CHAP. XIII.

David, being grown old and diseased, is cherished by Abishag, a young woman, a Shunammite. Adonijah, David's eldest son living, makes an attempt to obtain the throne in consequence of his father's infirmities. He is assisted in the conspiracy by Joab and Abiathar; but all their endeavors prove fruitless. Solomon, by David's appointment, is anointed king by Zadok and Nathan. Adonijah being terrified flies to the altar, and is spared by Solomon. Havid makes a speech to the princes of the respective tribes concerning the building of the temple. His last charge to his son Solomon. His death and character.

DAVID, being now grown into years (in his seventieth year, or ready to enter on it) experienced a great decay in his natural vigor and warmth, insomuch that though he was well covered with clothes, he could not get any heat. In consequence of this a consultation was held among his physicians, who advised that, to supply him with natural heat, a virgin should lie in the same bed with him. Accordingly, one Abishag, a young and beautiful woman of Shunam, belonging to the tribe of Issachar, was brought to him, and made his concubinary wife; but David had never any carnal knowledge of her, being, from his infirm. ities, incapable of possessing connubial enjoyments.

As David was become almost inactive from his natural infirmities, Adonijah (who, next after Absalom, was his eldest son) taking advantage of his imperfections, entertained thoughts of assuming the sovereignty, on a presumption that his father either could not, or would not, obstruct him. He was, indeed, a prince of exquisite beauty, greatly admired by the people, and particularly indulged by his father. He was in disposition much the

* If it be asked, how the beauty of the person to be employed for this purpose was concerned in David's health, we answer, that the beauty he required is evidently beauty of complexion, which, as it indicates the health and temperament of the body, might, in the present case, be of singular importance.

† It is remarked of David, that one of his great faults, and what led him into many premunires, was, his extraordinary indulgence to his children, of whom he was so fond, that he seems to have over

same as his brother Absalom, and pursued the like measures, having set up a pompous equipage, retained a prodigious number of attendants, and living in the most sumptuous manner.

Adonijah had gained over to his party Joab, the general of the forces, and Abiathar the priest, by whose advice he invited all his brothers (except Solomon) and all the great men of Judah (except Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, captain of the guards, and the officers of the army, who, with Zadok the priest, were not for him) to a sumptuous entertainment at Enrogel, near Jerusalem, the design of which was, as soon as the company began to be merry, to proclaim him king.

Nathan the prophet, who knew God's designation,* David's choice, and the people's interest, having received intelligence of the meeting appointed by Adonijah, gave information of it to Bathsheba, strongly advising her to go to the king, and press him, in the most urgent manner, immediately to declare Solomon his successor, things being come to such an extremity as to threaten the most imminent danger.

Bathsheba, taking Nathan's advice, immediately repaired to the king, and having acquainted him with Adonijah's conspiracy, begged him to name her son Solomon his successor, agreeable to the promise he had formerly made, and ratified with an oath. While she was with the king Nathan entered the apartment, and confirmed all she had said relative to the conspiracy; upon which David turning to Bathsheba, said, As the Lord 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

looked their errors, and not reproved them, though he was bound to do it by a plain law (Levit. xix. 17.) and could not but know that the high-priest Eli was severely punished for such neglect.

God had promised David by Nathan, (2 Sam. vii. 12.) that he would set upon his throne a son that should proceed from him, which plainly signified, that none of his sons already born were to be the person; and in 1 Chron. xxii. 8, &c. he declared by the same prophet, that, after his father, Solomon should reign, and build him an house. This Adonijah could not but know; and therefore his setting himself against the decree of heaven made his sin the greater in attempting to possess himself of the throne.

upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.

David strictly performed his promise to Bathsheba. He immediately commanded Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the captain of his guards, with the officers and ministers of state, to mount Solomon on the mule he was accustomed to ride himself;* and having, in this manner, conducted him to Gihon, Zadok and Nathan should there anoint him with holy oil, after which they should proclaim him king by sound of trumpet, saying, God save king Solomon. All this was strictly executed agreeable to the orders of David, after which Solomon was conducted back to Jerusalem amidst the shouts and acclamations of the people.

But how thunderstruck was Adonijah and his company, when, being just upon the point of proclaiming him king, they heard the sound of the trumpet, and the shouts of the people attending Solomon! As soon as they were informed of the occasion, fearful of the consequences of their conspiracy, each man thought proper to shift for himself. Adonijah, their leader, (conscious he had committed a

* In these days it was a capital offence to ride upon the king's ass, or mule, to sit upon his throne, or to handle his sceptre, without his or der: :whereas, on the contrary, to have the honor to ride on the king's beast, by his appointment, was the highest dignity that could be bestowed on a subject. It was always considered in this light by the Persians, as appears from the story of Mordecai, in the sixth chapter of the Book of Esther.

† Gihon was a little river or brook near Jerusalem, which discharged itself into the brook Kidron; and was afterwards rendered famous by the noble work of Hezekiah, 2 Chron. xxxii. 30. Maimonides, and other Rabbies, assert, that the kings of the house of David were all obliged to be anointed by the side of a fountain or river; which they say was the reason why David commanded his servants to bring his son down to Gihon, and anoint him there. At this place, without the walls of Jerusalem, Zadok and Nathan anointed Solomon; that is, one of them poured out the oil, and the other anointed his head, drawing a circle round it in the form of a crown, to denote his delegation to the royal dignity. Another reason the Jews assign for chusing a situation for anointing their kings near a river is, to shew the perpetuity of their kingdom, because rivers run always, though the cities which they wash are continually decaying, and liable to destruction. Probably Gihon was more particularly chosen on this occasion, as being near Jerusalam, the most public place of resort, at that time, in the whole kingdom.

crime worthy of death, by usurping the kingdom without his father's consent, and against the known design of God) fled to the altar for safety and protection. Here he continued some time, till, having obtained of Solomon a promise of life, on condition he would never make any future attempt against his government, he was admitted into the king's presence, where he made his obeisance to Solomon, in token of thankfulness for his preservation, and in acknowledgment of his brother's superiority and right to the throne of Israel.

David, having exalted his son Solomon to the throne, considering within himself that he was very young and tender, sent for him, and gave him a strict charge that, after his death, he should build an house for the Lord God. He told him that he had intended doing it himself, but that as he had made great wars, and shed much blood in them, God would not permit him to carry his design into execution: but that he had promised a son should be born to him, under whose reign he would give peace and quietness to Israel, and that he should build an house to his name. He then strongly exhorted him to undertake the work, prayed God that he would give him wisdom and understanding, and assured him he would prosper if he kept the statutes of the Lord as directed by Moses. After this he acquainted him with the preparations of gold, silver, materials, and workmen of all sorts, that he had already made towards the edifice, and that he had commanded all the princes of the people to assist him in erecting it, as they were now in a state of great prosperity, and profound peace. That he had divided the Levites, and the descendants of Aaron into their several orders and stations, and appointed to each of them their distinct offices and services, in every thing relating to the temple, and the solemn worship to be performed in it.

A short time after this David convened an assembly of all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of all the companies that ministered to him by course, with all the officers and mighty men; the whole of whom being assembled at Jerusalem, he addressed them in words to this effect:* "Hear ye, my brethren and my

* The latter part of the speech which Josephus puts into David's mouth on this occasion, runs thus: "Our Father Jacob (as you aff

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people: I had determined in my own mind to have "built an house, where the Ark of the Covenant of the "Lord might perpetually abide, and for the footstool of "the throne of our God, and have made great prepara❝tions for erecting this building. But from this I was "prevented by the order of God, who, by his prophet, "said to me, thou shalt not build an house for my name, "because thou hast been engaged in many wars, and "thereby hast shed much blood. However the Lord God "of Israel chose me, before all the house of my father, to "be king over Israel for ever; for he hath chosen in "Judah the ruler, and in the house of Judah, the house of 66 my father, and among the sons of my father, he took "pleasure in me to make me reign over all Israel; and "from all my sons, for the Lord hath given me many sons, "he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne "of the Lord over all Israel. And he said unto me, "Solomon thy son, he shall build my house, and my "courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will "be to him a father. And I will establish his kingdom "for ever, if he firmly bind himself to do my command"ments and judgments, as they are observed at this day, "Now therefore, in the presence of all Israel, the congre

very well know) had twelve sons, and yet Judah was chosen by common consent to be ruler of all the rest. You know likewise, that I myself (though there were then six brothers of us) was advanced by God to the government, and that none of the rest thought themselves injured: Wherofore I must now, in like manner, require it of you, and of all your sons, that you submit cheerfully and dutifully to my son Solomon, and that ye do it without any grumbling, or civil dissention, because it is from God's immediate command and commission, that he derives his authority. Put the case now, that God should have set a stranger over you, how great a folly and madness would it have been for you to murmur at it? But how thankful ought you to be, for the choice of so near a relation, when you yourselves are partakers of the honor that is done to your brother? There is nothing I so much long for, as to see God's gracious promises take a speedy effect, and the whole people put into a lasting possession of the blessings they are to enjoy under the reign of Solomon. And all this, my dear son, (says he, turning to Solomon) will be made good, and every thing succeed to your wish, so long as you govern according to piety and justice, with respect to your duty both towards God and man, upholding a reverence to the laws, and treading in the steps of your forefathers; but, whenever you pass these bounds, there is nothing but ruin and misery to be expected."

VOL. ii. E