* 2 Sam. viii. 7, 8, 10., 1 Chron. xviii, 2, 4, 8, 10.** 2 Sam. viii. 11., 1 Chron. xviii. 11.*** 2 Sam. viii. 13.**** Chap. ix. 1.(5) Chap. xvi. 4.(6) Chap. xix. 29.(7) 1 Kings xv. 5, compared with 1 Chron. xxi. 1.
In the midst of an obscure detail of smiting and slaying; in revenge for the contemptuous treatment of some ambassadors, sent by him with compliments of condolence; but who, perhaps deservedly, were considered as spies; while Joab was with the army prosecuting the siege of Rabbah, a chief city of the Ammonites; David, then at Jerusalem, walking one evening on the roof of his palace, perceived from that eminence a handsome woman bathing herself.* Fired with the sight, he sent to enquire who she was: and understanding she was Bathsheba, wife to Uriah, who was at that time opportunely absent in the army under Joab, he caused her to be brought to him directly, (no ceremony in the case) and after gratifying his inclination, sent her home again.** Some time after, the woman finding herself with child, naturally informed the king of it. He, never at a loss for ways and means, immediately ordered Uriah home;*** of whom he enquired news concerning the operations of the campaign, and then dismissed him to his own house, sending after him a present of victuals.**** David intended the good man a little relaxation from the fatigues of war, that he might kiss his wife, and be cheated into a child more than he had a natural right to; but whether Uriah had received any intimation of the honour his Majesty had done him; or whether he honestly meant the self-denial which he professed, we are not advertised: however, Uriah would not go home but slept in the guard-room, with the king's servants.(5) David took care to be informed of this, and questioned Uriah concerning the reason of it. Uriah urged a scruple of conscience against going to enjoy any indulgence at home, while the ark, Joab, and the army remained in tents in the open field.(6) He was detained another night; when David made him drunk,(7) waiting to see what effect that might have. It was still the same; Uriah, like many other drunken men, was resolved not to go home.
*2 Sam. xi. 2.** Ver. 4.*** Ver. 6.**** Ver. 8.(5) Ver. 9.(6) Ver. 11.(7) Ver. 35.
David, finding him so obstinate, altered his plan of operations, and determined then to get rid of him for ever. To which intent, he sent him back to the camp, with a letter to the general. "And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the fore-front of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten and die."* This instruction was accordingly complied with;** and then Bathsheba, like another Abigail, was taken into David's seraglio.***
Nathan the prophet read David an arch lecture upon this subject;**** and he, who took care not to disagree With his best friends, bore with the reproof, and humbled himself accordingly.
This complicated crime committed by David is universally allowed; but people think so little for them selves, that eventhiswould be qualified, were it not found ready condemned to their hand in the relation of it. This crime is given up too, as theonly stainin David's character: but the circumstances of it will not permit this to be granted, abstracted from any consideration of the man. For, though a generally good man may, in a sudden start of any of the passions, lose government of himself so far, as to violate conjugal fidelity, or perhaps suddenly to kill another; yet a deliberate scheme, includingtwosuch crimes, can be concerted only by abad heart. It is also to be remarked respecting his famous repentance of this black transaction, that he shewed no tokens of relenting until it was extorted from him by artifice! and that even then, though he mourned his crime, he never entertained a thought of relinquishing future commerce with the woman so wickedly obtained, but kept her until he died! and altered the regular course of succession, in favour of a son he had by her.(5)
It is hoped the supposition may be allowed, that the noise this righteous affair made, might be one motive for Joab's desiring David to come and partake some of the honours of the campaign:(6) an opportunity of which he prudently laid hold: but—fatal was his presence wherever he appeared.
* 2 Sam. xi. 15.** Ver. 17.*** Ver. 27.**** Ch. xii. 1.(5) Kings i. 13.(6) 2 Sam. xii. 27, 28.
How shall a person subject to the feelings of humanity, (a security of more avail among men than the most binding laws) how shall a man, not steeled to a very Jew, find expressions suited to the occasion, when he relates the treatment of this poor city, Rabbah? The study would be as difficult as unnecessary; the simple unexaggerated tale, if seriously attended to, will shock the humane reader sufficiently. The city was taken and plundered; and David "brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln, and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon."**
* It is supposed that the ancient slavery of the Jews to theEgyptians, and the labour they were employed in by theirlordly taskmasters, the making bricks, might be a currentreproachful jeer upon the Jews, when any quarrel happenedbetween them find their neighbours; and that the makingtheir prisoners pass through the brick-kiln, was a cruelmethod of revenging such affronts. A conjecture notimprobable.** 2 Sam. xii. 31., 1 Chron. xx. 3.
The precise punishments here alluded to are not understood at this time: writers being much divided in their expositions of these words; but that extraordinary punishments are meant, cannot admit of a doubt; for thoughbelieversexpound the putting the Ammonitesundersaws and harrows, into the making slaves of them, and that these were the tools with which they laboured; yet this will not agree with the latter of the texts whose authority is mentioned in the note; where it is said, that he [David] "cut them with saws and with harrows of iron, and with axes." And should more evidence be yet required, Josephus also writes, that "the men were put to death by exquisite torments." The general truth of the fact stands therefore unimpeached. And is it thus the people of God, headed by a man styled, in a peculiar manner,the man after God's own heart, used the prisoners of war?Bella! horrida bella!
It would not be easy to select any period of any history more bloody, or abounding more in wickedness of various dyes than that which is the object of the reader's present attention. Instances succeed so quick that the relation of one is scarcely concluded, but fresh ones obtrude upon notice.—But now horrors of a different hue demand our attention.
Ammon, one of our hero's sons, ravished his sister Tamar, and then turned her out of doors.* Absalom, her brother by the same mother, seemingly took no notice of it, until two years after; when he invited all his brothers to a feast at his sheep-shearing; where he made Amnon drunk, and murdered him** in so deliberate, and yet so determined was his revenge! Absalom on this account, fled out of Judea, for three years*** until, at the entreaty of Joab, he was invited home again by his father, whose favourite he was.**** But though he returned to Jerusalem, yet would not his father see him for two years more.(5)
Absalom, during his exile, conceived a design of deposing his father; for after their reconciliation, his first attention was to render himself popular. To this end he set up a splendid equipage:(6) but politically increased his affability with his magnificence: rising up early, and planting himself in the way, to salute all who came to his father's levee. Of these he kindly enquired their business, or grievances; throwing out hints of the king's remissness in the execution of justice, and how uprightly he would conduct himself, were their causes to be determined by him.(7)
* 2 Sam. xiii. 14** Ver. 28.*** Ver. 88.**** Chap. xiv. 21, 24.(5) Ver. 28.(6) Chap. xv. 1.(7) Ver 2, 4.
The profession of piety is universally, and was in particular a-mong this people, the most successful disguise for crafty designing men to assume. When Absalom, therefore, thought his scheme sufficiently ripe for execution, he desired leave of his father to go to Hebron, to perform a vow made by him while a refugee in Syria.* At Hebron he set up his standard, and his followers assembled in such numbers, and the defection was so general, that David thought it adviseable to retire from Jerusalem.**
With him he took all his family and dependants, except ten concubines, whom he left in his palace to keep house.*** The priests, Zadock and Abiather, with the ark, would also have gone with him; but he thought it would be more for his service for them to remain in the city as spies; to send him intelligence how matters went.**** It is no inconsiderable part of politics to know how to suit men with proper employments, Ahitophel, his prime minister, joined the malecontents;(5) to balance which misfortune, David prevailed on Hushai, a trusty man of some importance, to remain in the city, that he might ingratiate himself with Absalom, thwart the counsels of Ahitophel, and transmit intelligence to him from time to time through the conveyance of the priests, whose sons were to carry on the correspondence.(6) Having concerted matters thus, he evacuated Jerusalem, and Absalom entered(7) it.
When David was upon his journey from the city, he was met by Ziba, servant to Mephibosheth, with asses and provisions for his majesty's accommodation in his retreat:(8) of whom, when David enquired why Mephibosheth did not come with him; this treacherous servant told him that he staid behind at Jerusalem, hoping to obtain the kingdom of his grandfather, during this disturbance:(9) by which lying aspersion, he gained a grant of all his master's possessions.
* 2 Sam. xv. 7.** Ver. 12,14.*** Ver. 16.**** Ver. 27,28,(5) Ver. 12, 31.(6) Ver. 32, &c.(7) Ver. 37,(8) 2 Sam. xvi. 1.(9) Ver. 3.
Here we may introduce a circumstance, which is so far material, as it serves to shew, that the sanctity of David was not quite so universally assented to, as may be imagined, while he was living; and his actions not only fresh in memory, but more perfectly known, than possibly, was prudent to transmit to these distant ages.
As David prosecuted his flight, he was met by a man of Saul's family, whose name was Shimei. This man as he came on, kept muttering curses between his teeth, and at length cast stones at the King and his attendants, calling out to him, "Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial; the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned, and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son; and behold thou art taken in thy mischief because thou art a bloody man."* This is pathetic, and truly characteristic of the person to whom the speech was addressed. Some of his retinue were at the point of silencing; this brawler with the "ultima ratio regum;"** but David prevented it,*** wisely considering this not to be a season for proceeding to extremities.
Absalom, in the mean time, being come to Jerusalem, like a buck of spirit, took the damsels which his father had left to keep house, and cuckolded the old man by way of bravado, on the top of it****; in a tent erected for this heroic purpose!
Ahitophel advised Absalom to select twelve thousand men, and pursue David directly, before he had time to recover his surprize;(5) which was certainly the best resolution that could have been formed. But Hushai, as was concerted, proposed a different plan of operations; opposing to the former, the well known valour and military skill of the old king; and the hazard of making him and his men desperate.(6)
* 2 Sam. xvi 7, 8.** The motto on French cannon.*** 2 Sam. xvi. 9, 10.**** Ver. 21, 22.(5) Chap. xvii. 1.(6) Ver. 8.
He advised a collection of all the troops in the kingdom; that success might be in a manner insured; and that Absalom should command them in person. By which means, he affirmed that they should overwhelm David and his party, wherever they found him.* Hushai gained the ascendancy; and when he knew that his scheme was accepted, he gave immediate notice to the priests:** with instructions for David how to conduct himself.*** David divided his forces into three bodies; commanded by Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: but by the prudent care of his men, was not permitted to hazard his person, by being present in action.**** When he had reviewed his army, he gave his generals especial charge to preserve the life of Absalom; and with a policy that reflects honour upon his military knowledge, expected the enemy in the wood Ephraim:(5) a covert situation, being the most judicious that could be chosen, for a small army(6) to encounter one more numerous. David's men were tried veterans, among whom were the remains of those who served under, and lived with him at Gath;(7) whereas, Absalom's army must have consisted chiefly of fresh men. The battle decided in favour of David(8) with great slaughter of the rebel army: and as Absalom fled on a mule, his hair, which is celebrated for its beauty and quantity, entangled in the boughs of an oak, and he remained suspended in the air; while his mule ran away from between his legs.(9) He was observed in this condition by a man who went and told Joab; and he, who consulted the safety of David, rather than his parental weakness in behalf of an unnatural son, killed Absalom with a dart.(10)
David grieved immoderately for this reprobate son, on whom he had misplaced a great affection:(11) and though he hadactedthe mourner on several former occasions, this is the only one, in which his sincerity need not be questioned.
* 2 Sam. xiii. 11.** Ver. 15.*** Ver. 16.**** Chap. xviii. 1-3(5) Ver. 4-6.(6) According to Josephus, David had but four thousand men.(7) 2 Sam. xv. 18.(8) Chap. xviii. 7.(9) Ver. 9.(10) Ver. 14.(11) Ver. 33., Chap. xix. 4.
It is true, he might be really concerned at the murder of Abner; but men circumstances ought to be attended to; Abner was killed prematurely; he had not finished his treacherous negociation; David had much to hope from him; but—when his expectations had been answered, it is far from being improbable, that he would have found an opportunity himself to have got rid of a man, on whom he could have placed no reliance. But to return.
David was roused from his lamentations by the reproaches of his victorious general,* who flushed with success, told him the truth, but, perhaps, told it too coarsely. It is evident that Joab now lost the favour of his master, which the murder of Abner, the killing Absalom in direct contradiction to David's express order; and lastly, his want of sympathy, and his indelicacy in the present instance, were the apparent causes.
After the battle, he invited Amasa, Absalom's vanquished general, to return to his duty: very imprudently and unaccountably promising him the chief command of his army in the stead of Joab;** which was seemingly but an unthankful return for the victory that officer had just gained him, and for his attachment to his interest all along. Amasa, it is true, was a near relation; but Joab, according to Josephus, stood in the same degree of consanguinity; they being both the sons of David's sisters, this offer must therefore have been rashly influenced by his resentment against Joab, as before mentioned.
The remains of Absalom's scattered army dispersed to their homes in the best and most private manner they could:*** but David inadvertantly plunged himself into fresh troubles, by causing himself to be conducted home by a detachment from the tribe of Judah.**** This occasioned disputes between that and the other tribes. They accused Judah of stealing their king from them.(5)
* 2 Sam. xix. 5-7.** Ver. 13.*** Ver. 3,**** Ver. 11, 15.(5) Ver. 41.
Judah replied, that they gave their attendance, because the king was of their tribe; and that it was their own free will:* the others rejoined that they had ten parts in the king, and that their advice should have been asked as to the bringing him back.** At this juncture, one Sheba took advantage of the discontent, "and blew a trumpet, and said, we have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tent, O Israel."*** The consequence of this, was a second insurrection. Amasa was ordered to assemble an army to suppress it; but not proceeding with the desired speed, Abishai was afterward commissioned with the same trust; Amasa and Abishai met and proceeded together, and were joined by Joab and his men. But Joab, not thoroughly liking to serve under a man he had so lately vanquished, and having as few scruples of conscience as his old master, made short work, stabbed Amasa, and reassumed the command of the whole army.****
Being once again supreme in command, Joab proceeded directly to the reduction of the malecontents who shut themselves up in the city of Abel of Beth-maacha: he battered the town, but by the negociation of a woman, the inhabitants agreed to throw Sheba's head to him over the wall; which they performed;(5) and thus was quiet once more restored. Joab returned to Jerusalem, where we are told that he was general over all the host of Israel.(6) Not a syllable appears of any notice taken by David of the murder of the general by himself appointed: and of the assassin's usurping the command of the army.
Not finding room in its proper place, it shall now be noticed, that when David was returning to Jerusalem from the reduction of Absalom's rebellion; with the men of Judah, who came to escort him, Shimei, the Benjamite,(7) joined him at the head of a party of his own tribe.
* 2 Sam. xix. 42.** Ver. 43.*** Chap. xx. 1.**** Ver. 7, 9.(5) Ver. 15, 16, &c.(6) Ver. 23.(7) Ver. 16.
This man, who at a former meeting, so freely bestowed his maledictions on David when a fugitive: upon this change of circumstances, reflecting on the king's vindictive temper, came now to make his submission: David accepted his acknowledgements, and confirmed his pardon with an oath.*
We shall have occasion to refer to this passage anon.
Mephibosheth came also to welcome David on his return, and undeceive him with regard to the false Ziba's representation of him;—but he appears to have met with no other redress, than a remittance ofhalf the grantmade to Ziba of his estate.**
* 2 Sam. xix. 28.** Ver. 29.
These intestine troubles put David upon pondering how to secure himself, as far as he could forecast, from any future disturbance.
It is the part of good politicians, not only to form wise designs themselves, but also to make proper advantage of public occurrences, that all events indiscriminately may, more or less, lead to the purposes wanted to be obtained. Of this policy we shall observe David to be mindful, in the ensuing transaction. Not that a panegyric upon his contrivance in this instance is by any means intended; for certainly a more barefaced transaction was never exhibited: such indeed as could only have been attempted among the poor bigoted Jews. It is sufficient, however, that it answered David's purpose; than which more could not have been expected from the most complete stroke that refined politics ever produced. But view it in a moral light, and certainly a blacker piece of ingratitude and perfidy can hardly be imagined. It was impossible to continue the narrative without prefacing thus much.
David having with much trouble, from his competition with Ish-bosheth, established himself upon the Jewish throne; and having in the latter part of his reign been vexed, and driven to disagreeable extremities, by the seditious humour of his subjects, the rebellion of his own son Absalom, and the revolt of Sheba; his mind now fell a prey to suspicion. He called to remembrance that some of Saul's family were yet living; whom, lest they should hereafter prove thorns in his side, he concluded it expedient to cut of.
Whenever David projected any scheme, a religious plea, and the assistance of his old friends,* were never wanting. A famine befel Judea, which continued three years: probably occasioned by the preceding intestine commotions. "David inquired of the Lord: and the Lord answered, it is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites."** But where is this crime recorded? Samuel charged Saul with no such slaughter: he reproached him with a contrary fault, an act ofmercy!which is assigned as one of the reasons for deposing him. So that this crime was not recollected,*** till many years after the man was dead! and then God punishes—whom? a whole nation, with three years famine: which, by the by, was not sent as a punishment neither; but merely as a hint of remembrance, which ended in hanging the late king's innocent children!
The oracular response dictated no act of expiation; but only pointed out thecauseof the famine. So that the Gibeonites (who, by the way, had hitherto made no complaints that we know of) were applied to**** for a knowledge of what recompence they demanded.
* The prophets and priests.** 2 Sam. xxi. 1.*** If God sought vengeance for a particular act of crueltyperpetrated by Saul: when was vengeance demanded for David'smassacre of the Edomites, the Moabites, the Ammonites, theJebusites, and others, who at times became the object ofDavid's wrath? That the charge may allude to some formeraffair, is not contested; it is, however, truly remarkable,that there should be no chronological record of a fact,which after such a length of time demanded an expiation soawfully hinted, and so extraordinary in its circumstances!**** 2 Sam. xxi. 2, 3.
They required no gifts, neither that for their sakes David should kill any man in Israel (which qualifying expressions seems artfully intended; since they only required David todeliverthe men tothem, thattheymight kill them); but that seven of Saul's sons, should be surrendered to them, that they might hang them up—unto the Lord.* David, not withheld by any motives of gratitude toward the posterity of his unhappy father-in-law, but in direct violation of his oath at the cave of En-gedi,** granted the request he must himself have instigated,*** sparing only Mephibosheth, who luckily was so unfortunate as to be a cripple, and so much a dependant on David, and kept under his own eye, that he had no room for apprehension from him. He therefore reserved Mephibosheth, in memory of another oath between him and his father Jonathan. Mephibosheth having such a shocking scene to contemplate, and, considering his decrepitude, might (as he really was) with little hazard be preserved, as an evidence of probity in this pious king.
A conscience of convenient flexibility is of great use: thus David being under obligation by two oaths, forgot one, and remembered the other. When Creon, in OEdipus, was interrogated concerning his conscience, he replied—
—"'Tis my slave, my drudge, my supple glove,My upper garment, to put on, throw off,As I think best: 'tis my obedient conscience."
David, now thinking himself securely settled, was moved both by God**** and by Satan,(5) to cause his subjects to be numbered: which is, oddly enough, imputed as a great sin in him to require: for, poor man, according to the premises, he was but a passive instrument in the affair.
* 2 Sam. 6.** 1 Sam. xxiv. 21, 22.*** 2 Sam. xxi. 6.**** Chap. xxiv. 1.(5) 1 Chron. xxi. l.
Even David should have his due. The prophet Gad called him to account for it; and as a punishment for this sin of compulsion, propounded to him for his choice three kinds of plagues, one of whichhis subjectsthereby necessarily incurred seven years famine, three months persecution from enemies, or three days pestilence.* David chose the latter.
It may be as well to decline this story, as to enter into, any more particular consideration of it. From the above state of the case, the intelligent reader will need no assistance in making his own private reflections on it.
We have now attended David down to the decline of his life: when his natural heat so far decayed, that no addition of clothing** could retain a proper degree of warmth. His physicians prescribed a young woman to cherish him in his bed, by imparting to him a share of juvenile heat.*** This remedy may be very expedient in cases of extreme age: but why beauty should be a necessary part of the prescription is difficult to conceive. They sought afair damsel; and the damsel they found, wasvery fair.**** Possibly David might himself direct the delicacy of the choice: but if his physicians intended it as a compliment to their master, it indicated a very insufficient knowledge of the animal oeconomy: thus to stimulate the old man, and harass a carcase already sufficiently worn out: whereas a virgin of homelier features, at the same time that she would have furnished an equal degree of warmth, would have been less liable to put wicked thoughts in the patient's head.(5) However, the historian has taken care to inform us, that "the king knew her not:"(6) an assertion, which, from the premises, there does not appear any reason to controvert.
* 2 Sam. xxiv. 13., 1 Chron. xxi. 12.** 1 Kings, i. 1.*** Ver. 2.**** Ver. 8, 4.(5) "Boerhaave frequently told his pupils that an old Germanprince, in a very infirm state of health, being advised tolie between two young virtuous virgins, grew so healthy andstrong, that his physicians found it necessary to remove hiscompanions." Mackenzie on Health, p. 70, Notes.(6) l Kings, i. 4.
While the king lay in this debilitated extremity of life, he was destined to experience yet another mortification from his children. Adonijah his eldest son, since the death of Absalom, taking advantage of his father's incapacity, foolishly assumed the title of king,* which, had he been a little less precipitate, would have soon fallen to him, perhaps, without contest. For though David afterwards is represented as having secret intentions to alter the succession, yet the countenance shewn to his pretension by Joab, the general, by Abiathar the priest, and even by all his other brothers,** seem to indicate, that had Adonijah been more prudent, we should not now have heard so much of the wisdom of Solomon, It is possible Adonijah might, even as it was, have maintained his anticipated dignity, had he not, like Saul before, slighted his most powerful friends. He made an entertainment, to which he invited all his brothers, except Solomon;*** but what ruined him, was his not inviting Nathan the prophet; it wastherethe grudge began: and the exclusion from this merry bout, and the confidence of the party, caused the prophet's loyalty to exert itself,**** which might probably have been suppressed by a due share of Adonijah's good cheer.
* Ver. 5.** Ver. 9, 19, 25.*** Ver. 9, 10,**** Ver. 11.
Let not the writer be accused of putting a malicious construction upon every transaction he produces. Pray, reader, turn to your bible: in the tenth verse of the first chapter of the first book of Kings, you will find a remark that Nathan was not called to the feast. The very next verse begins, "Wherefore, Nathan spake unto Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon," &c. He was certainly nettled at the slight put on him, and some others, in not being invited to Adonijah's feast, else he would not have insisted on that circumstance; which had better been waved. The supposition is not so ridiculous as has been represented; for surely the probability of Nathan's being corrupted, was not less than that of David's sons; who, yet, all of them, except Solomon, (who, had he been invited, had some private reasons to the contrary, which their proceedings shew them to have been aware of) were agreeable to settling the succession on their elder brother; though certainly as much interested in the disposal of the kingdom, as Nathan could be.
Nathan and Bathsheba concerted to inform David of this matter;* where the affronted prophet could not forget the slight put upon him; but, it being foremost in his mind, he insists upon the circumstance of exclusion, in an earnest manner; "But me, even me, thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called;"** which spake the cause of his officious loyalty but too plainly. David here acknowledges the promise by which he waved the right of primogeniture in favour of Solomon, Bathsheba's son.*** He now directed him to be set upon a mule, to be proclaimed and anointed king of Israel, by his appointment.**** The acclamations of the people upon this raree-shew disturbed the opposite party at their table; and an event, so unexpected, quite disconcerted them: they all dispersed;(5) Adonijah ran to the tabernacle, and took sanctuary at the altar. He obtained of Solomon a conditional promise of pardon,(6) depending on his good behaviour.(7)
* 1 Kings i. 13.** Ver. 26.*** Ver. 30.**** Ver. 33, 38.(5) Ver. 41, 49, 50.(6) Ver. 52.(7) Solomon soon found a pretence, ridiculous enough, butsufficient in his eyes, to get rid of Adonijah, when hisfather was dead.
And now, methinks, some gentlewoman, of more than feminine patience, whose curiosity may have prevailed with her to proceed thus for, may here exclaim; "It must be granted, Sir! that David had his faults; and who has not? but what does that prove? only that he was a man. If he was frail, his repentance was exemplary; as you may perceive, if you can prevail with yourself to read some of his psalms. Indeed, after your ill-treatment of the scripture, it will avail little to tell you that you contradict those inspired penmen, who expressly stile David,the Man after God's own heart. Nay, your writing against him, under that epithet, shews sufficiently the rancour and impiety ofyour heart; so that I am fearful there are small hopes of reclaiming you."—Good Madam! hear me calmly, and we shall part excellent friends yet. Had David not been selected from the rest of mankind, why then—it is possible—hardly possible—he might pass in the gross, with the rest of the Jewish kings. But, when he is exalted and placed in a conspicuous point of view, as an eminent example of piety! he then necessarily attracts our notice in an especial manner, and we are naturally led to wonder, that a more happy subject of panegyric had not been chosen. If he was an holy psalmist; if he is styled the Man after God's own heart; he also lived the life here exhibited: and his capability of uniting such contrarities, does but augment his guilt!
Yet, even in his psalms, he frequently breathes nothing but blood, and the most rancorous resentment against his enemies. Of these take a specimen or two, from the elegantekeingsout of that transcendent pair of geniuses, Messrs. Thomas Sternhold and John Hopkins; in recommendation of whose version, and the taste of our countrymen, it may be truly affirmed, that their psalms have gone through more editions than the works of any other poet, or brace of poets, whatever.
Psalm lxviii. 22-24.
And he shall wound the head of allHis enemies also,The hairy scalp of such as onIn wickedness do go.From Basan 1 will bring, said he,My people and my sheep,And all my own, as I have done.From dangers of the deep.And make them dip their feet in bloodOf those that hate my name;The tongues of dogs they shall be redWith licking of the same.
Again, in Psalm lxix. 24—27.
Lord, turn their table to a snare,To take themselves therein,And when they think full well to fare,Then rap them in their gin:And let their eyes be dark and blind,That they may nothing see;Bow down their backs, and let them findThemselves in thrall to be:Pour out thy wrath as hot as fire,That it on them may fall,Let thy displeasure in thine ireTake hold upon them all.As desarts dry their house disgrace,Their seed do thou expel,That none thereof possess their place,Nor in their tents once dwell.
Very pious ejaculations for the whole congregation tosing to the praise and glory of God!
David's failings, as they are qualifyingly termed, are generally mentioned as exceptions to the uniform piety of his character: but, if David ever performed any truly laudable actions,thoseare the real exceptions to the general baseness which stains the whole of a life uncommonly criminal.
The writer does not pledge himself to reconcile rapine and cruelty, with morality and religion; there are Commentators who love these knotty affairs; to them they are left. When the vindictive tenor of any of David's psalms has been insisted on, the translation is immediately censured; prudently enough; as every one who has sense to perceive the incongruity between such bloody wishes and denunciations, and the acknowledged purity and mercy of the All-beneficent Father of Nature, may not have learning enough to dispute about Hebrew points, and to make them point what meaning he pleases. However, such a one, by comparing the labours of Hebrew critics, may yet be enabled to form some sort of judgment between them. For instance, in that terrible 109th psalm, it is certain our Doctors in Divinity do not like it: but something must be done with it: some, therefore, say, that the verbs are not translated in their proper tenses, and that prophetic declarations are thus mistaken for the Psalmist's execrations: others again say, that to be sure theyareimprecations, but not the imprecations of David; but those of his enemies on him, which he there only relates! O happy men! why do not we all learn Hebrew? His exemplary repentance is pleaded; is it any where to be found but in the psalms? "By their fruits ye shall know them." If David was ever truly pious, we shall certainly perceive it in his behaviour on his death-bed.There, it is to be hoped, we shall find him forgiving his enemies, and dying in charity with all mankind. This is what all mankind in general make a point of, from the saint to the malefactor. David, therefore, must certainly give us an extraordinary instance of his attention to this important evidence of contrition, But what shall we think, when we see this Nero of the Hebrews die in a manner uniform and consistent with the whole course of his life? What will be our reflections, when we find him, with his last accents, delivering two cruel and inhuman murders in charge to his son Solomon? Murders still further aggravated by the included crimes of ingratitude and perjury! one of them to be executed on his old faithful general, Joab, who powerfully assisted him on all occasions, and who adhered to him in all his extremities, till at the last, when he had justifiable cause for chagrin: but who, notwithstanding, had not appeared against him in actual hostility; but only drank a glass of wine with the malcontents. It will avail nothing to plead the private faults of the man; we are now to consider him as relative to David, in his public capacity. In which light we must loath the master, who died meditating black ingratitude against so faithful, so useful a servant. For even his defection at last may, perhaps, admit of being interpreted into a patronization of that particular plan for the succession, rather than into a rebellion against the superannuated monarch.
His other charge was against Shimei, who reviled David at his retreat from Jerusalem, during Absalom's rebellion; but who made his submission to him, when he returned victorious: and whose pardon David had sealed with a solemn oath.*
Attend we now to the cause of these reflections. After exhorting Solomon on his death-bed, to keep the statutes of the Lord, David proceeds:
"Moreover, thou knowest also what Joab, the son of Zeruiah, did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet."
"Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let NOT HIS HOAR HEAD GO DOWN TO THE GRAVE IN PEACE."**
This was afterwards fulfilled in the basest manner, by the administrator to this pious testament.
David concludes thus:
"And behold, thou hast with thee Shimei, the son of Gera, a Benjaminite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse, in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword:
"Now, therefore, hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with BLOOD."*** —That is to say, 'It is true, I promised not to put him to death, but thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do; thou knowest thyself not to be bound by that obligation; therefore his hoar head, &c. So saying, he expired!
* 2 Sam. xix. 23.** 1 Kings ii. 5, 6.*** Ver. 8, 9.
This command was also executed in a manner, worthy of a son of SUCH A FATHER.
To take a retrospect view of the foregoing narrative; in few words may be seen the sum total of the whole. A shepherd: youth is chosen by a disgusted, prophet, to be the instrument of his revenge on an untractable king. To this, end he is inspired with ambitious hopes, by a private inauguration; is introduced to court, in the capacity of a harper; and by knocking down a man with a stone whom, if he had missed once, he had four more chances of hitting, and from whom, at the last, he could have, easily ran away; he was advanced to the dignity of son-in-law to the king. So sudden and unlooked for a promotion within sight of the throne, stimulated expectations already awakened; and Saul soon perceived reasons to repent his alliance with him. Being obliged to retire from the court, he assembled a gang of ruffians, the acknowledged outcasts of their country, and became the ringleader of a lawless company of banditti. In this capacity he seduces his brother-in-law, Jonathan, from his allegieance and filieal duty; and covenants with him, that if he obtained the kingdom, Jonathan should be the next person in authority under him.
He obtains a settlement in the dominions of a Philistine prince where instead of applying himself laudably to the arts of cultivation he subsists by plundering and butchering the neighbouring nations.
He offered his assistance to the Philistine armies, in a war against his own country, and father-in-law; and is much disgusted at their distrust of his sincerity. He however, availed himself of the defeat and death of Saul, and made a push for the kingdom.
Of this he gained only his own tribe of Judah: but strengthened by this usurpation, he contested the remainder with Saul's son, Ishbosbeth, whom he persecuted to the grave: Ishbosbeth being assassinated by two villains, with intention to pay their court to the usurper. He is now king of Israel: In which capacity he plundered and massacred all his neighbours round him at discretion. He defiled, the wife of one of his officers, while her husband was absent in the army: and finding she was with child by him, He, to prevent a discovery, added murder to adultery; which being accomplished, he took the widow directly into his well-stocked seraglio. He then repaired to the army, where he treated the subjected enemies: with the most wanton inhumanity. A rebellion is raised against him by his son Absalom, which he suppressed, and invited over the rebel-general, to whom he gave the supreme command of his army, to the prejudice of the victorious Joab. After this, he cut off the remainder of Saul's family, in defiance to the solemn oath by which he engaged to spare that unhappy race; reserving only one cripple from whom he had not apprehensions: and who, being the son of Jonathan, gave him the opportunity of making a merit of his gratitude.
When he lay on his death-bed, where all mankind resign their resentments and animosities, his latest breath was employed in dictating two posthumous murders to his son Solomon! and, as if one crime more was wanting to complete the black catalogue; he cloathed all his actions with the most consummate hypocrisy: professing all along the greatest regard for every appearance of virtue and holiness. These, Christians! are the outlines of the life of a Jew, whom you are not ashamed to continue extolling as a man after God's own heart!
This Britons! is the king to whom your late excellent monarch* has been compared!