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human mind, and to shew forth his glory, in remotest regions, by the wonderful works of nature. David then expresses his gratitude for the late relief from famine, acknowledging that the bounties of harvest are the gifts of Divine Providence, since it would be in vain for the husbandmen to pursue the labours of the field, unless the LORD sent His blessing on the land to give fertility to it. It is needless to remark, that this psalm is of general application.

We have in this section an account of four successive wars with the Philistines, which, though related in very few words, there is reason to believe, lasted a considerable time. It is imagined that Absalom's rebellion encouraged the Philistines to begin them.

The Philistines had at this time several men of extraordinary stature amongst them, all it seems of the kindred of Goliath; and though they had experienced the little use of such men in an army, yet they cast their eyes on these, now flattering themselves, that by their help they might retrieve their honour, and take revenge upon David. But the same Almighty power that had enabled this king, when an inexperienced youth, to defeat the gigantic champion of the Philistines, assisted his valiant officers in destroying the monstrous descendants of this arrogant boaster, who, like their progenitor, confided in human strength and vain idols.

We may observe that the people of Israel entertained a high degree of affection for their venerable king, and would not suffer him, as he was grown old and feeble, to risk a life so valuable to them in any future battle.

When these wars were happily ended, and David was in perfect peace both at home and abroad, he is thought to have published the thanksgiving, which is in the 22d chapter of the 2d of Samuel.

SECTION

SECTION XXVII.

DAVID NUMBERETH THE PEOPLE-A PESTILENCE
ENSUES.

From 1 Chron. Chap. xxi, xxii.

AND Satan stood up against Isracl, and provoked David to number Israel.

And David said to Joab, and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel.

Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab : wherefore Joab departed and went througout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

And GoD was displeased with this thing, therefore he smote Israel.

And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done very foolishly.

And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying,

Go

Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things, choose thee one of them, that do it unto thee.

I

may

So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee, either three years famine, or three months to be destroyed before thy foes (while that the sword of thy enemies overtaketh thee), or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence in the land; and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coast of Israel: now therefore advise thyself, what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.

And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD, (for very great are his mercies) but let me not fall into the hand of man. So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David lift up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem: then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my GOD, be on me, and on my father's house, but not on thy people, that they should be plagued..

Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say

to

to David, that David should go up and set up an altar unto the LORD, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.

And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshing-floor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD; thou shalt grant it me for the full price, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo I give thee the oxen also for burnt-offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat-offering, I give it all.

And king David said to Ornan, Nay, but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt-offerings without

cost.

So David gave to Ornan for the place, six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and called upon the LORD, and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt-offering.

And the LORD commanded the angel, and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.

For

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For the tabernacle of the LORD which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt-offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.

But David could not go before it to enquire of God, for he was afraid, because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

Then David said, This is the house of the LORD GOD, and this is the altar of burnt-offering for Israel.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

This section contains a most melancholy relation, and great difficulties attend the explanation of it. The sin which David committed was a breach of the law of Moses*.

It is supposed, that, in the pride of his heart, David numbered the people, and that the Israelites wilfully neglected to pay the tribute which the LORD enjoyed as an acknowledgement that their lives, which were justly forfeited to him by their sins, were redeemed by his mercy. We may be sure they were guilty of presumptuous sin, and that David's conscience accused him of having committed it. I think we may likewise conclude, from the nature of the punishments proposed, that the Israelites were partakers in the offence; for pestilence, war, and famine, were appointed by the ALMIGHTY for the chas tisement of national sins; and what can be more likely to awaken the consciences of a people, who are forgetful of their duty to GOD, than a sudden calamity, which sweeps off thousands in a day.

that

It is impossible to describe, or even to imagine, the horror of such a scene: and we have reason to pray, such a dreadful judgment may never fall upon this land in our days; but, if the increasing impiety of the nation

* Exodus xxx. 11, and sequel.

should

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