CHAPTER XXXI

David sends Hushai back to Jerusalem. Ziba obtains his favor. Shimei curses him. Absalom's gross sin.

On the summit of Mount Olivet, and in the presence of his attendants, David engaged in a solemn act of religious worship, invoking the divine protection and guidance. At this critical moment, as if in answer to his prayers, his particular friend, Hushai, the Archite, came to meet him, with his coat rent, and earth upon his head, as indicative of his grief at the king's calamity.

The thought immediately occurred to David, that he might avail himself of Hushai's interposition to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. For this purpose he dissuaded him from going any farther with them, and urged his return to Jerusalem, to offer his services to Absalom. In this way he would have an opportunity, both of defeating the plans of Ahithophel, and of letting the king know what course the conspirators designed to take. Zadok and Abiathar, with their sons, were already there, and, through the latter, could easily inform David of any thing which Hushai might in this way wish to communicate. Hushai accordingly went back to the city, which was very soon in the possession of Absalom and his party.

David had passed but a little way beyond the top of Mount Olivet, when he was met by Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, with a couple of asses saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, as many of summer fruits, and a vessel of wine. On being asked by David what was meant by these things, Ziba replied, that the asses were for the use of the king's household, the bread and fruit for his attendants, and the wine for such as might be faint in the wilderness.

"Where is thy master's son ?" inquired David. The false and artful Ziba replied that Mephibosheth continued still at Jerusalem, expecting that the tide of public commotion would turn in his favor, and even going so far as to say, in the exultation of his hopes; "To-day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father."

Indignant at this reported treachery of one that he had treated with so much favor, and too credulously yielding to the assertions of Ziba, who had his private ends to gain by the falsehood, David said to him, "Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth."

"I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace. in thy sight, my lord, O king," was the farewell salutation of this base flatterer and calumniator.

Do you despise such meanness? It was worse than meanness. It was the vilest wickedness,— an outrageous wrong against the innocent victim

of his treachery, and a heinous offence against God. Beware, my young friend, lest you are beguiled into some forms, perhaps less flagrant, of the same spirit of selfish calumny and adulation. Hesitate to speak ill of the absent. Never do it, unless compelled reluctantly to say that and that only which imperious duty demands. And be equally on your guard against flattering those whose friendly offices you may wish to obtain. Uprightness, truth, and frankness are the surest passports to the good-will of those whose favor is worth possessing.

As David drew near to Bahurim, a small town in the tribe of Benjamin, he met with a rude insult which showed with what meekness and submission to the will of God, he could endure one of the severest trials. A man of the family of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, came forth and uttered the most bitter curses against David. He soon, too, began to cast stones at the king and his attendants, exclaiming, as he continued his imprecations, "Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial : The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the king dom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man."

Abishai, the nephew of David, could not brook

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the insult which, in the presence of all the people, was thus offered to the king. "Why should this dead dog," he exclaimed, curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head."

But David rebuked this impetuosity; adding that as it was the will of God, in the course of his providence, to let these curses be uttered, it was his duty to submit to the indignity. "Behold," said he, my son which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day."

This forbearance of David had no effect upon the brutal violence of Shimei, unless, indeed, it served to aggravate it. For as the King and his men advanced in their course, Shimei kept up with them on the side of a neighboring hill, cursing as he went, and throwing stones and dust at David. The conduct of the latter on this occasion, shows not only what command he had over his own temper, and what perfect control over his exasperated attendants, but how much penitence he must have felt in view of his past transgressions, and how much submission to God, in thus receiving what he regarded as a chastisement for them, with a most meek and

forgiving spirit towards the offending individual. Let not his example be lost upon us. Or, rather, let us pray for grace that we may follow the example of one who was both David's Son and Lord, "who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously."

David and his followers, who were beginning to be exhausted with the alarm and fatigue which they had undergone, now stopped and partook of such refreshments as they had taken with them, or could procure from the neighboring country. David is supposed, at this time, to have composed Psalm 7.

In the meanwhile, Absalom and his party, which had now become very numerous, together with his chief counsellor, Ahithophel, felt themselves secure in Jerusalem. Hushai, David's friend, was there also, ready to avail himself of the earliest opportunity to profess his allegiance to the usurper, while in reality, as will be recollected, his purpose was to do all in his power to serve the cause of David. It was not long before he was introduced into the presence of Absalom, whom he accosted with the loyal salutation, twice repeated to give it the more seeming earnestness, of God save the king, God save the king."

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Absalom expressed great surprise, as if he could hardly believe such an extraordinary pro