efficient aid as would soon place him on the throne of the whole united kingdom. By this time Abner had advanced but a short distance on his way home, when he was overtaken by some messengers whom Joab sent after him, and who invited him to return. It is not improbable that they did this in the name of the king, although David knew nothing of the matter. Be this as it may, the request was made in so earnest a manner, and such important reasons assigned for his complying with it, that Abner came back immediately to Hebron. He was met at the gate of the city by Joab and his brother Abishai; while the former, taking him aside as if to speak with him in a peaceable and friendly manner, despatched him on the spot. It was a daring deed, preconcerted by the two, and executed by the hand of one of them in the spirit of jealousy and of deep revenge for the death of their brother Asahel. Such is man when swayed by his selfish, vindictive, and ambitious feelings. He sets at defiance the laws both of God and his fellow-men. He rushes on to the commission of the most atrocious crimes. He hesitates not, with deceit and treachery, and in cold blood, to take the life of one whom, as his enemy or his rival, he wishes to put out of the way. What an evil sin must be, when in its very nature it leads to such terrible results. MOURNING FOR ABNER. 155 CHAPTER XXII. DAVID ORDERS A GENERAL MOURNING FOR ABNER. HE CAUSES THE MURDERERS OF ISH-BOSHETH TO BE PUT TO DEATH. THE news of Abner's death spreading through the city, soon reached the ears of David. It was an unexpected blow to him. He was surprised and shocked at it. He abhorred the cruel and wicked deed which Joab had perpetrated. He would not endure for a moment to labor under the most remote suspicion of having ordered it, or of having even connived at it. In a burst of impassioned feeling, followed by a prophetic denunciation, he exclaimed, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread." But the king did not stop here. He gave a more public demonstration of his grief, and of his detestation of the deed which was the cause of it. In doing this, he imposed a duty upon Joab that was adapted to overwhelm him with shame and mortification. He ordered him particularly, and at the same time the whole body of the people, to rend their garments, to put on sackcloth, and to mourn for Abner, with the usual ceremonies, at the funeral which was soon to take place. And as they carried him to the grave, we are told that "king David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept." David composed too a short pathetic lamentation, which was recited or sung at the funeral, at the hearing of which the assembled multitude wept again over Abner. "Died Abner as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, As a man falleth before wicked men, The sentiments of which seem to be, that Abner did not die the foolish and shameful death of a villain who is taken and bound, and cut off by the sword of justice; but that he fell in an untimely and cruel manner, as those do who fall by the treachery of the assassin or the stroke of the murderer. This, let it be observed, must have been regarded by all who heard it as a most severe reproof, on the part of the king, of Joab and Abishai, and which they had to endure thus publicly in the presence of all the people. It shows also that it was nothing but David's fears, as we shall MOURNING FOR ABNER. 157 soon see, of not being able to carry such a purpose into effect, which prevented him from bringing these two murderers to justice, and inflicting upon them the punishment which their crime deserved. After the burial of Abner, the people, as was the custom, came with refreshments to the house of David, who was the principal mourner, to induce him to partake of them, and not to prolong the fast any further which he had been observing. But he felt a sincere and deep grief on the occasion, and protested, with a solemn appeal to God, that he would taste of nothing till the sun went down. This additional proof of his sorrow for the death of Abner, and of his having had no participation in the guilt of those who caused it, was noticed by the people, and it pleased them much, as did indeed the whole course of his conduct. "All the people," we are told, "and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner." David felt it due to himself also to let his principal attendants, and through them the community at large, know the reason why he did not take the proper steps to make Joab and his brother suffer the penalty of their guilt. "Know ye not," said he, "that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wick edness." He feared that he had not sufficient authority to seize and bring them to a condign punishment. They had great influence with the soldiery, especially Joab, as distinguished military commanders, and might prove too strong a match for him in the yet unsettled state of his affairs. Still this does not seem to furnish a sufficient justification for the course which David pursued. One who occupied the high official station which he did, and who was placed in, it by Jehovah himself, ought surely to have gone forward in the discharge of his duty, and endeavored to bring the offenders to justice, with a firm reliance on the almighty arm, let the immediate consequences be what they might. When we have truth and right on our side, we should not fear what man can do to us. He who has all things under his control will provide for the emergency, and bring good out of evil. Ish-bosheth was now drawing near the close both of his reign and his life. He was greatly dismayed, as well as his people, at the death of Abner. He felt that his authority could hardly be sustained, after the loss of one on whom he so entirely relied for support, and looked forward with an appalling despondency to his future prospects. He had retired one day at noon, and lay on his bed seeking repose, when his apartment was entered by two brothers, Baanah and Rechab, captains in his army. Having formed a design to take the life of the king, they gained an easy |