offices to the remains of his brother; and

Abner to get out of the reach of David's forces.

CHAP. III.

Children born to DAVID in Hebron. ABNER revolts to him, and is flain by JOAB.

T

HE battle of Gibeon is the only one

we hear of, throughout the course of this war between David and Ifhbofheth, which lafted about five Years: during which time, the text tells us, David waxed stronger and Stronger, and the house of Saul weaker and weaker. One circumftance that added ftrength to David's caufe, was the number of children born to him, in this interval; viz. Six fons. Children are the natural strength of all families, but more especially thofe of Kings. Sons (faith Euripides) are the pillars of regal houses: and Tacitus tells us, they are firmer fences of empire, than fleets and legions: but David, in a nobler ftrain than either of them, agreeably to the

fupe

fuperiority of his genius, expreffeth the fame sentiment, (but without any limitation) with furprising dignity: Like as the arrows in the band of the giant, even fo are the young children.

ISHBOSHETH ftood fingle; but David's right would remain with his pofterity: and adherents naturally multiply with the fupports of right.

BUT here I must beg leave to observe, (little to the honour of polygamy) that David had but fix fons, by fix wives, during the space of seven years.

THEIR names, their number, and their mothers, are to be found 2 Sam. iii. One of these wives feems indeed to have been taken out of policy; Maacab the daughter of Talmai, king of Gefbur. For it appears, both from the book of Deuteronomy * and Jofbuat, that Gefur bordered upon the half tribe of Manaffeh, beyond Jordan; and the alliance of a prince fo fituated, must have been of great confequence to David, in his contests with Ibbofheth, whofe chief strength feems to have lain in that tribe.

*Chap. iii. 14.

+Chap. xiii. 13.

C 2

THE

THE Jews give another account of this matter. They say, that David took Maacah captive, when he invaded the Gefburites (1 Sam. xxvii. 8.) But they forget what follows in the fame chapter; that he took no prifoner throughout the whole course of thofe wars; but put all to the fword, both the way; men and women, that came in his better to conceal his measures from Achifh. But to proceed:

THE text tells us, that during the continuance of these contefts, Abner made himself frong for the house of Saul: and then immediately follows, an account of Ifhbofheth's charging him with having gone in to his father's concubine. Both thefe circumstances put together, 'will, I think, ground a just fufpicion, that Abner meant to set for himself, when he was ftrong enough to throw off the mask, and lay Ifbbofheth afide: it being clearly enough to be collected from the courfe of this hiftory, that an attempt upon the king's concubine was then understood as an attempt upon the crown.

up

HOWEVER this might be, Abner was enraged at the charge; broke out into bitter

refent

refentment*; and ended with an oath, that he would fulfil the promife of GOD to David, to tranflate the Kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Ifrael, and over Judah from Dan even to Beersheba. And accordingly he fet himself to do fo, from that moment; taking the most effectual measures to fulfil his menace.

He immediately fent meffengers to David, with offers of fubmiffion and allegiance, upon certain conditions, with an affurance alfo, of bringing about all Ifrael likewife to pay him allegiance. These conditions were readily agreed to by David; who ftipulated no condition on his part, but that of having his wife Michal reftored to him.

THIS, Mr. Bayle confiders, as a great cruelty in David; to ravifh her from a huf band who loved her fo well: that is, Mr.

* Am I a dog's head, &c. that thou chargeft me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

Some commentators have fuggefted, I think with more ingenuity than truth, as if Abner refented his being charged with brutal luft in that affair; and put upon the level with a dog in that point; an animal that was fhut out of some of the heathen temples, upon that account. As a lewd woman seems to be put upon a level with that fpecies of brutes, in that prohibition Deut. xxiii. 18. Thou shalt not bring the hire of an harlot or the price of a dog, into the boufe of the Lord thy God for any vow.

Bayle thinks it a great cruelty in David to disturb Phaltiel in an adultery that was agreeable to him; and to redeem Michal from one, in all appearance, detestable to her, to restore her to her only husband; the husband of her affection, and her choice; for whom she had fo much tenderness, as to fave his life, at the hazard of her own. Were it poffible to examine Mr. Bayle's heart, I dare say, he was full as angry with Menelaus for disturbing Paris, and with Agamemnon for disturbing Egiftbus, in their amours. And it is certain, that Helen and Clytemnestra were much more to be pitied in the violence done to them; for theirs were adulteries of their own choice, but Michal's was forced upon her; and for the rest, they had full as much right to dispose of themfelves to their gallants, as Saul had to give Michal to Phaltiel, Surely then, David could not be cruel in doing what it had been highly inhuman and iniquitous not to do; he therefore ftipulated to have his wife, who was cruelly ravished from him, restored to him. And at the fame time, he sent to Ifhbofheth to demand her of him, as his undoubted