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anoint him king over Judah; at the same time that Abner, Saul's general, had, at Mahanaim, made Ishbosheth, 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.†

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. David accepted his offer, but demanded, as a preliminary, the restoration of his first wife Michal; who, during the disputes between

* 2 Sam. ii. 4, 8. § 2 Sam. iii. 7.

+ Ver. 17, 23.
|| Ver. 12.

2 Sam. iii. 1.
Ver. 13.

him and Saul, had been espoused to another.* This demand he likewise made openly, by an express message to Ish-bosheth, who kindly complied with it: the poor man who had since married her, following her weeping all the way.†

It is impossible to avoid noting David's amorous disposition here; which could not be content with six wives, who bore 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.

After Abner had traitorously endeavoured to advance the interest of David§; he had an interview with him||; 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. 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.

Upon the murder of Abner, David again acts the mourner **; 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. But the event proved full as advantageous to David; as will presently appear.

When Ish-bosheth 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

* 1 Sam. xxv. 44. +2 Sam. iii. 15, 16. § Ver. 17. | Ver. 20.

Ver. 27.

* Ver. 2, &c.

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** Ver. 31, &c.

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Rechab and Baanah, hoping to make their fortunes by the public calamity, went and murdered their mas ter king Ish-bosheth, 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 treasont.

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 he 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 judg ment 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.

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.

The murder of this unhappy son of an unhappy father

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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.

Although David was now invested with that supre< macy 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.§

N. B. He supplied himself with more wives and concubines out of his new acquisition.||

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 smote them; and his strokes were always sufficiently felt.

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, or, as the text reads, was smote by the Lord,** for his impiety in saving the ark from being overturned.tt But

* 2 Sam. v. 3.. 1 Chron. xi. 3. Chap. v. 6. Josephus.

2 Sam. v. 13.

+ 2 Sam. ii. 11.

§. Ver. 7. 9. 1 Chron: xi. 5. 7, Ver. 20, 25. 1 Chron. xiv. 11.

** Query, whether the Lord did not sometimes smite by the

hands of the priests.

†† 2 Sam. vi. 7.

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if "the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh 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 smote 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, danced before the Lord with all his might 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 to day, 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 would play before the Lord; and would be yet more vile 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!

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."|| For, if Michal had hitherto borne no children, neither to David, nor to her immediate husband, her barrenness

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1 Chron. xv. 2, 15.

§ Ver. 22.

+ 2 Sam. vi. 14.
ll Ver. 23.

Ver. 20.

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