按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
establish his power。 He told these murderers of the doom visited upon him
who boasted of slaying Saul。 〃How much more；〃 he added； 〃when wicked men
have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed？ shall I not
therefore now require his blood of your hand； and take you away from the
earth？ And David commanded his young men； and they slew them。 。 。 。 But they
took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in
Hebron。〃
After the death of Ishbosheth there was a general desire among the leading
men of Israel that David should become king of all the tribes。 〃Then came
all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron； and spake； saying； Behold； we
are thy bone and thy flesh。〃 They declared； 〃Thou wast he that leddest out
and broughtest in Israel： and the Lord said to thee； Thou shalt feed My
people Israel； and thou shalt be a captain over Israel。 So all the elders of
Israel came to the king to Hebron； and King David made a league with them in
Hebron before the Lord。〃 Thus through the providence of God the way had been
opened for him to come to the throne。 He had no personal ambition to
gratify； for he had not sought the honor to which he had been brought。
More than eight thousand of the descendants of Aaron and of the Levites
waited upon David。 The change in the sentiments of the people was marked and
decisive。 The revolution was quiet and dignified； befitting the great work
they were doing。 Nearly half a million souls； the former subjects of Saul；
thronged Hebron and its environs。 The very hills and valleys were alive with
the multitudes。 The hour for the coronation was appointed； the man who had
been expelled from the court of Saul； who had fled
702
to the mountains and hills and to the caves of the earth to preserve his
life； was about to receive the highest honor that can be conferred upon man
by his fellow man。 Priests and elders； clothed in the garments of their
sacred office； officers and soldiers with glittering spear and helmet； and
strangers from long distances； stood to witness the coronation of the chosen
king。 David was arrayed in the royal robe。 The sacred oil was put upon his
brow by the high priest； for the anointing by Samuel had been prophetic of
what would take place at the inauguration of the king。 The time had come；
and David； by solemn rite； was consecrated to his office as God's
vicegerent。 The scepter was placed in his hands。 The covenant of his
righteous sovereignty was written； and the people gave their pledges of
loyalty。 The diadem was placed upon his brow； and the coronation ceremony
was over。 Israel had a king by divine appointment。 He who had waited
patiently for the Lord； beheld the promise of God fulfilled。 〃And David went
on； and grew great； and the Lord God of hosts was with him。〃 2 Samuel 5：10。
（703）
Chapter 70
The Reign of David
As soon as David was established on the throne of Israel he began to seek a
more appropriate location for the capital of his realm。 Twenty miles from
Hebron a place was selected as the future metropolis of the kingdom。 Before
Joshua had led the armies of Israel over Jordan it had been called Salem。
Near this place Abraham had proved his loyalty to God。 Eight hundred years
before the coronation of David it had been the home of Melchizedek； the
priest of the most high God。 It held a central and elevated position in the
country and was protected by an environment of hills。 Being on the border
between Benjamin and Judah； it was in close proximity to Ephraim and was
easy of access to the other tribes。
In order to secure this location the Hebrews must dispossess a remnant of
the Canaanites； who held a fortified position on the mountains of Zion and
Moriah。 This stronghold was called Jebus； and its inhabitants were known as
Jebusites。 For centuries Jebus had been looked upon as impregnable； but it
was besieged and taken by the Hebrews under the command of Joab； who； as the
reward of his valor； was made commander…in…chief of the armies of Israel。
Jebus now became the national capital； and its heathen name was changed to
Jerusalem。
Hiram； king of the wealthy city of Tyre； on the Mediterranean Sea； now
sought an alliance with the king of Israel； and lent his aid to David in the
work of erecting a palace at Jerusalem。 Ambassadors were sent from Tyre；
accompanied by architects and workmen and long trains laden with costly
wood； cedar trees； and other valuable material。
The increasing strength of Israel in its union under David； the acquisition
of the stronghold of Jebus； and the alliance with Hiram； king of Tyre；
excited the hostility of the Philistines； and they again invaded the country
with a strong force； taking up
704
their position in the valley of Rephaim； but a short distance from
Jerusalem。 David with his men of war retired to the stronghold of Zion； to
await divine direction。 〃And David inquired of the Lord； saying； Shall I go
up to the Philistines？ wilt thou deliver them into mine hand？ And the Lord
said unto David； Go up： for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into
thine hand。〃
David advanced upon the enemy at once； defeated and destroyed them； and took
from them the gods which they had brought with them to ensure their victory。
Exasperated by the humiliation of their defeat； the Philistines gathered a
still larger force； and returned to the conflict。 And again they 〃spread
themselves in the valley of Rephaim。〃 Again David sought the Lord and the
great I Am took the direction of the armies of Israel。
God instructed David； saying； 〃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。〃 If David； like Saul； had
chosen his own way； success would not have attended him。 But he did as the
Lord had commanded； and he 〃smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon
even to Gazer。 And the fame of David went out into all lands； and the Lord
brought the fear of him upon all nations。〃 1 Chronicles 14：16； 17。
Now that David was firmly established upon the throne and free from the
invasions of foreign foes； he turned to the accomplishment of a cherished
purposeto bring up the ark of God to Jerusalem。 For many years the ark had
remained at Kirjath…jearim； nine miles distant； but it was fitting that the
capital of the nation should be honored with the token of the divine
Presence。
David summoned thirty thousand of the leading men of Israel； for it was his
purpose to make the occasion a scene of great rejoicing and imposing
display。 The people responded gladly to the call。 The high priest； with his
brethren in sacred office and the princes and leading men of the tribes；
assembled at Kirjath…jearim。 David was aglow with holy zeal。 The ark was
brought out from the house of Abinadab and placed upon a new cart drawn by
oxen； while two of th