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bare Joab's armour, compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him."

"And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him; and all Israel fled, every one to his tent.”

When the messengers bearing intelligence of the battle came to David, his affection for his son overpowered every other feeling: he asked, "is the young man Absalom safe?" and when he learnt his death, grief overcame him, and he went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would to God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

CHAPTER XVII.

DAVID'S RETURN TO JERUSALEM. SHEBA'S REBELLION. DAVID NUMBERS THE PEOPLE; A PESTILENCE.

DAVID'S grief for the death of Absalom was excessive he remained alone, mourning in his house, and refused to join his people in their rejoicings at his victory. Those who had fought in his defence, were ashamed of their very suecess; for they felt that they had incurred their king's displeasure, while risking their lives in his service. Joab undertook to rouse David from

this dangerous indulgence of his grief. He presented himself before him, and upbraided him in severe terms for thus discouraging his subjects, saying, that he regarded neither princes nor servants, but loved his enemies and hated his friends, and that he perceived if Absalom had lived, and all his faithful servants had died, it would have pleased him well. He added, that the people were so discontented, that if David did not appear they would all desert him, and this would be worse than all that had befallen him from his youth until that time.

Roused by this bold remonstrance, David showed himself to the people; and by his cheerful presence, dissipated their rising discontent.

The rebellion being thus completely quelled, David returned in triumph to Jerusalem. The faithful Barzillai accompanied him to the Jordan, and then took his leave and returned to his house; notwithstanding David's earnest entreaties that he would follow him to Jerusalem, there to receive the honors and rewards which his attachment had so justly merited. But Barzillai replied, "I am this day fourscore years old, and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat, or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king and why should the king recompensé it me with such a reward. Let thy

servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried in the grave of my father and my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham, let him go over with my lord the king: and do to him what shall seem good unto thee." David willingly complied with the good Barzillai's request; he parted from him with every mark of affection, and carried his son with him to Jerusalem, where he greatly enriched him during his life, and at his death recommended him in an especial manner to Solomon.

A very different character met David in the person of Shimei the Benjamite; the man who had heaped curses on his head, the day he fled from Jerusalem. With the same baseness of spirit with which he had reviled his sovereign in adversity, he now hastened with servile fear to demand his pardon. Again Abishai would have put him to death, but David generously interposed; saying, "shall any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do I not know that I am this day king over Israel!" Therefore the king said unto Shimei, "Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.”

"And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace."

"And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem, to meet the king, that the king said

unto him, wherefore wentest thou not with me, Mephibosheth?"

"And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king but my lord the king is an angel of God do therefore what is good in thine eyes. For all my father's house were but dead men before the lord my king: yet didst thou set thy servant amongst them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I to cry any more unto the king."

"And the king said, why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land."

It is evident from David's reply that he did. not give entire credit to Mephibosheth's story, which is open to suspicion, even in the brief record of the sacred historian; since it is impossible to believe that a person of Mephibosheth's rank and wealth, should have been unable to procure the means of quitting Jerusalem; and the marks of mourning which he exhibited, might be easily assumed, when Absalom's cause was lost. It seems probable that David had reason to suspect his sincerity, yet that for his father Jonathan's sake, he refused to enquire into his conduct; but contented himself with diminishing his influence, by dividing his inheritance with Ziba.

Although David thus returned triumphant to his capital, peace was not yet restored to his dominions. In consequence of the jealousy of the tribe of Benjamin, against the men of Judah, Sheba, a turbulent leader amongst them, again raised the standard of revolt, and great numbers joined him. David commanded Amasa to collect together the men of Judah, and be ready to go against Sheba in three days; or, he said, Sheba shall do us more harm than did Absalom. Amasa, not bringing the tribe of Judah up in time, David ordered Abishai to set forth with the troops which he commanded, and attack Sheba before he should enter into a fortified city, and so protract the war. Abishai hastened to do as David commanded: he was joined by his brother Joab, who, whatever might be his crimes and ambition, was an able and experienced general. Both the brothers were now stimulated by jealousy of Amasa, who was David's nephew, and whom he had pardoned after the revolt of Absalom, and placed high in his confidence; perhaps in the hope of curbing the pride, and lessening the power of these haughty sons of Zeruiah; but this expectation was fearfully disappointed. When Amasa joined his forces with those of Joab and Abishai, as they were following after Sheba, Joab called to Amasa, and approaching him close, as if to give him the kiss of respectful salutation, treacherously stabbed him; in the same manner, and for the same cause, as he had before murdered Abner.

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