Depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
For they speak against Thee wickedly,

And Thine enemies take Thy Name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee?

And am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee?

I hate them with a perfect hatred :

I count them mine enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart:

Try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting."

Having entered on the duties of his high station, and cultivated suitable thoughts of his dependence on God, and continual responsibility to him; David, besides his ordinary routine of business, thought of the best means of consolidating the several tribes of Israel into one compact body, and thus giving to the Hebrew people the character of a nation. On considering this subject, the king had questions of great delicacy and difficulty to settle. It is well known that there was almost always a rivalry between the two leading tribes of Judah and Ephraim. The former being David's own tribe, and the seat of his kingdom for seven years, he naturally desired to have the metropolis of his new and enlarged kingdom as central as possible, and at the same time as near to the tribe of Judah as might be, without giving umbrage to the other powerful tribes. Hebron was not only too far north, and badly situated in other respects, but, as it had always been regarded as the chief city of Judah, was open to the strong objection named above.

In this difficulty David, with remarkable foresight and judgment, fixed his attention on Jerusalem.

JERUSALEM CHOSEN AS THE CAPITAL.

119

Although situated in the tribe of Benjamin, the line of division between that tribe and Judah ran close to the city, if not through a part of it. It was capable of being fortified so as to be made almost impregnable, while it was also in close proximity to the southern extremity of the tribe of Ephraim. David determined to make this eligible place the seat of his throne, and the capital of his kingdom. But before this could be done, there was a preliminary difficulty of no small magnitude to be overcome. There had stood on the highest hill of the group, afterwards enclosed within the walls of Jerusalem, an important, and what was regarded as an impregnable, fortress, which was then, and had been for ages, in possession of the Jebusites. This difficulty could not outweigh the enormous advantages which the place offered as the site of the capital of the country. In the judgment of David, the fortress was worth being reduced at any cost; and this judgment has been virtually endorsed by all persons acquainted with the subject from that time to the present.

David accordingly set himself to subdue this formidable fortress. But as the Jebusites had retained possession of the fort for five hundred years, they treated the attempt of David to subdue it with contempt and scorn. Nor need we wonder at their giving expression to such feelings. When, on the death of Joshua, the tribe of Judah, assisted by that of Simeon, proceeded to conquer the land assigned to them by lot, they came to Jerusalem, and fought against it and took it, smote it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. But the fort was not taken; and so, we are told, "the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwelt with the children of Benjamin." (Judges i. 21.)

As the Israelites could defeat them in the open country, and they held the strong fort, which could not be subdued, this was the only course that could have been taken; and it was adopted. So things remained until the time of David.

Now, however, warriors of a different class and character appeared on the field; men with higher objects and grander aims, and more determined and united energy; men who fought not to secure estates and patrimonial inheritances, but to rear up and establish a nation. David, therefore, proceeded to invest this fortress with the greatest energy and determination; but these hostile measures only provoked the contempt of the besieged, who, filled with ineffable scorn, sent him a message, that they would only place. lame and blind men on their walls, and these would be quite sufficient to keep out David's army. So full were they of confidence in the impregnability of the fortress. This reproach stung David, and excited in him intense resentment; so that, to call forth the best bravery of his army, he had it proclaimed that the first man that scaled the walls and smote the Jebusites should be chief captain. Stimulated by the prospect of such a prize, a desperate assault was made; when the superior daring and agility of Joab prevailed. He first mounted the walls, and assailed the garrison with such effect, that he was followed by others, so that the stronghold of Zion was taken.*

* As the sacred writer, after saying, "The stronghold of Zion was taken," goes on to say, "And David said on that day," &c., (2 Sam. v. 7, 8,) some writers have strangely supposed that two forts, under precisely the same circumstances, were taken on that day; although it is perfectly clear, from the narrative, that the whole passage refers to the capture of this one stronghold. The mistake has arisen from our

ZION TAKEN FROM THE JEBUSITES.

121

Zion, as held by the Jebusites, was not a small fort, but evidently a well populated town of some considerable extent, covering the top of the hill; for on its capture we are immediately told that the king fixed his residence there, and that it was henceforth known as "the city of David." We do not hear of the king having exercised any cruelty toward the remaining descendants of the old Canaanitish nations; but there can be no doubt that on this occasion, after having been. treated with so much insult, he expelled the Jebusites from Zion. He would certainly not have retained. idolaters in the city of David. Here, then, was a site for a royal residence and court, with every necessary for the further extension of public buildings and offices, as these were required. Here, also, the king could keep himself, attended by his body-guard, and surround his residence with such men of worth, and families of piety and distinction, as might commend themselves to his regard; while the possession of this fortress placed all the lower parts of the city fully under his control; so that from this date Jerusalem rapidly assumed the character of a Hebrew city, and the metropolis of the country.

This acquisition, regarded in all its results and consequences, was the most important event that had occurred in Hebrew history since the death of Joshua.

translating the vau which is found in the original at the beginning of the eighth verse by "and," instead of "but," or rather "for." The passage would then run thus: "David took the stronghold of Zion: the same is the city of David. For David said on that day, Whosoever," &c. (2 Sam. v. 7, 8.) This reading not only gives unity and a clearer sense to the account, but strictly accords with the ancient versions. The Vulgate has, "Proposuerat enim David in die illâ ;" and the Latin translation of the Peschito," Dixerat autem David."

M

It not only paved the way for very great and extensive improvements in all the different departments of government; it actually rendered these improvements necessary, and suggested and demanded a grand development of the power and resources of the whole people. And from this date this development actually began.