epirituol utterances, and_ beneficent influence (eh. vi., viii.); hie rejection (eh. xv. 13), betrnyal, and overwhelm mg sorrows (eh. xv. 80); his final victory (eh. xviii.; John xii. 31, ~2), glori_ous restoration, and diligent l?repa.ration for an enduring reign of pea.cc. 4. Extraordinary contrast. Even wherem the first prefigured the secon<l Davi<l (Ezek. :uxiv. 23), the imperfection of the former stands oppose<l to the perfection of ~11e latter. And Jesus is" the Bon of God" (Luke i. 35) in the highest sense Davie!'~ Lord (Mark xii. 37); was without sin and always well-pleasing to the Father;' came to establish, not an earthly kin(?.dom (as the Jews expected), but a spiritual one, and only by moral means (truth, righteou.qness, and love); died a.s a sacrifice for sin, rose arrai .. , and ascended into the heavens" (Acts ii. 34); "who is God over all, blessed for ;ver. Amen" (Rom. ix. 5).-D. Vars. 1-3.-(JERUBALF.M.) David's last words. [The closing years of David's life (after the insurrection of Sheba wa~ subdued, eh. xx.) were spent in peace. Having secured a site for the altar (eh. xxiv. 25; 1 Chron. xxi. 28), he made preparations for the building of the temple (1 Chron. xxii.). At length his strength began to fail; but, when made acquainted with the conspiracy of Adonijah, he displayed something of his former energy in hastening the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i.). He also "gathered together the princes of Is.rael," etc. (1 Chron. xxiii. 1, 2), made numerous arrangements, sacred and civil (1 Chron. xxiii. 3-32; xxiv.-xx:vii.), addressed a convocation of princes, gave a. charge to his successor, and offered thanksgiving to God (1 Chron. xxviii.; xxix. 1-25). He subsequently gave further counsel to Solomon (1 Kings ii. 1-9). About the same time, probably, he uttered these last prophetic words; and then, at the age of seventy, he "fell on sleep" (1 Kings ii. 10; 1 Chron. xxb::. 26-28). "The omission of David's death in the conclusion of this work is satisfactorily explain, l from the theocratic character and aim of the composition, since in this conclusion the fulfilment of the theocratic mission of David is completed" (1::rdmann).] "And these are the last words of David: An oracle of David, son of Je~ee, And an oracle of the hero highly exalted, Anointed of the God of Ja.cob, And pleasant (in) Israel's songs of praise. The Spirit of Jehovah speaks within me, And his word is on my tongue; Says the God of Israel, To me speaks the Rock of Israel," etc.
How varied are the last words of men! How significant of their ruling passion! And -how instructive to others (Gen. xlviii. 21, 22; xlix. 1; Deut. xxxiii. 1; Josh. xxiii. 14; x.xiv. 27; 2 Kings xiii. 19; Luke ii. 29; Acts vii. 59; 2 Tim. iv. 6-S) ! Hern is David," the man of God's own choice," a.bout to go" the way of all the earth" (eh. vii. U!; 1 Kings ii. 2). Highly exalted as he was, he must die like other men. " We walk different ways in life, but in death we are a.II united." Ere he departs his spirit kindles with unwonted lustre, as not unfrequently happens in the case of others; he is under the immediate inspiration of God (Numb. xxiv. 3, 4), and sings his last song of praise, sweet as the fabled notes of the dying swan. "No prince, and certainly no one who had not acquired his kingdom by inheritance, could possibly close his life with a. more blessed repose in God and a brighter ii;lance of confidence into the future. This is the real stamp of true greatness" (Ewald). " These are the words of the prophecy of David, which he prophesied concerning the end of the age, concerning the days of consolation which are to como" (Ta.rgum). They show that he has in death (what it is also the privilege of other servants of God in some measure to possess)- I. GRATEFUL MEMORIES of the favour of God; which has been manifested: 1. Townrd one of lowly 01-igin and condition. "A son of Jesse." "·who am I?" etc. (1 Sam. xviii. 18). "I am the least in my father's house" (Judg. vi. 15). li;, recog111zes his natural relationships, recalls his early life, renounces all special claim to Divine favour, and is filled with humility. "What hast thou that thou didst not receive'?" ( l Cor. iv. 7). 2. In raising him up to exalted honour. "The man [hero] who was highly ex11lted." Earthly distinction ii \he J>Ortion of a few, but spiritual distinction is the 580 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, [oR, xxm. 1-89,