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frequently treated his sovereign with the utmost disrespect, therefore his conduct is the less to be wondered

at.

Nathan, Zadok, and Benaiah, were known to Adonijah as true and faithful subjects to king David, and for that reason they were excluded from the general invitation; and we may be sure, if they had been invited, they would have refused to go; we must not then suppose that Nathan's displeasure towards Adonijah arose from this circumstance of neglect, but that he mentioned it as a proof to the king, that his fidelity, as well as that of Zadok and Benaiah, were too publicly known. for any one to attempt perverting them; and to conFince their good old monarch, that there were still some persons of consequence ready to maintain the right of him whom God had chosen.

Adonijah fled to the altar, supposing that veneration for that sacred place would prevent his being put to death; his scheme succeeded, and finding there was no other way of saving his life, he paid obeisance to his lawful sovereign, and withdrew his claim to the crown. It must doubtless have given great affliction to David in his latter days, tomeet with such unkindness and ingratitude from a son, whom he had ever treated with the utmost degree of tenderness and indulgence; but he uttered no murmurs or complaints, for he saw the hand of the LORD still chastising him, in order that his penitence might continue to the last; and that the world might know, from his example, what evils the LORD suffers to fall upon those who commit such crimes as David was guilty of, and the behaviour which God requires from offenders against his holy laws.

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SECTION XXX.

DAVID MAKETH PREPARATIONS FOR BUILDING THE

TEMPLE-COMMANDETH SOLOMON TO BUILD ITAND CHARGETH THE PRINCES TO ASSIST HIS SON.

From 1 Chron. Chap. xxviii, xxix.

AND David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.

Then David the king stood upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people, As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the foot-stool of our GOD, and had made ready for the building; But GOD said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.

Howbeit the LORD GOD of Israel chose me before all the house of my father, to be king over Israel for ever. For he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of my father, he liked me to make me king over all Israel: And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

And

build

And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

Moreover, I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.

Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your GoD: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the GoD of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind. For the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

Take heed now: for the LORD hath chosen thee to build-an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. Then David gave to Solomon his son, the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit of the LORD. And he gave of gold by weight, and of silver also by weight, for allinstruments of every kind of service.

All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of

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And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed, for the LORD GOD, even my GOD, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

And behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the

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house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship, every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.

Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD GOD.

Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God, the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood: onyx-stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my GoD, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my GOD, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house.

Even three thousand talents of gold of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver to overlay the walls of the houses withal: The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?

Then the chief of the fathers and princes of thế tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king's work offered willingly.

And gave for the service of the house of God, of gold, five thousand talents and ten thousand drams: and of silver, ten thousand talents; and of brass, eighteen

thousand

thousand talents: and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

And they with whom precious stones were found, gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

Then the people rejoiced for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and in the eth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

O LORD our GOD, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name, cometh of thine hand, and all is thine own.

I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the upright

ness

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