The History of the Bible

David reascends the Throne-Removes Joab from the Command of the Army-Joal's Treachery-The Numbering of the People-David's Illness Advice to Solomon-His Death-Solomon mounts the Throne -His Character as a Prince-Builds the Temple--Objections stated and answered.

A. M. 4375 TO 4391.-B. c. 1036 To 1020.

THE violence of David's grief no sooner began to subside, than he made haste to take advantage of the returning disposition in his favour, which was exhibited by all classes of his subjects. There was a manifest inclination in most quarters to call him back to the throne, which the king failed not to improve, by speaking kindly to such as approached him; and when he perceived that Judah alone kept aloof, he took steps to gain over that tribe also, by offering to Amasa, an influential man among them, the rank of captain-general of his forces, in the room of Joab. Doubtless there was more of policy than of gratitude here; but the offer was accepted, and no great while elapsed ere the men of Judah became the loudest in professions of attachment to his person and government. They met him on the bank of the Jordan, conducted him across the river with great pomp, and became, as it were, his body-guards, during the remainder of his journey to Jerusalem.

Numerous were the protestations of loyalty and satisfaction which poured in upon David, now that his power seemed thoroughly re-established. Among others, Shimei, the Benjamite, who had behaved with so much insolence during the king's reverse, now came at the head of a thousand men to implore pardon and his suit was granted, in

spite of the honest remonstrances of Abishai, and David's own conviction that the suppliant was still at heart a traitor. Ziba, likewise, again did his master wrong, by taking advantage of his lameness, and preventing him in his address of congratulation; while Barzillai, an old man, who had sumptuously entertained the monarch in his humiliation, accompanied him, rejoicing, as far as the Jordan. No entreaties, however, on David's part, could prevail upon the venerable philosopher to breathe the atmosphere of a court. He desired for himself nothing more than the king's permission to return to his own city, that he might be buried in the grave of his fathers; but he gratefully committed his son to David's care, who ever after behaved to the young man with distinguished liberality.

The king had not long passed the Jordan, when two events befell: one important only so far as it affected private feeling; the other dangerous, at least for a time, in no trifling degree, to the public tranquillity. The first of these was the arrival of Mephibosheth, to welcome back David to his palace; and the explanation of his conduct which ensued proved not more honourable to the son of Jonathan, than gratifying to his sovereign. The second arose out of a quarrel between the men of Judah and those of the other tribes, touching the right of near approach to the king's person. To such a height was the disagreement carried, that multitudes, with one Sheba, a Benjamite, at their head, deserted the cavalcade, declaring that since Judah chose to engross David entirely to themselves, it was the business of the other tribes to leave him to their keeping. But David, though at the moment he concealed his resentment, lost no time after his arrival at Jerusalem in crushing the infant sedition. Having confirmed Amasa in his rank, he ordered him to assemble an army and pursue after Sheba, who was now wandering from place to place among the tribes, and using his utmost exertions to excite a fresh rebellion.

It was but natural that Joab, who, whatever his faults might be, had always served David with singular fidelity, should experience extreme chagrin and dissatisfaction at the advancement of Amasa to the highest military honours in the state. A bold and resolute man, he determined on no account whatever to submit to the degradation, and an

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Books

The History of the Bible, Band 2