company of prophets, and - prophesying, were seized with a spirit of prophesying also; and not only - so, but it is related that Saul finding this, went at last himself, to - just the same purpose; for he likewise prophesied,(7) stripping off his - cloaths, in which ridiculous condition he continued for a day and a night. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - ** Ver. 30. xix. 8. - - *** Ver. 4. - - **** Ver. 10, 11. - - (5) Ver. 18. - - (6) Ver. 20. - - (7) Ver. 23. -</pre> - <p> - This is an extreme odd relation! That the solemn appearance of an assembly - of prophets, presided over by a person so respectable, and heretofore of - such great authority in Judea, might influence, in an extraordinary - manner, persons entrusted with a commission to apprehend or kill a man - patronized by these prophets, exhibits nothing wonderful; they might - easily perhaps, be prophesied out of their errand; and might then prophesy - in concert. Prophesy is a vague term, not always limited to the prediction - of future events; the extempore preaching of many dissenters, and the - discourses of the Quakers, who profess to speak as the Spirit gives them - utterance, seem to come under the term prophesy. These persons can work - themselves and others into such fits of enthusiastic intoxication, that - they believe themselves agitated by supernatural influence. Such might be - the prophesying here mentioned. But Saul prophesied! so it is said. Had - the subject of Saul's prophesying, been transmitted down to us, it might - have greatly illustrated this passage in the history; but no, he is barely - said to have <i>prophesied</i>; and we are prudently left to guess what. - Being thus at liberty, we, among other expositors, may easily surmise what - he might take for his text, and was the general tenor of his discourse, on - this particular occasion. - </p> - <p> - Afterward David had a private interview* with Jonathan; for he durst not - venture to appear at court. At this meeting, Jonathan, who had conceived - too great an affection for this man, and was at length seduced by him from - the duty and allegiance which he owed to his father and king, solemnly - promised** that he would sound his father's intentions on the next day, - which being the festival of the new moon, David's attendance was expected - at the king's table; and that he would warn him of any danger intended - him. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. x. 1. - - ** Ver. 12. -</pre> - <p> - David lay hid in the field until Jonathan brought him the required - intelligence; and when the king inquired, concerning him, Jonathan as had - been before concerted, said that he had requested leave to go and perform - a family sacrifice at Bethlehem. Saul's reply on this occasion is very - pertinent, and shows his antipathy to David not to have been the causeless - inveteracy of a disordered mind. "Then Saul's anger was kindled against - Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, - do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own - confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? For as long - as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, - nor thy kingdom: wherefore now send and fetch him unto me; for he shall - surely die."* Jonathan expostulated with his father, and had a javelin - hurled at him for his reward.** - </p> - <p> - David being advertised, according to agreement, of the king's disposition - toward him, retired to Ahimelech, the high priest, at the city of Nob who - treated him with shew-bread, and armed him with the sword of Goliah, which - had been hung up and consecrated to God.*** - </p> - <p> - We may consider David's resuming this sword, after its dedication as a - religious trophy, whatever gloss may be put on his interview with - Ahimelech, to be a clear manifestation of hostile intentions, or a - declaration of war against his father-in-law, for which he now took the - first opportunity to prepare. Thus accoutred, he fled out of Judea, to - Achish, king of Gath;**** intending, as we have good reason to believe, to - enter into a treaty of alliance with him against the Hebrews; but the - popular cry was against him before he accomplished any thing, or at least - any thing that has reached our times. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * Ver. 30, 81. Josephus in loco. - - ** Ver. 33. - - *** 1 Sam. xxi. 1. - - **** Ver. 9. Josephus. -</pre> - <p> - Here David appears to disadvantage in point of policy: for though his - carrying with him the sword of Goliah was artful enough, and likely to - collect followers in Judea, since it was a continual witness of that - prowess which had gained him such extraordinary reputation; yet, for him, - under this circumstance, to throw himself into the power of the - Philistines, among those very people from whose champion he had ravished - <i>that sword</i>, was the highest imprudence! and we perceive he might - have suffered for it, had not he made use of a stratagem to procure his - release, which he effected by acting the madman.* Mankind seems to have - been very easily imposed on in those days. - </p> - <p> - David, now thinking it time openly to avow his design of disputing the - crown with Saul, went to a cave called Adullam, which he appointed the - place of rendezvous for his partizans. Here we are told he collected - together a company of debtors, vagrants, and disaffected persons, to the - number of four hundred; and opened his rebellion, by putting himself at - the head of this body of men:** men, whose desperate situations under the - government in being, rendered them fit agents to disturb it, and proved - the surest bond to connect them to a partizan thus embarked in an - enterprize against it. Hither also came to him his father and all his - brethren; and the first movement that he made was to go to the king of - Moab, to obtain a retreat for his father and mother, until he knew the - event of his enterprise.*** - </p> - <p> - By the advice of the prophet Gad, David next marched into the land of - Judah:**** Gad, no doubt hoped, that as the young adventurer was of that - tribe, he would there meet with considerable reinforcement. When Saul - heard of this insurrection, he pathetically laments his misfortune to - those about him, that they, and even his son Jonathan, should conspire - against him.(5) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. xxi. 13. - - ** Ch. xxii. 2. - - *** Ver. 2. - - **** Ver. 6. - - (5) Ver. 7, 8, 9. -</pre> - <p> - Then started up one Doeg, an Edomite, who informed Saul, that he had seen - David harboured by the priests in Nob. Upon this, Saul summoned all those - belonging to that city before him, with Ahimelech their chief, who began - to excuse himself as well as he could; but Saul remembering, without - doubt, the threatening of Samuel, concerning the affair of king Agag;* and - considering these priests as traitors, from this corroborating evidence - against them, he commanded them all to be slain, to the number of - eighty-five persons.** Moreover, agreeable to the barbarous usage of that - nation, the massacre included the whole city of Nob, man and beast, young - and old, without exception. - </p> - <p> - Though the king's rage in this instance exceeded not only the bounds of - humanity, but also of good policy, it nevertheless serves to show how - deeply the priests were concerned in the rebellion of David; since he - could not be mad enough to commit so flagrant an act, without some - colourable pretence;*** and shows also that Saul had not so great an - opinion of their holiness as we, at this distance of time, are, by their - own annals, instructed to have. Had Saul been more implicit, he might have - enjoyed the name of king, have continued the dupe of the priests, have - died in peace, and his children have succeeded quietly to the inheritance. - But, - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - "Ye gods! what havoc does ambition make - Among your works!" -</pre> - <p> - During this time, David rescued the city of Keilah from the - Philistines,(5) who were besieging it, hoping to make it a garrison for - himself. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. xiii. 14, xv. 26, 28. - - ** Ch. xxii. 16-18. - - *** Ver. 19. - - **** In so small a territory as Judea, the difference - between the king and his son-in-law, so popular a man, could - not be unknown to persons in any measure removed from the - vulgar. Therefore, Ahmeleoh's pleas of ignorance did not - deserve credit. - - (5) 1 Sam. xxiii. 3. -</pre> - <p> - But upon the approach of Saul, not thinking himself able to maintain it, - being as yet but six hundred strong, and not choosing to confide in the - inhabitants, whose loyalty even his recent kindness to them could not - corrupt, he therefore abandoned it, and retired to the wilderness.* This - passage alone is amply sufficient to confirm the reality of David's - rebellious intentions; it is, therefore, worth analyzing. That he - delivered this city from the depredations of the Philistines, and that by - this action he hoped to purchase the friendship of the inhabitants, are - acknowledged: the use to which he intended to convert this friendship, is - the point to be ascertained. Saul was advancing to suppress him. Had he - seduced them from their allegiance, and obtained the expected protection, - he would have deprived Saul of this city, which city might have been - considered as a garrison. The old plea, of his providing only for his - personal safety, against his malignant persecutor, has often been urged; - but his intended retention of a city, to secure that safety, was a - flagrant rebellious intention. Had he gained this one city, as his - strength increased, he would have concluded as many more as he could have - procured, necessary for his preservation, until he had monopolized the - whole country, agreeable to the grant of Samuel, which would then have - justified the usurpation; but disappointed in the first step, by the - loyalty, miscalled treachery, of the Keilites, he evacuated the town, - having lost the recompence of his labour, and with his men "went - whithersoever they could go."** In the wilderness Jonathan came privately - to see him, and piously engages in the cause against his own father, by - covenant; in which it was agreed, that if David succeeded, of which - Jonathan is very confident, <i>he</i> was to be a partaker of his good - fortune but as Jonathan was not to join him openly, he went home again. - </p> - <p> - Saul, having received intelligence of David's retreats, pursued him from - place to place, until he was called off by news of an invasion of the land - by the Philistines;*** whether of David's procuring or not, we are - uncertain: thus much is certain, and does not discredit the supposition, - that he quickly after took refuge among those Philistines. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. xxiii. 13. - - ** Ib. - - *** Ver. 16-18, 27. -</pre> - <p> - After repelling the invaders, Saul, however, returned to the wilderness of - Engedi, in pursuit of David, with three thousand chosen men. At this place - we are told of an odd adventure, which put the life of Saul strangely into - the power of David. He turned in to repose himself* alone in a cave, - wherein at that time, David and his myrmidons were secreted.** - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * The words are, "to cover his feet:" which Josephus and - others, mistake to mean, that he retired into the cave to - ease nature. But in Judges, iii. 21. we find that expression - to imply, that the servants of Eulon, king of Moab, supposed - their master to have locked himself in, to repose himself - with sleep, in his summer-chamber. This is farther - corroborated, in Ruth, iii. 7. where, when Boaz had eaten - his supper, he laid down on a heap of corn, doubtless to - take his rest. Ruth, by her mother's instruction, went, - uncovered his feet, and lay down by him—to have some - refreshment likewise. For, in the middle of the night, when - the man awaked, surprised at finding an unexpected - bedfellow, and demanded who she was, the kind wench replied— - "I am Ruth, thine hand-maid; spread therefore thy skirt - over thine hand-maid, for thou art a near kinsman." In the - present instance, it is evident, Saul slept in the cave; as - he discovered not the operation that had been performed on - his robe, till David called after him, to apprize him - thereof. - - ** 1 Sam. xxiv. 3. -</pre> - <p> - This, one would imagine to have been a fine opportunity for him to have - given a finishing stroke to his fortune, by killing Saul, and jumping - into, the throne at once: but David knew better what he was about, than to - act so rashly. He could entertain no hopes that the Jews would receive for - their king a man who, with such great seeming holiness, should imbrue his - hands in the blood of the Lord's anointed. Beside, what evidently destroys - the boasted merit of David's forbearance toward Saul, in this instance, is - an obvious, though overlooked consideration, that, compared with David, - Saul had a strong army with, him; and had the king been missing, had he - been observed to enter the cave without coming out again; and upon search, - had he been there found murdered, there would not have escaped, of all - that pertained to David, any that <i>pissed against this wall</i>. Of this - David could not be insensible; and therefore, only privately cut off the - skirt of Saul's robe,* and suffered him to depart in peace. When the king - was gone out from the cave, David calls after him, and artfully makes a - merit of his forbearance, protesting an innocency, to which his being in - arms was, however, a flat** contradiction. Saul freely and gratefully - acknowledges himself indebted to him for his life, and seems so well - convinced of his own precarious situation, that he candidly confesses it; - only tying him down with an oath,*** not to destroy his children after him—an - obligation which, in due time, we shall see in what manner remembered and - fulfilled by David. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - *1 Sam. xxiv. 4. - - ** Ver. 8-15. - - *** Ver. 21. -</pre> - <p> - Saul must certainly have been greatly fatigued, or strangely overseen, to - have let David catch him at so great a disadvantage—a conduct not - usual with good generals. Yet, while we credit the relation, the meanness - of his reply to David's harangue, can be no otherwise accounted for. Saul - does not appear to have wanted resolution on other occasions; but to - acknowledge his assurance that David would obtain the sovereignty, and - poorly to entreat a fugitive rebel in behalf of his family! is a conduct - not even to be palliated, but upon the foregoing supposition. We must - either condemn the general or the king, neither of which characters appear - with extraordinary lustre upon this occasion. David, on the other hand, - dissembles admirably here, pretending to Saul a <i>great reverence</i> for - the Lord's anointed, though conscious, at the same time, that <i>he was - also</i> the Lord's anointed, and anointed purposely to supersede the - other Lord's anointed; and, moreover, was at this very time aiming to put - his election in force! But, as the people were not of his council, and he - knew their great regard for religious sanctions, it was certainly prudent - in him to set an example of piety, in an instance of which he hoped, in - time, to reap the benefit himself: About this time Samuel died.* - </p> - <p> - We next find our young adventurer acting the chief character in a - tragi-comedy, which will farther display his title to the appellation of - being a Man after God's own heart. - </p> - <p> - There dwelt then at Maon, a blunt rich old farmer, whose name was Nabal. - David hearing of him, and that he was at that time sheep-shearing, sent a - detachment of his followers to levy a contribution upon him,** making a - merit of his forbearance, in that he had not stolen his sheep, and - murdered his shepherds.*** Nabal, who, to be sure, was not the most - courteous man in the world, upon receiving this extraordinary message, - gave them but a very indifferent reply, including a flat denial. "Who," - says he, "is David? and who is the son of Jesse? There be many servants - nowadays that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my - bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and - give unto men whom I know not whence they be?"**** Upon receiving this - answer, David, without hesitation, directly formed his resolution; and - arming himself, with a number of his followers, vowed to butcher him, <i>and - all that belonged to him</i>, before the next morning.(5) And how was this - pious intention diverted? Why, Abigail, the charming Abigail! Nabal's - wife, resolved, unknown to her spouse, to try the force of beauty, in - mollifying this incensed hero, whose disposition for gallantry, and warm - regard for the fair sex, was probably not unknown at that time. Her own - curiosity also might not be a little excited; for the ladies have at all - times been universally fond of military gentlemen: no wonder, therefore, - that Mrs. Abigail, the wife of a cross country clown, was willing to seize - this opportunity of getting acquaintance with captain David. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. xxv. 1. - - ** Ver. 5—9. - - *** Ver. 7. - - **** Ver. 10, 11. - - (5) Ver. 13, 14-22. -</pre> - <p> - And this motive certainly had its force, since she could not as yet have - known David's intention: we may observe she was told of it by David at - their meeting.* She prepared a present, and went to David, saying, very - sententiously, "Upon me, my Lord, upon me let this iniquity be:"** - judging, very humanely, that could she get him to transfer his revenge - upon <i>her</i>, she might possibly contrive to pacify him, without - proceeding to disagreeable extremities. Nor was she wrong in her judgment; - for we are told, "So David received of her hand that which she had brought - him, and said unto her, go up in peace to thine house; see I have - hearkened to thy voice, <i>and have accepted thy person</i>."*** But - however agreeable this meeting might have been to Abigail, we do not find - that Nabal was so well pleased with the composition his wife had made for - him; for when he came to understand so much of the story as she chose to - inform him of, he guessed the remainder, broke his heart, and died in ten - days afterward. David loses no time, but returned God thanks for the old - fellow's death, and then Mrs. Abigail was promoted to the honour of being - one of the Captain's ladies.(5) - </p> - <p> - We are now told another story extremely resembling that of the cave of - En-gedi. Saul again pursues David with three thousand chosen men; again - fell into his hands during his sleep; only that here David stole upon him - in his own camp; he ran away with the king's spear and bottle of water, - and Saul went back again as wise as he came.(6) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * I Sam. xxv. 34. - - ** Ver. 24. - - *** Ver. 35. - - ****Ver. 37,38. - - (5) Ver. 39. - - (6) Ch. xxvi. -</pre> - <p> - The opinion of Mons. Bayle seems most probable concerning this adventure, - who looks upon it but as another detail of the former affair at En-gedi; - and that for very good reasons. For, upon a comparison of both, as laid - down in the 23d, 24th, and 26th chapters of 1 Samuel, we may remark, - </p> - <p> - I. That in each relation Saul pursues him with the same number of chosen - men. - </p> - <p> - II. That both adventures happened at or very near the same place. - </p> - <p> - III. That in each story David comes upon Saul in much the same manner, - withholds his people from killing him, and contents himself with taking - away a testimonial of the king's having been in his power. - </p> - <p> - IV. That in the second account, When David is pleading the injustice of - Saul's persecuting him, as he terms it, he does not strengthen his plea by - representing to him that this was the <i>second time</i> of his sparing - him, when he had his life so entirely in his power; and that Saul's - pursuing him this second time, was a flagrant instance of ingratitude, - after what had happened on the former occasion. - </p> - <p> - V. That in the second relation, Saul, when he acknowledges David's - forbearance and mercy to him in the present instance, makes no mention of - <i>any former obligation</i> of this kind, although it was so recent, and - in the main circumstance so similar. - </p> - <p> - VI. That the historian, who evidently intended to blacken the character of - Saul, and whiten that of David, does not make the least observation - himself, in the second narrative, of reference to the first. - </p> - <p> - These reasons prove, beyond doubt, that we are furnished with two - relations of the same adventure. To account for the double record, and - their variations, must be left to commentators, connectors, and - harmonizers, who are used to compromise affairs of this nature. - </p> - <p> - David finding that with his present strength, he was unable to maintain - any footing in Judea, puts himself once more under the protection of - Achish, king of Gath.* Achish, who does not appear to have been a very - powerful prince, seemed to consider David alone, and David at the head of - a little army, as two very different persons: for he now assigned him a - place named Ziklag, for a habitation, where he remained a year and four - months.** - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. xxvii. 1-3. - - ** 1 Sam. xxvii. 6, 7. -</pre> - <p> - As he had now a quiet residence, those who entertain an opinion of David's - sanctity, would be apt to suppose he would here confine himself to - agriculture, to composing psalms, and to singing them to his harp; but - David found employment more suited to his genius. It is not intended here - to be insinuated that he might not sing psalms, at leisure times; but his - more important business was to lead his men put to plunder the adjacent - country. We have the names of some nations, as they are called, but which - must have been small distinct communities, like the present camps of - wandering Moors and Arabs, over whom he extended his depredations: these - are the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites.** Of these people he - made a total massacre, at those places where he made his inroads; saying, - very prudently, "Lest they should tell of us, saying, so did David, and so - will be his manner, all the while he dwelleth in the country of the - Philistines."*** - </p> - <p> - After thus carefully endeavouring to avoid detection, he brings his booty - home, which consisted of all which those miserable victims possessed.**** - He made presents of this to his benefactor king Achis,(5)| who, demanding - where he had made his incursion, was answered, against the south of Judah, - &c.(6) intending by this falsity to insinuate to the king his aversion - to his own countrymen, and attachment to him. "And Achish believed David, - saying, he hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he - shall be my servant for ever,"(7) - </p> - <p> - The Philistines at this time collected their forces together, to attack - the Israelites. To which service Achish summoned David,(8) and met with a - cheerful compliance. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - ** Ver. 8. - - *** Ver. 9, 11. - - **** Query, whether David might not compose a psalm - upon this occasion. - - (5) Josephus. - - (6) 1 Sam. xxvii. 10. - - (7) Ver. 12. - - (8) Ch. xxviii. 1. -</pre> - <p> - "Surely," says David, "thou shalt know what thy servant can do."* He - accordingly marched his adherents with the troops of king Achish; but when - the princes of the Philistines saw a company of Hebrews in their army, - they were much surprized, and questioned Achish concerning them. The - account which Achish gave of them, did not satisfy the princes, who justly - feared their captain might prove a dangerous auxiliary. "Make this fellow - return," said they, "that he may go again to the place which thou hast - appointed him, and let him not go down with us to the battle, lest in the - battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should be reconcile himself - to his master; should it not be with the heads of these men David was - accordingly dismissed, very much mortified at their distrust of him.** - </p> - <p> - Here now was a signal evidence of David's righteousness! The Hebrews, - according to their own testimony, understood themselves to be the - favourite people of God, and David is delivered down to us as a - distinguished character for piety among this peculiarly esteemed people. - Yet could this very man, without any hesitation, freely join himself and - company, to an army of uncircumcised idolators, marching with hostile - intentions against his countrymen! His advocates indeed pretend, that had - his offers been accepted, he would nevertheless have gone over to the - Israelites, at the commencement of the battle: this is taking off the - charge of one crime, by imputing to him another equally bad—a most - base act of treachery! As, however, the Israelites, on the foundation of - their own intimacy with the Deity, thought they had no more obligations to - a moral conduct towards the heathens, than the Roman Catholics now imagine - they have to keep faith with heretics; these advocates endeavour to - preserve the piety of David's character, at the expence of what David, - according to this method of arguing, did extremely well without, on all - occasions; namely, <i>honesty</i>.*** - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. xxviii. 2. - - ** Ch. xxix. 4. - - *** Ver. 8, 11. -</pre> - <p> - Upon his return to Ziklag, he found that, during his absence, the - Amalekites had made reprisals upon him, and burnt Ziklag; and had carried - off all the women captives.* But in the relation there is one remark well - worth noting, which is that "they slew not any either great or small"**—so - much more moderation had these poor heathens in their just revenge, than - the enlightened David in his unprovoked insult. If they came to avenge so - savage an insult, it shewed great consideration in them to spare the - innocent, the guilty being absent: if they only came on the common - principle of plunder, the bare comparison of the different treatment of - the sufferers in each instance, speaks forcibly without amplification. - Upon this misfortune, his band began to mutiny, and were on the point of - stoning*** him; when he, who knew how to soothe them, enquired of the Lord - what he should do? and evaded their rage, by inspiring them with a - resolution to pursue the Amalekites, and with the hopes of recovering all - their losses. He, therefore, with four hundred picked men, set out on the - pursuit, and by the way found a straggler**** who had fainted: after - recovering him, they gained, by his means, intelligence of their route. - David came upon them unexpectedly, at a place where they were, without - apprehension, regaling themselves after their success: and though David's - men recovered all they had lost, together with other booty, and found - their wives and children unhurt: yet could not their captain resist so - inviting an opportunity of gratifying his delight in blood-shedding: the - pursuit and slaughter continued from the twilight (we know not whether of - the morning or evening) of one day, until the evening of the next. None - escaped but a party which rode upon camels.(5) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. xxi. 1. - - ** Ver. 2. - - *** Ver. 6. - - **** Ver. 11. - - (5) Ver. 17. -</pre> - <p> - Of the spoil taken from these people, David sent presents to the elders of - his own tribe of Judah, "and to all the places where David himself and his - men were wont to haunt."* By which means he kept them attached to his - interest. - </p> - <p> - The dispute between the Philistine and Hebrew armies, did not terminate - but by the defeat of the latter, the death of Saul, and of three of his - sons.** - </p> - <p> - Such was the catastrophe of king Saul! a man advanced from the humble - state of a shepherd, by the prophet Samuel, to be his deputy in the - government of the Hebrew nations under the specious name of king: a man, - who allowing for the <i>peculiar complexion</i> of the people over whom he - was placed; does not, on the whole, seem to suffer by comparison with any - other king in the <i>same</i> history; or whose character appears to be - stained with any conspicuous fault, except that he was one degree less - cruel than his haughty patron: and was disobedient enough to endeavour to - be in effect, what he was only intended to be in name. On the whole, he - appears to have been strangely irresolute and inconsistent with himself; - and is perhaps represented more so than he might really have been: but the - undertaking to render himself independent was an arduous task for one in - his situation; therefore his actions and professions might sometimes - disagree. However, it is impossible to argue from every expression that - may be produced; we must form our judgment from leading events, and - corresponding expressions; and determine as they tally with probability. - If Saul himself, however he is represented as subscribing to it, was - really assured of David's destination to supersede him by divine decree, - there was nothing left for him but resignation: Can man fight against God? - since therefore his continual aim was to destroy David, it argues against - this assurance: and if Saul himself was mad, surely his soldiers were not: - how came he to find an army as mad as himself, to persecute the Lord's - anointed. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Sam. xxx. 31. - - ** Ch. xxxi. -</pre> - <p> - We shall now have an opportunity to observe the conduct of our hero in a - regal capacity. The death of Saul facilitated his advancement to a - sovereignty, to which he had no pretension, either by the right of - inheritance, which was claimed by Ish-bosheth, a remaining son of Saul; - nor by popular election, which Saul himself had the shew of; but by the - clandestine appointment of an old prophet; which inspired him with hopes, - of which, by arms and intrigue, he at length enjoyed the fruition. - </p> - <p> - David had returned to Ziklag but two days, when on the third, there came - to him an Amalekite, who officiously informed him of the event of the - battle between the Israelites and Philistines. He owned himself to be the - person who killed Saul, after his defeat, at his own request: he being - already wounded. - </p> - <p> - He hoped to be well rewarded for his news, by David; whose intentions were - so well known, that he presented him with Saul's crown and bracelet*. But, - alas! he knew not David, and perished in the experiment: David ordering - him to be killed for daring to slay the Lord's anointed.** David's - treatment of this Amalekite, is agreeable to the customary rules of - politics; and has nothing therefore remarkable in it, farther than it is - rendered so by peculiar circumstances. Saul was declared to be rejected by - God, and David was the pretender to his throne; it may therefore be - imagined by some, that this man might have had some claim to <i>his</i> - private gratitude, especially considering the account the Amalekite gave - of the matter. - </p> - <p> - Who can help smiling at the relation of David's tearing his clothes off - his back, and bursting into a sorrowful lamentation for the death of a - man, to whose destruction he had so freely offered to lend assistance but - just before? - </p> - <p> - Upon this alteration of affairs, David, asking counsel of the Lord, was - advised to leave Ziklag, and go to Hebron, one of the cities of Judah; - whither he and all his men repaired.*** - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. 10. - - ** Ver. 15. - - *** 2 Sam. ii. 1. -</pre> - <p> - There he got his partizans to anoint him king over Judah; at the same time - that Abner, Saul's general, had, at Mahanaim, made Ishbosheth, - </p> - <p> - Saul's son, king over Israel.* It may be remarked here, that David did not - seem to claim in right of the sacred unction bestowed on him long since by - Samuel. He realized his title indeed, as soon as he could make it out, by - the law of force: but if his divine title to the Hebrew crown was - universally known, and if, as has been urged, Ish-bosheth had none at all, - how came David's title not to be universally acknowledged? Did only one - tribe believe in it? Yet David, with the divine grant, was obliged to - obtain the sovereignty by arms and intrigue! just for all the world like - the wicked, who attain their desires by exactly the same means, to all - external appearance. Upon this division of the kingdom, a battle was - fought at the pool of Gibeon, between the army of Ish-bosheth, commanded - by general Abner, and that of David, headed by Joab: victory declared in - favour of the latter, with small loss on either side, except that Joab - lost his brother Ahasel, who was killed by Abner's own hand.** - </p> - <p> - We must here be content with general hints; being only informed that - "there was long war between the house of Saul and the house, of David: but - David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and - weaker."*** What very much conduced to this, was an ill-timed quarrel - between king Ish-bosheth and general Abner, concerning one of Saul's - concubines, with whom Abner had been too familiar:**** and his resentment - of the notice taken of this amour, occasioned a treaty to be negociated - between him and David, whom Abner engaged to establish over all Israel.(5) - David accepted his offer, but demanded, as a preliminary, the restoration - of his first wife Michal;(6) who, during the disputes between him and - Saul; had been espoused to another.(7) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. ii. 4, 8. - - ** Ver. 17, 23. - - *** 2 Sam. iii. 1. - - **** 2 Sam. iii. 7. - - (5) Ver. 12. - - (6) Ver. 13. - - (7) 1 Sam. xxv. 44. -</pre> - <p> - This demand he likewise made openly, by an express message to Ishbosheth, - who kindly complied with it: the poor man who had since married her, - following her weeping all the way.** - </p> - <p> - It is impossible to avoid noting David's amorous disposition here; which - could not be content with six wives, who bare him children*** (no mention - of those who did not), but was yet so warm, that it took the lead even in - his most important concerns.—We will not pretend to assign the cause - of that sad disorder, the symptoms of which are described in the 38th - Psalm. - </p> - <p> - After Abner had traitorously endeavoured to advance the interest of - David****; he had an interview with him;(5) which, quickly after he - returned, coming to the ears of Joab; he, who does not appear to have been - acquainted with the secret spring which actuated Abner's zeal for the - cause of David; represented to him the imprudence of admitting a man among - them, who to all appearance came only as a spy. Unknown to David, he sent - for him back again, and privately stabbed him, in revenge for the loss of - his brother Asahel.(6) This was a most base piece of treachery, worthy the - servant of such a master: to assassinate a man in cool blood, in revenge - for an action which was committed in the heat of battle, in self-defence, - and even after fair warning given. - </p> - <p> - Upon the murder of Abner, David again acts the mourner;(7) which has a - greater probability of being sincere now, than when he grieved for the - unhappy Saul; because the false Abner was preparing to do him essential - service, by betraying his master's cause. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - ** 2 Sam. iii. 15, 16. - - *** Ver. 2, &c. - - **** Ver. 17. - - (5) Ver. 20. - - (6) Ver. 27. - - (7) Ver. 31, &c. -</pre> - <p> - But the event proved full as advantageous to David; as will presently - appear. - </p> - <p> - When Ishbosheth and his friends heard of the fate of Abner, who had been - the very life of their cause; it dejected all their spirits; and two - villains, named Rechab and Baanah, hoping to make their fortunes by the - public calamity, went and murdered their master king Ishbosheth, as he was - reposing himself during the heat of the day, and brought his head to - David*. But not reflecting on an obvious maxim in politics, they like the - Amalekite before, who claimed the merit of killing Saul, soon found that, - he thought it adviseable to punish the traitors, whatever he thought of - the treason.** - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. iv. 5, &c. - - ** Ver. 12. -</pre> - <p> - Had David reflected on all the circumstances which led to this murder, - with that tenderness becoming a person professing so much piety, his - compunction would have greatly embarrassed him in the proper behaviour on - this occasion. For if these two execrable villains deserved punishment, - what did <i>he</i> merit who was the primary cause of so nefarious an - action? Two poor rogues from subordinate views, effected by assassination - what David sought at the head of an army, which naturally reminds us of - the pirate and Alexander. So strangely do relative circumstances bias our - judgment of things essentially alike. Had David aspired to no other - sceptre than his shepherd's crook, the villains had not presumed on the - usurper's gratitude; and Ish-bosheth, who was a quiet prince, might have - reigned long an honour to himself and a blessing to his country. - </p> - <p> - 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. - </p> - <p> - The murder of this unhappy son of an unhappy father, advanced David to the - dignity to which he aspired,* (though we shall see in a passage which - reflects no great honour on him, that Saul had more sons yet living.) He - was now in his thirty-eighth year; having reigned seven years and an half - in Hebron** over the tribe of Judah. - </p> - <p> - Although David was now invested with that supremacy which had been the aim - of his endeavours since the time that Samuel inspired him with the spirit - of ——- ambition; yet could not his enterprising genius - continue satisfied with such an exaltation. The first object of his - attention now, was the city of Jerusalem, then inhabited by the Jebusites; - (but it was of no importance who inhabited it, if David conceived a desire - for it): this city he besieged and the inhabitants relying on the strength - of their fortifications, out of derision planted cripples on their - ramparts to guard their walls; saying "except thou take away the blind and - the lame, thou shalt not come in hither."*** Nevertheless David carried - the place, and made it his chief city.**** - </p> - <p> - N. B. He supplied himself with, more wives and concubines out of his new - acquisition.(5) - </p> - <p> - While he was thus amorously engaged, the Philistines hearing that he Was - made king over all Israel, came and disturbed him; but David according to - the usual term <i>smote them</i>;(6) and his strokes were always - sufficiently felt. - </p> - <p> - The comic tale of David's bringing home the ark will not be long dwelt - upon; it may only be remarked, that it was brought on a new cart, drawn by - oxen; and that Uzzah some way or other lost his life, to, as the text - reads, was smote <i>by the Lord</i>,(7) for his impiety in saving the ark - from being overturned.(8) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. v. 3, 1 Chron. xi. 3. - - ** 2 Sam. ii. 11. - - *** Chap. v. 6. Josephus. - - **** Ver. 7. 9., 1 Chron; xi. 5. 7. - - (5) 2 Sam. v. 13. - - (6) Ver. 20, 25., 1 Chron. xiv. 11. - - (7) Query, whether the Lord did not sometimes smite - by the hands of the priest. - - (8) Sam. vi. 7. -</pre> - <p> - But if "the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looked on the outward - appearance, but the Lord looked into the heart." the intention of Uzzah - was indisputably good, and the alledged crime surely pardonable; the - seeming exigency precluding all hesitation and reflection. Had the ark - been really overturned for want of this careful prevention, Uzzah might - then, it would be naturally imagined, have been rather <i>smote</i> for - neglecting to save it. However, it was no longer trusted to prophane - hands, but carried the remainder of the way upon the more holy shoulders - of the Levites,* with great parade: attended by musicians, and by David - himself who, dressed in a linen ephod, <i>danced before the Lord with all - his might</i> and this, in such a frantic indecent manner, that he exposed - his nakedness to the bye-standers. Wherefore his wife Michal sneered at - him: "How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself - to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain - fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself."** David, it seems, was of a - different opinion; for he told her he <i>would</i> play before the Lord; - and would be yet <i>more vile</i> than she had represented him;—adding, - "and of the maid-servants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be - had in honour."*** Some staunch zealots have very prudently spiritualized - this part of David's answer, and given the mystical sense of it; the - prophane, who are content with the evident signification of words, having - construed it no otherwise than into an insinuation that he had no cause to - be ashamed of what he exposed. Fie on them! - </p> - <p> - 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.(5) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Chron. xv. 2, 15. - - ** 2 Sam. vi. 14. - - *** Ver. 20. - - **** Ver. 22. - - (5) Ver. 23. -</pre> - <p> - For, if Michal had hitherto borne no children, neither to David, nor to - her immediate husband, her barrenness must have been constitutional; and, - preceding her offence, could not be a punishment inflicted in consequence - of it. Moreover, if, on the other hand, she <i>had</i> borne him children, - and this disgrace to her was the consequence of a resolution made by her - husband David, that she should have no more children <i>by him</i>: her - quiet resignation, under this imposed widowhood, is by inference a high - compliment on this poor woman's conjugal virtue! which was far from the - historian's intention to bestow. Indeed there is great reason to credit - Michal, and to believe that David really behaved with all the extravagance - she ascribes to him: for she appeared before this affair as a discreet - kind of a woman; no instance of folly being produced in her, unless the - contrivances she made use of to save her husband from the effects of her - father's rage may be allowed to bear such interpretation. Whatever - judgment however is passed upon Michal's censure of David's behaviour in - this procession, it showed great cruelty and ingratitude in him to fix so - disgraceful a stigma on her; and not to make allowance for female - indiscretion, the worst name that could be bestowed on her fault. - </p> - <p> - After this, David smote the Philistines, not sparing even Gath, that city - which had so humanely protected him.* He then smote the Moabites, putting - to the sword two-thirds of the nation, by causing them to lie prostrate on - the ground, and measuring them by lines; "even with two lines measured he - to put to death; and with one full line to keep alive:"** so systematic - was his wrath! Hadadezar, king of Zobah, was the next whom he smote; who - being assisted by the Syrians of Damascus, he next smote them.*** Yet all - this smiting and slaying is so obscurely mentioned, that we know nothing - of the offences committed against this mighty chief, to excite such - blood-thirsty indignation. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * Sam. viii. 1., Chron. xviii. 1. - - ** 2 Sam. viii. 2. - - *** Ver. 3. 5., 1 Chron. xviii. 3, 5. -</pre> - <p> - Indeed, the cause is, without much difficulty, deducible from the produce - of these wars, which sufficiently indicate the nature of David's <i>thirst.</i> - Great quantities of gold, silver, and brass, are said to have been brought - to Jerusalem;* and the priests may with reason be supposed to be the - instigators to these wars; since we find all the plunder surrendered to - them.** We have therefore no cause to wonder at the exalted praises they - have bestowed upon the instrument of their wealth. He is said to have "gat - him a name, when he returned from smiting the Syrians."*** —This may - very easily be credited; but it is to be feared, that if the name he gat - from the Jews, and that which he gat from the Syrians were compared, they - would not accord extremely well together. - </p> - <p> - David was at this time seized with a <i>temporary</i> fit of gratitude - toward a lame son of his old friend Jonathan, named Mephibosheth, to whom - he restored all the private patrimony of his grandfather Saul, and took - him into his family;**** not without due consideration, it is to be - supposed; since by that means he kept him under his own eye. But this - gratitude, was not lasting; for upon an accusation preferred against him - by his servant, David readily bestowed all Mephibosheth's possessions upon - that servant;(5) yet, when the accusation was found to be false, instead - of equitably punishing the asperser of innocence, and reinstating - Mephibosheth in his former favour, he restored to him but half the - forfeiture of his supposed guilt,(6) leaving the villain Ziba in the quiet - possession of the other half, as the reward of his treachery.—But of - this in its proper place. - </p> - <p> - 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."(7) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. viii. 7, 8, 10., 1 Chron. xviii, 2, 4, 8, 10. - - ** 2 Sam. viii. 11., 1 Chron. xviii. 11. - - *** 2 Sam. viii. 13. - - **** Chap. ix. 1. - - (5) Chap. xvi. 4. - - (6) Chap. xix. 29. - - (7) 1 Kings xv. 5, compared with 1 Chron. xxi. 1. -</pre> - <p> - In the midst of an obscure detail of smiting and slaying; in revenge for - the contemptuous treatment of some ambassadors, sent by him with - compliments of condolence; but who, perhaps deservedly, were considered as - spies; while Joab was with the army prosecuting the siege of Rabbah, a - chief city of the Ammonites; David, then at Jerusalem, walking one evening - on the roof of his palace, perceived from that eminence a handsome woman - bathing herself.* Fired with the sight, he sent to enquire who she was: - and understanding she was Bathsheba, wife to Uriah, who was at that time - opportunely absent in the army under Joab, he caused her to be brought to - him directly, (no ceremony in the case) and after gratifying his - inclination, sent her home again.** Some time after, the woman finding - herself with child, naturally informed the king of it. He, never at a loss - for ways and means, immediately ordered Uriah home;*** of whom he enquired - news concerning the operations of the campaign, and then dismissed him to - his own house, sending after him a present of victuals.**** David intended - the good man a little relaxation from the fatigues of war, that he might - kiss his wife, and be cheated into a child more than he had a natural - right to; but whether Uriah had received any intimation of the honour his - Majesty had done him; or whether he honestly meant the self-denial which - he professed, we are not advertised: however, Uriah would not go home but - slept in the guard-room, with the king's servants.(5) David took care to - be informed of this, and questioned Uriah concerning the reason of it. - Uriah urged a scruple of conscience against going to enjoy any indulgence - at home, while the ark, Joab, and the army remained in tents in the open - field.(6) He was detained another night; when David made him drunk,(7) - waiting to see what effect that might have. It was still the same; Uriah, - like many other drunken men, was resolved not to go home. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - *2 Sam. xi. 2. - - ** Ver. 4. - - *** Ver. 6. - - **** Ver. 8. - - (5) Ver. 9. - - (6) Ver. 11. - - (7) Ver. 35. -</pre> - <p> - David, finding him so obstinate, altered his plan of operations, and - determined then to get rid of him for ever. To which intent, he sent him - back to the camp, with a letter to the general. "And he wrote in the - letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the fore-front of the hottest battle, and - retire ye from him, that he may be smitten and die."* This instruction was - accordingly complied with;** and then Bathsheba, like another Abigail, was - taken into David's seraglio.*** - </p> - <p> - Nathan the prophet read David an arch lecture upon this subject;**** and - he, who took care not to disagree With his best friends, bore with the - reproof, and humbled himself accordingly. - </p> - <p> - This complicated crime committed by David is universally allowed; but - people think so little for them selves, that even <i>this</i> would be - qualified, were it not found ready condemned to their hand in the relation - of it. This crime is given up too, as the <i>only stain</i> in David's - character: but the circumstances of it will not permit this to be granted, - abstracted from any consideration of the man. For, though a generally good - man may, in a sudden start of any of the passions, lose government of - himself so far, as to violate conjugal fidelity, or perhaps suddenly to - kill another; yet a deliberate scheme, including <i>two</i> such crimes, - can be concerted only by a <i>bad heart</i>. It is also to be remarked - respecting his famous repentance of this black transaction, that he shewed - no tokens of relenting until it was extorted from him by artifice! and - that even then, though he mourned his crime, he never entertained a - thought of relinquishing future commerce with the woman so wickedly - obtained, but kept her until he died! and altered the regular course of - succession, in favour of a son he had by her.(5) - </p> - <p> - 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:(6) an opportunity of which he - prudently laid hold: but—fatal was his presence wherever he - appeared. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. xi. 15. - - ** Ver. 17. - - *** Ver. 27. - - **** Ch. xii. 1. - - (5) Kings i. 13. - - (6) 2 Sam. xii. 27, 28. -</pre> - <p> - How shall a person subject to the feelings of humanity, (a security of - more avail among men than the most binding laws) how shall a man, not - steeled to a very Jew, find expressions suited to the occasion, when he - relates the treatment of this poor city, Rabbah? The study would be as - difficult as unnecessary; the simple unexaggerated tale, if seriously - attended to, will shock the humane reader sufficiently. The city was taken - and plundered; and David "brought forth the people that were therein, and - put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, - and made them pass through the brick-kiln, and thus did he unto all the - cities of the children of Ammon."** - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * It is supposed that the ancient slavery of the Jews to the - Egyptians, and the labour they were employed in by their - lordly taskmasters, the making bricks, might be a current - reproachful jeer upon the Jews, when any quarrel happened - between them find their neighbours; and that the making - their prisoners pass through the brick-kiln, was a cruel - method of revenging such affronts. A conjecture not - improbable. - - ** 2 Sam. xii. 31., 1 Chron. xx. 3. -</pre> - <p> - The precise punishments here alluded to are not understood at this time: - writers being much divided in their expositions of these words; but that - extraordinary punishments are meant, cannot admit of a doubt; for though - <i>believers</i> expound the putting the Ammonites <i>under</i> saws and - harrows, into the making slaves of them, and that these were the tools - with which they laboured; yet this will not agree with the latter of the - texts whose authority is mentioned in the note; where it is said, that he - [David] "cut them with saws and with harrows of iron, and with axes." And - should more evidence be yet required, Josephus also writes, that "the men - were put to death by exquisite torments." The general truth of the fact - stands therefore unimpeached. And is it thus the people of God, headed by - a man styled, in a peculiar manner, <i>the man after God's own heart</i>, - used the prisoners of war? <i>Bella! horrida bella!</i> - </p> - <p> - 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. - </p> - <p> - Ammon, one of our hero's sons, ravished his sister Tamar, and then turned - her out of doors.* Absalom, her brother by the same mother, seemingly took - no notice of it, until two years after; when he invited all his brothers - to a feast at his sheep-shearing; where he made Amnon drunk, and murdered - him** in so deliberate, and yet so determined was his revenge! Absalom on - this account, fled out of Judea, for three years*** until, at the entreaty - of Joab, he was invited home again by his father, whose favourite he - was.**** But though he returned to Jerusalem, yet would not his father see - him for two years more.(5) - </p> - <p> - 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:(6) 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.(7) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. xiii. 14 - - ** Ver. 28. - - *** Ver. 88. - - **** Chap. xiv. 21, 24. - - (5) Ver. 28. - - (6) Chap. xv. 1. - - (7) Ver 2, 4. -</pre> - <p> - The profession of piety is universally, and was in particular a-mong this - people, the most successful disguise for crafty designing men to assume. - When Absalom, therefore, thought his scheme sufficiently ripe for - execution, he desired leave of his father to go to Hebron, to perform a - vow made by him while a refugee in Syria.* At Hebron he set up his - standard, and his followers assembled in such numbers, and the defection - was so general, that David thought it adviseable to retire from - Jerusalem.** - </p> - <p> - With him he took all his family and dependants, except ten concubines, - whom he left in his palace to keep house.*** The priests, Zadock and - Abiather, with the ark, would also have gone with him; but he thought it - would be more for his service for them to remain in the city as spies; to - send him intelligence how matters went.**** It is no inconsiderable part - of politics to know how to suit men with proper employments, Ahitophel, - his prime minister, joined the malecontents;(5) to balance which - misfortune, David prevailed on Hushai, a trusty man of some importance, to - remain in the city, that he might ingratiate himself with Absalom, thwart - the counsels of Ahitophel, and transmit intelligence to him from time to - time through the conveyance of the priests, whose sons were to carry on - the correspondence.(6) Having concerted matters thus, he evacuated - Jerusalem, and Absalom entered(7) it. - </p> - <p> - 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:(8) 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:(9) by which lying aspersion, he gained a grant of all his - master's possessions. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. xv. 7. - - ** Ver. 12,14. - - *** Ver. 16. - - **** Ver. 27,28, - - (5) Ver. 12, 31. - - (6) Ver. 32, &c. - - (7) Ver. 37, - - (8) 2 Sam. xvi. 1. - - (9) Ver. 3. -</pre> - <p> - 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. - </p> - <p> - As David prosecuted his flight, he was met by a man of Saul's family, - whose name was Shimei. This man as he came on, kept muttering curses - between his teeth, and at length cast stones at the King and his - attendants, calling out to him, "Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and - thou man of Belial; the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the - house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned, and the Lord hath - delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son; and behold thou - art taken in thy mischief because thou art a bloody man."* This is - pathetic, and truly characteristic of the person to whom the speech was - addressed. Some of his retinue were at the point of silencing; this - brawler with the "ultima ratio regum;"** but David prevented it,*** wisely - considering this not to be a season for proceeding to extremities. - </p> - <p> - Absalom, in the mean time, being come to Jerusalem, like a buck of spirit, - took the damsels which his father had left to keep house, and cuckolded - the old man by way of bravado, on the top of it****; in a tent erected for - this heroic purpose! - </p> - <p> - Ahitophel advised Absalom to select twelve thousand men, and pursue David - directly, before he had time to recover his surprize;(5) 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.(6) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. xvi 7, 8. - - ** The motto on French cannon. - - *** 2 Sam. xvi. 9, 10. - - **** Ver. 21, 22. - - (5) Chap. xvii. 1. - - (6) Ver. 8. -</pre> - <p> - He advised a collection of all the troops in the kingdom; that success - might be in a manner insured; and that Absalom should command them in - person. By which means, he affirmed that they should overwhelm David and - his party, wherever they found him.* Hushai gained the ascendancy; and - when he knew that his scheme was accepted, he gave immediate notice to the - priests:** with instructions for David how to conduct himself.*** David - divided his forces into three bodies; commanded by Joab, Abishai, and - Ittai: but by the prudent care of his men, was not permitted to hazard his - person, by being present in action.**** When he had reviewed his army, he - gave his generals especial charge to preserve the life of Absalom; and - with a policy that reflects honour upon his military knowledge, expected - the enemy in the wood Ephraim:(5) a covert situation, being the most - judicious that could be chosen, for a small army(6) to encounter one more - numerous. David's men were tried veterans, among whom were the remains of - those who served under, and lived with him at Gath;(7) whereas, Absalom's - army must have consisted chiefly of fresh men. The battle decided in - favour of David(8) with great slaughter of the rebel army: and as Absalom - fled on a mule, his hair, which is celebrated for its beauty and quantity, - entangled in the boughs of an oak, and he remained suspended in the air; - while his mule ran away from between his legs.(9) He was observed in this - condition by a man who went and told Joab; and he, who consulted the - safety of David, rather than his parental weakness in behalf of an - unnatural son, killed Absalom with a dart.(10) - </p> - <p> - David grieved immoderately for this reprobate son, on whom he had - misplaced a great affection:(11) and though he had <i>acted</i> the - mourner on several former occasions, this is the only one, in which his - sincerity need not be questioned. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. xiii. 11. - - ** Ver. 15. - - *** Ver. 16. - - **** Chap. xviii. 1-3 - - (5) Ver. 4-6. - - (6) According to Josephus, David had but four thousand men. - - (7) 2 Sam. xv. 18. - - (8) Chap. xviii. 7. - - (9) Ver. 9. - - (10) Ver. 14. - - (11) Ver. 33., Chap. xix. 4. -</pre> - <p> - 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. - </p> - <p> - David was roused from his lamentations by the reproaches of his victorious - general,* who flushed with success, told him the truth, but, perhaps, told - it too coarsely. It is evident that Joab now lost the favour of his - master, which the murder of Abner, the killing Absalom in direct - contradiction to David's express order; and lastly, his want of sympathy, - and his indelicacy in the present instance, were the apparent causes. - </p> - <p> - After the battle, he invited Amasa, Absalom's vanquished general, to - return to his duty: very imprudently and unaccountably promising him the - chief command of his army in the stead of Joab;** which was seemingly but - an unthankful return for the victory that officer had just gained him, and - for his attachment to his interest all along. Amasa, it is true, was a - near relation; but Joab, according to Josephus, stood in the same degree - of consanguinity; they being both the sons of David's sisters, this offer - must therefore have been rashly influenced by his resentment against Joab, - as before mentioned. - </p> - <p> - The remains of Absalom's scattered army dispersed to their homes in the - best and most private manner they could:*** but David inadvertantly - plunged himself into fresh troubles, by causing himself to be conducted - home by a detachment from the tribe of Judah.**** This occasioned disputes - between that and the other tribes. They accused Judah of stealing their - king from them.(5) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. xix. 5-7. - - ** Ver. 13. - - *** Ver. 3, - - **** Ver. 11, 15. - - (5) Ver. 41. -</pre> - <p> - Judah replied, that they gave their attendance, because the king was of - their tribe; and that it was their own free will:* the others rejoined - that they had ten parts in the king, and that their advice should have - been asked as to the bringing him back.** At this juncture, one Sheba took - advantage of the discontent, "and blew a trumpet, and said, we have no - part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man - to his tent, O Israel."*** The consequence of this, was a second - insurrection. Amasa was ordered to assemble an army to suppress it; but - not proceeding with the desired speed, Abishai was afterward commissioned - with the same trust; Amasa and Abishai met and proceeded together, and - were joined by Joab and his men. But Joab, not thoroughly liking to serve - under a man he had so lately vanquished, and having as few scruples of - conscience as his old master, made short work, stabbed Amasa, and - reassumed the command of the whole army.**** - </p> - <p> - 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;(5) 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.(6) 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. - </p> - <p> - 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,(7) joined him at the head of a party of his own tribe. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. xix. 42. - - ** Ver. 43. - - *** Chap. xx. 1. - - **** Ver. 7, 9. - - (5) Ver. 15, 16, &c. - - (6) Ver. 23. - - (7) Ver. 16. -</pre> - <p> - This man, who at a former meeting, so freely bestowed his maledictions on - David when a fugitive: upon this change of circumstances, reflecting on - the king's vindictive temper, came now to make his submission: David - accepted his acknowledgements, and confirmed his pardon with an oath.* - </p> - <p> - We shall have occasion to refer to this passage anon. - </p> - <p> - Mephibosheth came also to welcome David on his return, and undeceive him - with regard to the false Ziba's representation of him;—but he - appears to have met with no other redress, than a remittance of <i>half - the grant</i> made to Ziba of his estate.** - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. xix. 28. - - ** Ver. 29. -</pre> - <p> - These intestine troubles put David upon pondering how to secure himself, - as far as he could forecast, from any future disturbance. - </p> - <p> - 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. - </p> - <p> - 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. - </p> - <p> - Whenever David projected any scheme, a religious plea, and the assistance - of his old friends,* were never wanting. A famine befel Judea, which - continued three years: probably occasioned by the preceding intestine - commotions. "David inquired of the Lord: and the Lord answered, it is for - Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites."** But - where is this crime recorded? Samuel charged Saul with no such slaughter: - he reproached him with a contrary fault, an act of <i>mercy!</i> which is - assigned as one of the reasons for deposing him. So that this crime was - not recollected,*** till many years after the man was dead! and then God - punishes—whom? a whole nation, with three years famine: which, by - the by, was not sent as a punishment neither; but merely as a hint of - remembrance, which ended in hanging the late king's innocent children! - </p> - <p> - The oracular response dictated no act of expiation; but only pointed out - the <i>cause</i> of the famine. So that the Gibeonites (who, by the way, - had hitherto made no complaints that we know of) were applied to**** for a - knowledge of what recompence they demanded. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * The prophets and priests. - - ** 2 Sam. xxi. 1. - - *** If God sought vengeance for a particular act of cruelty - perpetrated by Saul: when was vengeance demanded for David's - massacre of the Edomites, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the - Jebusites, and others, who at times became the object of - David's wrath? That the charge may allude to some former - affair, is not contested; it is, however, truly remarkable, - that there should be no chronological record of a fact, - which after such a length of time demanded an expiation so - awfully hinted, and so extraordinary in its circumstances! - - **** 2 Sam. xxi. 2, 3. -</pre> - <p> - They required no gifts, neither that for their sakes David should kill any - man in Israel (which qualifying expressions seems artfully intended; since - they only required David to <i>deliver</i> the men to <i>them</i>, that <i>they</i> - might kill them); but that seven of Saul's sons, should be surrendered to - them, that they might hang them up—<i>unto the Lord</i>.* David, not - withheld by any motives of gratitude toward the posterity of his unhappy - father-in-law, but in direct violation of his oath at the cave of - En-gedi,** granted the request he must himself have instigated,*** sparing - only Mephibosheth, who luckily was so unfortunate as to be a cripple, and - so much a dependant on David, and kept under his own eye, that he had no - room for apprehension from him. He therefore reserved Mephibosheth, in - memory of another oath between him and his father Jonathan. Mephibosheth - having such a shocking scene to contemplate, and, considering his - decrepitude, might (as he really was) with little hazard be preserved, as - an evidence of probity in this pious king. - </p> - <p> - 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— - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - —"'Tis my slave, my drudge, my supple glove, - My upper garment, to put on, throw off, - As I think best: 'tis my obedient conscience." -</pre> - <p> - David, now thinking himself securely settled, was moved both by God**** - and by Satan,(5) to cause his subjects to be numbered: which is, oddly - enough, imputed as a great sin in him to require: for, poor man, according - to the premises, he was but a passive instrument in the affair. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. 6. - - ** 1 Sam. xxiv. 21, 22. - - *** 2 Sam. xxi. 6. - - **** Chap. xxiv. 1. - - (5) 1 Chron. xxi. l. -</pre> - <p> - Even David should have his due. The prophet Gad called him to account for - it; and as a punishment for this sin of compulsion, propounded to him for - his choice three kinds of plagues, one of which <i>his subjects</i> - thereby necessarily incurred seven years famine, three months persecution - from enemies, or three days pestilence.* David chose the latter. - </p> - <p> - It may be as well to decline this story, as to enter into, any more - particular consideration of it. From the above state of the case, the - intelligent reader will need no assistance in making his own private - reflections on it. - </p> - <p> - We have now attended David down to the decline of his life: when his - natural heat so far decayed, that no addition of clothing** could retain a - proper degree of warmth. His physicians prescribed a young woman to - cherish him in his bed, by imparting to him a share of juvenile heat.*** - This remedy may be very expedient in cases of extreme age: but why beauty - should be a necessary part of the prescription is difficult to conceive. - They sought a <i>fair damsel</i>; and the damsel they found, was <i>very - fair.</i>**** Possibly David might himself direct the delicacy of the - choice: but if his physicians intended it as a compliment to their master, - it indicated a very insufficient knowledge of the animal oeconomy: thus to - stimulate the old man, and harass a carcase already sufficiently worn out: - whereas a virgin of homelier features, at the same time that she would - have furnished an equal degree of warmth, would have been less liable to - put wicked thoughts in the patient's head.(5) However, the historian has - taken care to inform us, that "the king knew her not:"(6) an assertion, - which, from the premises, there does not appear any reason to controvert. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. xxiv. 13., 1 Chron. xxi. 12. - - ** 1 Kings, i. 1. - - *** Ver. 2. - - **** Ver. 8, 4. - - (5) "Boerhaave frequently told his pupils that an old German - prince, in a very infirm state of health, being advised to - lie between two young virtuous virgins, grew so healthy and - strong, that his physicians found it necessary to remove his - companions." Mackenzie on Health, p. 70, Notes. - - (6) l Kings, i. 4. -</pre> - <p> - While the king lay in this debilitated extremity of life, he was destined - to experience yet another mortification from his children. Adonijah his - eldest son, since the death of Absalom, taking advantage of his father's - incapacity, foolishly assumed the title of king,* which, had he been a - little less precipitate, would have soon fallen to him, perhaps, without - contest. For though David afterwards is represented as having secret - intentions to alter the succession, yet the countenance shewn to his - pretension by Joab, the general, by Abiathar the priest, and even by all - his other brothers,** seem to indicate, that had Adonijah been more - prudent, we should not now have heard so much of the wisdom of Solomon, It - is possible Adonijah might, even as it was, have maintained his - anticipated dignity, had he not, like Saul before, slighted his most - powerful friends. He made an entertainment, to which he invited all his - brothers, except Solomon;*** but what ruined him, was his not inviting - Nathan the prophet; it was <i>there</i> the grudge began: and the - exclusion from this merry bout, and the confidence of the party, caused - the prophet's loyalty to exert itself,**** which might probably have been - suppressed by a due share of Adonijah's good cheer. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * Ver. 5. - - ** Ver. 9, 19, 25. - - *** Ver. 9, 10, - - **** Ver. 11. -</pre> - <p> - Let not the writer be accused of putting a malicious construction upon - every transaction he produces. Pray, reader, turn to your bible: in the - tenth verse of the first chapter of the first book of Kings, you will find - a remark that Nathan was not called to the feast. The very next verse - begins, "Wherefore, Nathan spake unto Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon," - &c. He was certainly nettled at the slight put on him, and some - others, in not being invited to Adonijah's feast, else he would not have - insisted on that circumstance; which had better been waved. The - supposition is not so ridiculous as has been represented; for surely the - probability of Nathan's being corrupted, was not less than that of David's - sons; who, yet, all of them, except Solomon, (who, had he been invited, - had some private reasons to the contrary, which their proceedings shew - them to have been aware of) were agreeable to settling the succession on - their elder brother; though certainly as much interested in the disposal - of the kingdom, as Nathan could be. - </p> - <p> - Nathan and Bathsheba concerted to inform David of this matter;* where the - affronted prophet could not forget the slight put upon him; but, it being - foremost in his mind, he insists upon the circumstance of exclusion, in an - earnest manner; "But me, even me, thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and - Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not - called;"** which spake the cause of his officious loyalty but too plainly. - David here acknowledges the promise by which he waved the right of - primogeniture in favour of Solomon, Bathsheba's son.*** He now directed - him to be set upon a mule, to be proclaimed and anointed king of Israel, - by his appointment.**** The acclamations of the people upon this - raree-shew disturbed the opposite party at their table; and an event, so - unexpected, quite disconcerted them: they all dispersed;(5) Adonijah ran - to the tabernacle, and took sanctuary at the altar. He obtained of Solomon - a conditional promise of pardon,(6) depending on his good behaviour.(7) - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 1 Kings i. 13. - - ** Ver. 26. - - *** Ver. 30. - - **** Ver. 33, 38. - - (5) Ver. 41, 49, 50. - - (6) Ver. 52. - - (7) Solomon soon found a pretence, ridiculous enough, but - sufficient in his eyes, to get rid of Adonijah, when his - father was dead. -</pre> - <p> - And now, methinks, some gentlewoman, of more than feminine patience, whose - curiosity may have prevailed with her to proceed thus for, may here - exclaim; "It must be granted, Sir! that David had his faults; and who has - not? but what does that prove? only that he was a man. If he was frail, - his repentance was exemplary; as you may perceive, if you can prevail with - yourself to read some of his psalms. Indeed, after your ill-treatment of - the scripture, it will avail little to tell you that you contradict those - inspired penmen, who expressly stile David, <i>the Man after God's own - heart</i>. Nay, your writing against him, under that epithet, shews - sufficiently the rancour and impiety of <i>your heart</i>; so that I am - fearful there are small hopes of reclaiming you."—Good Madam! hear - me calmly, and we shall part excellent friends yet. Had David not been - selected from the rest of mankind, why then—it is possible—hardly - possible—he might pass in the gross, with the rest of the Jewish - kings. But, when he is exalted and placed in a conspicuous point of view, - as an eminent example of piety! he then necessarily attracts our notice in - an especial manner, and we are naturally led to wonder, that a more happy - subject of panegyric had not been chosen. If he was an holy psalmist; if - he is styled the Man after God's own heart; he also lived the life here - exhibited: and his capability of uniting such contrarities, does but - augment his guilt! - </p> - <p> - Yet, even in his psalms, he frequently breathes nothing but blood, and the - most rancorous resentment against his enemies. Of these take a specimen or - two, from the elegant <i>ekeings</i> out of that transcendent pair of - geniuses, Messrs. Thomas Sternhold and John Hopkins; in recommendation of - whose version, and the taste of our countrymen, it may be truly affirmed, - that their psalms have gone through more editions than the works of any - other poet, or brace of poets, whatever. - </p> - <p> - Psalm lxviii. 22-24. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - And he shall wound the head of all - His enemies also, - The hairy scalp of such as on - In wickedness do go. - - From Basan 1 will bring, said he, - My people and my sheep, - And all my own, as I have done. - From dangers of the deep. - - And make them dip their feet in blood - Of those that hate my name; - The tongues of dogs they shall be red - With licking of the same. -</pre> - <p> - Again, in Psalm lxix. 24—27. - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - Lord, turn their table to a snare, - To take themselves therein, - And when they think full well to fare, - Then rap them in their gin: - And let their eyes be dark and blind, - - That they may nothing see; - Bow down their backs, and let them find - Themselves in thrall to be: - Pour out thy wrath as hot as fire, - - That it on them may fall, - Let thy displeasure in thine ire - Take hold upon them all. - As desarts dry their house disgrace, - Their seed do thou expel, - That none thereof possess their place, - Nor in their tents once dwell. -</pre> - <p> - Very pious ejaculations for the whole congregation to <i>sing to the - praise and glory of God!</i> - </p> - <p> - David's failings, as they are qualifyingly termed, are generally mentioned - as exceptions to the uniform piety of his character: but, if David ever - performed any truly laudable actions, <i>those</i> are the real exceptions - to the general baseness which stains the whole of a life uncommonly - criminal. - </p> - <p> - The writer does not pledge himself to reconcile rapine and cruelty, with - morality and religion; there are Commentators who love these knotty - affairs; to them they are left. When the vindictive tenor of any of - David's psalms has been insisted on, the translation is immediately - censured; prudently enough; as every one who has sense to perceive the - incongruity between such bloody wishes and denunciations, and the - acknowledged purity and mercy of the All-beneficent Father of Nature, may - not have learning enough to dispute about Hebrew points, and to make them - point what meaning he pleases. However, such a one, by comparing the - labours of Hebrew critics, may yet be enabled to form some sort of - judgment between them. For instance, in that terrible 109th psalm, it is - certain our Doctors in Divinity do not like it: but something must be done - with it: some, therefore, say, that the verbs are not translated in their - proper tenses, and that prophetic declarations are thus mistaken for the - Psalmist's execrations: others again say, that to be sure they <i>are</i> - imprecations, but not the imprecations of David; but those of his enemies - on him, which he there only relates! O happy men! why do not we all learn - Hebrew? His exemplary repentance is pleaded; is it any where to be found - but in the psalms? "By their fruits ye shall know them." If David was ever - truly pious, we shall certainly perceive it in his behaviour on his - death-bed. <i>There</i>, it is to be hoped, we shall find him forgiving - his enemies, and dying in charity with all mankind. This is what all - mankind in general make a point of, from the saint to the malefactor. - David, therefore, must certainly give us an extraordinary instance of his - attention to this important evidence of contrition, But what shall we - think, when we see this Nero of the Hebrews die in a manner uniform and - consistent with the whole course of his life? What will be our - reflections, when we find him, with his last accents, delivering two cruel - and inhuman murders in charge to his son Solomon? Murders still further - aggravated by the included crimes of ingratitude and perjury! one of them - to be executed on his old faithful general, Joab, who powerfully assisted - him on all occasions, and who adhered to him in all his extremities, till - at the last, when he had justifiable cause for chagrin: but who, - notwithstanding, had not appeared against him in actual hostility; but - only drank a glass of wine with the malcontents. It will avail nothing to - plead the private faults of the man; we are now to consider him as - relative to David, in his public capacity. In which light we must loath - the master, who died meditating black ingratitude against so faithful, so - useful a servant. For even his defection at last may, perhaps, admit of - being interpreted into a patronization of that particular plan for the - succession, rather than into a rebellion against the superannuated - monarch. - </p> - <p> - His other charge was against Shimei, who reviled David at his retreat from - Jerusalem, during Absalom's rebellion; but who made his submission to him, - when he returned victorious: and whose pardon David had sealed with a - solemn oath.* - </p> - <p> - Attend we now to the cause of these reflections. After exhorting Solomon - on his death-bed, to keep the statutes of the Lord, David proceeds: - </p> - <p> - "Moreover, thou knowest also what Joab, the son of Zeruiah, did to me, and - what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son - of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood - of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about - his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet." - </p> - <p> - "Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let NOT HIS HOAR HEAD GO DOWN - TO THE GRAVE IN PEACE."** - </p> - <p> - This was afterwards fulfilled in the basest manner, by the administrator - to this pious testament. - </p> - <p> - David concludes thus: - </p> - <p> - "And behold, thou hast with thee Shimei, the son of Gera, a Benjaminite of - Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse, in the day when I went to - Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the - Lord, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword: - </p> - <p> - "Now, therefore, hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and - knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou - down to the grave with BLOOD."*** —That is to say, 'It is true, I - promised not to put him to death, but thou art a wise man, and knowest - what thou oughtest to do; thou knowest thyself not to be bound by that - obligation; therefore his hoar head, &c. So saying, he expired! - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * 2 Sam. xix. 23. - - ** 1 Kings ii. 5, 6. - - *** Ver. 8, 9. -</pre> - <p> - This command was also executed in a manner, worthy of a son of SUCH A - FATHER. - </p> - <p> - To take a retrospect view of the foregoing narrative; in few words may be - seen the sum total of the whole. A shepherd: youth is chosen by a - disgusted, prophet, to be the instrument of his revenge on an untractable - king. To this, end he is inspired with ambitious hopes, by a private - inauguration; is introduced to court, in the capacity of a harper; and by - knocking down a man with a stone whom, if he had missed once, he had four - more chances of hitting, and from whom, at the last, he could have, easily - ran away; he was advanced to the dignity of son-in-law to the king. So - sudden and unlooked for a promotion within sight of the throne, stimulated - expectations already awakened; and Saul soon perceived reasons to repent - his alliance with him. Being obliged to retire from the court, he - assembled a gang of ruffians, the acknowledged outcasts of their country, - and became the ringleader of a lawless company of banditti. In this - capacity he seduces his brother-in-law, Jonathan, from his allegieance and - filieal duty; and covenants with him, that if he obtained the kingdom, - Jonathan should be the next person in authority under him. - </p> - <p> - He obtains a settlement in the dominions of a Philistine prince where - instead of applying himself laudably to the arts of cultivation he - subsists by plundering and butchering the neighbouring nations. - </p> - <p> - He offered his assistance to the Philistine armies, in a war against his - own country, and father-in-law; and is much disgusted at their distrust of - his sincerity. He however, availed himself of the defeat and death of - Saul, and made a push for the kingdom. - </p> - <p> - Of this he gained only his own tribe of Judah: but strengthened by this - usurpation, he contested the remainder with Saul's son, Ishbosbeth, whom - he persecuted to the grave: Ishbosbeth being assassinated by two villains, - with intention to pay their court to the usurper. He is now king of - Israel: In which capacity he plundered and massacred all his neighbours - round him at discretion. He defiled, the wife of one of his officers, - while her husband was absent in the army: and finding she was with child - by him, He, to prevent a discovery, added murder to adultery; which being - accomplished, he took the widow directly into his well-stocked seraglio. - He then repaired to the army, where he treated the subjected enemies: with - the most wanton inhumanity. A rebellion is raised against him by his son - Absalom, which he suppressed, and invited over the rebel-general, to whom - he gave the supreme command of his army, to the prejudice of the - victorious Joab. After this, he cut off the remainder of Saul's family, in - defiance to the solemn oath by which he engaged to spare that unhappy - race; reserving only one cripple from whom he had not apprehensions: and - who, being the son of Jonathan, gave him the opportunity of making a merit - of his gratitude. - </p> - <p> - When he lay on his death-bed, where all mankind resign their resentments - and animosities, his latest breath was employed in dictating two - posthumous murders to his son Solomon! and, as if one crime more was - wanting to complete the black catalogue; he cloathed all his actions with - the most consummate hypocrisy: professing all along the greatest regard - for every appearance of virtue and holiness. These, Christians! are the - outlines of the life of a Jew, whom you are not ashamed to continue - extolling as a man after God's own heart! - </p> - <p> - This Britons! is the king to whom your late excellent monarch* has been - compared! - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - * George II. -</pre> - <p> - What an impiety to the Majesty of Heaven! - </p> - <p> - What an affront to the memory of an honest prince! It is with great joy - the writer of these memoirs takes his leave of a story, with which, by - this time he is sufficiently disgusted. He entered upon it, however, from - honest motives; and he concludes it with the consciousness of having - performed a work, which he flatters himself will prove acceptable to all - who entertain adequate conceptions of the eternal rectitude of that great - Creator of the universe, whom they profess to adore. He despises all the - pious ravings and anathemas which have been thundered against him by some - reverend inquisitors: he expected them, has exposed them; and hopes he - may, without offence finally reply in the words of their forgotten master, - "Father forgive them, for they <i>know not</i> what they do." Those who - estimate a man's religion by his implicitness to prescribed notions, and - who think it their duty to stifle their living objections in compliance to - the dead letter; (for objections they will have, and very strong ones too) - such have, and will undoubtedly be shocked at this publication. Such may - produce numerous texts in opposition to what is here produced; and can - inspired writers be inconsistent with themselves? It is not at present - necessary to discuss that question. Argue that point among yourselves; the - printer will at least profit by your disputes; though you may happen to - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - ——Explain a thing till all men doubt it. - And write about the subject, and about it: - So spins the silk-worm small its slender store, - And labours till it clouds itself all o'er. -</pre> - <p> - This, yet, is none of his concern. The love of truth is a motive which - ought to supersede every other consideration: for every other - consideration is subordinate in comparison with it. Truth requires no - tenderness of investigation, and scorns all subterfuges. It is, when - displayed, - </p> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - ——divinely bright. - One dear, unchang'd, and universal light. -</pre> - <p> - To rescue truth, therefore, from obscurity and disguise, is the most - rational way of giving - </p> - <p> - <i>Glory to God in the highest; and on earth, peace: good-will toward men.</i> - </p> - <div style="height: 6em;"> - <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> - </div> -<pre xml:space="preserve"> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of David, by Anonymous - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF DAVID *** - -***** This file should be named 40980-h.htm or 40980-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/9/8/40980/ - -Produced by David Widger - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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