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name of that place Baal-perazim. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

And when David enquired of the LORD he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the

mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt 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.

Questions and Explanations.

Question.-The Amalekite's description of the death. of Saul differs from that previously given; was he speaking the truth?

Answer.-No. He was, no doubt, one of those who came after the battle was over to rob the dead bodies of any thing valuable, and, finding the crown, took it to David, expecting to receive a reward, especially if he said that he had killed Saul, the death of whom he thought would be very pleasing to David.

Q.-How did David act?

A. He punished the man for confessing that he had killed the king, who was the Lord's anointed.

Q-What is the meaning of " He bade them teach the children of Israel the use of the bow"? It appears to have nothing to do with the sorrow of David for the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. 4. It is supposed that the lamentation was preserved among the historical writings of the Israelites, and was known as the "Song of the bow"-it is said in it, "The bow of Jonathan turned not back" (expressing his valour in battle); and that David ordered that the people should be taught the song, so as to preserve the memory of the king and his son.

Q. What was the book of Jasher?

4.-A book containing historical records and poems. It has not been preserved, but it is occasionally referred to in the historical books of the Old Testament.

Q.-Where were Gath and Askelon?

A.-Gath was the royal city of the Philistines, and Askelon their chief place of worship.

Q.-What are we to understand by the words "Nor fields of offerings," in reference to Gilboa ?

A. They are used to express complete barrenness, the whole district would not produce enough even for the offering of first-fruits.

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the patriarchs, for there were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob buried, with their wives, Sarah, Rebecca and Leah. It was one of the cities of refuge. It is about twenty miles south of Jerusalem, and there is now a busy town, Habroun, on the site of the ancient city. Q.-Who was Joab?

A. The son of David's sister Zeruiah. He was a great soldier, and the commander of David's forces. Q.-What is meant by twelve young men from each side "playing" before Abner and Joab?

A.-In this case, to play means to show their courage and activity as soldiers, by fighting as champions for their armies. Perhaps the men of Israel and Judah were not willing to fight, as they were so nearly allied, and Abner thought that if some of the young men could be induced to fight, it would excite the warlike passions of the others, and so bring on a battle. The result was as he expected. The twenty-four young men were all killed, and a very fierce battle followed. Joab afterwards blamed Abner for causing the battle. The name given to the place, "Helkath-hazzurim," meant, "The field of strong men.'

Q-Why did Abner tell Asahel to leave him and attack one of the young men and take his armour?

A.-Abner did not wish to fight with Asahel, who was but a youth, and supposing that he only wanted his armour as a trophy, told him to content himself with that of some warrior of inferior renown. Finding that he was determined to attack him, he struck at him with the hinder or lower end of the spear, which had a spike for the purpose of fixing it in the ground, and with such force that he killed him on the spot.

Q. Why did Joab kill Abner? A. He did it partly from jealousy. Abner was a man of great fame and ability, and Joab thought that David would make him a greater man in the kingdom than he. He probably defended his act by saying that he killed Abner in revenge for the death of Asahel. But after the battle Abner was in his power, and he might then have destroyed him. We shall see further on how Joab was himself slain. The high opinion David had of the abilities of Abner are shown in the lamentations he made after his death. The words used by David, “Died Abner as a fool dieth," would, it is thought, be

better translated, "Abner died as a vile person or criminal," and yet he was not a criminal in fetters, and legally condemned to die. David speaks of him as "a prince and a great man." Q.-What was the conduct of David, when the murderers of Ish-bosheth brought his head to show that they had killed him?

4. He punished them for the cruel and cowardly murder they had committed.

-What is meant by the words of the Jebusites to David when he besieged Jerusalem, "Except thou take away the blind and lame, thou shalt not come in hither."

4.-The correct translation of the passage is "Thou shalt not come hither, but the blind and the lame shall keep thee off." It was a boast, implying that David and his army were so weak and contemptible, that even the blind men and cripples could defeat him. David repeated the words with scorn when he attacked the town, intimating that

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DAVID BRINGS UP THE ARK.

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And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah : and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

on

And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his

hand to the ark of God and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for

his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

And David was displeased because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day.

And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-edom, and all his household.

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David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

And as soon as David made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a

good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people the people departed every one to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. And

Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, Over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. And

I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

Questions and Explanations.

Question.-Where was Baale of Judah? Answer. It was an old name of Kirjath-jearim, spoken of in Joshua as Kirjath-Baal.

Q.-Why was Uzzah punished for touching the ark? A.-As a Levite he ought to have known that he was for

bidden to touch anything but the staves by which the ark was carried. The name given to the place means, "The breach of Uzzah."

Q.-Who was Obed-edom, the Gittite?

A. He was a Levite, one of those to whom the care of the ark was by law entrusted.

Q.-Why did Michal despise David for dancing be. fore the ark?

A.-Her father Saul had neglected the ark and religious observances generally, and Michal was trained up to think lightly of them. We have seen that there is some reason to believe that she was addicted to the idolatrous worship of images. She sneered at David when she said, "How glorious was the king of Israel to-day!” But David knew that, great as he might be as an earthly monarch, the worship of God was his highest duty.

GOD'S PROMISES, AND DAVID'S THANKFULNESS.

AND it came to pass, when the king

sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now,

I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee,

And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: and I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, and as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies.

Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: but my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul,

whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee thy throne shall be established for ever.

According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto ? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever and thou, LORD, art become their God.

And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant,

saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy

servant therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for

ever.

Questions and Explanations.

Question.-Who was Nathan the prophet? Answer. He is mentioned here for the first time. He held held a position of high importance under David and Solomon, and seems to have exercised great influence with them. His tomb, near Hebron, is still pointed

out.

Q. What promises did the Lord make to David through Nathan ?

A. His son should succeed him, and build the house of

God; that even if he sinned, he should be chastened, but not deprived of his kingdom, and that the throne of David should be established for ever. These promises were fulfilled in the succession of Solomon, who built the temple, and in the establishment of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, the "Sen of David." In the Gospel according to St. Luke, the angel teils Mary that she will have a son whose name shall be Jesus, "and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

A

DAVID, THE GREAT KING.

ND after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them : and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines. And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus and the Syrians became servants to David and brought_gifts.

And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; of Syria, and of Moab, and

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