and obliged him to flee from Jerusalem: but the rebels were soon defeated, and the young prince, as he fled upon a mule, was caught by his hair in the boughs of a thick oak, and suspended between heaven and earth, till Joab, David's general, slew him. After which the people resorted to the king with great submission and zeal: yet growing jealous, on account of the partial regard which he shewed for his own tribe, they revolted against him under Sheba; but they were soon overpowered, and public peace was restored.

While David was enjoying the sweets of peace and prosperity, he was desirous, out of vain-glory, and a foolish curiosity, to know the number and strength of his subjects, and commanded Joab to take an account of all the people. For this act of pride and arrogance, and for the wickedness of the people in general, God sent a dreadful pestilence, which in a short time destroyed seventy thousand persons; and the devastation was still increasing, when God in his mercy heard the prayers of the penitent king, and put an end to the calamity.

At length David, being about seventy years of age, and sensible of the approach of death, gave his last solemn advice to his son Solomon, and urged this particular instruction: Observe the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes and commandments: that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE REIGN OF SOLOMON.

1015.

Solomon, as soon as he was settled firmly Before in his kingdom, applied himself to the Christ management of public affairs, and the encouragement of divine worship. The Lord looked down upon his conduct with approbation; and, after a sacrifice at Gibeon, appeared to him in a

dream, and promised to give him whatever he should ask. The young prince did not ask for long life, or riches, or honour; but, conscious of the difficulty of governing an extensive kingdom, and dispensing justice to a numerous people, he desired a wise and understanding heart. The prudence and modesty of this request procured for him not only such a degree of wisdom as exceeded that of all other men, but also a promise of those blessings, which he had not asked, dependent upon his obedience to God. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you.

An opportunity soon offered for the trial of his wisdom; two women, bringing two children, the one dead and the other alive, came to him for justice; both disowned the dead child, both claimed the living child. How could the truth be discovered, and the infants be given to their proper mothers? Solomon had recourse to the workings of nature for the discovery of the secret: he commanded that the child, for which they contended with equal warmth, should be divided, and half of it given to each woman. One of them was willing to have it so divided; but the other cried out in despair and agony, that it should not be so; O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means slay it. This affectionate, anxious desire to save the life of the infant, manifested the true mother; and Solomon accordingly gave her the child, to the satisfaction of the whole assembly.

His wisdom was no less distinguished in the government of his kingdom, and in many learned treatises which he wrote upon the nature of plants and trees, and of beasts, birds, and fishes. Peace and plenty were diffused through his dominions ; and by his extensive alliances and commerce, gold and silver were brought to him in such abundance, that the riches of the world seemed to have been gathered together in the city of Jerusalem. Having

by these means added a vast quantity of materials to those which David had collected, he applied himself to the great work which his father had so much at heart, and built a temple to the Lord. It was the most beautiful and magnificent edifice in the world. The grandeur and richness of it are thought to have exceeded all description. When it was finished, and the ark was deposited by the priests in the most holy place, the glory of the Lord filled the house, and appeared visibly, as it were, to take possession of it. Then the king offered up a wise and devout prayer, entreating God to hear favourably the supplications which his people should at any time offer in or toward that holy temple to avert the evils they should fear, and grant the blessings they should ask.

The fame of the wisdom and magnificence of Solomon was spread through all the earth, and drew many persons of wealth and learning from the most distant nations to his court. Particularly the queen of Sheba, a princess as remarkable for understanding, as for power and riches, came from the farthest part of the south to see his glory, and be an earwitness of his wisdom.

Solomon, however, so beloved of God, and so admired by men, did not persevere in this happy state: but started aside like a broken bow, and, from the love of wisdom, degenerated to the love of women and idolatry. He took wives out of those nations with which God had commanded the Israelites not to make any alliance. These soon corrupted his heart, and drew him from the service of the true God; so that he built temples for idols, and worshipped their gods and goddesses, going after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians: and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites. Thus the glory he had obtained by his wisdom and virtue was sullied and defaced; and the Lord expressed his indignation and anger, by raising up several enemies against him, and by foretelling that

64 Division of the Kingdom under Rehoboam.

he would take the kingdom from his family, and give it unto his servant; except a certain portion of it, which should be reserved to his son, for his servant David's sake.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM UNDER REHOBOAM,

Before Rehoboam, upon the death of his father, Christ went to Shechem, in order to be proclaimed 975. king; where all the congregation of Israel, being assembled on the occasion, desired him to redress some grievances, and lighten the yoke which had been laid upon them by Solomon. The old counsellors, who were experienced in the affairs of the nation, advised him to give a kind and gentle answer, that he might secure the affections of the people, and establish himself firmly upon the throne; but the advice of his young, giddy companions seemed, in his vain imagination, more agreeable to the dignity of his government: and, therefore, instead of soothing his subjects and promising redress, he threatened to increase their burthens, and govern them with greater severity than his father had done. Ten of the tribes were so offended at this harsh answer, that they disclaimed all allegiance to him; and made Jeroboam, a bold ambitious youth, king over them. The other two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, adhered firmly to the interest of Rehoboam, and conveyed him safely to Jerusalem.

Thus this kingdom, which was just rising into fame, was divided into two parts, the kingdom of Judah, and the kingdom of Israel: and thus God punished the sins of Solomon by the folly of Rehoboam; and manifested to the world, that he is the ruler of kings, turning their hearts whithersoever he pleaseth, according as they are the objects of his mercy, or of his indignation,

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE HISTORY OF THE KINGS OF ISRAEL.

Jeroboam, intent upon securing his new kingdom, beautified Shechem, and built a palace; and fearing lest the people, if they went at the public festivals to worship God at Jerusalem, according to the law, should be induced to dwell there, and become subjects to the king of Judah, he set up two golden calves, as objects of worship, in different parts of his kingdom. By this public institution of idolatry, the minds of the people were corrupted, and a door was opened to every kind of impiety and wickedness.

He also took upon himself the office of highpriest, and appointed any of the lowest of the people to be priests of the high places, where they performed false worship. But, as he was about to offer sacrifices at Bethel, a prophet, who came from Jerusalem, foretold, that that altar should be destroyed by a king of Judah, named Josiah; and when Jeroboam, being angry, stretched forth his hand to apprehend him, it became withered, and as it were dead: yet, upon his humiliation, and the prayers of the prophet, it was restored to him. He was not at all reclaimed, however, by this wonderful event, nor yet by the denunciation of Divine judgments by Ahijah; he persisted still in his idolatry, and drew off the minds of the people more and more from the worship of the true God.

953.

Nadab succeeded his father Jeroboam, and Before resembled him in impiety: but within two Christ years he was slain by Baasha, who put all the family of Jeroboam to death. Baasha was succeeded by his son Elah, who in the second year of his reign was killed by Zimri, a captain of his chariots. But Zimri, who slew his master, had no peace; for the army immediately made Omri, their general, king; and Zimri, in despair, set fire to the -palace, and was destroyed with it. Omri built the