"is for Saul, and for his bloody house, | Michal (g) the daughter of Saul, whom "because he slew the Gibeonites." 2. And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them, (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the children of Israel had sworn (c) unto them and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) 3. Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, "What shall I "do for you? and wherewith shall I "make the atonement, that ye may bless "the inheritance (d) of the LORD?" 4. And the Gibeonites said unto him, "We will have no silver nor gold of "Saul, nor of his house, neither for us "shalt thou kill any man in Israel." And he said, "What you shall say, "that will I do for you." 5. And they answered the king, "The man that "consumed us, and that devised against which God answered the inquiries occur, who hath God so nigh unto them, as "the Lord our God is in all things that "we" (the Israelites) "call upon him for. "Deut. iv. 7.” (c) v. 2." Sworn." "Joshua made 66 peace with them, and made a league "with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto "them. Josh. ix. 15." It was for the breach, therefore, of this their league and oath that they were visited with this famine. she brought (h) up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9. And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley-harvest. 10. And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until (i) water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. 11. And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah the concu bine of Saul had done. 12. And David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa 13. And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged. 14. And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son, buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah in the sepulchre of Kish his father; and they performed all that the king commanded: and after that God was entreated for the land. 15. Moreover, the Philistines had yet war again with Israel, and David went down, and his servants with him, and (d) v. 3. "The inheritance of the Lord," i. e." the Israelites." (e) v. 7. "Oath." David had sworn unto Jonathan that he would not cut of his kindness from Jonathan's house for ever: and they both sware in the name of the Lord, saying, "The Lord be between "me and thee, and between my seed and "thy seed for ever. 1 Sam. xx. 15. 42." (g) v. 8. For "Michal" read " Merab,” Michal's sister. It was Merab that was given in marriage to Adriel. See 1 Sam. xviii. 19. (h) "Brought up for," or "bare to." (i) v. 10. Until water dropped," i. e. "till the time of rain." fought against the Philistines; and David waxed faint. 16. And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, (the weight of whose spear weighed three - hundred (k) shekels of brass in weight) 66 he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, "Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that "thou quench not the light of Israel." 18. And it came to pass after this that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant. 19. And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim a Bethlehemite slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 20. And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes; four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah (7) the brother of David slew him. 22. These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. CHAP. XXIV. AND again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he (m) moved David against them to say, "Go num"ber Israel and Judah." 2. For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, "Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from "Dan even to Beer-sheba, and num (k) v. 16. "300 shekels," rather more than ten pounds. () v. 21. Shimeah," or "Shammah," David's third brother. 1 Sam. xvi. 9. &c. xvii. 13. (m) v. 1." He moved David," or " David "was moved." The parallel place, 1 Chron. xxi. 1. is, "Satan stood up against Israel, "and provoked David to number Israel." Both are reconciled, by considering God as "ber (n) ye the people, that I may know "the number of the people." 3. And Joab said unto the king, "Now the LORD "thy God add unto the people (how many soever they be) an hundred"fold, and that the eyes of my lord the "king may see it: but why doth my "lord the king delight in this thing?" 4. Notwithstanding, the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host: and Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. 5. And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer. 6. Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon. 7. And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba. 8. So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9. And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 10. And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people: and David said unto the LORD, "I have sinned "greatly in that I have done: and now "I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have "done very foolishly." 11. For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer (0), saying. 12. "Go and permitting Satan to tempt David. 2 Hales 385. B. C. 1017. (n) v. 2. “Number, &c." an act of pride! culpable also, because it implied that he put confidence in the number of his people, when his whole confidence should have been in God. (a) v. 11. 1 Sam. ix. 9. "Seer," or "Prophet." PP 3 66 say unto David, Thus saith the LORD," the LORD, in the threshing-floor of "I offer thee three things; choose the 66 one of them, that I may do it unto "thee." 13. So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, "Shall 66 seven years of famine come unto thee "in thy land? or wilt thou flee three "months before thine enemies, while "they pursue thee? or that there be "three days pestilence in thy land? 66 now advise, and see what answer I "shall return to him that sent me." 14. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great striaght: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD, (for his mercies are great) and let me not fall into the hand of man. 15. So the LORD sent a pestidence upon Israel, from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba, seventy thousand men. 16. And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, "It is enough: stay now thine hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing-place of Araunah the Jebusite. 17. And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, "Lo, I have sinned, "and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine "hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house." 18. And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, "Go up, rear an altar unto 66 66 "Araunah the Jebusite." 19. And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded. 20. And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him and Araunah went out and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. 21. And Araunah said. "Wherefore is my lord the king come "to his servant?" And David said, "To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to "build an altar unto the LORD, that the "plague may be stayed from the peo"ple." 22. And Araunah said unto David, "Let my lord the king take and "offer up what seemeth good unto him: "Behold, here be oxen for burnt sacri"fice, and threshing instruments and "other instruments of the oxen for "wood." 23. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give (p) unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, "The LORD thy God accept thee. 24. And the king said unto Araunah, 66 Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee "at a price: neither will I offer burnt"offerings unto the LORD my God of "that which doth cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. So the LORD WIS intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. 66 "of David, Josiah by name, and upon "thee shall he offer the priests of the "high places that burn incense upon "thee, and men's bones shall be burnt "(t) upon thee." 3. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; "Behold the altar shall be rent, and "the ashes that are upon it shall be "poured out." 4. And it came to pass when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Beth-el, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, "Lay hold on him." And his hand which he put forth against him dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. 5. The altar also was rent (u), and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 6. And the king answered and said unto the man of God, "Intreat may now the face of the LORD thy God, "and pray for me, that hand my "be restored me again." And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again and became as it was before. 7. And the king said unto the man of God, "Come home with me, and refresh thy"self, and I will give thee a reward." 8. And the man of God said unto the king, "If thou wilt give me half thine sons, Beth-el, and his sons came and told him all the words that the man of God had done that day in Beth-el: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. 12. And their father said unto them, "What way went he?" for his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. 13. And he said unto his "Saddle me the ass." So they saddled him the ass, and he rode thereon, 14. and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak; and he said unto him, "Art thou the man of God that "camest from Judah?" And he said, "I am." 15. Then he said unto him, "Come home with me, and eat bread." 16. And he said, "I may not return "with thee, nor go in with thee: "neither will I eat bread nor drink "water with thee in this place. 17. For "it was said to me by the word of the "LORD, "Thou shalt eat no bread, 66 nor drink water there, nor turn again "to go by the way that thou camest." 18. He said unto him, "I am a pro"phet also as thou art, and an angel 66 spake unto me by the word of the "LORD, saying, "Bring him back with "thee into thine house, that he may "eat bread, and drink water." But he lied unto him. 19. So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. 20. And it came to pass as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 21. And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, "Thus "saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou "hast disobeyed the mouth of the "LORD, and hast not kept the com"mandment which the LORD thy God "commanded thee, 22. but camest "back, and hast eaten bread, and "drunk water in the place of the which "the LORD did say to thee, Eat no "bread, and drink no water; thy car 66 case shall not come unto the sepul"chre of thy fathers." 23. And it came to pass after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24. And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him; and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it: the lion also stood by the carcase. 25. And behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. 26. And when the prophet that brought him back from the way, heard thereof, he said, "It is "the man of God, who was disobedient "unto the word of the LORD: there"fore the LORD hath delivered him "unto the lion, which hath torn him, “and slain him, according to the word of the LORD which he spake unto him." 27. And he spake to his sons, saying, "Saddle me the ass." And they saddled him. 28. And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. 29. And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury (x) v. 32, 33. "The high places," used for idolatrous worship. (y) "Of Samaria," where some of the ten tribes dwelt: the capital of Israel. (z) v. 33. Returned not." Josephus says, he was induced by the old prophet, (on account of the death of the prophet of Judah) to doubt his mission, and believe him an impostor. Jos. Antiq. B. 8. c. 3.. (a) v. 1. B. C. 910. (b) "Elijah," a prophet of great resolution and firmness. (c)" Ahab," the king of Israel: more wicked than all the kings before him. 1 Kings xvi. 33. (d) "Dew nor rain," to endeavour to him. 30. And he laid his carcase in his own grave, and they mourned over him saying, "Alas, my brother." 31. And it came to pass after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, then bury me in "the sepulchre, wherein the man of "God is buried; lay my bones beside ❝his bones. 32. For the saying which "he cried by the word of the LORD "against the altar in Beth-el, and 66 against all the houses of the high (2) "places which are in the cities of (y) "Samaria, shall surely come to pass." 33. After this thing Jeroboam returned (z) not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places, 34. And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth. CHAP. XVII. AND (a) Elijah (b) the Tishbite, whe was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab (c), "As the LORD God of "Israel liveth, before whom I stand, "there shall not be dew (d) nor rain "these years, but according to my "word.” 2. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3. "Get thee "hence, and turn thee eastward, and "hide thy self by the brook Cherith, "that is before Jordan. 4. And it shall "be, that thou shalt drink of the brook, " and I have commanded the ravens (d) reform the people, by depriving them of these ordinary blessings, and reducing them to want. This is supposed to have been the effect of Elijah's prayers: "Elias "prayed earnestly that it might not rain, "and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. "James v. 17, 18." See 2 Hales, 421. Our Saviour mentions the time the drought continued Luke iv. 25. "The heaven was "shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the "land." (d) v. 4. 6, “Ravens," or "Orebites," "the neighbouring inhabitants. 2 Hales, "421." |