按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sent to him his son Joram； and professed that he owed him thanks
for fighting against Hadadezer； who was his enemy； and made a
league with him of mutual assistance and friendship。 He also sent
him presents； vessels of ancient workmanship； both of gold； of
silver； and of brass。 So when David had made this league of
mutual assistance with Toi； （for that was the name of the king of
Hamath；） and had received the presents he sent him； he dismissed
his son with that respect which was due on both sides； but then
David brought those presents that were sent by him； as also the
rest of the gold and silver which he had taken of the cities whom
he had conquered； and dedicated them to God。 Nor did God give
victory and success to him only when he went to the battle
himself； and led his own army； but he gave victory to Abishai；
the brother of Joab； general of his forces； over the Idumeans；
（12） and by him to David； when he sent him with an army into
Idumea： for Abishai destroyed eighteen thousand of them in the
battle； whereupon the king ＇of Israel＇ placed garrisons through
all Idumea； and received the tribute of the country； and of every
head among them。 Now David was in his nature just； and made his
determination with regard to truth。 He had for the general of his
whole army Joab； and he made Jehoshaphat； the son of Ahilud；
recorder。 He also appointed Zadok； of the family of Phinehas； to
be high priest； together with Abiathar； for he was his friend。 He
also made Seisan the scribe； and committed the command over the
guards of his body to Benaiah； the son of Jehoiada。 His elder
sons were near his body； and had the care of it also。
5。 He also called to mind the covenants and the oaths he had made
with Jonathan； the son of Saul； and the friendship and affection
Jonathan had for him； for besides all the rest of his excellent
qualities with which he was endowed； he was also exceeding
mindful of such as had at other times bestowed benefits upon him。
He therefore gave order that inquiry should be made； whether any
of Jonathan's lineage were living； to whom he might make return
of that familiar acquaintance which Jonathan had had with him；
and for which he was still debtor。 And when one of Saul's freed
men was brought to him； who was acquainted with those of his
family that were still living； he asked him whether he could tell
him of any one belonging to Jonathan that was now alive； and
capable of a requital of the benefits which he had received from
Jonathan。 And he said； that a son of his was remaining； whose
name was Mephibosheth； but that he was lame of his feet； for that
when his nurse heard that the father and grandfather of the child
were fallen in the battle； she snatched him up； and fled away；
and let him fall from her shoulders； and his feet were lamed。 So
when he had learned where and by whom he was brought up； he sent
messengers to Machir； to the city of Lodebar； for with him was
the son of Jonathan brought up； and sent for him to come to him。
So when Mephibosheth came to the king； he fell on his face and
worshipped him； but David encouraged him； bade him be of good
cheer； and expect better times。 So he gave him his father's
house； and all the estate which his grandfather Saul was in
possession of； and bade him come and diet with him at his own
table； and never to be absent one day from that table。 And when
the youth had worshipped him on account of his words and gifts
given to him； he called for Ziba； and told him that he had given
the youth his father's house； and all Saul's estate。 He also
ordered that Ziba should cultivate his land； and take care of it；
and bring him the profits of all to Jerusalem。 Accordingly； David
brought him to his table every day； and bestowed upon the youth；
Ziba and his sons； who were in number fifteen； and his servants；
who were in number twenty。 When the king had made these
appointments； and Ziba had worshipped him； and promised to do all
that he had bidden him； he went his way； so that this son of
Jonathan dwelt at Jerusalem； and dieted at the king's table； and
had the same care that a son could claim taken of him。 He also
had himself a son； whom he named Micha。
CHAPTER 6。
How The War Was Waged Against The Ammonites And Happily
Concluded。
1。 This were the honors that such as were left of Saul's and
Jonathan's lineage received from David。 About this time died
Nahash； the king of the Ammonites； who was a friend of David's；
and when his son had succeeded his father in the kingdom； David
sent ambassadors to him to comfort him； and exhorted him to take
his father's death patiently； and to expect that he would
continue the same kindness to himself which he had shown to his
father。 But the princes of the Ammonites took this message in
evil part； and not as David's kind dispositions gave reason to
take it； and they excited the king to resent it； and said that
David had sent men to spy out the country； and what strength it
had； under the pretense of humanity and kindness。 They further
advised him to have a care； and not to give heed to David's
words； lest he should be deluded by him； and so fall into an
inconsolable calamity。 Accordingly Nahash's ＇son＇； the king of
the Ammonites； thought these princes spake what was more probable
than the truth would admit； and so abused the ambassadors after a
very harsh manner； for he shaved the one half of their beards；
and cut off one half of their garments； and sent his answer； not
in words； but in deeds。 When the king of Israel saw this； he had
indignation at it； and showed openly that he would not overlook
this injurious and contumelious treatment； but would make war
with the Ammonites； and would avenge this wicked treatment of his
ambassadors on their king。 So that king's intimate friends and
commanders； understanding that they had violated their league；
and were liable to be punished for the same； made preparations
for war； they also sent a thousand talents to the Syrian king of
Mesopotamia； and endeavored to prevail with him to assist them
for that pay； and Shobach。 Now these kings had twenty thousand
footmen。 They also hired the king of the country called Maacah；
and a fourth king； by name Ishtob； which last had twelve thousand
armed men。
2。 But David was under no consternation at this confederacy； nor
at the forces of the Ammonites； and putting his trust in God；
because he was going to war in a just cause； on account of the
injurious treatment he had met with； he immediately sent Joab；
the captain of his host； against them； and gave him the flower of
his army； who pitched his camp by Rabbah； the metropolis of the
Ammonites； whereupon the enemy came out； and set themselves in
array； not all of them together； but in two bodies； for the
auxiliaries were set in array in the plain by themselves； but the
army of the Ammonites at the gates over against the Hebrews。 When
Joab saw this； he opposed one stratagem against another； and
chose out the most hardy part of his men； and set them in
opposition to the king of Syria； and the kings that were with
him； and gave the other part to his brother Abishai； and bid him
set them in opposition to the Ammonites； and said to him； that in
case he should see that the Syrians distressed him； and were too
hard for him； he should order his troops to turn about and assist
him； and he said that he himself would do the same to him； if he
saw him in the like distress from the Ammonites。 So he sent his
brother before； and encouraged him to do every thing courageously
and with alacrity； which would teach them to be afraid of
disgrace； and to fight manfully； and so he dismissed him to fight
with the Ammonites； while he fell upon the Syrians。 And though
they made a strong opposition for a while； Joab slew many of
them； but compelled the rest to betake themselves to flight；
which； when the Ammonites saw； and were withal afraid of Abishai
and his army； they staid no longer； but imitated their
auxiliaries； and fled to the city。 So Joab； when he had thus
overcome the enemy； returned with great joy to Jerusalem to the
king。
3。 This defeat did not still induce the Ammonites to be quiet；
nor to own those that were superior to them to be so； and be
still； but they sent to Chalaman； the king of the Syrians； beyond
Euphrates； and hired him for an auxiliary。 He had Shobach for the
captain of his host； with eighty thousand footmen； and ten
thousand horsemen。 Now when the king of the Hebrews understood
that the Ammonites had again gathered so great an army together；
he determined to make war with them no longer by his generals；
but he passed over the river Jordan himself with all his army；
and when he met them he joined battle with them； and overcame
them； and slew forty thousand of their footmen； and seven
thousand of their horsemen。 He also wounded Shobach； the general
of Chalaman's forces； who died of that stroke； but the people of
Mesopotamia； upon such a conclusion of the battle； delivered
themselves up to David； and sent him presents； who at winter time
returned to Jerusalem。 But at the beginning of the spring he sent
Joab； the captain of his host； to fight against the Ammonites；
who overran all their country； a