1019 B. C.

name Solomon. At this time Joab took the royal
city of Ammon. And David took Rabbah, and put
the king's crown upon his head, of the weight of
a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it came

to pass
that Absalom, David's son, by Malcah, was
the handsomest man in Israel, and had the finest
head of hair. Absalom had a fair sister, and
Amnon, the eldest son of David, by one of his
wives, Ahinoam, loved his sister Tamar, and forced
her against her will and against the law. Absalom
commanded his servants to kill him at a feast of
sheep-shearing, which they accomplished. David
grieved to hear the news, and Absalom fled to
Talmai, at Geshur. Now, during the two years,
Absalom ingratiated himself with the people of
Israel, and Joab came to David, and told him all
this. Absalom came and bowed himself before
David, who forgave him, and even kissed him.

Absalom went to Hebron, and rebelled against his father David, and sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. A messenger came to David and said, The priests of the men of Israel are with Absalom. This alarmed David so much, that he fled from Jerusalem; but he enjoined Zadok, the priest, to remain in the city with the Ark, and said, If I find favour in the eyes of the Lord, I shall send again for the Ark. And David went with his people, bare-footed, up to Mount Olivet, and wept.

Hushai, the Archite, a particular friend of David, professed to be a friend of Absalom, and insinuated himself into his councils, which made

Ahithophel, the principal counsellor, jealous. Hushai informed David how things were going on; and Ahithophel went unto his own home, and hanged himself. David's armies were commanded by Joab against Absalom, and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim. The Israelites were driven back, when Absalom, in pursuit, was caught by the hair of his head on a bough of a tree, and his mule went from under him; and whilst he was suspended, Joab pierced his side with a spear, and killed him.

LOM SLAIN BY JOAB IN THE

WOOD OF

EPHRAIM.

1019 B. C.

Thirty-ninth
Medal.

Absalom slain in the Wood of

Ephraim.

The news of Absalom's death was brought to

David by Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, the priest; and David cried, and said, O Absalom, my son, my son, would to God I had died for thee. Joab remonstrated with the king for thus mourning

after his son, and caused him to cease. And the Israelites brought back David, their king, to Jerusalem. Joab now slew Amasa and Sheba, and remained captain over all the host of Israel. And Hadoram was over the tribute, and Jehoshaphat was recorder. Sheva was the scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests. And Ira was the chief ruler about David.

There was a famine in the days of David which lasted three years, and David enquired of the Lord in prayer, and found that it was for Saul and his bloody house, because he wilfully slew the Gibeonites instead of the Amorites. So David, to appease the Gibeonites, delivered up seven sons of Saul to them, who immediately hanged them.

The Philistines were now again at war with Israel, and they thought they could destroy David, having with them four giants, the brothers of Goliath the Gittite, the sons of the giant in Gath; but David's warriors slew them, and David sung praises unto the Lord for delivering him out of the hands of his enemies.

[This song or psalm of thanksgiving of David will be found in the 22d chapter of the second book of Samuel, and consists of fifty-one verses, and is similar to the 18th Psalm.]

The anger of the Lord was again kindled against Israel, and he moved David to have the children of Israel numbered; and David appointed Joab to see it completed. It took nine months and twenty days. And there were in Israel 800,000 men that drew the sword, and in Judah 500,000. The numbering of the people was against Joab's re

commendation, as it was thought a pride in his own strength, without looking to God for help, and depending upon him for assistance. Gad the prophet came to David, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things; choose one-1st, Seven years famine in the land. 2nd, To flee for three months before thine enemies. 3rd, Three days' pestilence.

And David perceived his wickedness in numbering the people, and said, I pray unto the Lord that I may fall into his hands, and not into the hands of man. So the Lord sent a pestilence, and there died from Dan to Beer-sheba 70,000 men; and David prayed and offered sacrifice unto the Lord, and the plague was stayed.

David was stricken in years, and very ill; and Adonijah, the tenth son of David, by Huggith, exalted himself, and said he would reign. Nathan informed David and Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, of it, and reminded the king of his oath. And the king called unto him Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, to anoint Solomon king over Israel. And at the sound of the trumpet the people cried out, God save King Solomon. At this Adonijah and all his friends fled; but Adonijah went to the horns of the altar, and Solomon forgave him, and let him go home. David now charged Solomon, saying, I the of all the earth; show thyself a man, go way and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways and keep his commandments.

David remembered and told Solomon of the bloody deeds of Joab. Now Joab was the son of Zeruiah, the sister of David, and he was David's

1011 B. C.

1010 B. C.

greatest general, and gained him the battles; but he was most cruel, revengeful, imperious, though in every way firm to David's true interest. Asahel, Joab's brother, was killed in the battle against Abner. To revenge his death, Joab treacherously killed Abner, who had come to Hebron to make an alliance with David. David heard of this base action, but dared not punish Joab. At the moment that Solomon was acknowledged king by all Israel, he was then besieging Jebus, and promised to make that man captain general of his army who first mounted the walls; and it proved to be Joab. He subdued the Ammonites, and procured the destruction of Uriah at the siege of Rabbah, in conformity to David's wishes. And on the rebellion of Absalom against his father David, Joab slew him, although David had given strict orders to spare him. And lastly, when Adonijah, David's son, having aspired to the throne, Joab rather supported him. David on his death-bed charged Solomon to slay Joab, and also Shimei, who cursed David on his road to Mahanaim. And David died after a reign of forty And Solomon ordered Adonijah and Shimei to be slain. Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, and formed an alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Solomon went to Gibeon, and offered up to the Lord one thousand burnt offerings, and Solomon walked in the statutes of the Lord. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon asked for himself understanding, that he might judge between good and evil. This determination pleased the Lord, and the Lord said, As

years.