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"Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph."

"Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil."

"From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty."

"Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions."

"Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel."

"How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Oh Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places."

"I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been to me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women."

"How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"

*These two clauses have the same meaning.

On the death of Saul, the tribe of Judah immediately acknowledged David for their king: he was solemnly anointed at Hebron, a city of considerable importance situated to the south of Jerusalem, and here he resided for seven years. Meanwhile, the other tribes took Ishbosheth, Saul's son, and made him their king: he was of a weak character, and owed his elevation to Abner, his father's general, who supported his authority and governed in his name. In this manner, the country remained divided between the adherents of the house of Saul and of David: but at length Ishbosheth having offended Abner, the latter resolved to go over to David, and cause him to be acknowledged king by the remaining tribes. For this purpose, having sounded them, and found them willing, he sent messengers to David, to treat of terms. He appears to have had no design to betray Ishbosheth, though he deserted him; nor was David of a character to enforce hard conditions on the family of Saul. He received Abner at Hebron with every mark of kindness and regard, made a feast in honor of him, and then dismissed him in peace. But a treacherous fate awaited him. Joab, the early friend and most renowned general of David, had conceived a deep hatred against Abner, on account of the death of his own brother Asahel, whom Abner had slain in battle: he was besides of an overbearing and jealous temper, and perhaps feared that if Abner were reconciled to

David, he would become his rival in the king's favor. He was absent when Abner came to Hebron, but returned shortly after his departure. On hearing of the confidence which David had shown to his enemy, his fierce passions burst all restraint; he reproached him with having suffered Abner to depart in peace, and declared his belief that he had come only for the artful purpose of gaining intelligence. Quitting the king's presence in anger, he secretly dispatched messengers to bring Abner back, under pretence of having something to say to him; and when he had taken him aside, he treacherously slew him while unsuspicious of danger.

The grief and indignation of David were extreme: but Joab was too powerful for him to punish, though he never forgot the crime. He could only order a public and magnificent funeral to honor the remains of the unfortunate Abner: he himself fasted and put on sackcloth, in token of his own sorrow; and thus he exonerated himself, in the eyes of the indignant people, from all share in Joab's treachery.

The death of Abner caused the destruction of Ishbosheth. Of too feeble a character to hold the reins of government amidst tumult and strife, his followers soon deserted him, and two of his captains formed a conspiracy against his life. They entered his chamber, as he slept at noon, killed him, and carried his head to David. David rewarded their cruel treachery as it deserved. "As the LORD liveth, who hath re

deemed my soul out of all adversity, when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: How much more when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house, upon his bed? shall I not therefore require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?" saying this, he commanded the traitors to be put to death.

On the death of Ishbosheth, the eleven remaining tribes acknowledged David for their king. Soon after this increase of his power, David besieged and took Jerusalem; then little more than a strong fortress in the hands of the Jebusites.* Hither he removed with his court, seven years and six months after he was first crowned at Hebron, and Jerusalem henceforth became the capital of all Judea.

This remarkable place, the most sacred and most deeply interesting city in the world, stood on three hills, Sion, Moriah, and Acra. Another hill, Bezetha, was enclosed at a much later period. Mount Sion, the highest of these hills, rose to the south; here stood the citadel, considered impregnable from its commanding

* Jerusalem was variously denominated at different periods. It is supposed to be the Salem where Melchizadeck lived; a hundred years afterwards it was conquered by the Jebusites, who named it Jebus; this David joined to Salem, and called it JebusSalem, or, as it was pronounced, Jerusalem.

situation, where David erected a palace, and called it the City of David. It was separated by a deep valley from Mount Acra, or the lower city, which lay to the north, in the form of a crescent. On the east was Mount Moriah, where Abraham had come in faith to offer his son Isaac, where David bought the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, and on which the Temple of Solomon was built. The city underwent many changes under its different rulers. During the captivity of the Jews at Babylon, it lay desolate and in ruins : it was repeopled on their return under Zerubbabel, and its walls rebuilt by Nehemiah; after which it gradually increased, and reached its widest extent and highest splendour under Herod, and thus remained until taken and destroyed by the Roman Emperor Titus. The present city stands on a part of the site of the ancient town.

CHAPTER XV.

DAVID FETCHETH THE ARK TO JERUSALEM: HIS KINDNESS TO MEPHIBOSHETH. URIAH THE HITTITE SLAIN.

No sooner was David established upon the throne of Israel, than his devout mind turned with gratitude to the Author of his prosperity.

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