men, with 1222 chiefs, and so many of them from the other side Jordan, -afforded a truly marvelous

exhibition of national unanimity and enthusiasm. And the king who was surrounded by such a splendid

array was in the prime of his vigor, having just reached the age of thirty-seven and a half years (2 Samuel

What a prospect before the nation! Well might they joy at the national feast which David gave in Hebron!

Viewing this history in its higher bearing, and remembering the grounds on which the elders of Israel in

Hebron based the royal claims of David, we venture to regard it as typical of Israel at last returning to their

Savior-King. And surely it is not to strain the application, if thoughts of this feast at Hebron carry us

forward to that other and better feast in the "latter days," which is destined to be so full of richest joy alike

to Israel and to the world (Isaiah 25:6-10).

Surrounded by a force of such magnitude and enthusiasm, David must have felt that this was the proper

moment for the greatest undertaking in Jewish history since the conquest of the land under Joshua. The first

act of David's government must appropriately be the conquest of Israel's capital.259

The city of the Jebusites must become truly Jerusalem - "the inheritance," "the abode" "of peace:" the peace

of the house of David. The town itself had indeed already been taken immediately upon Joshua's death

(Judges 1:8). But "the stronghold" on Mount Zion, which dominated the city, still continued to be held by

"the Jebusites." Yet Jerusalem was almost marked out by nature to be Israel's capital, from its strength, its

central position, and its situation between Benjamin and Judah. Far more than this, it was the place of which

the Lord had made choice: to be, as it were, a guarded sanctuary within the holy land. So long as Zion was

in possession of the Jebusites, as the original Canaanite "inhabitants of the land," the land itself could not

be said to have been wholly won. Thither accordingly David now directed the united forces of his people.

Yet such was the natural and artificial strength of Zion that "to say (express), David shall not come hither"

(ver. 5), the Jebusites taunted him with what afterwards became a proverb, perpetuating among the people

the fact that no conquest is too difficult for God and with God: "He will not come in hither, for even the blind

and the lame shall drive thee away!"  260 It was wise and right in David to take up this defiant taunt of the

heathen, when he gave his men charge - perhaps directing them to scale the bare rock by the water-

throw (them) down the water-course: both 'the blind and the lame' who are hated of David's soul!"  262

At the same time no means were neglected of encouraging the leaders in the attack. As we learn from the

Book of Chronicles (1 Chronicles 11:6), the leader who first scaled the walls was to be made general-in-chief.

This honor was won by Joab, who had commanded David's separate army, before his elevation to the throne

had united the whole host of Israel. And so, in face of the Jebusite boast, the impregnable fort was taken,

and called "the City of David," - a lesson this full of encouragement to the people of God at all times.

Henceforth David made it his residence. To render it more secure, "he built," or rather fortified, "round about

from (fort) Millo and inwards,"  263 or, as in 1 Chronicles 11:8: "From the surrounding (wall) and to the

surrounding," - that is, as we understand it: Zion, which had hitherto been surrounded by three walls, had

now a fourth added on the north, reaching from Castle Millo (either at the north-eastern or at the north-

western angle) to where the other wall ended. Similarly, Joab repaired the rest of the city walls (1 Chronicles

What we have just related must, of course, n ot be taken as indicating a strict chronological succession of

events. The building of these walls no doubt occupied some time, and many things occurred in the interval,

which are related afterwards. Apparently the intention of the sacred historian was to complete his sketch of

all connected with David's conquest of Zion and his making it the royal residence, not to write in

chronological order. Hence we have also here notices of the palace which David built on Mount Zion, and

of the help which Hiram, king of Tyre, gave him both in men and materials, and even of David's fresh

alliances and of their issues, although the children were born at a much later period than this.264 As we

understand it, soon after his accession, probably after the capture of Jerusalem and the final defeat of the