25 ingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.* And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings to implore mercy, and peace offerings, in thankfulness for the beginning of mercy. So the LORD was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. The angel put up his sword, and God sent fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, in token of his acceptance, 1 Chron. xxi. 26. David probably composed the ninety first psalm on this occasion.

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REFLECTIONS.

E have here an awful instance of the mischievous consequences of pride. There was no real harm in numbering the people. It had been done by Moses; and others after David's time did it. But the principle was vanity; he was proud of his forces, and now trusted in an arm of flesh; God punished him for it by the loss of great numbers of them. Pride is always displeasing to God, and it is just in him to take away that which is the cause of our pride and boasting. It is lawful to take pleasure in our comforts and possessions; but if we are proud, and forget God, he will deprive us of them. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

2. See what an excellent thing it is to have a tender conscience, which will smite us when we do evil, and reclaim us when we go astray. The best may err: but if the heart is tender, we shall soon be recovered; not continue under the power of sin, but quickly tread back the unhappy steps we have taken. We here see that the eye of God discerns the heart. May we therefore be cautious, and look well to our own. He does not so much consider the action, as the principle from which it proceeds. Keep thy heart there. fore with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.

3. We are taught the nature and genuine effects of repentance. It will lead persons to own their sin; that they have sinned greatly, and done foolishly; and to accuse themselves more than others. So David says, These sheep, what have they done? On me be the iniquity. Let these escape. It will lead us to seek pardon, and to cry earnestly for it. Too many are ready to extenuate their sin, saying, 'It is but a little matter;' and are ready to charge others as greater offenders, especially when public judgments are abroad. But humble hearts blame themselves most, and entreat mercy for themselves and others. The more they see of God's great mercy, especially in pardoning, the more they are humbled for sin and resolved against it.

4. Those who profess relation to God, should cultivate a generous spirit. This was remarkable both in the Jebusites and the Israelites. They strove who should excel; and it was a noble em

• Between five and six pounds; and for the whole spot whereon the temple was built, and the courts about it, six hundred shekels, as we read, Chron. xxi. 25. about five hundred and fifty pounds; probably much more than it was worth; but he did it out of royal bounty, and to reward so generous a man.

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ulation. Araunah offered generously to the king, though he was able to pay. David determined not to take advantage of his gen erosity, but to pay to its full value, and gave a good reason; he would not offer to the Lord what cost him nothing. There is no true religion in a niggardly, covetous breast. Most men are for a cheap religion; they do not care how little they give for God and his ser vice, and are glad if it costs them nothing. But God requires and expects that we honour him with our substance; and that whatever we do in his service, it should be done generously, and proportionably to the greatness and goodness of that God whom we serve. This is the way to secure his blessing with what we have, and to be largely recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Amen.

The First Book of the KINGS,

CALLED BY THE SEVENTY,

The Third Book of the KINGS.

INTRODUCTION.

THESE two books of the Kings contain the history of the kings of Israel and Judah, from Solomon to the Babylonish captivity; including a space of near six hundred years: and were probably written by Ezra.

It will be proper to read the twenty second chapter of the first book of Chronicles before this, as it contains an account of what immediately followed when the plague was stayed, and the altar built, and which connects the story with this.

CHAP. I.

Gives an account of David's infirmities in his advanced life; the attempt Adonijah made to be king; Nathan's contrivance to secure the settlement upon Solomon; his nomination by David, and advancement to the throne; and the happy consequence of this, in the confusion of Adonijah and his party.

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OW king David was old [and] stricken in years; he was now seventy years of age, and worn out with the hardships of his youth, and his cares, fatigues, and troubles; and they 2 covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the 3 king may get heat. So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, 4 and brought her to the king. And the damsel [was] very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king 5 knew her not. Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. He took advantage of his father's age and weakness, and used those popular methods which Absalom had done. What emboldened him to this was his father's indulgence. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so ? and he also [was a}

very goodly [man ;] and [his mother] bare him after Absa7 lom, therefore, now Absalom was dead, he was next heir. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest and they, following Adonijah, helped [him.] The first was disaffected because Amasa had been put in his place; the lat ter, probably because Zadok had more of the king's confidence than 8 him. But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which [belonged] to David, his heroes and faithful lifeguards, 9 were not with Adonijah. And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which [is] by Enrogel; and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants: they pretended to offer a sacrifice, and to feast upon it, and none were to come but those who were in10 vited, But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. His not inviting Solomon showed that he knew him to be his rival, and was acquainted with his designation to the throne.

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Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of 12 Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth [it] not? Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon ; 13 for Adonijah will not think himself safe while he lives. Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my (14 throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? And, Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I will also come in after thee, and confirm thy words, and quicken him to give immediate 15 orders about the matter. And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag 16 the Shunammite ministered unto the king. And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, 17 What wouldst thou? And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, [saying,] Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall 18 sit upon my throne. And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest [it] not. She does not accuse David of breaking his oath, but intimates that he was unac19 quainted with what Adonijah had done. And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain 20 of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called. And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel [are] upon thee, that thou shouldst tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. The Israelites, knowing him to be concerned for their welfare, and that he was a prophet, would expect him to name a successor, and thus prevent disturbances and rebel21 lions. Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king

shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. She hopes he would immediately interpose, otherwise she and her son would be considered and punished as 22 traitors, for aiming at the kingdom. And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in, who was 23 always welcome to the king, and Bath-sheba withdrew. And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground; he approached with reverence, 24 though he was a prophet. And Nathan said, My lord, O king,

hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit 25 upon my throne?* For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah. He added to what Bath-sheba had said, that they had actually proclaimed him king, without consult26 ing either God or David about it. But me, [even] me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called, knowing that we are 27 men of fidelity, and that there was no influencing us. Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed [it] unto thy servant, who should sit upon the throne of my lord the king 28 after him? Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath

sheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood be29 fore the king. And the king sware, and said, [As] the LORD 30 liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress. Even as

I sware unto thee by the Lord GOD of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my 31 throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day. Then Bath-sheba bowed with [her] face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever. She never wished to see Solomon king while David could continue to be so.

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And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; he knew these 33 men would faithfully and resolutely execute his orders. And they came before the king. The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, the king's valiant guards, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring 34 him down to Gihon :|| And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with

Nathan knew it was not so, but thus he awakens and rouses the king, and illustrates Adonijah's presumption.

+ In a matter of such importance, Nathan thought David would not act without his advice, or seeking counsel of God; especially as he was the messenger of the divine designation of Solomon; if David had received any fresh revelation himself, he thought he would tell him of it.

He here makes a solemn appeal to God, and speaks with gratitude of his preserving goodness; and therefore he would not take his name in vain.

This was a fountain near Jerusalem, but on the opposite side to that where Adonijah was gone.