Chapter XV: Part TWO

IV. =The Reign of Da'vid.= This was a brilliant period; for it was led by a great man, in nearly every respect the greatest, after Mo'ses, in Is'ra-el-ite history.

1. Notice the =condition of Is'ra-el at his accession=. This will throw into relief the greatness of his character and his achievements.

1.) It was a _subject people_. Under Phi-lis'tine yoke; its warriors slain, many of its cities deserted; Da'vid himself probably at first tributary to the king of Gath.

2.) It was a _disorganized people_. The tribes were divided; national unity was lost; and two thrones were set up, one at He'bron, the other at Ma-ha-na'-im (2 Sam. 2. 4-9).

3.) It was a _people without religion_. The tabernacle was gone; the ark was in neglect; there was no altar and no sacrifice; the priests had been slain.

We can scarcely imagine Is'ra-el at a lower ebb than when Da'vid was called to the throne.

2. We ascertain =Da'vid's achievements=, the results of his reign. 1.) _He united the tribes._ At first crowned king by Ju'dah only, later he was made king over all the tribes, by the desire of all (2 Sam. 5. 1-5). During his reign we find but little trace of the old feud between E'phra-im and Ju'dah, though it was not dead, and destined yet to rend the kingdom asunder.

2.) _He subjugated the land._ The conquest of Pal'es-tine, left incomplete by Josh'u-a, and delayed for nearly three hundred years, was finished at last by Da'vid in the capture of Je'bus, or Je-ru'sa-lem (2 Sam. 5. 6, 7), in the overthrow of the Phi-lis'tines (2 Sam. 5. 17-25), and in the final capture of their capital city (1 Chron. 18. 1). At last Is'ra-el was possessor of its own land.

3.) _He organized the government._ He established a capital (2 Sam. 5. 9). He built a palace (2 Sam. 5. 11); notice that the builders were from Tyre, showing that the Is'ra-el-ites were not advanced in the arts. He established a system of government, with officers in the court and throughout the realm (1 Chron. 27. 25-34). Contrast all this with Saul, who ruled from his tent, like a Bed'ou-in sheik.

4.) _He established an army._ There was a royal bodyguard, probably of foreigners, like that of many European kings in modern times (2 Sam. 8. 18; 15. 18). There was a band of heroes, like Arthur's Round Table (2 Sam. 23. 8-39). There was "the host," the available military force, divided into twelve divisions, one on duty each month (1 Chron. 27. 1-15).

5.) _He established religion._ No sooner was Da'vid on the throne than he brought the ark out of its hiding place, and gave it a new home in his capital (1 Chron. 16. 1). The priesthood was organized, and divided into courses for the service of the tabernacle (1 Chron. 23. 27-32; 24. 1-19). He wrote many psalms, and caused others to be written, for the worship of God. Two prophets stood by his throne (1 Chron. 29. 29), and two high priests stood by the altar (1 Chron. 24. 3). This organization and uplifting of the public worship had a great effect upon the kingdom.

6.) _He conquered all the surrounding nations._ These wars were largely forced upon Da'vid by the jealousy of the neighboring kingdoms. In turn his armies conquered and annexed to his dominions the land of the Phi-lis'tines (1 Chron. 18. 1), Mo'ab (2 Sam. 8. 2), Syr'i-a, even to the great river Eu-phra'tes (2 Sam. 8. 3-6); E'dom (2 Sam. 8. 14), Am'mon, and the country east of Pal'es-tine (2 Sam. 10. 1-14; 12. 26-31). The empire of Da'vid thus extended from the frontier of E'gypt to the Eu-phra'tes River, fulfilling the promise of Josh. 1. 4. It was at least six times the area of the twelve tribes.

7.) We may add that _he reigned as a theocratic king_. He realized more than any other monarch the divine ideal of a ruler, and so was "the man after God's own heart" (1 Sam. 13. 14); if not altogether in personal character, yet in the principles of his government. He respected the rights of his subjects, had a sympathy for all people, obeyed the voice of the prophets, and sought the interests of God's cause.[12]

Blackboard Outline

I. =Cau. Lea. Mon.= 1. Ten. tow. set. gov. 2. Con. sur. nat. 3. Dan.
inv. 4. Ru. Sam. 5. Wor. am. peo.
II. =Char. Isr. Kin.= 1. Theo. kin. 2. Cons. kin. 3. Reg. by pro.
III. =Rei. Sau.= 1. Pros. and dec. 2. Fai. 1.) Un. tri. 2.) Mak. fri.
3.) Adv. rel. 4.) Lib. Isr.
IV. =Rei. Dav.= 1. Con. Isr. acc. 1.) Sub. 2.) Dis. 3.) Wit. rel.
2. Dav. achiev. 1.) Uni. tri. 2.) Sub. la. 3.) Org. gov.
4.) Est. ar. 5.) Est. rel. 6.) Conq. surr. nat. 7.) Rei. theo.
kin.

Questions for Review

What event marks an epoch in Is'ra-el-ite history?
What were the causes leading to the monarchy? What
events in the period of the judges show a tendency
toward settled government? What changes in government
in the surrounding nations helped to bring on the
monarchy in Is'ra-el? From what source did external
danger lead the Is'ra-el-ites to desire a king? How
had Sam'u-el unconsciously helped to prepare the way
for a kingdom? What worldly spirit promoted the same
result? What kind of a kingdom did God intend for
Is'ra-el? What is a theocratic kingdom? Wherein was
Is'ra-el an exception among Oriental kingdoms? By what
institutions was the kingdom regulated? Name some
instances of prophets rebuking kings. Into what two
parts may Saul's reign be divided? Wherein was Saul a
failure? How did he fail in gaining and holding
friends? What was the condition of Is'ra-el when
Da'vid came to the throne? What were the achievements
of Da'vid? What great incomplete work did Da'vid
finish? What did he do in the organization of his
kingdom? What was the arrangement of his army? What
were his services to the cause of religion? What
nations did he conquer? What was the extent of his
empire? In what spirit did he rule?

TENTH STUDY

The Reign of Solomon