Testament history. David fled with his followers to Mahanarm, on the
east of Jordan. An unnatural civil war broke out. After a few weeks the
rival armies were mustered and organized. They met in hostile array at the
wood of Ephraim (2 Samuel 18:1-8). Absalom’s army was defeated, and
himself put to death by the hand of Joab (9-18). The tidings of the death
of his rebellious son filled the heart of David with the most poignant grief.
He “went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept” (33), giving
utterance to the heart-broken cry, “Would God I had died for thee, O
Absalom, my son, my son!” Peace was now restored, and David returned
to Jerusalem and resumed the direction of affairs. An unhappy dispute
arose between the men of Judah and the men of Israel (19:41-43). Sheba, a
Benjamite, headed a revolt of the men of Israel. He was pursued to
Abelbeth-maachah, and was there put to death, and so the revolt came to
an end.
The end. After the suppression of the rebellion of Absalom and that of
Sheba, ten comparatively peaceful years of David’s life passed away.
During those years he seems to have been principally engaged in
accumulating treasures of every kind for the great temple at Jerusalem,
which it was reserved to his successor to build (1 Chronicles 22; 28; 29), a
house which was to be “exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory
throughout all countries” (22:5). The exciting and laborious life he had
spent, and the dangers and trials through which he had passed, had left him
an enfeebled man, prematurely old. It became apparent that his life was
now drawing to its close. A new palace conspiracy broke out as to who
should be his successor. Joab favoured Adonijah. The chiefs of his party
met at the “Fuller’s spring,” in the valley of Kidron, to proclaim him king;
but Nathan hastened on a decision on the part of David in favour of
Solomon, and so the aim of Adonijah’s party failed. Solomon was brought
to Jerusalem, and was anointed king and seated on his father’s throne (1
Kings 1:11-53). David’s last words are a grand utterance, revealing his
unfailing faith in God, and his joyful confidence in his gracious covenant
promises (2 Samuel 23:1-7).
After a reign of forty years and six months (2 Samuel 5:5; 1 Chronicles
3:4) David died (B.C. 1015) at the age of seventy years, “and was buried
in the city of David.” His tomb is still pointed out on Mount Zion.
Both in his prophetical and in his regal character David was a type of the
Messiah (1 Samuel 16:13). The book of Psalms commonly bears the title