is probably neither " mulberry" nor, as the occurrenoe of our supposed alliteration, in Septuagint and Vulgate translate,·• pear" the clause, •• Thou shalt go out." There is trees. But judging from the probable something stirring to the imagination, and derivation (:i?~, to weep), they were trees probably it was felt so by David and his of the balsam species, and it seenis that men, in the signal unseen yet not unheard, this is as far as we oan safely conjecture. and in a sense not of earth, but midway One of the latest authorities (see Conder's between earth and heaven, The very ' Handbook to the Bible,' p. 398, 2nd edit.) various voices of the various trees, accord- pronounces it an" unknown species." The ing to the character of their foliage, may tree, strange to say, is only mentioned here well set poetry going, and startle or fascinate and in the parallel place. A summary of imagination, as the case may be. The musio opinions e.s to the tree intended may be of one tree or grove is e.s different from that found in Smith's 'Bible Dictionary,' ii. 439, of another as can be-listen to the difference and this is just sufficient to show that it is between the melancholy plaint so unceasing not as yet identified with any semblance of some plantation of firs, and the multi- of certainty. However, it is easy to under- tudinous, silvery, rippling of but one white stand how the balsam species, from which poplar of good size, Presumably the sound the exuding gum resembles "tears," might in the present case more resembled that of come by the name set forth in the present the steady tramp of them that march. Hebrew root. Ver. 16.-0ibeon. The parallel reads Ver. 15.-A sound of going, This is Geba. As Geba and Gibeon were both not a mere generic or longer form of ex- situate very near to Jerusalem (on the pression to signify a sound itself. There north), as well as near to one another, both is significance in the word "going." The texts may be correct, and each mean what sense of the Hebrew word wonld be it says. But Isa. xxviii. 21 confirms the thrown out more emphatically by such a reading Gibeon. It is evident that Gibeon rendering as, the sound of steps (literally, was no appropriate resting-place for the •tepping). When the motion of the agitated ark (eh. xiii. 3, 4; 2 Chron. i. 3). The leaves simnlated the sound of steps, the nearness of the Philistines' approach to the stepping of men, then David and his army city of Jerusalem marks their daring on were to step forth to battle. Though the the one hand, and the loud call now for the root of the " stepping" spoken of as heard merciful interposition of Jehovah on behalf in the trees is not identical with that of the of his people. Gazer. Hebrew '7;!~, both " going " repeated twice in the remainder here and in the parallel because· of the of the verse-Then thou ■halt go out , , . accent. Else the no.me is Gezer ('1J~). It for God is gone forth-yet it does alliterate was about two hours distant from Gilieon, to some extent with it, and rather creates and to the north of it (Josh. x. 33; xii. 12; the impression that it was intended to do xxi. 21 ; J udg. i. 29 ; eh. xx. 4), or "four BO. However, the parallel place does not Roman miles northward from Nicopolis SlIStain this impression, inasmuch as a (' Onome.sticon ') ; now the large ruin of difi'erent word, " Thou shalt bestir thyself," Tell Jezar" (Conder's 'Handbook to the is there employed, in place of the first Bible,' p. 412).
HOMILETICS. Ven. 1, 2,-.An important instance of the presence of the perceiving heart. There is an obscurity about Hiram which certainly does not serve to diminish interest in him and his place in this narrative. The obscurity referred to affects, not merely himself and his reign, but rather what we now have to do with, the time, occasion, manner, of his introduction to David, and the commencement of the warm friendship between the two. This place, with the parallel, is the earliest scriptural mention of Hiram. Later allusion to him (1 Kings v. I) drops the significant testimony, "For Hiram was ever a lover of David." This was in the time of Solomon, and goes some way to remind us of other instances in which David won an ardent and generous affection from his fellows. The power to evoke this some natures possess in a high degree. All, how- ever, that we know for certain is that Hiram, hearing of the rising fame of David, and no doubt aware of very much that had led on and up to it, from the time of Goliath, sent "messengers" to him. Their first messages consist presumably of hearty con- grat11lations, and then go on to give assurance of Hiram's readiness to help, by material and by workmen, to build a worthy royal house for David. It is scarcely to be sup- posed under these circumstances that Hiram had not received intimation, more or Jess cu. xrv. 1-17.) THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 217