good tidings, I took hold of him and slew him in Ziklag, instead of giving him a reward for his tidings. How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed. Shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? And David commanded his young men, and they slew them and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David in Hebron, and spake, saying: Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that didst lead out and bring in Israel; and Yahweh said unto thee: Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king in Hebron before cahweh, and they anointed David King over Israel.

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spake unto David, saying: Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither. Thinking: David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion-the same is the city of David. And David said on that day: Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, and getteth up to the gutter, and . . . the blind and the lame, hated of David's soul, . Wherefore they say: There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house. And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it, The City of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David waxed greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Hosts, was with him.

And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters and masons; and they built David a house. And David perceived that Yahweh had established him KING OVER ISRAEL; and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel's sake.

1 The text is here defective, and there are no means of knowing how David took a city that has resisted so many assaults. There is a hint only of his having escaladed the walls, and opened the gates from within. The LXX uses the defective passage only as the occasion of a by-word.

CHAPTER V

THE REIGN OF DAVID

WARRIOR-KING AND ORGANIZER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

SECTION. I.-David establishes himself in Jerusalem. Surprises the Philistines in two attempts against him and defeats them. Brings up the Ark of God to Jerusalem, and dances before it. Subdues the Philistines in a third battle, subjects Moab and the king of Zobah, puts garrisons in Damascus and Aram and Edom. Regulates the internal affairs of the kingdom and forms a Cabinet. Fulfils his promise to Jonathan to care for his children. His nephew, Joab, achieves great distinction as general of David's forces. David's intrigue with Uriah's wife. Nathan's rebuke, and David's repentance. The birth of Solomon. (2 Samuel, iv, 4a, 5; v, 13, 17-35; vi, 1-23; viii-xi, 20, 21b-27; xii, 1-7a, b, 9b-25.)

Materials: Folk-tales; "Chronicles of King David"; "Chronicles of the Kings of Judah"; "Acts of Nathan"; "Acts of Gad"; State Records. (David was thirty years old when he began to reign. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.1) And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, when he was come from Hebron; and there were yet more sons and daughters born to David.

Now when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it and went down to the hold. And the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of Yahweh: Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt Thou deliver them into my hand? And Yahweh said unto David: Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand. And David came to Baal-perazim, and smote them there; and he said: Yahweh hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore the name of that place was called Baal-perazim (Master of breaches). And they left their images there, and David and his men burned them.

And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of Yahweh, He said: Thou shalt not go up; make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And it shall be when thou hearest the sound of rustling in the tops of the mulberry trees, that thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is Yahweh gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and he smote the Philistines from Geba until thou comest to Gerar.

And David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, 1 These statistics bear the mark of late editing: but they are a needed link between the old and the new conditions of David's kingship.

thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the men who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of Yahweh Sabaoth (that dwelleth between the cherubim). And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in Gibeah, with the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all manner of instruments made of cyprus-wood, and with harps and with psalteries, and with timbrels and with sistra and with cymbals.

And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. And David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken forth upon Uzzah; and that place was called Perez-uzzah to this day. And David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said: How shall the ark of God come unto me? So David would not remove the ark of Yahweh unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of Yahweh remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months; and Yahweh blessed Obed-edom, and all his house.

And it was told David: Yahweh hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so, that when they that bore the ark of Yahweh had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. And David danced before Yahweh with all his might, and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

And it was so, as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of Yahweh and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Yahweh. And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offerings and the peaceofferings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh Sabaoth. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to every one a cake of bread and a good piece from the pan and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his own house.

Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal, Saul's daughter, came out to meet David, and said: How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered himself in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself! And David said unto Michal: Before Yahweh, who chose me above thy father and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Yahweh, over Israel-before Yahweh will I make merry. And I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in mine own sight; and with the handmaids thou hast spoken of, with them will I get me honor. And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

'After this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines and subdued them; and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

And he smote Moab, and measured them out with a line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to be put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. David smote also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to establish his dominion at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David houghed all the chariot-horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots. And when the Aramæans of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Aramæans two and twenty thousand men. Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Aramæans became servants to David and brought gifts. And Yahweh gave victory to David whithersoever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, David took exceeding much brass."

And when Toi, king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David to salute him and to bless him (because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him; for Hadadezer had wars with Toi); and he brought with him vessels of silver and vessels of brass. These also did David dedicate unto Yahweh, with all the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued; of Aram and of Moab and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. And David got him a name when he returned from smiting the Aramæans in the valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men. And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants [i.e., tributaries] to David. And Yahweh gave victory to David, whithersoever he went.

And David reigned over all Israel, and David executed justice and righteousness unto all his people. And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was Recorder; and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Seraiah was Scribe; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers.

And David said: Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? Now there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they summoned him to David; and the king said unto him: Art thou Ziba? And he said: Thy servant is he. And the king said: Is there not any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king: Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame on his feet. And the king said: Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king: Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

1 Ch. vii not only breaks the very homogeneous narrative of the older writer, but has distinctive marks of the hand of a Deuteronomist. Also, it neither accords with the trend of David's mind, as it has been shown, nor has it a fit setting. David is in the very midst of his struggles.

2 This account of the conflict with the king of Zobah sounds apocryphal, especially as to the numbers killed or taken captive, and the amount of the spoil. The source in this case seems to have been a folk-tale, and not an official record. It will be remembered that David's army is stated to have been thirty thousand men.

Then King David sent and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said: Mephibosheth! And he answered: Behold, thy servant. And David said unto him: Fear not; for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan's, thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread continually at my table. And he bowed down, and said: What is thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?

Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him: Thou shalt till the land for thy master's son, thou and thy sons and thy servants: and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth, thy master's son shall eat bread continually at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king: According to all that my lord the king commandeth his servant, so shall thy servant do; but Mephibosheth eateth at my table as one of the king's sons. Now Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. But Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king's table; and he was lame on both his feet.

And it came to pass after this that the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. And David said: I shall show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed unto me. So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. But the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun, their lord: Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David sent his servants unto thee to search the city, and to spy it out and to overthrow it? So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off the one-half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. When it was told unto David, he sent to meet them for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said: Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

Now, when the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, they sent and hired the Aramæans of Beth-rehob and the Aramæans of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob, twelve thousand men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of his warriors. And the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate, and the Aramæans of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and of Maacah were by themselves in the field. Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Aramæans, and the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother, and he put them in array against the Ammonites. And he said: If the Aramæans be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the Ammonites be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. Be of good courage, and let us prove strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and Yahweh shall do what seemeth to Him good.

So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh unto the battle against the Aramæans, and they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Aramæans had fled, they likewise