young men from each side should engage in play, as he termed it—a military contest with each other-in view of the generals and the armies.

The proposal was accepted; and twelve of the Benjamites advancing, were met by an equal number of the other party. Both sides seem to have been at once inflamed with the most furious hostility. They rushed eagerly to the combat, each one seizing his antagonist by the hair, and thrusting their swords into each other, they all fell down dead together. This was but the signal for a general and severe engagement, in which Abner and his men were defeated, and fled before the men of Judah: Asahel the brother of Joab, and one of David's most valiant generals, was among the foremost in the pursuit; being very swift in running, and as light of foot as a wild roe." He was pressing hard after Abner, intending, it would seem, to carry off his armor, after having slain him, as a rich trophy from the field of battle.

Abner, looking behind him, inquired if it was Asahel. Being answered in the affirmative, he urged Asahel to turn aside from the pursuit, and be satisfied with the armor of some one of the young men whom he might overtake in their flight. But the admonition was disregarded. It was repeated in stronger terms. "Turn thee aside from following me," exclaimed Abner; "wherefore should I smite thee to the ground?

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how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?"

But Asahel, heedless of the warning, still pressed on, and Abner turning round, thrust him through with a spear, and he died on the spot. Abner continued his flight, Joab and his brother Abishai being now in pursuit of him, till the setting of the sun, when they came to the hill of Ammah, which was before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. There the men of Benjamin, in one compact band, gathered round Abner their general, and they all stood on the top of a hill, while Joab and his party halted at a little distance from them. Abner's voice was soon heard proposing a truce. He called aloud to Joab, "Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren ?"

"As God liveth," replied Joab, "unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother;" intending to charge Abner with being the cause of the bloody conflict that had taken place, by the challenge which he gave in the morning near the pool of Gibeon. Still Joab was ready to accede to the proposal of having hostilities cease, and gave the well-known signal for this, by blowing a trumpet. Abner immediately withdrew with his remaining forces, and

marching all night, after having passed the Jordan, arrived at Mahanaim. Joab too returned with his men to Hebron, reaching that place at break of day. The loss on the side of Abner amounted to three hundred and sixty, while only twenty of the men of Judah were slain, including Asahel. The body of the latter being found, was carried to Bethlehem, and buried there in the sepulchre of his father.

Military men, even renowned heroes, have often been among the first to deprecate the evils of war. They know its horrors and bitter sufferings, and doubtless have to endure many a pang of remorse for being the authors of them. Hence the exclamation of Abner, "Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end?"

And shall the sword devour for ever? We hope not. A happy time-it may not be far distant-is foretold by the voice of inspiration, when men "shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." But this must be brought about, under the blessing of God, by the prayers and efforts of the followers of Christ. The spirit of the gospel will alone produce it; and this spirit must breathe out and speak and act in the tempers, the conversation, and the conduct of Christians. They are the light of the world. They are the salt of the

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earth.

They are the leaven that must work in and through the whole mass until it is leavened.

My young friend, are you meek, forgiving, gentle, and peaceable? Or does the spirit of pride, of resentment, of animosity towards any reign within your breast? Search and see.

CHAPTER XXI.

ABNER OFFERS

HIS SERVICES TO DAVID, AND MAKES A LEAGUE WITH HIM. JOAB SLAYS ABNER.

For about five years after the battle of Gibeon there was a continued state of warfare between the house of Saul and the house of David-undoubtedly some battles and skirmishes taking place, though no particular account of them is given. During this period David was increasing in power and influence, and gaining an ascendency over his competitor. He remained still at Hebron, and six sons were born to him by as many wives, during his residence in that city. Amnon, his first-born, was the son of Ahinoam; Chileab, the son of Abigail; Absalom, of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; Adonijah, of Haggith; Shephatiah, of Abital; and Ithream, of Eglah. It is thought that he married Maacah in order to form a friendly alliance with her father, whose territory was contiguous to the half tribe of Manasseh beyond the Jordan. David hoped in this way to strengthen himself the more against Ish-bosheth, who had great influence in that region.

In the meanwhile Abner was busily employed in doing every thing he could to increase his