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and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and [there were] precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought 3 also exceeding much spoil out of the city. And he brought out the people that [were] in it, and cut [them] with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines: at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, [that was] of the children of the giant and they 5 were subdued. And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff [was] like a weaver's beam. 6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of [great] stature, whose fingers and toes [were] four and twenty, six [on each hand,] and six [on each foot :] and he also was the 7 son of the giant. But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of 8 Shimea David's brother slew him. These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

CHAP. XXI.

David forceth Joab to number the people; he repents, and acknowlodges his fault; and out of three plagues, which God proposed to punish him by, he chooseth the pestilence.

1 ND Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David

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rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan and bring the number of them to me, that I may know 3 [it.] And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they [be] but, my lord the king, [are] they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my LORD require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to 4 Israel? Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and 5 came to Jerusalem. And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all [they of] Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah [was] four hundred three score and ten thousand 6 men that drew sword. But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

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And God was displeased with this thing: therefore he smote 8 Israel. And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

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And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying, Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three

[things:] choose thee one of them, that I may do [it] unto 11 thee. So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith 12 the LORD, Choose thee Either three years' famine; or three

months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh [thee ;] or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him 13 that sent me. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait : let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great [are] his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man. 14 So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel and there fell of 15 Israel seventy thousand men. And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

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And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the ".. elders [of Israel, who were] clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their 17 faces. And David said unto God, [Is it] not I [that] com

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manded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but [as for] these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the 19 LORD in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of 20 the LORD. And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and

his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was thresh21 ing wheat. And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed him22 self to David with [his] face to the ground. Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of [this] threshing floor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price, that the plague may be stayed from the 23 people." And Ornan said unto David, Take [it] to thee, and let my lord the king do [that which is] good in his eyes: lo, I give [thee] the oxen [also] for burnt offerings and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; 24 I give it all. And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price : for I will not take [that] which [is] thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost. 25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of 26 gold by weight. And David built there an altar unto the LORD,

and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon

the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the 27 altar of burnt offering. And the LORD commanded the angel; 28 and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof. At that

time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wil derness, and the altar of the burnt offering, [were] at that season 30 in the high place at Gibeon. But David could not go before it to inquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

CHAP. XXII.

The plague for numbering the

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people being stayed, and the altar built, (see 2 Sam. ch. xxiv.) David prepares for building the temple; and gives a charge to Solomon about it.

HEN David said, This [is] the house of the Lord

2 Israel.* And David commanded to gather together the strangers that [were] in the land of Israel; the proselytes from other nations, especially Sidonians and Tyrians, who were better artists, the Israelites being principally farmers; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. Though he was not permitted to build it himself, he might provide materials for it. 3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings, or hinges; and brass in 4 abundance without weight; Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. And David said, Solomon my son [is] young and tender, and the house [that is] to be builded for the LORD [must be] exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will [therefore] now make preparation for it.f So David prepared abundantly before his death.

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Then he called for Sclomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the Lord God of Israel; he did not leave it to 7 his choice, but charged him to do it. And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the 8 name of the LORD my God: But the word of the LORD came to me saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars thou shalt not build an house unto my name, be

God had declared by Moses, Deut. xii. 5. that a house should be built; and he had told David that his son should build it. This David thought was the proper place for it, be cause of the extraordinary token of the divine presence and acceptance which he found here, chap. xxi. 26. Or there may be an allusion to the words of Jacob, this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

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+ David here gives two reasons for this: Solomon was young, and could not make such preparations for the house as he could; and the building was to be very magnificent for the glory of Israel and its fame among neighbouring nations; and that the grandeur of the house might attract and influence the worshippers.

cause thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, that is, peaceable, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days; no civil broils, nor foreign invasions by enemies; this will be a proper season for the 10 work. He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I [will be] his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. Having thus related what God had said to him, he turns his speech directly to Solomon ; 11 Now my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee; encouraging him in the work, not doubting but God would succeed 12 him, because he had commanded it. Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that is, direction and counsel how to rule the people, and conduct this great affair, that thou mayest keep the law of the 13 LORD thy God. Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel; assuring him of prosperity, if he did so; and therefore exhorting him to put forth his utmost strength; be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed; let not the greatness of the work discourage thee; but depend upon divine assistance, while thou art faithful in thy duty. And to encourage him to these, he tells him what preparations he 14 had made; Now, behold, in my trouble, though on the whole mine has been a turbulent reign, yet I have not forgot this great design, I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver it and of brass, and iron without weight; for it is in abundance timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto; there is room for all thou canst add in such a work 15 as this. Moreover [there are] workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work; the workmen are already 16 chosen, and their work assigned. Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, [there is] no number, the weight of them is so great that it cannot be told. Arise [therefore,] and be doing, and the LORD be with thee; when thou art settled on the throne, set about it immediately, and doubt not but God will be with thee.

The reason why he was forbid, we find in 2 Sam. vii. 2. The wars were warranted and succeeded by Jehovah; yet it did not suit with his majesty to have an house built by such an one. Human life was precious to God, and he was tender of the blood of his creatures. It was more proper for a peaceable prince to do it, who was a type of the Prince of peace.

This was a prodigious sum, near seven hundred and fifty millions; enough, say some, to have built all the walls with silver, and the roofs with gold. But it should be considered, that it was not all spent upon the temple; there were other buildings, and vast treasures laid np for maintaining above two hundred thousand workmen, for so many were employed for eleven years together, beside those employed in David's time. In early ages there was great plenty of gold; and David had many sources of wealth from husbandry, trade and tribute. Solomon had six hundred and sixtysix talents of gold yearly, and he had no subjects but what David had; he had many successful wars with rich nations, from whom he had earrings and jewels of gold, shields of gold, and gods of gold. It is not difficult to account how he had so much wealth, and how he laid it out, considering the buildings, the workmen, the treasures laid up, the gold about the temple, the utensils, and the precious stones.

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David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon 18 his son,* [saying, Is] not the LORD your God with you? and hath he [not] given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people: we have had large experience of his goodness; and what he hath already done is a ground of hope in his further favour. All the enemies of Israel are subdued; we have peace round about; therefore, in gratitude for those favours, set to work, especially as it is for his service and 19 honour. Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord GOD, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD; engage heartily in the work, and seek the divine blessing; then you will go on cheerfully and prosperously in it.

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REFLECTIONS.

GED christians, like David, should consider the circumstances of young ones, and consult their benefit. They should not overburden them, but provide them what help they can, that they may go on easily and cheerfully in God's work. They should instruct them in it, v. 11. in the nature and design of true religion; and encourage them to it, v. 13. by their own experience, and the promise of a divine blessing; and pray for them, v. 12, that God would give them wisdom and understanding to see and pursue their true interest: considering how much the honour of God, and the support of religion, depend on the wisdom and piety of the rising generation, and that all the care of ministers and parents is little enough to promote it.

2. When God gives rest to a people, he expects they should devote themselves more closely and resolutely to his service. This argument David urged upon Solomon and his people. We should be solicitous to improve time while it is continued; while there is no foreign or domestic enemy; and while the gospel has a free course. Let us resolutely work the works of God; improve every opportunity to build up his house, support his worship, and advance religion. Then had the churches rest, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

3. The promises of God, and the hope of his presence, should encourage us to work for him. Arise, and be doing, and the Lord will be with thee. Words that may well be addressed to every christian. Religion is the most important work; it requires vigour and resolution. God has promised assistance; and if the work be ever so hard, and the difficulties and enemies ever so many and formidable, he will be with us, and that is enough. Wherefore work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure.

This was probably a private exhortation to the great men to assist in preparing for the work, as there was a public address to them afterward. Fff

VOL. III.

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