After the death of Ishbosheth all the tribes came to Hebron and they anointed David king over Israel. At this time David said the ark of God should be brought up from Kirjath-jearim. Jerusalem was then inhabited by the Jebusites. David said that whosoever smote the Jebusites first should be chief and captain. So Joab went up and became chief. Then David dwelt in the castle, and they called it the City of David. David greatly im proved Jerusalem, and Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to him with presents, and the workmen of Tyre built David a house. And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. When the Philistines heard that David was king, they came against him in the valley of Rephaim. David asked counsel

of God, if he should go up against them. God said he should go up, and he smote them there, and burned their idols. Again they came against him, and after David had inquired of God, he smote them from Geba to Gazer.

David gathered together 30,000 of his chosen men to bring up the ark of God to Jerusalem. It was placed on a new cart, and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the cart. And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments-on harps, psalteries, timbrels, cornets, and on cymbals. And when they came to Nachon's thrashing-floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and he slew him there for his error; for the Levites were not permitted to touch the holy things. And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day. And

THE ARK BROUGHT UP TO JERUSALEM.

[1095-975 B.C.

David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, "How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?" So David would not remove the ark of the Lord into the city of David; but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom, the Gittite, where it remained for three months. It was afterwards told David that the Lord had blessed Obed-edom, and all that he had; so David went and brought up the ark to Jerusalem with gladness. And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And as the ark was brought into the city, Michal saw David dancing before it, and she despised him. So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt-sacrifices and peace-offerings before God. And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offerings and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel. Then David returned to bless his household; and Michal came to meet him, saying, "How glorious was the king of Israel to-day," who danced before the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows. And David said unto Michal, "It was before the LORD which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD; therefore will I play before the LORD."

Kirjath-jearim-city of forests;' a city of the Gibeonites, in Judah; it was also called Kirjath-Baal.

Tyre-a celebrated city of Phoenicia in the division of Asher; it was probably founded by the Sidonians. In the time of Joshua it was fortified and called "the strong city Tyre."

Rephaim-the valley of Rephaim, near Jerusalem, was so called from the race of giants who inhabited it. It is supposed that Og, king of Bashan, was one of them.

PERIOD V.] THE MESSAGE RESPECTING THE TEMPLE.

Geba and Gazer-Geba was in the north of Benjamin; Gazer was probably on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin.

Perez-uzzah-breach of Uzzah;' the place near Jerusalem at which the judgment fell upon Uzzah for his rashness in touching the ark.

LESSON 57.

2 SAMUEL vii-ix.

David resolves to build a Temple. His Prosperity. His kindness to a Son of Jonathan.

When David had rest from his enemies, he resolved to build a temple to the Lord, for the ark of God to be placed in; but the Lord sent the prophet Nathan unto him to say, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel; and I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee,.... and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: but my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever." Then went king David in and sat before the Lord, and he said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come: and is this

DAVID'S CONQUESTS. HIS KINDNESS TO JONATHAN'S SON. the manner of man, O Lord GOD? . . . Thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. .... And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that GOD, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant; therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever."

David subdued the Philistines, and the Moabites became his servants. He also smote Hadadezer, king of Zobah, and the Syrians who came to help Hadadezer. He put garrisons in Damascus; and the Syrians became his servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. Toi, king of Hamath, sent his son to David with vessels of gold, of silver, and of brass and David dedicated them unto the Lord, with all the gold, and silver, and brass which he had obtained from the conquered nations. David also conquered Edom. He governed his people with justice and kindness.

David inquired if any of Saul's house were left. He wished to show kindness to them, for Jonathan's sake. Ziba, a servant of Saul, told David of Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan, who was lame of his feet. Mephibosheth was at Lo-debar. David sent for him, and told him that he would restore to him all the land of Saul, and that he should eat at his table. He then appointed Ziba to be steward to Mephibosheth.

PERIOD V.] RABBAH BESIEGED.

THE SYRIANS CONQUERED.

Zobah-the chief city of Syria before the time of David; during his reign Damascus became the capital of Syria.

Damascus a city of Syria, of great antiquity; it lies eastward of the mountains called Anti-libanus; its chief rivers were called Abana and Pharpar. The principal river of Damascus is now called the Berrada, which has several tributary streams. The rivers of Damascus render it a very fertile locality, though on the edge of the desert. It is about 136 miles from Jerusalem.

Hamath the capital of the kingdom of the same name in Syria, which was situated beyond mount Hermon. Hamath was included in the land promised to Abraham, which extended northward to the Euphrates; but it was not possessed by the Israelites till the time of Solomon, who built store-cities in Hamath.

Lo-debar-a city of Gilead, in which Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan, was brought up.

LESSON 58.

2 SAMUEL X-xii.

{ Rabbah Besieged. David's Sin. Nathan reproves him.

After the death of Nahash, king of Ammon, his son Hanun reigned. David wished to show kindness to him, and sent messengers to comfort him. The princes of Ammon persuaded

Hanun that David's messengers were spies. Then Hanun took the messengers, cut off half their beards, and half their garments, and sent them away. David then sent Joab, and his mighty men against Ammon, and the Ammonites hired the Syrians, to help them. Joab led part of the army against the Syrians, and Abishai led the other part against the Ammonites; and the Syrians and the Ammonites fled. Then Hadarezer, king of the Syrians, gathered a great army to fight against David; who assembled all the mighty men of Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam where he met the Syrians. The Syrians were routed and fled, and David slew the men of seven-hundred chariots of the Syrians and forty-thousand horsemen, and smote