patriarchs and prophets-第181章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to be restored to their husbands and fathers。
All earthly powers are under the control of the Infinite One。 To the
mightiest ruler； to the most cruel oppressor； He says； 〃Hitherto shalt thou
come； but no further。〃 Job 38：11。 God's power is constantly exercised to
counteract the agencies of evil； He is ever at work among men； not for their
destruction； but for their correction and preservation。
With great rejoicing the victors took up their homeward march。 Upon reaching
their companions who had remained behind； the more selfish and unruly of the
four hundred urged that those who had had no part in the battle should not
share the spoils； that it was enough for them to recover each his wife and
children。 But David would permit no such arrangement。 〃Ye shall not do so；
my brethren；〃 he said； 〃with that which the Lord hath given us。 。 。 。 As his
part is that goeth down to the battle； so shall his part be that tarrieth by
the stuff； they shall part alike。〃 Thus the matter was settled； and it
afterward became a statute in Israel that all who were honorably connected
with a military campaign should share the spoils equally with those who
engaged in actual combat。
Besides recovering all the spoil that had been taken from Ziklag； David and
his band had captured extensive flocks and herds belonging to the
Amalekites。 These were called 〃David's spoil；〃 and upon returning to Ziklag；
he sent from this spoil presents to the elders of his own tribe of Judah。 In
this distribution all those were remembered who had befriended him and his
followers in the mountain fastnesses； when he had been forced to flee from
place to place for his life。 Their kindness and sympathy； so precious to the
hunted fugitive； were thus gratefully acknowledged。
It was the third day since David and his warriors returned to Ziklag。 As
they labored to restore their ruined homes； they watched with anxious hearts
for tidings of the battle which they
695
knew must have been fought between Israel and the Philistines。 Suddenly a
messenger entered the town； 〃with his clothes rent； and earth upon his
head。〃 He was at once brought to David； before whom he bowed with reverence；
expressing recognition of him as a powerful prince； whose favor he desired。
David eagerly inquired how the battle had gone。 The fugitive reported Saul's
defeat and death； and the death of Jonathan。 But he went beyond a simple
statement of facts。 Evidently supposing that David must cherish enmity
toward his relentless persecutor； the stranger hoped to secure honor to
himself as the slayer of the king。 With an air of boasting the man went on
to relate that during the battle he found the monarch of Israel wounded； and
sore pressed by his foes； and that at his own request the messenger had
slain him。 The crown from his head and the golden bracelets from his arm he
had brought to David。 He confidently expected that these tidings would be
hailed with joy； and that a rich reward would be his for the part that he
had acted。
But 〃David took hold on his clothes； and rent them； and likewise all the men
that were with him： and they mourned； and wept； and fasted until even； for
Saul； and for Jonathan his son； and for the people of the Lord； and for the
house of Israel； because they were fallen by the sword。〃
The first shock of the fearful tidings past； David's thoughts returned to
the stranger herald； and the crime of which； according to his own statement；
he was guilty。 The chief demanded of the young man； 〃Whence art thou？〃 And
he answered； 〃I am the son of a stranger； an Amalekite。 And David said unto
him； How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the
Lord's anointed？〃 Twice David had had Saul in his power； but when urged to
slay him； he had refused to lift his hand against him who had been
consecrated by the command of God to rule over Israel。 Yet the Amalekite
feared not to boast that he had slain the king of Israel。 He had accused
himself of a crime worthy of death； and the penalty was inflicted at once。
David said； 〃Thy blood be upon thy head； for thy mouth hath testified
against thee； saying； I have slain the Lord's anointed。〃
David's grief at the death of Saul was sincere and deep； evincing the
generosity of a noble nature。 He did not exult in the fall of his enemy。 The
obstacle that had barred his access to
696
the throne of Israel was removed； but at this he did not rejoice。 Death had
obliterated the remembrance of Saul's distrust and cruelty； and now nothing
in his history was thought of but that which was noble and kingly。 The name
of Saul was linked with that of Jonathan； whose friendship had been so true
and so unselfish。
The song in which David gave utterance to the feelings of his heart became a
treasure to his nation； and to the people of God in all subsequent ages：
〃Thy glory； O Israel； is slain upon thy high places！
How are the mighty fallen！
Tell it not in Gath；
Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon；
Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice；
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph。
Ye mountains of Gilboa；
Let there be no dew nor rain upon you； neither fields of
offerings：
For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away；
The shield of Saul as of one not anointed with oil。 。 。 。
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives；
And in their death they were not divided；
They were swifter than eagles；
They were stronger than lions。
Ye daughters of Israel； weep over Saul；
Who clothed you in scarlet delicately；
Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel。
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle！
Jonathan is slain upon thy high places。
I am distressed for thee； my brother Jonathan：
Very pleasant hast thou been unto me：
Thy love to me was wonderful；
Passing the love of women。
How are the mighty fallen；
And the weapons of war perished！〃
2 Samuel 1：19…27； R。V。
（697）
Chapter 69
David Called to the Throne
The death of Saul removed the dangers that had made David an exile。 The way
was now open for him to return to his own land。 When the days of mourning
for Saul and Jonathan were ended； 〃David inquired of the Lord； saying； Shall
I go up into any of the cities of Judah？ And the Lord said unto him； Go up。
And David said； Whither shall I go up？ And He said； Unto Hebron。〃
Hebron was twenty miles north from Beersheba； and about midway between that
city and the future site of Jerusalem。 It was originally called
Kirjath…arba； the city of Arba； the father of Anak。 Later it was called
Mamre； and here was the burial place of the patriarchs； 〃the cave of
Machpelah。〃 Hebron had been the possession of Caleb and was now the chief
city of Judah。 It lies in a valley surrounded by fertile hill country and
fruitful lands。 The most beautiful vineyards of Palestine were on its
borders； together with numerous plantations of olive and other fruit trees。
David and his followers immediately prepared to obey the instruction which
they had received from God。 The six hundred armed men； with their wives and
children； their flocks and herds； were soon on the way to Hebron。 As the
caravan entered the city the men of Judah were waiting to welcome David as
the future king of Israel。 Arrangements were at once made for his
coronation。 〃And there they anointed David king over the house of Judah。〃
But no effort was made to establish his authority by force over the other
tribes。
One of the first acts of the new…crowned monarch was to express his tender
regard for the memory of Saul and Jonathan。 Upon learning of the brave deed
of the men of Jabesh…gilead in rescuing the bodies of the fallen
