stones, and placed it on his own head. As usual, the conqueror spoiled the conquered city, and fearful was the revenge taken upon the Ammonites. David brought forth the people 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 to all the children of Ammon.' These cruelties, though not uncommon in the barbarity of those times, have left a dark stain upon the memory of David and Joab.

96. AMNON-ABSALOM.

[2 SAM. XIII.-XX.]

Over the house of David dense and gloomy clouds were gathering, and they burst with terrible and destructive violence. His wives dwelt with their families in the royal city, although they probably did not all live together in the royal palace. The firstborn of David's sons was Amnon, the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel. He was a youth of fierce passions and uncontrollable impulses, harsh and capricious. He conceived a vehement love for his half-sister Tamar, the daughter of David and of Maachah, who was descended from the royal house of Geshur in Gilead. She was remarkable for beauty; and her beauty proved her misfortune. She was insulted by the reckless Amnon. Her brother Absalom deemed it his duty to avenge the disgrace. He was no less distinguished by outward appearance than his sister. In all Israel there was none so much praised as Absalom for his beauty; from the sole of his feet even to the crown of his head, there was no blemish on him.' But his long and luxuriant hair was his peculiar pride; each year it was weighed, and was found to weigh 200 shekels. Between Absalom and his half-brother Amnon a terrible feud was now

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kindled, which could only be quenched in the life-blood of the offender.

Absalom had large flocks of sheep grazing in Baalhazor near the frontiers of Ephraim: at the time of sheep-shearing he invited all his brothers to the rural feasts, and pressed them till they consented to come. Amnon went among the rest. When his heart was merry with wine, the servants of Absalom slew him on a preconcerted sign from their master. A general panic seized the guests. No one thought of retaliating the bloody deed upon Absalom. All sprang upon their mules and fled. The tidings of the murder, growing as they travelled, came to king David in this form-that all his sons had been slain. Heartrending was the despair of the unhappy father. But Jonadab, his kinsman and the friend of Amnon, who was fully acquainted with the sad events, told him what had really happened; and as he spoke, there came, to verify his words, riding up the hill into the city of Jerusalem, all the king's sons, weeping as they came. Absalom meanwhile had fled to his mother's family in Geshur, where he dwelt for three years.

David mourned bitterly for Amnon; but in his heart he was yearning for his exiled son Absalom. Joab read his wishes, and skilfully devised a scheme for reconciling father and son. David yielded easily, and permitted Absalom to return to Jerusalem. But he ordered him to remain in his own house, and not to appear before him. Was he unwilling to see the face of him who had bereft him of his son Amnon? Or did he mistrust the weakness of his heart for his sinning child? During two years Absalom dwelt in Jerusalem with his three sons and his beautiful daughter Tamar, banished from the king's presence. He hoped from day to day to be forgiven and recalled. At last, at the end of two years, anxiously longing to behold his father again, he begged of Joab to

come and see him at his house. But, faithful to his master, Joab refused. Twice the request was sent, and twice it was unheeded. Then Absalom set fire to a barley-field of Joab, who now appeared, indignant at the outrage. Absalom, however, calmed him by saying that he had found no other means of having the desired interview, and he now implored him to bring about a perfect reconciliation with his father; for why have I come from Geshur,' he concluded, 'it would have been better for me, if I were there still!' Joab reported all this to David, who called Absalom, embraced and kissed him, and received him back into his favour.

But Absalom was false and faithless. Tormented and misled by ambition, he designed schemes for dethroning his father, and wresting the kingdom from him. He secretly prepared a revolt. He won the favour of the people by his love of pomp and magnificence; he was constantly seen riding in a chariot drawn by horses, before which fifty men were running. His insinuating manners, his singular beauty, and reckless daring completed the conquest of the fickle multitude. He successfully sowed among the people the seeds of distrust against David's impartial justice; and when he saw that all was ripe for the rebellion, he induced the king to allow him to go to Hebron for the fulfilment of a vow which he professed to have made while living in Geshur. He went southward with two hundred unsuspecting followers. In Hebron he sounded the trumpet-call. Alas! the ungrateful people readily forgot the great king who had been anointed at that very place, and who had gloriously reigned over them for forty years, and they came flocking to the standard of Absalom. Even Ahitophel the Gilonite, David's wise counsellor, declared for his young son, and gave to the revolt the weight of his name and experience. When the aged king heard the sad tidings, his great

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spirit was crushed. He did not think of resistance, but at once prepared for flight. With his entire household, with all his servants, and with his devoted followers, he departed from his own loved city Jerusalem. Arise, let us flee,' he exclaimed, for we shall not else escape from Absalom; make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.' He was not quite left without attached friends. Six hundred men of Gath had recently joined him under their chief Ittai. But he was unwilling to imperil the lives and fortunes of these faithful men. He requested Ittai to return home, or to cast in his lot with Absalom; for, said he, thou art a stranger, and wilt go back to thy native land: thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go forward and backward with us? For I go whither I may. Return thou, and take back thy brethren in mercy and truth.' But Ittai refused: As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.' Then the procession, mourning and weeping, passed over the brook Kidron, and took the road that led to the wilderness. On the opposite side of the brook they were met by Zadok and Abiathar, the two priests; with them came their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan, and a host of Levites bearing the Ark of the Covenant. But David refused to let the sacred shrine accompany him in his uncertain wanderings. With a humility and resignation that are sublime indeed, and give proof of a thoroughly purified soul, he said to Zadok, Carry back the Ark of God into the city; if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back again, and show me both Himself and His habitation. But if He thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.'

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So the priests

returned to Jerusalem, carrying the Ark with them. Then David commenced the ascent of Mount Olivet; he walked barefooted, with his mantle drawn over his head; and in like manner all the people that went with him hid their weeping faces. Now the bitter tidings came to David, 'Ahitophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.' In his sorrow and despondency he prayed, O Lord, turn the counsel of Ahitophel into foolishness!' When he had completed the ascent of the mountain, he was overtaken by the faithful Hushai the Archite, who came with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head. To him David confided his wishes and plans. He bade him return to Jerusalem, and by skill or stratagem defeat the schemes of Ahitophel. Hushai was to feign allegiance to Absalom, and at once to communicate whatever he might learn of his intentions to the priests Zadok and Abiathar; and these should convey to the king the information through Ahimaaz and Jonathan, their fleet-footed sons.

So Hushai returned on his way, and entered Jerusalem about the same time as Absalom. David, still travelling on, was now met by Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, who brought two saddled asses laden with bread and wine. 'What meanest thou by these?' asked David. The cunning Ziba replied, that the provisions were all for the king's use. And where is thy master's son ?' asked David again. Ziba uttered this falsehood in reply: 'Behold, he dwells at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.' David, in a moment of passion, answered, Behold, thine is all that belongs to Mephibosheth.'

The king passed on, and arrived at Bahurim, on the borders of the land of Benjamin. As the procession wound along the hill-side with the deep valley between him and the opposite hill, there came forth from his house Shimei, a descendant of Saul. The ravine divided him from the