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of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

IN BLESSING OBED-EDOM AND ALL HIS HOUSEHOLD WHILE THE ARK OF THE LORD CONTINUED IN HIS HOUSE.

2 SAM. vi. 10, 11.

So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David : but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obed-edom, and all his household.

IN THE SUDDEN PREFERMENT OF

MEPHIBOSHETH.

2 SAM. ix. 3—8.

And

And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son which is lame on his feet. And the king said unto him, Where is he? and Ziba said unto the king, Be

hold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. Then king Da

vid sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant. And David said unto him, Fear not; for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

IN CONVICTING DAVID OF SIN.
2 SAM. xii. 1-7.

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David: and he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one

rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing save one little ewe-lamb, which he had bought and nourished up and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock, and of his own herd, to dress for the way-faring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing, shall surely die. And he shall restore the lamb four-fold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, thou art the man.

IN PERMITTING THE ENEMIES OF DAVID TO TRIUMPH OVER HIM FOR A SHORT SEASON.

2 SAM. xvi. 5—12.

And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people, and all the mighty men were on his right hand, and on his left. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial : The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the king? let me

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