566
DAVID
DAVID
battle of Gilboa, for it was only two days after his return to Ziklai; that 1). heard of the defeat of Israel and the death of Saul and his three eldest sons. The tidings were brought by a young Amalekite, who is said to have presented to D. the royal crown and bracelet ; but the account given by him of the death of Saul (2 S 1'"'") cannot be reconciled with the more reliable narrative in 1 S 31. The messenger was rewarded for his tid- ings by being at once put to death (2 S li^"">, cf. 4'") ; the defeat of Israel was commemorated with mourning and fasting, while ]). himself expressed in a beautiful ode his grief for Saul and Jt>nathan. Of both he speaks in tones of warmest respect and affection ; his love for Jonathan is expressed in a burst of passionate feeling ; but it is noticeable that no religious thoughts are contained in the poem. Its genuineness is not unquestioned, but its Davidic authorship is accepted by Kuenen, Wellh., Stade, Budde, Cheyne, Driver, and others.
The opportunity had at last arrived for D. to return to his native country. After inquiring of J", he removed to Hebron, the ancient sacred city of Judah, accompanied by his family and his followers with their households. His presents had already gained hira the goodwill of the .ludisan elders ; a renowned warrior of their own tribe was more likely to defend their interests than a younger descendant of the house of Saul ; and D. was forthwith anointed king in Hebron (2 S 21-'). We hear of no opposition on the part of the Philistines. V. still retained Ziklag (1 S 27"!), and doubtless continued to be a Philistine vassal. A division of the Isr. kingdom was conducive to the Philistine supremacy. According to the Chronicler, he had received accessions to his forces, outside his own tribe, while still at Ziklag ; twenty-two men are named of Saul's tribe (1 Ch 12i-'), while of the tribe of Mana.sseh several chiefs are said to have deserted to D., when he came with the Phil, array against Saul, and to have assisted him against the Amalekites (ih. vv. i^--). The Chronicler, indeed, makes no direct mention of the reign of Eshbaal (Islibosheth), or of the division of the kingdom, but in reality there were still several years of fighting and waiting before D. was recognized as king over all Israel.
D.'s first public act was at once generous and politic. He sent messengers to the men of Jabesh- gilead, and thanked them for their loyal and courageous conduct in rescuing tlie bodies of Saul and his sons. But the adherents of the house of Saul still remained true to the family. The natural heir to the throne was the only surviving legitimate son of the late king, Ishljosheth, or rather Eshbaal (1 Ch 8**), who was perhaps still inider age ; for the later gloss in 2 S'i''' is certainly incorrect. His kinsman Abner, Saul's powerful general, retired with him across the .Jordan to the ancient city of Malianaim, and tliere made Eshbaal king. His dominions e,\tended over Gilead and (Jesliur (Vulg. and Syr.), and on the west of Jordan over Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin ; but Abner was the real niler and the support of the dynasty, and perhaps he, too, was compelled to recognize the over-lordship of the Philistines (so Kamphausen). Hegarding the seven years during which I), reigned at Hebron we have but the scantiest information. He seems to have acted on the defensive, and probably felt that his cau.se would gain by waiting. Possibly, it was only by degrees tliat Abner extended his authority, so that some time elapsed before the rival forces were brought into collision. Only of one engagement is any account given ; .loab's followers were vic- torious, but in the flight Abner killed Asahel, Joab's youngest brother. The cause of Eshbaal was declining even before he alienated his pro-
tector Abner, whom he reproached for taking one of his father's concubines. In anger Abner entered into communication with D., offering to bring over the whole kingdom into his hands. The only con- dition made by D. was the restoration of his wife Michal, through whom he doubtless hoped to sup- port his claim as Saul's successor. Michal was sent back by Eshbaal's orders, and Abner conferred with tlie ciders of the various tribes, who had already begun to recognize tlie inability of the house of Saul to defend them against their foes, and to look to I), as the one hope of the nation. Abner then visited Hebron, where he was entertained by D.; but on his departure he was murdered by Joab, in revenge for his brother Asahel. D. already began to find his loyal but unscrupulous nephew too strong for him. He could only express his abhor- rence of the murder, which was indeed likely to alienate the supporters of Saul's house, and cause Abner to be honourably buried in Hebron, while he himself composed the funeral dirge — conduct which further increased the king's popularity (2 S 3). The death of Abner could not long delay the fall of Eshbaal ; two Benjamite captains shortly afterwards murdered him during his mid- day sleep, and brought his head to D. in Hebron. The king commanded the instant execution of the murderers, while Eshbaal's head was buried in the tomb of Abner (ch. 4). D., who had formerly led Israel to victory against the Philistines, was now recognized as the natural leader of the people ; the elders of the nation assembled at Hebron, a solemn league was made, and J), anointed king over the whole of Israel. He is said to have been at this time 37 years of age (2 S S^-^). The Chronicler gives an account of the bodies of men sent by the different tribes to make D. king, and of the three days' feast which they kept at Hebron ( 1 Ch 12-3-*)) ; but the language lised is that of a later time, the numbers given are in most cases certainly too large, while the position assigned to the contingent of priests and Levites does not increase our confidence in the narrative.