sic, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy."*

Every thing being in readiness, David and his people proceeded in due order to the house of Obed-edom. The elders of Israel, the captains over thousands, the priests, eight hundred and sixty-two Levites, and an immense multitude attended him. He had laid aside his royal dress, and was clad in a robe of fine linen, with a priestly ephod over it; thus showing that he went as one of the ministers of the ark, to serve with the other appropriate attendants in bearing it to the place of its destination. It was taken from the house of Obed-edom with the most scrupulous care and solemnity, the Levites who were appointed to that office bearing it on their shoulders by means of the staves which supported it. Having advanced a very short distance, David perceiving that every thing was going forward auspiciously, and that the Lord was evidently adding his blessing to the work, caused the ark and the procession to stop, while at his command a sacrifice of oxen and fatlings were offered up. Again they were in motion towards Jerusalem, and "thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps." And so great was the joy of David on the occasion, that giving

It is supposed that David about this time composed the one hundred and thirty-second Psalm.

PSALM TWENTY-FOURTH.

175

vent to his transport, while playing on some instrument he moved before the ark in a measured and exulting step, keeping time with the sacred music. This kind of religious dancing was not uncommon among the Jews. After the deliverance from the Egyptians, Miriam with her women praised God in dances as well as songs. It was practised too at the feasts and in public triumphs.

As they approached the tabernacle, it is supposed that the twenty-fourth Psalm was sung, the different bands of singers and musicians at one time conducting their appropriate parts separately, and all, at another, breaking forth in one general strain of exultation.

Thus all exclaim,

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates;

And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors;
And the King of glory shall come in."

One band inquires,

"Who is this King of glory?"

Another replies,

"The Lord, strong and mighty;

The Lord, mighty in battle."

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates;

Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;
And the King of glory shall come in."

Again the inquiry is made,

"Who is this King of glory?"

And the reply is heard,

"The Lord of hosts;

He is the King of glory."

CHAPTER XXV.

DAVID OFFERS SACRIFICES AND PEACE-OFFERINGS. HE REPROVES MICHAL. NATHAN INFORMS HIM THAT NOT HE, BUT SOLOMON, SHOULD BUILD THE TEMPLE.

HAVING deposited the ark in its appropriate place in the tabernacle which he had prepared for it, David offered burnt sacrifices and peaceofferings before God. He then pronounced a solemn benediction upon the assembled multitude, and caused to be distributed among them a bountiful supply of refreshments which were suited to the occasion.

At this time also David appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark and conduct the religious worship of the tabernacle, of whom Asaph was chief. In the music and sacred songs he played upon the cymbals, while others used psalteries, harps, and trumpets. The psalm recorded in the sixteenth chapter of the first book of Chronicles, composed by David, and delivered by him to Asaph and his brethren for this purpose, was sung by the full choir, and responded to by the whole assembly, bursting forth in one loud and joyful Amen, and praising the Lord. This terminated the solemn service. The people returned to their respective homes, and David to his, to bless his own household and rejoice with them in the divine goodness.

MICHAL'S PRIDE.

177

It ought to be noticed in this place, that the tabernacle which David built for the reception of the ark at Jerusalem, was designed by him only as a temporary accommodation for this symbol of the presence of Jehovah, until the splendid temple which doubtless he had already been thinking of should be completed.

It is worthy of remark also, that Lightfoot and others consider the one hundred and fifth, the ninety-sixth, and the one hundred and sixth Psalms, as having been composed by David at this time. The variations between them and the one recorded in the sixteenth chapter of the first book of Chronicles, are supposed to have originated from this cause the latter was written expressly for the occasion of the removal of the ark, while the others were corrected and enlarged for the temple worship.

While David was on his way home, Michal his wife came out to meet him. She had observed him from a window, as the ark was entering Jerusalem, leaping and dancing before it, and we are told, "despised him in her heart." She thought it beneath the dignity of the sovereign of Israel thus to put off his royal robes, and in a humbler dress, as she considered it, degrade himself by being a mere attendant upon the ark. Herself the daughter of a king, and partaking, doubtless, of the haughty temper of Saul, and the wife too of a great and powerful monarch, she could not brook this public disgrace, for so she regarded it, both upon David and herself. Her resentment was

still rankling in her breast, as she took this occa sion of pouring it forth in the most opprobrious and bitter language of irony. "How glorious

was the king of Israel to-day," she exclaimed, "who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!"

The charge was as false as it was disrespectful and insulting. David replied with that keenness of rebuke which her conduct justly merited. "It was before the Lord," said he, "which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maid-servants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor."

So far from being a disgrace, he felt it to be a high privilege to occupy the humblest place in the service of Jehovah. He would gladly avail himself of other opportunities to do this, and whatever Michal might think, he had no apprehensions of thus losing the respect even of the most inferior of his subjects.

The judgment of God too fell upon this proud woman in consequence of her treatment of her husband, and the spirit which it manifested. "She had no child unto the day of her death." This must have proved to her a severe trial. For not to be a mother, was regarded by the married fe