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bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.

And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba, until thou come to Gazer.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

Though the Philistines and their allies had received such an overthrow, we find they made another attempt, in which they were miraculously defeated; for a noise was heard by them like the sound of a mighty army in their rear, which struck them with terror, so that David totally defeated them. When David and his victorious army returned back to Jerusalem, it is supposed the following Psalm was publicly sung t.

*

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because His mercy endureth for ever.

Let Israel now say, that His mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that His mercy en dureth for ever.

Let them now that fear the LORD endureth for ever.

say,

that His mercy

The LORD is on my side: I will not fear what man can do unto me.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence

in man.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

All nations compassed me about; but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

Delany's Life of David.

+ Psalm cxviii.

Thou

Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall; but the LORD helped me.

The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

I will praise thee: for Thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

The stone which the builders refused, is become the head-stone of the corner.

This is the LORD's doing, it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Save now, I beseech Thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity.

Thou art my Gon, and I will praise Thee; thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for mercy endureth for ever.

His

SECTION VIII.

DAVID FETCHETH THE ARK FROM KIRJATH-JEARIM WITH GREAT REJOICINGS-UZZAM STRUCK DEAD FOR TOUCHING IT-IT IS CARRIED TO THE HOUSE OF OBED-EDOM.

From 1 Chron. Chap. xiii.

AND David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.

And

And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our Gon, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us.

And let us bring again the ark of our GOD to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.

And all the congregation said, that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of GoD from Kirjath-jearim.

And David went up, and all Israel to Baalah, that is to Kirjath-jearim, which belongeth to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of GoD the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.

And they carried the ark of GoD in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab. And Uzzah and Ahio drave the cart.

And David and all Israel played before GoD with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

And when they came unto the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put forth his hand to hold the ark: for the oxen stumbled.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he smote him, because he put forth his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.

And David was displeased because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah, wherefore that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.

And David was afraid of GoD that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of GoD home to me?

So

So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

And the ark of GoD remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

It is likely that David recovered from the Philistines all that they had gained at the battle of Gilboa, and drove them out of the cities they had seized at the death of Saul *; and being now fixed at Jerusalem, he was resolved to do every thing in his power to increase its safety and magnificence.

It is related in a former part of this history, with what solemnity the Ark had been deposited in the Tabernacle by Moses, and that the glorious cloud, which appeared as a manifestation of the DIVINE PRESENCE, rested on the MERCY-SEAT above the cherubims. A veil was placed before the Ark, and Aaron and his sons ministered there, and offered incense on the golden altar; and the people assembled in the court of the tabernacle to offer their burnt. offerings, to join in celebrating the praises of the LORD, and to make supplications to him, and perform their vows; which was called appearing before the LORD. Wherever the Ark was deposited, to that place the tribes were ordered to repair three times a year to keep the passover, &c. therefore the public worship of GoD could not have been properly performed at Jerusalem, neither could that city have been the metro

VOL. III.

Chandler's Life of David.

C

polis

polis of the Lord's peculiar kingdom, without the Ark, which made David very desirous to bring it thither.

Hitherto the Ark had had no settled habitation; for many years it had been carried about from place to place; and in the time of Eli, GOD, to punish the Israelites for their impiety, had permitted it to fall into the hands of the Philistines; and when the calamities the Philistines suffered for detaining it obliged them to send it back into the land of Israel, it was left in the house of Abinadab, and here it had remained about forty-six years, till David's establishment on the throne; excepting on some particular occasions, when it was carried into the field of battle.

David's proposal to bring the ark to Jerusalem met with the joyful concurrence of his people, and was put immediately in execution. The * procession must have been uncommonly grand, as it consisted of all the nobility, the priests and Levites, and the officers of the army, with the ensigns and ornaments of their different erders, led on by their sovereign, and followed by an innumerable multitude of people belonging to the different tribes of Israel. During the procession, David and all those who were skilful in music, expressed their joy by playing on various instruments; but their transports were soon interrupted by a dreadful visitation on Uzzah, one of the sons of Abinadab, who drove the cart. It is said, "THAT GOD smote him for his error." It was a great crime in Uzzah to be ignorant of any thing respecting the ARK; for the law of Moses expressly taught that no one but the priests should touch it; and therefore he should have fully instructed himself concerning the requisite ceremonies, before he presumed to attend it; especially on so solemn an occasion, when the king and

* Delany's Life of David.

people

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