HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-3 (1 Chron. xi. 1-3).-(HEBRON.) David anointed king of all Israel. 1. About twenty years had elapsed since David was anointed by Samuel, seven years and a. half since he was anointed King of Judah; and at length, at the age of thirty- seven, his faith and patience were rewarded, every obstacle was removed out of his path, and the Divine purpose concerning his royal destination fulfilled. " In the fulness of time, at the right moment, in perfect vigour of mind and body, he grasped the supremacy which was offered to him, having passed through every outward stage of powe.r and honour, and every inward test of heavy trial and varied strife" (Ewald). 2. His anointing (performed by prophet or priest) took place at the instance of the elders (ver. 3) as the representatives of all the tribes (ver. 1), in accordance with the former summons of Abner (eh. iii. 17, 19, 21), and doubtless after consultation in their national assembly (1 Sam. viii. 4); now desirous and even el\ger (after long resist:mce) 128 THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [on. v. 1-25,
to acoomplillh the purpose of God, having II learnt by experience" the kind of king the)· needed, and being constrained by the pressure of circumst1mces. 3. 11 Dy his anointing by Samuel he acquired/us ad regnum, a right to the kingdom; and by his present anointing he had aim in regno, authority over the kingdom" (A. Clarke). It WILB not merely a designation, but an inau_~ation to his office ; a recognition nnd aoceptanoe of his Divine appointment, as well as a symbol of his Divine endowment with all needful gifts (see 1 Sam. x. 1, 10; xvi. 12); and it distinguished his person as sacred (1 Sam. :niv. 6; :n:vi. 11) inRBmuch as he represented the authority and power of the Divine King of Israel. His anointing for the thirdJ time marks one of the greatest days of Israel's history (eh. ii. 4; 1 Sam. ix. 28; x. 24; xi. 15); and, in con- nection with it, observe- L THE REASONS ASSIGNED BY THE ELDERS FOB TREm PROPOSAL, 1. Dis personal rel,ationship. "Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh" (Gen. xxix. 14), expressive of their claims upon him. and of his qualification to rule over them; to understand their wants, sympathize with their aspirations, and promote their welfare (Deut. xvii. 15). " The elders speak as if they had not been very sure whether they were to reae.rd David as a Hebrew, or as a naturalized Philistine; but now their doubts are gone, they dwell on his blood-relationship to them as a conclusive evidence that he would be out and out a Hebrew-that, therefore, he was worthy of the Hebrew crown" (Blaikie). So "in all things it behoved" the Captain of our salvation "to be made like unto his brethren" (Heh. ii. 17). 2. His proved abuity and eminent services (ver. 2), indicative of his proper calling and the geueral esteem in which he was held (1 Sam. xvi. 5) • " the bond of fellowship and love which had bound him to them, even under Saul, ~ leader in their military undertakings." 3. Bis previo'US designation. " According to the word of the Lord by Samuel" (1 Chron. xL 3); making it their duty to seek his leader- ship as well as his to undertake it. " Why should they refer to God's choice of David? (1) Because, although they had known all along that David had been fore-appointed to the throne, they had yet been struggling against that arrangement; and so it was fitting now that they should express their repentance and declare their readiness to receive him in God's name, and as from God's hand. (2) Because they wished to remind him and themselves that the royal king of their nation was Jehovah, and that he and they were in allegiance to him" (W. M. '£aylor). He did not "take this honour unto himself" without being "called of God" and desired by the people. It sought him rather than he it. And the grounds of his acceptance of it were (as is not always the case with those who assume royal office) unselfish, patriotic, and devout. II. THE COVENANT llADE BY THE KING W!TR THE ELDERS. "And King David made a covenant with [t.o] them before the Lord" (ver. 3). This covenant, agreement, or promise (whatever may have been its precise tenns): 1. Expressed directly and chiefly an engAgement, on his part, to rule over them according to the Divine will (Deut. xviL 16-20; 1 Sam. L 25). He was by no means to be an absolute and irresponsible monarch, or "a king ruling arbitra1ily as in heathen kingdoms, where at most a few nobles, the populace, or an imperfect oracular system limited his power ; " but to be subject t.o the Law and to the voice of prophecy. 2. Involved the obligation, on their part, to obey him according to the same will (eh. iii. 21). "The Law of God was the rule and square of his government, whereunto both prince and people are ~worn; which was a bridle agafost his absolute power or their rebellious manners" {Guild). 3. Was ratified in the most solemn manner-" in a form in which the theocratic principle is distinctly recognized." "The end and cause why Grd imprints in the weak and feeble flesh of IllJl.n the i.mP.ge of his own power and majesty is not to puff J.P flesh in the opinion of itself; neither yet that he that is exalted above others should be lifted up by presumption and pride, and &0 despise others; but that he should consider he is appointed lieutenant of One whose eyes continually watch upon him and see and examine how he behaves him.self in his office" (John l{nox). Ill. THE sPmIT DISPLAYED ny THE PEOPLE, not only by the presence or the elders but also by that of the armed hosts, the flower of the nation, who marched to Hebron from all parts of the country, numbering (in addition to his "mighty men," 1 Chron. xi. 10-47; eh. xxili. 8-3!1; and those who had come to him during his exile, 1 Chron. xii. 1-22) 339,600, with two hUDdred chiefs of Issachar "and all their brethren," cme tbousaod chiefs of Naphtali, and Zadok and tweoty-two chiefs (1 Chroo. xii. OU, V, 1-16.) THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUET,. 129