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by which means he was enabled to direct all the necessary preparations. We find that David had collected together immense treasures for this holy purpose. Gold and silver abounded in those days much more than at present, for many mines have been entirely exhausted. David had been victorious in above twenty battles with the richest enemies in the world, many of whom had shields of gold, their weapons were at least ornamented with that metal, and even their camels' necks were adorned with golden chains: they also car. ried idols of gold and silver with them; therefore we may easily conceive, that the personal spoils which he took from his enemies must have amounted to an incredible sum, and in all probability the spoils of their cities to a much greater.

Edom, the Arabias and Syrias on both sides of the Euphrates, and the Palestine coast (which countries abounded with mines) were tributary to David; conse quently the tribute that was annually paid to him must have been immense. He likewise brought great wealth to his kingdom, by trading with other nations; for his country was well cultivated, the produce of the land of Israel being much more than sufficient for its inhabitants; neither could they consume all the commodities with which their numerous flocks and herds supplied them.

Since his conquest of Edom, David had another source of riches; for by reducing that country to a province, he became master of two sea-port towns on the Red Sea, Elath and Esion-geber; from whence he carried on, for twenty-five years before his death, a very profitable trade to Ophir and Tarshish, in the eastern part of the world; each of these places, among other valuable articles, furnished David with great quantities of gold and silver. So that it is easy to account for

his possessing such amazing riches; and from the piety of his disposition we may conclude, that he was desirous of employing them in such a manner as might shew to the world, that he acknowledged GOD as the supreme KING of Israel, and considered himself only as the captain and shepherd of the LORD's inheritance.

SECTION XXIX.

ADONIJAH CAUSETH HIMSELF TO BE PROCLAIMED KING.

SOLOMON, BY DAVID'S APPOINTMENT, IS ANOINTED. From 1 Kings, Chap. i.

AND king David was old and stricken in years; then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

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And his father had not displeased him at any time, in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man and his mother bare him after Absalom.

And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah, helped him.

But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, went not with Adonijah.

And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle, by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel, and called his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants.

But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother

of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? now therefore come, let me, I pray thee give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

Go, and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I will also come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

And Bath-sheba went in unto the king, in the chamber; and the king was very old.

And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king: and the king said, What wouldest thou? And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy GOD unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne: And now behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now my lord the king, thou knowest it not.

And he hath slain oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host; but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldst tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders

And lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

And they told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the

prophet.

prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, GoD save king Adonijah.

But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba: and she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, even as I sware unto thee by the LORD GOD of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.

Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

The king also said unto them, Take you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.

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And let Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye the trumpet, and say, GoD save king Solomon.

Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel, and over Judah.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD GOD of my lord the king say so too.

As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon: and they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, GoD save king Solo

mon.

And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him, heard it as they had made an end of eating: and when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar? And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came, and Adonijah said unto him, Come in, for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.

And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,

and

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