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reign he had accumulated, always with this great purpose in view (1 Chronicles 28:11-
29:5). But this was not a work which Solomon either could or should undertake by
himself. He must be supported in it by a willing people. And when the representatives
of Israel in that great assembly readily and liberally promised of their substance, David
seemed to feel that the work of his life was indeed done, and that God would now let
"His servant depart in peace." The solemn and joyous eulogy, and the earnest prayer
for his people, and for his son and successor on the throne, with which David
dismissed this assembly, form a most appropriate close to his public career.
Gladly would we here end our record of David's life. But Scripture, in its truthful
narration, calls us to witness yet another scene. We stand by the death-bed of David,
and hear his last injunctions to his son and successor. At this time Solomon could not
have been more than twenty years of age. Probably he was even younger. However
wise and well-disposed, the temptations and difficulties of his position could not but
awaken fears in the heart of his father, and that in proportion as he kept in view the
terms of the Divine prediction concerning his house, with its warnings as well as its
promises. In regard to matters Divine and spiritual, only one plain advice need he give
to Solomon. Spiritual decidedness, faithfulness, and obedience to God, such simply
were the means by which the promises given to David and his house would be
inherited. But all the greater were the political dangers which beset the path of the
youthful king, an unscrupulous military party, headed by Joab; a dissatisfied priestly
faction, ready to plot and join any rebellious movement; and ill-suppressed tribal
jealousies, of whose existence Shimei had, at a critical period, given such painful
evidence. The leaders of two of these parties had long forfeited their lives; indeed, only
the necessities of the time could have excused either the impunity with which Joab's
treachery and his murder of Abner and Amasa had been passed over, or the indulgence
extended to such conduct as that of Shimei. On the other hand, gratitude to such tried
adherents in adversity as the family of Barzillai had proved, was alike dictated by duty
and by policy. It was not, as some would have us believe, that on his death-bed David
gave utterance to those feelings of revenge which he was unable to gratify in his
lifetime, but that, in his most intimate converse with his son and successor, he looked
at the dangers to a young and inexperienced monarch from such powerful and
unscrupulous partisans. In these circumstances it was only natural that, before dying,
he should have given to his son and successor such advice for his future guidance as
his long experience would suggest; and similarly that, in so doing, he should have
reviewed the chief dangers and difficulties which had beset his own path, and have
referred to the great public crimes which, during his reign, had necessarily been left
unpunished. The fact that, even before his death, an attempt had been made to elevate
Adonijah to the throne, contrary alike to the known will of God and the appointment of
David, and that the chief actors in this had been Joab and Abiathar, must have recalled
the past to his mind, and shown him that the fire had been smoldering these many
years, and might at any time burst into flame. But, however natural, and even lawful,
(^)