divinely thrown around this revelation that made

David afraid in

future to go to

Gibeon to sacrifice or inquire of God. It is remarkable that we hear nothing of the departure of the angel: whether his presence remained during the offering of the sacrifice, and while the king's purpose was formed to make this place his established altar of sacrifice, and enjoined its continuance, or departed earlier, cannot now be clearly ascertained. But it seems evident, from the whole account, that at this time the king was informed that on this spot the temple was to be erected.

When David went first up the hill to sacrifice, he bought just the threshing-floor of Araunah; and, for this, and the oxen for sacrifice, he paid fifty shekels of silver but afterward he purchased a much larger portion of ground, probably the whole summit of the mount, for which he gave six hundred shekels of gold. Further confirmation to this interpretation of the Scripture account is given by the verse which immediately follows the passage quoted above. After it was stated that David was afraid to go to inquire of God at Gibeon "because of the sword of the angel of the Lord," it is added, "Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt-offering for Israel." (1 Chron. xxii. 1.)

These words, taken in connexion with the facts stated above, leave no reasonable doubt that David, however he might have obtained the information, was at this time fully assured that the summit of this mount was from henceforth to be the divinely appointed place for the national worship according to the Mosaic ritual. It was to be the house of God, even without a building. After the example of Jacob at Bethel, David realized the Divine presence; and, with mingled ioy and dread, regarded the locality as the dwelling

THE SACRIFICE MIRACULOUSLY ACCEPTED. 339

place of Jehovah. And this altar on which the fire from heaven had fallen, was to remain, not merely as a sacred place for royal sacrifices, but as the divinely appointed and universally recognised seat of the national worship, "the altar of burnt-offering for Israel."

It is impossible to close this chapter of Hebrew history without remarking on its strange and marvellous revelations. It is not necessary to say more here respecting the origin or nature of David's sin in numbering the people; but that an aged monarch who had passed through such a course of discipline as had David, who had felt severe chastisements, and had rejoiced in unnumbered mercies,-that such a man in his old age should fall into sin, is strange and humiliating. The punishment of this sin is such as only God could inflict: the loss of seventy thousand men from the subjects of a sovereign whose heart was glorying in their great number, must have been no ordinary infliction. But it is clear from the narrative chastisement as the most severe

that David felt this

that could be given. "These sheep, what have they done? Let Thy hand, I pray Thee, be against me, and against my father's house." This was his language; and it is the language of a spirit groaning under an insupportable burden. But the greatest marvel of the whole case is the fact, that this severe judgment was crowned with abounding mercy. The sacrifice, offered in obedience to the Divine command, was consumed by fire from heaven. This was the most signal proof of the Divine acceptance that could have been given; and, as we have seen, was accompanied by the appointment of a new site for the national worship, and the temple which David wished to erect, but which was reserved for his son and suc

cessor to build. So that thus all the glories of its structure and its worship were, by this means, linked to the crime, punishment, and pardon of the king.

All these scenes of anguish, joy, and thrilling interest, could not pass over the mind of the king without calling forth his grateful strains in sacred song. Two Psalms were called forth on this occasion.

PSALM XXX.

"I will extol Thee, O Lord;

For Thou hast lifted me up,

And hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

O Lord my God, I cried unto Thee,

And Thou hast healed me.

O Lord, Thou hast brought up my soul from the grave:

Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His,

And give thanks at the remembrance of His holi

ness.

For His anger endureth but a moment;

In His favour is life:

Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy cometh in the morning.

And in my prosperity I said,

I shall never be moved.

Lord, by Thy favour Thou hast made

to stand strong:

my mountain

Thou didst hide Thy face, and I was troubled.

I cried to Thee, O Lord;

And unto the Lord I made supplication.

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down

to the pit?

Shall the dust praise Thee? shall it declare Thy truth?

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me:

Lord, be Thou my helper.

Thou hast turned for dancing:

me my mourning into

Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness:

To the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for

ever."

PSALM CXXXI.

"Lord, my heart is not haughty,

Nor mine eyes lofty:

Neither do I exercise myself in great matters,

Or in things too high for me.

Surely I have behaved and quieted myself,

As a child that is weaned of his mother:

My soul is even as a weaned child.

Let Israel hope in the Lord.

From henceforth and for ever."

CHAPTER XVI.

THE CLOSING PERIOD OF DAVID'S REIGN.

DAVID was now gradually sinking under the weight of years; but his mind remained active and energetic, and intent on improving, in every way, the internal economy of his kingdom.

He had directed his attention in succession to all the important elements of the national power. The army was carefully organized under leaders of approved valour and experience. All the several portions of the royal property were committed to overseers or superintendents, who accounted regularly to the king's treasurers. A large and elaborate arrangement was made for the service of the temple when it should be built, in which the several departments of the duties to be performed were assigned to the priests and Levites in due course, including a complete choral service and thus the plan, which continued in operation for several centuries, was pre-arranged.

In addition to all these various and important public affairs, the king was most deeply interested in the preparation of means and materials for the erection of the contemplated temple. This was proceeded with on a very large scale and with unbounded liberality. But while the king was absorbed in these measures, he appears to have almost overlooked one most essential matter, namely, the person who was divinely appointed to carry this great work into actual accomplishment.