the full life and beauty of the original into another language.

What were the first proceedings of David after the death of Saul ?

The first step of David was to march to A. C. 1055. Hebron with his military followers; the tribe of Judah immediately surrounded him upon his arrival, recognized his regal title, and submitted to his authority. He was now thirty years old ; his courage, his fortitude, and his patience had been severely tried by a long series of dangers, disappointments, and hardships; the protection which he had experienced in so many misfortunes and perils, had taught him to consider the Providence of God the best safeguard for his throne; and both his personal and mental endowments, and his acquired qualifications, might allow the wellfounded hope of a long career of glory.

Over which of the tribes of Israel did David in the first instance reign?

For some time his authority was limited to Judah. The cause of Ishbosheth, a remaining son of Saul, was supported by the talents, the valour, and the influence of Abner, one of the most able generals of the times. A civil war commenced; the troops of Ishbosheth were defeated; and Abner, being grossly reproached by his master, and being disgusted with the insult, repaired to David, whose interests he determined to promote with all his energy and zeal. But Abner was soon destroyed. In the army of David were three valiant brothers, the sons of Zeruiah. Joab, who long sustained a distinguished command, and was one of the principal supports of the throne of David-Abishai, and Asahel. În one of the skirmishes between the troops of David and Ishbosheth, Asahel, pressing_too eagerly in the pursuit, though repeatedly warned to desist, was slain by Abner. When Abner was reconciled to David, Joab had not forgotten the death of his brother; he determined upon revenge; under pretence of friendship, he obtained an interview with Abner, and perpetrated a most foul and perfidious murder. The unaffected grief of David, the eulogium he pronounced upon Abner, and the curse he uttered upon

the sons of Zeruiah, saved him from the imputation of participating in the crime; and his whole conduct on the melancholy occasion, must have gained for him universal affection and esteem.

Did the civil war between David and Ishbosheth long continue?

The defection of Abner was the ruin of the cause of Ishbosheth. Baanah and Richal of the tribe of Benjamin privately assassinated him, and they carried the head of their victim to David in the hope of reward. They had their reward; for David ordered them to instant execution, and commanded their bodies to be mutilated after their death, to prevent the recurrence, and to display his abhorrence, of such detestable crimes.

A. C. 1058.

How did David become the king of all Israel? When Ishbosheth and Abner were no more, all the tribes of Israel repaired to David at Hebron ; there he was solemnly inaugurated king ; and after the previous calamities and dissensions, his accession was contemplated with universal exultation and joy. His character for valour, ability, integrity, and benevolence was well known; and it was hoped, that under his vigorous administration, the wounds of the bleeding state would be healed, and that the people would enjoy a happy emancipation from the combined horrors of internal anarchy and foreign invasion. These hopes were not disappointed.

What city was taken by David and rendered the metropolis of his kingdom?

The city of Jebus had been occupied by the Jebusites from the time of the invasion of Canaan, and its inhabitants so confidently considered it to be impregnable, that they treated David's preparations for the siege with merriment and insult. But neither the strength of the fortifications, nor the apparently inaccessible situation of the place, could preserve it from the skill of David and the enterprising valour of his men. It was taken; and its eligible situation recommended it to the conqueror for a regal residence. Upon the summit of a hill, divided by a deep valley from another,

upon which the temple was afterwards erected, Jerusalem was built; a royal palace was constructed by the assistance of Hiram king of Tyre, who furnished the timber and the artificers; and the city was constituted the metropolis of the kingdom of David. Such was the commencement of the grandeur of a city, beyond all comparison, the most important in the world -a city, which has witnessed the most awful revolutions, and which has been the theatre of the most stupendous transactions, recorded in the annals of the human race-a city, which, however deplorable may be its present degradation beneath the disastrous influence of Mohammedan despotism, is, in all probability, yet destined to appear with a glory transcending that of any past period in its history, in the restoration of the scattered nation of the Jews to their country, to their Messiah, to their altar, to their God. The buildings of David at Jerusalem were not confined to his palace. Having partially filled up the valley of Millo, which intervened between the two hills of Sion and Moriah, he erected walls around the space he intended for the city, palaces were built for the princes and nobles, a tower was reared for an armoury, and strong fortifications defended the whole.

In what did the glory of Jerusalem consist?

The glory of Jerusalem did not arise from its grandeur as the metropolis of the kingdom, but from its peculiar sanctity as the residence of God. The sacred ark, the perpetual memorial for God, where he appeared propitious in dispensing his favour, the centre of the solemnities of religion, the visible emblem of the divine Majesty and presence, had remained for almost fifty years, from the time when it was restored by the Philistines after the death of Hophni and Phinehas, at Kirjath-jearim, in the house of Aminadab. Its removal to Jerusalem was determined, not as an abitrary resolution of David, but in accordance with the decision of the law. (Deut. xii. 5-11.) It was evidently most just, that the ark should be placed in the principal seat of public solemnities, the perpetual residence of the supreme courts of justice and equity. In fact the placing of the ark in Jerusalem, was essential to constitute that city the capital of Palestine.

What fatal event occurred on the removal of the ark? Thirty thousand men, consisting of the noblest and most honourable of the Israelites, accompanied David to bring the ark to Jerusalem, with all the ceremony and honour demanded by so solemn an occasion. When the magnificent procession set out from the house of Aminadab, the sound of music and the harmonious unison of all kinds of instruments, expressed the joy of the sovereign and the people. The procession was soon interrupted; the joy was soon suspended. Uzzah, one of the sons of Aminadab, observing that the oxen which drew the vehicle containing the ark stumbled, placed his hand upon it, and for this act of sinful temerity he was instantly struck to the earth a lifeless corpse. It was not lawful, even for a Levite, to touch the ark, and Uzzah acted profanely, not recollecting that it was the symbol of the presence of God.

Was the ark ultimately brought to Jerusalem?

After this appalling occurrence the ark remained in the house of Obed-edom three months. But David was still determined to effect its removal to Jerusalem. Remembering that the manner of its conveyance in the first instance had been irregular, that it was the province of the priests alone to carry the ark and to minister to it, he called the high-priest and the principal Levites; they sanctified themselves according to the prescribed ritual; they bore the ark from its restingplace amidst the strains of music and the acclamations of thousands of the people; David himself, divested of his royal garments, and wearing a linen ephod, with his harp in his hand, and dancing before all the people, expressed the fulness of his joy, while some of the Psalms which he had composed for the occasion were sung at intervals as the multitude proceeded. (Psalms lxviii. cv. cvi.) Thus the ark was happily brought to Jerusalem; God gave his express approbation to the station which was assigned to it, (Psa. cxxxii.); he became the immediate Guardian of Jerusalem, and the Omnipotent Preserver of its prosperity and peace. This character he sustained and exempli

fied, until the abominable idolatries and wickedness of the Jews, induced him to remove his presence, to withdraw his protection, and to abandon them to the avenger and destroyer.

The exultation of David in dancing before the ark, called forth the reproaches of his queen Michal. He answered her scoff by stating that what he had done had been performed before the Lord; and he was so offended with her presumption, and so disgusted with her disposition, that he cohabited no more with her to his death.

What project did David form after the removal of the ark to Jerusalem?

The introduction of the ark to Jerusalem, by no means satisfied the wishes of David. He could not rest in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remained in a tabernacle. He therefore projected the building of a magnificent temple in which the ark should remain, and in which the festivals of religion should be celebrated. But his life was not to be spent in tranquillity and peace; other cares were to occupy his time; he was divinely forbidden to attempt the accomplishment of the work; and it was reserved for the long and glorious reign of his successor, to witness the erection of an unrivalled edifice, in which the worship of God for centuries was celebrated, until the iniquities of the Israelites were full, and the ruthless hand of an Assyrian conqueror laid the matchless structure in the dust.

SECTION IV.

EXPLOITS OF DAVID.

WERE the warlike operations of David successful? THE warlike operations of David were crowned with signal and uniform success, and extended his dominions from the banks of the Euphrates to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and from mount Taurus to the frontiers of Egypt.