the succession would have been avoided. On re- moving to Jerusalem D. look fresh wives and concu- bines from this place, and the names of several more sons are recorded (2 S S'^"-, 1 Ch 3^' 14*-" ; on variations in the three lists, cf. Driver, Text of Sam.). We umst not judge 1). herein from a modern Western standpoint. In the East a man's wealth and power are to a great extent measured by the number of his wives and the size of his family ; and by politic alliances, as, for example, with the daughter of the king of Geshur, 1). in- creased his influence at home and abroad. At the same time he introduced into his capital the source of many of the dangers and corruptions of an Oiiintal court, and the evil was increased by the weak affection with which D. treated his favourite sons.
The next measure was to make the political capital also the religious centre of the nation ; and for this purpose 1). resolved to bring up to ,Jerus. the old sacred ark, which had for many years been left at Kiriath-jearim (1 S 7', or liaal-judah (2 S 62; cf. Jos lo^i"), 1 Ch IS"). Thither D. went with a large number of Israelites ; the ark was drawn in a new cart, accompanied by two of its attendants, Uzzah and Ahio ; while D. and his subjects marched behind to the strains of festal music. But at Nacon's threshing-floor, probably not far from Jerus., Uzzah, while attempting to steady the ark, suddenly fell dead. Dismayed at this occur- rence, D. was afraid to have so dangerous a symbol near him, and the ark was placed in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite, probably one of David's Philistine mercenaries. Three months later, how- ever, on hearing that the ark had brought blessing upon this house, I), took courage to carry out his original design. This time the ark was safely carried in triumph into the ' city of David,' while the king him.self. wearing a priestly linen ephod, danced in the procession before it. A tent had already been jirejiared for its reception in the citadel; here solemn sacrifices were offered, after which the people were dismi.s.sed with the king's blessing and gifts of food. When D. returned to his house, he had to meet the scoffs of Michal, who taunted him with his undignified appearance in th(^ procession that day ; but the king with true dignity expressed his readiness to dance before J", who had chosen him above the house of .Saul. To this irreverence of Michal's was attributed the fact that .she remained childless : but she had at this time been married some fifteen or twenty years.
It Is Instructive to rninpare with Hio imrrdtive of '2 S 6 tlio acc'oiiiil 1,'iven by tlie Chronicler of llie lirinpliip of llie nrk to .terns. (1 Ch 1.3. l."i. 101. The old history Is lurufly rewritten to brinjr it Into acconlanco with later ideas and Inslltutloiis. An ininortant place in the ceremonial is a.ssipned to the priests and Lcvites, who in the older version are conspicuous by their absence ; Obed-edoui of Gatb bccoinos a Levitical musician and doorkeeper.
The contrast between the simple tent for the ark and his own palace suggested to D. the need of building some more permanent tem]ile; lint the king's adviser, the prophet Nathan, who had at first approved of the design, siili.sci|ueiitly indnced D. to abandon it. Possibly, both prophet and people feared the effects of innovations in religions matters. Nathan's message to I), is contained in 2 S 7, a chapter which in its jiresent form shows the indiience of Dent., but is in the main of somi>- what earlier date (see Bud<le). There wo are told how Nathan, the night after his apjiroval of D.'s design, received from God a message for the king : Never yet hiid J" required <a temple of the judges of His iieople ; tent and tabernacle h.ad been snfUcienl hitherto. D. should not build a hon.se for Him ; He would build a house (i.e. a line of descendants) for I). ; and though D.'s seed might need to be chastised, God's mercy should not depart
568
DAVID
DAVID
from lliera, (v.i', which speaks of D.'s successor, who was to build a temple for J", seems not to belong to the orifjinal form of the chapter ; it weakens the antithesis of vv.'- and "). This message is followed by a beautiful prayer, in which D. thanks God for all His goodness to himself and his people.
It was probably soon after his settlement in Jerus. that D., in remembrance of his covenant with Jonathan, inquired whether there remained yet any survivors of Saul's house, whom he might benefit for the sake of his friend. He was told that there was still a son of Jonathan, and at 11. 's orders Mephibosheth or Meribaal (1 Ch 8'" 9*') was brought from the house of Machir at Lo-debar ; the properly of Saul, apparently confiscated, was restored to him, and given to Ziba, a former servant of Saul's family, who was to till the ground for his master, while Meribaal dwelt at Jerus., where his conduct would be under the royal super- vision, and ate at the king's table. Meribaal was lame, having been dropped by his nurse as she fled on hearing of the Israelite defeat at Mt. (Jilboa. He was then five years old ; now he is descrilied as having a young son, an indication that these events took place some ten years after I>. became king over all Israel. With other descendants of Saul, however, D. was compelled shortly afterwards to deal in a different manner. The land was afflicteii with drought, and con- sequent famine, fur three years, and D., on inquir- ing of the sacred oracle, was told that a curse of blood rested upon the land, because of an attempt made by Saul to exterminate the Gibeonites, an Amorite tribe bound by a covenant to Israel. The only compensation which the Gibeonites would accept was that seven of Saul's sons should be put to death ; and D. delivered to them the two sons of Saul's concubine Rizpah, and five sons of his daughter Merab (MT wrongly Michal). These were accordingly hanged to J" in the sacred hill of Gibeon (cf. Driver, Text of Sam.), while the corpses were lovingly watched by the devoted Rizpah, till the first rains showed that the atone- ment was accepted. Then U., in recognition of the mother's devotion, gave orders for the burial of the corpses ; and the bones, as well as those of Saul and Jonathan, were interred in the ancestral sepulchre of Kish ('2 S 21'-'*). This occurrence nm.st be placed after the recognition of Meribaal (v."), but before the rebellion of Absalom (2 S 10*). AVe have no right to blame D.'s action in this matter ; he acted in accordance with the religious beliefs of his time, and with what he conceived to be the best interests of the nation ; and, in spite of Shimei's reproaches, we may believe that D.'s con- temporaries regarded the matter in the same light as himself.