APRIL 18. it: and with Thy blessing let the Thou, O Lord Gop, hast spoken house of Thy servant be blessed for unto Thy servant: therefore now APRIL 18. Morning, 2 SAMUEL VIII. AND after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the band of the Philistines. And he mote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. David smote also Hadadezer, the of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and even hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David honghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred ehariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. Then David put garriBons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, end brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass. When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all APRIL 18. the host of Hadadezer, then Toi vid, to salute him, and to bless sent Joram his son unto king Dahim, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And silver, and vessels of gold, and vesJoram brought with him vessels of sels of brass: which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. And Daed from smiting of the Syrians in vid gat him a name when he returnthe valley of salt, being eighteen in Edom; throughout all Edom put thousand men. And he put garrisons he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. And David reigned judgment and justice unto all his over all Israel; and David executed people. And Joab the son of Zeruiah the son of Ahilud was recorder; and was over the host; and Jehoshaphat melech the son of Abiathar, were Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahithe priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers. SAMUEL IX. APRIL 18. unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the kindness of God unto him? And the house of Saul, that I may shew Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his R feet. And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall est at my table, as one of the king's sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet. Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zob twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in ar of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that Da-ray at the entering in of the gate: vid doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Masca, were by themselves in the field. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: and the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth Him good. And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: APRIL 19. Ebening, 2 AND ND it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the Woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness : and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and 243 and they came to Helam; and ShoHadarezer went before them. And bach the captain of the host of ed all Israel together, and passed when it was told David, he gatherover Jordan, and came to Helam. array against David, and fought And the Syrians set themselves in with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the the Syrians, and forty thousand men of seven hundred chariots of horsemen, and smote Shobach the And when all the kings that were captain of their host, who died there. servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more. SAMUEL XI. APRIL 19. how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah dethere followed him a mess of meat parted out of the king's house, and from the king. But Uriah slept at the servants of his lord, and went the door of the king's house with all not down to his house. And when went not down unto his house, Dathey had told David, saying, Uriah not from thy journey? why then vid said unto Uriah, Camest thou didst thou not go down unto thine house? And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my soul liveth, I will not do this thing. wife? as thou livest, and as thy And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his R2 bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house. And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; and charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, and if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, APRIL 20. that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for. And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate. And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy ser vant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead. she mourned for her husband. And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. Morning, 2 SAMUEL XII. APRIL 20. to him. AND the LORD sent Nathan unto man, that was come teatly kindled and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; and I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the DAILY LESSONS. APRIL 20. and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his they set bread before him, and he own house; and when he required, did eat. commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because Then said his servants thou hast despised Me, and hast thou hast done? thou didst fast and unto him, What thing is this that taken the wife of Uriah the Hit- weep for the child, while it was tite to be thy wife. Thus saith the alive; but when the child was dead, LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil thou didst rise and eat bread. And against thee out of thine own house, he said, While the child was yet and I will take thy wives before alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, thine eyes, and give them unto thy Who can tell whether GOD will be neighbour, and he shall lie with thy gracious to me, that the child may wives in the sight of this sun. For live? But now he is dead, wherethou didst it secretly: but I will fore should I fast? can I bring him do this thing before all Israel, and back again? I shall go to him, but before the sun. And David said he shall not return to me. And Daunto Nathan, I have sinned against vid comforted Bath-sheba his wife, the LORD. And Nathan said unto and went in unto her, and lay with David, The LORD also hath put her and she bare a son, and he away thy sin; thou shalt not die. called his name Solomon: and the Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the the hand of Nathan the prophet; LORD loved him. And He sent by enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, and he called his name Jedidiah, the child also that is born unto thee because of the LORD. And Joab shall surely die. And Nathan de- fought against Rabbah of the chilparted unto his house. LORD struck the child that Uriah's city. And Joab sent messengers to And the dren of Ammon, and took the royal wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought gainst Rabbah, and have taken the David, and said, I have fought aGod for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night city of waters. Now therefore gaupon the earth. And the elders of and encamp against the city, and ther the rest of the people together, his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but be called after my name. And Datake it: lest I take the city, and it he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. And it came to vid gathered all the people together, pass on the seventh day, that the against it, and took it. And he took and went to Rabbah, and fought child died. And the servants of their king's crown from off his head, David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Be- gold with the precious stones: and the weight whereof was a talent of hold, while the child was yet alive, it was set on David's head. And he we spake unto him, and he would brought forth the spoil of the city not hearken unto our voice: how in great abundance. And he brought will he then vex himself, if we tell forth the people that were therein, him that the child is dead? But and put them under saws, and unwhen David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the der harrows of iron, and under axes child was dead: therefore David the brickkiln: and thus did he unto of iron, and made them pass through said unto his servants, Is the child all the cities of the children of Amdead? And they said, He is dead. Then returned unto Jerusalem. mon. So David and all the people 245 |