to the aid which the king of Tyre gave in David's architectural undertakings.265

Different feelings from those in Israel were awakened in Philistia by the tidings of David's elevation to the

throne of united Israel, and of his conquest of the Jebusite fort. The danger to their supremacy was too real

to be overlooked. On their approach, David retired to the stronghold of Zion. While the Philistines advanced

unopposed as far as the valley of Rephaim, which is only separated by a mountain -ridge from that of Ben-

Hinnom, David "inquired of Jehovah." So near had danger come, and so strongly did the king feel that he

must take n o step without Divine direction to avert it. For, placing ourselves on the standpoint of those

times, this was the best, if not the only way of manifesting entire dependence on God's guidance - even to

the incurring of what seemed near danger in so doing, and also the best if not the only way of teaching his

followers much-needed lessons of allegiance to Jehovah, with all that religiously and morally followed from

it.

The answer of the Lord conveyed promised assurance of help, and hence of victory. And in this light David

afterwards described his triumph, exclaiming, "Broken in hath Jehovah upon mine enemies before me." To

perpetuate this higher bearing of the victory, the spot was ever afterwards called "Baal-perazim"

("possessor of breaches"), - and from Isaiah 28:21, we know that the solemn import of the name never

passed from memory. The victory and its meaning were the more notable that the Philistines had brought

their gods with them to the battle, as Israel the Ark on a former occasion. Their idols were now burned by

command of David, in accordance with Deuteronomy 7:5, 25. Yet a second time did the Philistines come up

to Rephaim to retrieve their disaster. On this occasion also David was divinely directed - no doubt the more

clearly to mark the Divine interposition: "Thou shalt not go up (viz., against them in front); turn thyself upon

their rear, and come upon them from opposite the Bacha-trees.266 And when thou hearest the sound of

marching in the tops of the Bacha-trees, then be quick, for then shall Jehovah go forth before thee to smite

in the host of the Philistines." It was as David had been told; and the rout of the Philistines extended from

Thus far for the political results of David's elevation, which are placed first in the "Book of Samuel," as

dealing primarily with the political aspect of his kingdom, while in the Book of Chronicles, which views

events primarily in their theocratic bearing, they are recorded after another of greatest importance for the

religious welfare of the new kingdom.  268 For the same reason also, the Book of Chronicles adds details not

recorded in that of Samuel, about David's consultation with his chiefs, and the participation of the priests

and Levites in what related to the removal of the ark of the Lord.

About seventy years had passed since the ark of Jehovah had stood in the Tabernacle,269 according to the

express ordinance of God.

And now that Israel was once more united, not only in a polit ical, but in the best and highest sense, and its

God, appointed capital had at last been won, it was surely time to restore the ancient worship which had

been so sadly disturbed. Nor could there be any question as to the location of the Ark. No other place fit for

it but the capital of the land. For was it not the "ark of God" over which the Lord specially manifested His

Presence and His glory to His people? - or, in the language of Holy Scripture  270 (2 Samuel 6:2): "over which

is called the Name, the NAME of Jehovah Zevaoth, Who throneth upon the cherubim." Much, indeed, had

still to be left in a merely provisional state.

We cannot doubt that David from the first contemplated a time when the Lord would no longer dwell, so to

speak, in tents, but when a stable form would be given to the national worship by the erection of a central

sanctuary. But for the present it must remain - if in Jerusalem - yet in a "tabernacle." Nay, more than that, the

tent which David would prepare would not be the tabernacle which Moses had made. This was in Gibeah,

and there, since the murder of the priests at Nob, Zadok officiated, while Abiathar acted as high-priest with

David. Neither of these two could be deposed; and so there must be two tabernacles, till God Himself should

set right what the sin of men had made wrong. And for this, as we believe, David looked forward to the

building of a house for the God of Israel. An undertaking of such solemn national importance as the