cludes also a considerable number which are undoubtedly the compositions of David. These are perhaps most remarkable for simple pathos, sweetness, and heartfelt piety. They are less lofty in language and less grand in imagery than many others preserved in the Book of Psalms, but they are the most human of all, and therefore the most touching. Is it strange that men, ever labouring, penitent, and hopeful, eager in worldly pursuits, yet longing for rest and peace, should find a faithful type of their life and struggles in the history of David, the ruler, the warrior, and the poet, and should cling to that name as to the name of a well-loved friend?

IX. THE HISTORY OF KING SOLOMON.

(1015—975.)

99. SOLOMON'S SEVERE JUSTICE.

[1 KINGS II.]

SOLOMON'S reign was the golden era of the Hebrew monarchy. Like the Augustan age of Rome, the time of Solomon seemed to combine the power and the splendour of foregoing and succeeding generations. Its brilliancy and magnificence rejoiced the hearts of all Israel, and dazzled the strangers of distant lands. Every trace of the people rescued from Egyptian slavery and settling in a conquered land after violent feuds, had at last vanished; and as yet no sign of future reverses or humiliations clouded the horizon. The Hebrew commonwealth was in the very noon-day of its happiness. Solomon the peaceful one,' or Jedidiah the darling of the Lord,' was to bring glory and power to the well-established empire.

Yet some stern duties had been bequeathed to him by his great father, and he did not shrink from executing them, however repugnant they might have been to his nature. Adonijah, the rebellious son of David, had not forgotten the failure of his schemes, nor had he apparently renounced his ambition. He addressed himself to Bathsheba, who had doubtless become one of the most influen

tial persons at the new court, and demanded her intercession for obtaining from Solomon the permission of making Abishag the Shunamite his wife. Bathsheba, evidently anxious to keep peace between the two brothers; presented herself before Solomon, who received her with all the solemn dignity of a great eastern potentate, and bade her make her request. Abishag had been one of the inferior wives of king David, and as such belonged by law to his successor on the throne. Solomon understood the artful demand of Adonijah, and answered angrily, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunamite for Adonijah ? ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother; yea, for him and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.'

Adonijah had sealed his own fate; he fell on that very day by the hand of Benaiah at the command of the king. The priest Abiathar, who had joined the sedition of Adonijah, was deposed from his sacred office and exiled from Jerusalem. He was the last surviving descendant of the house of Eli. In his place the faithful Zadok was installed. It is difficult to speak of the last sad days of Joab without a thrill of pain and commiseration. The sturdy and valiant warrior is so completely associated in our minds with the early adventures of David's reign, and with the storming of the city of Jebus, that we can hardly bring ourselves to look upon him as a rebel to the king, or in any way unloyal to his master. Yet, though he had not turned aside in the days of Absalom, he had followed Adonijah; besides which his hands were stained with the blood of Abner, that prince among men,' and of Amasa, a kinsman of David. There is a certain grandeur in the last acts of Joab's despair, and his resistance faithfully reflects his nature. He fled to the Tabernacle, within the precincts of which the fugitive deemed himself safe, and seized the horns of the altar for protection. There he

was found by Benaiah, who came with Solomon's fatal mandate. Benaiah shrank from defiling the Tabernacle, and bade Joab come forth. Nay, but I will die here,' resolutely exclaimed the aged warrior. As if awed by the greatness of the man, Benaiah hesitated, and brought the report of his interview to the king. But Solomon insisted upon executing what his dying father had enjoined upon him, and commanded Benaiah to return and to slay the guilty man. So Joab fell, still clinging to the altar, the mightiest and greatest of the sons of Zeruiah. He was buried in his own town in the wilderness of Judah.

Then Solomon sent for Shimei, who had once so bitterly cursed David on his flight from the capital, and commanded him never to leave Jerusalem on penalty of death. Shimei promised obedience; but at the end of three years, when two of his servants had escaped to Gath, he hastened after them to bring them back. This was enough; Benaiah's sword was again uplifted, and the last victim was slain to avenge king David.

With this chapter of bloodshed and retribution, we seem for a time to close the old and familiar records of the Bible, and to commence a new and far different narrative, which centres in the account of the growth and splendour of the Hebrew monarchy. And yet this very perfection enclosed the seeds of decay; it could not be upheld without a complete unity of all the tribes; and that unity was not to be counted upon.

100. SOLOMON'S WISDOM AND POWER.

[1 KINGS III. IV.; 2 CHR. I.]

Solomon was twenty years of age when he came to the throne. His earnest and thoughtful mind was evidently

much impressed by the duties that devolved upon him. There seemed to be in his bearing a natural dignity and stateliness which never deserted him, and which imparted a solemn grandeur to every occurrence of his life. He was the very type of the wise oriental autocrat. Soon after his accession to the throne, he sought the friendship of Pharaoh, the powerful king of Egypt, and married his daughter, whom he brought to Jerusalem with the utmost pomp. But in spite of this union with an idolatress, Solomon remained faithful to the God of his ancestors, and was anxious to worship Him truly. However, he sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places, and especially at Gibeon, where the great altar' was erected, and where he offered a thousand holocausts at a time.

It was upon the occasion of one of these solemnities that Solomon, as he slept on the hill of Gibeon, had a remarkable dream or vision. He heard the Lord's voice saying, Ask, what shall I give thee?' His answer was prompt; he prayed for wisdom: Give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this Thy great people?' The speech pleased the Lord, since Solomon had not asked for long life, or for riches, or for the death of his enemies, but for discernment; and He said: 'I will do according to thy words; behold I give thee a wise and understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, nor shall after thee anyone arise like thee; and I shall also give thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honour.'

When Solomon awoke from his dream, he felt strengthened and hallowed, and as if to confirm his resolution by a sacred vow, he offered sacrifices at Jerusalem before the Ark, and prepared a feast for all those who surrounded him.

He found many occasions for exercising that wisdom