Download The First Three Kings of Israel PDF

285 Pages·2011·46.34 MB·English

by  William Bruce

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,~,~ 'fHIS work is based on a series of discourses delivered about twenty
\/1 years ago, which the Author has been repeatedly urged to publish.
() Sornething has been done to connect the subjects of the discourses,
so as to make the explanations more continuous. In other respects
the matter is substantially the same; and there is little difference in
\/-) the form, except that chapters with titles have been substituted for
sermons with texts. The introcluctory remarks render any further
observations here unnecessary.
--)--
CONTENTS.
IN'I'IZODUcrouv.
ISRAEL DESIRES A KING (I Samuel viii.)
CIIAPTER I.
SA.ULSENT IN SEARCH OF HIS FATHER'S ASSES (1Samuelix.) 10
CIll\PTER IT.
SAMUEL RECEIVES AND ENTERTAINS SA1YL(I S::l.1l1nelix. 15-27)
CIIAPTER III.
SAUL ANOINTED KING, \\'I'I'lI SJ(~NSFOLLO\VING (I S:1mncl x.]
eIIA.PTE1\. IV.
SAUL RELEASES THE INIIABITA?'lTS OF JABESH-GILEAD AND DEFEATS
THE AMl\IONITES (1 S:1111Uel xi.) . 36
CIIAPTER V.
SAMUEL'S ADMONITION TO ISRAEL RESPECTING THEIR KING (1
Samuelxii.) 45
CIIAPTER VI.
SAUL USURPING TIlE PROPIIE'r'S OFFICE FORFEITS THE KINGnOl\1
(I Samuelxiii.) So
CIli\P1'ER VII.
JONATHAN'S CAPTURE OFTHE PHILISTINES' GARRISON, AND ROUTOF
THE PHILISTINE HOST (I Samuelxiv.) OJ
viii CONTEfilTS.
COjVT'E~jVT.S. ix
CI-IAPTER VIII.
eILA.PTER XVIII.
PAGE
SAULSENTTO DESTROYAMALEK (1 SamuelXV.) 71 PAGE
THE. TIIRE,\TENED EFFECTS OF NAHAL'S CHURLISHNESSAREAVERTEl>
BY ADIGATL'S PRUDEl'\CE (1 Samuel xxv.) 162
CI-IAPTER IX.
SAMUELANOINTS DAVID KINGOFISRAEL (1Samuelxvi.] . 88 CI-IAPTER XIX.
DAVI]) PENETRATES SAUL'S CA1\'1P AND TAKES HIS SPEAR'(1
CI-IAPTER X. Samuelxxvi.) 17°
DAVID'S VICTORY OVER GOLIATH (rSamuelxvii.) 97
CIIAPTEIZ XX.
CI-IAPTER XI. lJAVlI> ESCAPES INTO TIlE LAND OFTHE PHILISTINES(1 Samuel xxvii.) 17S
THE FRIENDSHIP OFJONATHAN AND DAVID (1 Samuelxviii.) III
CIIAPTEH. XXI.
CI-IAPTER XII. SAUL AND THE \VITCH OF ENI>OR (r Samuel xxviii.)
JONATHAN VINDICATES DAVID FROM'THE UNJUST. SUSPICION, AND
l\lICHALSAVESHIM FROMTHE,VRATH, OFSAUL (I Samuelxix.) 118 CIIAPTER XXII.
PREPARATION FORBATTLE. THEAJ\IALEKITES SPOILZIKLAG. DAVID
CI-IAPTER XIII. RECOVERS ALL (1 Samuelxxix. xxx.) . 19°
DAVID'S FLIGHTANDJONATHAN'S AID (1SamuelXX.) 127
CI-I.APTER XXIII.
THE DEFEAT OF ISRAELANI> THE nEATH OFSAUL (r Samuel xxxi.] IgS
DAVID, FLEEING FROM SAUL INTO PIlILISTIA, RECEIVES FROM
AHIMELECH THE PRIEST SHOWHREAD AND THE S"VORD OF
GOLIATH (1 Samuelxxi.) 134
CHAPTER XV.
TIfE !(EIGiV OF DAVID.
DAVID IN THE CAVE OF ADULLAM; SAUL'S SLAUGHTER OF THE
PRIESTS(1Samuelxxii.) CI-IAPTER 1.
PRELIl\IINARY
CHAPTEH. XVI. 215
DAVID RELIEVES KEILAH; IS PURSUED BY SAUL; HAS HIS LAST
CllAPTER 11.
INTERVIEWWITHJONATHAN (1 Samuelxxiii.)
])AVID RECEIVES 'fll>INCS ()F TIlE I>EFEAT OF ISRAEL A1'\n TlIE
nEATll UF SALJL (2 Snmuc! i. 1-](i)
CI-IAPTER XVII.
DAVID SPARES SAUL AND CUTS OFF THE SKIRT'OF HIS ROBE (1 CIIAPTER III.
Samuelxxiv.) I5S
I DAVID'SLAI\IENTATION OVERSAULANDJONATHAN (2 Samue] i. 17-27) 222
CONTEjVTS.
x CONTENTS. Xl
CIIAPTER XIV.
CI-IAPTER:IV.
I'AGE
PAGE DAVID'S GREAT SIN (2 Samuel xi.) 2g8
DAVID IN HEBRON ANOINTED KING OVER THE I-lOUSE OF JUDAH (2
Samuelii.) .
CIIAP'TER XV.
CI-IAPTER V. COD'S MESSAGEAND NATHAN'S PARABLE (2 Samuel xii.) 306
THE DEATHOFABNER (2 Samueliii.)
CI-IAPTER XVI.
CIIA.PTERVI. AJ\INON AND TATvlAR (2 Samuel xiii.) . 311
TIlEDEATH OF ISH-DOSHETII (2 Samueliv.) 25°
CIIAPTE1Z XVII.
CFIAPTER.VII. TIlE \VIDO\V OF TEKOAIt'S l'ARAHLI': .\NIl AHSALOl\l'S RETURN (2
Samuelxiv.)
3I9
DAVID IS ANOINTED KING OVER ISRAEL, AND GOES UP AGAINST
JERUSALEM (2 Samuelv. 1-5) 253
CI-IAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER VIII. THE REHELLION OF ABSALOM (2 SamuelXY. I-g) 323
DAvIDTAKES THE STRONGHOLD OFZION (2 Samuelv. 6-10)
CI-IA.PTER XIX.
CI-IAPTER IX. DAVID'S FLIGHT (2 Sa111ue1xv, 10) 331
THEARK OF GOD BROUGHTINTO THE HOLYCITY (2Samuelvi.)
CIIAPTER XX.
CI-IAP'T'ER X. THE DEFEATAND DEATH OF AllSALOl\1 (2 Srunuel xviii.)
DAVIDDESIRES BUT IS FORBIDDEN TO BUILD A I-lOUSE FOR THE ARK
CIIAPTER XXI.
OF TIlELORDTO DvVELL IN (2 Samuelvii.) 27I
DAVID'S RETURN TO JERUSALEl\I (2 Samuel xix.]
CI-IAPTER XI.
CI-IAPTER XXII.
NATIONS OUT OF CANAAN CONQUERED AND :MADE TRIBUTARY (2
Samuelviii.) 275 THE REVOLT OF ISRAEL UNDER SHEBA (2 Samuelxx.] 353
CITAPTER X,XIII.
CIIA.Pl'ER XII.
SEVEN l\IEN OF THE SONS OF SAUL GIVEN UP '1'0 THE GIBEONITES
DAVIDCHERISHESJONATHAN'SSON (2 Samuelix.)
(2Samuel xxi.) . 359
CI-I1-\PTEH. XIII.
CIIAPTER XXIV.
DAVID'SILL-REQUITEDFRIENDSHIP'FORTHEKINGOF THEAMMONITES
DAVID'S SONGOF THANKSGIVII\G (2 Samuelxxii.)
(2Samuelx.) 2g0
xii CONTE1VT.S. CONTE1VT,,-). xiii
CI-IAPTER XXV.
CIIAPTER IV.
PAGE
THE LAST "VORDS OF DAV~D (2 Samuelxxiii. 1-6) 375 SOLOMON'S FIRSTAKD 'VISEJUDGMENT (I Kings iii. 27) l'A4G3I-5<:
CI-IAPTER XXVI.
CHAPTER ·V.
DAVID'SMIGHTYMEN: THREEBRINGHIM"VATERFROMTHE""ELLOF
THE PEACEFUL SECURITY ENJOYED UNDER SOLOMON'S REIGN (2
BETHLEHEM (2 Samuelxxiii, 8-29) 3S1
lZingsiv. 21) .442
CHAPTER XXVII.
CI-IAPTER VI.
DAVID'S SIN IN NUMBERING THE PEOPLE, AND ITS PUNISHMENT(2
Samuelxxiv, 1-15) 388 PREPARATIONS FOR BUILDINGTUE'l'E:\lPLE(I Kings v.) .
CI-IAPTEI<. XXVIII.. CIIAPTER VII.
THE DESTROYING ANGEL COMMANDED TO SPARE JERUSALEM (2 SOLOMON'S TEMPLE. THE CORRESPONDENCE OF ITS PRINCIPAL
Samuelxxiv, 16-25) 394 DIVISION? (I K.ings vi.) 452
CI-IAPTER XXIX. CIIAPTER VIII.
ABISHAGTHESHUNAMMITE NOURISHES DAVID (I Kingsi, 1-5) . 400 SOLOMON'S HOUSES (I IZingsvii. 1-12)
CI-IAPTER XXX. CI-IAPTER IX.
ADONIJAH'S REBELLION (1 Kings i. 5-31) . THE VESSELS OF SOLO:r\'ION'S TEJ\IPLE, MAnE, BY HIRAJ\T (I Kings
vii. 13-51) • 464.
CIIAPTEIZ X.
SOLOMON'S PRAYER A't~ THE DEDICATION OF TrIE TEIVTPLE (I Kings
THE ](EIG1V OF SOLOlJION. viii.) 471
CI-IAPTER I. CIIAPTER xr.
-SOLOMON ANOINTED KING (1K..ingsi. 32-40) SOLOMON'SSECOND OFFERINGS, ANI> THE LORD'S SECOND APPEARANCE
TO IlIJ\I (I .Kings viii. 62-(6) 478
CI-IAPTER II.
CHAPTER XII.
DAVID'S DYING CHARGE TO SOLOMON, AND HIS DEATH (1 E:.ings
ii, 5-10) CABUL(I IZings ix. IO-L.t-)
CI-IAPTER III. CIL\PTER X11I.
SOLOMON'S CHOICE (1 Kingsiii. 1-14) SOLOMON'S CITIES: TAD1\10R IN TIlE W[LDERNESS (1 Kings ix, 16)
XlV CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIV.
l'AGE
SOLOMON'S FAME: THEQUEENOFSHEBA'S VISIT (I Kings x. 1-10). 494
CI-IAPTER XV.
SOLOMON'S THRONE (I ICingsx. 18) .
CHAPTER XVI.
SOLOMON'S NAVY (I Kings ix. 26-28; x. 11-22) 509
CI-IAPTERXVII.
SOLOMON'SARMY (I Kings x.) .
CI-IAPTER XVIII.
SOL01\'10N'S IDOLATRY (I Kingsxi. 29-32) . 520
'BOOK I.
CI-IAPTER XIX.
SOLOMON'SADVERSARIES (I Kings xi. 14-27) 53°
RE IGN OF SA UL.
CfIAPTER XX.
THE DEATHANDBURIALOF SOLOnI0N (I Kings xi. 42, 43) 534
CI-IAPTER XXI.
THEPREDICTED REVOLT OFTHETEN TRIBES(I Kingsxi. 29-35) 541
CI-IAPTER XXII.
THETWO KINGDOMS OFJUDAH AND ISRAEL (I ICingsxii.)
INTRODUCTORY.
ISRAEL DESIRES A KING.
I Sainucl viii.
I HAVE long desired, I havefor some time intended,and I am now
to attempt to explain that portion of the Israelitish history C01n
prehended between thebeginning of the reign of Sauland the'end of
the reign of Solomon.
I am well aware of the arduous, I had almost said hazardous,
nature of this undertaking. Were my task limited to an elucida
tion of the historical sense, and a practical application of the his
torical circumstances, there might be little cause for apprehension.
But without undervaluing this kind of instruction, yet as a minister
of the internal Word my principal aim must be far higher than to
supply it. Knowing, and addressing myself to thosewho know, that
the Word contains a spiritual meaning within, and distinct frorn that
ofthe letter, my primary aim must be to unfold and apply it. It is in
attempting this that I have somejust causefor anxiety. The Scrip
tures in theirliteralsensehavereceivedsomuchattentionfrom learned
expositors and pious commentators,that anyone who has to dealwith
that sense only can derive grcat assistancefrom the labours ofothers.
Not nearly so much so he who nnclcrtnkcs the exposition of this part
of the Word according to its spiritual sense. ]n the works of our
great expositorwe have, besides a minute explanation of the first two
books of the Old Testament and the last book of the New, 111any other
passages of the Word incidentally elucidated. But ofthese, few C0111
parativelybclong to the historical books of the Old Testament, while,
unlikethe Prophets and Psalms,theyhavereceivedfrom his matchless
pen no summary exposition. True, we posscss a key to the heavenly
mysteries of the Word in the Science of Correspondence. This
enables us to see the cloud of the letter radiant with the glory of the
sun that shines in splendour behind it; while the explanations we
possess of particular passages that lie scattered throughout these
immortal 'Yorks, like the· sun's rays streaming through the opening
clouds, connectwith lines oflight theheavens and theearth,andwhile
theylightup with peculiar brightnessthe favoured spots on whichthey
fall, throw light at the same time on parts that lie beyond their direct
4 FII~ST THREE KINGS OF ISRL1.EL. I..'.;;RAEL DESIRES A J(IJ\lG. 5
influence. But with all these advantages it is not without some it yields a willing submission to the mild and gentle sway of Divine
degree of hesitation that I approach the- present momentous and love andjustice; while under the judicial and regal governlnent they
important subject. Anyone who has read but a small portion of the represented the state ofthe Churchwhen it gives a constrained obedi
works to which I have referred, must be satisfiedhow much more is ence to the authoritative laws of Divine truth and judgment. Such
required than a mere knowledge of correspondence to enable one to is the internal historical sense of this aspect of the Israelitish history.
unfold any part of the Divine Word; and how comparatively im In its spiritual sense, which is a history of the spiritual life of the
perfect must be the results of the application of this science by any individual111an, these successive changes in the government of Israel
one possessing but an ordinary share of'that enlightenment under
describe man's descent from higher to lower states. During the age
which they were so evidentlywritten.
of infancy and childhood the human being is ruled by love, but as
I offer these remarks, not for the purpose of magnifying the these states recede before the strengthening passions and increasing
difficulties of the subject, or of enhancing the value of the labour reason, the ruiud comes more under the government of truth. There
bestowed upon it, but with theview of showing you how much reason
is thus in the earlier periodof human life a descent resembling that
you have to be moderate in your expectations and charitable in
-\vhich takes place in a declining church. In the individual case,how-
yourjudgments,
ever, these changes of state do not of necessity run through a course
Besidesthesereflections which apply to us as speakerandhearers
of 1110ral or spiritual exhaustion. On the contrary, provision is made
and I maynowadd,as writer andreaders-there are others that apply
during the mind's descent for its re-ascent with increased intellectual
alike to us both. It becomes us all without distinction to approach
power and meansfor its elevation.
the subject in a devout and reverent spirit. The place on which we
It is thus of the ll1ercy and wisdom of the Divine Providence that
stand is holy ground, and we require to tread it with holy fear and
when the sweet influences of love become insufficient of themselves to
profound humility, In oureagerness to see this great sight we lllay
rule, truth should assume the reins and curb the headstrong passions.
turn aside too hastily from our ordinary thoughts and temporal
Ifthiswere110tthe case,both the Church and the hU111an beingwould
interests,forgetful of the danger ofcorning into the more immediate
fall into irremediable disorder, which would end in total and irretriev
presence of the Divine glory without first putting the shoes from
able ruin.
off ourfeet, byremoving from ourminds the artificial covering which
In the history of Israelwe find the clearest traces of the representa
it aSSU111eS from senseand the world. Spiritual truth cannot be seen
tive circumstances of the subject of which we are now speaking.
except in spiritual light, nor can its power be felt except under the
The immediate occasion of the Israelites asking a king was the ill
influence of spiritual love. Forthese, therefore, we ought to lookand
conduct of Samuel's sons. Samuel himself had been raised up to
pray.
stand in the breach that had been made by the corrupt house of -Eli,
Before enteringon an examination of the particular events of this
whose sons had indulged in a course of such gross and unrestrained
history, it luay be useful to view it in its relation to other portions ?f
licentiousness that 111Cn abhorred the offering of the Lord. The sons
the historical Word with which it is connected, in order to ascertain
of Samuel thejudge had C0111e to be too much like the sons of Eli the
the place it occupies in the typical history of which it forms a part,
priest. They" turnedasideafterlucre,and took bribes,andperverted
and to glance at its general scopeand meaning.
judgment.' Thus we find that the priests had lost their influence and
The Sacred Record presents the representative people as living
the judges had lost their power. No longerable to preserve order in
under several different forms of government, We find them ruled
the COll1111011\Vealth of Israel, a king had become necessary for the
successivelybypatriarchs, priests,judges,and kings. Under a politi
preservation of the national existence, as well as for continuing the
calview, thesemay be understood to mark the natural stages of their
representative characterwhich it had been chosen to sustain. Still, it
national development. Regarded in an ecclesiastical light, the suc
was the substitution of a lowerfor a higher power.
cession ofthese different forms ofgovernment describes the decline of
When "all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and
the Israelitish Church from a simplerand purer to a 1110re artificial
carne to Samuel at H..amah, and said, NO\V make us a king to judge
and imperfect state. As commonly expressed,the children of Israel,
us like all the nations, it displeased Samuel, and he prayed unto the
originally a theocracy, became less and less under the immediate
Lord: and the Lord said, Hearken"'unto the voice of the people in all
government of the Divine Ruler. Under the patriarchal and priestly
that they sayunto thce, for they have not rejected thee, but they have
governmenttheIsraelites represented that state of the Church when
rejected Me, that I should not reign over them."
,6 FIRST TI£REE liINGS OF ISRAEL. ISRAEL DESIRES A KING. 7
'I(is the Lord's desire that HisChurch and His children shouldlive and truths of the Word are employed to advance the glory of man
and act under the govemment of His love, to "which His truth is 1110re than the glory of God. As the sons of Israel were to be taken
subordinate and instrumental. This is the perfection of order. Into by the kingfor charioteers and horsemen, to fight the king's battles
this ordermanwas created. Into thisorderman is still providentially and adorn his pageants, so the truths they represented are used by
initiated in his infancyand childhood. The capacity of loving God the intellectual man to aid him in his intellectual conflicts and exalt
above all things andhis neighbour as himself is the condition proper his intellectual displays, As their daughters 'were to be taken for
to that beinzwho was created in the image ancllikeness ofhis Maker. confectioners and cooks, so the affections of good which they repre
God is Lo':e; and Divine Love desires to reproduce itself in the sentedare made to ministerto the appetites and passionsby affording
hearts and lives'of its created recipients. When manfirst departed them gratification'suitedto theirsensual desires. As the men-servants
from the law of love, it was because he would not have a God of love and maid-servants were to be taken to do the king's work, so the
to reign over him. And 'when man desired to be ruled by the law of truths and affections of science are employed to confirm whatever the
truth rather than bythe law of love, the Lord granted him his desire, mind adopts as a principle and desires to uphold. When this is the
but Hegranted it as a thing He.permittedrather thanwilled,and as a state of the Church and of man, even the remains of goodness and
temporary rather than as a permanent condition; for truth is givcn truth arc appropriated by and made subservient to intellectual
that it may lead to goodness, and thus to love, whose servant and supremacy, which is the same as charity being made subordinate to
minister it is. faith, and which is meant by the king taking the tenth of their seed,
'It was to mark the disinclination of the Divine mindto this degra theirvineyards, and their Hocks. Nay, all the celestial and spiritual
dation of state in the Church and in the hUI11an mind that the Lord things of the Word, general as well as particular, are brought into a
protestedwhile He granted, and, as stated in another place, that He state ofservitude,for all Israel were to become the king's servants.
gave the people a king in His anger,and took him awayin His wrath. But that of which we are now speaking is a state of comparative,
Ofcoursethereis'no angerin God. Whereverthispassionisascribed not absolute, disorder. Absolute disorder is disorganization. That
to the Divine Being it is for the purpose of expressing a state of the which was nowgranted to Israel is a less instead of a more perfect
human mind in contrarietyto the Divinemind, When God's love is order, an orderwhich is established under the law of truth, which is
quenchedin thehuman mind,angeris kindled in its stead; and this comparative bondage, instead of that which exists under the law of
is called the anger of God, because God's love, which still flows into love,which is perfectfreedom. Thelaw of truth,and the organization
the mind, is turned into its opposite; for"an opposite has birthfrom resulting from it, though not absolutely thebest, I11ay yet be the best
the cessation of theexistence in some onething, and the rising up of under the circumstances, This fact is of the utmost importance, and
another at the same timewitha tendency contrary to that which the may be applied in every department of human affairs, public and
former existencehad, acting as a wheel against a wheel, or a stream private. There is a perfect law, and a perfect order which is the
against a stream." result of obedience to it; and we ought to place that law before us,
Wellmight the change we are considering be condemned and pro and constantly strive toreach it. Butwhile we ought to aspire after
tested againstby theMostHigh. Thegroundsofthat protest,as they the highest ideal of personal and public excellence, we must not
relatedtotheconditionofthepeoplethernselves, wererehearsedtothem imagine that everything short of its attainment is a failure. Were
bySamuel, Theyweretoldthatthekingwhomtheydesiredwouldtake the law of love the rulingprinciple among the nations and families of
their sons, and appointthem for himselffor his chariots, and to be his the earth, the condition of mankind would be widely different from
horsemen; thathewould take their daughters to beconfectioners,and whatit is. There would be peace on earth, goodwill amongst men.
cooks, and bakers; thathe would take theirfields, and vineyards, and The means and energy now spent in preventing evil would be ex..
oliveyards, and give them to his servants, and the tenth of their seed, pended in doing good. But who, except the most ignorant and
theirvineyards, and their sheep; in one word, that he would appro anatical, would imagine that crime wouldcease'with the abolition of
priate to his own use whatever they possessed'. We know thatwhat a criminal code, or ambition expire with the disbanding of standing
everprinciple rules in the hUI11an mind, and thence in the Church and arrniesP These andothermeans of protection and preservation from
intheworld,it makesall thingssubservienttoitself. Thekingly rulein each other are indeed evidences ofthe degenerate state of the human
Israelwas a type of therule ofintellectrather than ofaffection. And race. Butwhat would the humanrace, in its present state,be without
wheneverreligion becomes a matter chieflyof the intellect, the goods them? Crime and anarchy and conquest would reign; but their