ment, the centre of religion And Divine service, the source of far-1'81\ching influence, It wu "the city of the great King" (Matt. v. 35), where he dwelt, reigned, manifested his glory, and" commanded his blessing, even life for evermore." So Jerusalem wll.8 del!Oribed by psalmists end prophets, and won the passionate attachment of her children, in whkh love of country and home, devotion to God, and hope for the world were inseparably blended. " Glorious things are spoken of thee, 0 city of God" (Ps. lxxxvi. 3; xlviii.; oxxii.; cxxv. 1, 2; cxxxvii.). VI. ITB EXTRAORDINARY vtOISSITUDEB. "In the fifteen centuries which elapsed between those two points (Judg. i. 8; Luke xxi. 20), the city was besieged no fewer than seventeen times; twice it was r&Zed to the ground ; and on two occasions its walls were levelled. In this respect it stands without a parallel in any city, ancient or modern" (Smith'11 'Dictionary'). What a scene did it present during these ages of military, political, religious strife, of prophetic activity and demoniacal wickedness, of mercy and of judgment (Amos iii. 2) ! With its rejection of "the Son of David" its, lingering theocratic glory departed, and its walls became a desolate heap. "O Jerusalem!" (Luke xiii. 34; xx. 41--44). VII. ITs SPIRITUAL FORESHADOWING. "In the progress of the city or God through the ages, David first reigned in the earthly Jerusalem as a shadow of that which-was to come" (Augustine, 'City of God,' xvii. 14. 20); "Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (Heb. xii. 22); the spiritual kingdom of which Christ is King, the general assembly and Church of which he is the Head; the lofty, free, mother-city of us all (Gal. iv. 25, 26); "the holy city, new Jerusalem" (Rev. xxi. 1}; glorious, unchanging, everlasting (Heb. xi. 10; xiii. 14). "0 holy Zion I where all is abiding, and nothing passes away!" " 0 happy harbour of the saints I 0 sweet and pleasant soil ! In thee no sorrow may be found, No grief. no care, no toil." D. Ver. 12 (1 Chron. xiv. 1).-Hiram, King_ of Tyre. Hiram was another or thos11 heathen princes with whom David stood in friendly relation (Achish of Gath; the King of Moab, 1 Sam. :x.x.ii. 3; Talmo.i of Geshur, eh. iii. 3; Toi, or Tou, of Hamo.th, eh. viii 9; Joram, or Ha.doram, his son, 1 Chron. xviii. 10; Nahash, the .Ammonite king of Rabbah, eh. x. 1, 2; Shobi, his son, eh. xvii. 27). He was king of "the strong (fortified) city, Tyre" (Josh. xix. 29); chief of those Phamician cities "whoso flag waved at once in Britain and the Indian Ocean" (Humboldt); celebrated alike for its maritime enterprise, commercial activity, and mechanical arts (Isa. iuiii. 8; Ezek. xxvii). "Hiram, like David, had just established his throne securely upon the ruins of the rule of the shophetim, or judges, and raised the country to a position of power and independence which it had not previously enjoyed" (A. S. Wilkins, 'Phcenicia and Israel'). Notice: 1. His politi.cal sagacity. In seeking to secure a "commercial treaty" with the King of Israel, by means of which his people might receive corn, oil, etc. (Act.s xiL 20), in exchange for manufactured goods, Tyrian purple, articles of tin and bronze, weapons of war, jewellery, etc., and might- not be prevented from continuing their commercial pursuits along the great caravan lines of traffic with Egypt, Arabia, Babylon, and .Assyria, that ran through the country. 2. His peaceable disposition. In sending "messengers" with friendly communications, either of his own accord, or in response to an embassy. "How little David resembled the later .Assyrian, Chaldean, and Persian disturbers of the world is most immediately and clearly shown by the fact that he did not, like these great conquerors, seize upon the Phcenician maritime towns, but always remained on tLe best terms with the little Phamician states, which wero entirely occupied in commerce and the productive arts, and readily SO)lght peace with him" (Ewald). 3. His generQU6 appreciation. Without jealousy or suspicion of David, of whom, doubtless, he had heard much, on account of his ability, energy, and integrity, confirmed by personal intercourse. "God knows how to incline toward pious rulers the minds of neighbouring princes and kings, that they may show them all friendly good will" (S!;arke). 4. Hu 1/tJluable assistance. With "cedar trees" (from Lebanon, as subsequently, THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 133
l _Kings__ v.), "an~ carpenters, and maeo7;1s," !n buildi~g a "ho~ of cedar" (eh. vii. 2; v1. 16 ; 1x. 13 ; x1. 2), or stately palace m Zion, the city of DaVId; perhnpt1 in erectll",:: and lldorninl( other houses in the city, and generally promoting the arts and industrie., of Israel (1 Chron. xxii. 2). The intercourse thus commenced was immensely beneficial, though it ultimately proved an occasion of evil. "Many have excelled in arts and sciences that were strangers to the covenants of promise; yet David's house was never the worse nor the less fitting to be dedicated to God for its being built by the sons of the stranger" (Matthew Henry). 6. His steadfast friendship with David durin"' his life, afterwards with Solomon, contributing to the maintenance of peace and the inc~ease of prosperity among both peoples. "Hiram was ever a lover of David" (1 Kings v. 1). 6. His reverential spirit. "Blessed be Jehovah," etc. (1 Kings v. 7). Without entirely renouncing the worship of" the Lord Melkarth [king of the city], Baal of Tyre," be was drawn to the faith of Israel; and, to that extent, represented the gathering of the Gentiles to "the Desire of e.ll nations" (P-s. xlv. 12; Matt. xv. 27; Acts xxi. 3-6). He was an extraordinary man, eminent in life, hononred in death (by the erection of "the tomb of Hiram," Robinson, ii. 456); and he will "rise in the judgment and condemn" the unfaithful under higher privileges (Matt. xL 21).-D.